“This is a historical novel/hard-boiled detective story set in 18th century London. Liss wrote this book while he was writing his doctoral dissertation on 18th century British literature and culture. It's fully detailed and well researched but not in a dull kinda way like most historical novels.
Benjamin Weaver, a British Jew and a former pugilist (boxer), becomes a thief-taker and returner of lost properties after an injury forced him from the ring. The story begins when Weaver is hired to investigate the death of a stockjobber, and simultaneously his own father's death and the mystery behind false stock certificates. The book is loosely based on actual account - some characters are real historical figures like Jonathan Wild (an Al Capone of his time), and real events like the South Sea Bubble (the first stock market crash in the English-speaking world).
If you're interested in stock trading and have a taste for mystery and historical novels, then you'll likely enjoy A Conspiracy of Paper.”
nikki wrote this review Monday, August 13, 2007.
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