From Publishers Weekly
In the 10th entry in this historical husband-and-wife amateur sleuth series (after 2003's Death at Glamis Castle), the pseudonymous Paige makes a less than successful attempt to comment on post–9/11 America. Once again, the powers-that-be ask liberal aristocrat Lord Charles Sheridan to investigate a crime, here the detonation of a bomb in Hyde Park that kills a suspected anarchist seemingly en route to Buckingham Palace shortly after the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902. The explosion raises fear of further outrages, and the king's equerry delivers a royal request that Sheridan determine the extent of the terrorist threat. The lord's independent wife, Kate, slips into her usual role as unofficial helper, conducting a parallel inquiry. Atypically, there's no actual mystery to unravel, while the legitimate parallels between Edwardian England's fears of terror attacks and today's U.S. get lost amid heavy-handed touches such as naming the lead Scotland Yarder charged with protecting the British homeland "Ashcraft." Sheridan's speculation about the future invention of something very much like a cellphone is jarringly improbable. Finally, Jack London fans may be dismayed to see London commit a brutal crime that's totally out of character for the real-life adventure writer and socialist. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Book Description
Coronation Day, 1902. Charles and Kate Sheridan are pleased to be at the crowning of their king. But when an anarchist accidentally blows himself up with a bomb meant for their monarch, Charles and Kate turn up a number of intriguing--and disturbing--questions. For example, what is mysterious, beautiful Charlotte Conway--editor of the anarchist newspaper where the dead man was employed--doing in the arms of expatriate author Jack London?

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
Susan Wittig Albert and Bill Albert, the writing team known as Robin Paige, clearly understand the chemistry involved in working closely with a spouse, and that informs and enlightens this charming historical mystery series featuring married sleuths Kate and Charles Sheridan. Death in Hyde Park opens with the coronation of King Edward VII, a stunning spectacle marred by the death of an anarchist -- a young Russian who is killed when the bomb intended to destroy the new monarch explodes prematurely. Official investigation quickly leads to the office of an anarchist newspaper, where the young man was employed as a messenger, and the police hurry to arrest all on the premises. Only the editor, Charlotte Conway, eludes them. Charlotte's daring rooftop escape brings her to the shelter of Kate's estate, a radical training school for women farmers. Meanwhile, Kate's husband, Charles, an acknowledged expert at "discreet inquiries," undertakes a confidential investigation on behalf of the government, which doubts that the errand boy could have hatched this nefarious plot on his own. When Charlotte leaves their shelter the next day, and vanishes, Charles and Kate work the case from opposite ends. Charles enters the dangerous world of London's radical underground while Kate masterminds the search for the missing editor. It soon becomes clear that several agendas -- those of the British police, the anarchist movement, and the Russian secret police -- have formed a dangerously combustible mixture that will take only a single spark to explode. This talented writing team has a flair for capturing the ambiance of their chosen time and place. Here, they've added to the fun by including Jack London, the noted American adventure writer and self-declared socialist, as a character in the action. Sue Stone

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"Coronation Day, 1902. The streets of London are filled with revelers who have turned out to celebrate the crowning of a new king. And the lovely Kate Sheridan and her dear husband, Charles - both dressed in their finest despite the dreary, damp weather - are pleased to be among them. Expatriate author Jack London is also watching the festivities - but with a more skeptical eye. He has come to London to write an expose of the East End slums - and the coronation has not tempered his disdain for the monarchy." "Unbeknownst to London, there are others in the crowd who share his contempt - and the day takes a sinister turn when an anarchist accidentally blows himself up with a bomb meant for the king. Charged with determining the true extent of the danger facing the Crown, Charles and Kate turn up a number of intriguing - and disturbing - questions. Was it simply a failed assassination attempt? Or could someone have deliberately killed the young anarchist? At every turn, the answers elude them." And then there is the matter of the mysterious and beautiful Charlotte Conway, the editor of the anarchist newspaper where the dead man was employed. On the run from Scotland Yard, she takes refuge in Kate and Charles's home - and in Jack London's arms. All of which makes for a very interesting investigation indeed.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly