Genre: Historical fiction
Publisher: Sharpe Books
Pub date: 13 January 2020
Rating: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

Thomas Finbow, keen-eyed falconer to Sir Robert Vicary of Petbury Manor, confronts the most terrible adversary he has ever faced.

Thomas’s master Sir Robert is charged by Queen Elizabeth’s Council to host an important guest to help valuable trade relations: Grigori Stanic, ambassador of distant Muscovy, in Russia.

Not only will Thomas entertain Stanic’s party, His Excellency being a keen hawking man – he must also guard a priceless gift for Boris Godunov, the most important man at the Tsar’s Court: a magnificent gold chain with jewelled pendant.

But no sooner has it arrived at Petbury than it is stolen, risking a disastrous diplomatic incident.

As the desperate hunt for the Muscovy Chain begins, a shadowy figure is seen on the Downs, sowing fear in the community. Is he the thief – or worse, is he responsible for a murder, the victim having been brutally tortured?

The cause of the Chain’s disappearance, however, turns out to be more than one of mere theft, when bitter secrets emerge among Stanic’s divided followers.

But for Thomas the finding of the precious gift is not the end. This time he meets his match – and faces his possible death.

If you have been reading my blog recently you will have seen that I’ve loved this series. The Muscovy Chain is the seventh and I’ve been both excited and dreading this book! Excited because I’ve absolutely loved this series, dreading it because it’s the last one available and I didn’t want it to end.

This book centres around Petbury, home of Sir Robert, Lady Margaret and their numerous staff including Thomas.

Sir Robert is honoured with a visit from the ambassador of Muscovy but is also tasked with keeping the Muscovy Chain safe until he departs.

Unfortunately, things do not go to plan and once again Thomas is catapulted in to the centre of murder, theft and intrigue.

Pilkington’s storytelling is at it’s best in this book and I could not stop reading, Thomas was fabulous in this book and I really liked some of the Russian characters. The description of one of the perpetrators was very vivid and I felt I could almost see their face and mannerisms.

I don’t like to give spoilers but I will say this was one of the best of the series and I really hope this is not the last book!

This is definitely one of the most enjoyable series I’ve read and I have thoroughly enjoyed how Pilkington has used historical events throughout.

If you’d like to join Thomas on his adventures you can get The Muscovy Chain here or the whole series here

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