Blood on the Water, by Anne Perry
The Book Commander William Monk and Mr. Orme are on routine patrol one evening on the Thames when they see a man leap from a pleasure boat. Moments later, the boat blows up and quickly sink. Despite having experienced the sonic boom, Monk and Orme rescue as many people as they can before returning to the Wapping Station for a brief rest. The next morning Monk hires a diving suit to look at the wreckage to see if he can determine where the explosives were place. Upon surfacing, Monk is relieved of the case by Inspector John Lydiate. The newspapers are full of outrage, a minister in the Home Office, Lord Ossett, keep trying to interfere. Lydiate and his men quickly solve the case. But the River Police are restless, knowing Lydiate trusted men who are known liars and opportunists. Nonetheless, the man is found guilty. Scuff, who lived on the waterfront most of his life, until he came to live with William and Hester, now about 16, reads it all in the newspapers...
