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Bow Street Rivals #2
Steps to the Gallows
A scurrilous newspaper has built up a large following by publishing details of political and sexual scandals. It is remarkably well-informed and has therefore created a whole host of enemies. When the editor is killed and the printing press smashed to bits, the Invisible Detectives are hired by the man who financed the production of the paper. He wants the killer brought to justice and the scandal sheet revived. Peter and Paul Skillen find themselves in great danger as they unearth an enormous amount of scandal and corruption before the villains are brought to book.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published February 18, 2016
27 people are currently reading
234 people want to read
About the author
Edward Marston
239 books466 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
A pseudonym used by Keith Miles
AKA A.E. Marston
Keith Miles (born 1940) is an English author, who writes under his own name and also historical fiction and mystery novels under the pseudonym Edward Marston. He is known for his mysteries set in the world of Elizabethan theatre. He has also written a series of novels based on events in the Domesday Book, a series of The Railway Detective and a series of The Home Front Detective.
Series contributed to:
. Malice Domestic
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
A pseudonym used by Keith Miles
AKA A.E. Marston
Keith Miles (born 1940) is an English author, who writes under his own name and also historical fiction and mystery novels under the pseudonym Edward Marston. He is known for his mysteries set in the world of Elizabethan theatre. He has also written a series of novels based on events in the Domesday Book, a series of The Railway Detective and a series of The Home Front Detective.
Series contributed to:
. Malice Domestic
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
July 29, 2019
The rivalry between the Skillen brothers and the Bow Street Runners, an early police force is again driving this investigation. In this second episode, that relationship remains as competitive as ever and is more humanised in this account. Even to the point of humour, with a softening of the character of Micah Yeomans, the officer in charge of the Runners. There is fun to be had at their expense and the standing joke here is Yeomans change of manner, when he becomes besotted with a powerful woman.
The plot is less historical in terms of major national and international events. Here, the focus falls upon the Stamp Act and the laws around publications and political satire. Watch out also for details regarding the imprisonment of debtors, early cricket at Lords and the continued distinction between the classes.
Some great characters are revealed in the text. I particularly like Jem Huchvale and his bashful courting, Ruddock and his attentions to his wife's feelings and a young man, Snapper who is the faithful young companion and loyal friend to Virgo in prison.
The plot is interesting and the consult switching between different aspects of the story and the set of characters remains entertaining if not fully all consuming.
Marston writes a good story. His style will hold the reader's attention throughout, although in this series so far not reaching the heights of compulsive page turning, or ground-breaking fiction.
So, you are always guaranteed a well packed story that will inform and entertain. I would encourage the reader to start on one series that draws their interest and I'm confident your desire to read a good book will be met by memorable stories set within a historical context.
The plot is less historical in terms of major national and international events. Here, the focus falls upon the Stamp Act and the laws around publications and political satire. Watch out also for details regarding the imprisonment of debtors, early cricket at Lords and the continued distinction between the classes.
Some great characters are revealed in the text. I particularly like Jem Huchvale and his bashful courting, Ruddock and his attentions to his wife's feelings and a young man, Snapper who is the faithful young companion and loyal friend to Virgo in prison.
The plot is interesting and the consult switching between different aspects of the story and the set of characters remains entertaining if not fully all consuming.
Marston writes a good story. His style will hold the reader's attention throughout, although in this series so far not reaching the heights of compulsive page turning, or ground-breaking fiction.
So, you are always guaranteed a well packed story that will inform and entertain. I would encourage the reader to start on one series that draws their interest and I'm confident your desire to read a good book will be met by memorable stories set within a historical context.
July 13, 2017
This is the second in Edward Marston's Bow Street rival series and I enjoyed just as much as the first in the series. Again it follows the Skillen Brothers who have been asked to solve a murder of Leo Paige whose satirical verses have ruffled a few feathers in the upper echelons of Parliament.
Another good plot and the characters of the Skillens as well as there rivals The Bow Street Runners are more fleshed out giving us an even better sense of who they are.
My main criticism is that some of book 1 is re visited a little too much in the beginning, great if you are not reading this series in sequence but for me it was too much. Also the rivalry between the thief takers starts to become an annoyance, we get the picture they don't get on!!. Hope this isn't a major theme in the newly released book 3.
Overall am enjoying the historical backdrop of the period and following the plot to discover the murderer.
Another good plot and the characters of the Skillens as well as there rivals The Bow Street Runners are more fleshed out giving us an even better sense of who they are.
My main criticism is that some of book 1 is re visited a little too much in the beginning, great if you are not reading this series in sequence but for me it was too much. Also the rivalry between the thief takers starts to become an annoyance, we get the picture they don't get on!!. Hope this isn't a major theme in the newly released book 3.
Overall am enjoying the historical backdrop of the period and following the plot to discover the murderer.
May 2, 2025
I really enjoy this series. Love Peter and Paul and the gang and how well they all work together.
Really funny and light hearted
Really funny and light hearted
November 11, 2018
I wish you could do 3.5 ... it’s ok this one ... I feel it could be 100 pages shorter and the author rushed the ending .. after such a massive build up the end was a couple of pages .. but they are easy reads and I will read a couple more I expect . It’s by no means a bad book though and the twins are likeable enough .
March 15, 2016
overall i felt the book was okay and enjoyed it but felt however that the ending was a bit rushed and the author bored of the plot which spoilt the story for me. the author also seems to trying to write several books at the same time which is diluting his plot and a sameness.
June 19, 2018
3.5 stars. I enjoyed the story but some of the dialogue was a little clunky. Nobody used anyone's name that much! Not having read the first book wasn't a problem.
October 17, 2017
Extremely well written and enjoyable book about twin brothers and their rivalry with the Bow Street Runners. The brothers are cleverer and have much more success than the Runners and when a friend of their friend is murdered they vow to be the first people to solve that murder.
I really enjoy the back story with these books. Life in London and a little romance all help to really set the scene.
The only slight foible I had was that when the runners eventually realise they need to catch a criminal mastermind who has been directing proceedings it only takes them a day to do what it has taken the brothers the whole book to do. But that is to ensure they get to the same place as the brothers by the end of the book.
Marston writes with a real feel for the period and has many series of book set in other periods of history and he really seems to know his stuff.
An enjoyable read.
I really enjoy the back story with these books. Life in London and a little romance all help to really set the scene.
The only slight foible I had was that when the runners eventually realise they need to catch a criminal mastermind who has been directing proceedings it only takes them a day to do what it has taken the brothers the whole book to do. But that is to ensure they get to the same place as the brothers by the end of the book.
Marston writes with a real feel for the period and has many series of book set in other periods of history and he really seems to know his stuff.
An enjoyable read.
May 12, 2018
This is the second book in the Bow Street Rivals series.
Twin brother's Peter and Paul Skillen are on the hunt for a killer after an old soldier friend of Gully Ackford is found murdered after hiring bodyguard Jem from Ackfords Shooting Gallery. Once again the team are up against Micah Yeoman and Alfred Gale from the Bow Street Runners to catch the killer.
A fast-paced thriller set in 1816 London with lots of twists and turns.
Twin brother's Peter and Paul Skillen are on the hunt for a killer after an old soldier friend of Gully Ackford is found murdered after hiring bodyguard Jem from Ackfords Shooting Gallery. Once again the team are up against Micah Yeoman and Alfred Gale from the Bow Street Runners to catch the killer.
A fast-paced thriller set in 1816 London with lots of twists and turns.
January 14, 2025
Another excellent escapade for Peter and Paul , and more hilarity from the hapless Bow Street Runners , an easy read ….. looking forward to the next one
January 28, 2023
Book two of the detective twins. Really easy read by a master of the historical genre. Good characterisation
August 17, 2019
Decent read for someone who enjoys the time period and a solid mystery. A little slower to read than the first in the series. But still a good mystery that keeps you guessing to the end.
January 3, 2020
Edward Marston has a plethora of historical mysteries series going on, series which span a wide stretch of British history—and all worth reading. In one of his latest series (he has at least three going on at the same time), Marston continues with his Bow Street Runners episodes in "Steps to the Gallows." Set in the 19th century, the Runners eventually, history shows us, evolves into modern day Scotland Yard. But this evolution takes time and in the early stages of public detectives, things indeed get rough, crude, clumsy, and someone dead wrong. Forensic pathology had not yet been invented (by Patricia Cornwell, some say!).
But our twin brother detectives, Peter and Paul Skillen (saintly they’re not) are determined. A local newspaper (we’d call them “tabloids” today) with nary a thought about ethics, it seems, plays big here. The editor, who captains the paper with fierce details of political and sexual scandals (and damn the collateral damage) is killed and his newspaper’s printing press destroyed.
Though they are not Bow Street Runners but actually competitors as private detectives, Peter and Paul (our Invisible Detectives) are hired to find—and to bring to justice—the person or persons responsible. The owner wants the paper back in publication (scandals sell papers!).
And, indeed, our brothers tackle the job with their usual fervor, facing grave danger as they are hard pressed to find the killer and, lo and behold, they also find a world of scandal and corruption going on (we could have told them so, for things aren’t much different a century or so later!).
Still, though, Marston’s series is worth the effort—and this reader particularly found this installment interesting, owing to its journalistic angles, especially.
But our twin brother detectives, Peter and Paul Skillen (saintly they’re not) are determined. A local newspaper (we’d call them “tabloids” today) with nary a thought about ethics, it seems, plays big here. The editor, who captains the paper with fierce details of political and sexual scandals (and damn the collateral damage) is killed and his newspaper’s printing press destroyed.
Though they are not Bow Street Runners but actually competitors as private detectives, Peter and Paul (our Invisible Detectives) are hired to find—and to bring to justice—the person or persons responsible. The owner wants the paper back in publication (scandals sell papers!).
And, indeed, our brothers tackle the job with their usual fervor, facing grave danger as they are hard pressed to find the killer and, lo and behold, they also find a world of scandal and corruption going on (we could have told them so, for things aren’t much different a century or so later!).
Still, though, Marston’s series is worth the effort—and this reader particularly found this installment interesting, owing to its journalistic angles, especially.
February 14, 2019
Well, I liked this so very much better than the first book in the series. I still do not like the boss of the Bow Street Runners, he's crass, lazy, crude, & stupid... but I think I might be able to overlook him.
Parliament has levied the Stamp Act (tax) to put an end to Leonidas Paige's political satire newspaper. Leonidas has continued his work by introducing art prints and selling them with the help of Mrs. Granville in her shop, which has made many an enemy of those politicians he lampoons.
Leonidas was once a very astute foot soldier and knows he is being followed, so he turns to his old friend Gully Ackford, who runs a self-defense & protection agency, asking for protection. Unfortunately there were two men following Leonidas, one was able to take the newly hired bodyguard out of commission while the other garroted the satirist and set afire to his work.
The Chief Magistrate loathes Leonidas and his work, but the Chief Magistrate's job is to bring the murderer's to justice and therefore calls in the Bow Street Runners to catch the murderers and the one who hired them.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Granville's shop window is smashed by a brick, a threat which she does not take lightly and she joins in the investigation.
As the Runners bungle along; Peter & Paul Skillen (twin brothers) take on the case and the rivalry is on.
It was very interesting to read about the government's silencing of the press, as these days it is so very close to home.
Parliament has levied the Stamp Act (tax) to put an end to Leonidas Paige's political satire newspaper. Leonidas has continued his work by introducing art prints and selling them with the help of Mrs. Granville in her shop, which has made many an enemy of those politicians he lampoons.
Leonidas was once a very astute foot soldier and knows he is being followed, so he turns to his old friend Gully Ackford, who runs a self-defense & protection agency, asking for protection. Unfortunately there were two men following Leonidas, one was able to take the newly hired bodyguard out of commission while the other garroted the satirist and set afire to his work.
The Chief Magistrate loathes Leonidas and his work, but the Chief Magistrate's job is to bring the murderer's to justice and therefore calls in the Bow Street Runners to catch the murderers and the one who hired them.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Granville's shop window is smashed by a brick, a threat which she does not take lightly and she joins in the investigation.
As the Runners bungle along; Peter & Paul Skillen (twin brothers) take on the case and the rivalry is on.
It was very interesting to read about the government's silencing of the press, as these days it is so very close to home.
March 6, 2021
A man goes to a London club to hire himself a bodyguard. The owner turns out to be a former soldiering colleague and they reminisce. A bodyguard is assigned to Leo and he leaves. As Jem is tailing Leo, the bodyguard is badly beaten. Leo is found murdered in his room. Leo made his name (and many enemies) by lampooning politicians and other famous people in the press. His colleague, Virgo, drew caricatures of these people, emphasising their most distinctive features.
The print shop is targeted by thugs who throw a brick through the window and then try to destroy the establishment by arson. Virgo is also targeted, despite residing in a debtors' prison.
Peter and Paul Skillen are charged with the tasks of not only finding the perpetrators of the various crimes, but also of finding the aristocrat who is the paymaster of the thugs. The twins manage to find the thugs, who face the consequences of their actions. The aristocrat is one of four men. He is followed to Paris, where the Skillen twins find him. He, too, faces the consequences of his actions.
The Skillen brothers manage to outwit the Bow Street Runners again, as the Runners seem totally incompetent.
The print shop is targeted by thugs who throw a brick through the window and then try to destroy the establishment by arson. Virgo is also targeted, despite residing in a debtors' prison.
Peter and Paul Skillen are charged with the tasks of not only finding the perpetrators of the various crimes, but also of finding the aristocrat who is the paymaster of the thugs. The twins manage to find the thugs, who face the consequences of their actions. The aristocrat is one of four men. He is followed to Paris, where the Skillen twins find him. He, too, faces the consequences of his actions.
The Skillen brothers manage to outwit the Bow Street Runners again, as the Runners seem totally incompetent.
November 15, 2021
I thought this book was slightly better than the first in this season if only for the reason that they actually told people that two of the main characters were identical twins rather than let the fact cause drama which fuelled the plot line. I think I said of the last book that a good 70% of the story would have been resolved by them telling people they were twins which was really frustrating for the reader.
This book starts with an attack and takes you on a trip through the politics and the slums of London. It's funny how the politicians in this book, who are essentially exaggerations of the stereotypes of politicians of the day, still fit certain politicians now. I guess there's a reason they bought Spitting Image back to our TVs.
There are a couple of good characters in here, the female characters are pretty well rounded and there's a small boy that you can't help but liking. It's a shame the actual mystery can be solved by anyone with even a modicum of common sense but it's readable enough. I'll see what the next book in the series brings.
This book starts with an attack and takes you on a trip through the politics and the slums of London. It's funny how the politicians in this book, who are essentially exaggerations of the stereotypes of politicians of the day, still fit certain politicians now. I guess there's a reason they bought Spitting Image back to our TVs.
There are a couple of good characters in here, the female characters are pretty well rounded and there's a small boy that you can't help but liking. It's a shame the actual mystery can be solved by anyone with even a modicum of common sense but it's readable enough. I'll see what the next book in the series brings.
July 10, 2022
I still don't like this series as much as the Railway Detective novels but I did enjoy it enough to settle into it faster than the first one. This one someone gets a bodyguard and then the bodyguard fails and the guy gets killed. So Peter and Paul Skillen are on track to find the killer and on the way they get involved in libel and caricatures of politicians.
This was a fun enough mystery. There was a few suspects about who the main guy was and it wasn't fully revealed which one was the right guy until the end. Charlotte wasn't as involved in this book but Mrs Mandrake was a force of nature and she was a fun one involved. I did enjoy how she didn't fall into the fictional trap of someone being overconfident and then 'being brought down to earth' by someone hurting her. And there was the part of the book in the debtor's prison which was really interesting.
That said, I thought the whole thing in France came very late in the book and I thought it wasn't really needed.
3.5 stars!
This was a fun enough mystery. There was a few suspects about who the main guy was and it wasn't fully revealed which one was the right guy until the end. Charlotte wasn't as involved in this book but Mrs Mandrake was a force of nature and she was a fun one involved. I did enjoy how she didn't fall into the fictional trap of someone being overconfident and then 'being brought down to earth' by someone hurting her. And there was the part of the book in the debtor's prison which was really interesting.
That said, I thought the whole thing in France came very late in the book and I thought it wasn't really needed.
3.5 stars!
November 2, 2019
To be honest , I tried my best not to stop this book many times , but couldn't, reached page 177 and couldn't take eit anymore.
To begin with ,a book sounds promising but characters are really immature and they voice their thoughts in an unnecessary ways, 2 previous spies act so openly in their investigations, Bow street runners are shown as simple minded and the whole events are really openly described.
Events are way boring with extra unnecessary details ,and past is always described and mentioned excessively, I know author wants us to know details and circumstances, but really this book turned me off ,and couldn't complete.
To begin with ,a book sounds promising but characters are really immature and they voice their thoughts in an unnecessary ways, 2 previous spies act so openly in their investigations, Bow street runners are shown as simple minded and the whole events are really openly described.
Events are way boring with extra unnecessary details ,and past is always described and mentioned excessively, I know author wants us to know details and circumstances, but really this book turned me off ,and couldn't complete.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2020
Peter and Paul Skillen Versus the Bow Street Runners. 1816 and satirical cartoons target the political and influential. When the author is found dead then all those connected to him are also in danger. As each of the rivals investigates the pool of suspects they also are trying to protect others. It’s not hard to imagine the start of the Bow Street crew having characters like Micah Yeomans and Alfred Hale who have few redeeming features even in the treatment of Chevy Ruddock the junior who given the right moment shines only to have the glory taken from him. Interesting historical information about essentially a private prison service.
September 23, 2020
I picked up the fifth novel at the library. It was okay, but I prefer to start series near the start. So, I requested books one and two.
Twin brothers in London in the early 1800’s run a self defense gallery and dabble in solving murders, which greatly annoys the local police. A gentleman shows up to hire a bodyguard from the establishment, and ends up murdered anyhow. ( Not a great recommendation for the business, and how the first novel I read began.) The victim is noted for creating satirical cartoons of powerful London politicians, so there are lots of suspects.
An okay read, but really? Spanish fly?
Twin brothers in London in the early 1800’s run a self defense gallery and dabble in solving murders, which greatly annoys the local police. A gentleman shows up to hire a bodyguard from the establishment, and ends up murdered anyhow. ( Not a great recommendation for the business, and how the first novel I read began.) The victim is noted for creating satirical cartoons of powerful London politicians, so there are lots of suspects.
An okay read, but really? Spanish fly?
February 20, 2022
Scandal and the elites getting their comeuppance are always a good mix and this story did not disappoint. I’d felt sometimes , with other books by this author, the history impinged on the characters as we veered into detailed explanations of esoteric points. Here - cricket aside- the story is driven by the poor Bow Street Runner Yoemans , Peter and Paul and the nefarious , but hidden , lifestyles of the rich and famous. I’m sure there is a message here for royalty in our current times.
The hanging description at the end reminds us of the brutality of capital punishment in a vivid way - history at its best and worst.
The hanging description at the end reminds us of the brutality of capital punishment in a vivid way - history at its best and worst.
May 3, 2021
First published in 2016, 'Steps to the Gallows' is the second in the 'Bow Street Rivals' series of detective novels set in the early 19th century London soon after the Napoleonic Wars. The plot involves the man behind some political satires, as usual featuring the detective skills of the Skillen brothers acting in competition with the same two Bow Street Runners that they always clash with. Of all of Marston's historic mystery series, this one has the flimsiest pretext and the thinnest of cardboard characters, yet still remains great fun to read.
January 1, 2023
A scurrilous newspaper has built up a large following by publishing details of political and sexual scandals. It is remarkably well-informed and has therefore created a whole host of enemies. When the editor is killed and the printing press smashed to bits, the Invisible Detectives are hired by the man who financed the production of the paper. He wants the killer brought to justice and the scandal sheet revived. Peter and Paul Skillen find themselves in great danger as they unearth an enormous amount of scandal and corruption before the villains are brought to book
September 21, 2020
Much better than the first entry in the series. Lots of historical detail regarding the little-known debtors prisons of the early 19th century, plus enough on the London theater and the satirical writings of the post-Napoleonic period, and you have plenty to interest intelligent readers. The crime-solving twins are up against the Bow Street Runners again in a race to solve the crimes.
Good fun and well worth your time.
Good fun and well worth your time.
January 12, 2025
The 2nd book in the Bow Street Rivals series and the characters are developing well along with their relationships in some cases. The story was interesting from start to finish in this book and the detection methods used by both the Runners and the Skillen brothers differed throughout which enhanced the story. There are some exciting parts with twist and turns that are unexpected. This was a very good read and enjoyable throughout.
December 29, 2019
This is a well written book with an intriguing and engaging storyline. The tension between the Skillen Brothers and The Bow Street Runners crackles with tension and is well handled. It avoids slipping into the irritating zone. The book reads well and the characters come across as well rounded and real. A solid historical mystery which I can recommend.
September 22, 2021
I finished it two weeks ago and couldn't tell you anything about the plot, but I liked it at the time.
Not the best historical mystery, and the characters aren't fully fleshed out feeling a bit too much like stereotypes (particularly the Bow Street Runners) but an entertaining quick read.
Not the best historical mystery, and the characters aren't fully fleshed out feeling a bit too much like stereotypes (particularly the Bow Street Runners) but an entertaining quick read.
September 30, 2017
a very enjoyable read with lots of twist and turns
October 12, 2017
Another good read from Edward Marston however thought the ending was rushed, another couple of chapters would have brought the ending to a better conclusion
November 7, 2017
Excellent second book in this series. Poor Peter, or was it Paul who was besotted with an actress. Yay to her guardian angel :)
November 19, 2017
Clunky dialogue, far too long, quite dreadful in fact, but I persisted and gave it the second star because it was so bad, it was hilarious.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews