The Apple Falls Not Far
Description
Cal may only be twelve years old, but his father has threatened to throw him onto the streets if he doesn’t start earning his keep. Keen to prove himself, he unearths an opportunity through stealthy eavesdropping. Two gentlemen need help transporting an unnamed cargo across the Firth of Forth, no questions asked. Cal is happy to secure the job, but soon discovers that holding up his end will entangle him in a ruthless underworld of thievery, smuggling and body snatchers.
Reviewed on 24th May 2025
A short free ebook, teasing ahead that a new Ambrose Parry novel is not many months away.
It’s set earlier than the main series, and so doesn’t follow our usual set of characters, instead introducing us to a boy, his family troubles, and what he gets up to in 19th Century Edinburgh to deal with his situation.
There’s a good balance of real history blended with enjoyable characters. A nice little visit to this world to whet the appetite before the novel (the opening chapters of which are included in the ebook, but which I didn’t read because I don’t like early chapter drops).