Book Review: Seething Lane by Jack Jewers

Review by Jack Casson

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Following his acclaimed debut, Jack Jewers returns to the diaries of the real Samuel Pepys in a brutal murder mystery that infuses 17th-century politics with the theatrical arts. As the lineage of the throne is left in question, religious turmoil boils beneath the cobbled streets and the arts are given a second wind for the first time since Shakespeare’s passing, will Pepys be able to re-establish order as a spy for the King, or will diplomacy fall to hedonism?

Seething Lane is a brutal, addictive, and rich sketch of London in the 1660’s, with Samuel Pepys as navigator of its turbulent streets. The novel follows Pepys as a member of the fictional ‘Order of the Royal Oak’ (a secret spy network for the King), hired to investigate a sprawling web of political and religious upheaval within London. Whilst spying on a heretical priest suspected of sowing seeds of disorder, Pepys is approached by a mysterious figure begging for help. It is only when the body of this figure is found murdered (in a rather brutal fashion) alongside Henry Fitzwilliam, a close friend of the Duke of Monmouth, the king's illegitimate son, that Pepys is indoctrinated into the dirty politics of the 17th century. Jewers has committed himself to brilliant historical verisimilitude, and whilst he has taken some liberties to adapt some real-life characters, his portrait of London feels alive and vivid.

The plot itself is slow to get going, with tendrils of clues that hum with relevance, slowly rising to a violent scream in an epic conclusion. The bulk of the novel is set on solving the dual murders, but to do so Pepys must indoctrinate himself into dirty politics and the theatrical arts, employed by the King to investigate and infiltrate the iconic Theatre Royal Drury Lane to follow a lead. Jewers brilliantly captures the enduring spirit of theatre craft with Pepys positioned as both an audience member and theatre maker. The duality of the Theatre Royal is captured through Pepys' eyes as he resplendently describes how the theatre stood in the 1660’s (with some adaptations on Jewers' behalf) as audiences sit with raucous anticipation to watch favoured actress Nell Gwyn, whilst, when first introduced backstage, he encounters the less glamorous, chaotic nature of stagecraft.

The company of cast and crew are charming and recognisable in their warm nature, and pride in their work, and Pepys encounters some recognisable names, such as Aphra Bren, who represent an enduring passion for theatre. The theatre thus becomes a model for London itself, as Jewers is specific in his language when describing the public in theatrical lexis, with citizens as ‘players’, the streets of London as their stage. Jewers captures a general social spirit of façade and performance that is akin to the work of theatre, yet there is a generous appreciation for stagecraft as a legitimate career, as Pepys realises the hardship of working-class actors who must tussle with budget cuts and repertory schedules. The book itself isn’t laden with cultural commentary, but Jewers does manage to infuse a sense of relevance in his tale as the political sphere slowly manipulates the arts.

Pepys himself isn’t entirely likeable. He is lascivious in nature, with a wandering eye that he is constantly trying to keep under control. The epistolary form of Jewers' book allows us to witness some of Pepys' more… spirited dreams, and considering that he is married to his wife Elisabeth, it is safe to say that it takes some amount of effort to trust him as a character. But this is entirely intentional as Jewers attempts to capture a social space that is recovering from years of misery (a plague, a religious uprising, etc.) in which people’s morals bend in hedonistic excitement. Pepys' misogyny similarly allows for some commentary on the treatment of women, and as Jewers explains brilliantly in the book's historical notes, Pepys' management of domestic affairs is entirely toxic and unfortunately continues to be replicated today.

There is a wit to Pepys' voice that is a welcome escape from the violent descriptions of murder. Jewers writes dialogue brilliantly, managing to capture an individual characteristic cadence in each encounter, delving into the cultural mixing pot that is London. There is, however, a sense of cliché when it comes to Jewers' exposition. As a second book, Jewers does fall somewhat into the trap of simply describing action and events moment by moment with little introspection. Similarly, some passages feel a little bit convenient, such as birds appearing in sync with mysterious figures, but I must admit these do aid in building atmosphere. Despite this, Pepys is intentionally a learned character, so his ability to draw connections between otherwise obscure pinpricks of information is justified. I just wish there were a little more reason behind some of his discoveries.

The murder mystery itself is truly thrilling as Jewers introduces us to a plethora of possible suspects. The denouement, albeit a tad too long, brilliantly ties together a rich plot and leaves almost no stone unturned. One of my favourite structural elements of murder mysteries is the cascading revelations that occur, and Jewers certainly provides this relieving experience. Some of the epilogue I felt could have been cut down to size, but otherwise the narrative is handled with care. Similarly, the cast of characters we encounter through Pepys' diaries is plentiful, and whilst at first this can cause some confusion, there is a delightful ‘Cast of Characters’ section that itself alludes to the theatrical nature of the tale being told. As the narrative funnels out the red herrings, Jewers constructs some rich connections for the leading man, Pepys, that feel distinct in their own right. From the fierce Nell Gwynn to the pompous Titus Condell, there are a multitude of reasons to return to this world.

Regretfully, I have yet to read Jack Jewers previous Pepy’s novel, but Seething Lane has given me a multitude of reasons to do so. Yes, some of it is cliché and a little expositional, but it remains an utter page turner throughout. Chapter by chapter, I had to know what comes next, and as Jewers leads us with a carrot on a stick through 17th-century London, this is truly a show to behold.

Published by Moonflower Books, Seething Lane will be available on September 3rd and can be pre-ordered here: https://www.jackjewers.com/seething-lane