Den of Thieves

It is 1791 and orphan Cat, dresser at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, loses her home and family when the theatre closes. But she soon finds a new role as Sheridan’s eyes and ears in Revolutionary Paris. A cast of aristocrats, rebels, thieves and theatricals accompanies her in a series of plots, kidnaps, rescues and discoveries. Cat narrates her story with humour and verve; the characters are vivid and varied and the plot is very eventful. Though lengthy, this is engaging, not demanding: the focus is on what happens rather than why it happens, how the characters react, or historical realism. Den of Thieves will suit fans of historical fiction and may even persuade some readers to try the genre for the first time. This is the third title about Cat’s adventures and a fourth is promised.