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George Hart #3
The Prince and the Whitechapel Murders:
'A rattling good yarn... A compelling, sexy hero who could give Cornwell's Sharpe a run for his money' The Times on ZULU HARTLondon 1888: George 'Zulu' Hart is the mixed-race illegitimate son of a Dublin actress and (he suspects) the Duke of Cambridge, commander-in-chief of the army. George has fought his way through wars in Africa and Afghanistan, won the VC and married his sweetheart, but he's also a gambler, short of money and in no position to turn down the job of 'minder' to Prince Albert Victor, second in line to the throne. George is to befriend the charming young cavalry officer and keep him out of trouble - no easy task, given that the Prince is a known target for Irish nationalist assassins, while his secret sexual orientation leaves him open to blackmail and scandal. To make matters worse, the Prince is also in the habit of heading out late at night to sample the dubious pleasures of the East End. Both outsiders in their different ways, perhaps the two men have more in common than they know, but when a series of horrible murders begins in Whitechapel, on just the nights the Prince has been there, George is drawn into an investigation which forces him to confront the unthinkable...A brilliant standalone adventure based on detailed research, this is a thrilling novel of suspense and a fascinating new twist on the Jack the Ripper story.
361 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 22, 2018
18 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Saul David
53 books175 followersSAUL DAVID was born in Monmouth in 1966 and educated at Ampleforth College and Edinburgh and Glasgow Universities (History MA and PhD).
An expert in the wars of the Victorian period, he began writing his first history book when he was twenty-five and has since completed eight more. They include: The Homicidal Earl: The Life of Lord Cardigan (1997), a critically-acclaimed biography of the man who led the Charge of the Light Brigade; The Indian Mutiny:1857 (2002), shortlisted for the Westminster Medal for Military Literature; Zulu: The Heroism and Tragedy of the Zulu War of 1879 (2004), a Waterstone's Military History Book of the Year; and the bestselling Victoria's Wars: The Rise of Empire (2006). In 2007 he signed a three book deal with Hodder & Stoughton to write a series of historical novels set in the late Victorian period. The first, Zulu Hart, was published on 5 March 2009 to critical acclaim with The Times describing it as a 'rattling good yarn' with 'a compelling, sexy hero who could give Cornwell's Sharpe a run for his money'. He is currently writing a history of the British Army.
An expert in the wars of the Victorian period, he began writing his first history book when he was twenty-five and has since completed eight more. They include: The Homicidal Earl: The Life of Lord Cardigan (1997), a critically-acclaimed biography of the man who led the Charge of the Light Brigade; The Indian Mutiny:1857 (2002), shortlisted for the Westminster Medal for Military Literature; Zulu: The Heroism and Tragedy of the Zulu War of 1879 (2004), a Waterstone's Military History Book of the Year; and the bestselling Victoria's Wars: The Rise of Empire (2006). In 2007 he signed a three book deal with Hodder & Stoughton to write a series of historical novels set in the late Victorian period. The first, Zulu Hart, was published on 5 March 2009 to critical acclaim with The Times describing it as a 'rattling good yarn' with 'a compelling, sexy hero who could give Cornwell's Sharpe a run for his money'. He is currently writing a history of the British Army.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 18, 2018
This is the third in the historical Major George 'Zulu' Hart series, but it works fine as a standalone as it speculates on the Jack the Ripper murders in Whitechapel, based on actual facts and real people. Saul David has carried out impeccable research on this period of Victorian history, making use of the rumours that abound of the possibility of the involvement of Prince Albert 'Eddy' Victor, second in line to the throne, in the gruesome murders. Hart is the mixed race illegitimate son of a Dublin actress, who suspects that the army chief, the Duke of Cambridge, is his father. His wife is Lucy, but Hart is deemed to have married well below his social strata, and he has a son, Jake. Having engaged in heroic action in the wars in Africa and Afghanistan, Hart is called to London and asked to be a bodyguard for Prince Albert, there is credible intelligence that Irish Fenian assassins are planning to kill him. His job is to protect Albert, equip him with better skills for the army, and keep scandal at bay. Hart is persuaded to take on the role as he needs the money to meet his gambling debts.
Hart is moved into the Prince's cavalry unit, he sets out to befriend Albert. However, his task turns out to be more difficult than he thought, Albert's sexual proclivities, he is bisexual, has the Prince risk venturing into the East End in search of sexual thrills. Albert and his friends, who have strong misogynist views, often go to Whitechapel as a group. Meanwhile, George is going undercover into a Fenian terrorist group in an effort to find out their plans and foil any assassination attempts. There are macabre murders of prostitutes in Whitechapel, and evidence emerges that points to the Prince who has been in the area at the time of the deaths. Sir Charles Warren, the Police Commissioner, asks for Hart's help in preventing the heightened tensions of the poverty stricken and squalid East End erupting. Hart joins forces with Sergeant Fletcher in a covert investigation of the Ripper case as the police choose not to follow up certain leads. Hart decides to try and eliminate the Prince from his inquiries, is the Prince being falsely implicated or is the unthinkable true?
Jack the Ripper and the Whitechapel murders provide the exciting background to this compelling historical thriller. There has been a huge amount of focus and speculation on this period of Victorian history from a range of different quarters, and interest has not diminished through time. Saul David adds his own theories outlined in the narrative, although it has to be said he bases it on what is known and the real people known to have been part of the police investigation. Hart puts his life at risk to find evidence to exonerate the Prince whilst identifying the real perpetrator(s). He is a man who enjoys the risk and adventure, and desperate to return oversees as part of the British military. This is entertaining historical read with plenty of suspense and tension with the odd twist here and there. Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC.
Hart is moved into the Prince's cavalry unit, he sets out to befriend Albert. However, his task turns out to be more difficult than he thought, Albert's sexual proclivities, he is bisexual, has the Prince risk venturing into the East End in search of sexual thrills. Albert and his friends, who have strong misogynist views, often go to Whitechapel as a group. Meanwhile, George is going undercover into a Fenian terrorist group in an effort to find out their plans and foil any assassination attempts. There are macabre murders of prostitutes in Whitechapel, and evidence emerges that points to the Prince who has been in the area at the time of the deaths. Sir Charles Warren, the Police Commissioner, asks for Hart's help in preventing the heightened tensions of the poverty stricken and squalid East End erupting. Hart joins forces with Sergeant Fletcher in a covert investigation of the Ripper case as the police choose not to follow up certain leads. Hart decides to try and eliminate the Prince from his inquiries, is the Prince being falsely implicated or is the unthinkable true?
Jack the Ripper and the Whitechapel murders provide the exciting background to this compelling historical thriller. There has been a huge amount of focus and speculation on this period of Victorian history from a range of different quarters, and interest has not diminished through time. Saul David adds his own theories outlined in the narrative, although it has to be said he bases it on what is known and the real people known to have been part of the police investigation. Hart puts his life at risk to find evidence to exonerate the Prince whilst identifying the real perpetrator(s). He is a man who enjoys the risk and adventure, and desperate to return oversees as part of the British military. This is entertaining historical read with plenty of suspense and tension with the odd twist here and there. Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC.
January 8, 2018
I haven't read the other Zulu Hart novels but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Set during the time of Jack the Ripper it was tense, atmospheric and beautifully written descriptively.
Full review to follow.
Full review to follow.
February 17, 2018
The police need all the help they can get to catch Jack the Ripper. Major George Hart is the man to do it. His first concern, though, is to keep Prince Eddy, heir to the Prince of Wales, out of trouble and away from scandal. This is a fascinating story but rather clinically, coldly told. I can't say that I warmed to Major Hart. Review to follow on For Winter Nights.
February 9, 2018
A 'Jack the Ripper' tale
This is the third book in the author's 'Zulu Hart' series and features Major George Hart of Rorke's Drift fame. George has returned to Britain with his family and, despite his notoriety and the fact that he was awarded the Victoria Cross, he has huge debts due to his wife's retail habits and his gambling.
He is offered a way out of his problems by Field Marshall HRH the Duke of Cambridge, Commander-in-Chief of the British Army (whom George suspects may be his father). His assignment is two-fold; firstly to protect Prince Albert 'Eddy' Victor of Wales from execution by Fenian terrorists who are fighting for an end to British rule in Ireland; and secondly to protect the Prince and the entire royal family from any scandal due to Eddy's association with 'young men of questionable morals'. To sweeten the pill, George is promised a sign-on fee of three hundred pounds with a final lump sum of one thousand pounds if he can keep the Prince out of trouble for a year.
At the same time as George accepts his assignment there begins a series of gruesome murders of prostitutes in Whitechapel. Rumours abound about who the culprit could be and even include suspicion of army officers. With Eddy's habit of visiting young men in Whitechapel in the early hours of the morning, George has his work cut out to avoid the Prince becoming involved.
This is a really compelling novel from an author who is also a historian and who has certainly done his research. Most of the supporting characters are real people, including Inspector Abberline of Scotland Yard, who is tasked with solving the murders. The fictional characters are convincing, although possibly a little gung-ho – not a bad thing in a thriller.
Enjoyable, fast-moving and full of suspense, with the final outcome unanticipated, what's not to like!
Pashtpaws
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
This is the third book in the author's 'Zulu Hart' series and features Major George Hart of Rorke's Drift fame. George has returned to Britain with his family and, despite his notoriety and the fact that he was awarded the Victoria Cross, he has huge debts due to his wife's retail habits and his gambling.
He is offered a way out of his problems by Field Marshall HRH the Duke of Cambridge, Commander-in-Chief of the British Army (whom George suspects may be his father). His assignment is two-fold; firstly to protect Prince Albert 'Eddy' Victor of Wales from execution by Fenian terrorists who are fighting for an end to British rule in Ireland; and secondly to protect the Prince and the entire royal family from any scandal due to Eddy's association with 'young men of questionable morals'. To sweeten the pill, George is promised a sign-on fee of three hundred pounds with a final lump sum of one thousand pounds if he can keep the Prince out of trouble for a year.
At the same time as George accepts his assignment there begins a series of gruesome murders of prostitutes in Whitechapel. Rumours abound about who the culprit could be and even include suspicion of army officers. With Eddy's habit of visiting young men in Whitechapel in the early hours of the morning, George has his work cut out to avoid the Prince becoming involved.
This is a really compelling novel from an author who is also a historian and who has certainly done his research. Most of the supporting characters are real people, including Inspector Abberline of Scotland Yard, who is tasked with solving the murders. The fictional characters are convincing, although possibly a little gung-ho – not a bad thing in a thriller.
Enjoyable, fast-moving and full of suspense, with the final outcome unanticipated, what's not to like!
Pashtpaws
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
February 23, 2021
I liked it I really did but it was too gruesome for me at certain bits. It was a wonderful retelling of the Jack the Ripper cases with the added expense of a fulfilling ending. I thought the author did a superb job of pacing the plot and adding subplots to the timeline such that I was, like the Duke of Cambridge at the end, surprised so much had happened within a short timeframe. I also enjoyed how the same characters were introduced again and again it made the surprises all the more exciting. A wonderful job!
March 19, 2020
Really loved this version of Jack The Ripper. Didn't espect this book to be this good. Unfortunately my copy was missing page 9-24 but it didn't made me stop reading. Really would recommend this book if you like Jack the Ripper story's.
December 28, 2021
In reviewing this book I must do so for two audiences. For those whom are a fan of the George Heart audience this book will be a disappointment as it was for me. As a stand-alone book it was a cracking read. Read this as a stand-alone novel without any expectations of a Boys own adventure story. It's another adaptation of the Jack the Ripper tragedy, however this time it's story created by filling the gaps and making assumption from historical evidence from which Saul is well known. Saul please George back to the Battlefield, you are just in time for the first Boer War in Georges beloved South Africa.
September 7, 2023
I've always had a bit of a fascination with Jack the Ripper so was expecting to enjoy this off the bat. The storytelling is immersive and the characters are believable.
It did lose momentum by the end as the author tried to tie up loose ends and put forward a case for who the Ripper actually was. I find a lot of Ripper stories can fall in to this trap, trying to shoehorn circumstances and "facts" at the finish line to explain why they feel x, y, or z was the killer.
Still, enjoyable overall.
It did lose momentum by the end as the author tried to tie up loose ends and put forward a case for who the Ripper actually was. I find a lot of Ripper stories can fall in to this trap, trying to shoehorn circumstances and "facts" at the finish line to explain why they feel x, y, or z was the killer.
Still, enjoyable overall.
February 19, 2018
Thanks Hodder & Stoughton and netgalley for this ARC.
Finally we get some answers to questions from the beginning of this series. It's nice to tag along for this atmospheric, gritty , and gruesome book.
Finally we get some answers to questions from the beginning of this series. It's nice to tag along for this atmospheric, gritty , and gruesome book.
September 2, 2018
A really good book. I didn’t realise it was third in a series. That didn’t matter though. I’ve now bought the first book.
Excellent writing and plot. Although, if you know the Ripper murders well that will spoiler it a bit.
Excellent writing and plot. Although, if you know the Ripper murders well that will spoiler it a bit.
February 7, 2022
A third in the series following Messers Hart.
Crime fiction is not usually my “go to” as far as reading but I really did enjoy this.
Really felt the grime, smells and horrid sights of late 19th century Whitechapel.
Hoping for another Hart novel sooner than 8 years.
Crime fiction is not usually my “go to” as far as reading but I really did enjoy this.
Really felt the grime, smells and horrid sights of late 19th century Whitechapel.
Hoping for another Hart novel sooner than 8 years.
January 31, 2018
Review
I cannot believe its been 10 years since Zulu Hart was released, a book that i highly enjoyed along with its follow up Hart of Empire, Saul David brought alive the character of George Hart, the history of the time and the depth of history in each of those books, as an author he truly brought those books to life.
..........
Full review follow link
https://parmenionbooks.wordpress.com/...
I cannot believe its been 10 years since Zulu Hart was released, a book that i highly enjoyed along with its follow up Hart of Empire, Saul David brought alive the character of George Hart, the history of the time and the depth of history in each of those books, as an author he truly brought those books to life.
..........
Full review follow link
https://parmenionbooks.wordpress.com/...
July 6, 2018
Fantastic novel and well worth the 8 year wait! A story we know so well (Jack The Ripper) but told with freshness! Best book I've read so far in 2018.
September 9, 2018
Entertaining read...the descriptions of Whitechapel at the time of Jack The Ripper are very atmospheric and it gallops along at a good pace. Enjoyable fare.
June 22, 2021
Honestly, whilst this was okay, I found it repetitive and boring. Not horrendous just bleh.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews