 |
| 224 pages |
When Superintendent Tom Harper's wife is threatened during an election campaign, the hunt for the attacker turns personal.
Leeds, England. October, 1897. Superintendent Harper is proud of his wife Annabelle. She's one of seven women selected to stand for election as a Poor Law Guardian. But even as the campaign begins, Annabelle and the other female candidates start to receive anonymous letters from someone who believes a woman's place lies firmly in the home.
The threats escalate into outright violence when an explosion rips through the church hall where Annabelle is due to hold a meeting - with fatal consequences. The only piece of evidence Harper has is a scrap of paper left at the scene containing a fragment from an old folk song. But what is its significance?
As polling day approaches and the attacks increase in menace and intensity, Harper knows he's in a race against time to uncover the culprit before more deaths follow. With the lives of his wife and daughter at risk, the political becomes cruelly personal ...
The threats escalate into outright violence when an explosion rips through the church hall where Annabelle is due to hold a meeting - with fatal consequences. The only piece of evidence Harper has is a scrap of paper left at the scene containing a fragment from an old folk song. But what is its significance?
As polling day approaches and the attacks increase in menace and intensity, Harper knows he's in a race against time to uncover the culprit before more deaths follow. With the lives of his wife and daughter at risk, the political becomes cruelly personal ...
My thoughts:
This is the first book from the series which I have read, but when I was invited to review it I found the subject matter drew me in. I am not a particularly fierce fighter for women's rights per se, but do feel that women deserve an equal say on how our country functions so the thought of how things were back in 1897 doesn't sit comfortably with me. I did wonder before I started reading whether I would find the writing style difficult to adjust to as I don't read many novels set pre 20th century but Chris Nickson has managed to keep a modern style to his writing which flows well and is easy to read whilst keeping the Victorian setting well and truly alive. Descriptions of the city of Leeds are excellent and extremely atmospheric and the very different setting of Whitby to where his former colleague Billy has relocated is brought alive equally as well.
The sense of tension and foreboding build well as the threatening letters are received by the ladies standing in the election and as the culprit ups his game with far more serious incidents. Harper is stumped as to the identity of the criminal and clues seem very thin on the ground.
I found myself realising just how far forensic investigation techniques progressed during the 20th century, with even the most basic of evidence such as finger prints not being available to aid the police investigation - indeed the telephone was still very much in its infancy at this time.
Despite there being a few suspects in the frame I did manage to work out who the culprit was but this in no way spoilt my enjoyment of this book.
A great story which I felt reflected the personal effect crime can have on those who investigate it, I am so pleased I took up the invitation to review this book and I will definitely be more likely to read more historical novels in future - in fact I would now like to go back and read this whole series from the start and find out what has happened in the relationship between Tom Harper and his former colleague Billy.
I found myself realising just how far forensic investigation techniques progressed during the 20th century, with even the most basic of evidence such as finger prints not being available to aid the police investigation - indeed the telephone was still very much in its infancy at this time.
Despite there being a few suspects in the frame I did manage to work out who the culprit was but this in no way spoilt my enjoyment of this book.
A great story which I felt reflected the personal effect crime can have on those who investigate it, I am so pleased I took up the invitation to review this book and I will definitely be more likely to read more historical novels in future - in fact I would now like to go back and read this whole series from the start and find out what has happened in the relationship between Tom Harper and his former colleague Billy.
About the Author:
The author of the Richard Nottingham books, historical mysteries set in Leeds in the 1730s and featuring Richard Nottingham, the Constable of the city, and his deputy, John Sedgwick. The books are about more than murder. They're about the people of Leeds and the way life was - which mean full of grinding poverty for all but the wealthy. They're also about families, Nottingham and his and Sedgwick, and the way relationships grow and change, as well as the politics, when there was one law for the rich, and another, much more brutal, for everyone else.
Leeds in the 1890s is the settling for the Tom Harper series. The books are mysteries, but relationships are paramount, as well as politics - strike, racism against Jewish immigrants, the slow build of socialism and more.
No comments:
Post a Comment