Balthazar Jones and the Tower of London Zoo

No cover

Julia Stuart: Balthazar Jones and the Tower of London Zoo (2010, HarperPress, William Collins)

325 pages

English language

Published July 12, 2010 by HarperPress, William Collins.

ISBN:
978-0-00-734523-6
Copied ISBN!
OCLC Number:
467746993

View on OpenLibrary

2 stars (1 review)

When Buckingham Palace announce that the Queen's exotic animals will be moved from London Zoo to the Tower of London, Beefeater Balthazar Jones, owner of the world's oldest tortoise and collector of rare raindrops, is charged with minding them. The magical (and ghostly), labyrinthine world of the Tower is already home and workplace to a strange collection of creatures - including the Reverend Septimus Drew, the Ravenmaster, and Ruby Dore, landlady of the Rack & Ruin, and, of course, Jones and his wife, the spectacular and fiery Hebe. Once it was home too for Milo, their young son, but then came the fateful day that haunts them both.

3 editions

Review of 'Balthazar Jones and the Tower of London Zoo' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

I was a bit disappointed with this. The story of the Tower of London reinstating its menagerie seemed like a good one. However there wasn't a whole lot of plot and the characters weren't developed enough to make up for that. I did like the parts about the London Underground Lost Property Office which I believe aren't too far from the truth. There were a few awww moments and a few chuckles, so I think it's an OK easy read. Maybe if you like M.C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin series, this would be right up your street as it's quite similar style. I think the bearded pig was the bets bit!

Subjects

  • Menageries
  • Tower of London (London, England)
  • Fiction

Places

  • England
  • London