341 books
—
115 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “An Experiment In Treason (Sir John Fielding, #9)” as Want to Read:
An Experiment In Treason
(Sir John Fielding #9)
by
Sir John Fielding has trailed a packet of controversial letters from London to the colony of Massachusetts. But when the suspect in the theft is found dead, Sir John turns his eye on the possible involvement of Benjamin Franklin.
Paperback, 336 pages
Published
October 7th 2003
by Berkley
(first published 2002)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
An Experiment In Treason,
please sign up.
Recent Questions
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of An Experiment In Treason (Sir John Fielding, #9)
Exceptional, as I've come to expect from this series.
London, 1773
London, 1773
I love this series. Alexander never lets me down. A fun romp in 1770s London with murder, stolen letters, giant slave hunter, and all the while visiting with Benjamin Franklin. What else do you need?
#9 Sir John Fielding mystery in which Jeremy and Sir John become involved in a plot involving Benjamin Franklin and the American colonies. Someone has stolen a packet of letters from the home of a prominent member of Parliament, believed to be damning to certain British officials with regard to the rights of the Colonials. A footman was brutally coshed on the head and killed during the burglary, therefore it’s a murder case as well. Mr. Franklin is high on the suspect list as having hired certai
...more
AN EXPERIMENT IN TREASON – G+
Bruce Alexander – 9th in series
Sir John Fielding, a blind, 18th-century London judge, and his orphan accomplice, Jeremy, get mixed up in pre-Revolutionary War intrigue when a packet of incendiary letters is stolen from the London residence of a prominent official, and turns up in the colony of Massachusetts. Why are the contents so controversial? Why has a suspect in the theft turned up dead? And what should Sir John do about his feeling that Benjamin Franklin himsel ...more
Bruce Alexander – 9th in series
Sir John Fielding, a blind, 18th-century London judge, and his orphan accomplice, Jeremy, get mixed up in pre-Revolutionary War intrigue when a packet of incendiary letters is stolen from the London residence of a prominent official, and turns up in the colony of Massachusetts. Why are the contents so controversial? Why has a suspect in the theft turned up dead? And what should Sir John do about his feeling that Benjamin Franklin himsel ...more
The third book I have read in the Sir John Fielding Mystery, An Experiment in Treason includes several real life characters, including Benjamin Franklin, in a story of murder, torture and espionage. Jeremy Proctor, the young protégé of blind magistrate Sir John Fielding, narrates this story of stolen letters, state secrets, and odd Americans. The streets team with nefarious but engaging characters and Jeremy must help Sir John discover who is torturing and murdering those involved in the theft,
...more
See my review of the initial novel in the series, Blind Justice.
It was completely coincidence that I grabbed this book to read while we were in Boston. What an appropriate choice it ended up being! Another great one in the series.
Love the atmosphere of that period in England's history. Plot moves things along, and characters are interesting and developing well.
Interesting to read the British point of view of the American Colonies complaints, but the human interactions seem very bland and one dimensional. Not as good as the previous books
Well written, good story, good, well-rounded characters
The year was 1773. It started with a robbery resulting in the death of a footman at the house of Lord Hillsborough, Secretary of State for the American Colonies. The Lord Secretary was not very forthcoming when questioned by the Blind Beak as to what was stolen which led both Sir John and Jeremy into making their own surmises... as it turned out Jeremy's theories caused Sir John a sleepless night regarding their plausible reality. Then there was Benjamin Franklin, already a temporary denizen of
...more
Another thrilling page turner; “An Experiment in Treason" is the eighth book in Bruce Alexander’s mystery series centering on Sir John Fielding and an ever evolving young Jeremy Proctor, the narrator. As usual, Alexander’s research is excellent providing the reader with strong local color, well developed colorful characters, and gripping plot lines. The protagonist is a blind 18th century London magistrate Sir John Fielding, who is based on a real historical character. This historical mystery al
...more
The author (Bruce Alexander Cook) is an American but has written a series of excellent 18th century English mysteries featuring the blind magistrate Sir John Fielding. Sir John is by all measures, a superior magistrate considered a fair and just man by the community on the outskirts of London that he serves. He is helped by Jeremy Proctor, a young man who serves as Sir John’s “eyes.” Jeremy is “reading the law” with Sir John, and serves as his aide in many ways. In this adventure, a packet of le
...more
My least-favorite of the series; it was short on action.
An Experiment In Treason was a fascinating story where the UK's feelings and politics towards her North American Colonies, aka America come into play. Bruce Alexander admits in an Author's Note, he had taken artistic license with some of the facts. That was okay.
While trying to solve a violent burglary and subsequent murder Jeremy and Sir John encounter Dr. Benjamin Franklin.
It is late 1773 - less than 3 years before the Revolutionary War. As an American, I was only taught the Colonists perspec ...more
While trying to solve a violent burglary and subsequent murder Jeremy and Sir John encounter Dr. Benjamin Franklin.
It is late 1773 - less than 3 years before the Revolutionary War. As an American, I was only taught the Colonists perspec ...more
I'm very fond of this series, but this was not the best Sir John Fielding in the set. As ever, the series characters are well drawn and develop nicely, but there are several plot elements left hanging.
What's up, for example, with the experiment that opens the novel? It seems there should have been some follow up on that. And I'm not sure about the rapid development of the relationship between Jeremy and Clarissa, unless it's about to encounter some rough waters. And how the bad guy is dispatche ...more
What's up, for example, with the experiment that opens the novel? It seems there should have been some follow up on that. And I'm not sure about the rapid development of the relationship between Jeremy and Clarissa, unless it's about to encounter some rough waters. And how the bad guy is dispatche ...more
This one was about Ben Franklin, and the American revolution. It depended heavily on the others, and would have been hard to "get" without having read the previous ones. They are slow, and not so interesting as the earlier ones, perhaps because there is little new in them. I do enjoy the history, but there is not much of it.
The main storyline in this book was a bit slow and based on politics, missing letters, etc. So more or less a bit boring, but still full of humor and great dialogues. I liked this book because on Jeremy's active role. He is more and more a well developed character, and he got engaged to be engaged. That part was truly funny for me.
another good one - and jeremy finally figures out what we've known for some time!! woo hoo! i'm saddened, however, that there are only 2 more in this series and the author is deceased. another great series will soon come to an end. bummer dude.
So, did I know before that Benjamin Franklin was in England at the time of the Boston Tea Party? Not sure I knew that! Fascinating book, intriguing plot! I will be sorry to see this series end--only two more books to go.
Mar 07, 2012
Dawn
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-2014,
mystery-historical
I like the portrayal of Ben Franklin as more of a dissolute rather than the paragon, father of America.
A view of the American war for independence from the British side was interesting and it was about time Jeremy and Clarissa got together.
A view of the American war for independence from the British side was interesting and it was about time Jeremy and Clarissa got together.
The adventures of Sir John Fielding and his assistant Jeremy continue in this the ninth book in this highly entertaining series set in 18th century England.
Rather hard on Benjamin Franklin and the Adams brothers....
a fun series and this was no exception.
As an American, I was a little chary of Franklin's honor, though I know he was no saint
As an American, I was a little chary of Franklin's honor, though I know he was no saint
Jul 21, 2010
Roxane
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-mystery
A fictionalized account of the 'Affair of the Hutchinson Letters' – very interesting.
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
Great background in the history of England and the colonies. Benjamin Franklin makes quite an appearance. I will definitely read other books in this series.
Nice that Mr. Alexander included a little bit of history in this story. Also, I'm happy that Jeremy and Clarissa finally get engaged.
History abounds! Mr., I mean Dr. Franklin--what were you thinking? :) Series is almost over...I'm going to miss everyone on Grub Street!!!!!
Of interest, partly historical.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Readers also enjoyed
Pseudonym of American journalist and author Bruce Cook.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Bruce Alexander Cook (1932–2003) was an American journalist and author who wrote under the pseudonym Bruce Alexander, creating historical novels about a blind 18th century Englishman and also a 20th century Mexican-American detective. ...more
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Bruce Alexander Cook (1932–2003) was an American journalist and author who wrote under the pseudonym Bruce Alexander, creating historical novels about a blind 18th century Englishman and also a 20th century Mexican-American detective. ...more
Other books in the series
Sir John Fielding
(1 - 10 of 11 books)
News & Interviews
As dedicated readers already know, some of the best and most innovative stories on the shelves come from the constantly evolving realm of young ad...
44 likes · 13 comments
1 trivia question
More quizzes & trivia...
