Ruler of the Night

Thomas and Emily De Quincey, Book 3

By: David Morrell

Narrated by: Neil Dickson

Length: 11 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

The notorious opium-eater returns in the sensational conclusion to David Morrell's acclaimed Victorian mystery trilogy.

Like David Morrell's previous De Quincey novels, Ruler of the Night blends fact and fiction to an exceptional degree, this time focusing on a real-life Victorian murder so startling that it changed the culture - in this case the first murder on an English train. The brutality of the crime stoked the fears of a generation who believed that the newly invented railway would "annihilate time and space".

In Ruler of the Night, listeners feel they're actually on the harrowing fogbound streets of 1855 London as the brilliant opium-eater Thomas De Quincey and his irrepressible daughter, Emily, confront their most ruthless adversary. The stakes couldn't be greater: both the heart of Victorian society and De Quincey's tormented soul.

The fast-paced narrative matches the speed with which the railway changed Victorian life. It brings back Scotland Yard detectives Ryan and Becker, along with Lord Palmerston, Queen Victoria, and Prince Albert, and introduces a host of new characters from this fascinating era. Master storyteller David Morrell transports listeners back in time, away from the modern world and into the dangerous shadows of the past.

©2016 David Morrell (P)2016 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Spectacular.... The narrative builds to a powerful but bittersweet ending." ( Publishers Weekly)

"Taut, atmospheric.... Morrell brings the period to vivid life with solid research and fascinating Victorian details.... Grade: A-" (Michelle Ross, Cleveland Plain Dealer)

"Morrell's deft hand with thriller plotting provides copious chills and procedural satisfaction, but it is his mastery of character, shrewd exploitation of Victorian details and attitudes, and tonal sophistication that seduce and delight.... It's a cracking yarn, irresistible as an emergency bottle of laudanum secreted in a shabby coat pocket. " ( Kirkus Reviews)

Satisfying conclusion

Morell weaves an action intense and mystery filled storu unlike the two previous adventures. Faithful characters experience their most horrifying criminal motives leading to a tragic and final conclusion of the trilogy.

Ruler of the Night

I've enjoyed all the books in this trilogy. This last book winds things up well. The story is maybe not as tight as the other two, but it's still very good. The performer is different, but after a bit I didn't notice. He does a very good job. I definitely recommend this.

One of the best !!!

I have liked several audible books, but this one is by far the best!

Really captivating and satisfying

This trilogy completely kidnapped me for a week while I listened to all three audible books. The researched history was clearly accurate and the plots were wonderfully intertwined and complex. The endings were unpredictable and you had to pay attention or you would miss some critical detail. The character development were wonderful wow. What a great surprise. Highly recommended.

Good Addition to the Series

I love the Thomas & Emily De Quincey series. The first two books were stand-out greats. Ruler of the Night is a great story but it lacked something the previous two had. I think it may have been the new narrator who I didn't like nearly as much as Mathew Wolf. Overall it's still worth a listen.

I enjoyed the story a lot. Very good narration.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed the story a lot. Kept me interested from the beginning. Like David Morrell's previous De Quincey novels, Ruler of the Night blends fact and fiction to an exceptional degree, this time focusing on a real-life Victorian murder so startling that it changed the culture - in this case the first murder on an English train. The brutality of the crime stoked the fears of a generation who believed that the newly invented railway would "annihilate time and space". In Ruler of the Night, listeners feel they're actually on the harrowing fogbound streets of 1855 London as the brilliant opium-eater Thomas De Quincey and his irrepressible daughter, Emily, confront their most ruthless adversary. The stakes couldn't be greater: both the heart of Victorian society and De Quincey's tormented soul.
The fast-paced narrative matches the speed with which the railway changed Victorian life. It brings back Scotland Yard detectives Ryan and Becker, along with Lord Palmerston, Queen Victoria, and Prince Albert, and introduces a host of new characters from this fascinating era. Master storyteller David Morrell transports listeners back in time, away from the modern world and into the dangerous shadows of the past.

Loved

I absolutely loved this trilogy. By this book I was hooked. The only thing I didn't like was the bloomers reference through out the trilogy, somethings just repeated themselves to much. I highly recommend this trilogy though and the narrator grows on you.

Soo Good! The best story yet.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series. It is well written; the characters are engaging and the detail to Victorian London in the 1800s history is authentic. The relationship is in the main characters continues to be realistic and continues to progress. Peers views De Quincey is a scourged-on society because of his opium addiction. De Quincey who is aware of his faults, cannot be humiliated or devalued because of his addiction. Aristocrats view his confident and quite demeanor as haughtiness. It infuriates them while making them feel small.

The trilogy illustrates the disparity between those with money and the working class. It throws a spot light on the values and moral of the Victorian London. Through De Quincey’s investigating skills, he humbled demonstrated to Peers:
1. Intelligence is not equated with money.
2. Aristocrats are capable of the same sins as everyone else.
3. Clothing does not make a person above evil.

This finial story continues to illustrate many of the practices and deductive reasoning that are basic in crime investigating. This final crime revolves around the first passenger train in the 1800s and more of Quincey’s past is revealed. The action of the chase, suspense, and mystery are just as riveting as the first two books.

Emily went from being a spunky, unconventional to a very confident woman who is valued for her accomplishments. She is aware with her bloomer pants and medical knowledge many Peers view her with disdain. Her actions are emboldened by their prejudices. That confidence is demonstrated more in this installment.

Scotland Yard detectives Ryan and Becker have grown in confidence and skill in their investigating skills. They work together as a team instead of mentor and mentee. There is more of an exchange of knowledge instead Socratic method of education. There is a Starsky and Hutch exchange (hey man don’t beat the shit out of him. You will be the one in jail.) where one officer tamper the actions of his partner.

In the final installment, we find the Queen and many of the Peers hold De Quincey in high esteem. For unconventional Emily, who is devoted to her father and her modern views, there is love. De Quincey learns, you can never escape your past. After he finds the answers to his past, he and Emily leaves London. I will miss future stories about the opium eater.

I found this to be the best book. So much introductory information that is required to establish the story has already been accomplished in the previous stories.

history with mystery

narrator was spot on, loved everything about it, can't wait for the next book, hope it will be soon

All three

This one is the best of the three, however, I think the narrator of the other two is better, my chief complaint is the author’s twisting of facts and making everyone slightly dumb. Ludiom was a common remedy, the way everyone goes on like DeQuicy is a novelty is a little over done. Both Mann and Prime Minster, real people, would have viewed it as we do aspirin now. Also in the last one The lady’s corpse in the church would have been blue and cold, a fact.. one look at her and the detectives would have known she wasn’t just killed. And Anne’s end is the worst. It’s a shame because there are very few historical books that are accurate enough to be real. Though I have to admit his is one of them.