A Conspiracy of Paper: A Novel (Benjamin Weaver Book 1)

The first part of this one offers a mixed experience. Although author Liss seems to have the history right (his facts "feel" true) and his writing is competent and entirely workmanlike, there is a heavy-handedness about it all. The characters are rather ordinary and seem to lack life while the narrative is overly talky (emulating real eighteenth century prose?) and tells more than shows what is going on. I think Liss walked a fine line between evoking the "voice" of older times and saying too much and sometimes he seems to slip over the edge. I found the main character, Benjamin Weaver, a sephardic Jew in England whose family hails from Iberia via Holland, somewhat tiresome and rather too dull to make much of a detective and his Watson-like sidekick, Elias Gordon, a dissolute Scottish surgeon and rake with Shakespearean aspirations, overly flat. The mystery plods on for the first half of the tale, overwhelmed by a slow and cumbersome exposition, so that the main impetus to read on must come from an interest in the South Sea stock bubble itself and how it heralded a changed world of finance that is still with us today. Indeed, the background to this tale, the development of capital financing through stock markets and paper manipulations, is fascinating stuff in its own right. About half way through the book though, something happens and the mystery begins to compel. While the Jewish background often seems a bit forced (Weaver's uncle seems too perfect, the gratuitous peddler too eastern European for the period) and the array of characters (both Jewish and British) too caricatured, the pace of the tale finally does pick up as the inevitable unravelling of the situation takes on a life of its own. As Ben Weaver stumbles his way through events, and he rarely seems perspicuous enough to stand up to the behind-the-scenes players who may be manipulating him, he finally begins to break through the veil of confusion and obfuscation when he lurches into fighting mode. Still, the resolution, while satisfying when it comes in that it is somewhat of a surprise (at least I found it such), does not have the kind of emotional resonance that really appeals, the result of the flattish characters with whom we have been engaged. As a mystery this novel proves out and as an historical piece it is factually rich and fleshed out. But as a novel it was a bit too heavy-handed for my tastes. Still, it was readable and worth the time for anyone interested in this period or in the historical mystery genre. I note, too, that the author left some loose ends lying about, in anticipation perhaps of a sequel for Mr. Weaver? -- SWM

Having recently digested the excellent Coffee Trader by Mr. Liss, I was anxious to sink my teeth into another one of his, and did so with this one. It is a fine, entertaining novel, but the plot--a detective story basically--is a bit too conventional.It takes place in early eighteenth-century London and like the Coffee Trader, the historical detail is excellent. You get London in all its muddy, dungy glory, as well as a bellyful of the obsolete, inhumane practices of the day. Jails were filthy and vicious and men and women were not separated. People were put in the stocks and tormented by passersby. Justice was doled out in a completely arbitrary way: those with the gelt were most likely to obtain it. Interestingly, there was no police force, per se, so law and order was doled out indiscriminately and often by criminal gangs. Pickpockets roamed during the day and thugs controlled the night. Tough stuff.The hero of this tale is Benjamin Weaver, a former pugilist, who now makes his living as a detective, although he is never really referred to by that term. It is narrated by him in first person, and he is a very engaging fellow. A tough guy, he makes his living by finding debtors and other such undesirables for clients who want them found. The plot here begins with a task he is given to retrieve stolen papers for a wealthy client. At the same time, another client asks him to look into the deaths of both his father's and the client's father's deaths. The client has reason to believe that they were murdered, not killed accidentally, and also that these murders were related. As you might suspect, it gets pretty intricate, as our friend becomes enmeshed in a web of lies, truths, half-truths, disappearing witnesses and threats against his person. Some unseen force is desperately trying to stop him and some benevolent force seems to be helping him, and wouldn't you know, as he goes along, the highest forces in England seem to be involved. Yes, it's very engrossing, but if you've ever read a good detective novel, you'll recognize the pattern.Nevertheless, it's a cut above the typical fare, in that the characters are lively and believable; the setting, as mentioned, is superb; and the prose style is filled with wit and quite elegant. Very enjoyable.

I very much enjoyed 'A spectacle of corruption' and eagerly anticipated meeting Benjamin Weaver again as I picked up this book. I was not disappointed: 'A conspiracy of paper' is at least as good.Weaver at first seems out of his depth in the intricate world of stock-jobbers, and whoever's behind his father's death always seems to be one step ahead of him, but he tackles the problem with his usual panache. There's a whole host of rogues and other colourful characters, plenty of twists and turns in the plot, and Benjamin even falls in love...I'll not waste any more of your time: buy this book, sit down and enjoy!

I bought this book because I was given the authors other book, sequel, A Spectacle of Corruption and did not want to start at the end.The book covers the adventures of former pugilist and latter day fixer Ben Weaver. The story relates to the early beginnings of modern commerce and introduction of paper money. I thought this was a well written book and the plot is well thought out. I really got into the character and the problems he faced being a Jew in London during the Jacobite era.Well worth a read and I would recommend the second book, A Spectacle of Corruption, in the series as well.

A very different read but well researched and presented

Ok quality, think condition a little worse than described

good yarn with twist in the tail