The Grenadillo Box

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On New Year's Day 1755, Nathaniel Hopson, a journeyman to renowned cabinetmaker Thomas Chippendale, becomes embroiled in a sinister mystery. While at Lord Montfort's country home, he discovers the lord shot dead in his new library. Though it appears to be suicide due to Montfort's gambling debts and melancholic demeanor, Nathaniel is skeptical. The evidence—a gun near Montfort's hand, blood on the windowsill, and confusing footprints—raises questions. Additionally, Montfort clutches an intricately carved box of rare grenadillo wood. As Nathaniel reluctantly steps into the role of investigator, another body is found, brutally mutilated, and he recognizes the victim. This revelation complicates matters, as he wonders what the victim was doing on Montfort's estate. Nathaniel's quest for answers leads him from opulent drawing rooms to the grim realities of Fleet Street and London's Foundling Hospital, where the identity of a child abandoned two decades earlier may be crucial. With danger lurking at every turn, Nathaniel realizes that someone will kill to protect the secret he seeks. This intricately woven tale serves as both a captivating detective story and a vivid portrayal of eighteenth-century England, showcasing the debut of a remarkably talented writer.