DEVIL’S ACRE

by Matthew Plampin

A novel of intrigue, violence and conflicted loyalties from the author of The Street Philosopher.

Spring, 1853. After a triumphant display at the Great Exhibition in London, the legendary American entrepreneur and inventor Colonel Samuel Colt expands his gun-making business into England. He acquires a riverside warehouse in Pimlico and sets about converting it into a pistol works capable of mass producing his patented revolvers on an unprecedented scale – aware that the prospect of war with Russia means huge profits.

The young, ambitious Edward Lowry is hired by Colt to act as his London secretary. Although initially impressed by the Colonel’s dynamic approach to his trade, Edward comes to suspect that the American’s intentions in the Metropolis are not all they appear.

Meanwhile, the secretary becomes romantically involved with Caroline Knox, a headstrong woman from the machine floor – who he discovers is caught up in a plot to steal revolvers from the factory’s stores. Among the workforce Colt has gathered from the seething mass of London’s poor are a gang of desperate Irish immigrants, embittered refugees from the potato famine, who intend to use these stolen six-shooters for a political assassination in the name of revenge. As pistols start to go missing, divided loyalties and hidden agendas make the gun-maker’s factory the setting for a tense story of intrigue, betrayal and murder.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical, Crime, Mystery, Thriller

Audible Audio

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Matthew Plampin was born in 1975 and grew up in Essex. He read English and History of Art at the University of Birmingham and then completed a PhD at the Courtauld Institute of Art, London. He now lectures on nineteenth-century art and architecture.

Reviews

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting premise for a novel: Samuel Colt, known primarily for his gun manufacturing enterprises in the mid 1800's has opened up a new factory in Victorian London in hopes of contracting with the English government for major purchases of his guns. He sets up shop near Devil's Acre, a slum area of London where he gets most of his factory employees. Among those people are a lot of Irish who feel the call of the Molly McGuires and are prone to fight for their cause, using stolen armaments from the Colt factory to attempt acts of terror.

An interesting premise, as I said but not as gripping of an account as I would wish for. There are a lot of characters being juggled here especially among the factory workers and, frankly, I couldn't keep them all straight. I lost interest in their plot lines. The ending was excellent however as we follow Colt's attempts to sell guns to both sides of a war with Russia, making him arguably the very first international arms dealer.

[Lauren White · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t really appreciate this book. I loved the history that was in it, Victorian London is an interesting topic and very well described. However, I almost enjoyed the questions and answers at the back more than the book itself, as it showed his passion, something the book just didn’t do in my opinion. Plus everyone dies which is just not ok. I didn’t feel like the mystery he describes about the factory was really depicted in the way he intended. I felt disappointed by this book.

[Sue G · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book a real struggle. I quite enjoy historical fiction but this was too heavy on the detail and descriptions and I found myself skipping through lengthy passages if it looked like nothing important was happening. To its credit I did manage to see it through to the end.

There were several plotlines and a certain amount of "intrigue" but I don't think the author really managed to pull them all off. The different threads had an odd mix of political as well as action, as if the author wasn’t quite sure which route to take.

There is some romance thrown in too and whilst the couple’s relationship appeared to get stronger during the story it didn’t seem to be apparent how or why this happened.

It reminded me a lot of Jed Rubenfield's The Interpretation of Murder - and I didn't enjoy that either. I think there's a lesson to be learnt here!

[Tara Galligan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggled through the first part of this book and then sad to say I willy gave up. 'Life is too short'. I found I had no empathy with any of the characters as they were all extremely flat. The Irish element I found annoying also. May go back to it at some stage but would have to be fairly desperate.

[Julia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I enjoy historical fiction but with this book I felt way out of my comfort zone. The descriptions were very lengthy at times and I just skimmed most of them.
Well, to be honest, I skimmed most of the book.

[Gill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gosh this has taken me a long time to read! I found it hard going in places but wanted to find out how it ended so persevered.Am pleased I finished it (and glad it's over!)

[Nik Morton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matthew Plampin’s second novel, The Devil’s Acre (previously titled The Gun-maker’s Gift) was published in 2010 and concerns the establishment of a weapons factory in Pimlico, on the banks of London’s River Thames in 1853; this was set up by the American gun-maker Colonel Samuel Colt. At that time the building of the Palace of Westminster was not yet completed.

Londoner Edward Lowry is hired as Colt’s secretary and works alongside the firm’s English press agent Richards. Colt has brought in a handful of Americans to oversee the factory: they’re hiring locals, mainly from the slum section of the city, the Devil’s Acre and training them to work the machinery.

Lowry accompanies Colt around London, specifically the government offices, where the gun-maker hopes to obtain huge orders for his revolvers. It is not so simple, however, as Colt has competition in the form of a British gun-maker, Adams. Inevitably, politics and British preferment are involved. Yet Colt seems to have the private blessing of Lord Palmerston, who is plotting the downfall of the government. Spies and saboteurs from the Adams business add tension and violence to the mix of intrigue.

Complications arise for Lowry when he is attracted to Caroline, one of the women on the factory floor. The relationship does not begin smoothly, but gradually they embark on an affair – much to the disgust of her brother-in-law, Martin.

It transpires that Martin and several other men working in the factory are members of the Molly Maguires, an Irish secret society who are hell-bent on not only stealing a number of revolvers but also using them to assassinate a minister of the Crown.

Allegiances become strained, particularly as conflict in the Crimea looms large and Lowry begins to question the morality of weapons manufacture and sales.

The book is well-written, thrusting the reader into Victorian London – both its places of grandeur and squalor. ‘There was not much dust here as there was precious little of the lively movement required to provoke it. In its place, though, were flies, many thousands of them, plump as brandy-soaked raisins, that settled upon you if you paused for even a second, crawling for your tear ducts, your nostrils, the corners of your mouth. The smells were enough to stop the breath in your lungs, thick as fish-glue and repulsively over-ripe. Edward imagined that a multitude of deadly diseases were thronging into his body, gaining stronger purchase on his blood with every step he took.’ (p159)

All of the characters – a mixture of real historical figures and fictional – are convincing and keep the story moving to its powerful epilogue.

Recommended.

[RB · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favourites. Firstly, I loved the setting. The descriptions of Victorian London really drew me into that world. Having lived in London some of the places in the book are really familiar and when I walk by places like Greenwich Park I'm reminded of scenes in the book and find myself playing spot the difference between the present day and Victorian times.
The story itself is exciting and fresh. You can tell the author really knows what he's writing about. The Colt revolver plays a big part in the story and you can tell he's done his research there. The characters are realistic and I like how some of the main characters have a mix of stereotypically 'good' and 'bad' traits. I think Martin was a great main character, I was really invested in his journey. It was interesting how he was so often torn between two different paths. All the characters including supporting ones such as factory workers and the rest of the Molly's were well written and had their own backstories. I would definitely recommend this book. I enjoyed it start to finish but if you're struggling with the first couple of chapters the action definitely builds as the story goes along so it's worth persevering.

[Rabbit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was extremely excited about this book when I purchased it, however after reading the reviews left on here I ended up hesitating and doubting if I would like it. It sounded as if previous readers found this book extremely slow-paced and not so gripping.

I am glad to say I did eventually pick it up and gave it a read. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!! Yes, it was a little slow-paced at times, but no way near long enough for me to lose interest. I found the description in this book so vivid. Matthew Plampin really paints a picture with words.

I was completely hooked by the character of Colonel Colt and thoroughly enjoyed reading the chapters containing an insight towards his psyche and his general view of life in London.

To be honest I don’t really know why other readers found this book hard to get into, I found it extremely gripping. Definitely do pick it up and give it a read.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

So it took me an undeniably long time to finish this and that is in part because I found the writing very heavy going in places. The writer has done a heap of research for this book and that really comes through, so if you’re looking for historical accuracy look no further! On the other hand that bogged the progress and flow down in places. The plot was great and fully utilised everything possibly available in the backdrop of Victorian London. And I find myself missing the characters which is obviously a sign of a good book.

[Linda Fallows · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read a few negative reviews, I was a bit uncertain about reading this book. How wrong I was. A fabulous story, set in Victorian London, about an armament factory set up by Samuel Colt, of pistol fame. Full of rich detail of life in the era, as well as a fascinating story about some of the people connected to the factory. Recommended for lovers of historical fiction and of the Victorian era.

[Louise Bray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I normally really like historical fiction and the blurb sounded so interesting, but alas no. I think if you love really long-winded descriptions of guns and gun-making machines you'll love this, but I just found it really dragged with all the excessive narration. It did pick up towards the end though when the action started.

[Kayley Annett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a fantastic juxtaposition of opulent parliament and seedy london rookeries. The presence of the main characters on the page was almost tangible and very well characterised, and Plampin has managed to capture minor characters through the eyes of the narrating voice. I enjoyed the writing style as well with its detailed descriptions of the grim alleys and people in the story.

[Tom Lindsay · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book - most likely my fault - but I found it very hard going with plots which wove in and out and disappeared into thin air. The style didn't help - stilted dialogue and stereotypical characterisations - which is unfortunate, as the premise of the book offered a refreshing if very sobering look at parts of Victorian London.

[Maria Mariaaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve considered dnfing this book quite a few times while i was reading it, but every time i did, something intriguing would happen and capture my interest once more. The ending was absolutely debilitating — i will not soon forget it.

[James Falvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book - worth the time invested -it took me a while to get in to, maybe 50-100 pts- but worth it - good story lines, characters and all satisfyingly concluded - held my attention, built tension - thank you

[Ipswichblade · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good fast paced read

[Polly · Rating 4 out of 5]

1853, Colonel Samuel Colt expands his gun-making business into England. He acquires a riverside warehouse and sets about converting it into a pistol works capable of mass producing his patented revolvers on an unprecedented scale - aware that the prospect of war with Russia means huge profits.
Young, ambitious Edward Lowry is hired by Colt to act as his London secretary. Although initially impressed by the Colonel's dynamic approach to his trade, Edward comes to suspect that the American's intentions are not all they appear. Edward becomes romantically involved with Caroline Knox, a headstrong woman from the machine floor - who he discovers is caught up in a plot to steal revolvers from the factory's stores.
Among the workforce Colt has gathered from the mass of London's poor are a gang of desperate Irish immigrants, embittered refugees from the potato famine, who intend to use these stolen six-shooters for a political assassination in the name of revenge. As pistols start to go missing, divided loyalties and hidden agendas make the gun-maker's factory the setting for a tense story of intrigue, betrayal and murder.
Good story and characters. Excellent descriptions of Victorian London from the notorious “no go” slums to elegant affluence.

[M.G. Mason · Rating 3 out of 5]

I occasionally try to read out of my comfort zone. Granted, historical fiction is within my comfort zone but only when it's a period or subject about which I know a lot or have a keen interest in. I can't say I knew all that much about Samuel Colt when this book came into my possession, but the blurb sounded interesting, promising political intrigue in Victorian London during the period of the gang warfare in the 1850s on the eve of The Crimean War.

Samuel Colt is an American industrialist looking to manufacture and sell his brand new invention in London to the British government - the Colt Revolver. He hopes to win a contract to supply the British army as it moves to halt the session of Imperial Russia in the east. This (almost stereotypically) brash American has no patience, gets annoyed with the slow process of the government dragging their feet with war on their doorstep.

But it is not all plain sailing. Sinister forces are at work attempting to derail Colt's efforts and opportunists are keen to try out his product in the field, threatening to set off the tinder box on London's streets. Edward Lowry is hired at the factory, and when he soon develops a romance with one of the women on the factory floor, he gets a sniff of something not quite right down below - and I don't mean the gunpowder. Soon enough, guns start to go missing from the warehouse and naturally, the numerous riff-raff of cheap labour hired from The Devil's Acre are all suspects. Against the backdrop of gangland warfare and political intrigue, someone needs to stop all out war on the streets of Queen Victoria's London.

Books like this can sometimes struggle to find the right balance between plot and character. There are periods of heavy scene-setting and description, which I liked, but also periods of character "development" that felt contrived. I refer specifically to the romance which feels more like a plot device than a genuine attachment between two people. It almost feels that it's the catalyst behind the revelation of the major plot rather than a sub-plot there's to break up the pace and add respite. I don't know whether Lowry existed, or his love interest for that matter, and if they did then I feel it is an opportunity wasted.

Not the most gripping read of the year, but it did help to fill in a few gaps of a period of London's history that maybe many people do not know about. When we think Victorian London, we think Jack The Ripper and we think of The Industrial Revolution, and of Charles Dickens, but rarely about the slums, the gangs and the dodgy deals of the growing commercialism.

The plot didn't really come together when trying to blend the historical fiction with the thriller element and there are much better examples than this. 3/5.

See more book reviews at my blog

[Kurt Keefner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this because it is set in a factory with an industrialist as one of it's main characters. I'm looking for productive heroes.

It isn't a bad book. It tells an interesting story surrounding the real Samuel Colt's attempt to sell revolvers to the British military by setting up a factory in London, recruiting workers from the poorest neighborhood, the so-called Devil's Acre. The problem is Colt is not to be trusted and some of his workers are Mollie Maguires (Irish terrorists) who want to steal guns to use in one of their attacks. Drama ensues.

The factory, the slum, the dress, the mannerism and all that are very well realized. The Mollies alone are worth the price of admission.

What's lacking is character. Oh yes, we have plenty of colorful personalities, but only one of them grows and he's just not that interesting. Colt is not the productive hero I was seeking. The characters are types, presented to drive plot. The book has a fairly complex plot with three or four strains, deftly interwoven, but the problem is that plot without character growth is ultimately meaningless.

At least to me. Actually, I've just given a working definition of most genre fiction (mystery, sci-fi, thriller, etc.). I don't find genre fiction satisfying although I admit it can be entertaining.

I have to mention that there are real people mixed in with the fictional ones. A certain very prominent Victorian figure shows up at the factory and makes quite an impression. It has nothing to do with the plot, but (since it really happened), it must have been too good for the author to resist.

If you are interested in the period features and a reasonably exciting story, you might give this a try. Elizabeth Gaskell, it ain't.

[Huw Evans · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sam Colt, the American entrepreneur, is looking to set up a factory in London to manufacture his revolvers using his assembly line techniques that revolutionised arms manufacture. It was set up in the 1850s at the time of the Crimean war (1853-56) and he firmly hoped that the English would place a significant order for his weapons. Unfortunately, for him, no such order was placed and his factory closed four years later. It was, indeed, visited by Charles Dickens as well as other more appropriate military dignitaries.

The Devil's Acre was the area immediately next to the Houses of Parliament and was the worst slum in London, overcrowded, stinking and full of the refuse (human and otherwise) of the Great Wen. Herein lies my first criticism of the book; if you are going to put in a map MAKE IT LEGIBLE. The Molly Maguires, a Catholic Irish organisation given to revenge of the injustices inflicted by the Protestant English and Iris also existed though possibly not in London. Their greatest impact was seen in the coal fields of Pennsylvania in the 1870s.

That is the historical part of the book and is possibly the most interesting. The plotline is obvious and the characters archetypal. Colt himself, baccy chewing and bourbon guzzling, is hard bitten and willing to sell arms to whoever will give him the right price. His American management team shoot first and ask questions later, with all the subtlety recognisable in 1970 cop shows. His secretary is a pusillanimous Brit stirred only by patriotism until he finds love on the shop floor. The Mollys are stupid, malevolent and alcoholic psychotics. Even the alleyways of the Devil's acre have been better described.

All in all this book didn't tick any boxes and, if it is part of a series, I shall happily avoid the rest.

[The Bookish Wombat · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 1850s London, American entrepreneur Samuel Colt opens a factory to manufacture his firearms. Staffed with some of the city's poorest, inhabitants of the slum area called the Devil's Acre, the undertaking is a hotbed of voilence, plots and political intrigue which seems bound to end in a conflagration.

I love anything set in the Victorian era, so was pleased to receive a copy of this book as a Christmas present. I really enjoyed the first half of the book and found it quite reminiscent of something by Wilkie Collins (though I won't go as far as saying it's Dickensian. The city and the factory are portrayed well and lots of intruiging plot threads a laid which seemed to promise much for the rest of the book.

However, as it went on I found I was enjoying it less and found myself skipping sections to try to find out what happened without having to read it all. I think part of the problem was that I didn't really feel that any of the characters were real people. Colt was very much larger than life, but the others felt thin and one-dimensional, so I didn't really empathise with them. It seemed to me like the author had spent all his energy on creating a highly-detailed background, all historically correct, but then didn't have enough left in him to do the same for his characters.

I also felt like that plot threads that had been laid in the first half of the book weren't followed through as well as they promised to be, with some of it just petering out and not reaching a satisfactory conclusion.

I did enjoy the first half of the book though, and would read more by Matthew Plampin just to see if his other books live up the promise of the first half of this one.

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a review book for newbooksmag -

Set in Victorian England 1853, The Gunmaker’s Gift tells the captivating story of how American gun maker Samuel Colt brought the production of the colt pistol to a factory in Pimlico. The Crimean war clouds are gathering and it appears that the time is ripe for weapon production on a grand scale. With a workforce gathered from the fragments of the poorer parts of London, the factory floor is ripe with plots, political instability and disorder. Well written and historically accurate this book is alive with intrigue and illustrates not just the political unrest of the time but also the personal conflict between Samuel Colt’s ambitious young secretary Edward Lowry, and his unlikely involvement with a volatile factory worker, Caroline Knox.
Never having given much thought to the mass production of weapons during this period in history I became fascinated with the technical detail, and the idea that women were employed on the factory floor made the story all the more thought provoking.
On a personal level I really enjoyed this book, the historical detail is exceptional and because the characterisation is so finely drawn you get a real sense of time and place. I found myself reading the story quite slowly in order to absorb and remember the fine detail. I am sure it would facilitate lively discussion as part of a reading group read.

[Janette Fleming · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHEN Samuel Colt sets up a gun factory in the heart of Victorian London, his new London secretary sees only career advancement and excitement ahead. But it is not long before Colt’s deadly product brings conspiracy, bitter deception and bloodshed to the streets of Westminster.
Among the workforce Colt has gathered from the seething mass of London’s poor are a gang of desperate Irish immigrants, embittered refugees from the potato famine, who intend to use these stolen six-shooters for a political assassination in the name of revenge.
As pistols start to go missing, divided loyalties and hidden agendas make the gun-maker’s factory the setting for a tense story of intrigue, betrayal and murder.
This detailed and gripping historical novel draws the reader deep into the overlapping worlds of Victorian London, from the drawing rooms of the political elite to the worst slums of the desperate poor. A revealing portrait of an exhilarating period in English history.

Bookdrum http://www.bookdrum.com/(less)

[Kelv · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only thing that makes this book two stars is the fact that it covers true events.

The author is clearly a Dickens fan; trying to display 'ye ole' England, adding dirty / dark London - heck lets put Dickens in the plot as well and make him look eccentric, let's not forget the disappointing crescendo ending (that is actually more of whimper)

The characters were poorly developed - no clear protagonist / antagonist, coming in and out of the story, no real depth. Did Martin Rea have a mental condition - this seems to be an inadvertent part of the story. Maybe all the "Paddy's" were supposed to be portrayed as unstable.

The plot or aim is never really decided; was there a moral argument we are supposed to take note and consider? Was the selling of guns, or the romance of Caroline and Edward, or even Molly Maguires retribution... important; who could say.

The prose - FFS - is tedious, I do not need a paragraph describing every dirty london street on every second page or so; it was a distraction and throws rhythm at the wall.

[David Grieve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have given this 4 1/2 stars if possible as it was a really good book.
I wasn't sure what to expect of the tale of Samuel Colt and his revolver factory built in Pimlico in mid 19th century London as it was something I know nothing about. However, by blending fact and fiction Plampin has created an engrossing and fascinating story with a real feel for the time and the environment. The story revolves around Colt, his English secretary Lowry and an engineer Rea, the latter of whom lives in the Devil's Acre of the title with a bunch of radical Irish immigrants. Colt is driven purely by business, a fact that Lowry admires and respects and wants to emulate. However, as the business becomes more ruthless and the Irish start using the factory for their own ends. Lowry is forced to reconsider his position.
Thoroughly entertaining and well worth a read.

[Marguerite Kaye]

I gave up on this about two thirds of the way through so I haven't rated it. I wanted to finish it, I really wanted to like it, but I just got bored. The subject matter is interesting, the setting is fascinating, it's well-written, and historically really well researched, but the characters didn't hold me. I think the problem was that you never really got to know them as anything other than plot devices, and so when the plot started to unfold and you could see the mess they were going to get into, instead of feeling empathy I was just irked.

I'm going to try Matthew Plampin's first book though, becuase as I said, I really wanted to like this. Strange one.

[Victoria Conlan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know what I did not like about this book. The story was kind of ok, the characters were kind of interesting, the writing was ok ... but for some reason it just didn't pull me in or make me care about anyone or anything that was going on. Which is possibly why it took me over 2 years to complete reading it! (I lost the book, I didn't care enough to put the effort in to find it again)
I am giving it a generous 3 stars because by the end I did want to know how it all finished (although I predicted mostly right what was going to happen) - I wavered between 2 and 3. This was a solid 2.5 star book.

[David Fishel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guess either you like historical fiction or you don't. I do and found this book by accident and was enthralled. It pictures Sam Colt as an opportunistic, manipulative,uncultured, capitalistic boor as only Americans can be! The machinations he goes through to attemp to manipulate the British government into buying his gun; even to the extent of trying to sell his British made guns to their Russian adversaries, was fascinating. The trouble with historical fiction is that you never know what is historically accurate. Maybe that's why I like it, because the same applies to actual history!

[Kirsteen · Rating 1 out of 5]

So disappointed. Bought 'The Street Philosopher' on a whim (aka because it was cheap!) in Fopp and really enjoyed it. Most especially The Crimean War detail, which surprised me. With 'The Devil's Acre' if found myself disliking ALL the characters which became a real obstacle to any enjoyment or interest in how the affairs of the 'navy colt' were going to conclude.