What We Leave Behind

by Siôn Scott-Wilson

‘As powerful and addictive as the first outing of Siòn Scott-Wilson’s personable Regency graverobbers, What We Leave Behind leads its reader through a beautifully-realised and immersive world of stark necessities amid exquisite squalor, conjuring its Dandy-Horses, resurrection-men and its rich, steaming London in a persuasively authentic eighteenth-century voice. This is the most pungent and rewarding thriller I expect to read this year – a sordid and electrifying triumph.’'
- ALAN MOORE

A gripping tale of redemption and the power of love set against the backdrop of a historical crime-ridden London... In this highly-anticipated sequel to Some Rise By Sin , Sammy and Facey are pulled back into the gritty world of London's criminal underworld. This time, the stakes are higher than ever as the fate of Sammy's young adopted son hangs in the balance. Coerced into the hunt for a notorious gemstone, Sammy and Facey are torn between their moral code and their desperate desire to save the boy. As they navigate the dangerous streets of London, they are forced to confront the weight of their actions and the legacies they will leave behind. Will they make the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of the stolen child—and can they rise above the sins of their past?

PRAISE FOR SIÔN SCOTT-WILSON
"What an impressive feat of ventriloquism! I felt I was eavesdropping on genuine 19th-century grave robbers ... I felt I was there in the rough and tumble streets of 1830s London. Grotesque, pathetic, yet with moments of poignant calm and welcome humour"
-TRACY CHEVALIER

"This book is a masterpiece ... Some Rise by Sin is a dark dark book, though often hilarious, and with a masterful voice. Buy this book immediately."
-NICK MAMATAS

"Siôn Scott-Wilson seems very much to be a writer after my own heart. Some Rise By Sin proved pretty much impossible to put down ... masterfully plotted and presented, with indelible characters."
-ALAN MOORE

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, London

248 pages, Paperback

Published May 24, 2023

Reviews

[Maureen]

In the follow up to ‘Some Rise by Sin’, we return to 18th century London, to reunite with Sammy and Facey, former resurrection men (grave robbers).

Two years ago, Sammy and Facey moved from London to Portsmouth, and are no longer grave robbers. They have now become rather respectable, but when Sammy’s adopted son John is abducted, they must once more return to the criminal underworld in London to secure his release. They are tasked with the procurement of a precious but notorious gemstone, with the promise that if they fail, then John will pay with his life!

Take the author’s hand and let him guide you back through the mists of time to Regency London, to a world of grave robbers, drinking dens, thugs, slippery cobbled streets, together with the stench of contaminated water, backed-up sewers, over-filled privies, and rotting garbage and all manner of diseases. Richly atmospheric, well researched, and a storyline that, whilst grim and gritty, was also peppered with lots of humour, this is another winner for Siôn Scott-Wilson.

*Thank you to Netgalley and Deixis Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *

[Lisa - *OwlBeSatReading*]

Easily one of my new favourites in the historical fiction genre, author Siôn Scott-Wilson’s follow up to ‘Some Rise by Sin’ has left me wanting more - I was reluctant to leave behind ‘What We Leave Behind’. Is there another in the pipeline? You cannot possibly end there, Mr S-W, that would be a travesty, I tell you! *shakes fist*

Any gate, (I love the lingo within the pages!) on the filthy streets of 18th century London, with ‘The Blue Plague’ sweeping the city, Sammy and Facey are back, and they’re on a (reluctant) mission to find precious gemstone, the Eye of Brahma, a highly sought-after black diamond.

If you enjoy the likes of Michel Fabers’ ‘The Crimson Petal and the White’ or Maggie Richell-Davies’ ‘The Servant’, then this is your kind of story.

What astounds me about this book, (and it’s predecessor) is the depth of the characters, the intensity of the descriptions, and the wit and humour within the dialogue. The research that has gone into this creation is extensive, and it really does show.

The main source of entertainment for me was the language and how the characters behaved. They have this dark, dry humour that I adore. When reading it in the bathtub (my favourite reading spot!) my partner asked me ‘what ARE you laughing at in there?’ to which I reply, ‘was I? I didn’t even realise’. I was so immersed in 18th century London, that I almost forgot that I was physically immersed in a bathtub in modern day Hampshire!

What We Leave Behind is perfect, I cannot fault it.

Thankee kindly to indie publisher, Deixis Press for sending me an early proof, and as expected, it was a dirty ol’ delight to read.

Out 26th May 2023

[Emma]

This story! These characters! This author! Loved, loved this and really hope it continues as a series and isn’t just the second in a duology. I love the big hearted characters and the streets come to life. The dialogue is superb. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

[WndyJW]

I loved Some Rise By Sin so dropped everything to read What We Leave Behind as soon as it arrived. I liked it very much, even though it is less a caper and more a mystery.

We meet up with Sammy and Facey as they are evading the Royal inspectors to bring contraband fish into a Portsmouth harbour. It’s two years since they left London and Sammy and Rosamund are married and teaching at the John Pounds school and they own a bar. Facey is still Facey. The three friends are are in high spirits because young Pure John, who Sammy and Rosamund have taken on as their son, is coming back from his time at sea. When Pure John doesn’t show up the story begins.

The whereabouts of Pure John take Sammy, Facey and Rosamund back to London where they are forced back into business with the comically despicable Mr. Pimlott and Mr. Chuffington who want a famed black diamond in exchange for Pure John, but London is under siege from Asiatic Cholera and the gem was buried with one of its victims. As the former resurrection men and Rosamund attempt to retrieve the stone they become embroiled in a bigger mystery.

As with Some Rise By Sin this novel is character driven with authentic dialogue and cultural references that plant it in early 19th century London.

I recommend both of these books, but read Some Rise By Sin first.

[Rachael]

“What we leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.”

First of all a Huge Thank You to the publisher for being so generous to send me both books in this series. I’ve had just the best time with them!

In my recent review of Some Rise By Sin (book 1 in this series) I gushed about how much I absolutely adored it, and What We Leave Behind (its sequel) is just as brilliant.

Here we return to some familiar faces; remember Resurrection men Sammy and Facey? Yep, they are back! Along with some of their companions, and I loved them just as much this time around. In this one the stakes and tensions are high, as friendship, family and their moral code are put to the test… I was entirely immersed in their lives once again and I loved being back in this world, and I would happily read more of it.

I won’t say too much about the plot for fear of spoiling where the first book ends, but only to say this: if you’re looking for a captivating plot with a gritty 19th century London underworld backdrop, and with wonderfully crafted characters to root for, then this is for you.

Thanks again to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review

[Ben]

Brilliant sequel to the brilliant Some Rise By Sin.

[Alex Sarll]

I enjoyed Some Rise By Sin's seamy depiction of early 19th century bodysnatching, but I hadn't really expected a sequel - and indeed, Scott-Wilson is obliged to unpick parts of the previous book's happy ending to get Sammy, Facey and Rosamund back on the wrong side of the law and returning to a metropolis where, on top of everyone they pissed off last time, there's now a cholera outbreak in progress. But I get the impression that the characters' voices were still chatting away too insistently in his head not to be got down on paper too, certainly not when Alan Moore was in the market to read more of their misadventures. Their previous outing had mystery elements, but this time out we're firmly in proto-detective story territory, the grand house with secrets above and below stairs - one of those books I suspect might be riffing on Wilkie Collins, except that I've never read Wilkie Collins so can't be too sure. But the way that the leads are equally engaging company in this different slice of the setting gives me hope that, next time their voices can't be ignored, Scott-Wilson might find a way not to disturb the poor sods' hard-earned rest to the same extent; I'd be just as happy to read them engaged in light scrapes and hijinks as life or death ordeals.

(Netgalley ARC)

[James Kinsley]

A sequel that out-performs its first instalment, a most welcome return to Sammy & Facey's world. Written, crafted even, with a peerless authenticity, the atmosphere of Regency London is tangible, the characterisation full of life. The plot bounces along nicely, the mystery at its heart full of the required twists and turns, but it's Scott-Wilson's prose, as with the first book Some Rise By Sin, that elevates What We Leave Behind to the higher plane it inhabits. Marvelous.

[Kate]

Good to be back in the company of Facey and Samuel once again. An atmospheric and clever story meticulously plotted and a thoroughly pleasurable and satisfying read.

[Andrea Hulme]

I really enjoyed this one. It is a follow up to Some Rise by Sin, which I had read earlier this year. At the end of that, we left Sammy and Facey as they were escaping their grave robbing work in London and heading for a more wholesome lifestyle. But now are are back in 18th century London.

When Sammy’s adopted son John is abducted, they must once more return to the criminal underworld in London to secure his release. They are tasked with the procurement of a precious but notorious gemstone, with the promise that if they fail, then John will pay with his life.

The author really brings to life 18th Century London on every page in this book. You can hear the noises, smell the sewers and rot of the cobbled streets. The atmosphere is dark, gritty and grim. The story is rich and really fires your imagination up for the locations we visit. The research that must have gone into this must have been extensive.

The characters are wonderful. The witty banter between the characters is lively and amusing. Spoken in the language of the time but easy to follow and so humorous. It has been great to follow the antics of the characters again.

Overall a fun read, exploring the underbelly of 18th Century London, with characters that are enjoyable to read about and a story that hooks you in.

[A.M. Belsey]

Siôn Scott-Wilson has done it again. What We Leave Behind is a masterful continuation of the story he started in Some Rise By Sin, with the same impeccable research and rich atmosphere. Sammy and Facey are of course again navigating the darker side of Regency London. But this time they are on a quest to save Sammy's adopted son from the clutches of some local baddies you've met before. Scott-Wilson's vivid writing really does transport you to the Regency era as it really was – I mean, I like Bridgerton as much as the next guy, but let's face it, the reality was a lot smellier. Siôn has a way of making you feel like you're traversing the mean streets right there with his characters. It's a world I am so glad to get back into.

[Kelly Hollingworth]

This is the second book I have read by this author and the sequel to Some Rise by Sin. This time Sammy and Facey are coerced into returning to be Resurrection Men to retrieve a large, black, rare gemstone to try and save Sammy and his wife Rosamund’s adopted son Pure John. The trio relocate from Portsmouth to duck and dive on the dark and dirty streets of London once again. I love the friendship between Sammy and Facey and the interplay of Rosamund’s character. As with the first book I enjoyed the depiction of London during this period. The author is very skilled in creating the mood, the smells and the dialect of the time. I hope this isn’t the last we hear of these characters.

[Fran McBookface]

A brilliantly entertaining and fun read.

It took me a while to get used to the language as many characters use terms and phrases common in 18th century England but once I got my head round the 'cant' I tore through this book. Really felt it added an authenticity too.

Some great banter and the dry humour of the characters provide more than a few chuckles

This is the second book in the series and I hadn't read the first but had no problem jumping right in.

A good story, rich details and unforgettable characters make this a highly recommended read.

[Susie Helme]

Graverobbers Sammy and Facey dig for their living amid the squalor of 18th C London London.
Carrying contraband liquor into Portsmouth Harbour, Sammy and Facey manage to evade the Tide Surveyor. Sammy’s young adopted son, ship’s boy Pure John, has been taken to London, and Sammy’s wife Rosamund is anxious. They need to find the lad before he is hanged for a deserter.
They are pulled into the search for a fabled gemstone. The rare Eye of Brahma black diamond, a ferronière (to be worn on the forehead), was worn into the grave by a Mrs Edith Belmont, making its retrieval within the skillset of the two graverobbers. The mission is all the riskier in that the deceased died of the infectious Asiatic Cholera. And yet the blue tinge of corpse’s skin wipes off with vinegar, and the stone is a fake.
They are drawn into not just a thieving escapade but solving a mystery involving the young heir, William Belmont. Local jewellers come under suspicion as do members of the Belmont staff, Jenkins, Nellie, Mrs Stride and Mrs Parkes.
Rosamund enters the Belmont household, where a poisoner maybe lurks, as governess, and Sammy and Facey enter as plasterers.
Saving the boy means making a sacrifice. The clock-ticking rescue, involving use of a Dandy Horse (early bicycle) and a last-minute crowbar, is quite exciting.
The Voice, mostly that of Sammy, sounds quite authentically 18th century, down to the flowery formality of everyday speech, which is occasionally almost humorous. Even street criminals address each other as ‘Mr’ and ‘Mrs’, and the dissecters of human cadavers discourse courteously. It dips into the mysterious (and morbid and seedy) world of graverobbing, and we even learn some street gang slang—e.g. ‘karker’ (carcass), ‘dipper’ (pickpocket), ‘stretcher’ (lie), ‘downy’ (shrewd), ‘mazer’ (puzzle), ‘neb’ (nose) ‘glims’ (eyes). The jocular, colloquial banter between the characters sounds authentic.
A beautiful book, which follows on from Some Rise by Sin. This review first appeared in Historical Novels Review.