Thief Catcher

by John Drake

It’s 1798 and in London there is political turmoil. With the reigning ‘mad’ King George III a figure of public ridicule, the Prince Regent ‘Prinny’ is living a riotous life, which touches the edges of London’s underworld. When an incriminating etched print is made and circulated in a book by the Lycanthropic Society, renowned thief-catcher Samuel Slym from Aldgate is put on the case to find those responsible and retrieve all existing prints before Prinny is subjected to public humiliation. Meanwhile across the Channel and revered by the French military, General Napoleon Bonaparte is waiting for a chance to invade England, and his fleet is ready to strike and land. Using the latest technology, the telegraph signal, there is a new opportunity to hatch a plan to conquer England at last and he employs sinister spies, among them the charming, but cold-blooded Sukolowsky. Bonaparte is not the only one with an eye for conquest. Lord Glenfeshie, survivor of the Battle of Culloden, leads the aged Highlanders and Jacobites, waiting for a chance to seize back power for the pretender, James Charles Stuart, son of Bonnie Prince Charlie. They plot in secret, waiting to take advantage of the weak king and political instability in London under Pitt’s government. Followers of the old Highlanders will stop at nothing to reinstate a Catholic as king. As Samuel Slym follows up his leads to track down Prinny’s print he uncovers far more than he expected at the start of his commission, and his quest unwittingly leads him higher in society than he believed possible, as well as rekindling an old fiery liaison with the mysterious Lady Sarah Coignwood. Can Slym get to the bottom of the plot to bring scandal to the Prince before it is too late? And will Napoleon succeed in his plan to conquer the ‘Rosbif Navy’? Charging headlong from the murky backstreets of London to the country palaces of English aristocracy and finally the outposts of Kent, Drake’s novel spins a gripping yarn of deception and scandal, patriotism and pride, bringing to life legendary characters of the 18th century, as well as some less well known to the annals of English history… For those who loved Sam Slym you can catch a further glimpse of him in John Drake's bestselling Fletcher's Glorious 1st June where he begins his doomed relationship with Lady Sarah Coignwood. Praise for John Drake’s Fletcher series "Swashbuckling adventure on the high seas doesn't get much better than this. […] John Drake writes beautifully, and you'll be torn between savoring the words and quickly flipping the pages. Any favorable comparison to Stevenson or Patrick O'Brian is totally justified." – Nelson DeMille, #1 New York Times bestselling author John Drake trained as a biochemist to post-doctorate research level before realizing he was no good at science. His working career was in the television department of ICI until 1999 when he became a full-time writer. John's hobby is muzzle-loading shooting, and his interests are British history and British politics (as a spectator), plus newspapers, TV news, and current affairs. He is married with a son and two grandchildren.

Genres: Historical Fiction

460 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 27, 2016

About the author

Just in case anyone's interested ... my latest Fletcher (Flying Machine) is up and running and selling well. Happy days.

I have just finished the third of my Londinium books (that's Roman London AD 100) and it should be out later this year: 'Gods in Londium'. My usual mixture of bloodstained savagery, plus authentic period detail.

Moving further on ...

'The Fletcher Companion' (all you need to know about Fletcher and his world), will also be available some time this year.

Beyond that, the next Fletcher for March 2023 (if the Lord spares me) will be 'Fletcher and the Constitution'. That's the US Constitution, and it's in deadly peril.

Mind how you go.

John Drake

Reviews

[Jacqie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn't the book for me. The language is kind of amusing but also dense, which makes the amusing bits harder to come by. It's basically a thriller/whodunit set in Georgian England. The main character is a thiefcatcher, hard operator and ladies(?)man named Samuel Slym. He's sort of a wish-fulfillment character for some guys, I suppose- big, strong, smart, attractive to most of the women in the book at least, street-savvy. He's sort of a mercenary James Bond for the eighteenth century. If you want to read a book that's somewhat wry and detached from its own plot, with lots of detail about its time period and setting and with no especially likable characters and lots of action, here you go. I wasn't in the mood for it.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Steven Toby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intrigue and Warfare in the 18th century

Unlike most Napoleonic Wars novels, this book tells the story of a Jacobin plot to usurp the throne of England, replacing George III and his dynasty with Charles Stuart, the son of Bonnie Prince Charlie whose Scottish army was crushed by the English at Culloden in 1745. Charles had support from Napoleon, who viewed the Stuart and Catholic faction in Britain as a possible ally. That’s the background and I actually am not sure if the intrigue parts of the story are mostly fictional or based on fact, only that they have plausible explanations.
The characters are very well drawn although possibly a little over the top. It’s neat that Mr. Slym has OCD and is a fussy dresser who longs to become a gentleman. Lady coignwood (?) is a cardboard cutout, an irresistible, beautiful slut who nevertheless moves in the highest society and sets fashion for high born ladies. But, like many of Ayn Rand’s characters, the unlikely pair are very interesting cardboard.
The action is nonstop and it’s a compulsive read. The only thing I didn’t like was the lack of a historical note to tell readers where fact ended and fiction began.

[Christopher Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story with a unique protagonist and a nice approach to the time period. Sam Slym (pronounced slime) is a specialist in London who hunts down criminals for hire, and has developed a lucrative network of contacts.

The story is a bit tangled, and involves a major invasion of England as well as an embarrassment for the crown. It takes a while for the characters to uncover what is going on, but they move along well and reasonably.

However, the book is flawed by a host of unnecessary sexual activity too graphically depicted, and several characters are implausibly presented. They are larger than life, and perhaps that is intended but the background world is presented as reasonable and realistic.

Add to that the alternate history events that clearly did not happen in real life, and its an odd book.

[Michael R. Zuelke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most intriguing story set in Georgian England with a main character named Sam Slyme (pronounced "slime"). What begins as an attempt to find damaging photos of the Prince of Wales (the later George IV), who is the eldest son of Georgs III, becomes a mad dash to save England from a French invasion orchestrated by Napoleon Bonaparte. Filled with many twists and turns, Drake has woven history with made up events and characters that keep the reader turning pages. Drake's language is extremely beguiling and captivating. He lends a "flavor" to the historical period that uses historical facts combined with the "sweet and savory" to create a novel that is well worth the readers time to explore.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book makes you want to read more about Napoleon

I enjoyed this book because of the history involved. It was slow going at the beginning, but it picked up when the Prince of Wales was introduced to the story. With all the treachery going on and lots of people belonging to several factual
factions depending on who was in charge, it reminded me of the way the United States government is going.

[Phillip Mclaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slam lives outside the Fletcher series

What a treat, a sympathetic tome of Samuel Slym, thief catcher in perhaps his most
Important story. Full of intrigue, detection, and a spine chilling adventures, mixed of course with that woman.

[James Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Good Read!

A fantastic story with interesting characters! I couldn't put it down and hope more stories come out in the future, with Sam Slyme in them! I highly recommend this book.

[sheila greenwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I have enjoyed all John Drakes books so far. It was good to take a break from on board ship.. The character Sam Slym has come of age as an 18th century detective. Very entertaining, thaks

[K.E Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story and interesting historical informatjon.

Interesting facts about life at this time and a good story told at a great pace. Well worth a read

[John Jenner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable historical novel that drags class, politics and civil unrest into a well paced story.

[P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this fantasy - Sammy Slym Rescues the Realm Repeatedly - although the ending seems a bit off.

[Richard Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this, fast paced from beginning to end. Came to this after reading Drakes naval series and didn't think it would be my kind of book, but glad to be proved wrong. Cracking read.

[Doug Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Read

Long walk around more than one block but worth the journey. Having said that, I still am unsure how to pronounce 'Slym'.

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great yarn! I want more of Slym!

[Ken Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great yarn! I want more of Slym!

[E Vikander · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sam Slym, thief catcher extraordinaire of London, is tapped by Prime Minister Pitt to aid with an indiscretion of the Prince of Wales, which leads to the exposure of a plot involving a pretender to the English crown and Napoleon. This story began with two prologues; the first of violence and the second an eye-rolling sex scene, still I read on. Thief Catcher has a well-conceived plot that simply moved too slowly. I thoroughly enjoyed some of the characters, but felt Drake stumbled with some ill-conceived plot twists involving the story’s sexpot, Sarah Coignwood, which made her such a ninny that it was downright silly. Drake is quite fond of euphemisms. I don’t know if I’m annoyed or charmed. None-the-less, I did enjoy Thief Catcher.

[Lesley Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a John Drake fan and read his books as they appear. This one is a direct follow of one of his 'Fletcher' books with a strong feaaturing of Lady Sarah Coignwood, Drake's Witch-Queen heroine/villain. She is Joan Collins on acid and steroids. There is a hero from one of the Drake Books: the detective Sam Slym. I love the depth of research in his books, and this one was right on target. A deep-immersion book that takes you into another world. An easy five stars. Highly recommended.

[David Barnseley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now working through John Drake books having read and loved 'Agent fo Death'. Just finished 'Theif Catcher' after three days straight through reading over weekend. Very different from 'Agent' but very very good, with enormous research on period and people. Loved this one too and want more books on Sam Slym the Thief Catcher. He's better than Poirot, Sherlock or Sam Spade!! Hope John Drake is listening. A mixture of detective story and sort of James Bond in the 18th Century.

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

A regency mystery where Samuel Slym, thief taker and his assistant Sir John, try to thwart the plans of Bonaparte, a Jacobite invasion, and the troubles of the Prince Regent.
I just didn't take to the book, and I didn't care much for some of the language.
A NetGalley book