What do you think?
Rate this book
The Bishopsgate Ward Mysteries #2
Death of a Fugitive
Not yet published
Expected 13 May 26
This Ward, Cutler… it seethes, does it not?
1595, Bishopsgate Ward, London.
Matthew Cutler, constable for the parish of Spitalfields, prides himself on always being on the side of justice. So when a young man on the run, whose only ‘crime’ was protesting about high prices and corruption, hides out in Bishopsgate, not for the first time Cutler finds his duties as constable at odds with his gut feeling. He feels compelled to help him, and not just because his daughter Jane is smitten with the plucky lad…
Meanwhile there is trouble in Bishopsgate as fake coins keep turning up, convincing enough to fool many. Tensions rise and people are in fear of a brutal yet shadowy the ‘coiner’ Thomas Gunnell, who seems to have eyes everywhere. Cutler must once again fall back on his skills of disguise, and risk his own life to root out Gunnell’s gang before they bring chaos to Bishopsgate Ward – and danger to everything he holds dear.
1595, Bishopsgate Ward, London.
Matthew Cutler, constable for the parish of Spitalfields, prides himself on always being on the side of justice. So when a young man on the run, whose only ‘crime’ was protesting about high prices and corruption, hides out in Bishopsgate, not for the first time Cutler finds his duties as constable at odds with his gut feeling. He feels compelled to help him, and not just because his daughter Jane is smitten with the plucky lad…
Meanwhile there is trouble in Bishopsgate as fake coins keep turning up, convincing enough to fool many. Tensions rise and people are in fear of a brutal yet shadowy the ‘coiner’ Thomas Gunnell, who seems to have eyes everywhere. Cutler must once again fall back on his skills of disguise, and risk his own life to root out Gunnell’s gang before they bring chaos to Bishopsgate Ward – and danger to everything he holds dear.
279 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 13, 2026
1 person is currently reading
8 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Death of a Fugitive is one of those Tudor mysteries that slips you straight into the grit and bustle of London and lets you feel the tension rising in the very stones beneath your feet. John Pilkington returns to Bishopsgate Ward with a story that hums with unease, where justice is never as simple as the law would like it to be.
Matthew Cutler remains a wonderfully grounded lead—steady, principled, and quietly stubborn in all the ways that make him compelling. His instinct to protect a young protester on the run sets the whole novel thrumming with moral conflict, especially as his daughter Jane’s heart becomes entangled in the matter. Pilkington handles this thread with a light touch, letting the emotional stakes build naturally without ever tipping into melodrama.
What really shines here is the sense of place. Bishopsgate feels alive: crowded, suspicious, and simmering with fear as counterfeit coins circulate and whispers of the elusive Thomas Gunnell spread like smoke. The coiner’s presence is felt long before he steps onto the page, and that shadowy menace gives the novel a deliciously taut undercurrent. Watching Cutler slip back into disguise and risk everything to uncover the truth is as gripping as ever, and the danger feels real, immediate, and close enough to taste.
It’s a story of loyalty, conscience, and the quiet bravery of ordinary people trying to do right in a world that rarely rewards it. Atmospheric, engaging, and threaded with just the right amount of peril, this instalment proves once again why Pilkington’s Tudor mysteries are such a pleasure to sink into.
With thanks to John Pilkington, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Matthew Cutler remains a wonderfully grounded lead—steady, principled, and quietly stubborn in all the ways that make him compelling. His instinct to protect a young protester on the run sets the whole novel thrumming with moral conflict, especially as his daughter Jane’s heart becomes entangled in the matter. Pilkington handles this thread with a light touch, letting the emotional stakes build naturally without ever tipping into melodrama.
What really shines here is the sense of place. Bishopsgate feels alive: crowded, suspicious, and simmering with fear as counterfeit coins circulate and whispers of the elusive Thomas Gunnell spread like smoke. The coiner’s presence is felt long before he steps onto the page, and that shadowy menace gives the novel a deliciously taut undercurrent. Watching Cutler slip back into disguise and risk everything to uncover the truth is as gripping as ever, and the danger feels real, immediate, and close enough to taste.
It’s a story of loyalty, conscience, and the quiet bravery of ordinary people trying to do right in a world that rarely rewards it. Atmospheric, engaging, and threaded with just the right amount of peril, this instalment proves once again why Pilkington’s Tudor mysteries are such a pleasure to sink into.
With thanks to John Pilkington, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This second book of the Bishopgate Ward murder mysteries is set in the year 1595.
Constable Matthew Cutler has recently returned from Canterbury after attending the funeral of his father. He is informed that he will be needed to attend a hanging the next day, there have been food riots after two years of bad harvests, and the resultant food shortages have greatly displeased Queen Elizabeth, so three young men will die as a warning to others.
Matthew is approached by the landlord of the White Hart, counterfeit coins have been passed in his establishment, all carefully treated and shaped to look like silver, but they are mainly pewter. When more are discovered, Matthew wonders if a gang of coiners are working in this ward.
When his father- in- law is paid for his honest work in fake coins, that makes it personal. Matthew and his trusted fellow constables make it their business to find the responsible parties.
Their search leads them to a startling discovery and a betrayal of a personal friendship for Matthew. There are deaths to be sure, and a kindly subterfuge that may have implications for his family in affairs of the heart.
These harsh and cruel times are vividly described, life was cheap and punishments were severe. Justice was sometimes metered out informally by aggrieved citizens.
A slow start, but then it became full of action, with a skilful blend of historical facts and fiction, and genuine characters and backstories. I enjoyed this very much and rated this as a four star read.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Boldwood Books for my advance copy, freely given in return for my honest review.
Constable Matthew Cutler has recently returned from Canterbury after attending the funeral of his father. He is informed that he will be needed to attend a hanging the next day, there have been food riots after two years of bad harvests, and the resultant food shortages have greatly displeased Queen Elizabeth, so three young men will die as a warning to others.
Matthew is approached by the landlord of the White Hart, counterfeit coins have been passed in his establishment, all carefully treated and shaped to look like silver, but they are mainly pewter. When more are discovered, Matthew wonders if a gang of coiners are working in this ward.
When his father- in- law is paid for his honest work in fake coins, that makes it personal. Matthew and his trusted fellow constables make it their business to find the responsible parties.
Their search leads them to a startling discovery and a betrayal of a personal friendship for Matthew. There are deaths to be sure, and a kindly subterfuge that may have implications for his family in affairs of the heart.
These harsh and cruel times are vividly described, life was cheap and punishments were severe. Justice was sometimes metered out informally by aggrieved citizens.
A slow start, but then it became full of action, with a skilful blend of historical facts and fiction, and genuine characters and backstories. I enjoyed this very much and rated this as a four star read.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Boldwood Books for my advance copy, freely given in return for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Set in 1595 in the final years of Elizabeth I’s reign, this is the second in the series featuring Matthew Cutler, constable of the parish of Bishopsgate.
The period setting in this series is excellent. Life is hard for most people and poor harvests have led to riots. Elizabeth’s government is far more concerned with capturing ring leaders of the riots rather than looking into the spate of counterfeit coins which are mysteriously appearing. As in the first book, Matthew is torn between doing what he knows is right and obeying the instructions of those higher up.
I love Matthew’s character and enjoyed seeing him get another opportunity in this book to use his theatrical skills to try and solve the problems that are plaguing his neighbourhood. The plot about the counterfeit coins was well thought out and involved the death and violence that were all too common in the poorer parts of Tudor England. I enjoyed seeing how Matthew solved his problems even though if it meant that there was no happy ending for one of the characters.
This was another intriguing mystery by John Pilkington and I am very grateful to Net Galley and the publishers, Boldwood Books, for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The period setting in this series is excellent. Life is hard for most people and poor harvests have led to riots. Elizabeth’s government is far more concerned with capturing ring leaders of the riots rather than looking into the spate of counterfeit coins which are mysteriously appearing. As in the first book, Matthew is torn between doing what he knows is right and obeying the instructions of those higher up.
I love Matthew’s character and enjoyed seeing him get another opportunity in this book to use his theatrical skills to try and solve the problems that are plaguing his neighbourhood. The plot about the counterfeit coins was well thought out and involved the death and violence that were all too common in the poorer parts of Tudor England. I enjoyed seeing how Matthew solved his problems even though if it meant that there was no happy ending for one of the characters.
This was another intriguing mystery by John Pilkington and I am very grateful to Net Galley and the publishers, Boldwood Books, for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The second in this likeable cosy historical series featuring Constable Matthew Cutler. Set in London during the reign of Elizabeth I, Matthew must uncover a gang who are spreading fake coins throughout the Bishopsgate area.
Matthew is an engaging character, backed up by a well-developed group of family and friends. The historical setting is well-written and vividly brought to life. I found the pace of the first half of the book to be a bit too slow for my liking but the second half was more energetic as the plot unfolded.
An entertaining read.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.
Matthew is an engaging character, backed up by a well-developed group of family and friends. The historical setting is well-written and vividly brought to life. I found the pace of the first half of the book to be a bit too slow for my liking but the second half was more energetic as the plot unfolded.
An entertaining read.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Enjoyed this. Cutler, Townley and Farrant are 3 constables in Bishopsgate. Cutler and Farrant don't always see eye to eye with Farrant having a reputation for not doing much, but enjoying gore and hangings. The constables are searching for coiners who have been using fake coins in the local area, and a local family are suspected. Alongside that, they are also looking for fugitive prentices who have been leading an uprising. Cutler is also dealing with changes in his daughter who is refusing to confide in him. It is very evocative of the period and the work these constables had to do, supported by others in the community.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoyed this mystery novel involving Cutler! Book 1 of the series was good, but this one was even better. The plot about coining was gripping indeed with much action and remained so up to the conclusion. What I mostly loved though, are the characters. Rather original, extremely likeable as well as relatable, they all were convincing and actually make the series special (for me!). A very promising series!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Set in 1595, a year after the first book, we continue to follow Matthew Cutler as he parish constables his way around Spitalfields and wider parts of London. I missed Margaret in this story, but otherwise enjoyed the twists and turns and general Tudor slice-of-life telling.
One note -- I do feel like the current blurb covers rather too much of the plot, so I'd recommend if you enjoyed the first one, to go into this as cold as possible and enjoy it from there.
Rating: 15/20
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
One note -- I do feel like the current blurb covers rather too much of the plot, so I'd recommend if you enjoyed the first one, to go into this as cold as possible and enjoy it from there.
Rating: 15/20
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews