Balthazar Jones and the Tower of London Zoo

Meet Balthazar Jones, Beefeater at the Tower of London. Married to Hebe, he lives and works in the Tower, as he struggles to cope with the tragic death of his son, Milo.

The Tower of London is its own magical world: a maze of ancient buildings, it is home to a weird and wonderful cast of characters - the Joneses, of course, as well as Reverend Septimus Drew, the Ravenmaster, and Ruby Dore, landlady of the Tower's very own tavern, the Rack & Ruin. And, after an announcement from Buckingham Palace that the Queen's exotic animals are to be moved from London Zoo to the Tower's grounds, things are about to become a whole lot more interesting….


Balthazar Jones used to have a passion for history and the best record for catching pickpockets - important skills for a Beefeater at the Tower of London. But in the years since the tragic death of his young son, the only thing that interests him is the rain.Until the Queen's Equerry arrives to tell him that the Tower is to become a menagerie again - and Balthazar is the one who has to organise it.
This quirky tale is delightfully different, taking place within the ancient walls of the Tower, and the lives of the many folk who reside there. Among the Beefeaters there's poor grieving Balthazar, the philandering Ravenmaster, and the Yeoman Gaoler being haunted by Sir Walter Raleigh. There's also the rat-hating Reverend - who also happens to write erotic fiction - Ruby Dore, barmaid of the Rack and Ruin, and of course Hebe Jones, Balthazar's wife, whose job at the London Underground Lost Property office is a mine of comedy gems.
Filled with bizarre and hilarious stories, anecdotes and trivia this book is almost a village soap opera, following a loose overall plot, but diverting to different characters along the way. And while it's full of surprising and morbidly amusing deaths and executions, at the heart is a tale of grief and the struggles of coping with the death of a child. If you're looking for something well-crafted and a little bit different - not to mention thoroughly enjoyable - give this a try. It is a delightful book that's funny, charming, imaginative and truly touching. (Review by Book.Gannet)