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M, King's Bodyguard: A Novel
A thrilling, "action-packed page-turner" (Wall Street Journal) based on a true story of anarchy and assassination in Edwardian London, centred around one detective’s mission to preserve the life of his king and prevent a bloody war in Europe.
From humble beginnings in Ireland, William Melville has risen through hard work, intelligence, and occasional brute force to become head of Scotland Yard’s Special Branch, personal bodyguard to Queen Victoria and her family, and the scourge of anarchists at home and abroad. But when the aged Queen dies in January 1901 and the crowned heads of Europe converge on London for her funeral, Melville learns of a conspiracy, led by a mysterious nihilist known only as Akushku, to assassinate Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany at the ceremony.
Racing to prevent the atrocity, Melville and his German counterpart Gustav Steinhauer find themselves tangled in a web of adultery, betrayal, and violence. As the funeral looms ever closer, Melville realizes that Akushku is the most resourceful and vicious foe he has yet encountered—but is the greater threat from Melville’s enemies, or his allies?
From humble beginnings in Ireland, William Melville has risen through hard work, intelligence, and occasional brute force to become head of Scotland Yard’s Special Branch, personal bodyguard to Queen Victoria and her family, and the scourge of anarchists at home and abroad. But when the aged Queen dies in January 1901 and the crowned heads of Europe converge on London for her funeral, Melville learns of a conspiracy, led by a mysterious nihilist known only as Akushku, to assassinate Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany at the ceremony.
Racing to prevent the atrocity, Melville and his German counterpart Gustav Steinhauer find themselves tangled in a web of adultery, betrayal, and violence. As the funeral looms ever closer, Melville realizes that Akushku is the most resourceful and vicious foe he has yet encountered—but is the greater threat from Melville’s enemies, or his allies?
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First published July 13, 2021
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About the author
Niall Leonard
8 books85 followersNiall Leonard grew up in Newry, Northern Ireland. He attended the University of York to study English, and from there went on to The UK National Film and Television School where he trained as a screenwriter and director.
After graduating from the NFTS in 1986 Niall’s worked as director on ITV’s long-running cop show The Bill while pursuing his own projects, such as the one-off black comedy Rotten Apples and Over The Wild Frontier, a six-part comedy drama set on the Irish border, both for Channel Four.
Niall’s first broadcast TV script was an episode of cop show Spender, closely followed by Pie In The Sky with Richard Griffiths.
In 1994 Niall took up a year-long contract as a Script Editor at BBC Northern Ireland, where he made the acquaintance of Belfast’s Hole In The Wall Gang. His work as script associate on their pilot for Give My Head Peace led to a partnership that continued for ten years
In 1995 he returned to full-time writing with a script for the groundbreaking Irish comedy drama Ballykissangel and went on to create episodes of Silent Witness, Hornblower, Sea of Souls, Second Sight, Monarch of The Glen, Wire In The Blood and Wild At Heart.
As part of the 2011 Nanowrimo novel-writing event Niall wrote Crusher, a gritty YA crime thriller, which was published by Random House in 2012 and was nominated for Best Young Adult novel by the Mystery Writers of America. He followed it with two sequels, Incinerator and Crusher.
in 2015 Niall adapted two novels by his wife, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, into feature films for Universal Pictures.
2021 will see the US publication of 'M: King's Bodyguard', by Penguin Random House, an historical thriller set in Edwardian London and based on real events. Niall is currently working on its sequel.
Niall has led seminars and workshops on screenwriting and script editing for the BBC, the Northern Ireland Film Council and the Irish Screenwriters’ Guild, and led seminars on on the creative process at UCLA.
He is married with two kids and a rather smelly dog and lives in West London.
After graduating from the NFTS in 1986 Niall’s worked as director on ITV’s long-running cop show The Bill while pursuing his own projects, such as the one-off black comedy Rotten Apples and Over The Wild Frontier, a six-part comedy drama set on the Irish border, both for Channel Four.
Niall’s first broadcast TV script was an episode of cop show Spender, closely followed by Pie In The Sky with Richard Griffiths.
In 1994 Niall took up a year-long contract as a Script Editor at BBC Northern Ireland, where he made the acquaintance of Belfast’s Hole In The Wall Gang. His work as script associate on their pilot for Give My Head Peace led to a partnership that continued for ten years
In 1995 he returned to full-time writing with a script for the groundbreaking Irish comedy drama Ballykissangel and went on to create episodes of Silent Witness, Hornblower, Sea of Souls, Second Sight, Monarch of The Glen, Wire In The Blood and Wild At Heart.
As part of the 2011 Nanowrimo novel-writing event Niall wrote Crusher, a gritty YA crime thriller, which was published by Random House in 2012 and was nominated for Best Young Adult novel by the Mystery Writers of America. He followed it with two sequels, Incinerator and Crusher.
in 2015 Niall adapted two novels by his wife, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, into feature films for Universal Pictures.
2021 will see the US publication of 'M: King's Bodyguard', by Penguin Random House, an historical thriller set in Edwardian London and based on real events. Niall is currently working on its sequel.
Niall has led seminars and workshops on screenwriting and script editing for the BBC, the Northern Ireland Film Council and the Irish Screenwriters’ Guild, and led seminars on on the creative process at UCLA.
He is married with two kids and a rather smelly dog and lives in West London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
November 8, 2021
Fascinating, atmospheric, and based on a true story, M King’s Bodyguard tells of the conspiracy to assassinate Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany at the funeral procession of Queen Victoria in 1901. A Queen who was aunt, great-aunt or grandmother to more than half the kings and queens of Europe.
What we know to be true is that in 1893, William Melville became Superintendent of Scotland Yard's Special Branch and was then appointed as Royal bodyguard to Queen Victoria towards the end of her reign. During the nine-day preparation of the state funeral, Melville is told of an audacious plan to assassinate the German Emperor Wilhelm who is due to walk alongside the new king, but if the plot proves successful, it will “no doubt” end in a covert war in Europe and put further strain on the relationship with Russia and Germany.
Melville teams up with Gustav Steinhauer of the German Secret Service and with undercurrents of mistrust among the two men, they must succeed in thwarting the plot, amid many enemies on home soil and abroad. The hunt for the assassin takes us to streets of Victorian England, from seedy parlours to the bourgeoise, as both men chase down every lead possible, and come up against people who want to see the plot succeed, those hiding the truth, those seeking political power and willing to discredit the mission at the expense of finding a solution and the many characters they are struggling to trust and keep alive long enough to extract evidence. But for Melville, keeping on the right side of politics of Europe was the most challenging
“.. and not for the first time it struck me that Politics is a stately dance with poisoned daggers, and that I would rather take my chances with the terrorists than count such men as my friend”
I researched this period and these events while reading the book to get a better understanding of the real historical context and it is fair to say that the book was incredibly well researched. However, whilst the story is fascinating, it felt a bit dry at times and would have needed another element or theme to spice it up for historical fiction readers, which is the genre I believe it was targeting. I love history but if I want to read about history, I will go to a history book not a novel.
Very good and 3.5 stars, rounded down.
What we know to be true is that in 1893, William Melville became Superintendent of Scotland Yard's Special Branch and was then appointed as Royal bodyguard to Queen Victoria towards the end of her reign. During the nine-day preparation of the state funeral, Melville is told of an audacious plan to assassinate the German Emperor Wilhelm who is due to walk alongside the new king, but if the plot proves successful, it will “no doubt” end in a covert war in Europe and put further strain on the relationship with Russia and Germany.
Melville teams up with Gustav Steinhauer of the German Secret Service and with undercurrents of mistrust among the two men, they must succeed in thwarting the plot, amid many enemies on home soil and abroad. The hunt for the assassin takes us to streets of Victorian England, from seedy parlours to the bourgeoise, as both men chase down every lead possible, and come up against people who want to see the plot succeed, those hiding the truth, those seeking political power and willing to discredit the mission at the expense of finding a solution and the many characters they are struggling to trust and keep alive long enough to extract evidence. But for Melville, keeping on the right side of politics of Europe was the most challenging
“.. and not for the first time it struck me that Politics is a stately dance with poisoned daggers, and that I would rather take my chances with the terrorists than count such men as my friend”
I researched this period and these events while reading the book to get a better understanding of the real historical context and it is fair to say that the book was incredibly well researched. However, whilst the story is fascinating, it felt a bit dry at times and would have needed another element or theme to spice it up for historical fiction readers, which is the genre I believe it was targeting. I love history but if I want to read about history, I will go to a history book not a novel.
Very good and 3.5 stars, rounded down.
May 5, 2021
Based on a true story, about one detective’s work to preserve the life of his king and prevent an assassination in Edwardian London.
William Melville is the head of Britain’s Special Branch, personal bodyguard to Queen Victoria and her family. Through his tenacity and low cunning he has risen from beat constable to Detective Chief Superintendent, “champion of British justice – or notorious thug, depending on which papers you read.”
There is a brewing threat to anarchy. Fenians’ passion for independence turns to be a bit radical, as they seek independence or self-rule with no respect for democracy or the rule of law. Their conviction of trying to kill enough emperors, kings, and ministers convinced them to believe that it’s the way to let the common people rise up and be free of monarchy or any kind of chains of bondage.
When Queen Victoria passes away in January 1901, among many royals the German Emperor Wilhelm comes to attend her funeral. There are anarchists who might be plotting to assassinate him, and during the nine day preparations for the royal funeral, William receives a young Italian lady at Scotland Yard. She has some information about some plot.
While trying to solve the plot, William questions one of his informants, Jakob Piotr, who is a revolutionary socialist, but he is not one of the cruel fanatics. William’s skillful interrogation brings something new to the surface. Something he recognizes more from Jakob’s behavior rather than his answers.
William is on a chase after someone who was trained by professionals, speaks multiple languages fluently and shifts between identities. He might be an agent of the Okhrana – Russian Tsar’s secret police.
And then there is a French agent who puts some doubt into William’s mind. Is he imagining conspiracies where there are none? The time is clicking. There are three days left until the funeral.
With brisk prose and great sense of humor, this novel brings an interesting lead character. He has risen from humble beginnings of being a baker in Ireland to being a chief detective. With his natural instinct and valuable experience, he can quickly catch someone spinning a yarn. His work takes readers on a thrilling journey of confronting anarchists, tracking down villains, and solving cases.
The historical background is informative and to the point. It gives the investigative story a nice texture. Beneath the engaging dialogue and humor, there is a twisty-plot keeping a reader on a high alert and making one continuously guessing the answer. A thrilling page-turner.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com
William Melville is the head of Britain’s Special Branch, personal bodyguard to Queen Victoria and her family. Through his tenacity and low cunning he has risen from beat constable to Detective Chief Superintendent, “champion of British justice – or notorious thug, depending on which papers you read.”
There is a brewing threat to anarchy. Fenians’ passion for independence turns to be a bit radical, as they seek independence or self-rule with no respect for democracy or the rule of law. Their conviction of trying to kill enough emperors, kings, and ministers convinced them to believe that it’s the way to let the common people rise up and be free of monarchy or any kind of chains of bondage.
When Queen Victoria passes away in January 1901, among many royals the German Emperor Wilhelm comes to attend her funeral. There are anarchists who might be plotting to assassinate him, and during the nine day preparations for the royal funeral, William receives a young Italian lady at Scotland Yard. She has some information about some plot.
While trying to solve the plot, William questions one of his informants, Jakob Piotr, who is a revolutionary socialist, but he is not one of the cruel fanatics. William’s skillful interrogation brings something new to the surface. Something he recognizes more from Jakob’s behavior rather than his answers.
William is on a chase after someone who was trained by professionals, speaks multiple languages fluently and shifts between identities. He might be an agent of the Okhrana – Russian Tsar’s secret police.
And then there is a French agent who puts some doubt into William’s mind. Is he imagining conspiracies where there are none? The time is clicking. There are three days left until the funeral.
With brisk prose and great sense of humor, this novel brings an interesting lead character. He has risen from humble beginnings of being a baker in Ireland to being a chief detective. With his natural instinct and valuable experience, he can quickly catch someone spinning a yarn. His work takes readers on a thrilling journey of confronting anarchists, tracking down villains, and solving cases.
The historical background is informative and to the point. It gives the investigative story a nice texture. Beneath the engaging dialogue and humor, there is a twisty-plot keeping a reader on a high alert and making one continuously guessing the answer. A thrilling page-turner.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com
July 13, 2021
London 1901.
William Melville is in his fiftes. He's worked his way up to a very important person in British intelligence. He's also an occasional bodyguard to the Royal Family.
But now Queen Victoria has died and basically all of Europe will come to the funeral - because most Royals are very closely related to the late Queen. Also present will be German Emperor Wilhelm. The favorite grandson.
But some anarchists are plotting to kill him. Which William and the Emperor's bodyguard will do their best to prevent. Failing that will very possibly lead to a war in Europe.
What will happen?
Who can we trust?
Can we save the world??? 😱
Let the fun times begin.... ☺
I really enjoyed reading this. I first thought I wouldn't like it. I'm not a history fan. But I'm a spy/mystery/Royal (romance) fan. Plus I'm a Leonard family fan - so I just had to read this.
And I liked it. It was a bit long and very slightly boring at times - but that's just me feeling like I was suddenly back in school again - I hated history and ... school in general. But I also have to admit that I got so invested and interested at times, that I wikipedia'ed some things. This story is based on real people and events - so I had to google some names and faces! (not too in love with the faces to be honest! LOL!)
This was a great 1901 James-Bondy-spy-mystery-royal thriller.
You just have to keep reading - I needed to know if William would be able to stop the bad guys!
I so wouldn't mind seeing this as a show on Netflix one day.
I just wish that William would've been a bit younger and hotter and single with a cute love interest thrown in - for all our romance lovers out there. But obviously that couldn't happen because he was a real person and this isn't a cute little romance! ☺
Anyway - I liked reading it. And I think we can expect more from William? Whether completely fictional or also based on true events? Who knows! But I would definitely read it!
💜
💜
December 13, 2021
I listened to the audio version and the reader was fantastic with the many different accented voices. I enjoyed the book as it was a mystery based on true events. The detail into the lives and methods of the police are great. I would have liked it to have had a dash of....something other than the historical accounts and mystery that leads up to finding the culprit. I rate it 3.5 and round up.
March 20, 2021
London 1901.
William Melville is in his fiftes. He's worked his way up to a very important person in British intelligence. He's also an occasional bodyguard to the Royal Family.
But now Queen Victoria has died and basically all of Europe will come to the funeral - because most Royals are very closely related to the late Queen. Also present will be German Emperor Wilhelm. The favorite grandson.
But some anarchists are plotting to kill him. Which William and the Emperor's bodyguard will do their best to prevent. Failing that will very possibly lead to a war in Europe.
What will happen?
Who can we trust?
Can we save the world??? 😱
Let the fun times begin.... ☺
I really enjoyed reading this. I first thought I wouldn't like it. I'm not a history fan. But I'm a spy/mystery/Royal (romance) fan. Plus I'm a Leonard family fan - so I just had to read this.
And I liked it. It was a bit long and very slightly boring at times - but that's just me feeling like I was suddenly back in school again - I hated history and ... school in general. But I also have to admit that I got so invested and interested at times, that I wikipedia'ed some things. This story is based on real people and events - so I had to google some names and faces! (not too in love with the faces to be honest! LOL!)
This was a great 1901 James-Bondy-spy-mystery-royal thriller.
You just have to keep reading - I needed to know if William would be able to stop the bad guys!
I so wouldn't mind seeing this as a show on Netflix one day.
I just wish that William would've been a bit younger and hotter and single with a cute love interest thrown in - for all our romance lovers out there. But obviously that couldn't happen because he was a real person and this isn't a cute little romance! ☺
Anyway - I liked reading it. And I think we can expect more from William? Whether completely fictional or also based on true events? Who knows! But I would definitely read it!
💜
💜
July 11, 2021
Originally published at Reading Reality
It’s fascinating to learn that this is based on a true story. Possibly a bit loosely. But the bare bones of these events really happened. It’s even more fascinating to learn that another story, a much more famous one, owes its origins to this same set of events. Sorta/kinda.
Let me explain.
When this story opens, we’re in London, in 1901, experiencing that time and place through the mind of William Mellville, the Head of Special Branch. (The name of that agency may sound familiar. Thomas Pitt, one of the protagonists of Anne Perry’s historical mystery series, becomes Head of Special Branch in the 21st book in the series, The Whitechapel Conspiracy. It’s a title he still holds in 1910 when the series featuring his son Daniel opens with Twenty-One Days. Honestly, I thought Perry made the agency and the title up for her series. Now I’m wondering if Pitt was based a bit on Melville.)
Thomas Pitt is a fictional character, but William Melville is not. When we meet him and get inside his head at the beginning of this book, an era is about to end, and Melville is going to be one of the close witnesses to what happens next. Especially if it explodes.
That’s because the events in this story are based on historical fact. The outlines of this case actually happened. William Melville, the title character of this book, was, in addition to his position as Head of Special Branch, one of the high-level bodyguards tasked with keeping the royal family safe, and it’s in that combined set of duties that he becomes the focal point of this story.
It is 1901, and Queen Victoria’s death is imminent. She has ruled for 63 years, and is the only queen that most Britons have ever known. (Only Elizabeth II has ruled longer.) Melville’s duty is to assist in the preparations for her State Funeral, and to deal with any security issues which it will engender.
There will be plenty. Queen Victoria was related to most of the crowned heads of Europe, and many are planning to attend her funeral. In an era when terrorism was on the rise and it seemed like anarchists, nihilists and revolutionaries were springing up at every turn, it is Special Branch’s remit to keep an eye on every organization that might tip over into violence and stop it before it happens.
Queen Victoria’s funeral will present would-be assassins with a veritable cornucopia of crowned heads to cut down or chop off, all marching in a stately procession along a predetermined route, with the newly crowned King Edward VII and his nephew, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Prussia in a prominent – and easily targeted – position.
When Melville learns of a plot to assassinate the Kaiser during the procession, he spends every waking moment – of which there are entirely too many – tracking down the would-be assassin. He is aided by the Kaiser’s own bodyguard, Gustav Steinhauer.
In a Europe where the old guard is dying, with revolution on every horizon, the storm clouds of war are gathering. Melville’s motives and loyalties are clear – even if his methods are sometimes questionable.
Steinhauer appears to be a comrade in arms, working at Melville’s side to prevent the potential assassination of one or both of their charges. The plot is real enough, but the impulse behind it is murky, at least partially obscured by a man that Melville wants to trust, whether he should or not.
Escape Rating A: I misread the title of this book, and as a consequence got something different – and much better – than I was expecting. I read the comma in the title as a period, so I thought it was M. King’s Bodyguard, as in someone was guarding someone named M. King, or, from the blurb, that it was intended as “M. King” a nom-de-plume for the king himself.
Instead, this is a story about the person who might have been the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s famous “M”, the head of the Secret Service for which James Bond is an agent. William Melville, after all, rose from Head of Special Branch to become the first head of the organization that eventually became MI5, the British Security Service.
The case in this book really happened, but probably not quite the way it does in the story. The very beginning of the action is based on Gustav Steinhauer’s own autobiography. How accurate he was at telling his own story, and how much he obscured is anyone’s guess. After all, he was Melville’s counterpart, not just the Kaiser’s bodyguard but also the head of the Prussian – later German – Intelligence Service.
But the heart of this story – and this case – is Melville’s desperate race to discover the would-be assassin and prevent the assassination. It’s a race against the clock that draws the reader into Melville’s world and his desperation to stop the terrorist before he starts a war in the streets of London that will reverberate around the world.
To some extent, Melville is like the boy sticking his fingers in the dike. We know the war is going to happen no matter what he does. But it doesn’t have to begin in a bloodbath at Queen Victoria’s State Funeral, and it doesn’t have to begin on his watch on his own turf.
His opponent is intelligent and well-trained, and his right hand is none too certain what his left-hand man, Steinhauer, knows and isn’t sharing. There were times in the story where I wondered if Steinhauer himself was the assassin and was leading Melville on even more of a wild goose chase than he actually was.
This was a terrific thrill-ride of a story, all the better for being based in the real. Melville is enough of an outsider to be a dispassionate observer of the people around him, including royalty, while still being a staunch defender of the status quo for reasons that make sense to both the character and the reader. Steinhauer is as much a puzzle to the reader as he is to Melville, serving as acolyte, foil and antagonist by turns, always hiding his real self in the shadows.
The portrait of an era as it ends, that period when the old order was fading, the world was changing, the status quo was falling to pieces and the war we know was inevitable still seemed preventable is heartbreaking, frustrating and compelling by turns. I couldn’t put this one down. If you enjoy historical mysteries, thrillers and/or espionage tales, you won’t be able to either.
It’s fascinating to learn that this is based on a true story. Possibly a bit loosely. But the bare bones of these events really happened. It’s even more fascinating to learn that another story, a much more famous one, owes its origins to this same set of events. Sorta/kinda.
Let me explain.
When this story opens, we’re in London, in 1901, experiencing that time and place through the mind of William Mellville, the Head of Special Branch. (The name of that agency may sound familiar. Thomas Pitt, one of the protagonists of Anne Perry’s historical mystery series, becomes Head of Special Branch in the 21st book in the series, The Whitechapel Conspiracy. It’s a title he still holds in 1910 when the series featuring his son Daniel opens with Twenty-One Days. Honestly, I thought Perry made the agency and the title up for her series. Now I’m wondering if Pitt was based a bit on Melville.)
Thomas Pitt is a fictional character, but William Melville is not. When we meet him and get inside his head at the beginning of this book, an era is about to end, and Melville is going to be one of the close witnesses to what happens next. Especially if it explodes.
That’s because the events in this story are based on historical fact. The outlines of this case actually happened. William Melville, the title character of this book, was, in addition to his position as Head of Special Branch, one of the high-level bodyguards tasked with keeping the royal family safe, and it’s in that combined set of duties that he becomes the focal point of this story.
It is 1901, and Queen Victoria’s death is imminent. She has ruled for 63 years, and is the only queen that most Britons have ever known. (Only Elizabeth II has ruled longer.) Melville’s duty is to assist in the preparations for her State Funeral, and to deal with any security issues which it will engender.
There will be plenty. Queen Victoria was related to most of the crowned heads of Europe, and many are planning to attend her funeral. In an era when terrorism was on the rise and it seemed like anarchists, nihilists and revolutionaries were springing up at every turn, it is Special Branch’s remit to keep an eye on every organization that might tip over into violence and stop it before it happens.
Queen Victoria’s funeral will present would-be assassins with a veritable cornucopia of crowned heads to cut down or chop off, all marching in a stately procession along a predetermined route, with the newly crowned King Edward VII and his nephew, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Prussia in a prominent – and easily targeted – position.
When Melville learns of a plot to assassinate the Kaiser during the procession, he spends every waking moment – of which there are entirely too many – tracking down the would-be assassin. He is aided by the Kaiser’s own bodyguard, Gustav Steinhauer.
In a Europe where the old guard is dying, with revolution on every horizon, the storm clouds of war are gathering. Melville’s motives and loyalties are clear – even if his methods are sometimes questionable.
Steinhauer appears to be a comrade in arms, working at Melville’s side to prevent the potential assassination of one or both of their charges. The plot is real enough, but the impulse behind it is murky, at least partially obscured by a man that Melville wants to trust, whether he should or not.
Escape Rating A: I misread the title of this book, and as a consequence got something different – and much better – than I was expecting. I read the comma in the title as a period, so I thought it was M. King’s Bodyguard, as in someone was guarding someone named M. King, or, from the blurb, that it was intended as “M. King” a nom-de-plume for the king himself.
Instead, this is a story about the person who might have been the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s famous “M”, the head of the Secret Service for which James Bond is an agent. William Melville, after all, rose from Head of Special Branch to become the first head of the organization that eventually became MI5, the British Security Service.
The case in this book really happened, but probably not quite the way it does in the story. The very beginning of the action is based on Gustav Steinhauer’s own autobiography. How accurate he was at telling his own story, and how much he obscured is anyone’s guess. After all, he was Melville’s counterpart, not just the Kaiser’s bodyguard but also the head of the Prussian – later German – Intelligence Service.
But the heart of this story – and this case – is Melville’s desperate race to discover the would-be assassin and prevent the assassination. It’s a race against the clock that draws the reader into Melville’s world and his desperation to stop the terrorist before he starts a war in the streets of London that will reverberate around the world.
To some extent, Melville is like the boy sticking his fingers in the dike. We know the war is going to happen no matter what he does. But it doesn’t have to begin in a bloodbath at Queen Victoria’s State Funeral, and it doesn’t have to begin on his watch on his own turf.
His opponent is intelligent and well-trained, and his right hand is none too certain what his left-hand man, Steinhauer, knows and isn’t sharing. There were times in the story where I wondered if Steinhauer himself was the assassin and was leading Melville on even more of a wild goose chase than he actually was.
This was a terrific thrill-ride of a story, all the better for being based in the real. Melville is enough of an outsider to be a dispassionate observer of the people around him, including royalty, while still being a staunch defender of the status quo for reasons that make sense to both the character and the reader. Steinhauer is as much a puzzle to the reader as he is to Melville, serving as acolyte, foil and antagonist by turns, always hiding his real self in the shadows.
The portrait of an era as it ends, that period when the old order was fading, the world was changing, the status quo was falling to pieces and the war we know was inevitable still seemed preventable is heartbreaking, frustrating and compelling by turns. I couldn’t put this one down. If you enjoy historical mysteries, thrillers and/or espionage tales, you won’t be able to either.
February 21, 2021
In classic Niall Leonard style, the author takes us on a page turning adrenaline ride through 1901 London. A fast paced, action packed history lesson, along the River Thames, that keep the reader riveted to every word. A behind the scenes historical seat alongside legendary detective, William Mellville and what it will take to save a monarchy against enemies foreign...and domestic. From the Kings chambers to the seedy streets, power and corruption are not bound by station or class. As readers, we find out why James Bonds boss is called M. This novel is based on a true story which only adds to its intrigue! I am excited for the next adventure with Mellville and Leonard. M, King's Bodyguard
August 5, 2021
An incredibly gripping story. On the edge of my driving seat while listening to this, the entire book. A unique weaving of history and mystery. I need to know what happens next. Well done
July 31, 2022
If you like British documentaries, then this is for you. Yes, I know it's fiction, but... this read like a 4-part docuseries on BBC.
For me, it was: SLOWWWWWW.
Did I learn about the British Crown? Yes, yes I did! And that part was fun. But there were so many lulls between saturated historical word vomit and the actual crime-solving that I was bored.
2.5 ⭐️ rounded up.
For me, it was: SLOWWWWWW.
Did I learn about the British Crown? Yes, yes I did! And that part was fun. But there were so many lulls between saturated historical word vomit and the actual crime-solving that I was bored.
2.5 ⭐️ rounded up.
July 13, 2021
M, King's Bodyguard is an exciting book based on a true story. This is my first book by Niall Leonard; if he keeps putting out work like this, I will definitely be reading more! While I was reading this book I was also looking up information on the internet that was discussed in this story. It made the history even more exciting.
In 1901 London, William Melville is Detective Chief Superintendent of Britain’s Special Branch, and also a bodyguard for Queen Victoria and her family. From a poor Irish lad to Detective Chief Superintendent, he has gotten where he is by fighting again the Fenians and other anarchists in both Britain and abroad. When Queen Victoria dies and Edward VII is crowned, Melville learns of a conspiracy that an anarchist by the name of Akushku plans to assassinate Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany at the funeral procession for Queen Victoria. With the help of Gustav Steinhauer, bodyguard to the Kaiser, William and his team work furiously to not only stop the assassination of the Kaiser, but also the probable beginning of a war.
This was a thrilling account of William Melville, who would eventually become Britain's first spymaster for the British Security Service, which will become known as MI5. As I read this story I could see it run like a movie through my mind; I was on the edge of my seat! Not only was Melville an important historical figure, but Steinhauer was also a real person. Melville had a keen mind and wasn't adverse to a bit of head thumping to achieve his goal of catching the would-be assassin Akushku. Steinhauer was quite intriguing...you never knew quite where he stood! I recognized other historical figures, such as Robert Anderson of Scotland Yard. I also enjoyed Angela Minetti, a young prostitute who wanted to help catch Akushku because of his treatment and use of her. If bloodshed bothers you, this story may be a bit much for you; however, let's face it, killing is a bloody terrible business. I was glued to the pages of this book, and I hope there will be more stories from Mr. Leonard regarding the first days of MI5.
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Actually 300+ reviews!
In 1901 London, William Melville is Detective Chief Superintendent of Britain’s Special Branch, and also a bodyguard for Queen Victoria and her family. From a poor Irish lad to Detective Chief Superintendent, he has gotten where he is by fighting again the Fenians and other anarchists in both Britain and abroad. When Queen Victoria dies and Edward VII is crowned, Melville learns of a conspiracy that an anarchist by the name of Akushku plans to assassinate Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany at the funeral procession for Queen Victoria. With the help of Gustav Steinhauer, bodyguard to the Kaiser, William and his team work furiously to not only stop the assassination of the Kaiser, but also the probable beginning of a war.
This was a thrilling account of William Melville, who would eventually become Britain's first spymaster for the British Security Service, which will become known as MI5. As I read this story I could see it run like a movie through my mind; I was on the edge of my seat! Not only was Melville an important historical figure, but Steinhauer was also a real person. Melville had a keen mind and wasn't adverse to a bit of head thumping to achieve his goal of catching the would-be assassin Akushku. Steinhauer was quite intriguing...you never knew quite where he stood! I recognized other historical figures, such as Robert Anderson of Scotland Yard. I also enjoyed Angela Minetti, a young prostitute who wanted to help catch Akushku because of his treatment and use of her. If bloodshed bothers you, this story may be a bit much for you; however, let's face it, killing is a bloody terrible business. I was glued to the pages of this book, and I hope there will be more stories from Mr. Leonard regarding the first days of MI5.
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Actually 300+ reviews!
June 20, 2021
What an amazingly well researched and written account. Niall Leonard does an outstanding job in creating an authentic atmosphere surrounding this historical moment.
The Victorian era has just ended and the Edwardian is about to begin.
William Melville, first chief of the British Secret Service Bureau and Bodyguard to members of the royal family as needed, is presented with information that an anarchist wants to assassinate Kaiser Wilhelm during Queen Victoria's funeral procession. Europe is in a state of civil unrest and even a rumor could ignite a war. Melville is to handle the threat as quietly as possible, along with Kaiser Wilhelm's own Bodyguard Gustav Steinhauer, a young German officer with a mysterious background of his own. As the investigation rushes closer to the critical moment Melville realizes that his quarry is remaining several steps ahead and must be getting inside information. Who is the leak and who can Melville trust?
Thank you to Pantheon Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this thrilling e-ARC
The Victorian era has just ended and the Edwardian is about to begin.
William Melville, first chief of the British Secret Service Bureau and Bodyguard to members of the royal family as needed, is presented with information that an anarchist wants to assassinate Kaiser Wilhelm during Queen Victoria's funeral procession. Europe is in a state of civil unrest and even a rumor could ignite a war. Melville is to handle the threat as quietly as possible, along with Kaiser Wilhelm's own Bodyguard Gustav Steinhauer, a young German officer with a mysterious background of his own. As the investigation rushes closer to the critical moment Melville realizes that his quarry is remaining several steps ahead and must be getting inside information. Who is the leak and who can Melville trust?
Thank you to Pantheon Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this thrilling e-ARC
July 26, 2021
A lot of good Victorian suspense and mystery is on the market right now, and I’d put this book up there with the best of them. I particularly like the fact that M, King’s Bodyguard is based on a true incident involving William Melville, real-life head of Special Branch. Leonard’s writing sometimes gets a little boggy for me, but the story is an original one, and Leonard doesn’t portray Melville as a one-dimensional character. I like the fact that the man is flawed (and pretty deeply, at that). Supporting characters also are well-drawn, and this is one Victorian book that doesn’t get completely wrapped up in describing London’s fog, or Thames pollution, or the rookeries. It’s simply, IMO, good fiction.
Recommended.
Recommended.
August 31, 2021
I really enjoyed this historical fiction, set in Britain in the early 1900s, just after the death of Queen Victoria. William Melville (M), head of Scotland Yard’s Special Branch, is tasked with keeping the new King and his nephew, Kaiser Wilhelm, from becoming victims of an assassin who is rumored to be planning to kill them at the late Queen Victoria’s funeral. M is basing his work on more than rumor; he has an extensive network of informers. He’s aided in his work by the Kaiser’s bodyguard, Gustav Steinhauer. The story has the usual ups and downs, twists and turns of a police thriller as M and Steinhauer are led on false chases and hair raising near death experiences. Many interesting secondary characters, both likeable and not, pepper the scenes. The hunt for the assassin was sufficiently exciting to keep my attention but what I enjoyed even more was the detailed attention to the history and culture of the era. Melville and Steinhauer were real people and Leonard apparently studied their biographies carefully. The effort with this and historical detail pays off. I felt like I was right there in Victorian England. I rounded a 4.5 down but that is a reflection of my personal taste and not on the excellent writing.
September 5, 2022
Exciting mystery, based on actual events following death of Queen Victoria and leading up to her funeral, and as “M” - William Melville - pursues anarchists who want to strike during the funeral procession.
August 31, 2021
A fun read, kept me guessing for the twist I was waiting for. Not sure I would reread it, but would recommend it. Love that it is based on a true story and just like real life, gives room for many questions and possibilities.
July 27, 2022
"M, King's Bodyguard" - written by Niall Leonard and published in 2021 by Pantheon Books, Penguin Random House. Stories taking place in London during Victorian times, this one just into the new century, are always tempting. In this one, patterned after a true story, an anarchist threatens to assassinate King Wilhelm of Germany as he comes to England to mourn his grandmother Queen Victoria. The "M" here is head of Scotland Yard's Special Branch William Melville and he dashes around London trying to prevent the villain from completing his terrible deed. The action rockets along and I enjoyed following Melville in his harrowing search. Leonard has a YA series set in London and his wife E L James is also a well-known author.
November 12, 2021
Set at the time of Queen Victoria’s death and funeral in 1901. I was engaged by the depiction of life not all that long ago - one of my grandmothers was born in 1901. Writing was taut, and the plot was compelling.
September 19, 2021
Gripping book about the complex politics of Europe prior to WWI at the highest level. With Queen Victoria's many royal and infuential children and grandchildren gathered for her state funeral, William Melville, the head of security for the royals discovers an assassination plot against Kaiser Wilhelm. Believable characters and plenty of action make this one of the best period thrillers so far this year. Excellent performance by Marcus Lamb
September 7, 2022
This is a gripping mystery based on real events in London in 1901. The story is fast paced and interesting; the characters are mostly real; and the writing is, overall, very good.
July 15, 2021
Thank you to @netgalley for this e-ARC of M, King’s Bodyguard by Niall Leonard, out now!
Synopsis: Melville is the most feared policemen in Europe — not for force or scare tactics like other secret police but because he tracks down terrorists with instinct and attention to detail. When he learns of a plot that threatens the peace of Europe, he knows he must stop it at all costs. But who can he trust to help him? And will it even matter in the end? (TW: violence & descriptions of gore, racial slurs, anti-immigrant sentiment and insults, radicalization)
The entire time I was reading this, I had absolutely no idea this was based on a real person or a real plot. In retrospect, that actually makes me like the book more because I learned something new!
Firstly, kudos for writing about something other than World War II — I enjoyed it just for that reason alone. Overall, I think this was a well-done and meticulously researched historical fiction & crime novel. However, it just wasn’t for me. I was often a little… bored, which felt out of place considering the source material. The writing could also feel cluttered and chaotic, but only when the plot itself was mirroring that, so I was alright with that choice.
I also wanted to know more about Melville then I got, which is probably the way Melville would have wanted it. Like he’s Irish and working for the British Crown, even as he’s having flashbacks to Irish poverty and famine and everything else? That shit was wild and I need answers as to how he rationalized that decision.
I think the ending set the reader up for a sequel — that would still be based in historical truth — and I would probably read it, just to learn more and see what happened next in M’s life, as I do find him an intriguing character.
Let me know what you thought if you’ve read this one!
Synopsis: Melville is the most feared policemen in Europe — not for force or scare tactics like other secret police but because he tracks down terrorists with instinct and attention to detail. When he learns of a plot that threatens the peace of Europe, he knows he must stop it at all costs. But who can he trust to help him? And will it even matter in the end? (TW: violence & descriptions of gore, racial slurs, anti-immigrant sentiment and insults, radicalization)
The entire time I was reading this, I had absolutely no idea this was based on a real person or a real plot. In retrospect, that actually makes me like the book more because I learned something new!
Firstly, kudos for writing about something other than World War II — I enjoyed it just for that reason alone. Overall, I think this was a well-done and meticulously researched historical fiction & crime novel. However, it just wasn’t for me. I was often a little… bored, which felt out of place considering the source material. The writing could also feel cluttered and chaotic, but only when the plot itself was mirroring that, so I was alright with that choice.
I also wanted to know more about Melville then I got, which is probably the way Melville would have wanted it. Like he’s Irish and working for the British Crown, even as he’s having flashbacks to Irish poverty and famine and everything else? That shit was wild and I need answers as to how he rationalized that decision.
I think the ending set the reader up for a sequel — that would still be based in historical truth — and I would probably read it, just to learn more and see what happened next in M’s life, as I do find him an intriguing character.
Let me know what you thought if you’ve read this one!
July 29, 2021
🌟🌟🌟🌟1/2
M is for Marvelous!
⏰ 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫: William Melville, the now-deceased queen’s personal bodyguard, uncovers a nefarious plot to kill the Kaiser of Germany at the queen’s pending funeral. He teams with Gustav Steinhauer - his contemporary from Germany to unveil who is the assassin “Akushku” before the funeral proceeds…
💡𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: Any time an author writes in the England Edwardian era with duo detectives, indubitably Holmes & Watson enter the mind. This is like that if Holmes and Watson were constantly side-eyeing each other.
There’s nothing I relish more than historical fiction mystery and I immensely enjoyed a Google session on William Melville and Gustav Steinhauer - the events they were involved in (Melville was the original M!!) including thwarted plots, stopped anarchists, prevented assassinations, all in real life, so the author picked an amazing twosome to fictionalize. In the book there’s that duo-bond, but it’s tenuous and strained, and that adds to the suspense throughout.
The plot is engrossing, pulling the reader into a convoluted world of espionage where “who can I trust” is a minute to minute question. The villains, the pacing all make for an amazing read.
𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆𝗠𝗮𝗴𝘀.𝗰𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
📚𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Historical Fiction Mystery
😍𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨: Sherlocks and the Holmies! If you love the genre, this is a must-read!
🙅♀️ 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨: can’t think of a group that would dislike this unless the genre isn’t your ‘thang.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Knopf Publishing for my advanced copy in exchange for my always-honest review and for making me stay up WAY too late finishing this book!
M is for Marvelous!
⏰ 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫: William Melville, the now-deceased queen’s personal bodyguard, uncovers a nefarious plot to kill the Kaiser of Germany at the queen’s pending funeral. He teams with Gustav Steinhauer - his contemporary from Germany to unveil who is the assassin “Akushku” before the funeral proceeds…
💡𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: Any time an author writes in the England Edwardian era with duo detectives, indubitably Holmes & Watson enter the mind. This is like that if Holmes and Watson were constantly side-eyeing each other.
There’s nothing I relish more than historical fiction mystery and I immensely enjoyed a Google session on William Melville and Gustav Steinhauer - the events they were involved in (Melville was the original M!!) including thwarted plots, stopped anarchists, prevented assassinations, all in real life, so the author picked an amazing twosome to fictionalize. In the book there’s that duo-bond, but it’s tenuous and strained, and that adds to the suspense throughout.
The plot is engrossing, pulling the reader into a convoluted world of espionage where “who can I trust” is a minute to minute question. The villains, the pacing all make for an amazing read.
𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆𝗠𝗮𝗴𝘀.𝗰𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
📚𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Historical Fiction Mystery
😍𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨: Sherlocks and the Holmies! If you love the genre, this is a must-read!
🙅♀️ 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨: can’t think of a group that would dislike this unless the genre isn’t your ‘thang.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Knopf Publishing for my advanced copy in exchange for my always-honest review and for making me stay up WAY too late finishing this book!
April 18, 2022
3.5 stars, rounding down.
Niall Leonard wrote a genuine page turner about a fascinating historical era with the research to back it up. I appreciated the mood setting, the unique and narrow time period, and the relationships between characters. I thought that the twists were fairly well executed, and relied on a few smaller twists rather than one earth-shattering one. The twists were all fairly conventional and roughly guessable, but still took me somewhat by surprise.
However, I hated the main character's inner monologue; so much so I nearly put it down in the first few chapters. There's a consistent telling over showing problem: the MC suffers from the need to consistently a) tell the reader everything; b) tell the reader how tough/smart/prepared he is (eg, "now, I could've decked him but I didn't!"), and c) provide monologues critiquing social issues of the day through a decidedly modern lens (eg, having a very modern look on anti-semitism, LGBT issues, etc). Now, I get the author's struggles on the last point--its difficult to write rampant anti-semitism or homophobia in a work of historical fiction without getting pilloried if one does not critique said anti-semitism or homophobia. However, I think that such critiques can better handled through the constant refrain of "show, don't tell." I would've much preferred if one of the character's arcs dealt with them realizing why antisemitism/homophobia was bad versus the book's current M.O. of just having the MC comment on it.
Overall, I did enjoy the book but the significant prose issues detracted from the plot and character work.
Niall Leonard wrote a genuine page turner about a fascinating historical era with the research to back it up. I appreciated the mood setting, the unique and narrow time period, and the relationships between characters. I thought that the twists were fairly well executed, and relied on a few smaller twists rather than one earth-shattering one. The twists were all fairly conventional and roughly guessable, but still took me somewhat by surprise.
However, I hated the main character's inner monologue; so much so I nearly put it down in the first few chapters. There's a consistent telling over showing problem: the MC suffers from the need to consistently a) tell the reader everything; b) tell the reader how tough/smart/prepared he is (eg, "now, I could've decked him but I didn't!"), and c) provide monologues critiquing social issues of the day through a decidedly modern lens (eg, having a very modern look on anti-semitism, LGBT issues, etc). Now, I get the author's struggles on the last point--its difficult to write rampant anti-semitism or homophobia in a work of historical fiction without getting pilloried if one does not critique said anti-semitism or homophobia. However, I think that such critiques can better handled through the constant refrain of "show, don't tell." I would've much preferred if one of the character's arcs dealt with them realizing why antisemitism/homophobia was bad versus the book's current M.O. of just having the MC comment on it.
Overall, I did enjoy the book but the significant prose issues detracted from the plot and character work.
July 13, 2021
A Fictionalized Account of an Assassination Attempt in 1910 London
William Melville, Head of Special Branch, is tasked with keeping the royal family safe as well as catching anarchists and other criminals in London. William worked his way up to his position from his early years as a baker in Ireland. He has become not only the protector of the royal family but also their friend and confident.
Queen Victoria’s death is the signal for all the crowned heads of Europe to gather for her funeral. Among these is Kaiser Wilhelm II, Victoria’s favorite grandson. As the royals gather, Melville gets wind of an assassination plot. It is unclear who the intended victim is, but Melville suspects it may be the Kaiser. However, he also needs to stay aware of the danger to other royals, including the new king, Edward VII.
To keep the threat of assassination from becoming public knowledge Melville must work alone, but he enlists the help of a member of the German retinue, Gustav Steinhauer. He is very similar in temperament to Melville and the two men work together well to protect their monarchs.
I enjoyed this book particularly that it is based on actual historical events. Melville and Steinhauer are well drawn. The team works swiftly to identify the assassin and foil the plot. Although set in 1910, it’s an exciting spy thriller. The book also gives us a good picture of the era in Europe when the old order of royalty was being replaced. I thought the author did an excellent job with the historical background.
I received this book from Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.
William Melville, Head of Special Branch, is tasked with keeping the royal family safe as well as catching anarchists and other criminals in London. William worked his way up to his position from his early years as a baker in Ireland. He has become not only the protector of the royal family but also their friend and confident.
Queen Victoria’s death is the signal for all the crowned heads of Europe to gather for her funeral. Among these is Kaiser Wilhelm II, Victoria’s favorite grandson. As the royals gather, Melville gets wind of an assassination plot. It is unclear who the intended victim is, but Melville suspects it may be the Kaiser. However, he also needs to stay aware of the danger to other royals, including the new king, Edward VII.
To keep the threat of assassination from becoming public knowledge Melville must work alone, but he enlists the help of a member of the German retinue, Gustav Steinhauer. He is very similar in temperament to Melville and the two men work together well to protect their monarchs.
I enjoyed this book particularly that it is based on actual historical events. Melville and Steinhauer are well drawn. The team works swiftly to identify the assassin and foil the plot. Although set in 1910, it’s an exciting spy thriller. The book also gives us a good picture of the era in Europe when the old order of royalty was being replaced. I thought the author did an excellent job with the historical background.
I received this book from Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.
July 13, 2021
Full review at: https://readingourshelves.com/2021/07...
William Melville worked within Scotland Yard, and had a special assignment protecting the Queen – very much like what we Americans would call the Secret Service. Upon the Queen’s death, his services transfer to her heir, the next King. While preparing for the royal funeral, Melville uncovers a plot to attack the Kaiser – the leader of Germany at the time – during the funeral procession.
He feels compelled to run down every lead to stop this act of terrorism, but has several obstacles. First of all, can he be sure his leads are even valid? He also has to balance the wishes of his boss at Scotland Yard with those of his real boss, the King. Lastly, the King is insistent that Melville works with the man in his position within the targeted Kaiser’s retinue – a man named Gustav Steinhauer – but Melville isn’t entirely sure that Steinhauer is trustworthy.
There are several women characters in the mix as well, and while they don’t feature as prominently as Melville or Steinhauer, they do prove to be pretty integral to the plot.
There are a few twists I didn’t love, but obviously… as the story is based on true events, I can’t very well blame the storyteller here. Sometimes real people are messy.
The story was fun, and fairly full of action. The fact that it was based on real events makes it even more intriguing.
William Melville worked within Scotland Yard, and had a special assignment protecting the Queen – very much like what we Americans would call the Secret Service. Upon the Queen’s death, his services transfer to her heir, the next King. While preparing for the royal funeral, Melville uncovers a plot to attack the Kaiser – the leader of Germany at the time – during the funeral procession.
He feels compelled to run down every lead to stop this act of terrorism, but has several obstacles. First of all, can he be sure his leads are even valid? He also has to balance the wishes of his boss at Scotland Yard with those of his real boss, the King. Lastly, the King is insistent that Melville works with the man in his position within the targeted Kaiser’s retinue – a man named Gustav Steinhauer – but Melville isn’t entirely sure that Steinhauer is trustworthy.
There are several women characters in the mix as well, and while they don’t feature as prominently as Melville or Steinhauer, they do prove to be pretty integral to the plot.
There are a few twists I didn’t love, but obviously… as the story is based on true events, I can’t very well blame the storyteller here. Sometimes real people are messy.
The story was fun, and fairly full of action. The fact that it was based on real events makes it even more intriguing.
July 15, 2021
Okay. So I really, really, really enjoyed this one!! I am not sure exactly what I was expecting but this story kind of surprised me. I went into it blind (mostly because I forgot what it was about) and I definitely think that was the way to go.
This was a true story though it was presented as historical fiction. And I really loved learning about this bit of history through this account. I was not previously familiar with any of this and I think that helped. I deeply enjoyed this story and I would gladly read more about the two main men featured here.
I also really hope this ends up being a series?? There was a part at the end where Melville mentions that he and Steinhauer would always be friends but there was the possibility that someday they might be enemies too. And honestly I would read an entire series about Melville and Steinhauer. I loved their relationship in this book and I feel like I need to do more research about them immediately.
So overall, this was an incredibly well written, wonderfully compelling story. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this!! I would definitely love to revisit this again in the future! Highly recommend if you're looking for a good historical fiction thriller!
Thank you to NetGalley and Pantheon for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review!
This was a true story though it was presented as historical fiction. And I really loved learning about this bit of history through this account. I was not previously familiar with any of this and I think that helped. I deeply enjoyed this story and I would gladly read more about the two main men featured here.
I also really hope this ends up being a series?? There was a part at the end where Melville mentions that he and Steinhauer would always be friends but there was the possibility that someday they might be enemies too. And honestly I would read an entire series about Melville and Steinhauer. I loved their relationship in this book and I feel like I need to do more research about them immediately.
So overall, this was an incredibly well written, wonderfully compelling story. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this!! I would definitely love to revisit this again in the future! Highly recommend if you're looking for a good historical fiction thriller!
Thank you to NetGalley and Pantheon for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review!
August 12, 2023
The alluring premise of this book beckoned me forth, impelling me to take its pages in hand. The incorporation of real individuals and their tangible experiences added an additional layer of allure. Regrettably, the culmination of these elements in execution did not ascend to the zenith of its promise. The crucial shortcoming, as I perceive it, can be pinpointed within the realm of character development. Lamentably, there exists an absence of discernible distinctiveness within their constitution. This deficiency impeded my capacity to distinguish their voices at certain junctures, even though this is ostensibly a narrative expounded from the vantage point of the protagonist. Furthermore, I am compelled to comment on the lingering denouement that engenders a sagging momentum, engaged in the task of tying up errant threads.
Intriguingly, the scribe intends to broaden the horizons of this cosmos in a sequel, as is adumbrated in the final moments. In summation, I must concede that I do not ruefully bemoan the hours expended in traversing its chapters, yet I am of the view that it could have been crafted with a greater degree of artistry. I also find myself constrained to castigate the publisher of this volume for their truncation of the author's biographical particulars to the mere shadow of the illustrious author to whom they are wed.
Intriguingly, the scribe intends to broaden the horizons of this cosmos in a sequel, as is adumbrated in the final moments. In summation, I must concede that I do not ruefully bemoan the hours expended in traversing its chapters, yet I am of the view that it could have been crafted with a greater degree of artistry. I also find myself constrained to castigate the publisher of this volume for their truncation of the author's biographical particulars to the mere shadow of the illustrious author to whom they are wed.
May 20, 2021
For me, the sign of a successful historical fiction is this: does it make me want to learn more about the people, place, or time with which it’s taken creative liberties? Niall Leonard’s M, King’s Bodyguard accomplishes this and piqued my interest about a man and an event that would have otherwise remained in the shadows of history.
The novel follows William Melville, royal bodyguard and Detective Chief Superintendent of Britain’s Special Branch as he attempts to thwart an anarchist attack at Queen Victoria’s royal funeral procession. It runs the gamut from police procedural to espionage thriller, and even has its “buddy cop” moments with the arrival of Gustav Steinhauer, bodyguard to Kaiser Wilhelm, who assists Melville in his manhunt around Edwardian London.
There are no Sherlockian high theatrics of deduction in this, just a depiction of honest detective work, and Niall has given Melville a compelling narrative voice that shares the hits as well as the misses and their consequences, with the reader. Overall, this is a read that will leave you curious about what future cases await Melville and will have you happily googling to learn more about our protagonist and this cast of characters.
The novel follows William Melville, royal bodyguard and Detective Chief Superintendent of Britain’s Special Branch as he attempts to thwart an anarchist attack at Queen Victoria’s royal funeral procession. It runs the gamut from police procedural to espionage thriller, and even has its “buddy cop” moments with the arrival of Gustav Steinhauer, bodyguard to Kaiser Wilhelm, who assists Melville in his manhunt around Edwardian London.
There are no Sherlockian high theatrics of deduction in this, just a depiction of honest detective work, and Niall has given Melville a compelling narrative voice that shares the hits as well as the misses and their consequences, with the reader. Overall, this is a read that will leave you curious about what future cases await Melville and will have you happily googling to learn more about our protagonist and this cast of characters.
August 9, 2021
Based on true stories and biographical notes, historical fiction
Based on a true story, M, King’s Bodyguard is a gripping, atmospheric thriller about anarchy and assassination in Edwardian London, and one detective’s mission to preserve the life of his king and prevent a bloody war in Europe.
From humble beginnings in Ireland, William Melville has risen through hard work, intelligence, and occasional brute force to become head of Britain’s Special Branch, personal bodyguard to Queen Victoria and her family, and the scourge of anarchists at home and abroad. But when in January 1901 the aged Queen dies and the crowned heads of Europe converge on London for her funeral, Melville learns of a conspiracy, led by a mysterious nihilist known only as Akushku, to assassinate Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany at the ceremony.
Racing to prevent the atrocity, Melville and his German counterpart Gustav Steinhauer find themselves tangled in a web of adultery, betrayal, and violence. As the funeral looms ever closer, Melville realizes that Akushku is the most resourceful and vicious foe he has yet encountered—but is the real threat from Melville’s enemies, or his allies?
Based on a true story, M, King’s Bodyguard is a gripping, atmospheric thriller about anarchy and assassination in Edwardian London, and one detective’s mission to preserve the life of his king and prevent a bloody war in Europe.
From humble beginnings in Ireland, William Melville has risen through hard work, intelligence, and occasional brute force to become head of Britain’s Special Branch, personal bodyguard to Queen Victoria and her family, and the scourge of anarchists at home and abroad. But when in January 1901 the aged Queen dies and the crowned heads of Europe converge on London for her funeral, Melville learns of a conspiracy, led by a mysterious nihilist known only as Akushku, to assassinate Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany at the ceremony.
Racing to prevent the atrocity, Melville and his German counterpart Gustav Steinhauer find themselves tangled in a web of adultery, betrayal, and violence. As the funeral looms ever closer, Melville realizes that Akushku is the most resourceful and vicious foe he has yet encountered—but is the real threat from Melville’s enemies, or his allies?
December 8, 2021
This was actually a very interesting read. While fiction, it is based off the life of Inspector Mellville, who was actually a member of the organization to protect the royal family- like the original MI6, as it were. Mellville learns through his sources that an attempt will be made on Kaiser Wilhelm's life during the funeral procession of Wilhelm's grandmother, Queen Victoria. The Inspector, along with Wilhelm's bodyguard, Gustav Steinhauer, race against time to prevent the attack, which could potentially lead to war in Europe should it be successful. Author Niall Leonard actually read books about both men and their accounts, so there is a great deal of fact along with the fiction. I guess a bit of the book was slow, but certainly not every moment of the spy game can be interesting. Overall, it was intriguing to see how there are many agencies working to protect significant political figures and much intrigue involved in getting answers and stopping anarchists. This also is an interesting discussion in the course of the novel. How can a man who is a member of the working class be so committed to protecting those who are keeping the working class down?
August 26, 2021
3.75 stars
An exciting, based-on-actual-events, historical mystery thriller. In early 20th century London, Scotland Yard Detective William Melville deals with danger -- protecting Queen Victoria from anarchists, Irish rebels and political assassins. When Victoria dies, his whole squad is on alert for the funeral which will draw every monarch in Europe and pose a threat to them all.
He learns in particular about a planned attack on Kaiser Wilhelm, German ruler and grandson of Victoria. At the new king's request he works with his German counterpart Gustav Steinhauer to avert any crimes and political disasters. This is basically a historical police procedural, but there's never a dull moment as the two men search out informants and seek some very bad men. And all of their efforts are made more difficult by British royal intrigue and the political infighting among the European monarchies.
A compelling read -- thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
An exciting, based-on-actual-events, historical mystery thriller. In early 20th century London, Scotland Yard Detective William Melville deals with danger -- protecting Queen Victoria from anarchists, Irish rebels and political assassins. When Victoria dies, his whole squad is on alert for the funeral which will draw every monarch in Europe and pose a threat to them all.
He learns in particular about a planned attack on Kaiser Wilhelm, German ruler and grandson of Victoria. At the new king's request he works with his German counterpart Gustav Steinhauer to avert any crimes and political disasters. This is basically a historical police procedural, but there's never a dull moment as the two men search out informants and seek some very bad men. And all of their efforts are made more difficult by British royal intrigue and the political infighting among the European monarchies.
A compelling read -- thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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