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Tom Pascoe #4
Cuckold Point
October, 1799. A century is coming to an end, but river policeman Tom Pascoe's work is never done. A new case in London's Docks holds danger not just for Tom but for the nation.
Sailing master Robert Cox cannot pay his gambling debts. But he has information about a ship which has arrived in British waters carrying a precious cargo. Selling that information to one of London's most feared men might be Robert Cox's salvation - or his damnation.
Elsewhere in the warren of streets and waterways, Tom and his assistant Sam Hart are tipped off about a robbery. Their inquiries take them to London's secretive Jewish community, where a dealer admits to being told that a quantity of silk is about to come on the market.
When Robert Cox goes missing and powerful men from London's underworld and beyond begin to hunt for the silk, Tom finds himself investigating not just a crime but a conspiracy that will threaten his life, his family and his country.
Sailing master Robert Cox cannot pay his gambling debts. But he has information about a ship which has arrived in British waters carrying a precious cargo. Selling that information to one of London's most feared men might be Robert Cox's salvation - or his damnation.
Elsewhere in the warren of streets and waterways, Tom and his assistant Sam Hart are tipped off about a robbery. Their inquiries take them to London's secretive Jewish community, where a dealer admits to being told that a quantity of silk is about to come on the market.
When Robert Cox goes missing and powerful men from London's underworld and beyond begin to hunt for the silk, Tom finds himself investigating not just a crime but a conspiracy that will threaten his life, his family and his country.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
392 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
4 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Easter
9 books13 followersThe son of a colonial police officer, Patrick was born in Cyprus at the tail end of 1943 and lived there until, at the age of 12, when he was sent ‘home’ to school in England.
At 19 Patrick joined the Metropolitan Police in London and three years later went onto the river.
On leaving the police service in 1994, Patrick became a journalist chasing deadlines for technical magazines and articles in national newspapers. He still writes, full time, but now concentrates on his novels. He lives in Sussex with his wife and three dogs, working out of a Victorian pump-house, complete with its own well and pumping machinery, in the grounds of his home.
At 19 Patrick joined the Metropolitan Police in London and three years later went onto the river.
On leaving the police service in 1994, Patrick became a journalist chasing deadlines for technical magazines and articles in national newspapers. He still writes, full time, but now concentrates on his novels. He lives in Sussex with his wife and three dogs, working out of a Victorian pump-house, complete with its own well and pumping machinery, in the grounds of his home.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 29, 2018
This great book by Patrick Easter is the 4th volume of the wonderful Tom Pascoe series.
The book has an excellent piece of historical details about this period, and it also mentions in a very informative way the occurring ongoing tribulations between England and France as well as England and the USA.
It's another great historical novel which tells the tale of the workings of the Thames marine police which was founded by Mr John Harriot and Patrick Colquhoun on 2 July 1798, and especially Mr John Harriot figures again in this delightful tale.
The storytelling is absolutely fantastic, for it takes the reader on and along the Thames with all it's dangers and death.
The story begins at the end of the 18th Century, in October AD 1799 to be precise, and new dangers are lurking for Tom Pascoe and the nation.
The main ingredient of the book is a shipment of silk, what it will do and what kinds of people it will attract when it comes on the market within the secretive Jewish community.
What follows is a fabulous historical crime story in which Tom Pascoe and his faithful assistant Sam Hart find themselves not just with a crime but most of all within a conspiracy that will threaten Tom's life, his family and his country.
Recommended, for this is "A Grand and Thrilling Tale" about the dealings and workings of the Thames Marine Police!
The book has an excellent piece of historical details about this period, and it also mentions in a very informative way the occurring ongoing tribulations between England and France as well as England and the USA.
It's another great historical novel which tells the tale of the workings of the Thames marine police which was founded by Mr John Harriot and Patrick Colquhoun on 2 July 1798, and especially Mr John Harriot figures again in this delightful tale.
The storytelling is absolutely fantastic, for it takes the reader on and along the Thames with all it's dangers and death.
The story begins at the end of the 18th Century, in October AD 1799 to be precise, and new dangers are lurking for Tom Pascoe and the nation.
The main ingredient of the book is a shipment of silk, what it will do and what kinds of people it will attract when it comes on the market within the secretive Jewish community.
What follows is a fabulous historical crime story in which Tom Pascoe and his faithful assistant Sam Hart find themselves not just with a crime but most of all within a conspiracy that will threaten Tom's life, his family and his country.
Recommended, for this is "A Grand and Thrilling Tale" about the dealings and workings of the Thames Marine Police!
October 14, 2018
Finished reading this book yesterday. On one hand, it introduces some new elements in terms of Pascoe's half-brother and delving more into the political possibilities of the Napoleonic Wars-era setting, but at the same time, things threaten to get a bit repetitive. The thieves and smugglers could probably be cut and pasted from any previous book in the series.
Although the ending... I'm simultaneously annoyed that it was so abrupt and then eager to know exactly what happened. Which I suppose is the whole point. And I liked that Sam got a bit more to do in this book, with a potential romantic development. Of course there are obstacles, but it will be interesting to see if this is explored any further in future books.
A decent read overall and there's enough to make me want to stick with the series.
Although the ending... I'm simultaneously annoyed that it was so abrupt and then eager to know exactly what happened. Which I suppose is the whole point. And I liked that Sam got a bit more to do in this book, with a potential romantic development. Of course there are obstacles, but it will be interesting to see if this is explored any further in future books.
A decent read overall and there's enough to make me want to stick with the series.
November 28, 2017
19 th century thriller.
This series just keeps getting better,tom pascoe of London's river police is once again in the thick of it tracking down a stolen cargo of silk on London's river Thames.This is a book that kept me up late on a couple of nights,based on a real case and set against England's struggle with France and america during the 19century.This book has been out for quite awhile now and I sincerely hope there are more to come
This series just keeps getting better,tom pascoe of London's river police is once again in the thick of it tracking down a stolen cargo of silk on London's river Thames.This is a book that kept me up late on a couple of nights,based on a real case and set against England's struggle with France and america during the 19century.This book has been out for quite awhile now and I sincerely hope there are more to come
April 11, 2023
I can see why this series ended. Too much technical maritime jargon and every character has a miserable violent life. Overly depressing.
November 24, 2015
This series is getting better with each book. In the first book, the characters were a bit one-dimensional, and the plot a bit predictable, but by this volume the author seems to have got into his stride.
The books are set in London, at the end of the eighteenth century. The main character is Tom Pascoe, an ex-Naval Officer, now employed by the newly established river police. In this volume, he is a much more rounded character than in the earlier ones. Granted, you have the benefit of getting to know someone in a series, rather than a single novel, but here is seems more self-aware, more attuned to how his actions affect others. And there are some interesting supporting characters as well, from both sides of the law. A few new characters appear, and the author does well to keep you guessing as to whether each may be important, or disappear as quickly as they appear.
I won't go into the plot, but it revolves around a shipment of raw silk, and involves crime, diplomacy, espionage, and there are one or two twists along the way. The atmosphere of the time and place are handled well, and the attention to detail admirable.
I am looking forward to the next in the series. If you are interested in historical fiction, then this series is definitely worth a try, particularly for its rather unusual setting in place and time.
The books are set in London, at the end of the eighteenth century. The main character is Tom Pascoe, an ex-Naval Officer, now employed by the newly established river police. In this volume, he is a much more rounded character than in the earlier ones. Granted, you have the benefit of getting to know someone in a series, rather than a single novel, but here is seems more self-aware, more attuned to how his actions affect others. And there are some interesting supporting characters as well, from both sides of the law. A few new characters appear, and the author does well to keep you guessing as to whether each may be important, or disappear as quickly as they appear.
I won't go into the plot, but it revolves around a shipment of raw silk, and involves crime, diplomacy, espionage, and there are one or two twists along the way. The atmosphere of the time and place are handled well, and the attention to detail admirable.
I am looking forward to the next in the series. If you are interested in historical fiction, then this series is definitely worth a try, particularly for its rather unusual setting in place and time.
December 21, 2015
You may wonder why I keep reading this series when I only give the books 3 stars. I can only explain it by an almost obsessive interest in history, especially in areas I'm not that familiar with. From the creaking of the boat in the movie Master and Commander, I seem to have become particularly interested in the history of seafaring Britain, for some weird reason. I read all Patrick O'Brien's and CS Forrester's series and lapped them up.
One feature of Easter's books I do enjoy is learning the vocabulary of the time eg lumper (man who loaded or unloaded boats), the use of the term lading or unlading a boat, rather than loading as we would now say and cully to refer to a man.
These books are not great literature, but do provide an interesting insight into the late 18th and early 19th century dock life in Britain, complete with spies and all!
One feature of Easter's books I do enjoy is learning the vocabulary of the time eg lumper (man who loaded or unloaded boats), the use of the term lading or unlading a boat, rather than loading as we would now say and cully to refer to a man.
These books are not great literature, but do provide an interesting insight into the late 18th and early 19th century dock life in Britain, complete with spies and all!
November 1, 2015
First book have I read in the series. It took me about half way through the book until I got really involved with the story. Well put together story and I love the ending. I now need to read the previous books to find out more about the characters! There is a glossary at the back which is handy to read first!
August 17, 2015
Didn't think this one flowed as well as the previous ones - lots of points where someone half noticed a clue but ignored it..... Still enjoying the characters and setting.
February 20, 2016
Too political to be enjoy
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews