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Thomas Hawkins #2
The Last Confession of Thomas Hawkins
Spring, 1728. A young, well-dressed man is dragged through the streets of London to the gallows at Tyburn. The crowds jeer and curse as he passes, calling him a murderer. He tries to remain calm. His name is Tom Hawkins and he is innocent. Somehow he has to prove it, before the rope squeezes the life out of him.
It is, of course, all his own fault. He was happy with Kitty Sparks. Life was good. He should never have told the most dangerous criminal in London that he was 'bored and looking for adventure'. He should never have offered to help Henrietta Howard, the king's mistress, in her desperate struggles with a brutal husband. And most of all, he should never have trusted the witty, calculating Queen Caroline. She has promised him a royal pardon if he holds his tongue but then again, there is nothing more silent than a hanged man.
Based loosely on actual events, Antonia Hodgson's new novel is both a sequel to The Devil in the Marshalsea and a standalone historical mystery. From the gilded cage of the Court to the wicked freedoms of the slums, it reveals a world both seductive and deadly. And it continues the rake's progress of Tom Hawkins - assuming he can find a way to survive the noose...
It is, of course, all his own fault. He was happy with Kitty Sparks. Life was good. He should never have told the most dangerous criminal in London that he was 'bored and looking for adventure'. He should never have offered to help Henrietta Howard, the king's mistress, in her desperate struggles with a brutal husband. And most of all, he should never have trusted the witty, calculating Queen Caroline. She has promised him a royal pardon if he holds his tongue but then again, there is nothing more silent than a hanged man.
Based loosely on actual events, Antonia Hodgson's new novel is both a sequel to The Devil in the Marshalsea and a standalone historical mystery. From the gilded cage of the Court to the wicked freedoms of the slums, it reveals a world both seductive and deadly. And it continues the rake's progress of Tom Hawkins - assuming he can find a way to survive the noose...
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2015
183 people are currently reading
1441 people want to read
About the author
Antonia Hodgson
10 books1,662 followersAntonia Hodgson was born and grew up in Derby. She studied English at the University of Leeds. Her first novel, The Devil in the Marshalsea, won the CWA Historical Dagger 2014 and was shortlisted for several other awards. Its sequel, The Last Confession of Thomas Hawkins, was released to widespread acclaim in 2015. Her third novel, A Death at Fountains Abbey, comes out in August 2016.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
April 26, 2016
This book was an impulse grab from my library, felt like something I might be in the mood to read. Saw this was the second in series, hadn't read the first but I ended up really enjoying this story. We first see Thomas on a prison cart on his way to Tyburn Hill to be hanged. Convicted of murdering his neighbor, a bully of a man, he adamantly proclaims his innocence.
The atmosphere, so true to this time period, rogues, thieves and prostitutes abound, Fleet Street, St. Giles, Seven Dials. A woman gladiator of sorts, so many varied characters but it is Thomas, his woman Kitty, who is a force onto herself, and a young boy Sam who are our main and very interesting characters. Thomas also manages to get himself involved with Queen Caroline, given a mission by her and also the kings mistress, who has little or no power but does have a despicable husband. Rousing good fun, non stop action, characters you can't help but root for and a good mystery to boot. Defoe is mentioned and indeed I can see a comparison to his Moll Flanders, but amazingly this author is a woman. Her lengthy afterward provides the reader with the knowledge that much of this book, follows fact. Not the mystery of course but the tone, the street, the historical details and such.
A stunning impulse grab.
The atmosphere, so true to this time period, rogues, thieves and prostitutes abound, Fleet Street, St. Giles, Seven Dials. A woman gladiator of sorts, so many varied characters but it is Thomas, his woman Kitty, who is a force onto herself, and a young boy Sam who are our main and very interesting characters. Thomas also manages to get himself involved with Queen Caroline, given a mission by her and also the kings mistress, who has little or no power but does have a despicable husband. Rousing good fun, non stop action, characters you can't help but root for and a good mystery to boot. Defoe is mentioned and indeed I can see a comparison to his Moll Flanders, but amazingly this author is a woman. Her lengthy afterward provides the reader with the knowledge that much of this book, follows fact. Not the mystery of course but the tone, the street, the historical details and such.
A stunning impulse grab.
August 9, 2017
I really enjoyed Thomas Hawkins in his first book, The Devil in the Marshalsea, and he is just as wayward and charming in this, his second outing. He seems to suffer a lot from bad timing as well as being a pretty bad judge of character and bounces from one arrest to another.
I enjoyed all the detail of old London town and the descriptions of how people lived at that time. There are some quite unpleasant bits for example the cock fight Thomas attends with Kitty and some of the murders are rather gross too, but all in keeping with the era.
Definitely a good read for anyone who enjoys a historical mystery.
I enjoyed all the detail of old London town and the descriptions of how people lived at that time. There are some quite unpleasant bits for example the cock fight Thomas attends with Kitty and some of the murders are rather gross too, but all in keeping with the era.
Definitely a good read for anyone who enjoys a historical mystery.
March 5, 2016
Having really enjoyed, “The Devil in the Marshalsea,” I was pleased to have the opportunity to read the second Tom Hawkins adventure. Hawkins is now living in London with Kitty Sparks, at the bookshop she inherited. “The Cocked Pistol,” as its name implies, caters for a particular type of customer and they are not well liked by their neighbour, Joseph Burden. Burden sees himself as a respectable man of importance and wages a constant war against the couple; aiming to get the shop closed down. Still, one night, as Hawkins wanders home to hear Burden’s daughter, Judith, screaming that she has seen a thief, he attempts to help; even if his attempts are not appreciated.
Also living with Thomas and Kitty is young Sam Fleet; son of James Fleet, who we met in the first novel. James Fleet runs the notorious district of St Giles and, one day, he asks to see Thomas. A gentlewoman has asked for help and he suggests that Thomas should be the one to talk to her. The woman turns out to be someone at Court and, before he has time to regret looking for a little excitement, in a life which is becoming just a little too comfortable, he finds that he is surrounded by scandal, danger and murder.
This is a great historical romp in 1720’s London. I love the characters and enjoyed meeting up with Thomas Hawkins and Kitty again. Hawkins is a bit of a lost cause at times – even when he has his boots firmly under a comfortable table he cannot resist getting into trouble. He drinks too much and has a tendency to end up on the wrong side of the law. He is, though, a man of honour and – although he drives the lovely Kitty crazy at times - she would do anything for him. There are, though, times when honour can get you killed…
Although this novel can be read as a stand-alone story, I would recommend reading the books in order. I hope that Thomas Hawkins will appear in further novels, as these characters are strong enough to sustain a series. Lastly, I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
Also living with Thomas and Kitty is young Sam Fleet; son of James Fleet, who we met in the first novel. James Fleet runs the notorious district of St Giles and, one day, he asks to see Thomas. A gentlewoman has asked for help and he suggests that Thomas should be the one to talk to her. The woman turns out to be someone at Court and, before he has time to regret looking for a little excitement, in a life which is becoming just a little too comfortable, he finds that he is surrounded by scandal, danger and murder.
This is a great historical romp in 1720’s London. I love the characters and enjoyed meeting up with Thomas Hawkins and Kitty again. Hawkins is a bit of a lost cause at times – even when he has his boots firmly under a comfortable table he cannot resist getting into trouble. He drinks too much and has a tendency to end up on the wrong side of the law. He is, though, a man of honour and – although he drives the lovely Kitty crazy at times - she would do anything for him. There are, though, times when honour can get you killed…
Although this novel can be read as a stand-alone story, I would recommend reading the books in order. I hope that Thomas Hawkins will appear in further novels, as these characters are strong enough to sustain a series. Lastly, I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
August 26, 2021
Another dramatic outing for Thomas Hawkins- he is not a lucky man.. atmospheric writing and some interesting characters.
December 6, 2017
Onvan : The Last Confession of Thomas Hawkins (Tom Hawkins, #2) - Nevisande : Antonia Hodgson - ISBN : 544639685 - ISBN13 : 9780544639683 - Dar 400 Safhe - Saal e Chap : 2015
April 18, 2015
When I first ordered this, I didn't realise it was a sequel to Hodgson's debut (The Devil in the Marshalsea), and I was quite pleased that I'd be renewing my acquaintance with some characters I thoroughly enjoyed first time around. But for those who haven't read the first, it doesn't matter hugely. Some of the plot of the first is covered through the book (and occasionally a small spoiler appears, if you do want to read it later) but I would say that you don't need to have read the first to enjoy this trip to the world of the filthy, corrupt and violent 1720s.
Thomas Hawkins is enjoying his liberty after spending a fraught time in the Marshalsea debtors' prison, and has started to build a life with Kitty, owner of a risqué bookshop. But, as has happened to him before, events around him force him to become involved in dark and deadly goings-on that threaten his own life. We see from the opening that Thomas is on his way to Tyburn to be hanged - but what has brought the amiable (though a chancer, a gambler and a drinker) and rather decent young man to this end? Snippets of his journey to the noose are interspersed with his story, which will include another bloody murder and a mystery.
The story takes in the stench of London's slums and the richly furnished rooms of the wealthy alike. We know Thomas is innocent. But just who 'dunnit'?
It's a grand journey into the nefarious underworld of 1720s London. There are characters from the first book, and lots of new ones to loathe and respect alike. A particular villain is well-drawn and absolutely repugnant.
I enjoyed the twists the story took, as first one potential suspect is discounted then another, but nobody is ruled out completely... I made my own guess and was proved wrong.
Thomas is a great narrator to read along with - he's by-and-large a sympathetic young man. A bit of a rogue but with a truly good heart, who does the right thing even at his own expense. Kitty is a very strong (at times annoyingly so) female lead, and they make a winning couple.
The period setting is vivid and well chosen for the corrupt mystery of the murder, with lots of detail (and notes at the end about the real characters and setting) that brings it to life beautifully. Though I must say there was a little too much "whore"-caling for my liking. Every time a woman does something a little unexpected, brave or unfeminine, she's called a whore or slut. Surely there would be other words? But no matter. A small niggle.
The story ends on a note that leads the reader to expect a further story from Hodgson about this time period and with familiar characters (and with a potential new sidekick), which is fine by me. I like the period setting, enjoy Hodgson's plotting and mysteries, and will definitely read another by her.
Review of a Lovereading.co.uk advance copy.
Thomas Hawkins is enjoying his liberty after spending a fraught time in the Marshalsea debtors' prison, and has started to build a life with Kitty, owner of a risqué bookshop. But, as has happened to him before, events around him force him to become involved in dark and deadly goings-on that threaten his own life. We see from the opening that Thomas is on his way to Tyburn to be hanged - but what has brought the amiable (though a chancer, a gambler and a drinker) and rather decent young man to this end? Snippets of his journey to the noose are interspersed with his story, which will include another bloody murder and a mystery.
The story takes in the stench of London's slums and the richly furnished rooms of the wealthy alike. We know Thomas is innocent. But just who 'dunnit'?
It's a grand journey into the nefarious underworld of 1720s London. There are characters from the first book, and lots of new ones to loathe and respect alike. A particular villain is well-drawn and absolutely repugnant.
I enjoyed the twists the story took, as first one potential suspect is discounted then another, but nobody is ruled out completely... I made my own guess and was proved wrong.
Thomas is a great narrator to read along with - he's by-and-large a sympathetic young man. A bit of a rogue but with a truly good heart, who does the right thing even at his own expense. Kitty is a very strong (at times annoyingly so) female lead, and they make a winning couple.
The period setting is vivid and well chosen for the corrupt mystery of the murder, with lots of detail (and notes at the end about the real characters and setting) that brings it to life beautifully. Though I must say there was a little too much "whore"-caling for my liking. Every time a woman does something a little unexpected, brave or unfeminine, she's called a whore or slut. Surely there would be other words? But no matter. A small niggle.
The story ends on a note that leads the reader to expect a further story from Hodgson about this time period and with familiar characters (and with a potential new sidekick), which is fine by me. I like the period setting, enjoy Hodgson's plotting and mysteries, and will definitely read another by her.
Review of a Lovereading.co.uk advance copy.
March 20, 2016
I have to admit that the first several times I picked up this book I ended up falling asleep. I don't know what my problem was...maybe I was just staying up too late, because when I settled in to give this book another try I was pleased and impressed.
I read Hodgson's 'The Devil in the Marshalsea' when it came out two years ago and I enjoyed getting to know Thomas Hawkins then. But I found this second installment in this series a richer more satisfying read. I'm not sure why I enjoyed it so much more than the first, partly I think it's because I came to this story knowing Tom and liking him. But I also think it was due to the variety of mysteries the author weaves around Tom. When we catch up with him he's on his way to be hanged, he's bargained with the powers that be and expects a pardon. He knows he must be patient but as the noose is placed around his neck being patient is a challenge to say the least.
I enjoyed the new characters the author created for their supporting roles. She brings all her characters to life with textures, smells, sights and sounds. As well as details of their dress, manners and emotions. They were real, living and breathing and I didn't know who was evil or who was honest. And neither did Tom. I did love him with Kitty, tough and gritty, Kitty. I can't wait to read the next installment in this series.
I would recommend reading 'The Devil in the Marshalsea' before you pick up this one. I don't know how satisfying it would be for readers who don't know Tom's back story. For those who have already read about Tom I think you'll enjoy the continuation of his adventures.
I read Hodgson's 'The Devil in the Marshalsea' when it came out two years ago and I enjoyed getting to know Thomas Hawkins then. But I found this second installment in this series a richer more satisfying read. I'm not sure why I enjoyed it so much more than the first, partly I think it's because I came to this story knowing Tom and liking him. But I also think it was due to the variety of mysteries the author weaves around Tom. When we catch up with him he's on his way to be hanged, he's bargained with the powers that be and expects a pardon. He knows he must be patient but as the noose is placed around his neck being patient is a challenge to say the least.
I enjoyed the new characters the author created for their supporting roles. She brings all her characters to life with textures, smells, sights and sounds. As well as details of their dress, manners and emotions. They were real, living and breathing and I didn't know who was evil or who was honest. And neither did Tom. I did love him with Kitty, tough and gritty, Kitty. I can't wait to read the next installment in this series.
I would recommend reading 'The Devil in the Marshalsea' before you pick up this one. I don't know how satisfying it would be for readers who don't know Tom's back story. For those who have already read about Tom I think you'll enjoy the continuation of his adventures.
March 4, 2019
If Daniel Defoe or John Gay were alive today, they'd be writing flattering blurbs for Antonia Hodgson's amusing and enjoyable historical series. Set in London in 1728 (when The Beggar's Opera debuted), the action ranges from Hanoverian court intrigue to prison cells and gaming hells. Skullduggery abounds, but of course the ne'er do well hero, Thomas Hawkins, is more sinned against than sinner, and readers will happily root for him as he stumbles from one mess to the next.
February 5, 2016
Thomas Hawkins is a rake, a scoundrel, and over fond of liquor and low company. But he’s an affable rogue and tends to find himself caught up in scandalous affairs and forced into dangerous predicaments. But is he a murderer? Virtually the entire town of London in the year 1728 seems to think so for this novel opens with young Thomas Hawkins on route to the gallows at Tyburn to pay for his murderous ways.
This is the follow-on novel to Antonia Hodgson’s well-received debut novel, The Devil in the Marshalsea. I have not read that one but it seemed to make little difference as this novel is full and complete on its own. Some characters are in both of course but there are several new colorful folks to meet in this book, both honorable and/or cringe-worthy. But, believe me, I will definitely go back and get a copy of that first book because this one was a delight to read. In general I love to read historical mysteries, especially those set in London, and when you add a wonderful character like Thomas Hawkins, a flawed but honorable man, the novel tends to be a good read. But the author doesn’t stop there. The mystery plot is absorbing and not exactly traditional so legitimate surprises kept me enthralled. Hawkins finds himself indebted to the Queen and is tasked with determining the real murderer but he is not adept at playing politics and so quickly becomes a tool of various factions.
I liked the way the story was developed adding layers as it went. And I must also add kudos for the setting itself. Some authors get carried away with adding rich detail but I think Ms. Hodgson manages to depict her Georgian era London vibrantly yet without beating the reader over the head with it. It’s like another character in the story. The historical aspects are interesting and I learned quite a bit about the historical Henrietta Howard, Queen Caroline (a book reader after my own heart), and even the Society for the Reformation of Manners.
A very nice read with a satisfying ending that also hints at a third book to come. I certainly hope so!
This is the follow-on novel to Antonia Hodgson’s well-received debut novel, The Devil in the Marshalsea. I have not read that one but it seemed to make little difference as this novel is full and complete on its own. Some characters are in both of course but there are several new colorful folks to meet in this book, both honorable and/or cringe-worthy. But, believe me, I will definitely go back and get a copy of that first book because this one was a delight to read. In general I love to read historical mysteries, especially those set in London, and when you add a wonderful character like Thomas Hawkins, a flawed but honorable man, the novel tends to be a good read. But the author doesn’t stop there. The mystery plot is absorbing and not exactly traditional so legitimate surprises kept me enthralled. Hawkins finds himself indebted to the Queen and is tasked with determining the real murderer but he is not adept at playing politics and so quickly becomes a tool of various factions.
I liked the way the story was developed adding layers as it went. And I must also add kudos for the setting itself. Some authors get carried away with adding rich detail but I think Ms. Hodgson manages to depict her Georgian era London vibrantly yet without beating the reader over the head with it. It’s like another character in the story. The historical aspects are interesting and I learned quite a bit about the historical Henrietta Howard, Queen Caroline (a book reader after my own heart), and even the Society for the Reformation of Manners.
A very nice read with a satisfying ending that also hints at a third book to come. I certainly hope so!
March 8, 2017
The Confession of Thomas Hawkins is the sequel to The Devil in the Marchelsea, which I read and loved last year. Thomas Hawkins is a brilliant creation – flawed and yet so likeable. The son of a parson, he spends his day drinking and gambling and falling into trouble, with the help of his sharp-tongued, strong-willed lover, Kitty Sparks, who refuses to marry him because women lose all power once the wedding ring is on their finger. Set in 1728, the book is rich in sensual historical detail and yet the pace is unflagging. Thomas is in a race against time to solve a gruesome murder and outwit a sadistic aristocrat before the hangman’s noose is put about his neck. A truly fabulous historical romp.
February 18, 2022
Another victory for Antonia Hodgson and her heroin Thomas Hawkins. Oh, and Kitty of course - such a fearsome heroine, if indeed I could call her that!
At the heart of this novel lies love. Throughout it, many of the human failings I still see in every day life, some 300 years later. We reinvent ourselves, even the world around us, but there will always be a part of us out of reach of our own imaginations and capabilities. This novel spells that out beautifully, and beheld this reader upon every page.
Delightful. Five stars 🌟 🤩
At the heart of this novel lies love. Throughout it, many of the human failings I still see in every day life, some 300 years later. We reinvent ourselves, even the world around us, but there will always be a part of us out of reach of our own imaginations and capabilities. This novel spells that out beautifully, and beheld this reader upon every page.
Delightful. Five stars 🌟 🤩
July 30, 2025
This had a lot of twists and turns but ultimately, the murderer was who I suspected all along. It did make for an interesting story because there's a LOT that happens. This book start right at the end, with our leading man, Tom Hawkins, on his way to the gallows and it's a "you're probably wondering how I got here" moment. Because then we are transported back to the beginning.
Content notes include cock fighting, hangings, misogyny, murder, sexual assault, violence, mentions of domestic abuse, mentions of rape, mentions of presumed suicide, mentions of underaged marriage, and suggestions of beastiality.
This story takes place three months after the end of the first book - Tom and Kitty have moved in together and now run a print shop that Kitty inherited from Samuel Fleet (a man Tom met at the Marshelsea and Kitty's guardian). This is set in the 1720s, so their unwed status is a slight scandal, but Kitty couldn't care less about her reputation because she's come into money. We learn that Tom very much wants to marry her but is scared to ask the question for real in case Kitty does not say yes.
They have a very interesting romantic dynamic that I don't find often in romance books, and while this is not a romance book by any means, and doesn't pretend to be, (the mystery Tom gets entangled in and the dreary London setting wouldn't be the usual historical romance for instance) their relationship is JUST enough. This book actually does contains a bit of sex. It's all described in a very vague sense, but it is kind of on the page. But Tom does, in a moment of depression, kiss a woman who is not Kitty. I'm not bothered that much by it since he does not love that woman in question, but for the romance folks, that is a thing that happens in passing that I thought I'd mention.
Tom is former rake, but it is still a past life he can't fully escape and despite his short and harrowing stint in the Marshalsea jail (or gaol as it is written in the books), he has returned to gambling and drinking. He is restless in the face of peace, and running the print shop gets boring for him at times. Never mind that his job is illegal since they sell erotica on the side and his job is to copy and duplicate printings of erotica. Kitty is a very fierce and in charge girl who is not to be underestimated. She's a woman who decided that shooting a man once and letting him slowly die wasn't enough, and reloaded the gun and shot the man between the eyes to save Tom. Tom has much more delicate sensibilities in comparison. He grew up a parson's son and a gentleman, and he really can't stomach the sight of murder and blood. I honestly don't know how he's managed to survive without Kitty this whole time.
Tom and Kitty (despite their unwed status) have taken on a 14-year-old boy as their ward, a Sam Fleet. He is son to the most notorious and possibly most dangerous gang leader in London and rules from St. Giles (James Fleet). Sam's uncle and namesake was the man who left Kitty the print shop. Sam is a quiet boy and has a bit of a mysterious air about him. He's mostly a sullen teenager but he's grown up around violence and has been trained to one day take over the family business. But for now, he is interested in studying books more than anything else.
The main point of this story, however, is that Tom and Kitty's neighbor, Joseph Burden, gets murdered and Tom is suspect #1. It's not a secret that Tom and the man disliked one another and Tom even threatened his life the night before he was murdered. However, in a twist that I don't fully understand everyone just agreeing to, Tom is tasked with investigating the murder everyone thinks HE did. There's a number of suspects, including the man's children, an apprentice, a maid, and even Sam. The only people off the suspect list is really just Tom and Kitty.
I don't particularly think that Tom is a good detective. He's definitely never trained to be one, nor a spy. He also finds himself at a crosshairs with the Queen of England somehow as it seems that Tom has to take over the now vacant position Samuel Fleet left behind as a spy for the Queen. Tom goes about interviewing people and trying to make the best of the situation but he does eventually find himself caught between one too many parties and is locked up (again). This time though, it's at Newgate Prison because he's scheduled to be hanged at the gallows. This story definitely kept me on my toes even though I knew he literally has two more books in this series so I knew he couldn't DIE die.
This story is all the more stressful because it is told primarily in Tom's first-person POV. I love that this is a historical in first-person because we sure don't see that often in historical romance. I wonder if this is more normal with historical crime thrillers/mysteries? I will need to investigate because I love it a lot. I do like Tom's voice in the narrative sense. There are a few chapters here and there where the chapters are in third-person POV to report on what's happening TO Tom and I think it's very well done.
So, I did read this haphazardly - first with the US audiobook narrated by John Lee on Audible and then with the UK audiobook narrated by Joseph Kloska I finally located on Kobo. The UK narrator sounds much more like Tom’s 26 years and not like he’s 50+ like the US narrator and doesn’t have that odd accent.
However, it's a bit of a give and take on which narration you'll prefer because the UK audiobook is not as well edited as the US one. There is rustling paper and some swallowing noises that's on the UK audio that didn't all get edited out. There’s also some audio overlap at one point where the editor working on this audiobook messed up and I had to redownload the audio to listen to the epilogue because it kept stopping, and pressing play again only started a previous chapter. And there's nothing at the end of the audiobook after the epilogue to even indicate the book was done, and no author's note was read (and I know there is one).
I'm not sure if it’s something with the audio file that messed up or the Kobo app itself, which is quite outdated on iOS compared to every other audiobook app I’ve ever used. But the UK narrator is the narrator for the next two books even in the US, which I have through Audible so we’ll see how that goes. There is at least no sound effects added into the UK audiobook of this like they had for book 1.
This book did take me some time to get through only because of the harrowing danger Tom kept finding himself in that kept stressing me out. But I still really enjoyed Tom's adventures and how the story came together. This book cleanly leaves the door open to the next book to get you to keep reading. And thankfully book three is already out, so I will be jumping into that immediately.
Content notes include cock fighting, hangings, misogyny, murder, sexual assault, violence, mentions of domestic abuse, mentions of rape, mentions of presumed suicide, mentions of underaged marriage, and suggestions of beastiality.
This story takes place three months after the end of the first book - Tom and Kitty have moved in together and now run a print shop that Kitty inherited from Samuel Fleet (a man Tom met at the Marshelsea and Kitty's guardian). This is set in the 1720s, so their unwed status is a slight scandal, but Kitty couldn't care less about her reputation because she's come into money. We learn that Tom very much wants to marry her but is scared to ask the question for real in case Kitty does not say yes.
They have a very interesting romantic dynamic that I don't find often in romance books, and while this is not a romance book by any means, and doesn't pretend to be, (the mystery Tom gets entangled in and the dreary London setting wouldn't be the usual historical romance for instance) their relationship is JUST enough. This book actually does contains a bit of sex. It's all described in a very vague sense, but it is kind of on the page. But Tom does, in a moment of depression, kiss a woman who is not Kitty. I'm not bothered that much by it since he does not love that woman in question, but for the romance folks, that is a thing that happens in passing that I thought I'd mention.
Tom is former rake, but it is still a past life he can't fully escape and despite his short and harrowing stint in the Marshalsea jail (or gaol as it is written in the books), he has returned to gambling and drinking. He is restless in the face of peace, and running the print shop gets boring for him at times. Never mind that his job is illegal since they sell erotica on the side and his job is to copy and duplicate printings of erotica. Kitty is a very fierce and in charge girl who is not to be underestimated. She's a woman who decided that shooting a man once and letting him slowly die wasn't enough, and reloaded the gun and shot the man between the eyes to save Tom. Tom has much more delicate sensibilities in comparison. He grew up a parson's son and a gentleman, and he really can't stomach the sight of murder and blood. I honestly don't know how he's managed to survive without Kitty this whole time.
Tom and Kitty (despite their unwed status) have taken on a 14-year-old boy as their ward, a Sam Fleet. He is son to the most notorious and possibly most dangerous gang leader in London and rules from St. Giles (James Fleet). Sam's uncle and namesake was the man who left Kitty the print shop. Sam is a quiet boy and has a bit of a mysterious air about him. He's mostly a sullen teenager but he's grown up around violence and has been trained to one day take over the family business. But for now, he is interested in studying books more than anything else.
The main point of this story, however, is that Tom and Kitty's neighbor, Joseph Burden, gets murdered and Tom is suspect #1. It's not a secret that Tom and the man disliked one another and Tom even threatened his life the night before he was murdered. However, in a twist that I don't fully understand everyone just agreeing to, Tom is tasked with investigating the murder everyone thinks HE did. There's a number of suspects, including the man's children, an apprentice, a maid, and even Sam. The only people off the suspect list is really just Tom and Kitty.
I don't particularly think that Tom is a good detective. He's definitely never trained to be one, nor a spy. He also finds himself at a crosshairs with the Queen of England somehow as it seems that Tom has to take over the now vacant position Samuel Fleet left behind as a spy for the Queen. Tom goes about interviewing people and trying to make the best of the situation but he does eventually find himself caught between one too many parties and is locked up (again). This time though, it's at Newgate Prison because he's scheduled to be hanged at the gallows. This story definitely kept me on my toes even though I knew he literally has two more books in this series so I knew he couldn't DIE die.
This story is all the more stressful because it is told primarily in Tom's first-person POV. I love that this is a historical in first-person because we sure don't see that often in historical romance. I wonder if this is more normal with historical crime thrillers/mysteries? I will need to investigate because I love it a lot. I do like Tom's voice in the narrative sense. There are a few chapters here and there where the chapters are in third-person POV to report on what's happening TO Tom and I think it's very well done.
So, I did read this haphazardly - first with the US audiobook narrated by John Lee on Audible and then with the UK audiobook narrated by Joseph Kloska I finally located on Kobo. The UK narrator sounds much more like Tom’s 26 years and not like he’s 50+ like the US narrator and doesn’t have that odd accent.
However, it's a bit of a give and take on which narration you'll prefer because the UK audiobook is not as well edited as the US one. There is rustling paper and some swallowing noises that's on the UK audio that didn't all get edited out. There’s also some audio overlap at one point where the editor working on this audiobook messed up and I had to redownload the audio to listen to the epilogue because it kept stopping, and pressing play again only started a previous chapter. And there's nothing at the end of the audiobook after the epilogue to even indicate the book was done, and no author's note was read (and I know there is one).
I'm not sure if it’s something with the audio file that messed up or the Kobo app itself, which is quite outdated on iOS compared to every other audiobook app I’ve ever used. But the UK narrator is the narrator for the next two books even in the US, which I have through Audible so we’ll see how that goes. There is at least no sound effects added into the UK audiobook of this like they had for book 1.
This book did take me some time to get through only because of the harrowing danger Tom kept finding himself in that kept stressing me out. But I still really enjoyed Tom's adventures and how the story came together. This book cleanly leaves the door open to the next book to get you to keep reading. And thankfully book three is already out, so I will be jumping into that immediately.
August 23, 2016
Really great, every bit as good as the first. Steeped in Georgian filth, wrapped around true events, with some rumbustious characters Rowlandson would have loved this is a fantastic series - at least do hope there's a book three in the pipeline.
Thomas has not long been out of jail, but quickly life translating pornography to sell in Kitty's book shop is beginning to pall, so he's back to his own ways, haunting coffee houses and gambling hells, and generally wasting his life away. But a bloody murder next door, a commission from the queen and all sorts of conniving and conniptions soon set our eponymous hero hurtling down the road towards Tyburn. I'm not going to say any more. This book rips along at quite a pace, but the characters are really well drawn, and the plot twists and turns stay very true to the original history, from what I could see. Highly recommended, and though you could read this without having read the first one, I suggest you start at the beginning, you won't regret it.
Thomas has not long been out of jail, but quickly life translating pornography to sell in Kitty's book shop is beginning to pall, so he's back to his own ways, haunting coffee houses and gambling hells, and generally wasting his life away. But a bloody murder next door, a commission from the queen and all sorts of conniving and conniptions soon set our eponymous hero hurtling down the road towards Tyburn. I'm not going to say any more. This book rips along at quite a pace, but the characters are really well drawn, and the plot twists and turns stay very true to the original history, from what I could see. Highly recommended, and though you could read this without having read the first one, I suggest you start at the beginning, you won't regret it.
July 22, 2015
A huge achievement. Book 2 is every bit as wonderful as Book 1. And I have a big crush on Thomas Hawkins.
October 17, 2021
Excellent historical mystery set in Georgian London. Thomas Hawkins is looking for adventure, and takes on a dangerous secret mission for a lady of the Court. Then his neighbour is murdered and there are plenty of witnesses who swear he had threatened the dead man. As the two cases begin to overlap, Thomas is left unsure who he can trust, and before long the threat of the gallows becomes very real.
This is an enjoyable series. It was hard for the author to match the previous book where the setting of the Marshalsea prison was so brilliantly described, but this story came very close. The characters of Tom himself, his feisty lover Kitty, and the street urchin Sam Fleet are developed further, and are a definite strength of the novel. The historical aspect, particularly the London of the lower classes, is well researched but always integral to the plot.
The plot is convincing without becoming too obvious, and builds to an exciting denouement. Very enjoyable and entertaining story.
This is an enjoyable series. It was hard for the author to match the previous book where the setting of the Marshalsea prison was so brilliantly described, but this story came very close. The characters of Tom himself, his feisty lover Kitty, and the street urchin Sam Fleet are developed further, and are a definite strength of the novel. The historical aspect, particularly the London of the lower classes, is well researched but always integral to the plot.
The plot is convincing without becoming too obvious, and builds to an exciting denouement. Very enjoyable and entertaining story.
December 8, 2017
This was a case of judging a book by its cover. Ruth selected this novel with two others from Taree library. The cover with a hangman’s noose seemed intriguing ......and so was the story set in early 18C London. Lucky for Ruth.
October 26, 2017
26-year-old Thomas Hawkins, country parson's son and ex-divinity student, is a restless soul. Last time we met him was in Hodgson's debut novel, THE DEVIL IN THE MARSHALSEA, when his gambling, drinking, wenching ways sent him to debtors' prison, where he found himself involved in political intrigue and murder investigation.
Now it's 1728. He's free again and you'd think he would have learned a little behavior modification from his stint in prison, but, no, apparently not. It isn't that he's a bad person. No, he's intrinsically good but he's young and restless and addicted to adventure, so he's back to drinking and gambling and associating with the wrong people. No indiscriminate wenching, however, since he's living with his new love Kitty Sparks, the firecracker niece of his old cellmate in prison, whose murder he had investigated.
Kitty now owns her uncle's book and print shop, is well off, and Tom, who translates erotica to be printed in the shop, has funds which he wastes. But the gambling and drinking is not enough and, searching for excitement, Tom finds himself once again where he shouldn't be, doing what he shouldn't do. And when next-door neighbor Joseph Burden is murdered brutally in his sleep, Tom is the main suspect. After all, he and Burden did not get along and Tom had been heard threatening Burden. Not only that, but Tom does have that unsavory past. Of course, he's the murderer.
As this book begins, we see Tom riding on a cart with fellow prisoners, on the way to his hanging at Tyburn. To find out the why, we read this, his "last confession". How and why it all began and how it all evolved. And this is quite the story. The writing is excellent, with wit and humor and evocative description, the story compelling and the beautifully-drawn characters run the gamut from common folk to crime lords to the nobility.
One stand-out secondary is cleverly manipulative and bright Queen Caroline, wife of King George II and probably the power behind the throne. From the way she is presented in the book, one might suspect that the author had taken great dramatic license, but the author's notes and the select bibliography at the end instead lead one to believe her research has been fairly meticulous and it made me want to know much more about this fascinating woman.
Other real-life characters include King George's longtime mistress Henrietta Howard; her estranged, dissolute husband Charles; John Gonson, a judge and prominent member of The Society for the Reformation of Manners (yes, a real society and read "morals" here for "manners) and Tom's nemesis. These mixed in with Hodgson's fictional characters make for an entertaining read, with the plot taking us from scene to scene: gambling dens, prison and holding cells, cockpits and female gladiator fights, the palace, the stews of St. Giles and the lair of crime-lord James Fleet, dangerous adventure on the Thames, and more.
There's the mystery, of course, of who killed Joseph Burden which must be solved. (This is especially important to Tom because it's quite likely he is going to hang for the crime.) It seems as if huge numbers of people had a motive, prominent among them his own children and the household servants. And there's enigmatic young Sam, 14-year-old son of James Fleet, who has been living with his cousin Kitty and Tom to learn how to be a "gentleman".
Yes, this is quite a story. I enjoyed it very much and not just for the mystery. There are great characters here, main and secondary, excellent description of life in Georgian England and some really clever writing.
Now it's 1728. He's free again and you'd think he would have learned a little behavior modification from his stint in prison, but, no, apparently not. It isn't that he's a bad person. No, he's intrinsically good but he's young and restless and addicted to adventure, so he's back to drinking and gambling and associating with the wrong people. No indiscriminate wenching, however, since he's living with his new love Kitty Sparks, the firecracker niece of his old cellmate in prison, whose murder he had investigated.
Kitty now owns her uncle's book and print shop, is well off, and Tom, who translates erotica to be printed in the shop, has funds which he wastes. But the gambling and drinking is not enough and, searching for excitement, Tom finds himself once again where he shouldn't be, doing what he shouldn't do. And when next-door neighbor Joseph Burden is murdered brutally in his sleep, Tom is the main suspect. After all, he and Burden did not get along and Tom had been heard threatening Burden. Not only that, but Tom does have that unsavory past. Of course, he's the murderer.
As this book begins, we see Tom riding on a cart with fellow prisoners, on the way to his hanging at Tyburn. To find out the why, we read this, his "last confession". How and why it all began and how it all evolved. And this is quite the story. The writing is excellent, with wit and humor and evocative description, the story compelling and the beautifully-drawn characters run the gamut from common folk to crime lords to the nobility.
One stand-out secondary is cleverly manipulative and bright Queen Caroline, wife of King George II and probably the power behind the throne. From the way she is presented in the book, one might suspect that the author had taken great dramatic license, but the author's notes and the select bibliography at the end instead lead one to believe her research has been fairly meticulous and it made me want to know much more about this fascinating woman.
Other real-life characters include King George's longtime mistress Henrietta Howard; her estranged, dissolute husband Charles; John Gonson, a judge and prominent member of The Society for the Reformation of Manners (yes, a real society and read "morals" here for "manners) and Tom's nemesis. These mixed in with Hodgson's fictional characters make for an entertaining read, with the plot taking us from scene to scene: gambling dens, prison and holding cells, cockpits and female gladiator fights, the palace, the stews of St. Giles and the lair of crime-lord James Fleet, dangerous adventure on the Thames, and more.
There's the mystery, of course, of who killed Joseph Burden which must be solved. (This is especially important to Tom because it's quite likely he is going to hang for the crime.) It seems as if huge numbers of people had a motive, prominent among them his own children and the household servants. And there's enigmatic young Sam, 14-year-old son of James Fleet, who has been living with his cousin Kitty and Tom to learn how to be a "gentleman".
Yes, this is quite a story. I enjoyed it very much and not just for the mystery. There are great characters here, main and secondary, excellent description of life in Georgian England and some really clever writing.
January 2, 2018
Ja, ik ben een sucker voor historische whodunnit-boeken, en dan het liefst gesitueerd in Engeland. Dat komt natuurlijk omdat ik ooit verliefd werd op The Name of the Rose. Niet dat het ooit nog zó leuk werd, maar deze boeken vormen altijd een mooie variatie op andere genres.
De afgelopen jaren las ik vooral de serie van S.J. Parris over Giordano Bruno, sinds afgelopen jaar combineer ik dat met de boeken van Antonia Hodgson over Thomas Hawkins. In essentie verschilt het allemaal niet zoveel van elkaar: een schrijfster beschrijft een mannelijke hoofdpersoon die door slimheid, toeval, geluk en charme de wereld voor zich weet te winnen (en met winnen bedoel ik de verovering van geld, seks, vrouwen, oplossingen voor schier onmogelijke problemen, etc), gesitueerd in een heel goed onderzochte historische wereld, waar binnen een kader van daadwerkelijk gebeurde gebeurtenissen een gat is gevonden waar een fictieve mini-wereld past.
The Devil in the Marshalsea, het eerste boek van Hodgson, vond ik heel tof (hier mijn recensie). Deel 2 van de wondere wereld van Tom Hawkins vind ik iets minder sterk. In plaats van één locatie, vinden de gebeurtenissen in heel Londen anno 1728 plaats. Daar komen ook flink wat hoofdpersonen en figuranten bij kijken, waardoor het lastig is om conceptueel vat te krijgen op de wereld, zowel fysiek (waar zijn we? wat was hier ook alweer mee?) als relationeel (wie is die gast? hoe verhoudt die zich tot Tom? is ie te vertrouwen?).
Ergens halverwege dacht ik dan ook: ja, ho maar Tom, nou weten we het wel, ik ga even een ander boek lezen tot je uitgeavonturierd bent. Gelukkig heb ik tóch doorgelezen, want na dat zwakke midden is de afronding een stuk plezieriger. Wie het gedaan heeft voelt een tikkie willekeurig, de rol van de Koningin in het geheel blijft discutabel (het wordt pas geloofwaardiger na het nawoord, over hoe zij feitelijk was), maar veel losse eindes worden keurig opgerold en vastgeknoopt.
Bonuspunten voor het hoofdstuk waarin de rechtszaak tegen Tom wordt beschreven als krantenartikel. Dat is misschien wel het meest plezierige hoofdstuk (wat ook gelijk aantoont dat de andere hoofdstukken gewoon hoofdstukken zijn).
Mocht je denken: leuk, historische romans die spannend zijn, ik ga er wat mee doen, dan is mijn tip om Giordano Bruno en Thomas Hawkins even te laten voor wie ze zijn, en te starten met His Bloody Project: Documents Relating to the Case of Roderick Macrae. Dat is (ja, na Umberto Eco's boek, maar da's een buitencategorie, je kunt ook niet elk fantasyboek vergelijken met Lord of the Rings ofzo) bij verre de tofste historische misdaadroman die ik ken (hee, nog een recensie!.
En daarna is het werk over Thomas Hawkins zeker de moeite waard.
De afgelopen jaren las ik vooral de serie van S.J. Parris over Giordano Bruno, sinds afgelopen jaar combineer ik dat met de boeken van Antonia Hodgson over Thomas Hawkins. In essentie verschilt het allemaal niet zoveel van elkaar: een schrijfster beschrijft een mannelijke hoofdpersoon die door slimheid, toeval, geluk en charme de wereld voor zich weet te winnen (en met winnen bedoel ik de verovering van geld, seks, vrouwen, oplossingen voor schier onmogelijke problemen, etc), gesitueerd in een heel goed onderzochte historische wereld, waar binnen een kader van daadwerkelijk gebeurde gebeurtenissen een gat is gevonden waar een fictieve mini-wereld past.
The Devil in the Marshalsea, het eerste boek van Hodgson, vond ik heel tof (hier mijn recensie). Deel 2 van de wondere wereld van Tom Hawkins vind ik iets minder sterk. In plaats van één locatie, vinden de gebeurtenissen in heel Londen anno 1728 plaats. Daar komen ook flink wat hoofdpersonen en figuranten bij kijken, waardoor het lastig is om conceptueel vat te krijgen op de wereld, zowel fysiek (waar zijn we? wat was hier ook alweer mee?) als relationeel (wie is die gast? hoe verhoudt die zich tot Tom? is ie te vertrouwen?).
Ergens halverwege dacht ik dan ook: ja, ho maar Tom, nou weten we het wel, ik ga even een ander boek lezen tot je uitgeavonturierd bent. Gelukkig heb ik tóch doorgelezen, want na dat zwakke midden is de afronding een stuk plezieriger. Wie het gedaan heeft voelt een tikkie willekeurig, de rol van de Koningin in het geheel blijft discutabel (het wordt pas geloofwaardiger na het nawoord, over hoe zij feitelijk was), maar veel losse eindes worden keurig opgerold en vastgeknoopt.
Bonuspunten voor het hoofdstuk waarin de rechtszaak tegen Tom wordt beschreven als krantenartikel. Dat is misschien wel het meest plezierige hoofdstuk (wat ook gelijk aantoont dat de andere hoofdstukken gewoon hoofdstukken zijn).
Mocht je denken: leuk, historische romans die spannend zijn, ik ga er wat mee doen, dan is mijn tip om Giordano Bruno en Thomas Hawkins even te laten voor wie ze zijn, en te starten met His Bloody Project: Documents Relating to the Case of Roderick Macrae. Dat is (ja, na Umberto Eco's boek, maar da's een buitencategorie, je kunt ook niet elk fantasyboek vergelijken met Lord of the Rings ofzo) bij verre de tofste historische misdaadroman die ik ken (hee, nog een recensie!.
En daarna is het werk over Thomas Hawkins zeker de moeite waard.
February 17, 2016
A favourite writer for me. I love the way she gets to it in her vibrant sentences. Some wonderful one liners make witty reading. Her main character, Tom Hawkins is a lovable rogue, just trying to get by in a corrupt, dodgy and dangerous world. Hodgson lays out the landscape of the seedy side of London making it come alive in the sights, smells and characters. Just the right amount of suspense, mystery and threat and is constant throughout the book. There is nothing I don't like about this book. Superb, enjoyable read.
January 3, 2018
Absolutely fantastic! Better even than The Devil of the Marshalsea. What a talented writer Antonia Hodgson is. I read this in a day - I didn't want to put it down for a moment.
October 25, 2021
I haven't read book one but I was able to quickly catch on to the backstory.
I picked this because I love historical murder mysteries and it has such a unique cover! However this was much more than merely a murder. There was also a lot of political intrigue at play which formed almost a second plot throughout the story.
I liked the strong female characters of Betty and Kathy and the twist at the end when Tom Hawkins is hung for a murder he did not commit.
I also learned some interesting titbits about Queen Caroline's court and the rule of George II from the Author's note at the end.
I picked this because I love historical murder mysteries and it has such a unique cover! However this was much more than merely a murder. There was also a lot of political intrigue at play which formed almost a second plot throughout the story.
I liked the strong female characters of Betty and Kathy and the twist at the end when Tom Hawkins is hung for a murder he did not commit.
I also learned some interesting titbits about Queen Caroline's court and the rule of George II from the Author's note at the end.
August 20, 2025
4.5⭐️
The second book in this series and I cannot wait to get and read the third.
I love historical fiction but am really enjoying reading something as old as the 1700s, I also love how these books are written. The descriptions of London give you a real vivid picture of what it would have looked and smelt like and how cut throat it was.
The stories of Thomas Hawkins keep you on the edge of your seat at all times and although he is a rogue you just can’t help route for him, I really look forward to getting to the next book and seeing what happens next.
The second book in this series and I cannot wait to get and read the third.
I love historical fiction but am really enjoying reading something as old as the 1700s, I also love how these books are written. The descriptions of London give you a real vivid picture of what it would have looked and smelt like and how cut throat it was.
The stories of Thomas Hawkins keep you on the edge of your seat at all times and although he is a rogue you just can’t help route for him, I really look forward to getting to the next book and seeing what happens next.
April 11, 2019
A very enjoyable gritty read. I do love thomas Hawkins as a character , misunderstood but always manages to be safe in the end.
This book I feel describes how hard and gritty life was in the marshalseq area and especially imprisonment in Newgate prison .
I like Antonia Hodgson’s writing immensely , she always writes a story that holds my attention , and I can feel that she has researched well in advance if writing the book.
This book I feel describes how hard and gritty life was in the marshalseq area and especially imprisonment in Newgate prison .
I like Antonia Hodgson’s writing immensely , she always writes a story that holds my attention , and I can feel that she has researched well in advance if writing the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2021
I re-read the previous Thomas Hawkins novel immediately before this and was glad that I had done so as it is very much a sequel, rather than simply another novel featuring the same character.
The Hogarthian depiction of London broadens out from the previous novel's focus on the Marshalsea and the characterisation is convincing and vivid. It's a rolllicking good plot with a satifsfying conclusion. Having now read the third novel in the sequence, I think this one is the best of the three.
The Hogarthian depiction of London broadens out from the previous novel's focus on the Marshalsea and the characterisation is convincing and vivid. It's a rolllicking good plot with a satifsfying conclusion. Having now read the third novel in the sequence, I think this one is the best of the three.
January 3, 2022
Wonderful second book in this Georgian Mystery series. I had to stay up until 3am as needed to know how it ended. If you loved the books by the Queen of Georgian Thrillers , Deryn Lake, then these are the books for you? Loved it!
February 16, 2022
⭐️ 4.5 stars ⭐️
August 13, 2020
Enjoyable romp of a sequel to The Devil in the Marshalsea.
December 11, 2020
Another fantastically entertaining period crime novel from Antonia Hodgson. Athough the mystery is rather less complex than that in its predecessor 'The Devil in the Marshalsea', it is told with great brio. Top notch pacing, characterisation and humour as well. A brilliant read.
April 28, 2023
Very fun book, although I have to say I enjoyed the first a bit more. Hodgson does a very good job of creating vivid characters with distinct personalities. She also paints a very striking picture of the setting. It's easy to visualize the different locations in the book and I was able to hear distinct voices from all of the characters. I enjoyed it very much, although I miss Samuel and some of the other characters from Marshalsea.
August 11, 2024
Loved this book from start to finish.the hero is such an unlikely hero who goes from disaster to disaster but somehow manages to scrape through but nearly always finding himself in deeper trouble than before. Absolutely brilliant, well researched writing ✍️
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