Blackstone

Blackstone #1

by Richard Falkirk

He cast a giant shadow...from the swarming slums of nineteenth-century London to its aristocratic salons. He was Blackstone, pride of the Bow Street Runners, an elite corps of special agents sworn to protect the Crown!

In his first adventure, Blackstone is called upon to foil the "Cumberland Plot," a daring kidnap scheme to snatch Victoria, the queen-to-be herself!

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery

198 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

A pseudonym used by Derek Lambert.

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting historical read, first published in 1974 and soon to be rereleased. I learned quite a bit about the early 19th century and the politics and rivalries before Victoria came to the throne.
Most interesting was the history of the policing of London in particular. Every-one has heard of Robert Peel's 'Peelers' but I learned about the Bow Street Runners, the fore runners, and their roguish reputation, which included many criminal or thuggish elements.
The Bow Street Runners were the forerunners of the Metropolitan Police established by Sir Robert Peel in 1829. Their inception was probably in 1749 when the Bow Street Magistrate, Henry Fielding, author of Tom Jones, enrolled six volunteer thief-takers.
I thought I knew most of the main facts of Victoria's reign, but I never knew her first name was Alexandrina until she came to the throne. It was fascinating to learn about the rivalry between the courts of St James and Kensington and the tension as to who would I inherit the throne.
The story centres around Blackstone, a reformed criminal who is the Bow Street runners best man. Rumours abound of possible harm intended against Alexandrina Victoria. Blackstone races against time to prevent a national scandal.
This was thoroughly enjoyable and I really do hope the rest of the series gets rereleased too.
Many thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a mystery than I remembered. It's a shame this series is out of print: plenty of period color - and guns! - and engaging characters. Blackstone's Fancy, the boxing one, should be first movie; Russell Crowe would make a fine Blackie, with Robert Downey jr as sidekick Lawler.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I especially liked the history in this mystery.

This is a fascinating portrayal of historical London with a fascinating character. Blackstone was raised on the streets with a criminal background- petty thief and more – until a target took him under his wing and got him into more honest work as a Bow Street runner. Blackstone isn’t all ‘good’ as he is still a rough, tough, and ruthless cop.

Blackstone thinks that being put on duty to “baby sit” the future queen of England, Alexandrina Victoria, is a demotion instead of realizing that he was placed there as the best protector. He isn’t sure there is a plot but then a miniature goes missing so there is something to investigate. But someone doesn’t want him around and he is set up to be removed from the force. That opens the door for a kidnapping to occur during Bow Street watch.

Sir Richard Birnie, the head of the Runners, is stressed because upper officials, speared by Robert Peel, are planning to start a full-time police force which threatens the Bow Street Runners program. Now that the princess has been kidnapped he is relying on Blackstone to rescue the child to show the value of the Runners.

Blackstone has his own weaknesses that get in the way sometimes. Various women at the Estate are interested in Blackstone and/or the man he puts into place undercover. Still, Blackstone is a top-notch detective and surprisingly brave and dedicated to saving the child and his career. His actions are a bit gritty as he doesn’t always use the best methods to accomplish his goals.

Although there is a good deal of sexual innuendo and grittiness, I enjoyed this strong, historical mystery. This novel is clearly well researched. The historical detail of the times, the politics, intrigues and challenges to the Runners is a big plus which I found fascinating. I recommend this to readers who enjoy mystery and especially those who enjoy historical detail.

Source: Publisher for an honest review; my rating 4.25.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really terrific book.
Blackstone is “The Best” Bow Street Runner of his day. He has been assigned to guard the Princess Alexandrina Victoria. He is irate. He believes this is a baby sitting job and he is insulted.
But, things progress and he begins to wonder whether there might be an actual threat to the Princess.
The book was originally published in the 1970's but it is well done and could have been written today. The atmosphere and descriptions brings the reader into an England of another era. One can almost smell the soot from all those coal fires.
Blackstone is not exactly a hero. He is not a very nice man. But, I wanted him to succeed because I really liked him. He is smart and quick and his analysis of a situation is wonderful. He takes information and facts and puts them together to find solutions. He is a darn good detective.
Just as there always is, there are politics involved. Robert Peel wants to start a city police force and get rid of the runners. There may be a plan to keep Victoria from ever taking the throne. The servants in Kensington Palace may or may not be stealing. In other words, there is a lot going on.
Blackstone has a friend, well not exactly a friend, but a man he knows, Blackstone brings him on the scene in order to help ferret out facts. Lawler is a con man, a ladies man, a professional gambler and a thief. I really liked him too.
This is a well written book and I enjoyed reading it very much. And the princess, is a very brave and bright little girl.
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are my own.

[Mike Siedschlag · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given an e-version of Blackstone by Richard Falkirk for review.



Set in Victorian England (I think that's the proper time), we have a who done it with an almost noir feel to it. Our main character (bit of a stretch to call him "hero") Blackstone is a Bow Street Runner (yes, that's was a thing) with a highly questionable past. Assigned to protect a royal princess, he of course makes enemies as he goes.



A good amount of history here. The early beginnings of police departments, political machinations and royal intrigue round out the intertwined plot lines. While I had a hard time finding the character Blackstone sympathetic or even likable, the story was topnotch. A great detective mystery. Sex (not too graphic), violence (ditto) and plenty of twists and turns. Interesting insight into the lives of the upper and working classes.



Negatives? The only one for me was at times I found the story a bit choppy. Abrupt changes threw me off my rhythm.



Overall a good historic noir detective story. I have since discovered that this book is the first in a series based around the character Blackstone. A good start for the series. I look forward to reading more. Enjoy!

[Silver James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I originally read this book back in the 1970s when it was first published. My dad and I shared similar tastes in books and he'd read it and recommended it. I remember thoroughly enjoying the story way back when and from time to time in the ensuing years, considered looking for it. Lo and behold, I found it as part of Kindle Unlimited and I grabbed it for nostalgia's sake.

Surprisingly, the book has held up reasonably well. It's very typical of the time in which it was published. Blackstone, a leader of the Bow Street Runners, is typical of his time period and all things considered, the book was mostly historically accurate. Why yes, I was a history major in college, why do you ask?

Anyway, it was decent historical mystery, even though it took almost a year to read because...life and health and all sorts of stuff, but since it's Dad's Day and I picked this book up because of memories of my dad, I decided to finish it this weekend. I'm glad I did.

[Jan Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley...

Blackstone is a re-issue of a novel first published in 1972. It appears there are five in the series, so I’m very excited to have read this one. I loved this story, a regency mystery featuring Blackstone, one of the best of the Bow Street Runners. The story is set at a time when the Metropolitan Police are struggling to be born, competing with the Runners. Falkirk writes with sophisticated style and wit without a stumble, capturing the tone of the time, his descriptions lavish but not overextended. Halfway through the book, I realized (with great glee) that Blackstone is a Regency Sam Spade; hot gin and hot women are his sustenance when not chasing down the bad guys with a vengeance and swagger. Twisting arms to get cooperation, seduction for information, always well armed and ready to fight his way out of a fix. I loved it!

[Peter Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a gift from my brother. He described it as Richard Sharpe as a rozzer and he's not wrong. The titular character is a post Regency period Bow Street Runner and Sharpe or Uhtred would fit equally well into the character.


This book was written in 1972 and has the feel of an airport novel, similar to some of the less than stellar Alistair McLeans. It's perfectly readable and enjoyable as a book. However, what interested me was the amount of research the author had done to get terminology and period detail correct. I'm not an expert on this era, but I have read quite a bit on it and Falkirk seems to have got a lot of it right.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable entry in the Blackstone series, this 1977 story concerns a kidnap plot on young Princess Victoria in 1826, as Blackstone confronts his nemesis Challoner but who is doing the orchestrating? Blackstone’s background makes him a hard bastard, and, as a Bow Street Runner, he has plenty of latitude, but the Runners are under threat from Sir Robert Peel. Historical figures feature prominently and, even though the outcome is obvious, the action, along with great lesser characters like Lawler the footman/unwilling offsider of Blackstone, adds much of interest. 4.5 stars.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable Regency mystery/adventure that leans towards the rough and tumble. There's plenty of stinkiness here and the 1970s haunts the novel like a plush velvet specter. You know how Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet is like super 1960s? Well, imagine that, but like the transition between 1960s and 70s with regard to Regency London. It's not distracting really, but enough to note.

I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Due to rumours, Edmund Blackstone, Bow Street Runner, is assigned to protect the seven year old Princess Alexandrina Victoria from being kidnapped. But when he is attacked he wonders if the assignment is really a waste of time as he has thought.
I enjoyed this well-paced mystery. I found the characters interesting and hope that more of the stories will be re-published.
A NetGalley Book

[Steven Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

An early 70s novel that is still okay. *damned with faint praise, much?* Set in the 1820s, its the tale of a Bow Street Runner, from the days when the "police" were often recruited from the best of the "criminals" on the principle of set a thief to catch a thief. The POV is well written but it's not the best in the series.

[Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and informative look at historical police work in early England. Blackstone was a Bow Street Runner. A group of operatives who set out to protect the upper class and sometimes the lower classes as well. The Bow Street Runners were former criminals who were hired to arrest criminals.

[Rubin Carpenter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blackstone is given a assignment to investigate a plot concerning the future Queen of England
this book was very good and flowed well
political intrigue and adventure in the old style tradition a 19th century James Bond
A good read

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blackstone is a key member of the Bow Street Runners, asked to “babysit” the infant Queen Victoria. At the same time Peel’s new force are gaining popularity and threatening the status of the Runners.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes I think our first impression of a book, the cover and the time we see it, forms much of our impression of it. I first saw Blackstone when I was on a trip with my older brother. I wanted to buy the book, but I was short of cash. I also new he wouldn't lend me the $$ to buy it. The image of a the man all in black, cloak, hat, the Bow Street Runners, and flintlock pistol always stayed in my head.

Upon finding a copy of this out of print book, and recalling my first impression, I bought it. In trying to detach those earlier feelings from this reading years later is difficult for me. I did enjoy this book, but there were times the writing didn't quite catch how I was responding to the story.

Richard Falkirk is actually Derek Lambert, and Lambert later used this title for another book. In this under 200 page novel (compare to the average paperback out there now) Blackstone is assigned to guard the seven year-old queen-to-be Victoria who's life is rumored to be in danger. Not believing the stories at first, events lead Blackstone to believe that the future queen is in danger.

There is little hiding of Blackstone's former criminal background. His connection to to the criminal Challoner is hinted at, but not fully divulged (probably held for later volumes). Blackstone is not a genius detective, but he is dogged in his pursuit, and loyal to the some of the concepts behind the Runners.

Lambert tosses in a brief historical note at the end. He does a good job of showing the distinction between the classes without taking sides (well not completely taking sides) in doing so.

[Melisende · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read a couple of novels set in the time of Queen Victoria of England, but this was was set during her infancy, when she was heir to the throne rather than seated upon it.

It is a time when the "Peelers" under Sir Robert Peel (metropolitan police force) was in the ascendancy and the Bow Street Runners (who were not restricted to one city, and were at times hired to solve crime - and thus susceptible to corruption), were on its last legs. Edmund Blackstone, one of the Bow Street Runners, who by his own admissions "is a bit of a crook", is assigned as a bodyguard to the young princess when a kidnapping plot is revealed.

Blackstone enters the royal household, which in itself is den of plots and conspiracies, before journeying back into the underbelly of London. Following an attempt on Blackstone, he is removed from his position and the young princess faces much danger. Along the way we constantly encounter the mysterious Henry Challoner who is either "a bit of a tool" (according to my handwriting) or is but a tool - I think both may be apt.

The story was well written and the action rolls along, building to the inevitable climax, where the end is revealed ..... to an extent.

Obviously since first reading this I now realise that this was just the first in a series of five. I do hope the other four (Blackstone on Broadway, Blackstone Underground, Blackstone's Fancy, and Beau Blackstone) will also be republished.

(side note: I like David's suggestion of a series starring Russel Crowe - or possibly Sean Bean)

[Chb4usc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this first in 1973...purchased in the UK. On rereading still like the book very much and the series character: Edmund Blackstone, a Bow Street Runner...(forerunners of the British Metropolitan Police Force in the 1800's.) Blackstone, an ex-thief (takes one to know one) is the best Runner on the Force. He is assigned to prevent the kidnapping of the young child Princess Alexandrina Victoria...future Queen-to-be of England. Very engaging mystery-adventure.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A historical novel about a Bow Street Runner during the period of Queen Victoria’s youth. Found it pretty meh -- most interesting part to me was comparing the feeling of a Victorian-set book written in the 1970s vs. more recently written books set in the same period.

[Darcy Abriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read. Nice turn of phrase. Kept me interested. Liked the descriptions.

[Katherine Spivey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm. The kidnapping of Princess Victoria -- and a mention of a photograph. Faugh!