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DI Tom Harper #8
The Molten City
Detective Superintendent Tom Harper senses trouble ahead when the prime minister plans a visit. Can he keep law and order on the streets while also uncovering the truth behind a missing child?
Leeds, September 1908. There's going to be a riot. Detective Superintendent Tom Harper can feel it. Herbert Asquith, the prime minster, is due to speak in the city. The suffragettes and the unemployed men will be out in the streets in protest. It's Harper's responsibility to keep order. Can he do it?
Harper has also received an anonymous letter claiming that a young boy called Andrew Sharp was stolen from his family fourteen years before. The file is worryingly thin. It ought to have been bulging. A missing child should have been headline news. Why was Andrew's disappearance ignored? Determined to uncover the truth about Andrew Sharp and bring the boy some justice, Harper is drawn deep into the dark underworld of child-snatching, corruption and murder as Leeds becomes a molten, rioting city.
Leeds, September 1908. There's going to be a riot. Detective Superintendent Tom Harper can feel it. Herbert Asquith, the prime minster, is due to speak in the city. The suffragettes and the unemployed men will be out in the streets in protest. It's Harper's responsibility to keep order. Can he do it?
Harper has also received an anonymous letter claiming that a young boy called Andrew Sharp was stolen from his family fourteen years before. The file is worryingly thin. It ought to have been bulging. A missing child should have been headline news. Why was Andrew's disappearance ignored? Determined to uncover the truth about Andrew Sharp and bring the boy some justice, Harper is drawn deep into the dark underworld of child-snatching, corruption and murder as Leeds becomes a molten, rioting city.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published March 31, 2020
12 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Chris Nickson
69 books182 followersI'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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
May 9, 2020
It’s September 1908 in the city of Leeds in the North of England, and for Detective Superintendent Tom Harper, the month brings much sadness, and the end of a long term friendship, following the death of a former colleague. Though they’d had a falling out along the way, it’s a death that he will mourn deeply, as he looks back on the good days that they shared.
Nevertheless duty calls, and this time around, Harper has responsibility for the safety of Prime Minister Herbert Asquith and Home Secretary Gladstone, during a visit to Leeds. With hundreds of unemployed men threatening to riot, led by local anarchist Alf Kitson, it’s going to be no easy task. To add further to his woes, demonstrations are also expected from the suffragettes, led by militant and regional administrator Jennie Baines, who is furious at Prime Minister Asquith after his refusal to allow women the vote. Harper has a lot on his hands, and unfortunately, few too coppers to deal with it.
Harper also has a very emotional case to investigate, after receiving an anonymous letter, telling him that a very young boy, Andrew Sharpe was stolen from his family, and sold some fourteen years ago. A case like this should have attracted huge attention at the time, but worryingly Harper can find very little in police files. Looks like there’s been a cover up, and Harper is determined to find out why, and by whom.
This particular case takes our protagonist into the distressing world of child snatchers, but for those of us familiar with DS Harper, we know that nothing will stand in the way of truth, especially when there are children involved.
Another great read from Leeds born author Chris Nickson. Chris certainly knows Old Leeds inside out, thanks to his meticulous research, which in turn brings authenticity to his books, with fictional cases blending alongside real historical events. His characters are well fleshed out - none more so than protagonist Tom Harper, his wife Annabelle and daughter Mary. The plots are always interesting, and well thought out, and quite honestly, it’s like meeting up with old friends. A terrific series and incidentally, it can be read as a stand-alone.
* Thank You To Severn House Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
Nevertheless duty calls, and this time around, Harper has responsibility for the safety of Prime Minister Herbert Asquith and Home Secretary Gladstone, during a visit to Leeds. With hundreds of unemployed men threatening to riot, led by local anarchist Alf Kitson, it’s going to be no easy task. To add further to his woes, demonstrations are also expected from the suffragettes, led by militant and regional administrator Jennie Baines, who is furious at Prime Minister Asquith after his refusal to allow women the vote. Harper has a lot on his hands, and unfortunately, few too coppers to deal with it.
Harper also has a very emotional case to investigate, after receiving an anonymous letter, telling him that a very young boy, Andrew Sharpe was stolen from his family, and sold some fourteen years ago. A case like this should have attracted huge attention at the time, but worryingly Harper can find very little in police files. Looks like there’s been a cover up, and Harper is determined to find out why, and by whom.
This particular case takes our protagonist into the distressing world of child snatchers, but for those of us familiar with DS Harper, we know that nothing will stand in the way of truth, especially when there are children involved.
Another great read from Leeds born author Chris Nickson. Chris certainly knows Old Leeds inside out, thanks to his meticulous research, which in turn brings authenticity to his books, with fictional cases blending alongside real historical events. His characters are well fleshed out - none more so than protagonist Tom Harper, his wife Annabelle and daughter Mary. The plots are always interesting, and well thought out, and quite honestly, it’s like meeting up with old friends. A terrific series and incidentally, it can be read as a stand-alone.
* Thank You To Severn House Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
January 26, 2021
"The Times They Are A-Changin' " (Bob Dylan)
September of 1908 seems to have drawn closer the inner circle of Detective Superintendent Tom Harper's life. He stands at the gravesite of his friend and fellow police officer, Billy Reed. Billy's death was a shock from an unexpected heart attack. Although Billy and Tom had a falling out some time back, they still remained fast friends. This was a knock on Tom's heart as to the uncertainty of our numbered days.
Weighing heavily on Tom was also the social unrest of the times in Leeds and across the country. Chief Constable Crossley informs him that Prime Minister Herbert Asquith will be arriving in Leeds for an official visit in the next fews weeks. And on the heels of Asquith will be Alf Kitson, a popular anarchist who loves confrontation. Kitson is known for stirring up the unemployed men in the region who were frustrated with the inertia. And behind Kitson's appearance would be Jennie Baines and her suffragettes of the WSPU who were resorting to more and more violent means in their pursuit of the women's vote. Indeed, trying times.
And in his own small family Tom experiences change as well. Annabelle, his wife, has been approached to sell her beloved bar, The Victoria, after owning it for twenty-five years. She's torn with the changing neighborhood. And Mary, their sixteen year old daughter, has had her head turned by the hard motions of the suffragettes. Keeping the lids on all the kettles is a trying task.
But from present times to the past is laid upon Tom in an anonymous letter. Someone has alerted Tom that a missing child back in 1893 may have been the victim of a child-snatching ring in Leeds. Andrew Sharp may be alive and well with a new identity. And Andrew may not be the only survivor.
Chris Nickson is a master of all things Leeds. It is reflected brilliantly in his portrayal of Tom Harper and the historically sound incidents that he encounters during the time period. Through Nickson's superb writing we lock in to those changing times while still keeping a finger on the pulse of goodness and honorable endeavors. There's almost a parallel to the vast uncertainties of the times we live in now along with time's extended hand of hope and positivity for the future. So well done, Chris Nickson. So well done.
I received a copy of The Molten City through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Severn House and to Chris Nickson for the opportunity.
September of 1908 seems to have drawn closer the inner circle of Detective Superintendent Tom Harper's life. He stands at the gravesite of his friend and fellow police officer, Billy Reed. Billy's death was a shock from an unexpected heart attack. Although Billy and Tom had a falling out some time back, they still remained fast friends. This was a knock on Tom's heart as to the uncertainty of our numbered days.
Weighing heavily on Tom was also the social unrest of the times in Leeds and across the country. Chief Constable Crossley informs him that Prime Minister Herbert Asquith will be arriving in Leeds for an official visit in the next fews weeks. And on the heels of Asquith will be Alf Kitson, a popular anarchist who loves confrontation. Kitson is known for stirring up the unemployed men in the region who were frustrated with the inertia. And behind Kitson's appearance would be Jennie Baines and her suffragettes of the WSPU who were resorting to more and more violent means in their pursuit of the women's vote. Indeed, trying times.
And in his own small family Tom experiences change as well. Annabelle, his wife, has been approached to sell her beloved bar, The Victoria, after owning it for twenty-five years. She's torn with the changing neighborhood. And Mary, their sixteen year old daughter, has had her head turned by the hard motions of the suffragettes. Keeping the lids on all the kettles is a trying task.
But from present times to the past is laid upon Tom in an anonymous letter. Someone has alerted Tom that a missing child back in 1893 may have been the victim of a child-snatching ring in Leeds. Andrew Sharp may be alive and well with a new identity. And Andrew may not be the only survivor.
Chris Nickson is a master of all things Leeds. It is reflected brilliantly in his portrayal of Tom Harper and the historically sound incidents that he encounters during the time period. Through Nickson's superb writing we lock in to those changing times while still keeping a finger on the pulse of goodness and honorable endeavors. There's almost a parallel to the vast uncertainties of the times we live in now along with time's extended hand of hope and positivity for the future. So well done, Chris Nickson. So well done.
I received a copy of The Molten City through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Severn House and to Chris Nickson for the opportunity.
July 8, 2020
Murder, suffrage and anarchy in 20C Leeds!
I have no idea why this is my first Tom Harper novel. I've read many Nickson novels but not about this particular Superintendent of the Leeds City Police. My loss.
Leeds, obviously a place Nickson likes to set his mysteries. There's his historical series with Simon Weston in the 1820's Leeds of Regency times. Fast forward a hundred years to the early 1900's and Leeds' crime stories of the late Victorian years.
"To those who fought so we’d all have the vote. We owe you more than we can ever pay." I love this--Nickson's dedication. Something I feel strongly about, particularly as every time I go to the polls I know I stand on the shoulders of particularly the women who fought for my right to vote. I refuse to throw their gift away.
But back to Leeds in 1908 and the logistical nightmare of deployment of police forces Tom Harper is faced with. The Prime Minister, Asquith, has chosen to visit Leeds at a time of rife unemployment and all that follows from that for the citizens and their families. Feelings are high, a known anarchist is stirring up people, and Tom foresees trouble. Along with this, the more militant branch of the suffragette movement, those of the Emily Pankhurst arm are planning to demonstrate. As all this occurring, a letter is delivered to Harper about two children who went missing fourteen years ago, snatched and never heard of again. Linked to this will be three deaths.
On the home front Tom's wife Annabelle has been made on offer on her pub. Meanwhile their sixteen year old daughter Mary is longing for more direct action on the question of voting for women. Annabelle has been working quietly over the years towards women's suffrage with the Suffragist Society whose methods are different to those of the Suffragetres. She is at a crossroads of determining where her energies should lie and whether or not to sell her cherished pub.
Missing children, political forces, and murder. Tom Harper has his hands full.
A fascinating and enjoyable historical murder / crime story set against a volatile background.
A Severn House ARC via NetGalley
I have no idea why this is my first Tom Harper novel. I've read many Nickson novels but not about this particular Superintendent of the Leeds City Police. My loss.
Leeds, obviously a place Nickson likes to set his mysteries. There's his historical series with Simon Weston in the 1820's Leeds of Regency times. Fast forward a hundred years to the early 1900's and Leeds' crime stories of the late Victorian years.
"To those who fought so we’d all have the vote. We owe you more than we can ever pay." I love this--Nickson's dedication. Something I feel strongly about, particularly as every time I go to the polls I know I stand on the shoulders of particularly the women who fought for my right to vote. I refuse to throw their gift away.
But back to Leeds in 1908 and the logistical nightmare of deployment of police forces Tom Harper is faced with. The Prime Minister, Asquith, has chosen to visit Leeds at a time of rife unemployment and all that follows from that for the citizens and their families. Feelings are high, a known anarchist is stirring up people, and Tom foresees trouble. Along with this, the more militant branch of the suffragette movement, those of the Emily Pankhurst arm are planning to demonstrate. As all this occurring, a letter is delivered to Harper about two children who went missing fourteen years ago, snatched and never heard of again. Linked to this will be three deaths.
On the home front Tom's wife Annabelle has been made on offer on her pub. Meanwhile their sixteen year old daughter Mary is longing for more direct action on the question of voting for women. Annabelle has been working quietly over the years towards women's suffrage with the Suffragist Society whose methods are different to those of the Suffragetres. She is at a crossroads of determining where her energies should lie and whether or not to sell her cherished pub.
Missing children, political forces, and murder. Tom Harper has his hands full.
A fascinating and enjoyable historical murder / crime story set against a volatile background.
A Severn House ARC via NetGalley
May 25, 2020
Book eight in this series takes place in 1908 in the English town of Leeds. Detective Superintendent Tom Harper has just been told he is to be in charge of the police response to the visit of Prime Minister Herbert Asquith. Leeds is seething just under the surface because of two political factions who will do whatever they can to disrupt the Asquith visit and call attention to themselves. A mass of unemployed men want their situation acknowledged and changed and they are quite willing to cause chaos while Asquith is in town. The Suffragist Society and the suffragettes are both just as anxious for Asquith to realize how serious they are about the rights of women to have the vote but are very different in their ideas of how to accomplish this. As if this tinderbox isn't enough for the police to deal with Harper is made aware of a child who disappeared fourteen years earlier. A letter arrives at the police station naming the family who received the child so Harper begins to detangle the police reports which led nowhere. The letter leads straight to a prominent wealthy family.
I've been reading each of these police procedurals as they have been added to the series and am glad to say they have satisfied my love for historical mysteries. Chris Nickson has a talent for merging fact with fiction in such a way that it seems as if the events in the story might have actually happened. This was no different with home, family and work pulling Harper in different directions to add to the tension of a crime to be solved. This story feels as if this series is going through a winding down process. It could be there won't be many others in the series and I will be sorry if that happens.
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House Publishing for the e-galley of this novel.
I've been reading each of these police procedurals as they have been added to the series and am glad to say they have satisfied my love for historical mysteries. Chris Nickson has a talent for merging fact with fiction in such a way that it seems as if the events in the story might have actually happened. This was no different with home, family and work pulling Harper in different directions to add to the tension of a crime to be solved. This story feels as if this series is going through a winding down process. It could be there won't be many others in the series and I will be sorry if that happens.
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House Publishing for the e-galley of this novel.
April 27, 2021
My initial thoughts on this one were how much has changed. Having read these from the start I was a bit shocked to find myself in the 20th century and baby Mary all grown up (well 16…) and involved in the Suffragette movement. Where’s the time gone???
This time Tom is on the trail of a cold case that becomes a not so cold case as the people involved start dying; all while trying to plan for the visit of then prime minister Asquith and some promised riots. It’s all go! Annabel, always my favourite character, seems to be at a loss in this one as she’s less involved with suffrage work and the pub takes care of itself. I love though that, rather than her quietly in the background her struggle to find herself keeps her well and truly in the storyline.
There’s a race against time for both the murder and visit plots and plenty of twists and turns as we go along. There’s never a dull moment and for a page turner as always. I’ve read these from the beginning and a series I’ve always enjoyed. I’ve seen nothing in any blurb but so much of it felt like an ending. I’d like to think this isn’t the case but as so many of the smaller subplots in the book are about endings (new beginnings seem to be for the younger folk) it did make me wonder how many more cases Tom harper can solve. I’m torn now between the end of a series I love and ending at the right time. There’s plenty of other great work by Nickson though.
Overall another great book. It stands alone as a great read but to get the real feel for the times and to see how Leeds (a character in its own right) moves with history it’s well worth starting from the beginning and reading the lot.
PS: I wrote this yesterday on my blog & have been informed since this is definitely not the end and there is plenty more to come :)
This time Tom is on the trail of a cold case that becomes a not so cold case as the people involved start dying; all while trying to plan for the visit of then prime minister Asquith and some promised riots. It’s all go! Annabel, always my favourite character, seems to be at a loss in this one as she’s less involved with suffrage work and the pub takes care of itself. I love though that, rather than her quietly in the background her struggle to find herself keeps her well and truly in the storyline.
There’s a race against time for both the murder and visit plots and plenty of twists and turns as we go along. There’s never a dull moment and for a page turner as always. I’ve read these from the beginning and a series I’ve always enjoyed. I’ve seen nothing in any blurb but so much of it felt like an ending. I’d like to think this isn’t the case but as so many of the smaller subplots in the book are about endings (new beginnings seem to be for the younger folk) it did make me wonder how many more cases Tom harper can solve. I’m torn now between the end of a series I love and ending at the right time. There’s plenty of other great work by Nickson though.
Overall another great book. It stands alone as a great read but to get the real feel for the times and to see how Leeds (a character in its own right) moves with history it’s well worth starting from the beginning and reading the lot.
PS: I wrote this yesterday on my blog & have been informed since this is definitely not the end and there is plenty more to come :)
March 8, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House Publishers for an advance copy of The Molten City, the eighth novel to feature Superintendent Tom Harper of the Leeds Police.
September 1908 and it’s fairly quiet in Leeds after a successful visit from King Edward VII then Tom Harper get an anonymous letter saying that the 1893 disappearance of two year old Andrew Sharp had links to the well-to-do Cranbrook family. After deciding to investigate he gets the unwelcome news that Prime Minister Herbert Asquith will be visiting Leeds, a city that is seeking with unrest from both the suffragettes and the unemployed.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Molten City which has a good mystery attached to an extremely informative depiction of provincial Edwardian England. I found both plot lines, the cold case kidnapping and the Prime Ministerial visit equally absorbing as they are told entirely from Tom Harper’s point of view and they give the reader a bird’s eye view of both policing at the time and his personal reaction to the cases.
The Prime Minister’s visit side of things has an interesting slant in that it is told from the law enforcement side of things which many authors shy away from. The planning is detailed and executed ruthlessly and there is no consideration for the other side. I liked the author’s approach in this, he is prepared to explain both sides but in the end, the law is the law. The “other side” is the grinding poverty of unemployment and women’s suffrage. It makes you wonder how much has actually changed.
The cold case is completely different as it involves trying to retrace 15 year old friendships and associations. Harper’s team and records department are incredibly competent at this but a series of events prevent them from getting all the names until the last minute. It is good reading but I must admit to having doubts about this competency in information gathering and record keeping as it seems to fit the needs of the plot rather than historical accuracy.
Tom Harper is an easy going husband and father but an exacting boss. I like him as he always seems even handed. His wife, Annabelle, is a suffragist whilst his 16 year old daughter is a suffragette, the difference being in how they protest the women’s right to vote. It is an interesting discussion.
The Molten City is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
September 1908 and it’s fairly quiet in Leeds after a successful visit from King Edward VII then Tom Harper get an anonymous letter saying that the 1893 disappearance of two year old Andrew Sharp had links to the well-to-do Cranbrook family. After deciding to investigate he gets the unwelcome news that Prime Minister Herbert Asquith will be visiting Leeds, a city that is seeking with unrest from both the suffragettes and the unemployed.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Molten City which has a good mystery attached to an extremely informative depiction of provincial Edwardian England. I found both plot lines, the cold case kidnapping and the Prime Ministerial visit equally absorbing as they are told entirely from Tom Harper’s point of view and they give the reader a bird’s eye view of both policing at the time and his personal reaction to the cases.
The Prime Minister’s visit side of things has an interesting slant in that it is told from the law enforcement side of things which many authors shy away from. The planning is detailed and executed ruthlessly and there is no consideration for the other side. I liked the author’s approach in this, he is prepared to explain both sides but in the end, the law is the law. The “other side” is the grinding poverty of unemployment and women’s suffrage. It makes you wonder how much has actually changed.
The cold case is completely different as it involves trying to retrace 15 year old friendships and associations. Harper’s team and records department are incredibly competent at this but a series of events prevent them from getting all the names until the last minute. It is good reading but I must admit to having doubts about this competency in information gathering and record keeping as it seems to fit the needs of the plot rather than historical accuracy.
Tom Harper is an easy going husband and father but an exacting boss. I like him as he always seems even handed. His wife, Annabelle, is a suffragist whilst his 16 year old daughter is a suffragette, the difference being in how they protest the women’s right to vote. It is an interesting discussion.
The Molten City is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
March 10, 2020
As always Chris Nickson brings Leeds to life with #TheMoltenCity, which gives a hint of the conflagration which is to come. Thanks to #NetGalley and Severn House for outing number 8 of the Detective Superintendent Tom Harper series. It was a thrilling and complex historical novel to read.
"Detective Superintendent Tom Harper senses trouble ahead when the prime minister plans a visit. Can he keep law and order on the streets while also uncovering the truth behind a missing child?"
Two ( at least), events are taking place, started by an anonymous letter from a dying woman hoping to clear her conscience about knowledge of the child snatching of Andrew Sharp , 14 years before.
As Harper starts to look into this disturbing event, he is informed that he will be in charge of the arrival of Herbert Asquith, Prime Minister to the city. This visit, unlike that of King Edward, will be made dangerous by Leeds already being roiled by by tensions between suffragettes and the unemployed. Tom Harper's wife and now 16 years old daughter seem to be in opposition on the tactics of the suffragettes versus the women's suffrage lower keyed movement.
Events keep the whole city force and other town law enforcement entities stretched very thin with both violence and murders happening with the older child abductions case(s) and the anticipated rioting at the PM's speech.
A very entertaining book on more than one level which kept my attention to the end. Chris Nickson draws on actual historical events, and marvelous period detail, to enmesh his fine mysteries in.
"Detective Superintendent Tom Harper senses trouble ahead when the prime minister plans a visit. Can he keep law and order on the streets while also uncovering the truth behind a missing child?"
Two ( at least), events are taking place, started by an anonymous letter from a dying woman hoping to clear her conscience about knowledge of the child snatching of Andrew Sharp , 14 years before.
As Harper starts to look into this disturbing event, he is informed that he will be in charge of the arrival of Herbert Asquith, Prime Minister to the city. This visit, unlike that of King Edward, will be made dangerous by Leeds already being roiled by by tensions between suffragettes and the unemployed. Tom Harper's wife and now 16 years old daughter seem to be in opposition on the tactics of the suffragettes versus the women's suffrage lower keyed movement.
Events keep the whole city force and other town law enforcement entities stretched very thin with both violence and murders happening with the older child abductions case(s) and the anticipated rioting at the PM's speech.
A very entertaining book on more than one level which kept my attention to the end. Chris Nickson draws on actual historical events, and marvelous period detail, to enmesh his fine mysteries in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2020
I love this series and I loved this instalment.
It's gripping, entertaining and the story keeps you hooked till the end.
It's a police procedural according to my heart, well written and fast paced. I loved how the author mixes historical facts and fiction making them work very well.
The mystery is solid, full of twists and turns, and it kept me guessing till the end.
The descriptions of Leeds are vivid and realistic and the story talks about a mystery but how bleak the situation was for the poorest.
The vote for women movement is part of the story and the descriptions are quite realistic.
The characters are well rounded and likable, I love Annabelle as she's a strong willed woman.
It's an excellent read that I strongly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's gripping, entertaining and the story keeps you hooked till the end.
It's a police procedural according to my heart, well written and fast paced. I loved how the author mixes historical facts and fiction making them work very well.
The mystery is solid, full of twists and turns, and it kept me guessing till the end.
The descriptions of Leeds are vivid and realistic and the story talks about a mystery but how bleak the situation was for the poorest.
The vote for women movement is part of the story and the descriptions are quite realistic.
The characters are well rounded and likable, I love Annabelle as she's a strong willed woman.
It's an excellent read that I strongly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
March 30, 2020
We first met Leeds policeman Tom Harper in Gods of Gold (2014) when he was a young CID officer, and the land was still ruled by Queen Victoria. Now, in Molten City, Harper is a Superintendent and the Queen is seven years dead. ‘Bertie’ – Edward VII – is King, and England is a different place. Leeds, though, is still a thriving hub of heavy industry, pulsing with the throb of heavy machinery. And it remains grimy, soot blackened and with pockets of degradation and poverty largely ignored by the wealthy middle classes. But there are motor cars on the street, and the police have telephones. Other things are stirring, too. Not all women are content to remain second class citizens, and pressure is being put on politicians to consider giving women the vote. Sometimes this is a peaceful attempt to change things, but other women are prepared to go to greater lengths.
This small but increasingly vocal movement provides one of two plot threads in what is, to my mind, Chris Nickson’s finest novel yet. Prime Minister HH Asquith and his Home Secretary Herbert Gladstone are due to visit Leeds, and it will be Harper’s task to make sure that the visit passes off peacefully. He knows there is likely to be a protest from unemplyed men whipped up by anarchist Alf Kitson, but his greatest fear is that a demonstration led by suffragette Jennie Baines will provoke more intense publicity. At this point, it is essential to point out the difference between suffragettes and suffragists. The latter have the same aims as the former, but they are avowedly peaceful in their methods. Harper’s wife Annabelle is a suffragist. She has worked for women’s rights for many years, and has passed on her zeal to their teenage daughter Mary.
The parallel thread in Molten City begins when Harper receives an anonymous letter which tells of a child being stolen from a poor family, on the instructions of a rich childless couple. He is determined to investigate, but where to start?
As he uses his local knowledge and that of his older officers, Harper begins to piece together a jigsaw. As the picture begins to take shape, it is clear that it is one that contains elements of tragedy, greed, desperation – and downright criminality, and that solving the puzzle will bring joy to no-one. As the past players in this old drama start to realise that the past is catching up with them, anxiety leads to violence,and violence leads to murder.
There are so many dazzlingly good elements to this novel. Nickson, like many of his readers is someone of the twentieth century, and he has a keen eye and ear for little social mannerisms that certainly struck a chord with me. As Annabelle imagines her husband in a Chief Constable’s uniform, she says:
“You’d look a right bobby-dazzler.”
Only those of us who were brought up having their tea made in a pot will remember this gesture:
“She felt the side of the teapot and poured herself another cup.”
Teenagers were as hungry in 1908 as they are today, but few sit down with their parents at a set table and have their meal:
“She’d already cleaned her plate right down to the pattern and was working her way through the suet pudding.”
Tom Harper is still fit, active,and able to handle himself in a scrap, but like Tennyson’s Ulysses who laments ‘tho we are not now that strength which in old days moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;’ He is all too aware of the passage of time:
“And it was a detective’s job to follow every possibility. That was what his old boss, Superintendent Kendall, had instilled in him when he was starting out in CID. Another one who was dead now; Harper had filled his shoes at Millgarth. Billy, Kendall, so many others …very soon the dead in his life would outnumber the living.”
Nickson orchestrates the dramatic disorder – based on real events – of the Prime Minister’s visit with panache and the skills of a born storyteller. We know – as does Harper himself – that finding the truth about the child stealing will benefit no-one alive or dead, but he is a policeman who must do his duty while being all too well aware that the truth is frequently uncomfortable.
This small but increasingly vocal movement provides one of two plot threads in what is, to my mind, Chris Nickson’s finest novel yet. Prime Minister HH Asquith and his Home Secretary Herbert Gladstone are due to visit Leeds, and it will be Harper’s task to make sure that the visit passes off peacefully. He knows there is likely to be a protest from unemplyed men whipped up by anarchist Alf Kitson, but his greatest fear is that a demonstration led by suffragette Jennie Baines will provoke more intense publicity. At this point, it is essential to point out the difference between suffragettes and suffragists. The latter have the same aims as the former, but they are avowedly peaceful in their methods. Harper’s wife Annabelle is a suffragist. She has worked for women’s rights for many years, and has passed on her zeal to their teenage daughter Mary.
The parallel thread in Molten City begins when Harper receives an anonymous letter which tells of a child being stolen from a poor family, on the instructions of a rich childless couple. He is determined to investigate, but where to start?
As he uses his local knowledge and that of his older officers, Harper begins to piece together a jigsaw. As the picture begins to take shape, it is clear that it is one that contains elements of tragedy, greed, desperation – and downright criminality, and that solving the puzzle will bring joy to no-one. As the past players in this old drama start to realise that the past is catching up with them, anxiety leads to violence,and violence leads to murder.
There are so many dazzlingly good elements to this novel. Nickson, like many of his readers is someone of the twentieth century, and he has a keen eye and ear for little social mannerisms that certainly struck a chord with me. As Annabelle imagines her husband in a Chief Constable’s uniform, she says:
“You’d look a right bobby-dazzler.”
Only those of us who were brought up having their tea made in a pot will remember this gesture:
“She felt the side of the teapot and poured herself another cup.”
Teenagers were as hungry in 1908 as they are today, but few sit down with their parents at a set table and have their meal:
“She’d already cleaned her plate right down to the pattern and was working her way through the suet pudding.”
Tom Harper is still fit, active,and able to handle himself in a scrap, but like Tennyson’s Ulysses who laments ‘tho we are not now that strength which in old days moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;’ He is all too aware of the passage of time:
“And it was a detective’s job to follow every possibility. That was what his old boss, Superintendent Kendall, had instilled in him when he was starting out in CID. Another one who was dead now; Harper had filled his shoes at Millgarth. Billy, Kendall, so many others …very soon the dead in his life would outnumber the living.”
Nickson orchestrates the dramatic disorder – based on real events – of the Prime Minister’s visit with panache and the skills of a born storyteller. We know – as does Harper himself – that finding the truth about the child stealing will benefit no-one alive or dead, but he is a policeman who must do his duty while being all too well aware that the truth is frequently uncomfortable.
July 7, 2020
A long-time friend, Billy Reed, has died at the beginning of The Molten City, the eighth in the Superintendent Tom Harper series. This sad occurrence will mean much to Tom throughout the book, as will many of the changes we’ll see as events occur that cause him to reevaluate much of what occurs around him in his own household. Tom’s wife Annabelle is no longer a Poor Law Guardian, and has been a lady of leisure for two years; it seems a lot of time has passed since the last book. The Harpers even own a car. And their daughter has up-and-coming ideas, including plans to open her own business school; modern times have come to Leeds. After all, it’s September, 1908.
Author Chris Nickson uses the history of the time as a great background for his book – the Prime Minister is coming to town (an actual event), which will bring out the suffragettes and suffragists; the fight for a woman’s right to vote was well on its way. Trouble is also expected from the ranks of the unemployed and agitators who are sure to be there. As superintendent, Tom will be expected to take care of it all. He goes and talks to the head of each faction, hoping for peace, but gets none. So with trouble coming, he’s to prepare for the worst. The book details in fictional form the preparations for a real-life event, following along as Harper and his men prepare.
Beside all this, a missing child case, one that was covered up 15 years before. Money changed hands, from rich hands to poor ones. With the police paid to look the other way, which makes it even more reprehensible. This story is front and center with what’s being done for PM Herbert Asquith’s visit, and Mr. Nickson knows how to weave back and forth to keep the reader interested in it all, from regret about the tragedy of a child kidnapped to how the suffragists and the suffragettes were becoming a force, how each group was using their strengths and knowledge and power to fight the fight to get the vote for women in Britain.
Then there’s the other, personal story: Annabelle’s being given an enormous offer to sell the pub. Annabelle feels the brunt of her success, too, as we find out. There’s a lot going on in this book. Luckily the author’s a deft hand at keeping track of it all.
Regarding the missing child - things become sinister when the policeman around at the time turns up dead. Someone doesn’t want him talking about the missing boy. It’s certainly sounds like there’s some truth to the story.
There’s a lot to this book, but the action moves quickly, anticipation for what is coming, both with the kidnapped children (turns out there are two) and what will happen at the political rally. It’s a testament to the author’s skill in keeping the reader’s attention to what’s happening on the pages.
And then we have a twist – the investigation into the kidnapped children comes to a crashing halt. Will this be the end of it? Not if Tom Harper has anything to do with it, of course. There’s that murdered policeman to consider.
Finally, the day of the PM’s visit arrives. All that can be prepared for has been done. The tension ratchets up from the pages as we wait to see how the visit will come off, whether violence will take over. And Tom and Annabelle have a personal stake in it now. It’s nerve-racking to read.
How does the day go? Does anarchy descend? Is the missing children’s case brought to a satisfactory conclusion? Does Annabelle sell the pub? You’ll have to read The Molten City to discover the answer to these questions. Suffice it to say that in Mr. Nickson’s capable hands, he presents a story that will make you want to continue to turn the page.
An Afterword explains more about the history of the time, more about the real locations, the people and the real incidents, of which they are many. The movement to “get the vote” was just beginning, and a hard fight it would turn out to be.
Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for a copy of this book, in exchange for this review.
Author Chris Nickson uses the history of the time as a great background for his book – the Prime Minister is coming to town (an actual event), which will bring out the suffragettes and suffragists; the fight for a woman’s right to vote was well on its way. Trouble is also expected from the ranks of the unemployed and agitators who are sure to be there. As superintendent, Tom will be expected to take care of it all. He goes and talks to the head of each faction, hoping for peace, but gets none. So with trouble coming, he’s to prepare for the worst. The book details in fictional form the preparations for a real-life event, following along as Harper and his men prepare.
Beside all this, a missing child case, one that was covered up 15 years before. Money changed hands, from rich hands to poor ones. With the police paid to look the other way, which makes it even more reprehensible. This story is front and center with what’s being done for PM Herbert Asquith’s visit, and Mr. Nickson knows how to weave back and forth to keep the reader interested in it all, from regret about the tragedy of a child kidnapped to how the suffragists and the suffragettes were becoming a force, how each group was using their strengths and knowledge and power to fight the fight to get the vote for women in Britain.
Then there’s the other, personal story: Annabelle’s being given an enormous offer to sell the pub. Annabelle feels the brunt of her success, too, as we find out. There’s a lot going on in this book. Luckily the author’s a deft hand at keeping track of it all.
Regarding the missing child - things become sinister when the policeman around at the time turns up dead. Someone doesn’t want him talking about the missing boy. It’s certainly sounds like there’s some truth to the story.
There’s a lot to this book, but the action moves quickly, anticipation for what is coming, both with the kidnapped children (turns out there are two) and what will happen at the political rally. It’s a testament to the author’s skill in keeping the reader’s attention to what’s happening on the pages.
And then we have a twist – the investigation into the kidnapped children comes to a crashing halt. Will this be the end of it? Not if Tom Harper has anything to do with it, of course. There’s that murdered policeman to consider.
Finally, the day of the PM’s visit arrives. All that can be prepared for has been done. The tension ratchets up from the pages as we wait to see how the visit will come off, whether violence will take over. And Tom and Annabelle have a personal stake in it now. It’s nerve-racking to read.
How does the day go? Does anarchy descend? Is the missing children’s case brought to a satisfactory conclusion? Does Annabelle sell the pub? You’ll have to read The Molten City to discover the answer to these questions. Suffice it to say that in Mr. Nickson’s capable hands, he presents a story that will make you want to continue to turn the page.
An Afterword explains more about the history of the time, more about the real locations, the people and the real incidents, of which they are many. The movement to “get the vote” was just beginning, and a hard fight it would turn out to be.
Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for a copy of this book, in exchange for this review.
April 1, 2020
Set nine years after the close of The Leaden Heart some big changes have caught up with Tom, Annabelle, Mary, and Tom’s team back at the precinct. With such a large gap between books that includes the passing of Billy Reed, the end of Annabelle’s second term as Guardian, and the dispersal of some key officers to fight in the Boer War you can’t help but get the feeling that Harper’s crime fighting days are coming to an end.
This finite tone is set with plenty of introspection, looking at both the correction of past wrongs and possibilities for the future. The result is that this book has a slightly slower pace than some of those that came previous in the series, with the weight of the feeling only amplified as Harper focuses on two cold cold cases rather than chasing down high down high stakes crime. That’s not to say this book is boring, quite the opposite in fact, as this melancholy tone set by the missing children Tom’s life changes is offset by the stress and drama that comes with arranging security for a high profile visitor – one that’s sure to draw riots.
These political tensions provide an exciting backdrop for the change coming at the Harper family, especially since women’s suffrage is such a prominent staple at home. With Tom’s daughter Mary becoming more involved in the fight for suffrage than Annabelle, the dynamic shifts rapidly, especially since teenaged Mary leans towards a more radical crowd. A tenuous balance must be struck between fighting for what’s right and protecting the family – so naturally some hot-headed drama ensues…
If there is one thing I am confident saying about Mr. Nickson’s writing, it is that it bleeds authenticity. Everything from the grimy buildings of industrial Leeds to the politics of the day, and from the feels of the neighbourhoods through to the riots, clearly comes from a deep knowledge and love of place. The passion and attention to detail will effortlessly transport you to another time and place, which is ideal for getting lost in the story.
The Molten City is an emotionally provocative and meticulously crafted read. Lovers of historical fiction will appreciate the attention to detail, while readers of crime fiction will get lost in the case. There’s even a little something for the women’s fiction and family drama readers in the mix. And despite the feeling of wrapping up the series that’s come with this last book, with such human and lovable characters I can only hope that Harper has at least one more big case waiting in the wings.
This finite tone is set with plenty of introspection, looking at both the correction of past wrongs and possibilities for the future. The result is that this book has a slightly slower pace than some of those that came previous in the series, with the weight of the feeling only amplified as Harper focuses on two cold cold cases rather than chasing down high down high stakes crime. That’s not to say this book is boring, quite the opposite in fact, as this melancholy tone set by the missing children Tom’s life changes is offset by the stress and drama that comes with arranging security for a high profile visitor – one that’s sure to draw riots.
These political tensions provide an exciting backdrop for the change coming at the Harper family, especially since women’s suffrage is such a prominent staple at home. With Tom’s daughter Mary becoming more involved in the fight for suffrage than Annabelle, the dynamic shifts rapidly, especially since teenaged Mary leans towards a more radical crowd. A tenuous balance must be struck between fighting for what’s right and protecting the family – so naturally some hot-headed drama ensues…
If there is one thing I am confident saying about Mr. Nickson’s writing, it is that it bleeds authenticity. Everything from the grimy buildings of industrial Leeds to the politics of the day, and from the feels of the neighbourhoods through to the riots, clearly comes from a deep knowledge and love of place. The passion and attention to detail will effortlessly transport you to another time and place, which is ideal for getting lost in the story.
The Molten City is an emotionally provocative and meticulously crafted read. Lovers of historical fiction will appreciate the attention to detail, while readers of crime fiction will get lost in the case. There’s even a little something for the women’s fiction and family drama readers in the mix. And despite the feeling of wrapping up the series that’s come with this last book, with such human and lovable characters I can only hope that Harper has at least one more big case waiting in the wings.
March 8, 2020
I am a great fan of historical mysteries and was drawn to this early 20th century crime novel set in Leeds because of the period and the historical events included in the book.
The protagonist, an intrepid senior police official, was a very engaging and sympathetic character. He cared about justice, he cared about his men, he cared about his victims-----so, my disappointment in the book was not based upon him. It centered on the lack of period flavor in Chris Nickson's writing. I didn't really feel the strong sense of time and place that makes a historical novel hum. With a few exceptions, the characters could have been contemporary people. We didn't have much descriptive language about the pubs, their homes, their clothes, or anything.
The Suffragist movement was a feature of the book and that set the tone for some dramatic adventures---so, yes, there was a nod to women emerging as activists, but not enough to really put me solidly in the movement, in the country, and on the streets. I loved the idea of the book. And, I enjoyed the family dynamics presented, but I felt there was a lot lacking to make the book come alive.
Netgalley provided me a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a candid review.
The protagonist, an intrepid senior police official, was a very engaging and sympathetic character. He cared about justice, he cared about his men, he cared about his victims-----so, my disappointment in the book was not based upon him. It centered on the lack of period flavor in Chris Nickson's writing. I didn't really feel the strong sense of time and place that makes a historical novel hum. With a few exceptions, the characters could have been contemporary people. We didn't have much descriptive language about the pubs, their homes, their clothes, or anything.
The Suffragist movement was a feature of the book and that set the tone for some dramatic adventures---so, yes, there was a nod to women emerging as activists, but not enough to really put me solidly in the movement, in the country, and on the streets. I loved the idea of the book. And, I enjoyed the family dynamics presented, but I felt there was a lot lacking to make the book come alive.
Netgalley provided me a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a candid review.
March 21, 2022
The Molten City: Chris Nickson
👍👍
From Amazon: "Detective Superintendent Tom Harper senses trouble ahead when the prime minister plans a visit. Can he keep law and order on the streets while also uncovering the truth behind a missing child?
Leeds, September 1908. There’s going to be a riot. Detective Superintendent Tom Harper can feel it. Herbert Asquith, the prime minster, is due to speak in the city. The suffragettes and the unemployed men will be out in the streets in protest. It’s Harper’s responsibility to keep order. Can he do it?
Harper has also received an anonymous letter claiming that a young boy called Andrew Sharp was stolen from his family fourteen years before. The file is worryingly thin. It ought to have been bulging. A missing child should have been headline news. Why was Andrew’s disappearance ignored? Determined to uncover the truth about Andrew Sharp and bring the boy some justice, Harper is drawn deep into the dark underworld of child-snatching, corruption and murder as Leeds becomes a molten, rioting city."
This certainly held my interest and not only did I enjoy the story, but most importantly, I liked the characters. I also like the historical aspect of the Women's Rights Movement.
👍👍
From Amazon: "Detective Superintendent Tom Harper senses trouble ahead when the prime minister plans a visit. Can he keep law and order on the streets while also uncovering the truth behind a missing child?
Leeds, September 1908. There’s going to be a riot. Detective Superintendent Tom Harper can feel it. Herbert Asquith, the prime minster, is due to speak in the city. The suffragettes and the unemployed men will be out in the streets in protest. It’s Harper’s responsibility to keep order. Can he do it?
Harper has also received an anonymous letter claiming that a young boy called Andrew Sharp was stolen from his family fourteen years before. The file is worryingly thin. It ought to have been bulging. A missing child should have been headline news. Why was Andrew’s disappearance ignored? Determined to uncover the truth about Andrew Sharp and bring the boy some justice, Harper is drawn deep into the dark underworld of child-snatching, corruption and murder as Leeds becomes a molten, rioting city."
This certainly held my interest and not only did I enjoy the story, but most importantly, I liked the characters. I also like the historical aspect of the Women's Rights Movement.
May 1, 2020
Nickson writes some of the best historical mysteries available currently, and this latest in the Tom Harper series is among his finest. Almost a decade has gone by since the events chronicled in The Leaden Heart, and Leeds police superintendent Harper is coping with significant alterations to his life.. At work, Tom is adjusting to the strengths and quirks of a new team of detectives while mourning the recent death of his friend and former colleague Billy Reed. At home, Tom's lively daughter has finished school, plans to start her own business, and is an ardent suffragette, while his equally lively wife is weighing the pros and cons of selling her successful pub to the Tetley company. Personal concerns must be set aside, though, when local unrest threatens to disrupt Prime Minister Asquith's upcoming visit to the city and an ongoing investigation into a cold case involving child-selling sparks violence and homicide. Well drawn characters, fast-paced plotting, and meticulously rendered 1908 period details make this book must reading for fans of police procedurals set in England's past.
March 29, 2020
Superintendent Tom Harper of the Leeds Police is attending the funeral of his old partner, Billy. It is September 1908 and there is trouble brewing in Leeds. The King has just visited and everything went well; Harper receives a commendation for his service. But then the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary plan to visit and citizens are up in arms. Unemployment is rampant and women suffragettes are demonstrating to receive the vote. Meanwhile, a kidnapping from years ago resurfaces when a woman who was privy to what happened writes a dying declaration and sends it to the police. Harper discovers the policeman who investigated the crime was involved in receiving the bribes that were distributed, so nothing was ever really done to solve the crime. Harper and his squad have to work overtime to ensure everyone's safety and bring the criminals to justice. This is one of the best historical police procedural series going. The descriptions of what life in Leeds was like are excellent; you can practically inhale the smog. Recommended.
May 18, 2020
Detective Superintendent Tom Harper senses trouble ahead when the prime minister plans a visit. Can he keep law and order on the streets while also uncovering the truth behind a missing child?
Leeds, September 1908. There's going to be a riot. Detective Superintendent Tom Harper can feel it. Herbert Asquith, the prime minster, is due to speak in the city. The suffragettes and the unemployed men will be out in the streets in protest. It's Harper's responsibility to keep order. Can he do it?
Harper has also received an anonymous letter claiming that a young boy called Andrew Sharp was stolen from his family fourteen years before. The file is worryingly thin. It ought to have been bulging. A missing child should have been headline news. Why was Andrew's disappearance ignored? Determined to uncover the truth about Andrew Sharp and bring the boy some justice, Harper is drawn deep into the dark underworld of child-snatching, corruption and murder as Leeds becomes a molten, rioting city.
An excellent story with family drama, murder and political intrigue. Well done
Leeds, September 1908. There's going to be a riot. Detective Superintendent Tom Harper can feel it. Herbert Asquith, the prime minster, is due to speak in the city. The suffragettes and the unemployed men will be out in the streets in protest. It's Harper's responsibility to keep order. Can he do it?
Harper has also received an anonymous letter claiming that a young boy called Andrew Sharp was stolen from his family fourteen years before. The file is worryingly thin. It ought to have been bulging. A missing child should have been headline news. Why was Andrew's disappearance ignored? Determined to uncover the truth about Andrew Sharp and bring the boy some justice, Harper is drawn deep into the dark underworld of child-snatching, corruption and murder as Leeds becomes a molten, rioting city.
An excellent story with family drama, murder and political intrigue. Well done
July 4, 2020
DS Tom Harper has a lot on his plate. His friend has just died, his wife and daughter are suffragettes, the Prime Minister and Home Secretary are coming to Leeds, and a wealthy family has been accused of kidnapping and renaming a young boy 14 years ago. Nickerson has conjured up an atmospheric and fascinating portrait of a police officer conducing an investigation and coping with politics and his family in 1908 Leeds. Andrew, it seems, was not the only child taken but there's very little info on the investigation of his kidnapping, let alone the others which have been alleged. There's an undercurrent of corruption and a good tight mystery here but I liked the historical aspects of this just as much. I'd not read the earlier books in the series, making it a standalone and it was fine that way. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. No spoilers from me but I'm interested in what happens next.
July 26, 2020
All eyes are on the Leeds police as the city is soon to receive a visit from the Prime Minister. The year is 1908, however, and the unemployed are planning to disrupt the visit along with the Suffragettes who see this as an ideal opportunity to get their grievances heard. With his men already stretched, an anonymous note sent to Detective Superintendent Tom Harper has piqued his interest. Telling of an abducted child fourteen years earlier and naming the family with whom he now lives, Harper is concerned that the original investigation seemed to be a bit lacklustre with a paper thin file detailing the steps taken. When missing children are a top priority, why was the disappearance of Andrew Sharp never taken seriously and why is there still an attempt to keep the story hidden?
Tom Harper is back, and this time things are looking very different in his personal life. At the start of the book, we see him having to come to terms with the loss of a close friend, someone who we have got to know throughout the series. This death, although not suspicious, sets the tone for the rest of the book, with numerous murders occurring to try to protect an old secret.
One of the things I have always liked about this series is the prominence placed upon Tom's wife, Annabelle. Very much a woman ahead of her time, we now see this replicated in their daughter, Mary. Now sixteen years of age, she is very much involved in the suffragette movement, although unlike her mother, she is prepared to go against her father's wishes to achieve her aim. I had great sympathy for Tom who, despite showing support for his daughter, knows he has a job to do, finding it difficult to prevent his daughter from getting involved in potentially dangerous demonstrations.
The Molten City has a lot happening between its pages, but the story flows easily, each plot being as enjoyable as the other. Chris Nickson, again, adds an air of authenticity by including real historical events as part of the plot, and it is easy to imagine yourself in the Leeds of 1908.
My only concern with this series is that, as time is moving on, Tom Harper is getting older. I hope that we do not see him retiring any time soon, as this is a series that I am thoroughly enjoying! If you haven't read any of this series before, I can highly recommend it.
Tom Harper is back, and this time things are looking very different in his personal life. At the start of the book, we see him having to come to terms with the loss of a close friend, someone who we have got to know throughout the series. This death, although not suspicious, sets the tone for the rest of the book, with numerous murders occurring to try to protect an old secret.
One of the things I have always liked about this series is the prominence placed upon Tom's wife, Annabelle. Very much a woman ahead of her time, we now see this replicated in their daughter, Mary. Now sixteen years of age, she is very much involved in the suffragette movement, although unlike her mother, she is prepared to go against her father's wishes to achieve her aim. I had great sympathy for Tom who, despite showing support for his daughter, knows he has a job to do, finding it difficult to prevent his daughter from getting involved in potentially dangerous demonstrations.
The Molten City has a lot happening between its pages, but the story flows easily, each plot being as enjoyable as the other. Chris Nickson, again, adds an air of authenticity by including real historical events as part of the plot, and it is easy to imagine yourself in the Leeds of 1908.
My only concern with this series is that, as time is moving on, Tom Harper is getting older. I hope that we do not see him retiring any time soon, as this is a series that I am thoroughly enjoying! If you haven't read any of this series before, I can highly recommend it.
March 15, 2020
Set in Leeds in 1908, this is the eighth book in the series featuring Detective Superintendent Tom Harper. There are two main storylines, the first a tip-off letter about a child abduction many years earlier that leads to murder, the second a visit by the Prime Minister that leads to civil unrest from the workers and suffragettes.
This is the first book by Chris Nickson I have read and I found it light and enjoyable. I liked the main character and the dynamics within his family however the others characters were rather flat. It was a quick read but there wasn't much depth in the plot and the historical setting didn't come through strongly enough to be convincing.
Overall it was reasonably entertaining despite the lack of substance.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.
This is the first book by Chris Nickson I have read and I found it light and enjoyable. I liked the main character and the dynamics within his family however the others characters were rather flat. It was a quick read but there wasn't much depth in the plot and the historical setting didn't come through strongly enough to be convincing.
Overall it was reasonably entertaining despite the lack of substance.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.
May 4, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and Severn Publishing for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. It is definitely another winner for Chris Nickson! The story centers around some personal issues for the Harper family involving their increasingly independent 16 year old daughter, Mary, as well as both Annabel’s pub and Tom’s future. The crime to be solved in this story is about 2 children who were stolen from their homes some 20 years previously and sold to a Leeds family. The murders begin to pile up in an attempt to silence anyone who can tell the story. Along with all of this Tom and his team are in charge of security for the upcoming visit of the Prime Minister which is complicated by the plans of the suffragettes and the poor of Leeds to stage possibly violent protests. There is a great deal of action and suspense in this book and I highly recommend it.
June 8, 2020
Set in Leeds early in the 20th century, Detective Superintendent Tom Harper has a very busy caseload. Asquith, the Prime Minister, is due to visit Leeds and he has to ensure the visit goes smoothly - not an easy task when a rally of unemployed men is happening on the same day, and the local suffragettes are threatening to lobby him.
Around this, there is an unusual case sparked by an anonymous letter, that leads his team to uncover an old case of child abduction. However, those responsible are willing to go to extreme lengths to ensure the truth remains hidden.
It is a well written and exciting book, with the various strands handled cleverly. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be looking out for more from this author (having already enjoyed many of his 'Chesterfield' series).
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Around this, there is an unusual case sparked by an anonymous letter, that leads his team to uncover an old case of child abduction. However, those responsible are willing to go to extreme lengths to ensure the truth remains hidden.
It is a well written and exciting book, with the various strands handled cleverly. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be looking out for more from this author (having already enjoyed many of his 'Chesterfield' series).
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 7, 2020
For DI Tom Harper, the next month ahead will be one he will remember for a long time. The Prime Minister Mr Asquith is expected to come to Leeds to speak. The City is going to be inundated by Suffragettes who are mad at the PM who went back on his word to bring up the Vote for Woman in the Parliament.
At the same time he has received an anonymous letter from a dying woman, who says that at one time she was involved with taking young children off the street and selling then to wealthy childless families.
His wife has had a offer to buy her pub, and is contemplating selling it and moving on with her life. Their eldest daughter has gotten involved with the new more combative Suffragette organization.
His boss, the Chief Constable announces to him that he is retiring, and wants Harper to apply for his job. There is a lot going on.
At the same time he has received an anonymous letter from a dying woman, who says that at one time she was involved with taking young children off the street and selling then to wealthy childless families.
His wife has had a offer to buy her pub, and is contemplating selling it and moving on with her life. Their eldest daughter has gotten involved with the new more combative Suffragette organization.
His boss, the Chief Constable announces to him that he is retiring, and wants Harper to apply for his job. There is a lot going on.
June 15, 2020
Despite this book being classified as a historical mystery, I kept thinking that it could be taken place in today’s world with all its’ social unrest and movements. In both eras, the police have to solve crimes and be responsible for all political and social unrest at the same time.
The author depicted how this was accomplished by the main character while he also had concerns for his own family, staff, and even some of the crime victims. I felt that the book should include cozy and police procedures in its’ classification. Readers who do not like detailed violence and excessive facts would feel at ease reading this book
I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House Publishers for an advance copy.
The author depicted how this was accomplished by the main character while he also had concerns for his own family, staff, and even some of the crime victims. I felt that the book should include cozy and police procedures in its’ classification. Readers who do not like detailed violence and excessive facts would feel at ease reading this book
I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House Publishers for an advance copy.
March 5, 2020
1908 Leeds. To the background of a visit from Prime Minister Asquith, with its associating threats of demonstrations from the unemployed and the suffragettes, Superintendent Tom Harper is made aware of an old case. One of child snatching of two young children, but which result in some current deaths. Who is trying to hide their involvement in this old case.
Another interesting and enjoyable well-written historical mystery in this series with its very likeable characters.
A NetGalley Book
Another interesting and enjoyable well-written historical mystery in this series with its very likeable characters.
A NetGalley Book
July 19, 2020
I loved the time period of this historical mystery. Set in Leeds England in 1908, Supt. Tom Harper, who has been in seven previous novels, prepares for the protection of the Prime Minister’s visit. An anonymous letter informs him of an influential family kidnapping of a boy. Along with solving this mystery, he must deal with the threat of protests by working class men and the suffragists. Even minor characters are fleshed out, so the story flows with realism.
January 11, 2025
Set in 1908 nine years after The Leaden Heart. In the intervening period some of the previous characters had retired or passed on. Several deaths will also be recorded in this story. As always there is excellent descriptive detail of the busy and dark streets of Leeds. Pure leg work to solve crimes and lots of action makes the Tom Harper series a cut above the rest. Victorian and now Edwardian period crime fiction at its best. An excellent read.
February 12, 2020
This novel took me on a journey to visit Tom, Annabel and many other 'book friends'. With a bird's eye view of what it must have been like to be tasked with keeping the peace during demonstrations and political unrest, chasing down criminals and trying to solve mysteries without the benefit of forensics and mobile technology, this novel is another triumph from Chris Nickson.
December 5, 2020
This had a good story, based on facts. It’s always nice to know how the real story differs. This was back in the late 1800’s-1908. Women were marching & getting arrested for the right to vote. It was surprising how beat up the police got at times. It had a good ending. I was surprised that this author didn’t have a picture of himself.
April 8, 2020
Read my review at Crime Fiction Lover https://crimefictionlover.com/2020/03...
September 9, 2020
Thoroughly entertaining and gripping toward the end. The series has been good reads.
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