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DI Tom Harper #3
Skin Like Silver
The third intriguing historical mystery to feature Detective Inspector Tom Harper
Leeds, England. October, 1891. An unclaimed parcel at the Central Post Office is discovered to contain the decomposing body of a baby boy. It’s a gruesome case for DI Tom Harper. Then a fire during the night destroys half the railway station. The next day a woman’s body is found in the rubble. But Catherine Carr didn’t die in the she’d been stabbed to death – and Harper has to find her killer.
The estranged wife of a wealthy industrialist, Catherine had been involved with the Leeds Suffragist Society, demanding votes for women, the same organization for which Harper’s wife Annabelle has just become a speaker. Were Catherine’s politics the cause of her death? Or is the husband she abandoned behind it? But when her brother escapes from the asylum and steals a shotgun, Harper has to race to find the answers.
Leeds, England. October, 1891. An unclaimed parcel at the Central Post Office is discovered to contain the decomposing body of a baby boy. It’s a gruesome case for DI Tom Harper. Then a fire during the night destroys half the railway station. The next day a woman’s body is found in the rubble. But Catherine Carr didn’t die in the she’d been stabbed to death – and Harper has to find her killer.
The estranged wife of a wealthy industrialist, Catherine had been involved with the Leeds Suffragist Society, demanding votes for women, the same organization for which Harper’s wife Annabelle has just become a speaker. Were Catherine’s politics the cause of her death? Or is the husband she abandoned behind it? But when her brother escapes from the asylum and steals a shotgun, Harper has to race to find the answers.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2016
10 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
Chris Nickson
69 books183 followersI'm a novelist and music journalist, the author of many books set between the 1730s and 1950s in Leeds, as well as others in medieval Chesterfield and 1980s Seattle.
Above all, though, its Leeds I love, the people, the sense of the place changing with time. Yes, I write mysteries, but ultmiateoly they're books about people and their relationships, and the crime becomes a moral framework for the story.
Above all, though, its Leeds I love, the people, the sense of the place changing with time. Yes, I write mysteries, but ultmiateoly they're books about people and their relationships, and the crime becomes a moral framework for the story.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
January 26, 2021
"But it was the rest of her that made them draw in their breath. Patches of metal across her body glinted in the light. Skin like silver: the thought came into his head."
A scorching fire lighting up the October midnight sky in Leeds can only bring about disaster. When daylight breaks the next morning, the shifting about in the rubble reveals the body of a young woman. Burned almost beyond recognition, a label in her dress reveals her identity. A jagged tear in the back of that same dress speaks of a fatal knife wound......
Detective Inspector Tom Hardy shakes his head slowly as it seems to be another murder for the books here in 1891. When the victim's identity is revealed to be the wife of a wealthy industrialist, Tom is even more perplexed as to why someone would murder this woman. Was the fire a matter of circumstance or was this the effort of a cover-up?
Catherine Carr was an active member of the Leeds Suffragist Society. Perhaps one of "the little ladies" must have tapped a toe too far outside the lines. Would death be a fitting end to such "outlandish" behavior? For that matter, Hardy's own wife, Annabelle, had recently become a staunch speaker for the organization. Could she be in danger, too?
When Tom returns to his office, a suspicious unclaimed box has been sent from the local post office and it's sitting on his desk. The contents are most certainly undeliverable. Tom lets out a gasp upon lifting the lid. Inside is the decomposing body of a baby boy. There's not a stitch of evidence to link this unfortunate child to anyone at present. Tom slumps in his chair in great dismay. These recent cases will absolutely try his soul.
Chris Nickson presents the third in the DI Tom Harper series. Once again, these books can be read as standalones. The cleverness of Nickson is evident in his precise research of police cases and historical events that actually took place in Leeds in 1891. (See the Author's Notes at the end of each book.) While paralleling these cases, Nickson adds his own layers of intrigue to the mix. The result is a series packed with police procedurals of the era and characters who reflect the innocent and the not so innocent.
I don't think that Chris Nickson can write fast enough. A very satisfying series that just keeps getting better and better. I'm gazing down the road for the next one.
A scorching fire lighting up the October midnight sky in Leeds can only bring about disaster. When daylight breaks the next morning, the shifting about in the rubble reveals the body of a young woman. Burned almost beyond recognition, a label in her dress reveals her identity. A jagged tear in the back of that same dress speaks of a fatal knife wound......
Detective Inspector Tom Hardy shakes his head slowly as it seems to be another murder for the books here in 1891. When the victim's identity is revealed to be the wife of a wealthy industrialist, Tom is even more perplexed as to why someone would murder this woman. Was the fire a matter of circumstance or was this the effort of a cover-up?
Catherine Carr was an active member of the Leeds Suffragist Society. Perhaps one of "the little ladies" must have tapped a toe too far outside the lines. Would death be a fitting end to such "outlandish" behavior? For that matter, Hardy's own wife, Annabelle, had recently become a staunch speaker for the organization. Could she be in danger, too?
When Tom returns to his office, a suspicious unclaimed box has been sent from the local post office and it's sitting on his desk. The contents are most certainly undeliverable. Tom lets out a gasp upon lifting the lid. Inside is the decomposing body of a baby boy. There's not a stitch of evidence to link this unfortunate child to anyone at present. Tom slumps in his chair in great dismay. These recent cases will absolutely try his soul.
Chris Nickson presents the third in the DI Tom Harper series. Once again, these books can be read as standalones. The cleverness of Nickson is evident in his precise research of police cases and historical events that actually took place in Leeds in 1891. (See the Author's Notes at the end of each book.) While paralleling these cases, Nickson adds his own layers of intrigue to the mix. The result is a series packed with police procedurals of the era and characters who reflect the innocent and the not so innocent.
I don't think that Chris Nickson can write fast enough. A very satisfying series that just keeps getting better and better. I'm gazing down the road for the next one.
February 6, 2017
The third installment of the Tom Harper detective novels and probably my favourite of the four released so far.
I'm very biased towards these books. I live and grew up in the city of Leeds where the books are set and I've done quite a bit of research on the time period. So there are plus points before we even start. However I've grown to love the characters so much. Each one is lovingly described with their own personalities. In some books it's hard to differentiate between characters but I never find that a problem in this series.
The same goes for the city of Leeds, a character in the book itself. It's so easy to picture the Victorian era, made a little bit more special when you know exactly where most of the streets are.
In Skin Like Silver my favourite of these characters really starts to shine with yet another interest if mine - the Suffragette movement as she starts to get involved in the meetings and talks of the time. I believe in the upcoming 5th book due out soon she has even more to say on this subject. She's feisty, speaks her mind and is (wo)man-made successful rather than a society wife that believes in women's rights as a hobby. Annabel is based on a real life relative of the author and I think I would have really liked to have met her.
But the murder and crimes? A baby in a box sent through the post office. That broke my heart. The fact the people lived in such desperate times that that is the only way they thought the baby could get a decent burial. And again based on a true life story. Victorian era was a magical time of science and wonder but the abject poverty was astounding (my own family included at that time hence the research for myself).
The main murder is of a woman that has finally found herself with the Suffragette movement after escaping domestic violence. A subject close to my heart for many reasons. Mixed in with the great fire of Leeds train station and it's a tale of loss in so many ways - the woman's life, the loss of dignity for mill workers prostituting themselves for a few pennies more, the struggle of working with a one time mate who's friendship was lost.
I loved this book. If you haven't tried the series then I highly recommend it
I'm very biased towards these books. I live and grew up in the city of Leeds where the books are set and I've done quite a bit of research on the time period. So there are plus points before we even start. However I've grown to love the characters so much. Each one is lovingly described with their own personalities. In some books it's hard to differentiate between characters but I never find that a problem in this series.
The same goes for the city of Leeds, a character in the book itself. It's so easy to picture the Victorian era, made a little bit more special when you know exactly where most of the streets are.
In Skin Like Silver my favourite of these characters really starts to shine with yet another interest if mine - the Suffragette movement as she starts to get involved in the meetings and talks of the time. I believe in the upcoming 5th book due out soon she has even more to say on this subject. She's feisty, speaks her mind and is (wo)man-made successful rather than a society wife that believes in women's rights as a hobby. Annabel is based on a real life relative of the author and I think I would have really liked to have met her.
But the murder and crimes? A baby in a box sent through the post office. That broke my heart. The fact the people lived in such desperate times that that is the only way they thought the baby could get a decent burial. And again based on a true life story. Victorian era was a magical time of science and wonder but the abject poverty was astounding (my own family included at that time hence the research for myself).
The main murder is of a woman that has finally found herself with the Suffragette movement after escaping domestic violence. A subject close to my heart for many reasons. Mixed in with the great fire of Leeds train station and it's a tale of loss in so many ways - the woman's life, the loss of dignity for mill workers prostituting themselves for a few pennies more, the struggle of working with a one time mate who's friendship was lost.
I loved this book. If you haven't tried the series then I highly recommend it
September 12, 2023
Another excellent read from Chris Nickson. A baby turns up wrapped in a parcel -hunt the mum to find out why. Then a fire at the railway station - a body found in the wreckage, covered by molten steel, caused by the fire? Who is she? This leads our hero Inspector Harper into a complicated case, which takes us from the wealthy suburbs of Leeds, to the poorer parts of Leeds with its housing off small courtyards. A "madman" on the loose seeking vengeance, adds another thread to this intricate story. The new modern Leeds adds a wonderful background. And a happy ending for Inspector Harper and his wife.
January 3, 2016
Skin Like Silver by Chris Nickson Skin Like Silver: A Tom Harper Victorian Police Procedural (DI Tom Harper #3)
by Chris Nickson
Leeds, England. October, 1891. An unclaimed parcel at the Central Post Office is discovered to contain the decomposing body of a baby boy. It s a gruesome case for DI Tom Harper. Then a fire during the night destroys half the railway station. The next day a woman s body is found in the rubble. But Catherine Carr didn t die in the blaze: she d been stabbed to death and Harper has to find her killer.The estranged wife of a wealthy industrialist, Catherine had been involved with the Leeds Suffragist Society, demanding votes for women, the same organization for which Harper s wife Annabelle has just become a speaker. Were Catherine s politics the cause of her death? Or is the husband she abandoned behind it? But when her brother escapes from the asylum and steals a shotgun, Harper has to race to find the answers.
My Review:
Skin Like Silver is a fantastic murder mystery. I love the history and detail Nickson creates to make his story more real and authentic feeling. It adds a lot of extra to the story which some people might find slows the story down but I actually enjoyed it this time. I love the writing and even though I haven't read previous installments to the series I didn't feel it was needed so I assume the stories aren't overly connected or the author has done enough to allow new readers to follow it without needing to read the previous books to understand it. Skin Like Silver is a great read.
My Rating:
5 Stars
Reviewed By: Krissy's Bookshelf Reviewshttp://kkmalott.booklikes.com/Note: I received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review from Severn House
by Chris Nickson
Leeds, England. October, 1891. An unclaimed parcel at the Central Post Office is discovered to contain the decomposing body of a baby boy. It s a gruesome case for DI Tom Harper. Then a fire during the night destroys half the railway station. The next day a woman s body is found in the rubble. But Catherine Carr didn t die in the blaze: she d been stabbed to death and Harper has to find her killer.The estranged wife of a wealthy industrialist, Catherine had been involved with the Leeds Suffragist Society, demanding votes for women, the same organization for which Harper s wife Annabelle has just become a speaker. Were Catherine s politics the cause of her death? Or is the husband she abandoned behind it? But when her brother escapes from the asylum and steals a shotgun, Harper has to race to find the answers.
My Review:
Skin Like Silver is a fantastic murder mystery. I love the history and detail Nickson creates to make his story more real and authentic feeling. It adds a lot of extra to the story which some people might find slows the story down but I actually enjoyed it this time. I love the writing and even though I haven't read previous installments to the series I didn't feel it was needed so I assume the stories aren't overly connected or the author has done enough to allow new readers to follow it without needing to read the previous books to understand it. Skin Like Silver is a great read.
My Rating:
5 Stars
Reviewed By: Krissy's Bookshelf Reviewshttp://kkmalott.booklikes.com/Note: I received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review from Severn House
November 12, 2015
"Leeds, England. October, 1891. A fire during the night destroys half the railway station. The next day a woman's s body is found in the rubble."
An intricately complex mystery that is also completely intriguing and engrossing. Chris Nickson's characters have so much depth and presence that they seem to be alive.
Tom Harper's world was gritty, dangerous and rife with political intrigue. More than the usual cast of suspects commit an astonishing amount of murders. Catherine Carr did not die in the fire but who killed her and why?
Harper's wife Annabelle belonged to the same Suffragist Society as the murdered Catherine,but were the negative sexist politics to blame? Was the killer in the lineup of haters who jeered the women as they went into the lecture hall?
Catherine's brother escapes from the insane asylum and begins a reign of terror in Leeds. He has sympathetic supporters at first until the violence gets out of hand.
Sgt. Billy Reed is recruited from the Fire Brigade because Catherine's brother is also an Afghanistan veteran trained in tracking and shooting. The Sergeant, now with a stable homelife, becomes torn between returning to the police force or returning to an investigator job with the Fire Brigade.
The major historical facts were accurate, as always, including a fire at the New Station in Leeds at that same year.A coroner's case involving a dead baby also was factual,as was the first electric tram in Leeds.
I love the period detail as well as the historical facts that the crime aspects of these stories are intertwine with. This 3rd Victorian Police Procedural is an extremely fine work and I heartily recommend it to all who appreciate historical mysteries.
An intricately complex mystery that is also completely intriguing and engrossing. Chris Nickson's characters have so much depth and presence that they seem to be alive.
Tom Harper's world was gritty, dangerous and rife with political intrigue. More than the usual cast of suspects commit an astonishing amount of murders. Catherine Carr did not die in the fire but who killed her and why?
Harper's wife Annabelle belonged to the same Suffragist Society as the murdered Catherine,but were the negative sexist politics to blame? Was the killer in the lineup of haters who jeered the women as they went into the lecture hall?
Catherine's brother escapes from the insane asylum and begins a reign of terror in Leeds. He has sympathetic supporters at first until the violence gets out of hand.
Sgt. Billy Reed is recruited from the Fire Brigade because Catherine's brother is also an Afghanistan veteran trained in tracking and shooting. The Sergeant, now with a stable homelife, becomes torn between returning to the police force or returning to an investigator job with the Fire Brigade.
The major historical facts were accurate, as always, including a fire at the New Station in Leeds at that same year.A coroner's case involving a dead baby also was factual,as was the first electric tram in Leeds.
I love the period detail as well as the historical facts that the crime aspects of these stories are intertwine with. This 3rd Victorian Police Procedural is an extremely fine work and I heartily recommend it to all who appreciate historical mysteries.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2016
Firstly I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House for an advance copy of Skin Like Silver which is a murder investigation set in 1891. There is a large fire at New Station which burns almost out of control. Inspector Tom Harper is sent to make sure it is not arson and when he is there a woman's body is discovered. The pathologist finds a knife wound in her back and the hunt is on to first identify her and then find her killer. At the same time Harper is searching for the mother of a still born child, parcelled up and sent to a fake address and if this not enough the dead woman's brother escapes from the asylum and goes on a murderous rampage, sparking a massive manhunt.
I have only recently started reading historical crime fiction on a regular basis so I am not familiar with Mr Nickson or his writing and was not aware that Skin Like Silver is actually the third novel in the series. I don't feel I have missed anything, apart from a couple of good reads probably, by coming in at this point as it stands very well on its own. I like the writing style which is very inviting and warm and draws you in immediately. The characters are well drawn and pleasant. Tom Harper is the archetypal copper - hard working, honest, dedicated and fair. He has hearing problems and tries to hide it as he thinks it will cost him his job but everyone knows. His wife Annabelle is a suffragette which allows Mr Nickson to expound on inequality, for both women and the poor, and highlight the issues of the day in an informative but non didactic way, interesting stuff. All the characters are well drawn and rounded and it is a pleasure to read a plot driven novel like this which also has good characterisation.
The plot is intricate without being overly complex - there are plenty of twists but it is easy to keep up - so it held my attention and kept me turning the pages. By about half way through I had guessed the perpetrator but it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the read as I wasn't sure and I certainly didn't know why. My one minor criticism is the ending which seems rather rushed in comparison with the fairly leisurely pace of the rest of the novel and leaves a few unexplained loose ends. Otherwise I think Skin Like Silver is a good, interesting, well written novel and I don't hesitate to recommend it.
I have only recently started reading historical crime fiction on a regular basis so I am not familiar with Mr Nickson or his writing and was not aware that Skin Like Silver is actually the third novel in the series. I don't feel I have missed anything, apart from a couple of good reads probably, by coming in at this point as it stands very well on its own. I like the writing style which is very inviting and warm and draws you in immediately. The characters are well drawn and pleasant. Tom Harper is the archetypal copper - hard working, honest, dedicated and fair. He has hearing problems and tries to hide it as he thinks it will cost him his job but everyone knows. His wife Annabelle is a suffragette which allows Mr Nickson to expound on inequality, for both women and the poor, and highlight the issues of the day in an informative but non didactic way, interesting stuff. All the characters are well drawn and rounded and it is a pleasure to read a plot driven novel like this which also has good characterisation.
The plot is intricate without being overly complex - there are plenty of twists but it is easy to keep up - so it held my attention and kept me turning the pages. By about half way through I had guessed the perpetrator but it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the read as I wasn't sure and I certainly didn't know why. My one minor criticism is the ending which seems rather rushed in comparison with the fairly leisurely pace of the rest of the novel and leaves a few unexplained loose ends. Otherwise I think Skin Like Silver is a good, interesting, well written novel and I don't hesitate to recommend it.
January 7, 2016
This is the third book in the entertaining and well written series featuring Inspector Tom Harper, based in Victorian Leeds. Harper's hearing is getting worse though he struggles to conceal it from his colleagues - all of whom are aware of it anyway. In this dark and sinister story, a large fire breaks out in one of the Leeds stations and a fireman dies. When the wreckage is cleared the body of a woman is discovered, partly burned but also stabbed.
Gradually, with the help of former colleague and now fireman, Billy Reed, Harper pieces together a picture of the woman's life and death. The atmosphere of Victorian Leeds is brought vividly to life and I can picture the scenes as I read because I know the modern city which gives added interest to the story for me.
I like Harper as a character and his ambitious and hard working wife, Annabelle. The scenes involving the suffragists meetings and the sense of threat from the men who didn't want women to have the vote are very evocative and I really got a good idea of how much danger the women who campaigned for the vote were in.
If you enjoy historical crime novels then I can thoroughly recommend this series. It is well written and researched with likeable and interesting characters. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review.
Gradually, with the help of former colleague and now fireman, Billy Reed, Harper pieces together a picture of the woman's life and death. The atmosphere of Victorian Leeds is brought vividly to life and I can picture the scenes as I read because I know the modern city which gives added interest to the story for me.
I like Harper as a character and his ambitious and hard working wife, Annabelle. The scenes involving the suffragists meetings and the sense of threat from the men who didn't want women to have the vote are very evocative and I really got a good idea of how much danger the women who campaigned for the vote were in.
If you enjoy historical crime novels then I can thoroughly recommend this series. It is well written and researched with likeable and interesting characters. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review.
December 20, 2015
A well-crafted book with characters I could believe in and sympathise with.
The setting is superb. I absolutely was in Victorian Leeds with its sights, sounds and smells, its morals, its class and gender consciousness and its hungry appetite for change.
Well done, Chris Nickson. Skin Like Silver is a worthy follow on from Gods of Gold and Two Bronze Pennies. I am enjoying getting to know Inspector Tom Harper and Annabelle as they grow and mature. May there be many more books!
The setting is superb. I absolutely was in Victorian Leeds with its sights, sounds and smells, its morals, its class and gender consciousness and its hungry appetite for change.
Well done, Chris Nickson. Skin Like Silver is a worthy follow on from Gods of Gold and Two Bronze Pennies. I am enjoying getting to know Inspector Tom Harper and Annabelle as they grow and mature. May there be many more books!
November 15, 2017
Another good entry in this series featuring DI Tom Harper, set in Edwardian Leeds. A woman is found dead in the rubble after a fire causes the collapse of a building. But a cursory examination reveals that she didn't die in the fire, she had been stabbed and was dead prior. The woman was an active suffragette, fighting for women's right to vote, and had walked away from her husband some months prior for alleged cruelty. She lived a quiet life, and Harper can't tell if he should concentrate on her political enemies or on her husband, a wealthy gentleman with several business interests about town.
Sgt. Billy Reed has been working for the fire brigade and he and Harper meet again on the night of the fire, opening an old wound from their last case together. But when the dead woman's brother, an ex-soldier with mental health issues, escapes from the asylum, Harper requests Reed to work with him on the case, hoping that Billy's experience as a soldier will help in tracking down the dangerous man, whom they believe is going after the person he believes killed his sister.
Easy reading, nicely grounded in the historical time period, although somewhat predictable, I have enjoyed all of this author's historical mystery series, even when they aren't set in my favorite historical times.
Sgt. Billy Reed has been working for the fire brigade and he and Harper meet again on the night of the fire, opening an old wound from their last case together. But when the dead woman's brother, an ex-soldier with mental health issues, escapes from the asylum, Harper requests Reed to work with him on the case, hoping that Billy's experience as a soldier will help in tracking down the dangerous man, whom they believe is going after the person he believes killed his sister.
Easy reading, nicely grounded in the historical time period, although somewhat predictable, I have enjoyed all of this author's historical mystery series, even when they aren't set in my favorite historical times.
March 18, 2023
I've only been to the city of Leeds on one occasion and knew none of the locations which are an integral part of the book . This lessened my enjoyment of the story but it was still a reasonable read . Set in the 19th Century , it tells of a typical few weeks in the life of the local police of the time - murders , rapes , fires , violence and the forlorn but never-ending quest by women to obtain equality with men ; this time by being allowed to vote . The author has created a host of flawed characters , especially in the police force , but I didn't really take to them so probably will give the rest of the series a miss.
July 18, 2017
When a decomposing baby's body is found in a wrapped parcel, Detective Inspector Tom Harper is horrified. As he starts to investigate, a fire erupts at a railway station and a woman's body is found in the debris. It is soon determined that she was stabbed to death before the fire. Further investigation leads Tom to a suffragette society; the same organization of which his wife, Annabelle, is now a member and speaker. Tom finds himself pulled in many directions as he struggles to find the baby's mother, solve the murder of the suffragette and keep his wife from enduring the same fate.
June 13, 2018
This was much more enjoyable than "Two Bronze Pennies". The pacing of the plot lines was better and overall the different cases being pursued- the death of a baby, the murder of a suffragist and a man out for vengeance- were more involving.
The characters are also developing in interesting ways- Harper coping with his deafness, Annabelle joining the Women's Rights campaign and Reed progressing in the Fire Service.
The historical background is nicely done without being overly didactic.
I shall continue with the series
3.5 stars
The characters are also developing in interesting ways- Harper coping with his deafness, Annabelle joining the Women's Rights campaign and Reed progressing in the Fire Service.
The historical background is nicely done without being overly didactic.
I shall continue with the series
3.5 stars
June 7, 2021
This is the third book in the Tom Harper Mysteries and they are holding up great. This one has much more action in it and it helps keep the pacing enjoyable. I am especially impressed with the continuity of the characters' personal developments throughout the story. Each character is nearly a story in itself and this is a style I find I like very much. I am quite looking forward to the next one. Excellent series so far.
April 21, 2022
Enjoyed this look at late 1800s Leeds and the activities going on with the Suffragist Society. The main mystery is the death of a wealthy industrialist's wife, who has left him and joined the Society. The author provides excellent historical detail for the time and place.
March 16, 2024
Nickson has 3 strings dangling for the poor Inspector Harper. One gets tied up maybe 3/4 of the way through the book, but the other 2 have you turning pages like crazy. Even when you think the last one has been revealed, well, almost. I'm loving this series.
November 28, 2017
enjoyable
April 8, 2018
I enjoy this series. They work on more than one case at a time, which seems more realistic to me. I like the descriptions of Leeds. The pollution and effects on health without going into pages.
June 11, 2018
Good series
These books just keep getting better and better. I love the mystery and crime overlaid on the history of Leeds
These books just keep getting better and better. I love the mystery and crime overlaid on the history of Leeds
November 3, 2018
Fun read.. Tom Harper, his wife and the rest of the cast of characters are quite entertaining. Interesting historical look at the development of policing in 19th century Leeds, England.
June 13, 2019
Enjoyed this one. Good series so far.
August 12, 2024
Tragic yet brilliant
I had heard of the fire at Leeds station but this brought it to life. Love all the historical bits interwoven.
I had heard of the fire at Leeds station but this brought it to life. Love all the historical bits interwoven.
February 18, 2025
Love reading about old leeds
March 4, 2016
Last August, I reviewed the first novel in Chris Nickson’s Tom Harper Police Procedural Series: Two Bronze Pennies. I’m pleased to report that Harper is back (and in less than a year!) with another mystery to puzzle out.
This new novel, Skin Like Silver, has all the strengths of the first: Tom Harper, a detective inspector who is both vulnerable and fearless; Tom’s wife Annabelle, owner of a tavern and three bakeries, and now an increasingly active suffragette; interesting colleagues for Tom to work with; and mysteries firmly grounded in the politics of its time and place (1891 Leeds, England).
Skin Like Silver serves as an introduction to the challenges faced by women in the Victorian era: their vulnerability to abusive spouses, their dangerous fight to earn a political voice for themselves, and the indifference, even hostility, met by young women who must sell themselves to make a living and those who find themselves unwed and pregnant.
Harper finds himself facing three mysteries, which later expand into four. A stillborn baby has been mailed to a local post office. A suffragette has been murdered and her remains found among the ashes of a burned railway station. A part-time prostitute has been raped by a potential customer. And, once the sufragette’s brother learns of her killing—an unstable war veteran with scouting and sniping skills determined to revenge himself against everyone who has ever wronged him or his sister.
Using these many strands Nickson weaves a tight, logical, and engaging tale, making sure we see the personal sides of the novel’s central characters, as well as the professional. Tom worries a hearing loss will result in his removal from the police force. A colleague works uneasily with Tom, who once convinced him to provide false testimony in order to convict a known killer. Annabelle, a highly competent businesswoman, finds herself unnerved as she becomes an increasingly popular suffragette speaker.
Give yourself the treat of reading this novel and entering Harper’s world. Then, if you enjoy yourself—and I’m sure you will—give yourself the added treat of seeking out a copy of Two Bronze Pennies as well.
This new novel, Skin Like Silver, has all the strengths of the first: Tom Harper, a detective inspector who is both vulnerable and fearless; Tom’s wife Annabelle, owner of a tavern and three bakeries, and now an increasingly active suffragette; interesting colleagues for Tom to work with; and mysteries firmly grounded in the politics of its time and place (1891 Leeds, England).
Skin Like Silver serves as an introduction to the challenges faced by women in the Victorian era: their vulnerability to abusive spouses, their dangerous fight to earn a political voice for themselves, and the indifference, even hostility, met by young women who must sell themselves to make a living and those who find themselves unwed and pregnant.
Harper finds himself facing three mysteries, which later expand into four. A stillborn baby has been mailed to a local post office. A suffragette has been murdered and her remains found among the ashes of a burned railway station. A part-time prostitute has been raped by a potential customer. And, once the sufragette’s brother learns of her killing—an unstable war veteran with scouting and sniping skills determined to revenge himself against everyone who has ever wronged him or his sister.
Using these many strands Nickson weaves a tight, logical, and engaging tale, making sure we see the personal sides of the novel’s central characters, as well as the professional. Tom worries a hearing loss will result in his removal from the police force. A colleague works uneasily with Tom, who once convinced him to provide false testimony in order to convict a known killer. Annabelle, a highly competent businesswoman, finds herself unnerved as she becomes an increasingly popular suffragette speaker.
Give yourself the treat of reading this novel and entering Harper’s world. Then, if you enjoy yourself—and I’m sure you will—give yourself the added treat of seeking out a copy of Two Bronze Pennies as well.
February 25, 2016
A compelling and rewarding read.
It is 1891 and Detective Inspector Tom Harper receives news that a dead infant in a box has been delivered to the Central Post Office in Leeds. Thus starts a Tom Harper thriller which soon escalates into additional cases of murder and a rape.
A large explosion at Leeds New Station involves not only the Fire Brigade but also the police, as all available hands are needed to fight this violent fire. Sadly a fireman loses his life, but also a woman’s dead body is found in the wreckage. When Harper sees her, his first impression is ‘skin like silver’ as the girders have melted in the heat and the metal has dripped down on to her face. Later at the morgue it is confirmed that she has been stabbed in the back.
Tom is aided and abetted by his old colleague and once friend Billy Reed, who, since perjuring himself to support one of Tom’s cases, has been working for the Fire Brigade.
Meanwhile, a young lass from the mill who hasn’t had any work for the week and is trying to supplement her earnings by soliciting, is raped and slashed in the face.
Chris Nixon writes with knowledge and love of the area, having been born and bred in Leeds. He has clearly done lots of research and the consequence is that the reader is transported back to the late 19th Century. The book is vividly atmospheric and I could smell the smoke and smog, and could see the grime and grubbiness of industry and the general population’s fight against abject poverty.
Tom’s wife Annabelle is a member of the Suffragist movement and this is cleverly woven into the main strand of the novel so that we get an idea of the hatred and vilification that this movement engendered early in its inception.
A thoroughly enjoyable read and one to be recommended.
Sméagol
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
It is 1891 and Detective Inspector Tom Harper receives news that a dead infant in a box has been delivered to the Central Post Office in Leeds. Thus starts a Tom Harper thriller which soon escalates into additional cases of murder and a rape.
A large explosion at Leeds New Station involves not only the Fire Brigade but also the police, as all available hands are needed to fight this violent fire. Sadly a fireman loses his life, but also a woman’s dead body is found in the wreckage. When Harper sees her, his first impression is ‘skin like silver’ as the girders have melted in the heat and the metal has dripped down on to her face. Later at the morgue it is confirmed that she has been stabbed in the back.
Tom is aided and abetted by his old colleague and once friend Billy Reed, who, since perjuring himself to support one of Tom’s cases, has been working for the Fire Brigade.
Meanwhile, a young lass from the mill who hasn’t had any work for the week and is trying to supplement her earnings by soliciting, is raped and slashed in the face.
Chris Nixon writes with knowledge and love of the area, having been born and bred in Leeds. He has clearly done lots of research and the consequence is that the reader is transported back to the late 19th Century. The book is vividly atmospheric and I could smell the smoke and smog, and could see the grime and grubbiness of industry and the general population’s fight against abject poverty.
Tom’s wife Annabelle is a member of the Suffragist movement and this is cleverly woven into the main strand of the novel so that we get an idea of the hatred and vilification that this movement engendered early in its inception.
A thoroughly enjoyable read and one to be recommended.
Sméagol
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
March 3, 2016
A compelling and rewarding read.
It is 1891 and Detective Inspector Tom Harper receives news that a dead infant in a box has been delivered to the Central Post Office in Leeds. Thus starts a Tom Harper thriller which soon escalates into additional cases of murder and a rape.
A large explosion at Leeds New Station involves not only the Fire Brigade but also the police, as all available hands are needed to fight this violent fire. Sadly a fireman loses his life, but also a woman’s dead body is found in the wreckage. When Harper sees her, his first impression is ‘skin like silver’ as the girders have melted in the heat and the metal has dripped down on to her face. Later at the morgue it is confirmed that she has been stabbed in the back.
Tom is aided and abetted by his old colleague and once friend Billy Reed, who, since perjuring himself to support one of Tom’s cases, has been working for the Fire Brigade.
Meanwhile, a young lass from the mill who hasn’t had any work for the week and is trying to supplement her earnings by soliciting, is raped and slashed in the face.
Chris Nixon writes with knowledge and love of the area, having been born and bred in Leeds. He has clearly done lots of research and the consequence is that the reader is transported back to the late 19th Century. The book is vividly atmospheric and I could smell the smoke and smog, and could see the grime and grubbiness of industry and the general population’s fight against abject poverty.
Tom’s wife Annabelle is a member of the Suffragist movement and this is cleverly woven into the main strand of the novel so that we get an idea of the hatred and vilification that this movement engendered early in its inception.
A thoroughly enjoyable read and one to be recommended.
Sméagol
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
It is 1891 and Detective Inspector Tom Harper receives news that a dead infant in a box has been delivered to the Central Post Office in Leeds. Thus starts a Tom Harper thriller which soon escalates into additional cases of murder and a rape.
A large explosion at Leeds New Station involves not only the Fire Brigade but also the police, as all available hands are needed to fight this violent fire. Sadly a fireman loses his life, but also a woman’s dead body is found in the wreckage. When Harper sees her, his first impression is ‘skin like silver’ as the girders have melted in the heat and the metal has dripped down on to her face. Later at the morgue it is confirmed that she has been stabbed in the back.
Tom is aided and abetted by his old colleague and once friend Billy Reed, who, since perjuring himself to support one of Tom’s cases, has been working for the Fire Brigade.
Meanwhile, a young lass from the mill who hasn’t had any work for the week and is trying to supplement her earnings by soliciting, is raped and slashed in the face.
Chris Nixon writes with knowledge and love of the area, having been born and bred in Leeds. He has clearly done lots of research and the consequence is that the reader is transported back to the late 19th Century. The book is vividly atmospheric and I could smell the smoke and smog, and could see the grime and grubbiness of industry and the general population’s fight against abject poverty.
Tom’s wife Annabelle is a member of the Suffragist movement and this is cleverly woven into the main strand of the novel so that we get an idea of the hatred and vilification that this movement engendered early in its inception.
A thoroughly enjoyable read and one to be recommended.
Sméagol
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
January 18, 2016
Book number three in this Victorian era (1891) police procedural was a treat to read. The setting for this series is Leeds which makes a nice change from the more often used London in historical mysteries set in England. This was my first time reading anything written by Chris Nickson and this can very easily be considered a stand alone novel even though there is a relationship problem between two policemen from a previous case. Billy Reed had decided to transfer to the fire brigade but he and Detective Inspector Tom Harper are assigned to work together again after the terrible fire at the railway station. The body of a woman was found in the aftermath of the fire and it will take the skills of both men to identify her and find motive and killer.
Firmly entwined in the plotlines of this novel is the suffragist movement and the way the women were perceived by their friends, co-workers, and family members. There is a note from the author in the back of the book where he gives information concerning the historical events and people he worked into his story. The feel of the Victorian era is well developed so the overall feeling I came away with was one of satisfaction from reading the story. The police investigation worked along a logical path and information regarding the victim and the possible suspects was gathered by basic hard work through proper methods. None of the characters was so flamboyant or overpowering that they stole every minute of the story and I especially enjoyed that aspect of the construction of the novel. If you enjoy good characterization, good placement within a specific time period, and good police investigative processes, you will almost surely enjoy this novel.
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley and Severn House.
Firmly entwined in the plotlines of this novel is the suffragist movement and the way the women were perceived by their friends, co-workers, and family members. There is a note from the author in the back of the book where he gives information concerning the historical events and people he worked into his story. The feel of the Victorian era is well developed so the overall feeling I came away with was one of satisfaction from reading the story. The police investigation worked along a logical path and information regarding the victim and the possible suspects was gathered by basic hard work through proper methods. None of the characters was so flamboyant or overpowering that they stole every minute of the story and I especially enjoyed that aspect of the construction of the novel. If you enjoy good characterization, good placement within a specific time period, and good police investigative processes, you will almost surely enjoy this novel.
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley and Severn House.
November 14, 2015
I received this book from Net Galley in return for an honest review.
Ever since reading ‘Two Bronze Pennies’, the second in Chris Nickson’s Inspector Tom Harper series, I had been eagerly anticipating his next offering. I was not disappointed.
Set in Leeds in 1891, Harper is tasked to find the identity of a decomposing body of a baby found in a parcel at the post office. This is soon pushed to the back of his mind, however, with the news that there is a huge fire at the local railway station. Soon, the body of a woman, Suffragist Catherine Carr, is found in the debris. The knife wound, however, shows that she did not die in the fire and a murder enquiry is launched.
Catherine’s murder sets off a chain of events and soon the death count in Leeds is rising. With Harper worried for his wife’s safety due to her connections to the Leeds Suffragist Society, will he find the cuplrit before there is more bloodshed?
Again, Chris Nickson does a fantastic job in mixing fact with fiction, creating a vivid image of what life was like in Leeds during the nineteenth century. It was easy to imagine the stark contrast between the privileged Carr family and the unfortunates dwelling in the crowded back streets.
The ending sets up the next installment nicely; definitely worthy of a five-star rating!
Ever since reading ‘Two Bronze Pennies’, the second in Chris Nickson’s Inspector Tom Harper series, I had been eagerly anticipating his next offering. I was not disappointed.
Set in Leeds in 1891, Harper is tasked to find the identity of a decomposing body of a baby found in a parcel at the post office. This is soon pushed to the back of his mind, however, with the news that there is a huge fire at the local railway station. Soon, the body of a woman, Suffragist Catherine Carr, is found in the debris. The knife wound, however, shows that she did not die in the fire and a murder enquiry is launched.
Catherine’s murder sets off a chain of events and soon the death count in Leeds is rising. With Harper worried for his wife’s safety due to her connections to the Leeds Suffragist Society, will he find the cuplrit before there is more bloodshed?
Again, Chris Nickson does a fantastic job in mixing fact with fiction, creating a vivid image of what life was like in Leeds during the nineteenth century. It was easy to imagine the stark contrast between the privileged Carr family and the unfortunates dwelling in the crowded back streets.
The ending sets up the next installment nicely; definitely worthy of a five-star rating!
May 19, 2016
Adequate police procedural set in 1890s England. It has two things that make it really interesting--it is set in Leeds instead of London and the detective's wife is a suffragette.
Otherwise, not too much to differentiate this series from others like it.
Otherwise, not too much to differentiate this series from others like it.
June 16, 2016
Absolutely sweet story with political history, mystery, police procedure, friendly and antagonistic relationships, class conflicts, and family issues. That's a lot of ground to cover and it's all good.
April 6, 2016
Very enjoyable. Good plot and characters
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