Shadow of Doctor Syn is the seventh and last in the series of Doctor Syn

Doctor Syn

The Reverend Doctor Christopher Syn is the smuggler hero of a series of novels by Russell Thorndike. The first book, Doctor Syn: A Tale of the Romney Marsh was published in 1915. The story idea came from smuggling in the 18th century Romney Marsh, where brandy and tobacco were brought in at night...

 novels by Russell Thorndike

Russell Thorndike

Arthur Russell Thorndike was a British actor and novelist, best known for the Doctor Syn of Romney Marsh novels...

. This story is set during the events of the French Revolution

French Revolution

The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...

 and part of the action has Syn rescuing people from the Reign of Terror

Reign of Terror

The Reign of Terror , also known simply as The Terror , was a period of violence that occurred after the onset of the French Revolution, incited by conflict between rival political factions, the Girondins and the Jacobins, and marked by mass executions of "enemies of...

 in the style of the Scarlet Pimpernel

Scarlet pimpernel

Scarlet pimpernel is a low-growing annual plant found in Europe, Asia and North America...

. The other main plot element is a love story. Syn has fallen in love with young Cicily Cobtree and hopes his actions against Robespierre will earn him a pardon from the King. When Cicily dies, Syn gives up his ideas of pardon and nearly loses his sanity. This sets the stage for the fiendish character he becomes in Doctor Syn: A Tale of the Romney Marsh

Doctor Syn: A Tale of the Romney Marsh

Doctor Syn: A Tale of the Romney Marsh is the first in the series of Doctor Syn novels by Russell Thorndike. In this story we are introduced to the complex Christopher Syn, the kindly vicar of the little town of Dymchurch. Syn seems pleasant but we soon learn that he has a sinister past...

.

Shadow of Doctor Syn was published in 1944. It follows the events of Amazing Quest of Doctor Syn

Amazing Quest of Doctor Syn

Amazing Quest of Doctor Syn is the sixth in the series of Doctor Syn novels by Russell Thorndike. This is a full-length novel in which the doctor travels to Wales to compete with another smuggler....

. Though it is the last book written in the series it acts as a prequel for the first novel.