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A Pyke Mystery #1
The Last Days of Newgate
A story of high intrigue and low politics, of brutal murder and cunning conspiracies, set against the backdrop of a fascinating period in British history and introducing an ingenious, pragmatic, and unforgettable hero. St. Giles, London, 1829—three people have been brutally murdered and the city simmers with anger and political unrest. Pyke, sometime Bow Street Runner, sometime crook, finds himself accidentally embroiled in the murder investigation but quickly realizes that he has stumbled into something more sinister and far-reaching. In his pursuit of the murderer Pyke ruffles the feathers of some powerful people and, falsely accused of murder himself, he soon faces a death sentence and the gallows of Old Bailey. Imprisoned and with only his uncle and the headstrong, aristocratic daughter of his greatest enemy who believe in him, Pyke must engineer his escape, find the real killer, and untangle the web of politics that has been spun around him.
391 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
37 people are currently reading
652 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Pepper
30 books28 followersAndrew Pepper lives in Belfast where he is a lecturer in English at Queen's University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
March 9, 2024
The last days of Newgate rightfully earns a place as one of the better historical novels. There is a score of characters to keep track of and a wee bit of patience and reflection is needed to keep them on the inner movie screen. The novel is perhaps not for the casual reader, as it is a bit more complex than usual and puts historical realism over readability and sympathetic notions. The plot follows a murder mystery set in London during the Georgian era, its protagonist is a bow street runner (first policemen of London - I had to look that up 😀 Pyke, such a runner, privately also specializes in the recovery of stolen goods for which he gets a “finder’s fee”. True to his Machiavellian inclinations, Pyke learned how to shoulder his way through and up in a society that had him start at the bottom. As we meet the character of Pyke, he had been doing fairly well for some time. Soon, however, the ante is upped as Pyke is confronted with several murders. Pyke seems quite a cultured man, yet being rather callous, most would not exactly call him a likable person. This might be off-putting for some but I feel such a character adds to the historical accuracy the book. After all the London 1829, was for many a muzzy, unjust, brutish place where most got shortchanged not only by the law but also by life itself. Therefore, Pyke’s mindset and behavior fits well within the plot with its political intrigues, interesting twists and turns, and overall historical realism.
December 23, 2021
Read this book in 2007, and its the 1st part of the "Pyke" series, from the author, Andrew Pepper.
This tale is set in the year AD 1829, in the pre-Victorian time, in an England with King William IV and its murky politics.
St Giles, AD 1829, and three people are found murdered, with a city teeming with unrest and political intrigue.
Pyke, sometime Bow Street Runner and sometime crook finds himself embroiled in these murders, so much so while investigating them he's accused by powerful people of these murders, and convicted to hanged at the Old Bailey.
Only a very few people believe in his innocence, and so he must engineer his escape to find find the real killer.
This murder investigation will turn into a dark thriller, in which Pyke will meet with the sinister persons of high standing, and in this web of intrigue and political power, he must somehow seem to entangle this web of its deadly tentacles and so finally reveal the real culprit behind these murders.
Very much recommended, for this is a wonderful opener of an exciting pre-Victorian series, and that's why I like to call this first episode: "A Very Satisfying Pyke Start"!
This tale is set in the year AD 1829, in the pre-Victorian time, in an England with King William IV and its murky politics.
St Giles, AD 1829, and three people are found murdered, with a city teeming with unrest and political intrigue.
Pyke, sometime Bow Street Runner and sometime crook finds himself embroiled in these murders, so much so while investigating them he's accused by powerful people of these murders, and convicted to hanged at the Old Bailey.
Only a very few people believe in his innocence, and so he must engineer his escape to find find the real killer.
This murder investigation will turn into a dark thriller, in which Pyke will meet with the sinister persons of high standing, and in this web of intrigue and political power, he must somehow seem to entangle this web of its deadly tentacles and so finally reveal the real culprit behind these murders.
Very much recommended, for this is a wonderful opener of an exciting pre-Victorian series, and that's why I like to call this first episode: "A Very Satisfying Pyke Start"!
June 27, 2016
Pyke is a hard man, see. He's a tough man, and he's cool, right, he's really cool. Don't forget that, because it's his entire character. He doesn't like people, because cool people don't need other people, except for that one person who is also cool and knows he doesn't need other people either, so it's ok for Pyke to like him, if he liked anyone. Which he doesn't. But women like Pyke, right, because he's so cool they have to. Women, as we all know, are foolish and only like men who are real bastards. But Pyke doesn't care about them, because Pyke's tough, and only out for himself. For what he can get, see, like a tough guy, which he is. He's so tough and so cool that he only has one name, like all cool people—like Cher; a real tough guy like Cher.
I fucking hated this.
I fucking hated this.
May 15, 2023
A new author for me with a series to follow if this opener manages to entice me, shall we see…..
Set in 1829 in the depths of London where our MC is a bow street runner, the forerunner of the modern London Metropolitan Police. I had thought of the bow street runners, to be an honest bunch amongst all the depravity but it seems so far they weren’t much above the station of thieves themselves, or at least our MC is, he being a “reformed” thief now titled as a thief taker within the runners ranks. Meaning that for a “fee,” normally a percentage of the stolen property, he’ll capture said thief & return the stolen property for you.
I think I shall have to have a read later about said “bow street runners” & investigate their history some.
Robert Peel, Home secretary, he the founder of the modern police force also appears in the text & seems at odds with the bow street runner’s leader, him wanting to modernise the way of policing in the city.
And Yes! there is a crime to solve but a lot is going on in the early chapters, in terms of setting the landscape of the various factions along with the history of the period which revolves around the emancipation of Catholics within English governance & positions of office.
It’ll keep you on yer toes early doors, must admit it took a while for me to get into this read but im glad I stuck with it!
Not all is plain sailing for Pyke, he being our MC, where his investigation takes an unexpected turn & it’s not long before he’s in a bit of a pickle me ol fruit. I would also add he’s not the most ingratiating of MC’s with some of his actions along the way, some may even Boo Hiss him in fact 😊 he is certainly all about “self” & doesn’t lack for confidence, some would say ruthless but more a realist for me with a degree of intelligence above the dross around him which sees him succeed above expectations. I can work with him but I suspect many can’t.
I won’t say much more about the plotline as it is crime fiction except If you like Victorian London, gritty crime, historical detail & political shenanigans then this read will be up yer street & is to be recommended.
As to the style/writing, well it’s a first book so at times (early doors) I did find myself drifting with the narrative as the story/dialogue was a little uninspiring in places but overall, it came together fairly well & the plotting sound even if our MC got outta more scrapes then one would expect.
A solid 3.5 stars which could have been rounded either way during the course of the read but ive finished with a three. A series I’ll be giving another go to see how it develops.
Set in 1829 in the depths of London where our MC is a bow street runner, the forerunner of the modern London Metropolitan Police. I had thought of the bow street runners, to be an honest bunch amongst all the depravity but it seems so far they weren’t much above the station of thieves themselves, or at least our MC is, he being a “reformed” thief now titled as a thief taker within the runners ranks. Meaning that for a “fee,” normally a percentage of the stolen property, he’ll capture said thief & return the stolen property for you.
I think I shall have to have a read later about said “bow street runners” & investigate their history some.
Robert Peel, Home secretary, he the founder of the modern police force also appears in the text & seems at odds with the bow street runner’s leader, him wanting to modernise the way of policing in the city.
And Yes! there is a crime to solve but a lot is going on in the early chapters, in terms of setting the landscape of the various factions along with the history of the period which revolves around the emancipation of Catholics within English governance & positions of office.
It’ll keep you on yer toes early doors, must admit it took a while for me to get into this read but im glad I stuck with it!
Not all is plain sailing for Pyke, he being our MC, where his investigation takes an unexpected turn & it’s not long before he’s in a bit of a pickle me ol fruit. I would also add he’s not the most ingratiating of MC’s with some of his actions along the way, some may even Boo Hiss him in fact 😊 he is certainly all about “self” & doesn’t lack for confidence, some would say ruthless but more a realist for me with a degree of intelligence above the dross around him which sees him succeed above expectations. I can work with him but I suspect many can’t.
I won’t say much more about the plotline as it is crime fiction except If you like Victorian London, gritty crime, historical detail & political shenanigans then this read will be up yer street & is to be recommended.
As to the style/writing, well it’s a first book so at times (early doors) I did find myself drifting with the narrative as the story/dialogue was a little uninspiring in places but overall, it came together fairly well & the plotting sound even if our MC got outta more scrapes then one would expect.
A solid 3.5 stars which could have been rounded either way during the course of the read but ive finished with a three. A series I’ll be giving another go to see how it develops.
August 20, 2007
The main problem I had with this book was not the fact the protagonist was unlikeable, although he is. Pyke is shown as, not just described as, hard, cruel, vicious. We're shown that he treats people (women) appallingly on more than one occasion. That's fine, that's not necessarily a bad thing in a protagonist.
The problem is the inconsistencies. One moment, it's clear that he and the author knows that he's not likeable, that he's meant to be an antihero. The next, his actions are excused or overlooked. He always manages to trump people in dialogue, insulting and outdebating them and getting away with it. In the first few pages, it's made clear that he's attractive "though not in the suave, if effete, manner of an English gentleman". No, Pyke has to be masculine, and (also made clear in the first few pages) has no trouble getting women and that he dumps them, they don't dump him.
He does something that is nasty, and while it's being done, it's presented as him being a hard man, borderline criminal, ruthless. After, though, there's an explanation, like him explaining why he had to do it, one that she (and we) are meant to accept. It's like the writer wants to show his hardened credentials, look at how tough, how nasty, brutal this guy is, but doesn't want to give up anything for it-- he's still attractive, intelligent, better read than a lot of nobles, cleverer, his actions are forgiveable in the context of his life. One moment, we're told that something he's done was pure pragmatism, unapologetic. The next, there's the explanation, the reason why his actions are acceptable.
The writing style is distant, I think in part to make it feel more appropriate to the era. Everything feels described, rather than shown.
In short, not a terrible book, but not one that does anything for me or that I'd particularly recommend.
The problem is the inconsistencies. One moment, it's clear that he and the author knows that he's not likeable, that he's meant to be an antihero. The next, his actions are excused or overlooked. He always manages to trump people in dialogue, insulting and outdebating them and getting away with it. In the first few pages, it's made clear that he's attractive "though not in the suave, if effete, manner of an English gentleman". No, Pyke has to be masculine, and (also made clear in the first few pages) has no trouble getting women and that he dumps them, they don't dump him.
He does something that is nasty, and while it's being done, it's presented as him being a hard man, borderline criminal, ruthless. After, though, there's an explanation, like him explaining why he had to do it, one that she (and we) are meant to accept. It's like the writer wants to show his hardened credentials, look at how tough, how nasty, brutal this guy is, but doesn't want to give up anything for it-- he's still attractive, intelligent, better read than a lot of nobles, cleverer, his actions are forgiveable in the context of his life. One moment, we're told that something he's done was pure pragmatism, unapologetic. The next, there's the explanation, the reason why his actions are acceptable.
The writing style is distant, I think in part to make it feel more appropriate to the era. Everything feels described, rather than shown.
In short, not a terrible book, but not one that does anything for me or that I'd particularly recommend.
January 14, 2022
'The Last Days of Newgate' is first in the Pyke series of books. It is 1829 and William IV is on the throne. Pyke is a Bow Street Runner. Sir Robert Peel is the Home Secretary and is proposing two controversial measures, the establishment of a regular Police Force, and Catholic Emancipation. Should the Police Reform Bill be passed then the Bow Street Runners will be disbanded.
When a young Irish couple, one Catholic, one Protestant, along with their newborn baby are brutally murdered sectarian violence flares in the city so Pyke sets out to discover their killer but soon realises that powerful and influential men may be complicit in the deaths.
This is a potent mix of sectarian politics and raw violence. Pyke is a man of contradictions with a curious set of morals. He owns a seedy gin palace, attends the opera with the wealthy and bear baiting with the poor, he is a sometime private investigator for the wealthy and sometime thief taker; he foments civil rebellion without any qualms for the participants, is sometime thief and a casual killer if they suit his purpose.
When I was at school many, many, many years ago we were taught British history from the end of the Napoleonic War until the beginning of WWI and therefore studied many of the issues covered by this novel. Consequently it was rather nice to be reminded of this period of history: Police Reform, Catholic Emancipation, rotten boroughs, the practice of paying the Church tithes and the Poor Law to name a few. I could almost smell the gutters and poverty; feel the depravity and despair of the poorer inhabitants of pre-Victorian London but felt there were also parts of the plot that simply weren't credible and the ending rather rushed.
Overall I found this a quick and easy read without being anything special but I also found Pyke an interesting character and would be willing to see just how he develops.
When a young Irish couple, one Catholic, one Protestant, along with their newborn baby are brutally murdered sectarian violence flares in the city so Pyke sets out to discover their killer but soon realises that powerful and influential men may be complicit in the deaths.
This is a potent mix of sectarian politics and raw violence. Pyke is a man of contradictions with a curious set of morals. He owns a seedy gin palace, attends the opera with the wealthy and bear baiting with the poor, he is a sometime private investigator for the wealthy and sometime thief taker; he foments civil rebellion without any qualms for the participants, is sometime thief and a casual killer if they suit his purpose.
When I was at school many, many, many years ago we were taught British history from the end of the Napoleonic War until the beginning of WWI and therefore studied many of the issues covered by this novel. Consequently it was rather nice to be reminded of this period of history: Police Reform, Catholic Emancipation, rotten boroughs, the practice of paying the Church tithes and the Poor Law to name a few. I could almost smell the gutters and poverty; feel the depravity and despair of the poorer inhabitants of pre-Victorian London but felt there were also parts of the plot that simply weren't credible and the ending rather rushed.
Overall I found this a quick and easy read without being anything special but I also found Pyke an interesting character and would be willing to see just how he develops.
January 19, 2011
Halfway through, the main character kills his dog. And I'm out.
August 9, 2012
An obnoxious main character, uninteresting plot and the quality of the writing was variable. Although judging by the long list of acknowledgements it would seem unfair to hold the author solely responsible.
September 20, 2020
Brutal, callous, cold-hearted, narcissistic- that about sums up Pyke the protagonist of the story.
I get the impression we, as readers, are supposed to find Pyke a mystery, unfathomable, deep - well read in philosophy despite his lowly status; his characteristics natural consequences of his harsh upbringing.
But the string of brutality by his own hands creates too much of a chasm for me; rough sex with a frightened prostitute, violence towards the Madame of a brothel, kicking a drunken old priest off his chair in a bar for no apparent reason and killing a lame dog that has taken to following him around out of affection are just ‘minor’ offences. The violence goes on and on.
Secretly I would have been pleased if he had rotted in Newgate forever.
As a Bow Street runner he is tasked with investigating some horrific murders. The investigations become overshadowed by his own skewed sense of morality; his judgement is final, for heinous crimes he seeks revenge killing all those who worked together to frame him in the murder of his own mistress - but what of the innocents that die to bring his plan to fruition? “Sometimes moral absolutes can be as harmful as acts of kindness. People have committed terrible crimes in the name of some greater good.” And so Pyke probably justifies his own existence to himself. There will, however, be no more Pyke mysteries for me, to put it frankly, he’s a bit of a knob.
I get the impression we, as readers, are supposed to find Pyke a mystery, unfathomable, deep - well read in philosophy despite his lowly status; his characteristics natural consequences of his harsh upbringing.
But the string of brutality by his own hands creates too much of a chasm for me; rough sex with a frightened prostitute, violence towards the Madame of a brothel, kicking a drunken old priest off his chair in a bar for no apparent reason and killing a lame dog that has taken to following him around out of affection are just ‘minor’ offences. The violence goes on and on.
Secretly I would have been pleased if he had rotted in Newgate forever.
As a Bow Street runner he is tasked with investigating some horrific murders. The investigations become overshadowed by his own skewed sense of morality; his judgement is final, for heinous crimes he seeks revenge killing all those who worked together to frame him in the murder of his own mistress - but what of the innocents that die to bring his plan to fruition? “Sometimes moral absolutes can be as harmful as acts of kindness. People have committed terrible crimes in the name of some greater good.” And so Pyke probably justifies his own existence to himself. There will, however, be no more Pyke mysteries for me, to put it frankly, he’s a bit of a knob.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2010
A cracking good read! I'm glad that there are more books in the series.
My favorite town: London, the year: 1829, the main character: PYKE, a guy with rough edges, the story. full of intrigue
That is the kind of historical fiction I like.
I must admit that I liked Pyke more than other readers.
My full review over at Edi's Book Lighthouse.
The Last Days Of Newgate has been a more than satisfying read. An awesome historical thriller. The Last Days Of Newgate is dark, gritty, intense and powerful with disturbing attacks on your mind. Don't read it before you sleep because you will not sleep as usual. Don't forget to close windows and doors ....
My favorite town: London, the year: 1829, the main character: PYKE, a guy with rough edges, the story. full of intrigue
That is the kind of historical fiction I like.
I must admit that I liked Pyke more than other readers.
My full review over at Edi's Book Lighthouse.
The Last Days Of Newgate has been a more than satisfying read. An awesome historical thriller. The Last Days Of Newgate is dark, gritty, intense and powerful with disturbing attacks on your mind. Don't read it before you sleep because you will not sleep as usual. Don't forget to close windows and doors ....
June 9, 2013
Pyke's a tough character to root for so I reckon that might work against this book. But I think he's great.
July 6, 2023
Hmm. Pyke isn't... likeable. But he makes some sort of sense. And I'm all for revenge. But leave the dogs alone.
September 27, 2021
Pyke is a lot less likeable than Philip Marlowe, but the plot is tight and the novel is well worth reading. Recommended.
December 12, 2011
Set in the murky world of 19th century London and Belfast - and the even murkier world of the politics of that time - this story also has as its background the last days of the Bow Street Runners and their unsuccessful resistance to Peel's newly introduced Police Force. I am still slightly puzzled by the book's title, as the infamous prison at Newgate, which also features in the book, survived for many years after the period in which this story is set.
Hero - or to be more precise - anti-hero is Pyke, a Bow Street Runner who is equally adept at capturing criminals and also perpetrating often violent and unpleasant crimes. At the heart of the story is a traditional mystery with a fairly well-worn theme in which Pyke finds himself accused of a crime which he didn't actually commit, and he has to go on the run and simultaneously trace the real villains to save his skin. That Pyke comes within an inch of being executed and is constantly having to fight for his life does add some extra tension to the story.
As the first book in what's promised as a series, the idea has some potential but I'm not totally convinced by the execution. The book isn't particularly badly written but the plot could have been a lot tighter and some of the characters - particularly females - more convincingly drawn. What worries me most, though, is the unremittingly grim way almost everything and everyone in the book is described. Most of us are familiar with the over-pretty "chocolate box" imagery beloved of TV costume dramas and romantic novels, so a measure of gritty realism can come as a welcome change. However, when almost every page of this book revels in telling us about streets running in excretement and general filth; the cruelty, corruption and all round nastiness of life across all classes of the population, and heaps ever-more violent and gruesome crimes one after the other, even the strongest of stomachs may find this all too much to take. Only two characters in the book seem to have any redeeming features, Pryke's Uncle (quite well drawn) and the main female interest, Emily (not drawn well at all). I'm all for a reasonable amount of darkness in a story but this one desperately needed some light relief, and just a touch of humour wouldn't have gone amiss.
Will I try more stories in this series? Not totally sure, but Pyke is not going to be high on my "must read" lists.
Hero - or to be more precise - anti-hero is Pyke, a Bow Street Runner who is equally adept at capturing criminals and also perpetrating often violent and unpleasant crimes. At the heart of the story is a traditional mystery with a fairly well-worn theme in which Pyke finds himself accused of a crime which he didn't actually commit, and he has to go on the run and simultaneously trace the real villains to save his skin. That Pyke comes within an inch of being executed and is constantly having to fight for his life does add some extra tension to the story.
As the first book in what's promised as a series, the idea has some potential but I'm not totally convinced by the execution. The book isn't particularly badly written but the plot could have been a lot tighter and some of the characters - particularly females - more convincingly drawn. What worries me most, though, is the unremittingly grim way almost everything and everyone in the book is described. Most of us are familiar with the over-pretty "chocolate box" imagery beloved of TV costume dramas and romantic novels, so a measure of gritty realism can come as a welcome change. However, when almost every page of this book revels in telling us about streets running in excretement and general filth; the cruelty, corruption and all round nastiness of life across all classes of the population, and heaps ever-more violent and gruesome crimes one after the other, even the strongest of stomachs may find this all too much to take. Only two characters in the book seem to have any redeeming features, Pryke's Uncle (quite well drawn) and the main female interest, Emily (not drawn well at all). I'm all for a reasonable amount of darkness in a story but this one desperately needed some light relief, and just a touch of humour wouldn't have gone amiss.
Will I try more stories in this series? Not totally sure, but Pyke is not going to be high on my "must read" lists.
February 5, 2020
I picked up this book in an Oxfam on a vacation to England, looking for something to occupy me on the 10-hour trip back home. It did the trick.
This is a mystery set in pre-Victorian London, starting with a gruesome murder but more or less focusing on the adventures of the gritty protagonist, Pyke, as he makes a rather broad loop from the scene of the crime to the final confrontation with the killer.
I'll be honest, I well lost track of the plot several times through this story, but it generally involves Pyke becoming key "detective" in the murder investigation of a young couple and their newborn child, evading malevolent politicians, travelling the English countryside (slightly due to exile from London, slightly due to detective stuff), and diving deep into the contemporary social discord between Catholics and Protestants.
Pyke himself acts stereo-typically aloof and gritty, with a touch of philosophical redemption...kind of like a 19th-century James Bond. He's so apathetic as to be sadistic. He's cruel to women and violent to men yet his overarching actions mimic that of an ultimate predilection for justice. But why exactly does he do what he does? I found myself often wondering this as I meandered through his gruesome adventures at his side.
This books reads "real" as far as historical fiction goes. It's got a good tone that doesn't try to hard, nor tries too little. The world is fleshed out in a way you can smell and feel, and you feel confident that the author completed the labor of research.
Overall, it's not a bad book, but not especially memorable.
This is a mystery set in pre-Victorian London, starting with a gruesome murder but more or less focusing on the adventures of the gritty protagonist, Pyke, as he makes a rather broad loop from the scene of the crime to the final confrontation with the killer.
I'll be honest, I well lost track of the plot several times through this story, but it generally involves Pyke becoming key "detective" in the murder investigation of a young couple and their newborn child, evading malevolent politicians, travelling the English countryside (slightly due to exile from London, slightly due to detective stuff), and diving deep into the contemporary social discord between Catholics and Protestants.
Pyke himself acts stereo-typically aloof and gritty, with a touch of philosophical redemption...kind of like a 19th-century James Bond. He's so apathetic as to be sadistic. He's cruel to women and violent to men yet his overarching actions mimic that of an ultimate predilection for justice. But why exactly does he do what he does? I found myself often wondering this as I meandered through his gruesome adventures at his side.
This books reads "real" as far as historical fiction goes. It's got a good tone that doesn't try to hard, nor tries too little. The world is fleshed out in a way you can smell and feel, and you feel confident that the author completed the labor of research.
Overall, it's not a bad book, but not especially memorable.
September 6, 2016
Set in the aftermath of the Napoleonic era it follows a Bow Street Runner by the name of Pike who is a definite rogue/criminal with a sense of honour. I love historical novels and this one (albeit almost entirely fictional) has a lot of good history about the end of the Runners and the creation of the new Metropolitan police force. The main character is likeable and hateable at times and that all adds to the flavour in the well crafted detective/mystery tale. I love what can best be described as alternate-detective books. Old fashioned detective stories with a twist and this one is just that, the resolution was well played too, not forced and a few surprises near the end too.
Where I got the book: In the run up to Christmas I was under strict instructions not to buy any books I had said I wanted as Emma was planning on getting me some of them. One day I popped into the excellent discount bookshop in the Pallisades, Bookends, and saw the cover to The Last Days of Newgate and after reading the back I was sufficiently intrigued and bought it. There was no way Emma could have seen it and realise I’d want it as I’d not mentioned it. The risk was minimal. Turns out she knew me better than I though and had bought me the book for Christmas. I took my copy back (and swapped it for a Dark Future book) and waited patiently until Christmas Day :)
Where I got the book: In the run up to Christmas I was under strict instructions not to buy any books I had said I wanted as Emma was planning on getting me some of them. One day I popped into the excellent discount bookshop in the Pallisades, Bookends, and saw the cover to The Last Days of Newgate and after reading the back I was sufficiently intrigued and bought it. There was no way Emma could have seen it and realise I’d want it as I’d not mentioned it. The risk was minimal. Turns out she knew me better than I though and had bought me the book for Christmas. I took my copy back (and swapped it for a Dark Future book) and waited patiently until Christmas Day :)
July 13, 2008
Another period mystery - grabbed as a fun and simple read for my recent canoe trip. It wasn't very meaty - finished it before the trip ended. I can't really recommend it as a stand alone novel, it's not well written, although the historical period and location (London/Belfast 1829) makes for a very interesting and graphic background and I think it gets a star just for the atmosphere . The cities are brutal and grim places to live but this author is far from the first nor the best author to point this out.
And his protagonist Pyke is no 'half-cock Jack'. He reminds me of Charles Bronson on a Death Wish. The female lead character is unfinished, so I never quite understood her motivation, other than as a device to move the plot forward, the twist in the ending felt contrived and easy.
That said, YMMV if you are stuck on a desert isle (or uninhabited lake) and this is what you've got at hand...
And his protagonist Pyke is no 'half-cock Jack'. He reminds me of Charles Bronson on a Death Wish. The female lead character is unfinished, so I never quite understood her motivation, other than as a device to move the plot forward, the twist in the ending felt contrived and easy.
That said, YMMV if you are stuck on a desert isle (or uninhabited lake) and this is what you've got at hand...
September 3, 2025
I really enjoyed this gripping and intriguing historical crime thriller, up there with the best of this genre.
Pyke is a Bow Street Runner and although a policeman he is not what a policeman should be, he is a rogue and a blackguard and although he has great determination to achieve justice, he doesn’t care how he achieves it or who stands in his way.
His mission is to find who committed three murders, there are not many who he can trust and there are also those in high places who want him out of the way and so eventually he becomes accused himself of murder, found guilty and is sentenced to hang only to escape aided by his uncle and the daughter of his sworn enemy.
London was not a nice place to live in those days, life was hard and Andrew Pepper paints a surly picture.
I found myself absorbed in this wicked and twisty plot. More please! 5/5
Pyke is a Bow Street Runner and although a policeman he is not what a policeman should be, he is a rogue and a blackguard and although he has great determination to achieve justice, he doesn’t care how he achieves it or who stands in his way.
His mission is to find who committed three murders, there are not many who he can trust and there are also those in high places who want him out of the way and so eventually he becomes accused himself of murder, found guilty and is sentenced to hang only to escape aided by his uncle and the daughter of his sworn enemy.
London was not a nice place to live in those days, life was hard and Andrew Pepper paints a surly picture.
I found myself absorbed in this wicked and twisty plot. More please! 5/5
January 31, 2022
The Last Days of Newgate by Andrew Pepper follows Pyke, a wayward bow street runner who accidentally become embroiled in a murder investigation and sent to Newgate prison. Pyke must clear his name at all costs or face the noose.
I wish the book had spent more time in Newgate as the title of the book suggests that Newgate would be the main focus of the book - I think I had my heart set on a "devil of the Marshalsea" type of story where all of the main plot would take place in prison with the protagonist being held back by their confines.
Another limitation to the book is that the majority of the characterization is given to Pyke, a character the author clearly loves, but the side character all seem a little bland in comparison and it makes the character interactions a little boring.
I wish the book had spent more time in Newgate as the title of the book suggests that Newgate would be the main focus of the book - I think I had my heart set on a "devil of the Marshalsea" type of story where all of the main plot would take place in prison with the protagonist being held back by their confines.
Another limitation to the book is that the majority of the characterization is given to Pyke, a character the author clearly loves, but the side character all seem a little bland in comparison and it makes the character interactions a little boring.
February 11, 2021
I’ve been meaning to read this for some time but just couldn’t find the right time. I thoroughly enjoyed it; Pyke is a great character - a Bow Street Runner but equally adept at seeing the opportunity for himself. This adventure thriller follows him on one, two or three pursuits depending on the depth you look at them, and his brash, no nonsense attitude leaves a trail of destruction. Whether this is by chance or not you’ll have to find out for yourself.
It was entertaining for sure but the character and story needed a bit more depth - it was all a bit easy. A bit like watching Bond films! This is the first in the series so will seek out the others hoping for a bit more.
It was entertaining for sure but the character and story needed a bit more depth - it was all a bit easy. A bit like watching Bond films! This is the first in the series so will seek out the others hoping for a bit more.
January 13, 2012
What a crappy book! Learned a little history, but it was hardly credible, and was chosen to serve the plot, not the other way around. Avoid.
January 8, 2019
En ce temps-là, Scotland Yard n'est pas encore né, on le sent venir, ne manque plus qu'un dernier coup de rein pour évincer les Bow Street Runners, ces gars qui, comme ceux qui nous gouvernent, ont une moralité douteuse (je sors !).
Vous aimez le côté droit de Sherlock Holmes ? Vous appréciez que de temps en temps il fasse la nique à la loi ? Ou qu'ils utilise des informateurs pour avancer dans son enquête ?
Et bien, dans ce polar, l'enquêteur Pyke va vous défriser l'bazar à tel point que vous vous demanderez s'il ne se la joue pas "hôpital se foutant de la gueule de la charité" ou "du Munster disant au Camembert : tu pues" !
Certes, les putes de fils (je n'insulterai pas leurs mères) qu'il va mettre devant leurs forfaits accomplis sont des salopards de première classe, mais Pyke peut aller bouffer à leur râtelier et ses mains sont toutes aussi remplies de sang que les leurs.
La fin justifiera tous les moyens ! Même des morts innocentes.
Ok, Pyke n'a pas étranglé un bébé, mais je lui garderai tout de même un chien de ma chienne ainsi qu'a son auteur. Avec Olivier Norek, c'est une histoire de chat, dans le cas d'Andrew Pepper, ce sera une affaire de chien. Dire qu'il ose ensuite faire des reproches aux autres.
Pourtant, malgré tout, je l'ai bien apprécié, le Pyke et son côté taiseux, entêté durant une enquête, poursuivant sans relâche afin d'arriver à résoudre l'affaire. Il a un côté holmésien dans le fait qu'il ne montre jamais ses sentiments.
En 1829, ça grognait déjà et toujours entre les catho et les protestants, le moindre fait est monté en épingle et une fois la mèche allumée, yapuka laisser tout péter, les gentils habitants se chargeant eux-mêmes de s'assassiner entre eux. Machiavélique !
Toujours ces vieilles histoires… le catho en veut au protestant de lui avoir cassé la gueule hier et le protestant rappelle au catho que la semaine dernière, il massacrait 30.000 des siens, alors que le mois dernier, c'était… ♫ Non, non, rien n'a changé ♪
Le serpent se mord la queue et les morts de maintenant ne rachèteront jamais les morts d'avant. Pourtant, chacun campe sur ses positions et cet antagonisme est bien rendu dans le récit, donnant une certaine atmosphère à ces pages bien sombres.
Les dialogues sont souvent percutants, machiavéliques même, à certains moments, et l'enquête de Pyke va l'entrainer dans une spirale de violence à faire pâlir de jalousie Jack The Ripper him self car les cadavres vont se ramasser à la pelle et Pyke ne sera pas toujours innocent dans ces affaires, comme je vous le disais plus haut (suivez !).
Un polar historique qui se lit tout seul car les personnages vous entraineront dans cette gigue infernale et la question qui se posera dans ces pages sera "Qui a fait ça et pourquoi ?".
La solution se trouvera à la fin et oui, c'est perfide ! Mais tout à fait naturel et vieux comme le Monde.
Vous aimez le côté droit de Sherlock Holmes ? Vous appréciez que de temps en temps il fasse la nique à la loi ? Ou qu'ils utilise des informateurs pour avancer dans son enquête ?
Et bien, dans ce polar, l'enquêteur Pyke va vous défriser l'bazar à tel point que vous vous demanderez s'il ne se la joue pas "hôpital se foutant de la gueule de la charité" ou "du Munster disant au Camembert : tu pues" !
Certes, les putes de fils (je n'insulterai pas leurs mères) qu'il va mettre devant leurs forfaits accomplis sont des salopards de première classe, mais Pyke peut aller bouffer à leur râtelier et ses mains sont toutes aussi remplies de sang que les leurs.
La fin justifiera tous les moyens ! Même des morts innocentes.
Ok, Pyke n'a pas étranglé un bébé, mais je lui garderai tout de même un chien de ma chienne ainsi qu'a son auteur. Avec Olivier Norek, c'est une histoire de chat, dans le cas d'Andrew Pepper, ce sera une affaire de chien. Dire qu'il ose ensuite faire des reproches aux autres.
Pourtant, malgré tout, je l'ai bien apprécié, le Pyke et son côté taiseux, entêté durant une enquête, poursuivant sans relâche afin d'arriver à résoudre l'affaire. Il a un côté holmésien dans le fait qu'il ne montre jamais ses sentiments.
En 1829, ça grognait déjà et toujours entre les catho et les protestants, le moindre fait est monté en épingle et une fois la mèche allumée, yapuka laisser tout péter, les gentils habitants se chargeant eux-mêmes de s'assassiner entre eux. Machiavélique !
Toujours ces vieilles histoires… le catho en veut au protestant de lui avoir cassé la gueule hier et le protestant rappelle au catho que la semaine dernière, il massacrait 30.000 des siens, alors que le mois dernier, c'était… ♫ Non, non, rien n'a changé ♪
Le serpent se mord la queue et les morts de maintenant ne rachèteront jamais les morts d'avant. Pourtant, chacun campe sur ses positions et cet antagonisme est bien rendu dans le récit, donnant une certaine atmosphère à ces pages bien sombres.
Les dialogues sont souvent percutants, machiavéliques même, à certains moments, et l'enquête de Pyke va l'entrainer dans une spirale de violence à faire pâlir de jalousie Jack The Ripper him self car les cadavres vont se ramasser à la pelle et Pyke ne sera pas toujours innocent dans ces affaires, comme je vous le disais plus haut (suivez !).
Un polar historique qui se lit tout seul car les personnages vous entraineront dans cette gigue infernale et la question qui se posera dans ces pages sera "Qui a fait ça et pourquoi ?".
La solution se trouvera à la fin et oui, c'est perfide ! Mais tout à fait naturel et vieux comme le Monde.
June 8, 2018
Lu en français.
Je suis assez déçue. Le mystère n'est pas très très mystérieux de mon point de vue. Et je trouve que le thème de l'anti-héros accusé à tord est éculé au possible dans les polars (historiques ou non).
Le personnage principal est assez antipathique, je pense que c'est voulu, mais peut-être pas à ce point : je l'ai vraiment détesté au plus haut point, et je n'ai pas aimé le détester, comme ça peut être le cas parfois. Si je le rencontrais dans la vraie vie, je dirais de lui que c'est un connard imbu de lui-même qui joue le pauvre maudit.
Encore une fois, encore dans un roman écrit par un homme, je constate que les personnages féminins n'ont aucune épaisseur et ne sont là que pour être utiles au héros et à son intrigue. Encore une fois, le héros rend évidemment amoureuses de lui (ou désirantes) toutes les femmes qu'il croise. C'est agaçant au plus haut point.
Au tout début du roman, on assiste à un viol sans que ça semble prêter à conséquence, c'est juste une anecdote pour mettre en place le héros.
Charmant.
Pour ce qui est de l'intrigue en elle-même, beaucoup de choses sont invraisemblables, très peu crédibles.
/SPOILER/
Pour faire court, le héros a vraiment une chance de cocu. On explique en long en large et en travers que toute la ville le cherche et veut sa peau, mais il ne cesse de se balader sans qu'on le remarque, et quand on le remarque c'est pour mieux le servir et lui permettre de s'en sortir encore mieux. Il retourne carrément dans les endroits où il a déjà été repéré. Je ne détaille pas pour ne pas spoiler plus.
/fin du SPOILER/
En bref, je déconseille.
Je suis assez déçue. Le mystère n'est pas très très mystérieux de mon point de vue. Et je trouve que le thème de l'anti-héros accusé à tord est éculé au possible dans les polars (historiques ou non).
Le personnage principal est assez antipathique, je pense que c'est voulu, mais peut-être pas à ce point : je l'ai vraiment détesté au plus haut point, et je n'ai pas aimé le détester, comme ça peut être le cas parfois. Si je le rencontrais dans la vraie vie, je dirais de lui que c'est un connard imbu de lui-même qui joue le pauvre maudit.
Encore une fois, encore dans un roman écrit par un homme, je constate que les personnages féminins n'ont aucune épaisseur et ne sont là que pour être utiles au héros et à son intrigue. Encore une fois, le héros rend évidemment amoureuses de lui (ou désirantes) toutes les femmes qu'il croise. C'est agaçant au plus haut point.
Au tout début du roman, on assiste à un viol sans que ça semble prêter à conséquence, c'est juste une anecdote pour mettre en place le héros.
Charmant.
Pour ce qui est de l'intrigue en elle-même, beaucoup de choses sont invraisemblables, très peu crédibles.
/SPOILER/
Pour faire court, le héros a vraiment une chance de cocu. On explique en long en large et en travers que toute la ville le cherche et veut sa peau, mais il ne cesse de se balader sans qu'on le remarque, et quand on le remarque c'est pour mieux le servir et lui permettre de s'en sortir encore mieux. Il retourne carrément dans les endroits où il a déjà été repéré. Je ne détaille pas pour ne pas spoiler plus.
/fin du SPOILER/
En bref, je déconseille.
May 12, 2024
My main problem with this is that Pyke is so unlikable, it was a hard read. I think it’s possible to write a morally ambiguous or even bad character but still have the reader understand or think hey that’s kinda cool. He was just a jerk, and the women felt very two dimensional in this, basically there to show that no matter what he does he’s still a hottie. I didn’t understand his love interests character at all, she just seemed… annoying and contradictory (she was mad about some murders but not others?). I felt myself skimming a lot of this just to be over with it. Also a weird amount of farts in this?? I just think a lot of Pykes decisions were swept under the rug because there was no way to justify it in a “cool” way and that just feels lazy.
November 20, 2018
I found the first half of this book fascinating, with its accounts of policing and religious conflict in London early in the nineteenth century. The history of this period was new to me and even allowing for the author’s admitted liberal interpretation of history, very informative. Thereafter, the account of the hero’s adventures, while always absorbing, became increasingly less credible and often left me wanting to know how he knew something, or arrived somewhere at just the right time. That said, it’s an entertaining read.
March 2, 2018
A quite unlikable hero.
The story is convoluted, dark and not entirely credible. I did finish the book, but I didn't really enjoy it. There is plenty of adventure and violence, in a very unsavoury setting with no likeable characters. The message appears to be that everyone is out for themselves and the devil take the hindmost and that somehow that is ok.
The story is convoluted, dark and not entirely credible. I did finish the book, but I didn't really enjoy it. There is plenty of adventure and violence, in a very unsavoury setting with no likeable characters. The message appears to be that everyone is out for themselves and the devil take the hindmost and that somehow that is ok.
April 4, 2024
Quite a historical ride in this first of the series. The hero who is morally good but can be worse than the baddies he is chasing. Behind the background of London life, Irish religion and class revolts a very horrifying murder is the basis of this mystery but the answer is not at all straight forward.
September 27, 2025
A historic detective story that paints a convincing picture of grim, grey, dirty London in the 1820s. The flawed, often immoral protagonist is just about charismatic enough to root for but not quite enough for me to want to pick up another Pike Mystery book.
June 24, 2017
Liked the historical bit, story was suspenseful, but mostly it was all a little weird - not really my kind of book, I guess.
November 5, 2017
This is an intense novel that never lets up. The solutions to crimes are left to the very end of the story. Lots of characters but they all related directly to the story line.
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