Library & Literary Miscellany

Montmorency On The Rocks by Eleanor Updale

Following his ignominious rise to the status of gentleman in the series’ first book (Montmorency: Thief, Liar, Gentleman (2004)), Montmorency also known as Scarper returns in Montmorency On the Rocks. Montmorency continues to fight against being consumed by Scarper’s proclivities. On a trip with his friend Lord George Fox-Selwyn, Montmorency begins taking a noxious drug. This drug brings Scarper out in full force in near obliteration of all that Montmorency has striven to become. After their return to London, Montmorency continues consuming the drug, or rather, letting the drug consume him: “The drug had long since ceased to bring him happiness, and yet he couldn’t help himself.”

Straits are so dire that Fox-Selwyn decides to help the man who can’t seem to help himself by removing Montmorency away from the prying eyes (and underground temptations) of London society. Fox-Selwyn takes Montmorency, along with his other friend Dr. Farcett, to Scotland.

After Dr. Farcett’s hubris and surgical error caused a patient’s death, he is facing his own demons. However, Dr. Farcett once saved Montmorency’s physical life, and now he is called upon to reach deep and recall his desire for helping make sick people well in order to help Montmorency overcome his substance abuse. In so doing, Dr. Farcett begins to face his past mistakes so that he might embrace his future.

Even as Dr. Farcett helps Montmorency detoxify, the three friends stumble upon another mystery on the island of Tarimond off the Scottish coast. Dr. Farcett’s skills are called upon to uncover why the babies on the island are dying within a few months of their birth. A parallel crisis calls for Montmorency to return to London and apply his  skills of camouflage and subterfuge to the task of finding the bomber that is loose in London. With this charge, Montmorency once again dons his Scarper persona in the heart of London–this time in the service of his country.

Unlike the first book that largely focuses on developing Montmorency’s complex identity, this second book expands to include not only Montmorency’s perspective but also the thoughts, actions, and complex personalities of Lord Fox-Selwyn and Dr. Farcett. Interestingly, Updale employs these three aristocratic characters to showcase the complexity of human nature, the harsher aspects of life for the impoverished, and the colossal inequities among social classes in Victorian England (a la Dickens).

Montmorency: On the Rocks is every bit as thrilling and as full of historical detail, adventure, and intrigue as the first book. Montmorency/Scarper ’s story continues in the third book of this series Montmorency and the Assassins (2006) and the fourth book Montmorency’s Revenge (2007).

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