It took me quite a long time to get invested in this audiobook. I’d had high hopes because of loving The Watchmaker of Filigree Street so much, but this is a very different book. The first part, where our main character is introduced – a young man whose once landed family are down on their luck in 19th century England didn’t grip me, and it wasn’t until he travelled to Peru, sent by the India office to smuggle back Quinine trees, that it started to interest me. The characters of the landscape and the people of Peru were fascinating, especially the enigmatic Peruvian priest, Raphael. As the plot progressed, and the supernatural and magical realism elements took more of a centre stage, I was hooked and I enjoyed the book more and more as it went along. I especially liked the cameo appearance of the Watchmaker from the Filigree street book!
Sarah Wray Writer 