Act of oblivion A novel

The latest novel by the author of V2 (2020) and Imperium (2006), among many others, is set in Massachusetts in 1660. It's been 11 years since King Charles I was executed during the Civil War of 1642-51. Several of the people behind the king's murder are still free. Richard Nayler, an officer of the Privy Council, is determined to bring them to justice. Harris focuses on two of the "regicides," Edward Whalley and William Goffe, who fled to Massachusetts. Like most of the characters in the book, Whalley and Goffe are real people, and, as he usually does, Harris sticks closely to the known facts as much as he can (Nayler, the manhunter, is fictional, as is the story of his pursuit of the two regicides). It will come as no surprise to readers familiar with Harris' work that this is a splendidly written historical novel. Harris really is a joy to read, and it's interesting to see how he adjusts his writing style with each book to reflect the story's time period (this one is less ornate than his books set in ancient Rome but more ornate than his WWII novels). Another top-flight effort from a master storyteller.

Harris (Munich) again turns a historical event into a canny page-turner. Following the restoration of the Stuart Dynasty to the throne of England, King Charles II and his court seek revenge for the execution of the monarch's father, Charles I, who was beheaded in 1649. The task of identifying and locating those involved falls to Richard Nayler, "one of those shadows who move, anonymous, along the private passages and through the council chambers of every nation in every age." Nayler has a personal grudge against his quarry; his wife died giving birth to their stillborn son after Cromwell's soldiers arrested him for participating in an illegal prayer service. After Nayler tracks down the death warrant ordering Charles I's beheading, he devotes himself to finding the 13 signatories still at large. The bulk of the narrative focuses on his Javert-like search for Edward Whalley and his son-in-law William Goffe. The fugitives live desperate lives in New England, constantly fearful of betrayal even from those who shelter them. Harris humanizes the hunter and the hunted, and brings to life an obscure chapter in colonial American history. This further burnishes Harris's reputation as a talented author of historical suspense. Agent: Suzanne Gluck, WME Entertainment. (Sept.)

Harris (V2: A Novel of World War II) demonstrates his talent for bringing history to life with a taut new tale of faith and vengeance. King Charles I of England was the center of a realm divided on religious ideology. His suspension of Parliament set in motion a series of events leading to his execution as a traitor to the nation. Oliver Cromwell was the force behind a new republican England, and after the king's death, he ruthlessly dealt with those still loyal to the crown. In 1660, 11 years after Charles I's execution, his son Charles Stuart is restored to the throne and the men responsible for the regicide are now wanted men. Leading the manhunt is Richard Nayler, an agent of the Privy Council--a man who has his own reasons for capturing two of the hunted, men he holds responsible for the deaths of his wife and unborn child. Nayler is a bloodhound, tracking the fugitives to the new American colonies, where the conflict that began in London spills onto fresh soil. VERDICT Harris's story bogs down in places with dense detail, but the raw emotions of the characters and the issues that drive human dissent make this a worthwhile read.--Julie Ciccarelli

This gripping historical thriller reimagines the manhunt of two killers of an English king. In 1660, two fugitives arrive in New England. Years earlier, they had helped plot the trial and execution of King Charles I on charges of high treason. Oliver Cromwell had subsequently taken power as Lord Protector, but now he and most of the regicides have been tracked down and executed, and a new king is on the throne. The remaining fugitives are Col. Edward Whalley and his son-in-law Col. William Goffe, and Richard Nayler's job is to hunt them down. Nayler, says the author, is the only important fictional character in the book, and his obsession with the hunt drives the story. This is an era when all misfortune is put down to God's will, and folks clearly believe in a vengeful creator. England suffers plague, war with the Dutch, famine, and a horrible fire in London almost contemporaneously--surely they are the four horsemen foretold in the book of Revelation. Condemned prisoners who are lucky are merely beheaded--the unlucky are subjected to deaths so ghastly that it takes 11 lines to describe. Think red-hot tongs. And if you think escaping to America is easy, remember that red worms infest the ship's biscuits--and just try to ignore the slop and slime and stink you'll be slipping and sliding in. Nayler is relentless in tracking down the traitors to his beloved king--are they still in England? In France? In New England? He is clever in finding clues that finally point him in the right direction. Meanwhile, Whalley and Goffe are separated from their families across the ocean. Will they ever be able to see them again? Or will Nayler find both men and kill them? The deeply researched story is the author's brilliant reimagining of real historical events, with sympathetic characters and a compelling plot. Thoroughly enjoyable with some cringeworthy descriptions. Readers will not pine for days of yore. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.