SEEKING SOLUS SERIES of novels
Introducing the Seeking Solus novel series.
London is where we first meet Kit Pascoe in A Filigree of Gold. The fates will have their say and the whole series of the Seeking Solus novels will range across the English trading world.
The series follows the lives, loves and losses of; Kit, his Beloved She (Rebecca Scott) and the irrepressible rogue Edgeworth Bess, through the twenty-eight years from C.E 1696 to 1724.
Kit is brought to London by the lure of highly paid work, catching criminals for bounty payments. Kit, becomes entangled with the illegal operations of Bess and her criminal network. Rebecca's skills as a trained apothecary bring her in to contact with Kit; their attraction is instant. Before Rebecca can teach Kit the skills he needs to become a true investigator; a private policeman in the time before an official police force, the real history-makers of the period take over their lives.
The series currently consists of three novels, with the subsequent two tales already being drafted.
Kit Pascoe narrates the main tales, but Rebecca and Bess have their wonderful stories to tell.
A Filigree of Gold.
Filigree of Gold - Slow burn lightly spiced cozy-adjacent historical novel, the first of the Seeking Solus series of novels.
With Christmas A.D. 1696 approaching, the light of the season is turned to darkness; if the new lovers Kit and Rebecca cannot find the truth behind a mysterious crime, it will be Kit’s head in a Tyburn noose. Ever in Kit's mind is the vision of A Filigree of Gold.
Epigraph to the Seeking Solus series of novels.
Some might question if it is an honour or a punishment, if one man in a generation; one man in a hundred generations, lives the life that I have.
Because, and only because of the precious few who had loved me, I choose to see these past twenty-eight years as the greatest of any honour The Lord can bestow on anyone, especially on the Life and Love of the First True Thief Taker.
John Solus / Christopher Pascoe.
The Press Yard. Newgate Prison.
London. England.
January 1724.
***
A Crimson Moon.
A Crimson Moon - Slow burn lightly spiced cozy-adjacent historical novel following on from, yet separate to, A Filigree of Gold,
Winter A.D. 1697, Kit is heading to the West Country on business. Kit is hopeful of securing his and Rebecca's future together; until hidden forces intervene. However, all is not lost and Kit finds help in France by the light of A Crimson Moon.
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The She of We.
The She of We - Slow burn lightly spiced cozy-adjacent historical novel; following on from A Crimson Moon.
Summer/Autumn A.D. 1697, Kit lands safe back on the rain driven banks of the Thames. However, Rebecca is not at home, and no one seems to know where she is. Kit will have to battle the highest and lowest in the Kingdom to find The She of We.
A Filigree of Gold.
A novel by
P.B. Phillips.
Those chosen, just a few in a generation, are blessed beyond joy to have fallen in love, at Christmas.
***
People from the novels
The Thief Taker's Christmas: A Filigree of Gold
Christopher Pascoe (Kit) / John Solus
Character: KIT PASCOE IS, The Thieft Taker. kit is financially compelled into becoming a bounty collector in london. with Rebecca's help he is inventing the role of an investigator by neccessity, rather than intent.
Rebecca Scott. The She of We.
character: The first tea house owner in england and a trained apothecary. rebbeca is trying to make her way in the world using her nouse, nose, and experteese whilst keeping her family's past hidden.
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Elizabeth Blake nee Lion / Edgeworth Bess
Real historical figure, moved in back time 30 years: Irrepressible, lovable rouge and criminal project manager. bess has no intention of allowing her past, becoming her future.
Name: Christopher Pascoe.
Born: Exeter in C.E 1670.
Family: Mother and Father are fullers , woolen cloth workers. No living brothers or sisters.
Close Friends: Isaac and Wenna Penhellen (London), Gillian and Roesia (Exeter), Neve (Dieppe).
Education: Kit was privately educated by the Dean of Exeter University.
Aliases: John Solus, the name was adopted after becoming a bounty man for Newgate Prison, in London. Kit to his friends in England and Christophe to his friends in France. Christopher Williams. Mercury (messenger). Master John Lonely, solus means alone.
Homes: Exeter (Devon), Oxford, London, Dieppe (Normandy), Suffolk (UK), Rotterdam (The Netherlands), Jamaica (West Indies), New France (North America), New England (North America), Camborne (Cornwall).
Hobbies: Japanese art.
Skills: Portrait drawing, reading and writing (English, Latin, French).
Name: Rebecca Scott.
Born: Long Melford (Suffolk) in C.E 1672.
Family: Mother died in C.E 1676 and Father died C.E 1668. No living brothers or sisters. Guardians Elenor & William Culliford.
Close Friends: Cook, Mary Pix (London), almost everyone who she meets.
Education: Rebecca was schooled by a governess and apprenticed as an apothecary in London.
Aliases: Bonny One. Becca, to her guardian Sir William Culliford. The She of We.
Homes: Long Melford (Suffolk), London, ? , Exeter (Devon).
Hobbies: Japanese art, Christmas charity work, knits scarves for the needy.
Skills: Identification of plants and their uses, healer, midwife, reading and writing (English, Latin, French, Spanish, Dutch), exceptional at making friends.
Name: Elizabeth Blake, nee Lyon
Born: Edgeworth (Middlesex) in C.E 1672. (Note: The real Edgeworth Bess was born in C.E. 1702 and died in 1726)
Family: Husband, Joseph Blake (Blueskin), adopted daughter Elite. Mother died in C.E 1672 and Father (Rector) died C.E 1682.
Close Friends: John Solus/Kit Pascoe or No one.
Education: Bess was schooled by her father.
Aliases: Edgeworth Bess, Overseer.
Homes: Edgeworth (Middlesex), London, ?.
Hobbies: Self education.
Skills: Reading and writing (English, Latin, French), exceptional planning and forethought.
People from the novels
A Crimson Moon
Neve Orpen
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(Dear) Gillian Channon nee Batting
(Old) Helen Penhellen
Character: Neve is a bold, independent NORMANDY INN Keeper, WITH A devout sense of loyalty to those she loves. Neve enters kit's heart and head and bocomes part of who he is.
character: Gillian is Kit's oldest and closes friend. They grew up together in exeter. gillian has battled against the forces of god and man and is deterMined to come out on top.
ChaRacter: Mistress P is a force beyond nature. she carries all the power of age, certain in the knowledge that she is right. woebetide anyone or anything that is not from exeter.
Name: Neve Orpen
Born: Saint-Valery-en-Caux. Normandy. France C.E 1671
Family: Husband, Thierry-Henry Orpen (missing since 1695), Son, Petiur. Sister, Lena Brother in-law, Arnaut.
Close Friends: Lena
Education: Home school
Aliases: None
Homes: Saint-Valery-en-Caux, Belleville-Sur-Mer, Dieppe. Normandy France.
Hobbies: Chess
Skills: Reading and writing (Latin, French, Italian)
Name: Gillian Channon nee Batting
Born: C.E. 1670
Family: Husband, Amos Channon, Daughter (Elisa)
Close Friends: Roesia, Kit.
Education: Home school, dame school, Sunday school.
Aliases: None
Homes: St Thomas, Devon.
Hobbies: Writes pamphlets on women's role in business. Pit pony retirement.
Skills: Reading and writing (English), mathematics, people management.
Name: Helen Penhellen
Born: Launceston (Cornwall)
Family: Husband (x), Son, Isaac. Daughter-in-law, Wenna.
Close Friends: Old Charlotte Tunny
Education: Sunday School
Aliases: Mistress P
Homes: Launceston (Cornwall), The Bristol Inn, Exeter, Devon.
Hobbies: Teaching Sunday School
Skills: Very rude and funny without ever giving away that she knows she is very rude and funny.
People from the novels
The She of We
Isaac Penhellen
Character: ISAAC, with his wife Wenna, runs the round table inn, in the shaddow of the rebuilt st paul's cathedral.
Jonathan Wild
REAL HISTORICAL FIGURE: MOVED BACK N TIME 30 years. wild created a criminal network enabling to climb london's social ladder.
William Bentinck
Real historical figure: the earl of portland is focused on protecting and projecting his king's power, no matter the consiquences for anyone who might be in the way.
Name: Isaac Pehellen
Born: Launceston (Cornwall)
Family: Wife, Wenna. Mother, Old Helen Penhellen.
Close Friends: Kit Pascoe.
Education: Sunday School
Aliases: None
Homes: Launceston (Cornwall), Exeter (Devon), Round Table Inn, London.
Hobbies: Poems, jokes and comic song writing.
Skills: Writer of dirty songs.
Name: Jonathan Wild
Born: Birmingham circa 1650
Family: Wife, Jane Janssen.
Close Friends: None
Education: King Edward's School , Birmingham.
Aliases: Master Somerton
Homes: Birmingham, London, ?.
Hobbies: He is very fond of horses, plays dice and collects criminals & informers. Has a huge collection of silk waistcoats, that he almost never wears in public.
Skills: Deal making.
Name: William Bentinck
Born: Diepenheim (The Netherlands) C.E 1649.
Family: Married twice. Second Wife, Jane Temple. In total William had 13 children.
Close Friends: William III King of England, Scotland and Stadholder of The Netherlands.
Aliases: Hans Willem. Has a huge list of honors and titles including Earl of Portland, Lord Chamberlain, Knight of the Garter, etc etc.
Homes: Windsor, London, Bulstrode Park, Buckinghamshire. He retired to huge estates in England and Ireland after a falling out with a political rival.
Hobbies: Collects carpets and silk art.
Skills: Exceptional political operator in England, The Netherlands and France.