The Devil's Feast by M.J. Carter

 

Captain Avery has come to London from his rural estate to help his old friend Blake.  Blake has ended up in debtor's prison, the infamous Marshalsea, not because he really owes a debt but because he has refused a case from a man high up in government.  Avery tries to get Blake to change his mind and be released but to no avail.  

Avery is invited to dinner with the renowned chef, Monsieur Soyer at the Reform Club.  Avery and Blake had managed to get their friend, Matty, a place in the kitchens there and she is doing well.  But all is not well at the Reform.  A man sickens after the dinner and Avery stays to help as it appears to be cholera and he had experience with that in India.  The man dies and it turns out to be arsenic.  The club asks Avery to stay and look into the death as there is soon to be a major diplomatic dinner there.  Avery knows that Blake is the real detective in their partnership but agrees to do what he can.

Things get worse with more deaths.  Blake escapes and comes to help Avery.  Can they solve the case before more people die and Chef Soyer loses his reputation?

This is the third and final book in the Blake and Avery series and I'm sorry to see it come to an end.  I love the time period in the mid 1800's and the world of men's dining clubs and the Victorian era.  The two men are similar to Sherlock and Watson, although Blake is definitely not a refined Victorian gentleman but much closer to the streets.  The friendship between the two men was forged during their time serving in India and while they seem an unlikely pair for friendship, it has been forged in danger and they have admiration for each other.  This book is recommended for mystery readers.