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Tom Pascoe #2
The River of Fire
Wapping, London: March 1799. A sunken lugger in the Pool of London at last reveals its shocking secret. River Surveyor Tom Pascoe of the Marine Police finds the bodies of two men entombed in the crew's cabin. Suspicion falls on a third member of the crew seen fleeing the scene. He had a known motive for murder. Against the background of a nation at war with Napoleon, Tom Pascoe finds his own life under threat as he digs deeper into the case. He uncovers the existence of French agents whose task is to undermine England's ability to continue the war. In a race against time, Tom's job is further complicated by the presence of a new member of the police crew with a secret of his own...
- GenresHistorical Fiction
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
3 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Easter
9 books13 followersThe son of a colonial police officer, Patrick was born in Cyprus at the tail end of 1943 and lived there until, at the age of 12, when he was sent ‘home’ to school in England.
At 19 Patrick joined the Metropolitan Police in London and three years later went onto the river.
On leaving the police service in 1994, Patrick became a journalist chasing deadlines for technical magazines and articles in national newspapers. He still writes, full time, but now concentrates on his novels. He lives in Sussex with his wife and three dogs, working out of a Victorian pump-house, complete with its own well and pumping machinery, in the grounds of his home.
At 19 Patrick joined the Metropolitan Police in London and three years later went onto the river.
On leaving the police service in 1994, Patrick became a journalist chasing deadlines for technical magazines and articles in national newspapers. He still writes, full time, but now concentrates on his novels. He lives in Sussex with his wife and three dogs, working out of a Victorian pump-house, complete with its own well and pumping machinery, in the grounds of his home.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 2, 2021
**Should Read as 4.5 Stars!**
Read this book in 2012, and its the 2nd part of the "Tom Pascoe" series, during the War against Napoleon Bonaparte.
This tale is set in March, in the year AD 1799, and we find Tom Pascoe and his men in and around the Pool of London.
For there, River Surveyor, Tom Pascoe of the Marine Police in London, finds two bodies in the crew's cabin, and a third member running from the scene of murder.
Against the background of a nation at War against Napoleon, Tom Pascoe will encounter during his investigations French agents who will undermine his work at every possibility.
What will follow is a very exciting story. in which Tom Pascoe will need to stop the infiltration, not only from without but also from within, if he wants to succeed in his efforts to solve this case of murder and mayhem in the Port of London.
Very much recommended, for this is a very enjoyable continuation of this Marine Police series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Very Satisfying Sequel"!
Read this book in 2012, and its the 2nd part of the "Tom Pascoe" series, during the War against Napoleon Bonaparte.
This tale is set in March, in the year AD 1799, and we find Tom Pascoe and his men in and around the Pool of London.
For there, River Surveyor, Tom Pascoe of the Marine Police in London, finds two bodies in the crew's cabin, and a third member running from the scene of murder.
Against the background of a nation at War against Napoleon, Tom Pascoe will encounter during his investigations French agents who will undermine his work at every possibility.
What will follow is a very exciting story. in which Tom Pascoe will need to stop the infiltration, not only from without but also from within, if he wants to succeed in his efforts to solve this case of murder and mayhem in the Port of London.
Very much recommended, for this is a very enjoyable continuation of this Marine Police series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Very Satisfying Sequel"!
January 29, 2020
An emergency book I grabbed from a charity shop when my Kindle battery died, Patrick Easter managed to draw me into the story fairly fast and managed to keep the plot twists from being obvious, I will definitely be looking out for more of his work.
November 16, 2015
Ok, so this wasn't oh-my-god-someone-burn-this-book terrible. It was just really ordinary. The story was engaging enough, but the plot relied so much on a whole bunch of convenient (and frankly, unbelievable) coincidences that it just didn't work for me. There was a lot of repetition which I think ought to have been caught by an editor and there were many situations where I found myself thinking 'no, they just wouldn't do that/say that/think that'. I also thought I caught a few anachronisms, but the truth is I couldn't even be bothered to check them. I guess for me this was just a highly forgettable read.
January 27, 2024
An interesting and well written story of the work of the 18th century London River Police and its main character Tom Pascoe.
Two things let the book down in my opinion. Although it had me rivetted in parts, I was unaware it was the second book in a sequel having not read the first and the end was designed to be a continuation. That made it disappointing after most of the main characters including both females got murdered and the French psychopath spy got away scot free, supposedly to be caught on another assignment, on another day, in another book.
Secondly, I agree with others, there were two many convenient encounters for the story to be convincing. How could Dubois, a French foreigner who had never been to the city before, keep finding his victims in the dense Port of London area when the River Police who knew the ports like the back of their hands, couldn't find him? As well, the River Police were too careless walking the streets and too careless in protecting known targeted victims. Also there were small details not addressed, like a feverish Toiler surviving long periods without water.
Two things let the book down in my opinion. Although it had me rivetted in parts, I was unaware it was the second book in a sequel having not read the first and the end was designed to be a continuation. That made it disappointing after most of the main characters including both females got murdered and the French psychopath spy got away scot free, supposedly to be caught on another assignment, on another day, in another book.
Secondly, I agree with others, there were two many convenient encounters for the story to be convincing. How could Dubois, a French foreigner who had never been to the city before, keep finding his victims in the dense Port of London area when the River Police who knew the ports like the back of their hands, couldn't find him? As well, the River Police were too careless walking the streets and too careless in protecting known targeted victims. Also there were small details not addressed, like a feverish Toiler surviving long periods without water.
July 3, 2022
This was gotten for my as a Christmas present in 2021. Took me a while to get to it as this isn't my usual type of book. I also wasn't aware it was part of a series and have not read the first book. This didn't stop me from understanding the story in this one however. It might have limited the background knowledge I had on the characters, especially since tom pascoe had previously met one of the Frenchmen in this story.
I enjoyed the story. It was gripping at points however a little slow at others. There were moments to me that felt still,that nothing much was happening. I enjoyed the fact that its a UK based book with most the story being set in London. I was also fascinated with the fact that a fair amount was set in Hastings not far from where I am based in the south east of England. It was interesting to see what street names where called back in 1799.
I enjoyed the story. It was gripping at points however a little slow at others. There were moments to me that felt still,that nothing much was happening. I enjoyed the fact that its a UK based book with most the story being set in London. I was also fascinated with the fact that a fair amount was set in Hastings not far from where I am based in the south east of England. It was interesting to see what street names where called back in 1799.
October 11, 2019
Atmospheric, gives a good sense of the time (and the tide!)
November 28, 2022
Quite good
February 18, 2025
Simple plot but it is a very good read none the less with enjoyable and fun characters.
December 29, 2014
This book follows Tom Pascoe, eighteenth century waterman (marine policeman)as he tries to solve the mystery of a sunken lugger in the Thames with two bodies aboard.
There's a foreign influence in this book, as England was at war with France after all. I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first one, but it may have been because of the ending which I won't disclose of course.
A few twists and turns as in the first, but am looking forward to the third, to see if Patrick Easter can inject a bit more oomph.
There's a foreign influence in this book, as England was at war with France after all. I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first one, but it may have been because of the ending which I won't disclose of course.
A few twists and turns as in the first, but am looking forward to the third, to see if Patrick Easter can inject a bit more oomph.
October 18, 2016
Started off slow and lost me half way which is why it took me forever to read it but got me hooked towards the end!
It's one of those books which ur not too bothered about but u still have to read the full sequel as u do care a little about it!
Well bring on the 3rd book! May wait a while before reading it though so put on my to read list for later
It's one of those books which ur not too bothered about but u still have to read the full sequel as u do care a little about it!
Well bring on the 3rd book! May wait a while before reading it though so put on my to read list for later
July 13, 2015
I wish I had known that this was the second in a series before I began reading. There was no indication. Past events are alluded to throughout.
I did think that there were an awful lot of coincidences. Too many to be over looked.
The ending was unsatisfactory. Obviously a set up for the next book.
THE RIVER OF FIRE is well written, but I was left disappointed.
I did think that there were an awful lot of coincidences. Too many to be over looked.
The ending was unsatisfactory. Obviously a set up for the next book.
THE RIVER OF FIRE is well written, but I was left disappointed.
March 23, 2016
The middle part of a trilogy which isn't made clear from the cover. The back story seems to be quite important and so I floundered with it, not having read the first part. An enjoyable story about a plot to reek havoc in London in 1799 at the height of the Napoleonic War. The first volume needs to be read.
October 14, 2012
Actually think this is better than the first one, characters are settled and we know them, more time for the story, which is a good one.
June 27, 2013
A good follow up to the first Tom Pascoe, brings alive the waterfront of London, looking forward to the next installment.
August 9, 2015
History & murder what a great combination
October 23, 2016
This book was ok, but nowhere near as good as the first one. Quite disappointed
March 27, 2017
The second in the series following the career of Tom Pascoe, this takes place a few months after the events of The Watermen. It is 1799, England is of course still at war with Napoleon's forces and alert for possible French spies trying to infiltrate the country. We start this tale with a sunken lugger, sightings of strangers, unknown to the regular crowd of people that live and work along the river and Tom is tasked with investigating.
As ever, the period detail is good - I like the fact that Easter brings attention to the squalid nature of many ordinary people's lives at that time - so much historical fiction wants us to focus on wealthy heroes in nice stately homes, so it makes a change to have a writer who not only prefers to focus on the ordinary people, but does so in a fair, even-handed manner. Yes, there are criminals, but there are plenty of good-hearted people simply struggling to make ends meet. Some of the characters are familiar from the previous book, others are new, but they all have their storyline and are written vividly. We get a chance to get to know and understand who they are and that helps us sympathise with their situations.
As with the first book, there is also a hint of Aubrey/Maturin - surely I can't be the only person who wonders if the tall, blond, ex-Master and Commander Pascoe is modelled on the equally tall, blond Jack Aubrey that we first met *in* Master and Commander? And perhaps it's the similarity of period setting, but some of the dialogue also seems to be referencing O'Brian's classic series too. Not that I'm complaining - this is an engrossing book, the plot clips along at a good pace and I look forward to reading the next one in the series.
As ever, the period detail is good - I like the fact that Easter brings attention to the squalid nature of many ordinary people's lives at that time - so much historical fiction wants us to focus on wealthy heroes in nice stately homes, so it makes a change to have a writer who not only prefers to focus on the ordinary people, but does so in a fair, even-handed manner. Yes, there are criminals, but there are plenty of good-hearted people simply struggling to make ends meet. Some of the characters are familiar from the previous book, others are new, but they all have their storyline and are written vividly. We get a chance to get to know and understand who they are and that helps us sympathise with their situations.
As with the first book, there is also a hint of Aubrey/Maturin - surely I can't be the only person who wonders if the tall, blond, ex-Master and Commander Pascoe is modelled on the equally tall, blond Jack Aubrey that we first met *in* Master and Commander? And perhaps it's the similarity of period setting, but some of the dialogue also seems to be referencing O'Brian's classic series too. Not that I'm complaining - this is an engrossing book, the plot clips along at a good pace and I look forward to reading the next one in the series.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews