Them Without Pain

Simon Westow #7

by Chris Nickson

Simon Westow, the city's unwavering thief-taker, must confront betrayal, history and murder in this gritty page-turner set in nineteenth-century Leeds.

Leeds, May 1825. Thief-taker Simon Westow is hired by Sir Robert Foley to find four silver cups stolen by his servant. The cups are a family treasure, crafted by local silversmith Arthur Mangey over a century before.

Meanwhile, Simon has also been invited to witness the demolition of Middle Row, where Mangey reputedly had a secret workshop for coin clipping, the very crime he was hanged for in 1696. Is it a coincidence or a terrible omen? Simon's curiosity swiftly turns to horror when he discovers Foley's servant lying dead in the clandestine room.

How can a long-dead criminal be involved in the servant's demise? Simon needs all the help he can get from his assistant Jane and deadly prot�g� Sally to navigate the twisted path from history to the present amidst the growing number of dead bodies. But is the truth worth dying for?

This authentic and atmospheric historical mystery will appeal to fans of Anne Perry and Charles Finch.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Historical Mystery

239 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 3, 2024

About the author

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

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

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Chris Nickson is back with book #7 in the Simon Westow series.
Now, it’s no secret that I am a massive fan of this author. He is a native of Leeds in the North of England, where the series is set in the early 19th century, and what Chris doesn’t know about the history of his home city isn’t worth knowing, which makes for a truly authentic reading experience.

Simon Westow (thief taker) has managed to carve a niche for himself, finding and returning stolen possessions to their rightful owners for a fee. This time around, Simon’s former assistant Jane returns to help him in his quest, together with protégé Sally, both of them having the knowledge needed to survive in difficult and dangerous places in the city, further more, they are more than capable of dealing with the more violent aspects of the job. Wife Rosie (former thief taker) is always invaluable when it comes to gathering crucial information in each case.

It’s May 1825 and Simon’s task this time is to find and return four silver cups to Sir Robert Foley. The cups were stolen by Foley’s servant and are a family treasure, crafted by local silversmith Arthur Mangey over a century before. Coincidentally (or is it?) Simon has been invited to witness the demolition of Middle Row, where Mangey reputedly had a secret workshop for coin clipping, the very crime he was hanged for in 1696. Simon's curiosity swiftly turns to horror when he discovers Foley's servant lying dead in the clandestine room.

This will prove to be one of Simon’s most dangerous assignments, however, he needs to keep working to pay for his twins (Richard and Amos’s education), but he’s reached a time in his life when he appears to be losing confidence in his own abilities, and fear seems to be his constant companion on the old cobbled streets of Leeds.

Another gritty well crafted mystery, and as ever, the author takes us back through the mists of time to bring alive the city of Leeds and the daily lives for its inhabitants in those far off days.

Love this series, love this family, love this author!

*Thank you to Severn House for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review*

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've ever read a Chris Nickson novel, then you know you're in for a locked-in experience every time. Them Without Pain delivers.

Simon Westow is a thief-taker in Leeds in 1825 in Northern England. He's been on his own since he was a child and time and situation have leaned on him hard. His job has been to locate stolen items and the persons responsible. It's been a harrowing occupation all along.

Chris Nickson paints Simon with different strokes in Them Without Pain. Each book still reads quite well as standalones. Simon has taken on so many dangerous exploits over the years. It's beginning to show more and more. He is aging and his confidence has been shaken over a multitude of beatings and severe injuries. Simon weighs how much longer he can still maintain his thief-taker business and provide for his wife Rosie and their twin sons.

A new case is brought to his attention by Sir Robert Foley. It appears that his valet has stolen four silver cups that have been in his possession for years. The cups were created by Arthur Mangey a once renowned silversmith. Mangey was hanged for questionable treason. The silver cups can never be replaced.

What appears to be a cut and dry case will turn into a complicated and complex case. The valet shows up dead. Now there's a murderer responsible for killing the thief. But who and why?

Simon has employed two girls from off the streets of Leeds. Both are remarkable with the use of knives to defend themselves and to defend Simon when necessary. They are also highly analytical in their skills from living off the streets and being so aware of human nature. They are assets to Simon, but this case will even be a challenge to them.

Them Without Pain is a gripper of a read. Nickson has a solid talent for presenting his characters with the scars of living in these dangerous times. When pressed to a corner, humans will take to desperate means. Nothing is more evident than that in Them Without Pain. Pain comes at all levels and all intensities. Some of it is thrust upon the innocent and some of it is self-imposed. Times change, but human nature doesn't always. Survival leads individuals to fight for their cause even if it is abysmal. Stay tuned to see who rallies here.

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

[eyes.2c · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silver cups—a stolen history!

Leeds Thief-taker Simon Westow takes on a strange case from Sir Robert Foley. It’s 1825 and Foley wants Simon to find some stolen silver cups made by the very talented silversmith Arthur Mangey who’d been hung for treason a century before. Imagine Simon’s shock when Foley’s servant is found dead in a secret workshop in of a row of buildings being demolished in the name of progress.
This case will test Simon. He finds himself slowing down. He needs to be in top form. Jane comes back to assist. Sally their protege is part of the investigation. She and Jane feel the need to hone their knife skills.
A startling and shocking situation emerges. Death hides and stalks Simon, his family and friends.
Another fantastic Westow mystery from the indomitable Chris Nickson.

A Severn House ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.

[Sarah-Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Chris Nickson's historical mystery series. I haven't read my way through all of them yet, but I'm always on the lookout for a new one. Most of his series are set in Leeds, but take place in very different time periods. As a result, one gathers a sense of the flow of history not just within series, but across them. My first Nickson series feature D.I. Tom Harper and takes place—in Leeds—between 1890 and 1920. That series had ended, alas, but I treasure the time I spent with its characters. Nickson does a wonderful job of letting us sees the rises and fall of characters, the changes in their lives over time, the way they wrestle with the effects of aging.

Now I'm making my way through the Simon Westow series, which begins—in Leeds—in 1820. Westow is a thief-taker and recoverer of stolen property. In Them Without Pain (my current Nickson read) what begins as a quest for four heirloom silver goblets branches out into something much more dangerous—a series of murders. And another murderer with a different M.O. and inexplicable motivations also emerges. This is the most complex Westow mystery I've read. I kept thinking the novel was close to a resolution, but new complications kept coming up, letting me know that I wasn't yet at the heart of the puzzle. I quite enjoy that sort of "problem."

Lucky for me (and you) the Westow series is ongoing and Nickson has a number of other Leeds-based series: the Richard Nottingham series, set in the 17th Century; a 1920s series featuring WPC (Woman Police Constable) Lottie Armstrong; and the Dan Markham series set in the 1950s. See what I mean about the flow of history?

He also has a 14th Century series set in Chesterfield and a 1980s series set in Seattle. I haven't yet tried either of these, but I'll be getting to them eventually.

I received a free electronic review copy of Them Without Pain from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

[Viccy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simon Westow is a thief-taker in early 19th century Leeds. He is hired to find four silver cups, stolen by a servant of Sir Robert Foley. He quickly finds the body of the thief, but no cups. Where have they gone? Meanwhile, his former employee, Jane, is questioning her quiet existence. Is she really happy, just living with her elderly friend and learning how to make tinctures? Simon asks Jane to help him search from who might have murdered Foley's servant and taken the cups. Also assisted by his deadly assistant, Sally, Simon begins investigating who had the most to gain from the theft and the murder. One of Jane's friends, a street beggar, with a prosthetic leg is beaten almost to death by a man he is trying to help. Jane and Sally soon discover this man is insane and has to be stopped. Simon has uncovered a young man who feels he is entitled to have the silver cups due to his relation to the original silversmith from the 18th century. As always, this is a very well-researched book with entertaining writing and characters who continue to grow. Recommended.

[Edna Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. The author and I have been friends for close to thirty years, yet I’ve never read any of his novels. I will be honest and say that a book set in 1825 Leeds might not have been my first choice. Likewise, I was picking up in the middle of a series, and I worried I’d be lost. Not so! I was immediately swept up in the action with well-defined characters and a plot that kept me interested. Possibly a bit too gory for my taste, but I guess it goes with the time period. What should I read next, Chris?

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leeds 1825 Westow, thief-taker, is employed by Sir Robert Foley to find his missing 100 year old silver cups made by Arthur Mangey, presumed stolen by his missing valet Thomas Kendall. But his body is soon discovered. Westow has the help, of his new assistant Sally, and requests the help of the old, Jane Truscott.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery with its likeable and interesting main characters. Another good addition to this enjoyable series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[David Prestidge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leeds. The early early summer of 1925. Simon Westow is a Thief-taker, a man who recovers stolen goods for a percentage of their value. He has no legal powers except his own knowledge of the city and a keen intelligence. When he encounters criminals, it is up to the city Constable and the magistrates to apply the law. Followers of this series will be familiar with the dramatis personnae, but for new readers, we have:

Simon Westow, Thief-taker
Rosie, his wife
Richard and Amos, their twin sons
Jane Truscott, former assistant to Westow. Very streetwise and deadly with a knife
Catherine Shields, an elderly widow who has provided Jane with a home
Sally - another child of the streets, and Jane's replacement

Westow is summoned to the house of Sir Robert Foley, a wealthy man whose man-servant has absconded with two valuable silver cups. Foley wants them returned. When the manservant, Thomas Kendall, is found murdered in a secret room of an old city property just about to be demolished, Westow is told, by a Mr Armistead, that the room was once the workshop of Arthur Mangey, a silversmith, who was executed over a century earlier for the crime of Coin Clipping - snipping the edges off silver coins and then re-using the silver.

When Armistead himself is found murdered, Westow finds himself chasing shadows, and unable to make the connection between the ancient misdeeds of Arthur Mangey and persons unknown who are deeply involved in all-too-recent criminality. There is a seemingly unconnected story line in the book, but old Nickson hands know that it will, eventually, merge with the main plot. A disabled Waterloo veteran, Dobson, has gained a mysterious companion known only as John, but when brutalised corpses begin to appear, John becomes the prime suspect. The corpses have been flayed and brutalised almost beyond recognition. Westow, still doggedly determined to find the missing silver cups is increasingly reliant on the quicksilver street-smarts of Sally, and the old head on young shoulders of Jane, who had hoped for a life away from the streets, but has been drawn back into the dangerous game by her determination to avenge the death of Armistead.

A recurrent theme of Nickson’s Leeds novels, both in these Simon Westow tales, and the Tom Harper stories, set eight decades later, is that of the search. Both Westow and Harper frequently become involved in a search for a key suspect, often someone from ‘out of town’. It is a very simple literary device, but a very effective one, as it provides a platform for Nickson to use his unrivalled knowledge of the city as it once was, its highways, byways, grand houses and insanitary tenements. As we follow Weston’s search for a ruthless killer, the modern streets of Leeds that many readers know are stripped away to reveal the palimpsest of the buildings that once stood there and the people who inhabited them.

Another essential feature of the books is that his heroes don’t inhabit a timeless world, where they are perpetually in their early thirties, strong and vigorous.  Tom Harper aged  as the series went on, but he was allowed a comfortable old age and peaceful death. Here, Simon Westow is shaken by the recognition that, like Tennyson Ulysses, the years have taken their toll:

“ Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho'
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

He is aware that his reflexes are slower, the antennae that once sensed danger and threat are less sensitive, and he is ever more conscious of his own mortality, and his need of people like Sally and Jane to watch his back.

The novel boils down to three pursuits. Simon Westow hunts the man who stole Sir Robert’s cups, Sally wants her knife deep inside the man, known only as John, who murdered her fellow urchin Harold, while Jane vows to kill the man who killed the amiable and blameless Armistead.

Chris Nickson never sugar-coats history, and makes us well aware that modern Leeds, with its universities, its international sporting venues and museums, was built on the blood sweat and tears of millions of ordinary people who grew up, toiled, loved lived and died under the smoky pall of its foundry furnaces, and had the deafening percussion of industrial hammers forever ringing in their ears. Jane, Sally and Simon-at a cost-each get their man in this excellent historical thriller, which is published by Severn House and is available now.

[Lizzie Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is set in Leeds in May 1850. Simon Westow is a thief taker who is employed to track down stolen goods and retrieve them, although whether he turns over the thief to face justice depends on his employers, many of whom prefer confidentiality to the satisfaction of judicial punishment. Simon’s current client, Sir Robert Foley, is one of those who prefer discretion: his valet has stolen four antique cups crafted over a century ago by a Leeds silversmith, Arthur Mangey. Mangey was a superb silversmith but came to a sad and shameful end when he was executed for coin clipping, which was a treasonable crime.

This is the second time Simon has heard mention of Mangey recently, because the silversmith’s house is due to be demolished and Porter, the Leeds constable, has invited Simon to be present. Simon is mildly interested and plans to attend. His wife, Rosie, and his new young assistant, Sally, are not interested in exploring the house prior to its demolition and so Simon invites his former assistant, Jane, to join him. Jane had been his valued assistant for many years but some time ago she decided she no longer wanted to live the violent, demanding life of a thief taker, although she promised to help Simon at any time he needed her. Until recently Jane had been content with this decision, and she is still happy living on the money she saved in the modest house of her dearly-loved, elderly friend Mrs Shields. However, recently Jane has been haunted by horrible dreams stemming from her earlier life as a destitute child living on the streets, surviving by her sharp wits and equally sharp knife. Jane has learned to read, and she is fascinated by history, and she is happy to accept Simon’s invitation.

Outside the building, Porter introduces Simon and Jane to Mr Armistead, a scholarly gentleman who has studied Mangey and is convinced that there is a secret room beneath the building. This proves to be correct, and they discover the hidden room and break into it, but it is obvious that the secret room was not such a secret after all because in the room they discover the corpse of Foley’s valet but no sign of the stolen silver cups.

It is Porter’s job to track down the murderer, but Simon still has to find the missing cups. The best way he can think of achieving this is to discover who knew how to access the secret room. Sally, his new assistant, had also been a child barely surviving on the streets, but unlike Jane she has no desire to learn to read. Simon asks Jane to read through all the notes Mr Armistead has made about Mangey to see who else knew about the secret room and whether any of Mangey’s descendants live in or near Leeds and she agrees to do so. Although initially daunted by the task, Jane soon begins to enjoy it.; far from despising her lack of knowledge, Mr Armistead is kind and welcoming and eager to share his information with her.

Out on the streets Simon has always been swift and skilled with a knife and confident in his ability to defend himself but now he is plagued by uncertainty and fear. Twice in as many days Sally has to save his life by her alertness and knife-skill and Simon begins to second guess himself and worry about what will happen to Rosie and his sons if he is killed. The death of the valet is only the start of a vicious deluge of violence and murder, which engulfs Leeds. For both Jane and Sally the hunt for revenge soon becomes deeply personal and for Simon, still crippled by self-doubt, doing his job becomes even more dangerous.

Them Without Pain is the seventh novel in the series featuring Simon Westow. It is an excellent addition to a superb series that portrays without flinching the sordid crime and violence of life in 19th century Leeds but also shows the kindness and decency of many of its people. Simon can be a ruthless opponent, but he is also a loving husband and father and a good friend who treats his assistants with respect and generosity. Both Jane and Sally have the iron determination that allowed them to survive when many other children died, and they have the highly honed instincts which can sense the presence of evil. They can kill without hesitation or regret, but they can also be kind, loving and generous. In Them Without Pain all the characterisation and scene setting are excellent, and the plot is complex and cleverly crafted. This is a brilliant, fast-paced, historical novel which I recommend.
------
Reviewer: Carol Westron
For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)

[Carolyn Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. This book transported me to the streets of Leeds in 1825. I agree with all the readers who found it a well-written, compelling story. I was unaware it was the seventh book in a series, and I felt I was missing information that kept me puzzled about some past details. Simon Westow, the principal character, is a Thief Taker. He is paid to find and return items that have been stolen from the owners. He is feeling the aches and pains that come with growing older. He no longer feels confident, is slowing down, is cautious, and is always filled with fear. He must keep working to provide for his wife (a former thief-taker) and enable his twin boys to obtain a better education. I wondered if he had always been less than suited for the job or if something traumatic destroyed his joy in the work and led to his present nervousness.

Sir Robert Foley has hired him to find four silver cups that were stolen by his servant. The cups were treasured and had been in his family since crafted by Arthur Mangey, a talented silversmith, over a century earlier. At the same time, Simon was invited to observe the demolition of a building where Mangey had a hidden room. This secret room was rumoured to be a workshop where he clipped coins. This was considered not only a crime but treason, and Mangey was hanged. Simon finds the thief lying dead in that room. This death is quickly followed by two more murders that seem to be related.

The four silver cups are still missing. Simon employs two young girls, Jane and Sally, who formerly lived on the streets. The girls have come from a tough background of violence and poverty and have vicious knife skills. Their contact with gangs of street children enables them to get information and help from these impoverished, raggedy boys and girls. Jane and Sally return their assistance with compassion and coins. I was puzzled about when and how these two young girls came into Simon's employ.

They served as his bodyguards, following him and fearlessly attacking anyone who might harm Simon. They were also dispatched to search for suspects who might be killers or have the missing silver. They were deadly with the knives they always carried. While Simon was trembling in fear. Simon's wife was also helpful in gathering information. I was wondering if he relied on his helpers more than previously. I thought the story was slow-paced earlier but intensified to a frantic and dangerous conclusion. Simon, Jane, Sally, and his wife compromised on how Simon could remain a Thief-Taker without the stress and strain he had been experiencing.

Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for an advance copy of this exciting, compelling book, published on September 3rd. I apologize for the delayed review. I moved and had to wait almost two weeks to get the internet connected and was unable to use my Kindle.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Them Without Pain is the seventh Simon Westow historical mystery by Chris Nickson. Released 3rd Sept 2024 by Severn House, it's 239 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is such a skillfully written series. Protagonist thief-takers (bounty hunters/private investigators) Simon and his partner Jane (and protege Sally) are employed to find stolen silver cups a servant has taken from a wealthy employer. Intertwining murder and general skullduggery soon render the straightforward task much more difficult and dangerous. There's a real and palpable sense of the setting and narrative menace throughout much of the book and the writing is very high quality and engaging. It is redolent of the time period (1820's) and setting (Leeds and environs) without sacrificing readability.

It's written around a framework of actual events so skillfully that it's difficult to tell when fact shades over into fiction. The author is technically competent and (happily) quite prolific. There are now 7 books extant in the series, making this a good candidate for a long binge or buddy read. Although the mystery and denouement are self-contained in this volume, the backstories and relationships between the characters have developed over the duration and readers who read them out of order should expect spoilers for the earlier books.

The books -are- quite realistic and this one is no exception. The author has a very realistic writing style and describes the less salubrious facts of life in the early 19th century unflinchingly. This book deals with the stark, brutal, and all-too-often short lives of the inhabitants, even relatively financially well-to-do.

Four and a half stars. Definitely one for lovers of well-crafted mysteries. Heartily recommended to fans of Hambly's Benjamin January and Peters' Cadfael (although different time periods and settings, obviously). It would make an excellent choice for public library acquisition or home use.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Pippa Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

An early 19th century thief taker, takes on a murderer.
This is the first Simon Westow novel I’ve read, and although seventh in the series, it can be read as a standalone story.
Simon Westow is a thief-taker – a sort of early 19th century bounty hunter who, for a fee, repatriates stolen goods to their rightful owners. He’s also a good guy and runs a form of a co-operative business (my words not the author’s) where street children work to gather information. Two such are Jane, now adult and living comfortably with an old lady; and Sally, still a child but streetwise enough to be Simon’s lookout.
The story involves the theft of priceless silver cups belonging to Sir Robert Foley. The latter employs Westow to find and return said cups. The objects were made by a famous/infamous silversmith, Mangey (who was a real silversmith), who was accused of coin clipping and executed for the crime. But complications abound, when during his investigations Westow discovers a murdered man in a secret room once used by Mangey. Who knew about the secret room and how did the body get there? As the body count climbs it becomes apparent, further deaths are linked, finding the cups becomes a matter of getting justice for the dead.
This was an enjoyable read that was never dull and had me turning the pages. There are several subplots woven in, involving Jane (a character from earlier in the series) and Sally. I liked both these strong female characters, their loyalty to others, and willingness to take the law into their own hands in a sort of vigilante justice.
Simon Westow has his own travails, in a crisis of confidence and awareness of his own mortality. Again, this was an interesting twist for a man who hunts dangerous men for a living.
What stood out for me was the world of the story, the grittiness of Leeds, and the spirit necessary to survive in such times. There was a feeling that none of the characters were immune from death, which added to the tension.
My only (minor) quibble is the title “Them Without Pain.” I feel I’ve missed something as despite reading and enjoying the book, I’m still scratching my head as to the relevance of the title.
For transparency: ARC supplied in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thank NetGalley and Severn House for an advance reader copy of Them Without Pain. All opinions and comments are my own.

What happens when a man who makes a living by violence and constantly faces the possibility of death by said violence loses his nerve? Can he come back from that? That’s the reality facing Simon Westow as he confronts his worst demons in Them Without Pain, the latest in the historical mystery series by Chris Nickson, set in a grim and gritty 1825 Leeds. Leeds, belching with smoke, pulsing with life. Always a character in a Chris Nickson book. Every nook and cranny a place for a story in itself.

A small job, an inconsequential job for a thief-taker leads to something oh so much bigger for Simon and a “retired” Jane as they become involved in a crime that stems from events that occurred 100 years ago, ones that lead to greed, the need for secrecy and thus the course of murder and more murder. The hunt for stolen cups ends up with Simon in personal danger and Jane making a life-changing decision. Filled with scenes that will get your blood racing, Them Without Pain is a masterful addition to the series.

An Afterword explains that Arthur Mangey is a real historical character and everything said about him in the book is true. The rest is a fine writer’s imagination.

[Melissa Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Them Without Pain transports readers to a richly detailed Leeds, England, in 1825. The immersive quality of the writing draws readers into the bustling streets, smoky factories, and close quarters of the era.
Simon Westow, his wife Rosie and their children have added two young women to their circle. Jane and Sally, girls from the street, have become important assets to the Westow's business of thief-taking. These characters have evolved and changed throughout the series, responding to the challenges and opportunities of their time and place.
The author has a remarkable ability to capture the essence of 19th-century Leeds. From the social stratification based on gender, income, and upbringing to the inherited wealth that dictated many lives, Them Without Pain offers a fascinating glimpse into a society that was in some ways not so different from our own. The novel sheds light on the struggles and triumphs of individuals navigating this complex social landscape.
Overall, Them Without Pain is a treat for those interested in historical fiction, character-driven narratives, and exploring the complexities of 19th-century society.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Sian James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Familiar Characters and Settings - Another chapter in Simon Westow's Life

Despite my love of this series and the familiarity of Simon, his family and those who have become part of his life and story - Sally & Jane.
This book had too many strands, characters and loose ends to tie up.

Honestly, I just wanted to get to the end, discover who was responsible for what and resolve the crimes featured in the story. Much of the storyline was repetitive and the number and variety of criminals was difficult to follow and keep track of.

Truthfully I skim read many pages and as the storylines criss crossed each other my focus was on getting to the end - something I have never been tempted to do with any other book featuring Simon and his co-workers.

I got there in the end but I have no sense of completion or satisfaction. This book has left me feeling there is nowhere else to take these characters. Such a shame as up to this point I have truly loved every step, adventure and crime solved by them.

[Annette Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another engaging book from Chris Nickson. Simon Westow is getting older and becoming aware of his mortality. When he is hired to find three stolen silver cups he is quickly drawn into a case of intrigue and murder. What follows is how Westow uses his investigative skills to navigate the criminal underworld of 19th Leeds while fighting his own fears of aging. As always, Westow is accompanied by several strong female characters. Jane is convinced to return to his employ and little Sally, an ex street kid who now lives as part of his family, not only helps Simon. She has her own killer to catch.

The author’s portrayal of women in his books is excellent. They are never relegated to supporting characters, there only to decorate the men. They are full rounded and equally as important to the story as any of the men.

Nickson’s love of Leeds is apparent in every sentence and he makes the city into a fully drawn character in all his stories.

If you are looking for a well written piece of historical crime fiction, nearly recommend all of this author’s books.

[Jo-anne Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simon Westow is starting to feel as though he is not fast enough to continue in his role as a thief-taker. His reactions are slowing ans he worries that one day he will have a fight he cannot win. However, his new helper Sally is shaping well. When Westow is commissioned to recover a set of valuable silver cups, he falls headlong into a mystery surrounding the family of the maker which involves several murders. Meanwhile Sally and his former assistant Jane are searching for a homeless man who has hurt their acquaintances. In 1820s Leeds, violence is a way of life, but who will survive?
This is another excellent instalment of Nickson's books set in early industrial Leeds and the sense of time and place is superb. I love the descriptions of places that are familiar to me but from the perspective of 200 years ago. As ever, the plot is detailed and satisfying and the action fizzes along.

[Avril Hemingway · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 7 in the series and while not the first I have read I haven't read them all. I do have a soft spot for this series being born and bred in Leeds myself. However the author makes it seem like a much more gritty time and place with this well written mystery that appears at first a straight forward case but turn into something much more twisty and complex for Simon. This is a slightly unusual series in that Simons helpers are women he has recruited from the streets who are very good at defending themselves and Simon with knives which is handy as death seems to stalk both Simon and his family and friends. Another great read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[William Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is always good to be reminded how much easier we have it compared to the ages which came before us. Regency Leeds, England, was a tough place to live. Former soldiers, wounded in battle had no pay, no help from the country they put their life on the line for. Reduced to beggars, they had to rely on the kindness of strangers just to survive. (Wait, maybe things haven't really changed all that much now that I think about it).

Anyway, this is a very enjoyable series. With likeable characters, and interesting situations, in a realistic, historical setting.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of the books in this series are good but this one was excellent. 4.5 rounded up. There’s a lot of repetition while they are walking around looking for their targets but that’s how they accomplish their mission so it works for these books. This book had an extra dimension with Simon’s coming to terms with his age and his fear. Well written to show his fear and pain. As Always the descriptions of Leeds makes the city come alive. The history of the period and the place is seamlessly woven into the story.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winnder by Chris Nickson and another excellent mystery in this series. Well plotted, intriguing, vivid historical background, and solid mystery
I was delighted to catch up with the pleasant and well-developed characters of this series
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Kathy L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the characters and 1825 London setting

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

A library find.
February 2025.

[John Sargent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too exciting but a good read