The Leaden Heart

DI Tom Harper #7

by Chris Nickson

When an old friend asks Superintendent Tom Harper for help, he finds himself drawn into a deadly web of intimidation, corruption and misery on the streets of Leeds.

Leeds, England. July, 1899. The hot summer has been fairly quiet for Detective Superintendent Tom Harper and his squad, until a daring burglary occurs at an expensive Leeds address. Then his friend and former colleague, Inspector Billy Reed, asks for his help. Billy's brother, Charlie, a shopkeeper, has committed suicide. Going through Charlie's papers, Billy discovers crippling rent rises demanded by his new landlord. Could these have driven him to his death?

As Harper investigates, he uncovers a web of intimidation and corruption that leads back to the mysterious North Leeds Company. Who is pulling the strings behind the scenes and bringing a new kind of misery and violence to the people of Leeds? Harper is determined to unmask the culprits, but how much blood will be shed as he tries?

Genres: Mystery, Historical, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery

224 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2019

About the author

I'm a novelist and music journalist, the author of many books set between the 1730s and 1950s in Leeds, as well as others in medieval Chesterfield and 1980s Seattle.

Above all, though, its Leeds I love, the people, the sense of the place changing with time. Yes, I write mysteries, but ultmiateoly they're books about people and their relationships, and the crime becomes a moral framework for the story.

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whenever I fancy a spot of historical crime fiction - you know the kind I’m talking about - just good old fashioned policing in the days before the advent of technology? well it’s always Leeds born author Chris Nickson who comes to mind, and he never lets me down.

It’s July 1899, and the industrial city of Leeds in the north of England is suffering under the suffocating summer heat, and that in itself is a real rarity in this part of the world. Detective Superintendent Tom Harper and his team have been experiencing a lull in activities as far as the local criminals are concerned, (thought to be due to said heat), but all that changes with a house burglary in an exclusive part of the city, and it will be the first of many.

Friend and former colleague of Tom’s, Billy Reed, now a Police Inspector in the coastal town of Whitby near the North Yorkshire Moors, asks for Tom’s help. Billy’s brother Charlie ( a Leeds shopkeeper) has committed suicide and Billy wonders whether it was anything to do with the papers he discovered relating to huge increases in rent from Charlie’s new landlord. Tom starts an investigation into this new landlord and all indications lead to the North Leeds Company. This is something of a mystery to Tom, this is very much his patch but he’s never heard of this company. As investigations continue, it appears that there are prominent Leeds figures who wish to hide their identity and corruption behind the logo of the North Leeds Company, and they’re happy to use violence and intimidation on the small businessmen of Leeds in order to maintain their secrecy.

Though this is the 7th in the series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone. I just love Detective Superintendent Tom Harper and his family. His wife Annabelle plays a prominent part with her quest to help the less fortunate of Leeds, and after her appointment as a Poor Law Guardian she becomes even more involved after the deaths of two little girls in the community. Mary, their daughter makes up the third member of this hard working and caring little family. Tom really has his work cut out trying to find out who’s behind the threats and intimidation, and together with the string of burglaries, he’s driven to the point of exhaustion in his quest to bring them both to a satisfactory conclusion.

Another completely absorbing, and atmospheric read from Chris Nickson, and highly recommended.

* My thanks to Severn House Publishers for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Steal a little and they throw you in jail; steal a lot and they make you king." (Bob Dylan)

Superintendent Tom Harper of "A" Division is feeling the oppressive blanket of heat surrounding the city of Leeds. It's July of 1899 with Leeds growing and prospering at the turn of the century. The streets are lined with throngs of people bustling about and not all of them have goodness on their minds.

A string of home burglaries are perplexing Tom as of late. The residents have been within their own homes oblivious as to what was happening in other areas of the house. The missing items are not discovered until the next day. With the intense heat, people have slept with open windows seeking a bit of a breeze. Not only does this burglar walk on silent cat feet, but he seems to be invisible as well.

But there will be escalating crimes in Leeds in which someone is stealing the life breath from its victims. Inspector Billy Reed's own brother is found dead in his apartment. What first appears to be a suicide is later found to be murder. Charlie Reed will have company in the medical examiner's building as more bodies are found under strange circumstances. Someone is leaning hard on these individuals prior to their deaths. But for what reason? And who is the who?

The City Council is pressuring Tom to solve the burglaries and the murders. If not, Tom could find that someone else will be sitting behind his desk. What causes more concern to Tom is the shortage of available constables in the Leeds Police Force. Chris Nickson makes us well aware of the impact of the Boer War in which British men enlisted to fight in South Africa. One of Tom's top men, Sergeant Fowler, gives his notice in order to work intelligence in the war effort.

The Leaden Heart is richly ladened with life in Leeds encorporating not only Tom Harper's police experiences, but his family life as well. He has a young lively daughter, Mary, and an exceptional wife, Annabelle, who owns her own business and is a Poor Law Guardian for the Sheepscar people. Annabelle will become involved in a case in which the lives of two small children will ratchet up her advocacy skills.

Chris Nickson slips our hand into the glove from the onset. No worries about catching up if this is your first experience with this series. The Leaden Heart can be read as a standalone. The writing is top-notch and the cover is quite impressive as well. Look for the Author's Notes at the end in which Chris Nickson fills in actual historical happenings in Leeds that corresponds with the characters and time period of the book. Good, good stuff.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Severn House and to Chris Nickson for the opportunity.

[LenaRibka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read the previous books of the series.( To tell the truth, I didn't know when I requested it, that it was a part of the series. )

It is WHY I even considered to skip it - together with the previous sequels - but then I just read the first pages. And...I changed my mind.

I enjoyed the writing style, the story-line (you can read it as a stand-alone BTW), and I finished it within some days. Maybe the plot is a bit...TOO idyllic for a historical novel, and the characters are TOO fictional, but...

...all in all, it was a nice reading experience, and I can even imagine to stick with this series in the future.


***ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.***

[Kirsty ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent book in the Tom Harper series. Time has moved forward a bit and the new ?? is spending his time balancing paperwork. That changes when old friend Billy Reed comes back to Leeds for the funeral of his brother who has sadly committed suicide. A series of events makes the pair realise this is no suicide but rather a murder and the more Harper starts to investigate the higher the body count goes.

This is one book where you know the perpetrators quite early on and the story is about the capture. Without giving too much away we’re looking at a pair of killers how seem to up the ante of their crimes with each one. It felt like the most gruesome of these books yet. One of the things I enjoy about these books is that whilst they may take place 120 years ago the crimes are sadly ones we still see today. Murder and mayhem but also counsellors on the make? You only have to look at modern politics to see that is still ongoing.

There’s a side crime along with these murders with a string of high profile robberies. I loved the big reveal on this one. I won’t spoil it but it did make me smile when the thief was caught and why.

My favourite people Annabel and daughter Mary are also back with Annabel now a Poor Law Guardian and doing her best to help those less fortunate. It breaks my heart to see her knocked back for simply being a woman and her views not being worthy. I’d like to say we’ve moved on from that but again modern (world) politics is showing otherwise. She’s not one to be deterred is our Annabel so I look forward to seeing her fight back in the next one. Young Mary is now 7 and very precocious. I quite like her emerging sass. Another strong female character in the making.

It’s another enjoyable book with crimes solved in a world without technology (although I did like the emergence of technology with motor cars and telephones). We have the introduction of a new detective and I look forward to how he starts to fit in with the rest of the detectives. Highly recommended

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read two of these Tom Harper books previously, making this seventh book in the series my third. I don't think I will circle back and read the others.
Portrayals of 1899 Leeds are well researched and I almost felt hot as I read the descriptions of the oppressive heat they were experiencing. I was still chilled, however, from my walk in the cold wind from the library. But it's good to remember these details of daily life in that period. I enjoyed the descriptions of Harper and his wife and daughter taking a couple train trips to get out of the stifling heat of the city of Leeds to enjoy nature and clean air.
An old friend and former co-worker comes to town staying in the Harper's attic room to bury his brother and then more tragedy comes his way, all with connections to criminal activities in Leeds.
The job of uncovering who is behind the crimes is prolonged and not terribly interesting.

Library Loan

[Viccy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superintendent Tom Harper's friend, Billy Reed, returns to Leeds for the funeral of his brother-in-law, who committed suicide. It is a sad ending for a man who had struggled throughout his life. Then, a few weeks later, Billy's sister dies as well, except the autopsy determines she was murdered. Harper has to get to the bottom of this not only for Billy's sake, but for the rest of Leeds as well. Meanwhile, a burglar is robbing houses in Leeds and the town council is up in arms and threatening to have Harper's job if he cannot find the culprit. It is excruciating hot in Leeds and everyone is feeling the weather. As Harper investigates the deaths, he discovers someone in taking advantage and raising rents and buying up properties that are abandoned when the rents become too high. Who is behind this sudden scam? And who is pulling off the second-story jobs? The clues are few and far between. Set in late 19th century Leeds, this historical series is extremely well-researched. The characters are excellent. England is poised on the brink of the Boer War and this is portrayed well. Recommended for anyone who enjoys well-written historical fiction.

[Icy_Space_Cobwebs Join the Penguin Resistance! · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE LEADEN HEART is #7 in the excellent historical series whose protagonist is a Leeds, England, Superintendent of Police at the end of the 19th century--the late Victorian Era. Harper is a man of sound and strong character and high moral integrity and his wifs Annabelle is a Guardian of the Law who tends to women and children living in poverty or worse. Leeds is a prosperous municipality, but that prosperity is confined to a small minority while a majority are poverty-stricken and even the middle-class must struggle. The suicide of a former colleague and friend lead Harper to discover an ugly conspiracy propelled by greed and cupidity.

[Meredith Rankin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: I read this book thanks to the generosity of Severn House and Netgalley. I’m particularly excited about reviewing this book because it’s my first ever review for Netgalley.

Summary:
It’s July 1899, Leeds, England. Superintendent Tom Harper knows the recent lull in crime can’t last, but he doesn’t expect that it will be broken by a string of daring house burglaries. Nor does he expect to reunite with his old friend Billy Reed after Reed’s brother dies by suicide. When the grieving widow and his brother search financial records, they find evidence that the new landlords are corrupt. However, the development company is unknown, its identity hidden behind laws and legal protection.

Then there’s a murder. And another, and it’s clear that the closer Harper and his men get to finding the killers, the more brutal the killings are. But the killers aren’t acting on their own. Someone is directing them. Someone who is ruthless, brutal, and powerful, and no one’s beyond the reach of their power.

My thoughts:
When a mystery novel opens with the superintendent of police pondering the recent lull in crime, you know that there’s about to be a crime spree. In Tom Harper’s defense, though, he knows that downward dip in crime is transient.

Then the robberies. Then the suicide, which leads to a Pandora’s box of crime that the police have overlooked. It’s a new type of crime, unfamiliar to these late 19th century cops, but all-too-familiar to those of us in the 21st century. Business and money, more intellectual than physical crimes, bloodless until they turn bloody.

This is a strong novel.

My one issue revolves around the opening.
It’s slow(ish). For those who have read previous Tom Harper novels, this is a time to catch up with old friends. Tom and his family. Billy Reed. The investigators under Harper’s supervision and the chief superintendent. It establishes the status quo. That’s fine, but it felt that it took a long time to get to the main conflict.

While this book works as a stand-alone, there were points where I wished for more background on the falling out between Billy Reed and Tom Harper. Their relationship is obviously strained, but I never knew why. As I haven’t read the previous novels, I felt mystified by the tension in this friendship but thankfully this conflict isn’t so prevalent that it ruined my enjoyment of the rest of the book. However, I sensed that if I knew the backstory of the Reed vs. Harper falling out, I might have better enjoyed the parts from Reed’s point of view.

Those things aside, I was impressed by Nickson’s story.

The characters are deep and complicated.
In particular, Annabelle, Harper’s wife, struck me as a terrific character. As a newly elected “Poor Law Guardian”, she’s dealing with a multitude of conflicts, many of which resonate with modern women. (They certainly did for me.)
1. The problem of being the sole female Guardian and the frustration when the men will not listen to her ideas;
2. the strains of balancing family, her business (the pub), and her charity work;
3. the heartbreak of wanting to make a difference but not knowing how.

She wants to “lean in.”

But as many 21st century women (and their predecessors) have found, that’s only possible with a support circle and compromise. And Annabelle is not a woman to compromise her values. Even though her subplot doesn’t have a lot of page time, Nickson writes it with nuance and depth.

Nickson excels at inserting period details.
He describes without slowing down the story. This is a time period in flux (not unlike our own!) and the tension between the old and new permeates the narrative.

Another aspect I enjoyed was that the police detectives work together as a team.
They support each other. When Harper comes under fire from powerful outsiders, his subordinates and his superior back him up. But Nickson doesn’t fall into the trap of everything being A-okay. The tension and conflict come from the outside. The powerful outsiders. The imminent war in South Africa, which will lure many on the police force to join the army, thus draining the force of experienced people. And of course, the obvious threat of dangerous killers on the loose.

The ending is strong.
While there were points in the story that felt repetitive, this reflects “real” police work. The frustration. The loose threads. The hunches, the dead ends, the long hours of tedium followed by seconds of heart pounding action and fear, and the drained emotions at the end of a case. Conflicts in our lives don’t have neatly wrapped up endings with all questions answered. This book doesn’t, either, but there’s enough closure to feel both realistic and satisfying.

A truly enjoyable book. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction and mysteries.

4 1/2 stars

Thanks to Netgalley, Severn House, and Chris Nickson for providing a review copy of The Leaden Heart in exchange for an honest review.

[D.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent instalment in the Tom Harper series. Along with some familiar and much loved characters (I do have particular fondness for Dr King and it was nice to see Mrs Botham make an appearance), there are some key historical movements in respect of women's empowerment, Finally, as you might have come to expect, there are also some particularly nasty criminals in this novel too.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher on Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

#TheLeadenHeart #NetGalley A super terrific read from NetGalley. 5 stars of course and review will be released closer to the July 1 release. Preorder yours now!

I just love this author and this series about almost-turn-of-the-century policing in Leeds, England. Detective Superintendent Tom Harper and his police squad encounter a series of burglaries in an upscale Leeds neighborhood.

Immediately following that, Inspector Billy Reed, his friend and former colleague comes back to Leeds for his brother's funeral. Charlie Reed, a shopkeeper has committed suicide, and Billy discovers some crippling rent rises may play a part.

Rapidly it becomes clear that corruption and organized intimidation is playing a huge part in increased hardship for citizens in Leeds. Some highly placed, if not respected,townsmen are playing a part in this. Annabelle Harper, an elected Poor Law Advocate, experiences some of the same, on another level.

Tom himself has his life threatened, but through a series of dogged round the clock police work, they bring some of the suspects to justice. The ending is very unique, I read that 3 times. I have hopes for another in the series which might bring the Reeds back to Leeds.

Chris Nickson not only is a gifted writer but an excellent historian of this area.

[Karen Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A recent heatwave means crime is largely down across Leeds although an elusive burglar is beginning to cause problems, not least because Detective Superintendent Tom Harper has made some powerful enemies on the council who are waiting for an opportunity to have him replaced. He is soon under even more pressure when he begins to investigate a protection racket but quickly discovers that whoever is in charge of the North Leeds Company is determined to keep their identity unknown. However, the case is more personal for Tom because it's linked to the suicide of the brother of his old friend and former colleague, Inspector Billy Reed. Although a falling-out means the two aren't as close as they once were, relations between them become less strained as Tom endeavours to win justice for Billy and his family. However, the convoluted web of gangsters and charlatans he is investigating thwart him time and again. Meanwhile, back in Whitby, Billy waits for news and in our world of instant communications, it's easy to appreciate the frustrating delays between letters and occasional phone calls.
The Leaden Heart is set two years after Chris Nickson's previous Tom Harper novel, The Tin God (but can easily be enjoyed as a standalone) and finds his wife, Annabelle still in her role as one of the first female Poor Law Guardians in Leeds. The resolute pair are a well-matched couple who are a constant support for one another, and together with their spirited little daughter Mary, they are the engaging moral heart of the series. The city was recently shocked by the murder of two little girls who were thrown into the canal by their father and Annabelle is trying to discover whether the workhouse authorities should have handled the family any differently. It's ultimately a hopeless investigation without any chance of a happy resolution but Annabelle wants steps to be taken to help prevent any further such tragedies. Her frustration is almost palpable at times, particularly when she is frequently impeded by men who take umbrage at a woman overstepping societal boundaries. Still several years before women were given the vote, it's fascinating to see an early feminist in action, and rather poignant to imagine the future Mary having been inspired by the fortitude and courage of her mother.
With the Boer War on the horizon, it's obvious that despite the stagnant weather, change is in the air on a local and national level, both for good and bad. Although Poor Law Guardians like Annabelle are the precursor to the welfare state, there are still too many unscrupulous landlords in a city which is being rebuilt without much care for those swept out of their slums. Chris Nickson adroitly highlights the inequalities of the period and the corruption of the wealthy elite who are as much of a challenge to Harper as the violent street criminals, the Smith brothers who are somehow engaging in a reign of terror without anybody seeming to know exactly who they are. Change is clearly coming for Tom and his colleagues too and his disappointment at losing men to the upcoming war is both personal and professional; he regrets the break-up of his team but more so fears that many will not come home again. Young Sissons then is a welcome addition; the new Detective Constable is sharply intelligent - he enjoys reading Latin and Greek - and endearingly ambitious. I look forward to more from him in the future.
Victorian Leeds is brought vividly to life with the atmospheric sense of time and place superbly rendered throughout. The twists and turns of the gripping plot effectively combine a perplexing mystery about property corruption and violent organised crime with thoughtful social commentary - immersive and exciting, The Leaden Heart is first-rate historical crime fiction. Highly recommended.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's July 1899 and the crime rate in Leeds has been unusually low. This all changes when Superintendent Tom Harper receives word of a particularly daring burglary at one of the city’s more expensive residences. Meanwhile, his ex-colleague, Billy Reed, is seeking some assistance after the suicide of his brother who was facing an extortionate rent increase. Investigation uncovers a web of corruption involving some of the area’s influential residents. Who are the ringleaders and will Harper be able to apprehend them before the death toll rises?

I’ve always enjoyed reading historical crime fiction, particularly those books set during the Victorian era. In the Tom Harper series, we are now reaching the end of the nineteenth century, a time which has seen great changes for the Leeds detectives. As in all of his books, Chris Nickson has created a very vivid picture of the time, creating characters that feel real and who you can certainly feel empathy for. Again, we see Tom’s wife, Annabelle, taking a central role in the plot, her new position as poor law guardian giving her a platform to help those unable to help themselves. Annabelle has always been my favourite character, her ongoing fight for women’s equality being a great theme running throughout the books. With her daughter, Mary, seemingly being a chip off the old block, I think we are in for some entertaining times ahead!

It was pleasing to see Tom and his old friend Billy attempting to build bridges as they investigated the reason behind the suicide of Billy’s brother. Although this was set over a hundred years ago, the story is all too familiar to many people nowadays with those in power preying upon the poor and less fortunate. It was easy to imagine Harper’s frustration as he faced brick walls when trying to uncover the identities of those involved, especially seeing as he was desperate to close the case for the sake of Billy. The crooks doing the dirty work, the Smith brothers, are a particularly nasty pair, leaving a trail of death and destruction wherever they go. I spent the whole book willing for their capture!

If you are new to the Tom Harper books, please don’t be put off by the fact that this is the seventh book in the series as it can definitely be read as a standalone. This is, without a shadow of a doubt, my favourite so far, and I eagerly anticipate what the next installment brings for Tom, Annabelle and the rest of the characters we have grown to love.

[Zeb Kantrowitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

We've gotten to know Superintendent Harper pretty well over the last six books, and this new one is probably the best since the first. Harper finds himself at odd with the local councilors, because of a rash of burglaries in one of the better neighborhoods of Leeds. At the same time there are a cluster of murders among the shopkeepers and small criminals in a poor part of town. Annabelle is dealing with a problem where two little girls are killed by their father because he used his earnings for drink and not the care of the children.

One of the dead shopkeepers turns out to be the brother of Harper's old partner Reed who had left Leeds a few years before to take over the police in a small seaside town of Whitby. When his sister-in-law is also murdered, Harper promises his old friend that he will find the killer(s).

The story plays out well and there are logical and reasonable ways that Harper uses to trace down both the Murderers and the Burglars. It all the use of shoe leather and a continuous use of the resources available at the end of the nineteenth century. Nickson always gives depth to his characters and to the difficulty that he poor had at this time with housing and work places. Every man was out for himself, and the weak and disabled had little chance of a decent life.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great at mixing social themes and a police investigation.
I loved how the author mixes the two and the result is a book you cannot put down and that makes you turn pages as fast as you can.
I appreciated the fleshed out characters, Harper and Annabelle were my favorite, the well researched and realistic historical background that show the really poor and their struggle to survive, and the great plot that flows flawlessly and keeps you hooked.
The mystery was engaging and entertaining, full of twists and turns.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating historical mystery. This is #7 in the series and my entry point. It's very much a police procedural from the POV of a superintendent in the police department of Leeds, England. He is trying, simultaneously, to solve burglaries of rich people houses as well as an extortion- murder enterprise uncovered when the brother of a former colleague commits suicide. Then his wife is murdered. Oh, and the policeman's wife is campaigning for the poor. It's a good, multi-plot story. Kind of a "month in the life." I liked it a lot more than I thought I would, which makes me happy. I'll be looking for more stories by Nickson. Good read.

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 7th in the Tom Harper series. Set in Leeds during July 1899. Reading the previous books meant that I was already introduced and had a fondness for the characters in this story which is a police procedural at its best. This is a warm and relaxing story with gruesome episodes but what is surprising is that every book in the series is better than the one before. A wonderful book to read and totally enjoyable

[Sandra Merlo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Anne Perry and Victoria Thompson and enjoyed the characters of this book, which is definitely more accurate with the brutality of the police and the lives of that generation. I always like it when the wifes have a purpose and also try to do good or improve "less fortunates" lifes. Satisfying conclusion

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read several of the books in this series and found this one a bit "worthy" rather than engrossing or moving.

I thought the historical background was well-conveyed, but it was all very unrelentingly grim.

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn Hous for the digital ARC.

[Catsalive · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-written with an interesting setting - 1899 Leeds. Almost completely cheerless, though. Is that a byproduct of the times, I wonder - Victorian, industrialisation? I would happily read more of Nickson's novels if they come my way.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat slow and boring.

[Cybercrone · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like these characters and the pace of the books. Hope there are more.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was, by far, my favorite book of the series. Unlike several of the previous ones, it held my interest from beginning to end and I look forward to the release of the next one in the series.

[Tony Gothard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like these old leeds books.

[Sarah-Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been reading the Tom Harper series, set in late 19th Century Leeds, since its inception, and it continues to reward. In The Leaden Heart, Harper is now a Detective Superintendent; Leeds remains a grimy, industrial city with a significant wealth gap. When the brother of a former colleague commits suicide, Harper finds that a new kind of crime, involving complex financial dealings, is stretching the skills of his station house. Meanwhile, Harper’s wife Annabelle continues to serve as a poor law commissioner, simultaneously struggling against the mistreatment of the city’s poorest residents while battling with the misogyny of the other commissioners, all of whom are men determined to reject any idea proposed by a woman.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Leaden Heart by Chris Nickson is the latest entry in the Detective Superintendent Tom Harper series of historical police procedurals, set in 1899 Leeds. Although it is not the heart alluded to in the title, for that is of sorrow, there is a heart in these books. One soon comes to know that in between the violence and murder, and police investigations and other mysteries, this particular author is able to infuse his stories with vigor and life using the remarkable people that populate the pages.

Billy Reed, an old friend, has come to town to find out why his brother killed himself. There’s got to be something behind it. The man owned a store. Who is raising the rents so high that his brother, unable to make ends meet, decided that suicide was his only option? Billy’s come to Tom Harper to find answers, and Tom soon realizes that this scenario is playing out all over town. There’s definitely something fishy going on, and a shyster lawyer’s involved, of course. And business people who seem shady, also. The mystery is who is behind it all.

Leeds is changing, growing. Maybe not for the better. A second plot line revolves around burglaries; who’s doing those? Tom Harper must figure this out, too, as his job is threatened because of the crimes.

Now the widow is dead. A warning to others. Murder for sure, it’s determined. There’s more killing, in horrific fashion. Anyone who might be able to talk is under threat. The killers are monsters, and they must be stopped.

Tom Harper is threatened. Now he’s got city councilors calling for his head, for the burglaries and for the murders. But who are they really concerned about? Important men. Rich men. And evil men have minions. And these minions have bosses. Who is worse, though? Little alarm bells are going off in Inspector Harper’s head. Are they going off in yours?

And there are the side stories -- for Annabelle Harper, Tom’s wife, a Leeds Guardian of the Poor, for Billy Reed, as he is a fire chief in a coastal town. Someone is setting fires there, and since it’s a vacation destination, that’s bad for business. (Turns out that’s a wrenching story in itself.) Not fillers, just small stories that move the characters along. With the burglary suspects, dogged police work finds them eventually. Speaking of dogged, the author knows how to lay out his tale with just enough information to keep a reader wanting to turn the pages. I wanted to see these horrible bad guys caught and see those horrible people ostensibly in charge get theirs.

And the war is coming, the one that will be called the Boer War. The training of special constables has begun, as many of the regular policemen are signing up. Harper is losing several of his own good men. There’s more to that, I’m sure, fodder for future stories in the series.

All the while this is happening, Billy Reed is wary of Tom Harper’s investigation, whether anything will really be done. And whether it will matter; after all, his brother and his brother’s wife are dead. Nothing will bring them back. Will justice matter, then? That’s the crux of it – will justice matter? It will for Tom. Chris Nickson will see to it.

A caveat to reading The Leaden Heart – as good as this is, it would probably not be a good idea to start the series with this one! There are too many things happening here for a new reader; one should start with the first book, to immerse yourself fin the lives of Inspector Harper and his family and his friends.

Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for a copy of this book, in exchange for this review.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leeds, 1899. How can the suicide of Charlie Davies, brother of Inspector Billy Reed now of Whitby, previously Leeds and Tom Harper's team, lead to such a large scale investigation. Leading to corruption, intimidation and murder and links to a company entitled the North Leeds Company. And what of the home burglaries in the area. Superintendent Tom Harper leads his team in the searching out of the truth and the guilty parties.
Easily read as a standalone novel.
An enjoyable well-written addition to this series, with its well-rounded characters.
a NetGalley Book

[Heather Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Leaden Heart is a great mystery that takes place in England at the turn of the century 1899. The author's descriptions of that period is spot on, he has done his research. This is the first I have read by this author,and I have enjoyed his writing and characters.