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Thomas Hawkins #4
The Silver Collar
Autumn, 1728.
Life is good for Thomas Hawkins and Kitty Sparks in their home above the Cocked Pistol, Kitty's wickedly disreputable bookshop. But when Tom is attacked by a street gang, he discovers there's a price on his head.
Who wants him dead - and why?
For Tom and Kitty, the answer is only the beginning of the nightmare.
Powerful, deeply immersive, The Silver Collar is both a celebration of love and friendship, and a terrifying exploration of evil.
Life is good for Thomas Hawkins and Kitty Sparks in their home above the Cocked Pistol, Kitty's wickedly disreputable bookshop. But when Tom is attacked by a street gang, he discovers there's a price on his head.
Who wants him dead - and why?
For Tom and Kitty, the answer is only the beginning of the nightmare.
Powerful, deeply immersive, The Silver Collar is both a celebration of love and friendship, and a terrifying exploration of evil.
12 pages, Audible Audio
First published August 6, 2020
41 people are currently reading
586 people want to read
About the author
Antonia Hodgson
10 books1,705 followersAntonia Hodgson was born and grew up in Derby. She studied English at the University of Leeds. Her first novel, The Devil in the Marshalsea, won the CWA Historical Dagger 2014 and was shortlisted for several other awards. Its sequel, The Last Confession of Thomas Hawkins, was released to widespread acclaim in 2015. Her third novel, A Death at Fountains Abbey, comes out in August 2016.
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March 22, 2022
(Note: I have been informed that my review reveals too much about the book. Since I find myself too lazy to go back and make it more vague, I hereby put a "Here Be Possible SPOILERS" alert at the top.)
I've been a fan of Antonia Hodgson and her fictional creation, Thomas Hawkins, since the first book of this Georgian mystery series, The Devil in the Marshalsea, was published in 2014. Since then three more books featuring Thomas and his friends and acquaintances have been published, this latest one in August of 2020.
Thomas is the disgraced and disowned son of a country clergyman. He's young and immature and has preferred a life of wine, women, song, and gambling to the sober, staid, god-fearing life his father had planned for him. This leads him to debt and imprisonment in the first book and, at one point, to being hanged (almost) for a crime he didn't commit. Yes, for a young man he has led a fraught life and, one must say, he's probably to blame for most of his troubles.
This fourth installment takes place in 1728, a year or so after the first book. As you can see, a great deal of adventure has been crammed into his young and careless last few years, but, as the story begins, he is living a relatively quiet life with his love, Kitty Sparks, the niece of the late Samuel Fleet, a fellow prisoner he met in the first book. Kitty has inherited a bookshop from Samuel and the two are living off the income from The Cocked Pistol, which sells items from both the mainstream and the pornographic side of life.
But, of course, that peace cannot last. Because of the evil machinations of this book's villains, including a self-righteous man who crusades against such outrageous places as The Cocked Pistol but has an unhealthy interest in Kitty herself, and another who is someone from Kitty's past. Kitty loses her bookshop and it seems that someone wants Tom to lose his life. Things come to a heart-pounding head when Kitty is abducted and Tom cannot find her. It's a tough story to read at times. The main villain is over the top in villainy and often puts Kitty and Tom through the wringer.
Yet there's plenty of humor in the writing and secondaries in Hodgson's stories are always very colorful and well developed. In particular, there's Sam, the young son in the Fleet gangster family who has adopted Tom (and Kitty) as his family. 15-year-old Sam is, I'd say, the most interesting recurring character of the series, and that's saying something. Somewhat amoral, he has his own ethics and mores he follows. Family, adopted or otherwise, is everything and he'll do everything and anything (and I mean anything) to protect them. He may be a bit of a psychopath but he's a loyal and delightful one.
But there's another and much less sympathetic psychopath in this book. The one who is causing all the problems in Kitty and Tom's life. So over the top that it was hard at times to take this person seriously, in spite of the very serious evil of her behavior. I think it's because of this almost cartoon character that I was reluctant to give this book 5 stars, deserving as it was in many aspects.
What I especially appreciate about Hodgson's books is the nitty-gritty ambience of her settings. You feel yourself back in Georgian London, with realistic scenes and characters, whether they be actual historical personages or the fictional ones she has created. There's a lot of history in Hodgson's books. This time she delves into the slave trade and British sugar plantations in Antigua. The book's title refers to this, as young slave girl Affie, recently brought to London from Antigua, wears a silver collar around her neck that she cannot remove which advertises her slave status. Affie's father Jeremiah figures largely too, coming to rescue her. His and Tom's lives intersect as they must work together to rescue Kitty and Affie and overcome the villains.
All in all, this is a very entertaining addition to the story of Tom's life. In this one he shows even more signs that he is growing up and maturing. I hope there will be many more books to come.
I've been a fan of Antonia Hodgson and her fictional creation, Thomas Hawkins, since the first book of this Georgian mystery series, The Devil in the Marshalsea, was published in 2014. Since then three more books featuring Thomas and his friends and acquaintances have been published, this latest one in August of 2020.
Thomas is the disgraced and disowned son of a country clergyman. He's young and immature and has preferred a life of wine, women, song, and gambling to the sober, staid, god-fearing life his father had planned for him. This leads him to debt and imprisonment in the first book and, at one point, to being hanged (almost) for a crime he didn't commit. Yes, for a young man he has led a fraught life and, one must say, he's probably to blame for most of his troubles.
This fourth installment takes place in 1728, a year or so after the first book. As you can see, a great deal of adventure has been crammed into his young and careless last few years, but, as the story begins, he is living a relatively quiet life with his love, Kitty Sparks, the niece of the late Samuel Fleet, a fellow prisoner he met in the first book. Kitty has inherited a bookshop from Samuel and the two are living off the income from The Cocked Pistol, which sells items from both the mainstream and the pornographic side of life.
But, of course, that peace cannot last. Because of the evil machinations of this book's villains, including a self-righteous man who crusades against such outrageous places as The Cocked Pistol but has an unhealthy interest in Kitty herself, and another who is someone from Kitty's past. Kitty loses her bookshop and it seems that someone wants Tom to lose his life. Things come to a heart-pounding head when Kitty is abducted and Tom cannot find her. It's a tough story to read at times. The main villain is over the top in villainy and often puts Kitty and Tom through the wringer.
Yet there's plenty of humor in the writing and secondaries in Hodgson's stories are always very colorful and well developed. In particular, there's Sam, the young son in the Fleet gangster family who has adopted Tom (and Kitty) as his family. 15-year-old Sam is, I'd say, the most interesting recurring character of the series, and that's saying something. Somewhat amoral, he has his own ethics and mores he follows. Family, adopted or otherwise, is everything and he'll do everything and anything (and I mean anything) to protect them. He may be a bit of a psychopath but he's a loyal and delightful one.
But there's another and much less sympathetic psychopath in this book. The one who is causing all the problems in Kitty and Tom's life. So over the top that it was hard at times to take this person seriously, in spite of the very serious evil of her behavior. I think it's because of this almost cartoon character that I was reluctant to give this book 5 stars, deserving as it was in many aspects.
What I especially appreciate about Hodgson's books is the nitty-gritty ambience of her settings. You feel yourself back in Georgian London, with realistic scenes and characters, whether they be actual historical personages or the fictional ones she has created. There's a lot of history in Hodgson's books. This time she delves into the slave trade and British sugar plantations in Antigua. The book's title refers to this, as young slave girl Affie, recently brought to London from Antigua, wears a silver collar around her neck that she cannot remove which advertises her slave status. Affie's father Jeremiah figures largely too, coming to rescue her. His and Tom's lives intersect as they must work together to rescue Kitty and Affie and overcome the villains.
All in all, this is a very entertaining addition to the story of Tom's life. In this one he shows even more signs that he is growing up and maturing. I hope there will be many more books to come.
July 5, 2020
Antonia Hodgson's is the sort of book I'm delighted to encounter in the summer because, not only is it good summer reading in itself, it's one volume in a series of (currently) four books, which means I have 300% more reading fun to look forward to. The novel is set in London in the early 18th Century. Thomas Hawkins, its central character, is a disgraced nobleman living in a relatively poor—though certainly not the worst—neighborhood in the city. His partner Kitty, whose back story he doesn't completely know, has used a small inheritance to set up a "titillating" bookshop that also carries supplies that allow a customer to move from reading to active participation. She's told him repeatedly that she will never marry and that he may not propose to her. He also has a sort of foster son/brother, a young man who is the son by birth of one of the most dangerous criminals in London. The novel has a plot with two strongly overlapping threads—Kitty's disappearance following religious harassment and the fate of a slave girl illegally brought to London by manipulative, cruel mistress.
The real pleasure is the characters. They all have chips of one kind or another on their shoulders, are quick to anger, and make sometimes destructive errors in their relationships with one another. But they are all strong, engaging personalities.
I had no trouble following The Silver Collar, even though it was book four in the series. You can start with this title—or you can go back and start with volume one, The Devil in the Marshalsea, and devour the series in order.
I received a free review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions are my own.
The real pleasure is the characters. They all have chips of one kind or another on their shoulders, are quick to anger, and make sometimes destructive errors in their relationships with one another. But they are all strong, engaging personalities.
I had no trouble following The Silver Collar, even though it was book four in the series. You can start with this title—or you can go back and start with volume one, The Devil in the Marshalsea, and devour the series in order.
I received a free review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions are my own.
October 8, 2021
I don't know if this will be the last book in this series but I'm pretending it is. So I really loved the first three books in this series. Historical thriller is one of my favorite genres even though I'm not reading that much in the genre as I want to. But this book really disappointed me. The first half, I was really on board with. Fast paced, witty and thrilling and with funny remarks of Tom - I loved the first half. The second half got in a whole different direction and I really didn't like it. I felt the plot fizzled up and left me with pure angst.
This book feels odd because the first three books always had a theme: the marshalsea prison, the Queen, and this financal drama (I forgot the name), all of them based on real events or personalities. This one didn't, it was pure Tom and Kitty and Miss evil Vanderhook. She also felt super shallow and odd. The past villains were super fleshed out, their motives clear but Miss Vanderhook felt some sort of cheap stereotype.
Sam Fleet turned it around for me. I love this character so much. I wouldn't mind to read a series solely about him and his family. So in the end I'm sad because I was anticipating this book since it was announced.
This book feels odd because the first three books always had a theme: the marshalsea prison, the Queen, and this financal drama (I forgot the name), all of them based on real events or personalities. This one didn't, it was pure Tom and Kitty and Miss evil Vanderhook. She also felt super shallow and odd. The past villains were super fleshed out, their motives clear but Miss Vanderhook felt some sort of cheap stereotype.
Sam Fleet turned it around for me. I love this character so much. I wouldn't mind to read a series solely about him and his family. So in the end I'm sad because I was anticipating this book since it was announced.
December 31, 2021
Tom and Kitty are living a settled life in 18th century London; their relationship is good and their business is thriving. Until a magistrate takes an interest in Kitty and someone tries to kill Tom. This sets off a chain of events that will change their lives forever. I do enjoy this series as Hodgson's writing draws you in to that world and there is plenty of excitement with some interesting twists. I hope there will be more adventures for Tom and Kitty.
August 8, 2025
My heart feels so heavy after reading this book. This book is very well-written but it's a LOT. I enjoyed the last book because bad things weren't necessarily happening TO my favorite characters but the same cannot be said here. They had everything thrown at them and it's not a light read. Thankfully, I was listening to this on audiobook, so that helped me get through a lot of the more depressing parts. You shouldn't attempt to read this book in one sitting, but I do recommend this book as a good way to close out Tom and Kitty's story for now. I think the door is open just enough for the author to come back to them at some point, but we can all agree that these characters have earned some peace and quiet after a very trying ordeal.
Content warnings include abuse, attempted drowning, death, kidnapping, misogyny, murder, narcissist, PTSD, racism, sexual assault, slavery, suicide, violence, surprise pregnancy, forced birth, mentions of rape, and being locked in a madhouse.
***The following review contains spoilers.***
A lot of things are happening in this book but they do tie together eventually. After the blackmail material Tom got on Queen Caroline in book 3, I thought she would put up more of a fight, but we actually never hear from her again in this book. She is not the big bad in this book.
I did, however, have an inkling we would be getting more of Kitty's story, because her past had always been such a mystery and then the first chapter literally is just Tom recapping what little he did know about her, as if to bring us up to speed. Also, life was going well for them which is never a good way to start out a mystery book where terrible things happen to the main character.
They are visited by an old pain in the ass, Sir John Gonson, a magistrate who wanted nothing more than seeing Tom hanged in a previous book. And here, he is yet again a nuisance. He wants to "save" Kitty and to turn her into an honest woman. For she is unwed, wealthy, and seemingly shacked up with Tom running a bookshop selling erotic books. All this is an unforgivable sin. His first order of business is getting Tom and Kitty to burn their more salacious books in the middle of the street for all to see. I guess nothing changes in hundreds of years, there's always someone who wants to see books banned just because they themselves don't like what's in them. Tom remarks on the irony that some of the same people in the Reformation of Manners cheering the book burning are also frequent customers to Kitty's shop.
So, already we're dealing with Gonson's harassment but we know him. Our faves have outsmarted him before. I thought he would be the only villain in this book, but no. He's low hanging fruit compared to the TRUE villain. And this is where Kitty's past comes back to haunt everyone I like.
Remember when Samuel Fleet, spy and assassin for the Crown and once Tom's roommate in the Marshalsea? Well, for whatever noble and misguided reasons he had (love can do that to anyone I suppose), his inaction now makes it everybody's problem.
So, as a sidenote. There are actually quite a few mentions of queer characters in this book. Would it have been better to have them more front and center in this story? Sure. But considering a number of characters are queer in a queer normative world in the author's latest epic fantasy series, I will forgive it here. We do learn that Tom is very chill with queer people in this book.
This book is still primarily told from Tom's first-person POV. But I think more so for this book than previous ones, we get a real sense that he's writing and telling this story after the fact. Because we have chapters from Kitty's second-person POV and it is a bit weird at first, but it did give me hope that she makes it out of her ordeal and is reunited with Tom.
Sam, Tom's ward (and basically younger brother at this point) is also in this book. I really love Sam even though he's still a whole teenage enigma. I would love to actually get books one day from Sam's POV. I think that would be so interesting, but, like as an adult. Because that would mean that Tom and Kitty can live peacefully and Sam can be the one getting into harrowing situations (if not causing them outright). But here, he is still a teenager who is a little weird but highly competent with sneaking about and using the weapons at his disposal because his father (captain of THE street gang in St. Giles) and his mother have trained him well.
Tom starts trying to find other avenues to make money for himself that isn't gambling. He's 26 and he really has no form of income. Kitty has her inheritance and she owns the bookshop. He...really doesn't have much to his name all things considered. I think it's interesting that he never once visits his father (ever) in these books nor sees his sister even though it's been mentioned that he wishes to see her after so many years. But in any case, Tom decides to open up a sort of private investigative business out of Moll's coffeehouse during the day. I thought this was something he was actually quite good at, and could continue doing. But all signs at the end of the book point to something slightly more stable and quiet for Tom's future.
Tom finds friends in unexpected people - Everett Felblade, an old man who owns an apothecary and a teacher of sorts to Sam (about poisons maybe). Felblade is such an odd character, but he's actually a good man and really came through and helped Tom a lot in this book. So, I like him.
Then, there's Jeremiah. We really meet him and hear his story about halfway through the book. It is dark. His story is told in his POV in the chapter labeled only "The History" and it made me cry. In short, he was born on a slave ship and grew up working on a plantation in Antigua. This chapter is ROUGH reading because it tells of his heartbreak and having everything and everyone he loved slowly and cruely taken away from under him. Jeremiah was a dreamer and had a wild imagination, but life is heartbreaking and I hate seeing him lose so much.
I thought his POV was done without seeming too gratuitous, but I will say it is extremely jarring to go from Jeremiah's POV back to Tom's at the end of his recounting. Because at the end of the day, Tom is a privileged white man (poor and heartsick as he is) and now it's making me side-eye some of the stuff he's said to Jeremiah because it seems so ignorant and thoughtless. Things worked out for them and they were on much better terms at the end of the book, but it takes awhile to get there.
Honestly, I thought the author was going to skip over the whole topic of slavery in 1720s England and their role in it because while the South Sea scandal was talked about at length in the previous book, what their business the company was involved with wasn't talked about (which, of course, was slaves). But this book really brought it all to the forefront.
Jospeh Kloska does really well narrating this audiobook. This might be his best work in this series. I enjoyed his narration, even though I realized listening to this book I have assumed the wrong pronunciation of the country of Antigua my entire life (apparently the 'u' is silent). He does read through the author's Historical Note at the end of this book, so that is in the audiobook. I don't know wha the deciding factors are to whether or not they're included into an audiobook (maybe they're not ready where the narrator starts recording the audiobook) but I am grateful we get it here.
There's also a new pet dog named Gonzalo, which Tom reluctantly adopted because the dog won't leave him alone, but nothing bad happens to him. I'm only assuming Tom and Kitty go and pick up the dog afterwards and they all live happily ever after. I do wish we could have seen Kitty's reaction to getting a dog.
Tom and Kitty do spend many months apart in this book, but not because they had a falling out or because they've fallen out of love. They are more in love than ever. But Kitty gets kidnapped and Tom spends many, many months trying to find her (even almost dying in the process). They are so in love and it pained me to see them hurting. Kitty is such a fierce character, and it hurts my heart that she was suffering for months and months. She even escaped at one point! Like I said earlier, we do get chapters from her POV written in Tom in the second-person and those are also rough to read because I thought surely that meant they would be reunited earlier. But NO.
The ending is a happy one because Tom and Kitty are together and we do get closure on the villain of this story. In the epilogue, Sam takes care of business and I thank him for that. My heart feels lighter knowing that person will never bother anyone ever again.
One thing I love about Tom and Kitty is that they get their happy ending even without getting legally married. They're in love and they know it and that's all that matters. Not that I've read a lot of historical romance books but I don't think I've read a m/f romance that doesn't end in marriage. So, it was actually refreshing to see Tom and Kitty to remain as true to who they are at the start of the series at the end too.
Content warnings include abuse, attempted drowning, death, kidnapping, misogyny, murder, narcissist, PTSD, racism, sexual assault, slavery, suicide, violence, surprise pregnancy, forced birth, mentions of rape, and being locked in a madhouse.
***The following review contains spoilers.***
A lot of things are happening in this book but they do tie together eventually. After the blackmail material Tom got on Queen Caroline in book 3, I thought she would put up more of a fight, but we actually never hear from her again in this book. She is not the big bad in this book.
I did, however, have an inkling we would be getting more of Kitty's story, because her past had always been such a mystery and then the first chapter literally is just Tom recapping what little he did know about her, as if to bring us up to speed. Also, life was going well for them which is never a good way to start out a mystery book where terrible things happen to the main character.
They are visited by an old pain in the ass, Sir John Gonson, a magistrate who wanted nothing more than seeing Tom hanged in a previous book. And here, he is yet again a nuisance. He wants to "save" Kitty and to turn her into an honest woman. For she is unwed, wealthy, and seemingly shacked up with Tom running a bookshop selling erotic books. All this is an unforgivable sin. His first order of business is getting Tom and Kitty to burn their more salacious books in the middle of the street for all to see. I guess nothing changes in hundreds of years, there's always someone who wants to see books banned just because they themselves don't like what's in them. Tom remarks on the irony that some of the same people in the Reformation of Manners cheering the book burning are also frequent customers to Kitty's shop.
So, already we're dealing with Gonson's harassment but we know him. Our faves have outsmarted him before. I thought he would be the only villain in this book, but no. He's low hanging fruit compared to the TRUE villain. And this is where Kitty's past comes back to haunt everyone I like.
Remember when Samuel Fleet, spy and assassin for the Crown and once Tom's roommate in the Marshalsea? Well, for whatever noble and misguided reasons he had (love can do that to anyone I suppose), his inaction now makes it everybody's problem.
So, as a sidenote. There are actually quite a few mentions of queer characters in this book. Would it have been better to have them more front and center in this story? Sure. But considering a number of characters are queer in a queer normative world in the author's latest epic fantasy series, I will forgive it here. We do learn that Tom is very chill with queer people in this book.
This book is still primarily told from Tom's first-person POV. But I think more so for this book than previous ones, we get a real sense that he's writing and telling this story after the fact. Because we have chapters from Kitty's second-person POV and it is a bit weird at first, but it did give me hope that she makes it out of her ordeal and is reunited with Tom.
Sam, Tom's ward (and basically younger brother at this point) is also in this book. I really love Sam even though he's still a whole teenage enigma. I would love to actually get books one day from Sam's POV. I think that would be so interesting, but, like as an adult. Because that would mean that Tom and Kitty can live peacefully and Sam can be the one getting into harrowing situations (if not causing them outright). But here, he is still a teenager who is a little weird but highly competent with sneaking about and using the weapons at his disposal because his father (captain of THE street gang in St. Giles) and his mother have trained him well.
Tom starts trying to find other avenues to make money for himself that isn't gambling. He's 26 and he really has no form of income. Kitty has her inheritance and she owns the bookshop. He...really doesn't have much to his name all things considered. I think it's interesting that he never once visits his father (ever) in these books nor sees his sister even though it's been mentioned that he wishes to see her after so many years. But in any case, Tom decides to open up a sort of private investigative business out of Moll's coffeehouse during the day. I thought this was something he was actually quite good at, and could continue doing. But all signs at the end of the book point to something slightly more stable and quiet for Tom's future.
Tom finds friends in unexpected people - Everett Felblade, an old man who owns an apothecary and a teacher of sorts to Sam (about poisons maybe). Felblade is such an odd character, but he's actually a good man and really came through and helped Tom a lot in this book. So, I like him.
Then, there's Jeremiah. We really meet him and hear his story about halfway through the book. It is dark. His story is told in his POV in the chapter labeled only "The History" and it made me cry. In short, he was born on a slave ship and grew up working on a plantation in Antigua. This chapter is ROUGH reading because it tells of his heartbreak and having everything and everyone he loved slowly and cruely taken away from under him. Jeremiah was a dreamer and had a wild imagination, but life is heartbreaking and I hate seeing him lose so much.
I thought his POV was done without seeming too gratuitous, but I will say it is extremely jarring to go from Jeremiah's POV back to Tom's at the end of his recounting. Because at the end of the day, Tom is a privileged white man (poor and heartsick as he is) and now it's making me side-eye some of the stuff he's said to Jeremiah because it seems so ignorant and thoughtless. Things worked out for them and they were on much better terms at the end of the book, but it takes awhile to get there.
Honestly, I thought the author was going to skip over the whole topic of slavery in 1720s England and their role in it because while the South Sea scandal was talked about at length in the previous book, what their business the company was involved with wasn't talked about (which, of course, was slaves). But this book really brought it all to the forefront.
Jospeh Kloska does really well narrating this audiobook. This might be his best work in this series. I enjoyed his narration, even though I realized listening to this book I have assumed the wrong pronunciation of the country of Antigua my entire life (apparently the 'u' is silent). He does read through the author's Historical Note at the end of this book, so that is in the audiobook. I don't know wha the deciding factors are to whether or not they're included into an audiobook (maybe they're not ready where the narrator starts recording the audiobook) but I am grateful we get it here.
There's also a new pet dog named Gonzalo, which Tom reluctantly adopted because the dog won't leave him alone, but nothing bad happens to him. I'm only assuming Tom and Kitty go and pick up the dog afterwards and they all live happily ever after. I do wish we could have seen Kitty's reaction to getting a dog.
Tom and Kitty do spend many months apart in this book, but not because they had a falling out or because they've fallen out of love. They are more in love than ever. But Kitty gets kidnapped and Tom spends many, many months trying to find her (even almost dying in the process). They are so in love and it pained me to see them hurting. Kitty is such a fierce character, and it hurts my heart that she was suffering for months and months. She even escaped at one point! Like I said earlier, we do get chapters from her POV written in Tom in the second-person and those are also rough to read because I thought surely that meant they would be reunited earlier. But NO.
The ending is a happy one because Tom and Kitty are together and we do get closure on the villain of this story. In the epilogue, Sam takes care of business and I thank him for that. My heart feels lighter knowing that person will never bother anyone ever again.
One thing I love about Tom and Kitty is that they get their happy ending even without getting legally married. They're in love and they know it and that's all that matters. Not that I've read a lot of historical romance books but I don't think I've read a m/f romance that doesn't end in marriage. So, it was actually refreshing to see Tom and Kitty to remain as true to who they are at the start of the series at the end too.
May 30, 2020
1728 a few years after surviving the hangman's noose, Thomas Hawkins returns to London with Kitty and back to the Cocked Pistol - Kitty's disreputable bookshop - and back to happiness. Or so they believe.
When Tom is attacked by a group of men, he discovers he has an enemy who wants him dead, and as he digs deeper, their happy life soon turns into a nightmare.
This is book 4 in the Thomas Hawkins series. A powerful, captivating and often dark story that kept me gripped to the end.
Thanks to Hodder and Netgalley for the ARC.
When Tom is attacked by a group of men, he discovers he has an enemy who wants him dead, and as he digs deeper, their happy life soon turns into a nightmare.
This is book 4 in the Thomas Hawkins series. A powerful, captivating and often dark story that kept me gripped to the end.
Thanks to Hodder and Netgalley for the ARC.
September 19, 2020
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author and publisher!
Thomas Hawkins and Kitty Sparks are back in Hodgson’s fourth book of the series, and this time mystery surrounds the cunning and secretive Lady Vanhook. I was hooked on this book from start to finish. Every time I put it down, I just wanted to pick it up again. To me, that’s always a sign of a good book.
Despite being is the fourth in the Tom Hawkins series, you don’t feel lost without reading the previous three stories. I really appreciate that although the book is part of an ongoing chain of tales, it doesn’t depend on prequels to feel entertaining. While reading The Silver Collar, I never felt like I was missing a major piece of the narrative without the other books. If anything, this book made me want to go back and check out the rest of the series!
The characters are a huge win for this book. From the very first page, I adored Kitty and Tom as individuals but also as a couple. Kitty is a quick-witted and courageous modern woman, and Tom is a charming and ingenious gentleman. I also really like the addition of Jeremiah, an escaped slave from the West Indies. However, my favourite character is undoubtedly Sam Fleet. He acts as Tom’s ward, and is fiercely dedicated to his role. I found him the most intriguing, and his family the most interesting.
The twists and turns in the book keeps the plot moving at an engaging pace, which is essential for a thriller. Each chapter flowed really well, and the reader gets to know the characters while being totally engrossed in each section’s events. The author also brilliantly emulates the atmosphere of early-Georgian London. From the way the characters speak, to their clothing, to the mode of transport – this aspect felt very realistic.
I didn’t expect the book to be as emotional as it was, but it really touches the heart. The perception of love and family is explored in the book, and it really adds a refreshing fold to the overall suspense of the story. It also covers enslavement and captivity, as well as the role of women in the 1720s. And this layered approach to historical fiction is what made the book so captivating to read.
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Thomas Hawkins and Kitty Sparks are back in Hodgson’s fourth book of the series, and this time mystery surrounds the cunning and secretive Lady Vanhook. I was hooked on this book from start to finish. Every time I put it down, I just wanted to pick it up again. To me, that’s always a sign of a good book.
Despite being is the fourth in the Tom Hawkins series, you don’t feel lost without reading the previous three stories. I really appreciate that although the book is part of an ongoing chain of tales, it doesn’t depend on prequels to feel entertaining. While reading The Silver Collar, I never felt like I was missing a major piece of the narrative without the other books. If anything, this book made me want to go back and check out the rest of the series!
The characters are a huge win for this book. From the very first page, I adored Kitty and Tom as individuals but also as a couple. Kitty is a quick-witted and courageous modern woman, and Tom is a charming and ingenious gentleman. I also really like the addition of Jeremiah, an escaped slave from the West Indies. However, my favourite character is undoubtedly Sam Fleet. He acts as Tom’s ward, and is fiercely dedicated to his role. I found him the most intriguing, and his family the most interesting.
The twists and turns in the book keeps the plot moving at an engaging pace, which is essential for a thriller. Each chapter flowed really well, and the reader gets to know the characters while being totally engrossed in each section’s events. The author also brilliantly emulates the atmosphere of early-Georgian London. From the way the characters speak, to their clothing, to the mode of transport – this aspect felt very realistic.
I didn’t expect the book to be as emotional as it was, but it really touches the heart. The perception of love and family is explored in the book, and it really adds a refreshing fold to the overall suspense of the story. It also covers enslavement and captivity, as well as the role of women in the 1720s. And this layered approach to historical fiction is what made the book so captivating to read.
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June 6, 2020
The Silver Collar by Antonia Hodgson is the fourth book to feature Thomas Hawkins. This story is set in 1728 or the Georgian period. Thomas Hawkins and Kitty now own a disreputable bookshop called ‘The Cocked Pistol,’ and for a time, life seems to be a roaring success. I loved the bawdy, spicy humour in the first part of this book, it fits in nicely with the narrative.
It is not long, however, until their happiness is cut short. Tom is set upon by a street gang and events very quickly spiral, as he discovers there’s a price on his head. Who could want him dead? Living the life of a celebrity as ‘Half-Hanged Hawkins’ is not easy. With the help of Sam Fleet’s underworld connections, Tom realises that you can only run so far from your past before it catches up to you! Hiding in the shadows is the enigmatic, cunning Lady Vanhook, who will change Thomas’s life forever!
If you are new to this book then this is a great starting point, although there’s a bit of a backstory, this never gets in the way of the narrative. The author skilfully weaves plots together, so that this can easily be read as a standalone. Plus, you get to go back and enjoy Thomas’s three previous adventures.
The story is told in the first-person perspective, so you get everything from Thomas Hawkins’ point of view. Thomas is quite a loveable rogue and always tries to do the right thing, however, trouble is never far behind. The author draws on the Georgian period detail very expertly and weaves this into the narrative. This never gets in the way of the story, plot or characters. There is a shift in the perspective narrative partway through to the second person as we see events from Kitty’s perspective. Both perspectives work well.
The period detail is woven expertly as is the plot, it’s quite a wild reading ride, with some great characters that you could easily imagine lived and have been lifted straight out of history as it felt quite realistic.
There also some very emotive subject matters discussed throughout this novel, such as slavery and the role of women in Georgian society, love, friendships and the nature of evil. All this goes into making this one of my favourite and most compelling historical reads of the year.
Thanks to Hoddor and NetGalley for providing a reading copy. All points of view are my own.
It is not long, however, until their happiness is cut short. Tom is set upon by a street gang and events very quickly spiral, as he discovers there’s a price on his head. Who could want him dead? Living the life of a celebrity as ‘Half-Hanged Hawkins’ is not easy. With the help of Sam Fleet’s underworld connections, Tom realises that you can only run so far from your past before it catches up to you! Hiding in the shadows is the enigmatic, cunning Lady Vanhook, who will change Thomas’s life forever!
If you are new to this book then this is a great starting point, although there’s a bit of a backstory, this never gets in the way of the narrative. The author skilfully weaves plots together, so that this can easily be read as a standalone. Plus, you get to go back and enjoy Thomas’s three previous adventures.
The story is told in the first-person perspective, so you get everything from Thomas Hawkins’ point of view. Thomas is quite a loveable rogue and always tries to do the right thing, however, trouble is never far behind. The author draws on the Georgian period detail very expertly and weaves this into the narrative. This never gets in the way of the story, plot or characters. There is a shift in the perspective narrative partway through to the second person as we see events from Kitty’s perspective. Both perspectives work well.
The period detail is woven expertly as is the plot, it’s quite a wild reading ride, with some great characters that you could easily imagine lived and have been lifted straight out of history as it felt quite realistic.
There also some very emotive subject matters discussed throughout this novel, such as slavery and the role of women in Georgian society, love, friendships and the nature of evil. All this goes into making this one of my favourite and most compelling historical reads of the year.
Thanks to Hoddor and NetGalley for providing a reading copy. All points of view are my own.
February 18, 2021
I'm a little disappointed by the plot of this one, to be honest. The preceding three books in the series all have mysteries that are strongly related to an important bit of history: the Marshalsea prison, Queen Caroline, the South Sea bubble. A place, a person, an event. But here, the main plot revolves around Kitty's mother turning out to still be alive - and a truly terrible person.
She was such an over-the-top evil antagonist, with very little apparent motivation, that it made the story feel weak. Sure, her abducting Kitty and stealing little Affie makes for some vivid portrayals of madhouses and slavery at the time. But in a series where the other antagonists all embody some commentary about systemic injustice, Emma Vanhook ultimately strikes me as a weak villain. It's a real eyesore amid all the other characters, who (regardless of their alignment) are very well fleshed-out.
At least Sam kills her in the end, but Tom's whole arc of being counselled by Jeremiah to just exile her and thus avoid taking a dark path was very unconvincing to me. Maybe I'm too much like Sam...
Plus points though:
- Tom becoming a sort of private investigator
- Confirmation that Samuel and Nathaniel were a thing
- Blink-and-you'll-miss-it mention that Alice and Neala are a thing
She was such an over-the-top evil antagonist, with very little apparent motivation, that it made the story feel weak. Sure, her abducting Kitty and stealing little Affie makes for some vivid portrayals of madhouses and slavery at the time. But in a series where the other antagonists all embody some commentary about systemic injustice, Emma Vanhook ultimately strikes me as a weak villain. It's a real eyesore amid all the other characters, who (regardless of their alignment) are very well fleshed-out.
At least Sam kills her in the end, but Tom's whole arc of being counselled by Jeremiah to just exile her and thus avoid taking a dark path was very unconvincing to me. Maybe I'm too much like Sam...
Plus points though:
- Tom becoming a sort of private investigator
- Confirmation that Samuel and Nathaniel were a thing
- Blink-and-you'll-miss-it mention that Alice and Neala are a thing
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2022
Inducing and inviting, a pleasant return to form.
5 stars.
Alongside Ambrose Parry and Kaite Welsh, Antonia Hodgson completes my favourite historical mystery writers. This is a stunning tale of love and the lengths we will go for it. Both Thomas and Kitty are captivating lead characters and this series is a must for those who enjoy the other writers mentioned above.
Stunning.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5 stars.
Alongside Ambrose Parry and Kaite Welsh, Antonia Hodgson completes my favourite historical mystery writers. This is a stunning tale of love and the lengths we will go for it. Both Thomas and Kitty are captivating lead characters and this series is a must for those who enjoy the other writers mentioned above.
Stunning.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 15, 2020
Brilliant book, writer and series.
August 2, 2021
Fantastic read, I can thoroughly recommend all books by Antonia
August 4, 2021
Brilliant as always
November 10, 2025
The Silver Collar is set in 1728. After their adventures in Yorkshire in the previous novel, Tom and Kitty are back in London running Kitty’s bookshop, The Cocked Pistol – ‘an establishment of such ill repute that a brief glance through its window could tarnish the soul‘. The couple still aren’t married and their relationship is still affectionate but stormy – and there are those who seem to want to drive them apart, such as Sir John Gonson, Tom’s old enemy, and the sinister Lady Vanhook.
When Tom is attacked in the street one day by men who appear to be intent on killing him, he is saved only by the intervention of his young ward Sam Fleet, son of an infamous underworld villain. With Sam’s help, Tom begins to investigate, determined to find out who was behind the attack, but while he is preoccupied, Kitty is facing problems of her own and has become reacquainted with a very unwelcome face from her past.
The Silver Collar also introduces another intriguing character by the name of Jeremiah Patience. Jeremiah’s story unfolds in the middle of the book, incorporating escaped slaves, a plantation in Antigua and a little girl forced to wear a silver collar – this was interesting, sensitively written and certainly very topical, but I felt it was a bit too similar to other storylines I’ve been coming across in historical fiction recently. I did like Jeremiah, though, and had a lot of sympathy for his situation.
In this book, though, his associations with other disreputable figures such as Sam Fleet and his mother Gabriela prove to be very helpful! Kitty is another strong character; I’ve enjoyed getting to know her over the course of the four books and I keep forgetting how young she still is. I didn’t think the parts of the book written from her perspective worked as well as Tom’s, though; they are written in the second person, which always feels a bit strange, I think.
This book is less of a mystery novel than the previous one (A Death at Fountains Abbey); historical thriller is probably a better description. However, we do see Tom keen to put the mystery-solving skills he gained in Yorkshire to good use by establishing a sort of Georgian-style detective agency. Sadly, he becomes too distracted by his own problems to spend much time worrying about other people’s, but maybe this is something that will be returned to in a future book.
I’ve enjoyed all four books in this series, including this one, but I still think The Devil in the Marshalsea was the best. It set such a high standard was set with that book, it was always going to be hard for the others to live up to it. They are all entertaining reads, though, and I feel you could pick up any books in the series to read as a stand-alone.
Critiques?
I adore Tom and Kitty together; They are a powerhouse of a team yet they spend most of the book apart. I missed seeing them together tackling villains and treachery, along with Sam. I felt the series would've been stellar kept as a three-part series and I will admit in a couple of spots I did get quite bored in this one. - sigh
I give it 3.5 stars as it's still quite a fun and interesting read.
When Tom is attacked in the street one day by men who appear to be intent on killing him, he is saved only by the intervention of his young ward Sam Fleet, son of an infamous underworld villain. With Sam’s help, Tom begins to investigate, determined to find out who was behind the attack, but while he is preoccupied, Kitty is facing problems of her own and has become reacquainted with a very unwelcome face from her past.
The Silver Collar also introduces another intriguing character by the name of Jeremiah Patience. Jeremiah’s story unfolds in the middle of the book, incorporating escaped slaves, a plantation in Antigua and a little girl forced to wear a silver collar – this was interesting, sensitively written and certainly very topical, but I felt it was a bit too similar to other storylines I’ve been coming across in historical fiction recently. I did like Jeremiah, though, and had a lot of sympathy for his situation.
In this book, though, his associations with other disreputable figures such as Sam Fleet and his mother Gabriela prove to be very helpful! Kitty is another strong character; I’ve enjoyed getting to know her over the course of the four books and I keep forgetting how young she still is. I didn’t think the parts of the book written from her perspective worked as well as Tom’s, though; they are written in the second person, which always feels a bit strange, I think.
This book is less of a mystery novel than the previous one (A Death at Fountains Abbey); historical thriller is probably a better description. However, we do see Tom keen to put the mystery-solving skills he gained in Yorkshire to good use by establishing a sort of Georgian-style detective agency. Sadly, he becomes too distracted by his own problems to spend much time worrying about other people’s, but maybe this is something that will be returned to in a future book.
I’ve enjoyed all four books in this series, including this one, but I still think The Devil in the Marshalsea was the best. It set such a high standard was set with that book, it was always going to be hard for the others to live up to it. They are all entertaining reads, though, and I feel you could pick up any books in the series to read as a stand-alone.
Critiques?
I adore Tom and Kitty together; They are a powerhouse of a team yet they spend most of the book apart. I missed seeing them together tackling villains and treachery, along with Sam. I felt the series would've been stellar kept as a three-part series and I will admit in a couple of spots I did get quite bored in this one. - sigh
I give it 3.5 stars as it's still quite a fun and interesting read.
June 24, 2020
I hadn't read the first three in the Thomas Hawkins series but really enjoyed this one even so!
It was really fast paced and had a nice flow, and I finished it in only two days. The characters were really well written and I'd definitely want to pick up the first three books now that I've read The Silver Collar.
Kitty is such a feisty and independent woman and I loved her, and Tom was great too, but my favourite character has to be Sam! I loved the Fleet gang and found them so interesting to read about and would definitely want to read more about Sam.
The sections in second person took me a little while to get used to but it was definitely nice to have a perspective happening apart from Tom's to give the full story.
It was really fast paced and had a nice flow, and I finished it in only two days. The characters were really well written and I'd definitely want to pick up the first three books now that I've read The Silver Collar.
Kitty is such a feisty and independent woman and I loved her, and Tom was great too, but my favourite character has to be Sam! I loved the Fleet gang and found them so interesting to read about and would definitely want to read more about Sam.
The sections in second person took me a little while to get used to but it was definitely nice to have a perspective happening apart from Tom's to give the full story.
November 15, 2020
This is such a good series and The Silver Collar could well be my favourite so far. It has such a fantastic story, great characters, a truly horrible villain and it really brings Georgian London of the 1720s to life. There is also another side to this story and that belongs to Jeremiah Patience, an escaped slave from an Antiguan plantation, and his search for his daughter, Affie. The past has also caught up with Kitty. Fully engrossing, this is such a page turner. The audiobook read by Joseph Klaska, is fantastic. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
January 17, 2021
Another stellar book from Antonia hodgson! I took my time reading it as I’ve waited years for another Thomas Hawkins book and didn’t want it to end! I’d highly recommend even if you haven’t read the previous three books, it gives enough background on the story to be read as a standalone book.
April 1, 2021
didn't read any of the books that came before this and don't think i missed much
July 19, 2021
Rather good historical thriller (not really a detective novel). I really enjoyed this conjuration of 1728, a period I don't know much about.
Brilliant over the top villain. Monologues like crazy and you almost expect her to be tying the heroine to railroad tracks... except they don't exist yet.
Brilliant over the top villain. Monologues like crazy and you almost expect her to be tying the heroine to railroad tracks... except they don't exist yet.
February 17, 2025
DNF had high hopes but couldn’t get past the first chapter
August 14, 2024
Love these books and this author, I love the historical notes at the end too. Another brilliant read.
August 17, 2020
Getting disappointed with this series as this book feels exactly the same as the first two. Here someone from Tom and Kitty's past is hell bent on revenge. Didn't enjoy this one.
August 3, 2020
"Sometimes we are possessed - not by the devil but by our own worst selves"
Got it. Read it. Read it again. This is one hell of a book.
For fans of the series, the Silver Collar is a total shift in the overall flow of the narrative. The stakes are higher, the plot is darker, and the characters wear their emotions more readerly on their sleeves. This is no longer a world in which Tom, Kitty, and Sam can jolly along somewhere and solve a murder. There are now lasting repercussions, and there always have been, the characters now have to face them.
In comparison with the previous three books, the Silver Collar is epic and sets the tone for the rest of the series to come. Something I have always adored in these books is the development of the characters and that is truly on show here. Have no doubt this is a character-led book.
Antonia Hodgson is a writer who really knows her characters. She knows what makes them tick, she knows what they like and don't like, and she knows where they are going. For this reason, the characters read like real people, and it is Hodgson's characters more than anything that pull you in and makes you stay. I think that is why so many people can read this book as a stand-alone. My favorite character has always been Sam and Antonia Hodgson has not let me down with showing so many sides to that character and teasing us with what is to come. The relationship between Sam and Thomas is for me the absolute highlight of this book, I think because I am not a big romance fan, and this is a father/son, big brother/little brother relationship that is just nice to read.
For anyone who has not read the previous three books I would encourage you to go and read them first, just because while this book can be read stand-alone, you miss so much, and also miss an appreciation for how far these characters have come.
This is without a doubt my favourite book series, and it just keeps getting better and better. As soon as I closed the book I was iching for book five! Love it.
Got it. Read it. Read it again. This is one hell of a book.
For fans of the series, the Silver Collar is a total shift in the overall flow of the narrative. The stakes are higher, the plot is darker, and the characters wear their emotions more readerly on their sleeves. This is no longer a world in which Tom, Kitty, and Sam can jolly along somewhere and solve a murder. There are now lasting repercussions, and there always have been, the characters now have to face them.
In comparison with the previous three books, the Silver Collar is epic and sets the tone for the rest of the series to come. Something I have always adored in these books is the development of the characters and that is truly on show here. Have no doubt this is a character-led book.
Antonia Hodgson is a writer who really knows her characters. She knows what makes them tick, she knows what they like and don't like, and she knows where they are going. For this reason, the characters read like real people, and it is Hodgson's characters more than anything that pull you in and makes you stay. I think that is why so many people can read this book as a stand-alone. My favorite character has always been Sam and Antonia Hodgson has not let me down with showing so many sides to that character and teasing us with what is to come. The relationship between Sam and Thomas is for me the absolute highlight of this book, I think because I am not a big romance fan, and this is a father/son, big brother/little brother relationship that is just nice to read.
For anyone who has not read the previous three books I would encourage you to go and read them first, just because while this book can be read stand-alone, you miss so much, and also miss an appreciation for how far these characters have come.
This is without a doubt my favourite book series, and it just keeps getting better and better. As soon as I closed the book I was iching for book five! Love it.
October 16, 2020
Having read the first three books in the series and loved them I was so disappointed with this one. I was so keen to read it but sadly it didn't live up to expectations.The plot is thin, the chase goes on and on and is padded.The best bits for me are when Kitty and Thomas are working together but they are only together at the beginning and end.
Kitty is clever so how did her mother get her fortune, was she carrying it when she was kidnapped? It didnt make sense.Also if it was a fortune how did her mother spend it in a few months? She'd already run up debts in Gonsons name.Frankly I skim read whole passages and guessed Sam would seek revenge. Very disappointed.
Kitty is clever so how did her mother get her fortune, was she carrying it when she was kidnapped? It didnt make sense.Also if it was a fortune how did her mother spend it in a few months? She'd already run up debts in Gonsons name.Frankly I skim read whole passages and guessed Sam would seek revenge. Very disappointed.
June 7, 2020
The Silver Collar by Antonia Hodgson is the fourth book to feature Thomas Hawkins. This story is set in 1728 or the Georgian period. Thomas Hawkins and Kitty now own a disreputable bookshop called ‘The Cocked Pistol,’ and for a time, life seems to be a roaring success. I loved the bawdy, spicy humour in the first part of this book, it fits in nicely with the narrative.
It is not long, however, until their happiness is cut short. Thomas is set upon by a street gang and events very quickly spiral, as he discovers there’s a price on his head. Who could want him dead? Living the life of a celebrity as ‘Half-Hanged Hawkins’ is not easy. With the help of Sam Fleet’s underworld connections, Tom realises that you can only run so far from your past before it catches up to you! Hiding in the shadows is the enigmatic, cunning Lady Vanhook, who will change Thomas’s life forever!
If you are new to this book then this is a great starting point, although there’s a bit of a backstory, this never gets in the way of the narrative. The author skilfully weaves plots together, so that this can easily be read as a standalone. Plus, you get to go back and enjoy Thomas’s three previous adventures.
The story is told in the first-person perspective, so you get everything from Thomas Hawkins’ point of view. Thomas is quite a loveable rogue and always tries to do the right thing, however, trouble is never far behind. The author draws on the Georgian period detail very expertly and weaves this into the narrative. This never gets in the way of the story, plot or characters. There is a shift in the perspective narrative partway through to the second person as we see events from Kitty’s perspective. Both perspectives work well.
The period detail is woven expertly as is the plot, it’s quite a wild reading ride, with some great characters that you could easily imagine lived and have been lifted straight out of history as it felt quite realistic.
There also some very emotive subject matters discussed throughout this novel, such as slavery and the role of women in Georgian society, love, friendships and the nature of evil. All this goes into making this one of my favourite and most compelling historical reads of the year.
Thanks to Hoddor and NetGalley for providing a reading copy. All points of view are my own.
It is not long, however, until their happiness is cut short. Thomas is set upon by a street gang and events very quickly spiral, as he discovers there’s a price on his head. Who could want him dead? Living the life of a celebrity as ‘Half-Hanged Hawkins’ is not easy. With the help of Sam Fleet’s underworld connections, Tom realises that you can only run so far from your past before it catches up to you! Hiding in the shadows is the enigmatic, cunning Lady Vanhook, who will change Thomas’s life forever!
If you are new to this book then this is a great starting point, although there’s a bit of a backstory, this never gets in the way of the narrative. The author skilfully weaves plots together, so that this can easily be read as a standalone. Plus, you get to go back and enjoy Thomas’s three previous adventures.
The story is told in the first-person perspective, so you get everything from Thomas Hawkins’ point of view. Thomas is quite a loveable rogue and always tries to do the right thing, however, trouble is never far behind. The author draws on the Georgian period detail very expertly and weaves this into the narrative. This never gets in the way of the story, plot or characters. There is a shift in the perspective narrative partway through to the second person as we see events from Kitty’s perspective. Both perspectives work well.
The period detail is woven expertly as is the plot, it’s quite a wild reading ride, with some great characters that you could easily imagine lived and have been lifted straight out of history as it felt quite realistic.
There also some very emotive subject matters discussed throughout this novel, such as slavery and the role of women in Georgian society, love, friendships and the nature of evil. All this goes into making this one of my favourite and most compelling historical reads of the year.
Thanks to Hoddor and NetGalley for providing a reading copy. All points of view are my own.
July 7, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
The Silver Collar is the fourth book in a series which I admittedly have not read the first three books of, that follows Thomas Hawkins in eighteenth century Britain. We find him living with his long-term girlfriend, Kitty, who owns her own shop in which she sells all manner of items relating to sex. This is obviously frowned upon, and we find the couple experiencing many issues relating to the business.
I found the writing style of this book really capturing and I constantly wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen to Tom, Kitty, Sam and Jeremiah. It is quite comedic in style at times, which made the story very light as a whole but also seemed quite jarring occasionally when it seemed to require more serious attention. The changing 'persons', i.e. from first to third and even second in some later chapters was very different for me. It shows the reader a real variety of experiences and makes you view each scene differently. My favourite perspective other than Tom's first person throughout most of the book, was Jeremiah's first person in Antigua. It was in this part of the book I felt most engrossed.
I found the last third of the book quite slow as the story line, without giving any spoilers, mostly came to a halt. I didn't see the point in the part where Thomas goes to see a woman who accused her servant of stealing when it was in fact her young son stealing from her. It felt very metaphorical, perhaps linked to Kitty and Lady Vanhook, but other than that I found it quite frustrating as I wanted the search for Kitty to continue. Overall, I found the book a very easy read despite not loving every aspect of it. I would love to read the first book in the series and perhaps continue following Thomas Hawkins then reread this book to see if I get more from it.
The Silver Collar is the fourth book in a series which I admittedly have not read the first three books of, that follows Thomas Hawkins in eighteenth century Britain. We find him living with his long-term girlfriend, Kitty, who owns her own shop in which she sells all manner of items relating to sex. This is obviously frowned upon, and we find the couple experiencing many issues relating to the business.
I found the writing style of this book really capturing and I constantly wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen to Tom, Kitty, Sam and Jeremiah. It is quite comedic in style at times, which made the story very light as a whole but also seemed quite jarring occasionally when it seemed to require more serious attention. The changing 'persons', i.e. from first to third and even second in some later chapters was very different for me. It shows the reader a real variety of experiences and makes you view each scene differently. My favourite perspective other than Tom's first person throughout most of the book, was Jeremiah's first person in Antigua. It was in this part of the book I felt most engrossed.
I found the last third of the book quite slow as the story line, without giving any spoilers, mostly came to a halt. I didn't see the point in the part where Thomas goes to see a woman who accused her servant of stealing when it was in fact her young son stealing from her. It felt very metaphorical, perhaps linked to Kitty and Lady Vanhook, but other than that I found it quite frustrating as I wanted the search for Kitty to continue. Overall, I found the book a very easy read despite not loving every aspect of it. I would love to read the first book in the series and perhaps continue following Thomas Hawkins then reread this book to see if I get more from it.
March 4, 2022
A few years ago, I was in Harrogate and sheltering from rain by the window of Waterstones bookshop. While waiting for drier weather, I browsed the notices in the window and discovered I had missed a talk by Antonia Hodgson by just a few days. The talk was to promote her book ‘A Death at Fountains Abbey’, which is, of course, close to Harrogate. The book like this one was thoroughly enjoyable, though I think this one is probably the best yet in what is an excellent series of 4 (so far).
As ever, it follows the adventures of Tom and Kitty in 18th century London.
Kitty runs her disreputable bookshop, and all is well until a local magistrate tries to ‘save’ Kitty and someone tries to kill Tom. As ever, they are assisted by the usual assortment of characters in an adventure that involves a runaway slave, a kidnapped daughter (or two) and more.
The author is very good on everyday life – the narrative is bawdy and spicy - and sets a scene that has elements of both Hogarth and Dickens. I must also share the following line ‘He was a vague fellow. Still, he added to the gang rather as a stick of celery adds to a hotpot. Flavour and bulk at little expense’. Worth an extra star on its own!
The adventure is taut and well written, and I read it at pace in just a few days. Tom and Kitty are characters you care about – they are both full of human weakness and it’s often their impulsiveness that gets them into and out of scrapes.
It was delightfully easy to give this book a 5-star rating despite the author describing my birth town as ‘thoroughly disreputable and the locals being a bunch of swindling thieves’. Antonia – I forgive you.
I am happy to give this book a very strong recommendation and if you are tempted then I would suggest you start at number 1 in the series ‘The Devil in the Marshalsea’.
As ever, it follows the adventures of Tom and Kitty in 18th century London.
Kitty runs her disreputable bookshop, and all is well until a local magistrate tries to ‘save’ Kitty and someone tries to kill Tom. As ever, they are assisted by the usual assortment of characters in an adventure that involves a runaway slave, a kidnapped daughter (or two) and more.
The author is very good on everyday life – the narrative is bawdy and spicy - and sets a scene that has elements of both Hogarth and Dickens. I must also share the following line ‘He was a vague fellow. Still, he added to the gang rather as a stick of celery adds to a hotpot. Flavour and bulk at little expense’. Worth an extra star on its own!
The adventure is taut and well written, and I read it at pace in just a few days. Tom and Kitty are characters you care about – they are both full of human weakness and it’s often their impulsiveness that gets them into and out of scrapes.
It was delightfully easy to give this book a 5-star rating despite the author describing my birth town as ‘thoroughly disreputable and the locals being a bunch of swindling thieves’. Antonia – I forgive you.
I am happy to give this book a very strong recommendation and if you are tempted then I would suggest you start at number 1 in the series ‘The Devil in the Marshalsea’.
July 29, 2025
Hot damn.
I am not kidding when I say that this book has one of the most insidious, terrifying villains I've read in a really long time. The character work here is, as expected with Hodgson, phenomenal stuff, both with new characters and our familiar squad of Tom/Kitty/Sam.
Something that stands out to me about this (especially when compared with, say, The Black Loch) is that there's a lot of fleshing out of backstory, but it was so clearly and thoughtfully planned. My issue with The Black Loch was that a bunch of stuff came out of absolutely nowhere and felt super shoved in for drama, but it didn't make sense. You could potentially say that some of what's happening in here is unbelievable/a bit far-fetched considering the amount that these characters have gone through, but I think the key here is that Hodgson clearly had an idea that this would come up rather than writing by the seat of her pants, so it felt real. I'm explaining this super poorly based on one cup of coffee this morning and the fact that I've put off writing this review for a week because I'm super duper lazy these days, but the general point I'm trying to make is that Hodgson is a really smart writer and I will read literally anything she's written at this point because oh my god I cannot say enough good stuff about her work.
Read this series. I'm so overjoyed that I've found these books this year and I cannot tell you how psyched I am to read The Raven Scholar!!
I am not kidding when I say that this book has one of the most insidious, terrifying villains I've read in a really long time. The character work here is, as expected with Hodgson, phenomenal stuff, both with new characters and our familiar squad of Tom/Kitty/Sam.
Something that stands out to me about this (especially when compared with, say, The Black Loch) is that there's a lot of fleshing out of backstory, but it was so clearly and thoughtfully planned. My issue with The Black Loch was that a bunch of stuff came out of absolutely nowhere and felt super shoved in for drama, but it didn't make sense. You could potentially say that some of what's happening in here is unbelievable/a bit far-fetched considering the amount that these characters have gone through, but I think the key here is that Hodgson clearly had an idea that this would come up rather than writing by the seat of her pants, so it felt real. I'm explaining this super poorly based on one cup of coffee this morning and the fact that I've put off writing this review for a week because I'm super duper lazy these days, but the general point I'm trying to make is that Hodgson is a really smart writer and I will read literally anything she's written at this point because oh my god I cannot say enough good stuff about her work.
Read this series. I'm so overjoyed that I've found these books this year and I cannot tell you how psyched I am to read The Raven Scholar!!
June 22, 2020
The Silver Collar by Antonia Hodgson
This is the fourth novel featuring Thomas Hawkins; better known as Half Hanged Hawkins. I had read and enjoyed the previous three novels but those who had not had this pleasure would be able to read this as a stand-alone novel. The backstory is filled in without getting in the way of the fast moving plot.
At the very beginning of the story we encounter a young slave girl held captive by the silver collar of the title. It is clear that someone wishes to free her from servitude but we have to wait until later the story to see how this story links to that of Thomas Hawkins.
The story, set in 1728, opens with Thomas and Kitty living and working at The Cocked Pistol where gentlemen are able to purchase all manner of bawdy material. Their relationship is loving but turbulent and after another of their arguments as he is pounding the streets in anger Thomas finds himself set upon by men with murderous intent. Indeed he is only rescued by the intervention of Sam Fleet his young ‘apprentice’ who thinks of Thomas as his brother.
He tracks down those who have plotted his murder and so begins his struggle to track down those who would see him dead and wish ill upon Kitty. The story is extremely well researched and life in London of the period is vividly evoked. It also features real characters of the period such as Sir John Gonson and Edmund Chishull. It has a very topical and moving account of the life of a slave in Antigua during the period. It is a fantastic, thrilling read and one which I thoroughly enjoyed. I will definitely be recommending this book to my various book groups. I would like to thank Hodder and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the book in return for an honest review.
This is the fourth novel featuring Thomas Hawkins; better known as Half Hanged Hawkins. I had read and enjoyed the previous three novels but those who had not had this pleasure would be able to read this as a stand-alone novel. The backstory is filled in without getting in the way of the fast moving plot.
At the very beginning of the story we encounter a young slave girl held captive by the silver collar of the title. It is clear that someone wishes to free her from servitude but we have to wait until later the story to see how this story links to that of Thomas Hawkins.
The story, set in 1728, opens with Thomas and Kitty living and working at The Cocked Pistol where gentlemen are able to purchase all manner of bawdy material. Their relationship is loving but turbulent and after another of their arguments as he is pounding the streets in anger Thomas finds himself set upon by men with murderous intent. Indeed he is only rescued by the intervention of Sam Fleet his young ‘apprentice’ who thinks of Thomas as his brother.
He tracks down those who have plotted his murder and so begins his struggle to track down those who would see him dead and wish ill upon Kitty. The story is extremely well researched and life in London of the period is vividly evoked. It also features real characters of the period such as Sir John Gonson and Edmund Chishull. It has a very topical and moving account of the life of a slave in Antigua during the period. It is a fantastic, thrilling read and one which I thoroughly enjoyed. I will definitely be recommending this book to my various book groups. I would like to thank Hodder and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the book in return for an honest review.
August 8, 2020
The Silver Collar sees a welcome return for Thomas 'Half-Hanged' Hawkins. This is book four of his adventures and it can be read as a standalone story as everything that came before is explained in enough detail. However, I can heartily recommend books 1-3 if you want to start at the beginning.
The Silver Collar begins with Thomas living happily with Kitty Sparks at her (rather scandalous) bookshop, The Cocked Pistol. The year is 1728. However, I would have been amazed if Antonia Hodgson let Thomas live carefree for long. Trouble seems to follow him around and he has the most incredible escapades. He is the very definition of a loveable rogue, living on his wits and his charm. He's an absolutely brilliant protagonist.
Indeed, his contentment is short-lived. Why does somebody want him dead and who is the mysterious Lady Vanhook? Well, there's a lot beneath the surface in this story, and Kitty takes a step forward into the limelight this time as her past returns to haunt her. With themes of slavery as well, this is a book that is packed full of intriguing tales and capers galore.
Hodgson writes such an engaging narrative for her characters. There was a lot that made me giggle (Thomas and Kitty are a naughty pair) and the book is such an enjoyable romp, but there are also very serious and thoughtful strands too. With settings to thrust the reader right into the heart of the 18th century, a storyline that both delights and dismays, and characters that provoke strong feelings, The Silver Collar is an utterly engrossing read.
I hope we'll see Thomas and Kitty again in a fifth instalment of their exploits. I feel there are lots more tricky situations they could find themselves in. I sincerely hope so!
The Silver Collar begins with Thomas living happily with Kitty Sparks at her (rather scandalous) bookshop, The Cocked Pistol. The year is 1728. However, I would have been amazed if Antonia Hodgson let Thomas live carefree for long. Trouble seems to follow him around and he has the most incredible escapades. He is the very definition of a loveable rogue, living on his wits and his charm. He's an absolutely brilliant protagonist.
Indeed, his contentment is short-lived. Why does somebody want him dead and who is the mysterious Lady Vanhook? Well, there's a lot beneath the surface in this story, and Kitty takes a step forward into the limelight this time as her past returns to haunt her. With themes of slavery as well, this is a book that is packed full of intriguing tales and capers galore.
Hodgson writes such an engaging narrative for her characters. There was a lot that made me giggle (Thomas and Kitty are a naughty pair) and the book is such an enjoyable romp, but there are also very serious and thoughtful strands too. With settings to thrust the reader right into the heart of the 18th century, a storyline that both delights and dismays, and characters that provoke strong feelings, The Silver Collar is an utterly engrossing read.
I hope we'll see Thomas and Kitty again in a fifth instalment of their exploits. I feel there are lots more tricky situations they could find themselves in. I sincerely hope so!
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