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Arrowood #2
De moordput
Het is 1896. Sherlock Holmes heeft opnieuw de kranten gehaald door allerlei mysterieuze zaken op te lossen voor rijke Londenaren. Maar te midden van de arbeiderswoningen in Zuid-Londen, houdt William Arrowood zich bezig met veel duisterdere, gewelddadigere en minder goed betaalde zaken.
Arrowood is zonder twijfel de betere detective, dus wanneer Mr en Mrs Barclay hem op het hart drukken hun ontvoerde dochter Birdie terug te vinden, is hij ervan overtuigd dat hij en zijn assistent dat zo voor elkaar hebben. Maar deze aanvankelijk eenvoudige zaak met één vermist persoon, verandert al gauw in een grootschalig moordonderzoek. Ver weg van de chique wijken is Arrowoods Londen er een van onverbiddelijke wreedheid, waar het kwaad erop wacht ontmaskerd te worden...
Arrowood is zonder twijfel de betere detective, dus wanneer Mr en Mrs Barclay hem op het hart drukken hun ontvoerde dochter Birdie terug te vinden, is hij ervan overtuigd dat hij en zijn assistent dat zo voor elkaar hebben. Maar deze aanvankelijk eenvoudige zaak met één vermist persoon, verandert al gauw in een grootschalig moordonderzoek. Ver weg van de chique wijken is Arrowoods Londen er een van onverbiddelijke wreedheid, waar het kwaad erop wacht ontmaskerd te worden...
448 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 10, 2019
About the author
Mick Finlay
8 books192 followersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/mickfinlayau...
Mick Finlay was born in Glasgow and grew up in Canada and England. He now divides his time between Brighton and Cambridge. He teaches in a Psychology Department, and has published social psychological research on political violence, persuasion, and verbal and non-verbal behaviour. Before becoming an academic he worked as a tent hand in a travelling circus, a butcher's boy, a hotel porter, and in various psychology-related roles in the NHS and social services. He reads widely in history, psychology, and enjoys a variety of fiction genres (including crime, of course!)
Mick used his background in psychology to write 'Arrowood', a historical crime fiction novel set in Victorian London. It is published HQ (Harper Collins) in the UK and by Mira in the USA. Translations are available by Harper Collins in a number of other countries (e.g. Japan, Brazil, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Holland, Finland, Norway and Sweden). The sequel, 'The Murder Pit', came out in Jan 2019 (UK), Feb in N America, and other countries later this year (dates to be confirmed).
“Gangsters, pornographers, drunks and Fenian terrorists abound in this Victorian noir detective novel, which crackles with energy and wit.” The Times (of London) – Top 100 Summer Books
“Arrowood is the Victorian workingman’s answer to the higher-class Sherlock Holmes — a foul-mouthed, hard-drinking, shabby detective with a seriously bad attitude toward his more famous counterpart.” Seattle Times – 10 of the Summer’s Hottest Crime Fiction Titles
Mick Finlay was born in Glasgow and grew up in Canada and England. He now divides his time between Brighton and Cambridge. He teaches in a Psychology Department, and has published social psychological research on political violence, persuasion, and verbal and non-verbal behaviour. Before becoming an academic he worked as a tent hand in a travelling circus, a butcher's boy, a hotel porter, and in various psychology-related roles in the NHS and social services. He reads widely in history, psychology, and enjoys a variety of fiction genres (including crime, of course!)
Mick used his background in psychology to write 'Arrowood', a historical crime fiction novel set in Victorian London. It is published HQ (Harper Collins) in the UK and by Mira in the USA. Translations are available by Harper Collins in a number of other countries (e.g. Japan, Brazil, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Holland, Finland, Norway and Sweden). The sequel, 'The Murder Pit', came out in Jan 2019 (UK), Feb in N America, and other countries later this year (dates to be confirmed).
“Gangsters, pornographers, drunks and Fenian terrorists abound in this Victorian noir detective novel, which crackles with energy and wit.” The Times (of London) – Top 100 Summer Books
“Arrowood is the Victorian workingman’s answer to the higher-class Sherlock Holmes — a foul-mouthed, hard-drinking, shabby detective with a seriously bad attitude toward his more famous counterpart.” Seattle Times – 10 of the Summer’s Hottest Crime Fiction Titles
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
December 20, 2018
Mick Finlay writes wonderfully atmospheric and richly detailed historical crime fiction set in Victorian London, a London that lauds the abilities of Sherlock Holmes, coming to the aid of the country and the aristocracy, where the police seek his help. Working much lower down the social ladder, struggling financially, is the other private detective, William Arrowood, the 'guvnor', with his sidekick, Norman Barnett. Arrowood believes he is at least as good as Holmes, but languishes in obscurity, taking cases that mean walking the poverty stricken foggy mean streets and slums of the city, where the desperate and destitute masses face the dangers of diseases like cholera, abuse and unemployment, where for them just to survive the day is a victory in itself. Arrowood's wife, Isabel, has left him for a lawyer in Cambridge, leaving him hoping she will return, despite acknowledging that he gave her good reasons to depart. Barnett is the narrator, a man from a much lower social circle than William, often treated with indifference and under-appreciated by the 'guvnor'.
It is 1896 and a new case arrives in the form of Mr and Mrs Barclay, whose daughter, who they describe as simple minded, unquestioning and malleable, Bordie has married Walter Ockinell, a pig farmer in Catford. To their despair, Bridie has not been in contact with them, and they are convinced that the Ockinall family is keeping her from them. They want William to arrange an opportunity to meet Bridie face to face, worried that she is being ill treated. It all seems straightforward, a case that will easily resolved quickly, but instead they enter territory that is to tax them to their limits, and bring great dangers. The Ockinalls refuse to let him see Bridie, and they encounter a wall of silence in Catford when it comes to getting information on the family, constantly told the Ockinalls are good people and have a excellent reputation. Frustrated, they begin to have concerns about the workers on the farm, and worry about the disappearance of an old tinker woman who had offered snippets of sinister information about the family. The local policeman, Sergeant Root, dismisses their report of the missing woman, and seems to be in the pocket of the Ockinells. William Arrowood and Barnett are to encounter individuals with mental health issues and Down's Syndrome, cruelty and deplorable exploitation and begin to tug at the threads of a conspiracy that involves an asylum in Caterham, the Poor Law Union and more.
Finlay has done impeccable research on the period, and makes excellent use of this in his enthralling storylines. He captures the developing Victorian debate on mental health, the Mongoloids, the asylums, the preponderance of deranged theories, the proposing of eugenics and beliefs that you could identify a bad 'un by merely looking at their physical features and face, and the lack of voice, rights and justice of those ensnared in the asylum system. The plot and conspiracy outlined in the novel is based on real life scandals of the time, incorporating financial fraud, exploitation and mistreatment of those in asylums. Arrowood himself is a figure of compassion and good deeds, but can be unlikeable and disagreeable. He partakes of the demon drink and laudanum, and his physical features barely inspire confidence. However, you have to admire him and Barnett, determined to face down the horrors they uncover and throw light on them, particularly given the wide array of those who disparage them, and are intent on discrediting them. Even when Arrowood thinks at long last they will receive favourable coverage of their activities, this does not pan out. So they must continue, scrabbling for work and poorly rewarded in the near future. This is a wonderfully entertaining and compelling piece of historical fiction. It is the second in the series, but it worked perfectly fine as a standalone. Many thanks to HQ for an ARC.
It is 1896 and a new case arrives in the form of Mr and Mrs Barclay, whose daughter, who they describe as simple minded, unquestioning and malleable, Bordie has married Walter Ockinell, a pig farmer in Catford. To their despair, Bridie has not been in contact with them, and they are convinced that the Ockinall family is keeping her from them. They want William to arrange an opportunity to meet Bridie face to face, worried that she is being ill treated. It all seems straightforward, a case that will easily resolved quickly, but instead they enter territory that is to tax them to their limits, and bring great dangers. The Ockinalls refuse to let him see Bridie, and they encounter a wall of silence in Catford when it comes to getting information on the family, constantly told the Ockinalls are good people and have a excellent reputation. Frustrated, they begin to have concerns about the workers on the farm, and worry about the disappearance of an old tinker woman who had offered snippets of sinister information about the family. The local policeman, Sergeant Root, dismisses their report of the missing woman, and seems to be in the pocket of the Ockinells. William Arrowood and Barnett are to encounter individuals with mental health issues and Down's Syndrome, cruelty and deplorable exploitation and begin to tug at the threads of a conspiracy that involves an asylum in Caterham, the Poor Law Union and more.
Finlay has done impeccable research on the period, and makes excellent use of this in his enthralling storylines. He captures the developing Victorian debate on mental health, the Mongoloids, the asylums, the preponderance of deranged theories, the proposing of eugenics and beliefs that you could identify a bad 'un by merely looking at their physical features and face, and the lack of voice, rights and justice of those ensnared in the asylum system. The plot and conspiracy outlined in the novel is based on real life scandals of the time, incorporating financial fraud, exploitation and mistreatment of those in asylums. Arrowood himself is a figure of compassion and good deeds, but can be unlikeable and disagreeable. He partakes of the demon drink and laudanum, and his physical features barely inspire confidence. However, you have to admire him and Barnett, determined to face down the horrors they uncover and throw light on them, particularly given the wide array of those who disparage them, and are intent on discrediting them. Even when Arrowood thinks at long last they will receive favourable coverage of their activities, this does not pan out. So they must continue, scrabbling for work and poorly rewarded in the near future. This is a wonderfully entertaining and compelling piece of historical fiction. It is the second in the series, but it worked perfectly fine as a standalone. Many thanks to HQ for an ARC.
June 11, 2019
Arrowood was one of my best discoveries last year.
The Victorian detective who lives in the shadows of the famous and much lauded Holmes is left to deal with the much grittier and violent crimes in the capital.
This dark London scene sees Arrowood assigned the task of tracing Mr and Mrs Barclay’s estranged daughter Birdie, it seems a simple enough case.
But this bitter detective is about to be thrust into a murder investigation...
I just love the grubby setting of this series, it’s easy to romanticise Victorian fiction whilst this series really puts the poor and most needy at the forefront.
Arrowood’s frustration with the press reporting Holmes latest success is a great count point that runs through this series.
The author doesn’t shy away from the horrors and attitudes towards mental health issues of the time, the Asylum features very prominently in this book.
A great mystery coupled with a real atmospheric feel for the era has already established itself as one of my favourite current crime series.
The Victorian detective who lives in the shadows of the famous and much lauded Holmes is left to deal with the much grittier and violent crimes in the capital.
This dark London scene sees Arrowood assigned the task of tracing Mr and Mrs Barclay’s estranged daughter Birdie, it seems a simple enough case.
But this bitter detective is about to be thrust into a murder investigation...
I just love the grubby setting of this series, it’s easy to romanticise Victorian fiction whilst this series really puts the poor and most needy at the forefront.
Arrowood’s frustration with the press reporting Holmes latest success is a great count point that runs through this series.
The author doesn’t shy away from the horrors and attitudes towards mental health issues of the time, the Asylum features very prominently in this book.
A great mystery coupled with a real atmospheric feel for the era has already established itself as one of my favourite current crime series.
February 22, 2019
Private investigator William Arrowood and his assistant Barnett are contemporaries of Sherlock Holmes and Watson. Whereas Sherlock handles cases of the wealthier class, Arrowood investigates for the working class/poor of London. He is called upon to investigate the disappearance of Birdie who is noted missing by her parents. The last time they saw her she was moving to the country with her new husband, but the concern is that Birdie has some cognitive and mental deficits and they worry if she is being cared for properly.
What an excellent historical Victorian novel. I was pleasantly surprised as I was not sure what to expect with an investigator with a similar intellect and reasoning of Sherlock Holmes (whom I love), but the author did an excellent job. This book was well researched and written in the vernacular of the day. It takes us into the world of how those with deficits were treated in asylums. Excellent character development and it kept my attention the entire time.
I did not read the first book in the series but it was not needed. This book could be read as a standalone. I plan to read the other book in the series and look forward to upcoming ones. I highly recommend this one.
What an excellent historical Victorian novel. I was pleasantly surprised as I was not sure what to expect with an investigator with a similar intellect and reasoning of Sherlock Holmes (whom I love), but the author did an excellent job. This book was well researched and written in the vernacular of the day. It takes us into the world of how those with deficits were treated in asylums. Excellent character development and it kept my attention the entire time.
I did not read the first book in the series but it was not needed. This book could be read as a standalone. I plan to read the other book in the series and look forward to upcoming ones. I highly recommend this one.
January 7, 2019
Book Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
William Arrowood (the guvnor) and Norman Barnett his sidekick, and the narrator of the book are the poor people’s private detectives in the late 1800s. They take on the cases that Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson wouldn’t even think about investigating.
In The Murder Pit, Arrowood has been asked by a Mr. and Mrs. Barclay to track down their daughter Birdie and bring her home (or at least talk to her and make sure she is okay). Birdie is apparently a ‘simple-minded’ young girl, as her family call her, and is easily led astray. Since she married farmer Walter Ockwell she hasn’t been seen or heard from and her parents, though they have tried, haven’t had any success in finding her and talking to her.
The Ockwell family are fiercely private people and won’t let anyone near Birdie. The family seem to be ruled by Walter’s sister and are very well know in their local area.
Arrowood and Barnett take a look into the Ockwell‘s and find out some disturbing information which they go to the local police officer with, though he refuses to help and warns Arrowood to stay away. There’s also the issue of someone who helped them with their enquires going missing too.
Arrowood’s not easily beaten though and won’t give up until he’s completed what’s he’s been paid for.
I’m a huge Sherlock Holmes fan so when I saw this book I knew I had to read it. At first, I didn’t realise it was the second in a series, but it is fine to read as a stand-alone so not reading the first didn’t hinder me in any way.
Arrowood works in the same field as Sherlock Holmes but his methods are completely different. He studies people and their actions and emotions rather than rely on the clues to lead him to the culprit or cause. He also gets paid a lot less than Sherlock’s and takes on poor peoples cases. He also seems to detest Sherlock.
The book is narrated by Barnett, Arrowood’s assistant. Author Mick Finlay has certainly done his research into the Victorian era and also the plight of disabled people back in those days. This comes across strong and there is no doubt when turning the pages which era in history you are within.
I favour the chase in mystery/detective books far more than the outcome and this book didn’t disappoint, (neither did the finale). I enjoyed it immensely and if you like Sherlock you’ll love this series.
William Arrowood (the guvnor) and Norman Barnett his sidekick, and the narrator of the book are the poor people’s private detectives in the late 1800s. They take on the cases that Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson wouldn’t even think about investigating.
In The Murder Pit, Arrowood has been asked by a Mr. and Mrs. Barclay to track down their daughter Birdie and bring her home (or at least talk to her and make sure she is okay). Birdie is apparently a ‘simple-minded’ young girl, as her family call her, and is easily led astray. Since she married farmer Walter Ockwell she hasn’t been seen or heard from and her parents, though they have tried, haven’t had any success in finding her and talking to her.
The Ockwell family are fiercely private people and won’t let anyone near Birdie. The family seem to be ruled by Walter’s sister and are very well know in their local area.
Arrowood and Barnett take a look into the Ockwell‘s and find out some disturbing information which they go to the local police officer with, though he refuses to help and warns Arrowood to stay away. There’s also the issue of someone who helped them with their enquires going missing too.
Arrowood’s not easily beaten though and won’t give up until he’s completed what’s he’s been paid for.
I’m a huge Sherlock Holmes fan so when I saw this book I knew I had to read it. At first, I didn’t realise it was the second in a series, but it is fine to read as a stand-alone so not reading the first didn’t hinder me in any way.
Arrowood works in the same field as Sherlock Holmes but his methods are completely different. He studies people and their actions and emotions rather than rely on the clues to lead him to the culprit or cause. He also gets paid a lot less than Sherlock’s and takes on poor peoples cases. He also seems to detest Sherlock.
The book is narrated by Barnett, Arrowood’s assistant. Author Mick Finlay has certainly done his research into the Victorian era and also the plight of disabled people back in those days. This comes across strong and there is no doubt when turning the pages which era in history you are within.
I favour the chase in mystery/detective books far more than the outcome and this book didn’t disappoint, (neither did the finale). I enjoyed it immensely and if you like Sherlock you’ll love this series.
January 17, 2021
Ich liebe Sherlock Holmes- Geschichten, Detektivgeschichten ganz allgemein und die düstere Atmosphäre Londons im 19. Jahrhundert. So bin ich dann auf die Reihe rund um den Privatermittler William Arrowood aufmerksam geworden. Schon der erste Band hat mich gefesselt, und nun hat mich auch dieser zweite Band mitreißen können. Die Thematik rund um diese düstere Farm und die "Irrenanstalt" hat mich fasziniert. Ich habe mich mit diesem Buch angenehm gruseln können, mitleiden können, lachen können, miträtseln können und habe mich absolut gut unterhalten gefühlt!
May 18, 2019
I tried to read “Arrowood”, the first book in this historical mystery series, but abandoned it because I was irritated by William Arrowood’s constant carping about Sherlock Holmes. Arrowood is a less well known (and less capable) private detective, but he believes that he should have similar acclaim. In “The Murder Pit” Arrowood and his colleague Barnett are hired by parents to find their mentally disabled daughter Birdie, who is married to a pig farmer. When they find her, it seems that things are just not right at the farm and then another person goes missing.
I did manage to get through “The Murder Pit”, which had slightly less carping. However, I still don’t like Arrowood or his colleague Barnett. I wanted to see how the story turned out, but the detection went around in circles and the explanation at the end was ridiculously dragged out. The book should have been 100 pages shorter. Also, towards the end of the book Arrowood pulls a cruel trick with a dog that turned me off him forever.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
I did manage to get through “The Murder Pit”, which had slightly less carping. However, I still don’t like Arrowood or his colleague Barnett. I wanted to see how the story turned out, but the detection went around in circles and the explanation at the end was ridiculously dragged out. The book should have been 100 pages shorter. Also, towards the end of the book Arrowood pulls a cruel trick with a dog that turned me off him forever.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
January 10, 2019
The Murder Pit, the second novel to feature Victorian Enquiry Agent William Arrowood and his assistant, Norman Barnett, is a superb choice for those who like Victorian murder mysteries with a stunning sense of time and place. Written in the same style as what became known as the golden age of crime, classics such as those by Dame Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle and has the same distinctive gothic atmosphere and gives an authentic portrayal of London in the 1900s. It is described within the book as Holmes providing services and investigations for the rich and cream of Victorian society and Mr Arrowood providing similar services to the poor; after all, we all need justice.
Arrowood is very much the opposite to Holmes in another respect to; he's practically thrown together. This rugged, slapdashness reminded me of Columbo, who made his dime tricking suspects into thinking he was a stupid, clumsy and simply clueless police investigator. Arrowood very much takes inspiration from Columbo, and he is ultimately a flawed and human character who it's easy to admire. He's an intelligent, solid investigator. I have to admit that the historical time period of the novel was executed better than the mystery, as I had figured out what was going on particularly early on. The sights, smells and noises leaped off the page and brought to life the poverty-stricken inner city and shone a light on the desperation of inhabitants. The sheer prejudice of the Victorians shocked and intrigued me in equal measure.
Many thanks to HQ for an ARC.
Arrowood is very much the opposite to Holmes in another respect to; he's practically thrown together. This rugged, slapdashness reminded me of Columbo, who made his dime tricking suspects into thinking he was a stupid, clumsy and simply clueless police investigator. Arrowood very much takes inspiration from Columbo, and he is ultimately a flawed and human character who it's easy to admire. He's an intelligent, solid investigator. I have to admit that the historical time period of the novel was executed better than the mystery, as I had figured out what was going on particularly early on. The sights, smells and noises leaped off the page and brought to life the poverty-stricken inner city and shone a light on the desperation of inhabitants. The sheer prejudice of the Victorians shocked and intrigued me in equal measure.
Many thanks to HQ for an ARC.
February 15, 2019
In late 19th Century England, consulting detective William Arrowood tells a client: "When we take a case, we go on a journey into people's souls and that.....is often a dangerous and cruel journey." That statement neatly sums up the plot of the 2nd book in the Arrowood series in which the detective and his assistant, Norman Barnett are hired by Mr and Mrs Barclay, who haven't seen their daughter Birdie, who they describe as simple minded, since she married Walter Ockwell and went to live on his pig farm in Catford, in the south east of London.
Arrowood is seen as the lower classes' version of Sherlock Holmes and Barnett is his "Watson". He loathes Holmes with a passion and is always ready to talk about the latter's luck in solving some of his famous cases. Arrowood, on the other hand, has been described by the London newspapers as an "interfering busybody". He sometimes uses Barnett to burgle offices in order to find proof of crimes and occasionally treats his assistant in an abominable manner. Indeed, this poor man's Sherlock Holmes is often his own worst enemy and his investigations can have disastrous results. During this case, he uses his own sister, Ettie, to gain inside information about the Ockwell's farm and the people living there. It is Barnett - a more sympathetic character - who narrates this unrelentingly grim tale which concerns a mental asylum, the Poor Law Union and the exploitation and torture of young men and women, described in 19th Century parlance as "mongols" - a word still used as an insult to describe people with Down’s syndrome, or anyone with special needs.
What begins as a seemingly straightforward missing persons case soon descends into a tortuous murder investigation after the disappearance of an old gypsy woman who had revealed gossip about the Ockwell family. Walter Ockwell and his domineering sister Rosanna repeatedly refuse to let them see Birdie, while they are met with indifference by almost everyone in Catford who view the Ockwells as decent, hardworking people. Arrowood is threatened with violence in a local pub as he pursues his investigation. The officer in charge at the local police station, Sergeant Root, refuses to follow up any of Arrowood's leads and he has to contact Inspector Petleigh, his only friend at Scotland Yard, for help.
Meanwhile, he and Barnett uncover a sinister link between Ockwell's farm and the local asylum. It seems that several pillars of the community may also be involved in financial fraud involving its inmates.
As with the first book, "Arrowood", the author effortlessly captures the sights, sounds and smells of late 19th Century England - especially the extreme poverty and hardships suffered by the people who Arrowood and Barnett encounter in the course of their investigation. We learn more about the main characters in this story. Arrowood's wife, Isabel, has left him for a younger man, while Barnett harbours a sad secret about his personal life. Arrowood also relates details of his and Ettie's childhood.
At times the plot is somewhat convoluted and the reader may be confused by the myriad of characters, some of whom are only peripheral to this story, but overall this is a fascinating insight into the seamier side of 1890's London. Much of it is based on historical fact and Mick Finlay is to be congratulated for his meticulous research which brings this Victorian detective tale vividly to life.
My thanks to the publishers, HQ and Netgally for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.
Arrowood is seen as the lower classes' version of Sherlock Holmes and Barnett is his "Watson". He loathes Holmes with a passion and is always ready to talk about the latter's luck in solving some of his famous cases. Arrowood, on the other hand, has been described by the London newspapers as an "interfering busybody". He sometimes uses Barnett to burgle offices in order to find proof of crimes and occasionally treats his assistant in an abominable manner. Indeed, this poor man's Sherlock Holmes is often his own worst enemy and his investigations can have disastrous results. During this case, he uses his own sister, Ettie, to gain inside information about the Ockwell's farm and the people living there. It is Barnett - a more sympathetic character - who narrates this unrelentingly grim tale which concerns a mental asylum, the Poor Law Union and the exploitation and torture of young men and women, described in 19th Century parlance as "mongols" - a word still used as an insult to describe people with Down’s syndrome, or anyone with special needs.
What begins as a seemingly straightforward missing persons case soon descends into a tortuous murder investigation after the disappearance of an old gypsy woman who had revealed gossip about the Ockwell family. Walter Ockwell and his domineering sister Rosanna repeatedly refuse to let them see Birdie, while they are met with indifference by almost everyone in Catford who view the Ockwells as decent, hardworking people. Arrowood is threatened with violence in a local pub as he pursues his investigation. The officer in charge at the local police station, Sergeant Root, refuses to follow up any of Arrowood's leads and he has to contact Inspector Petleigh, his only friend at Scotland Yard, for help.
Meanwhile, he and Barnett uncover a sinister link between Ockwell's farm and the local asylum. It seems that several pillars of the community may also be involved in financial fraud involving its inmates.
As with the first book, "Arrowood", the author effortlessly captures the sights, sounds and smells of late 19th Century England - especially the extreme poverty and hardships suffered by the people who Arrowood and Barnett encounter in the course of their investigation. We learn more about the main characters in this story. Arrowood's wife, Isabel, has left him for a younger man, while Barnett harbours a sad secret about his personal life. Arrowood also relates details of his and Ettie's childhood.
At times the plot is somewhat convoluted and the reader may be confused by the myriad of characters, some of whom are only peripheral to this story, but overall this is a fascinating insight into the seamier side of 1890's London. Much of it is based on historical fact and Mick Finlay is to be congratulated for his meticulous research which brings this Victorian detective tale vividly to life.
My thanks to the publishers, HQ and Netgally for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.
March 7, 2019
An excellent second installment in this series. While Sherlock Holmes deals with matters of national importance and the problems of the gentry, the poorer inhabitants of London turn to a seedier private investigator, William Arowood. A rotund, frequently drunken man possessed of great shrewdness, rashness, tenacity and empathy, this anti-Holmes is a treasure of a character as is his tough, scarred Watson, Barnett.
Along the way, there's suspense, danger, moments of comedy and hope, and a tight, crowded narrative that never lets up. The cast of characters is bewilderingly vast, but fascinating. There are moments when one dislikes Arowood and his rough and ready methods, only to be won over by his constant care and concern for the underdogs, of which his times had no shortage.
Along the way, there's suspense, danger, moments of comedy and hope, and a tight, crowded narrative that never lets up. The cast of characters is bewilderingly vast, but fascinating. There are moments when one dislikes Arowood and his rough and ready methods, only to be won over by his constant care and concern for the underdogs, of which his times had no shortage.
December 20, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and HQ for an advance copy of The Murder Pit, the second novel to feature Victorian Enquiry Agent William Arrowood and his assistant, Norman Barnett.
When Arrowood is engaged by the Barclays to return their daughter, Birdie, to them he sees it as a quick case. Little does he know. Birdie is married to Walter Ockham and lives on the family farm with him but she has learning difficulties so the Barclays believe that her refusal to see them is influenced by her new family.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Murder Pit which is an interesting read on many levels. It is narrated by Barnett rather than Arrowood which gives a nod to the conventions of the time and allows for a mostly dispassionate account of Arrowood’s methods although Barnett isn’t averse to commenting unfavourably on these methods if he doesn’t approve. It is told in a warm, inviting style which lures the reader in with honesty and a dash of humour and doesn’t let go.
The historical detail is amazing. Arrowood and Bennett do not inhabit the high society of Holmes and Watson but grub around in the lower echelons. You can feel the squalor, poverty and desperation and the fear of destitution that drives many of the characters. The gulf between the haves and have-nots is measured in smugness and self confidence. With Birdie being “slow” there is much discussion of perceived mental impairment. Victorian thinking on the subject is horrible, prejudiced and irrational, but fascinating in its naïveté and misuse.
The plot is good but slightly longwinded, allowing the author to explore the wider issues of Victorian society. There are a few twists and turns but the basic plot is fairly obvious from the outset.
I haven’t got round to reading the first novel yet although it’s lurking in my TBR, but there is no need to have read Arrowood to fully enjoy this one. Arrowood is a good protagonist, smart but not always likeable. He eats and drinks too much and has a tendency towards conceit but his heart is in the right place, abhorring cruelty and exploitation. Barnett is apparently the more straightforward character, working class and decent, but I suspect there is much more bubbling under his surface than Arrowood’s. Only time will tell.
The Murder Pit is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
When Arrowood is engaged by the Barclays to return their daughter, Birdie, to them he sees it as a quick case. Little does he know. Birdie is married to Walter Ockham and lives on the family farm with him but she has learning difficulties so the Barclays believe that her refusal to see them is influenced by her new family.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Murder Pit which is an interesting read on many levels. It is narrated by Barnett rather than Arrowood which gives a nod to the conventions of the time and allows for a mostly dispassionate account of Arrowood’s methods although Barnett isn’t averse to commenting unfavourably on these methods if he doesn’t approve. It is told in a warm, inviting style which lures the reader in with honesty and a dash of humour and doesn’t let go.
The historical detail is amazing. Arrowood and Bennett do not inhabit the high society of Holmes and Watson but grub around in the lower echelons. You can feel the squalor, poverty and desperation and the fear of destitution that drives many of the characters. The gulf between the haves and have-nots is measured in smugness and self confidence. With Birdie being “slow” there is much discussion of perceived mental impairment. Victorian thinking on the subject is horrible, prejudiced and irrational, but fascinating in its naïveté and misuse.
The plot is good but slightly longwinded, allowing the author to explore the wider issues of Victorian society. There are a few twists and turns but the basic plot is fairly obvious from the outset.
I haven’t got round to reading the first novel yet although it’s lurking in my TBR, but there is no need to have read Arrowood to fully enjoy this one. Arrowood is a good protagonist, smart but not always likeable. He eats and drinks too much and has a tendency towards conceit but his heart is in the right place, abhorring cruelty and exploitation. Barnett is apparently the more straightforward character, working class and decent, but I suspect there is much more bubbling under his surface than Arrowood’s. Only time will tell.
The Murder Pit is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
December 8, 2018
Step into the world of Mr William Arrowood and Mr Norman Barnett (the narrator), who voluntarily invite themselves into all manner of difficulties in order to solve a case. Their methods are sometimes foolhardy and often illegal. Mostly, their extensive efforts are underappreciated by the press and public alike.
Now this duo certainly doesn’t lack aptitude as detectives. But their approach, no matter how well intended, encourages people to view them with suspicion and they find it almost impossible to gain
the same professional reputation as their ‘competition’, the unblemished Sherlock Holmes.
It’s their tenacity I especially liked. No matter how many setbacks they endure they just keep chipping away, if only to give a voice to those who would otherwise go unheard. Scene setting is particularly vivid too: from the biting cold of financial hardship to anyone unable to offer resistance against exploitation.
Getting anywhere near the root of the truth becomes an unimaginable struggle, as layer upon layer of manipulation and misfortune must be uncovered. Still, nothing appears to deter these two physically striking individuals with personalities to match.
I hadn’t realised that The Murder Pit was book two of their ‘antics’. No matter. Although there were references to their previous cases this story flowed like a standalone. Besides, I quite enjoyed getting to know Arrowood and Barnett, and the people they met along the way.
Now this duo certainly doesn’t lack aptitude as detectives. But their approach, no matter how well intended, encourages people to view them with suspicion and they find it almost impossible to gain
the same professional reputation as their ‘competition’, the unblemished Sherlock Holmes.
It’s their tenacity I especially liked. No matter how many setbacks they endure they just keep chipping away, if only to give a voice to those who would otherwise go unheard. Scene setting is particularly vivid too: from the biting cold of financial hardship to anyone unable to offer resistance against exploitation.
Getting anywhere near the root of the truth becomes an unimaginable struggle, as layer upon layer of manipulation and misfortune must be uncovered. Still, nothing appears to deter these two physically striking individuals with personalities to match.
I hadn’t realised that The Murder Pit was book two of their ‘antics’. No matter. Although there were references to their previous cases this story flowed like a standalone. Besides, I quite enjoyed getting to know Arrowood and Barnett, and the people they met along the way.
March 12, 2019
Arrowood is a contemporary of Sherlock Holmes but his clients are considerably less newsworthy or rich. Instead of Doctor Watson, William Arrowood has Norman Barnett as his assistant and the narrator of this story. Arrowood is also certain that he is the better detective . . . .In this case, parents request him to discover just what has happened to their daughter, Birdie. However, this supposedly simple investigation turns into a murder investigation with the intrepid duo placed in danger as they uncover a money making scheme and conspirators with murderous intentions.
This is a journey into the back streets and villages of Victorian Britain, visiting some of the less salubrious establishments and giving an insight into the care and treatment (or lack of it) of those less mentally astute in those times. It is a story filled with secrets to be revealed, perils to be avoided and conspiracies to be terminated. It is an intriguing mystery with great characters and Arrowood's rivalry with Sherlock Holmes adds humour to the events.
If you enjoy mysteries set in the Victorian era, with danger, detectives and daring, I recommend you take a look at this book and series! I hadn't read anything by this author previously but I'll certainly be looking out for more by him in future.
I requested and was given a copy of this book, via NetGalley. This is my honest review of the book after choosing to read it.
This is a journey into the back streets and villages of Victorian Britain, visiting some of the less salubrious establishments and giving an insight into the care and treatment (or lack of it) of those less mentally astute in those times. It is a story filled with secrets to be revealed, perils to be avoided and conspiracies to be terminated. It is an intriguing mystery with great characters and Arrowood's rivalry with Sherlock Holmes adds humour to the events.
If you enjoy mysteries set in the Victorian era, with danger, detectives and daring, I recommend you take a look at this book and series! I hadn't read anything by this author previously but I'll certainly be looking out for more by him in future.
I requested and was given a copy of this book, via NetGalley. This is my honest review of the book after choosing to read it.
November 11, 2020
Köyhien ja sorrettujen Sherlock Holmes ratkaisee murha- ja sieppausmysteereitä 1800-luvun Lontoossa.
En tykännyt eikä oikeastaan edes kiinnostanut saadaanko pakkoavioliitto-kuvio selvitettyä vai ei.
Etsivän ajoittainen epäpätevyys raivostutti, samoin minäkertojan outo onttous.
Ei tämä huono ollut ja uskon, että monelle nappaisi paremmin. Minä vain en päässyt tunnelmaan.
Pisteitä vammaisuuden käsittelystä ja todella mielenkiintoisesta kuvauksesta vammaisten asemasta 1800-luvun Lontoossa sekä niistä hyväksikäytön muodoista, joille alttiita ovat vammautuneet tai erilaisten kehityshäiriöiden kanssa syntyneet. Ihailin, miten monia erilaisia tapoja eri henkilöillä oli kohdata erilaisia vammaisia hahmoja; toisaalla toistui diskurssi hitaudesta ja epämiellyttävyydestä, toisaalla taas vammaisuus oli vain ihmisen yksi piirre monien piirteiden joukossa.
En tykännyt eikä oikeastaan edes kiinnostanut saadaanko pakkoavioliitto-kuvio selvitettyä vai ei.
Etsivän ajoittainen epäpätevyys raivostutti, samoin minäkertojan outo onttous.
Ei tämä huono ollut ja uskon, että monelle nappaisi paremmin. Minä vain en päässyt tunnelmaan.
Pisteitä vammaisuuden käsittelystä ja todella mielenkiintoisesta kuvauksesta vammaisten asemasta 1800-luvun Lontoossa sekä niistä hyväksikäytön muodoista, joille alttiita ovat vammautuneet tai erilaisten kehityshäiriöiden kanssa syntyneet. Ihailin, miten monia erilaisia tapoja eri henkilöillä oli kohdata erilaisia vammaisia hahmoja; toisaalla toistui diskurssi hitaudesta ja epämiellyttävyydestä, toisaalla taas vammaisuus oli vain ihmisen yksi piirre monien piirteiden joukossa.
January 11, 2019
Well, what can I say about this, but utterly brilliant! It has a real Sherlock Holmes come Ripper Street feel to it, I was instantly drawn into the case and was glued right to the last page. As soon as I saw the cover I knew that I needed to read it, it looked so interesting and that was before reading the back blurb and I was not disappointed. I didn’t realise that this was apart of a series, I read this very much as a stand-a-lone and going by the superb quality of this I know that I will be reading more.
What I love about this is that Arrowood and Barnett are well and truly on the side of the regular people, the working and lower classes the people who the mighty Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson would never sully their hands with. The whole country is applauding the ‘genius’ that is Sherlock Holmes, the cream of the aristocratic stock are hiring Mr Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson to solve their mysteries for them. Yet, what about the lower classes? Those that can’t afford Sherlock’s substantial fee’s and those that aren’t deemed worthy of helping. In steps Arrowood!
It’s Victorian London, William Arrowood is a Private Investigator and along with his assistant Norman Barrett they take on the cases that Sherlock Holes won’t. They are approached by the Barclay’s who want Arrowood to find their daughter; Birdie who after marrying Walter Ockwell a pig farmer, hasn’t been in contact with her parents. The Barclay’s are worried that Birdie is in some way being stopped by her husband’s family from contacting them and because she is ‘simple-minded’ and ‘malleable’ they worry she may be being mistreated.
What appears to be a simple case, turns into something very different indeed, as Arrowood and Barnett find themselves in the middle of a conspiracy involving a local asylum, the murder of an old woman; Mrs Gillie, plus threats and violence at every corner as they try to find the truth of what has happened to Mrs Gillie what is going on at the Ockwell farm. But with the Ockwell family, the local police constable and the village all silent and protective of each other it becomes clear to Arrowood and Barnett that this case is far from easy and it will take them on a dark, violent and at times very uncomfortable journey.
I really like how this is written, we see the whole story play out not through the lead character; Arrowood’s eyes, but through the point of view of his assistant Barrett. I think that is so funny how Arrowood genuinely appears to hate Sherlock Holmes, whenever the man is mentioned or another of his cases appears in the paper Arrowood just sees red, which also makes him either reach for the laudanum or whatever tasty morsel he can get his chubby hands on. He truly believes himself to on par as an investigator as Holmes, personally I prefer Arrowood to Sherlock. He isn’t one to search and follow the clues he is more a thinker, he uses his intellect in human nature to solve the crimes – today he would be referred more of a psychoanalyst.
Mick Finlay has written a brilliant story that is engaging, atmospheric and addictive reading and I can guarantee any who loves historical fiction and a good crime mystery will love meeting Arrowood. I do love a Victorian set story and this is one of the best I’ve read, Finley has clearly done unbelievable amounts of research into the Victorian era and more so into how the Victorians used to treat those who had a disability or mental health issue. Which is astounding the cruelty what they showed to them, thank heaven times have changed. His meticulous attention to detail brings the story to life, it is as though the reader has been transported from their armchair to Arrowood’s dark world which is full of conspiracy and lies. The writing is solid, it captures the reader’s imagination with absolute clarity.
Over this is a brilliant introduction to this authors work, imaginative, dark, thrilling, fast-paced, and original. Definitely one that will be pulled of the bookshelf again and again, I can’t wait for the next Arrowood mystery.
Very highly recommended!
What I love about this is that Arrowood and Barnett are well and truly on the side of the regular people, the working and lower classes the people who the mighty Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson would never sully their hands with. The whole country is applauding the ‘genius’ that is Sherlock Holmes, the cream of the aristocratic stock are hiring Mr Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson to solve their mysteries for them. Yet, what about the lower classes? Those that can’t afford Sherlock’s substantial fee’s and those that aren’t deemed worthy of helping. In steps Arrowood!
It’s Victorian London, William Arrowood is a Private Investigator and along with his assistant Norman Barrett they take on the cases that Sherlock Holes won’t. They are approached by the Barclay’s who want Arrowood to find their daughter; Birdie who after marrying Walter Ockwell a pig farmer, hasn’t been in contact with her parents. The Barclay’s are worried that Birdie is in some way being stopped by her husband’s family from contacting them and because she is ‘simple-minded’ and ‘malleable’ they worry she may be being mistreated.
What appears to be a simple case, turns into something very different indeed, as Arrowood and Barnett find themselves in the middle of a conspiracy involving a local asylum, the murder of an old woman; Mrs Gillie, plus threats and violence at every corner as they try to find the truth of what has happened to Mrs Gillie what is going on at the Ockwell farm. But with the Ockwell family, the local police constable and the village all silent and protective of each other it becomes clear to Arrowood and Barnett that this case is far from easy and it will take them on a dark, violent and at times very uncomfortable journey.
I really like how this is written, we see the whole story play out not through the lead character; Arrowood’s eyes, but through the point of view of his assistant Barrett. I think that is so funny how Arrowood genuinely appears to hate Sherlock Holmes, whenever the man is mentioned or another of his cases appears in the paper Arrowood just sees red, which also makes him either reach for the laudanum or whatever tasty morsel he can get his chubby hands on. He truly believes himself to on par as an investigator as Holmes, personally I prefer Arrowood to Sherlock. He isn’t one to search and follow the clues he is more a thinker, he uses his intellect in human nature to solve the crimes – today he would be referred more of a psychoanalyst.
Mick Finlay has written a brilliant story that is engaging, atmospheric and addictive reading and I can guarantee any who loves historical fiction and a good crime mystery will love meeting Arrowood. I do love a Victorian set story and this is one of the best I’ve read, Finley has clearly done unbelievable amounts of research into the Victorian era and more so into how the Victorians used to treat those who had a disability or mental health issue. Which is astounding the cruelty what they showed to them, thank heaven times have changed. His meticulous attention to detail brings the story to life, it is as though the reader has been transported from their armchair to Arrowood’s dark world which is full of conspiracy and lies. The writing is solid, it captures the reader’s imagination with absolute clarity.
Over this is a brilliant introduction to this authors work, imaginative, dark, thrilling, fast-paced, and original. Definitely one that will be pulled of the bookshelf again and again, I can’t wait for the next Arrowood mystery.
Very highly recommended!
January 20, 2019
This was so disappointing. The first book in the series was very dark with some black humour. Sadly this one lacks both. It's a fairly average crime thriller. Here Finlay has a seemingly easy case to make contact with a young woman who has not spoken to her parents since her marriage. But when a women who helps them is killed the case takes a sinister turn. Predictable.
February 17, 2023
Morden i London fick jag från förlaget som en överraskning för ganska så längesedan. Detta råkade ju vara andra delen i en serie och eftersom jag är jag så läses serier i ordning. Det är bara så det är och därför tog det ett tag att navigera sig fram till den här boken. Förra året läste jag då äntligen första delen (som av en slump så lästes båda böckerna under exakt samma datum, men alltså olika år, upptäckte jag nu när jag skulle skriva ihop det här inlägget) och nu var det dags för denna.
När jag började läsa så var min förhoppning att Arrowood skulle bli mer sympatisk, när man lärde känna honom bättre. Men nej. Han verkar ha grava problem med sin impulskontroll och ibland beter han sig som en treåring. Det är dock inte han som är berättaren, det är i stället hans sidekick, Barnett, som är betydligt lättare att tycka om. Man kan ju hävda att så är fallet även med Arrowoods "konkurrent" Sherlock Holmes och Watson, men eftersom Sherlock Holmes har något att backa upp sin arrogans med så är det lättare att ta den.
Med största sannolikhet så blir det inte fler böcker om Arrowood för mig, efter Morden i London. Det beror inte bara på att inte fler delar har översatts. Det är visserligen intressant att läsa om London, som det såg ut i slutet av 1800-talet, men när författarens kommentarer i efterordet (nästan) är det mest intressanta då känns det inte nödvändigt att fortsätta med den här serien.
OBS! Detta är en kraftigt förkortad text. Hela finns på min blogg
När jag började läsa så var min förhoppning att Arrowood skulle bli mer sympatisk, när man lärde känna honom bättre. Men nej. Han verkar ha grava problem med sin impulskontroll och ibland beter han sig som en treåring. Det är dock inte han som är berättaren, det är i stället hans sidekick, Barnett, som är betydligt lättare att tycka om. Man kan ju hävda att så är fallet även med Arrowoods "konkurrent" Sherlock Holmes och Watson, men eftersom Sherlock Holmes har något att backa upp sin arrogans med så är det lättare att ta den.
Med största sannolikhet så blir det inte fler böcker om Arrowood för mig, efter Morden i London. Det beror inte bara på att inte fler delar har översatts. Det är visserligen intressant att läsa om London, som det såg ut i slutet av 1800-talet, men när författarens kommentarer i efterordet (nästan) är det mest intressanta då känns det inte nödvändigt att fortsätta med den här serien.
OBS! Detta är en kraftigt förkortad text. Hela finns på min blogg
March 18, 2018
London 1896 - Barnett and Arrowood are detectives whom we first met the year before in Arrowood. In this instalment, they are searching for a missing bride
But Arrowood and Barnett are no ordinary detectives - they are literally a second rate version of Holmes and Watson, whom Arrowood absolutely and most vocally, despises. These two take on the cases that Holmes won't touch (those of the common folk), but for them there is no glorious write up when the cases are solved, no public acclaim, no feting from royalty, and he is tired of Holmes getting the credit for solving his cases.
Arrowood is the anti-hero - he is at times, thoroughly unlikeable, and sees himself as a "real" detective, rather than the show-pony Holmes. But you can't help feeling that anyone would appear second rate when Holmes is in his ascendancy, and Holmes does cast a very long shadow.
Having said that, our narrator Barnet, takes us through the search for the missing bride, Bridie, who is estranged from her parents - how hard can it be, surely back home in time for tea. However, just when you think there is resolution the story takes off again. Constant plot twists and turns keep you guessing to the end.
Note: that whilst this is fiction, it does paint a disturbing account of the treatment of those society had labelled "idiot", "imbecile" and "lunatic".
But Arrowood and Barnett are no ordinary detectives - they are literally a second rate version of Holmes and Watson, whom Arrowood absolutely and most vocally, despises. These two take on the cases that Holmes won't touch (those of the common folk), but for them there is no glorious write up when the cases are solved, no public acclaim, no feting from royalty, and he is tired of Holmes getting the credit for solving his cases.
Arrowood is the anti-hero - he is at times, thoroughly unlikeable, and sees himself as a "real" detective, rather than the show-pony Holmes. But you can't help feeling that anyone would appear second rate when Holmes is in his ascendancy, and Holmes does cast a very long shadow.
Having said that, our narrator Barnet, takes us through the search for the missing bride, Bridie, who is estranged from her parents - how hard can it be, surely back home in time for tea. However, just when you think there is resolution the story takes off again. Constant plot twists and turns keep you guessing to the end.
Note: that whilst this is fiction, it does paint a disturbing account of the treatment of those society had labelled "idiot", "imbecile" and "lunatic".
May 30, 2019
Bij het zien van de schitterende cover van De moordput van Mick Finlay weet je meteen dat je weer een Arrowood verhaal gaat lezen. Daar waar Arrowood loopt, doet nogal duister aan. Je wilt dan ook weten of dat het plaats delict is of dat er in het gebouw iets is wat kan helpen om de zaak op te lossen. De titel maakt nieuwsgierig en hoopt dat het minder eng klinkt dan het is.
In De moordput van Mick Finlay wordt Arrowood gevraagd om een meisje op te sporen. Het lijkt een makkelijk op te lossen zaak en hij hoopt al dat hij snel daarna een andere, grotere zaak krijgt om op te lossen. Helaas blijkt deze zaak toch niet zo snel op te lossen als verwacht. Het blijkt een zaak te zijn waar veel meer achter schuilt en waarbij de vraag is hoe oprecht de ouders zijn. Wat is de echte reden dat ze hun dochter willen zien? Wat is hun ware verhaal? Ondertussen blijkt er op een boerderij ook dingen te gebeuren die het daglicht niet kunnen verdragen. Hoe zit het met de paar vermissingen? Langzaam aan kom je steeds meer te weten over een aantal mensen in het dorp waar de boerderij staat en over een aantal instanties in Londen zoals bijvoorbeeld het armenhuis.
Lees verder op https://surfingann.blogspot.com/2019/... .
In De moordput van Mick Finlay wordt Arrowood gevraagd om een meisje op te sporen. Het lijkt een makkelijk op te lossen zaak en hij hoopt al dat hij snel daarna een andere, grotere zaak krijgt om op te lossen. Helaas blijkt deze zaak toch niet zo snel op te lossen als verwacht. Het blijkt een zaak te zijn waar veel meer achter schuilt en waarbij de vraag is hoe oprecht de ouders zijn. Wat is de echte reden dat ze hun dochter willen zien? Wat is hun ware verhaal? Ondertussen blijkt er op een boerderij ook dingen te gebeuren die het daglicht niet kunnen verdragen. Hoe zit het met de paar vermissingen? Langzaam aan kom je steeds meer te weten over een aantal mensen in het dorp waar de boerderij staat en over een aantal instanties in Londen zoals bijvoorbeeld het armenhuis.
Lees verder op https://surfingann.blogspot.com/2019/... .
December 21, 2018
In late 19th Century England, consulting detective William Arrowood tells a client: "When we take a case, we go on a journey into people's souls and that.....is often a dangerous and cruel journey." That statement neatly sums up the plot of the 2nd book in the Arrowood series in which the detective and his assistant, Norman Barnett are hired by Mr and Mrs Barclay, who haven't seen their daughter Birdie, who they describe as simple minded, since she married Walter Ockwell and went to live on his pig farm in Catford, in the south east of London.
Arrowood is seen as the lower classes' version of Sherlock Holmes and Barnett is his "Watson". He loathes Holmes with a passion and is always ready to talk about the latter's luck in solving some of his famous cases. Arrowood, on the other hand, has been described by the London newspapers as an "interfering busybody". He sometimes uses Barnett to burgle offices in order to find proof of crimes and occasionally treats his assistant in an abominable manner. Indeed, this poor man's Sherlock Holmes is often his own worst enemy and his investigations can have disastrous results. During this case, he uses his own sister, Ettie, to gain inside information about the Ockwell's farm and the people living there. It is Barnett - a more sympathetic character - who narrates this unrelentingly grim tale which concerns a mental asylum, the Poor Law Union and the exploitation and torture of young men and women, described in 19th Century parlance as "mongols" - a word still used as an insult to describe people with Down’s syndrome, or anyone with special needs.
What begins as a seemingly straightforward missing persons case soon descends into a tortuous murder investigation after the disappearance of an old gypsy woman who had revealed gossip about the Ockwell family. Walter Ockwell and his domineering sister Rosanna repeatedly refuse to let them see Birdie, while they are met with indifference by almost everyone in Catford who view the Ockwells as decent, hardworking people. Arrowood is threatened with violence in a local pub as he pursues his investigation. The officer in charge at the local police station, Sergeant Root, refuses to follow up any of Arrowood's leads and he has to contact Inspector Petleigh, his only friend at Scotland Yard, for help.
Meanwhile, he and Barnett uncover a sinister link between Ockwell's farm and the local asylum. It seems that several pillars of the community may also be involved in financial fraud involving its inmates.
As with the first book, "Arrowood", the author effortlessly captures the sights, sounds and smells of late 19th Century England - especially the extreme poverty and hardships suffered by the people who Arrowood and Barnett encounter in the course of their investigation. We learn more about the main characters in this story. Arrowood's wife, Isabel, has left him for a younger man, while Barnett harbours a sad secret about his personal life. Arrowood also relates details of his and Ettie's childhood.
At times the plot is somewhat convoluted and the reader may be confused by the myriad of characters, some of whom are only peripheral to this story, but overall this is a fascinating insight into the seamier side of 1890's London. Much of it is based on historical fact and Mick Finlay is to be congratulated for his meticulous research which brings this Victorian detective tale vividly to life.
My thanks to the publishers, HQ and Netgally for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.
Arrowood is seen as the lower classes' version of Sherlock Holmes and Barnett is his "Watson". He loathes Holmes with a passion and is always ready to talk about the latter's luck in solving some of his famous cases. Arrowood, on the other hand, has been described by the London newspapers as an "interfering busybody". He sometimes uses Barnett to burgle offices in order to find proof of crimes and occasionally treats his assistant in an abominable manner. Indeed, this poor man's Sherlock Holmes is often his own worst enemy and his investigations can have disastrous results. During this case, he uses his own sister, Ettie, to gain inside information about the Ockwell's farm and the people living there. It is Barnett - a more sympathetic character - who narrates this unrelentingly grim tale which concerns a mental asylum, the Poor Law Union and the exploitation and torture of young men and women, described in 19th Century parlance as "mongols" - a word still used as an insult to describe people with Down’s syndrome, or anyone with special needs.
What begins as a seemingly straightforward missing persons case soon descends into a tortuous murder investigation after the disappearance of an old gypsy woman who had revealed gossip about the Ockwell family. Walter Ockwell and his domineering sister Rosanna repeatedly refuse to let them see Birdie, while they are met with indifference by almost everyone in Catford who view the Ockwells as decent, hardworking people. Arrowood is threatened with violence in a local pub as he pursues his investigation. The officer in charge at the local police station, Sergeant Root, refuses to follow up any of Arrowood's leads and he has to contact Inspector Petleigh, his only friend at Scotland Yard, for help.
Meanwhile, he and Barnett uncover a sinister link between Ockwell's farm and the local asylum. It seems that several pillars of the community may also be involved in financial fraud involving its inmates.
As with the first book, "Arrowood", the author effortlessly captures the sights, sounds and smells of late 19th Century England - especially the extreme poverty and hardships suffered by the people who Arrowood and Barnett encounter in the course of their investigation. We learn more about the main characters in this story. Arrowood's wife, Isabel, has left him for a younger man, while Barnett harbours a sad secret about his personal life. Arrowood also relates details of his and Ettie's childhood.
At times the plot is somewhat convoluted and the reader may be confused by the myriad of characters, some of whom are only peripheral to this story, but overall this is a fascinating insight into the seamier side of 1890's London. Much of it is based on historical fact and Mick Finlay is to be congratulated for his meticulous research which brings this Victorian detective tale vividly to life.
My thanks to the publishers, HQ and Netgally for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.
January 13, 2019
This has been my first read of 2019 and let’s just say I belive I am of to a good start . Its also my first thriller after a year and I enjoyed it so much that I am all set to finish all my thriller novels first (this really never happens because I am always on the lookout for a YA or Romance , but lets just say that this books definitely affected my reading radar )
Now coming to the book. I will try to keep it short because I don’t want to spill any beans . Mr.Arrowood is a detective in the late nineteenth century in London . As Sherlock Holmes looks after cases of the rich and the government , Mr Arrowood looks after cases of the middle class and the poor; people who talk about Sherlock but can’t really afford him. So I am going to give you all an honest confession I have never been a fan of Sherlock Holmes maybe because he uses to much science or its just his work felt to intelligent me , so this was an underlying reason for liking Arrowood because even he doesn’t like Sherlock Holmes.
The case in the book revolves around parents who have just married there daughter off but have been not able to see her after the marriage and because of this they call Mr.Arrowood . This book talks about psychological and mental diseases and how those patients were treated back then . How even there parents didn’t love them and treated them as slaves and how there were so many prejudices beliefs. Though at the same time this was a period when a lot of research was happening to understand these issues and how to solve them.
Mr.Arrowood is a detective who solves cases through human emotions , reactions and behaviour which was really fun to read and understand . The book has been told by the point of view of Mr.Arrowood’s assistant . Other major characters were Mr.Arrowood’s sister who was a really nice character to read about (she is a strong women working for the betterment of other women through her mission) and his best friend who is there forever supporter.
Though Mr. Arrowood and his assistant start on the lookout for Birdy (the girl who is not able to meet her parents) at the house and town she is married but end up stumbling on a murder , a town where no one wants to talk about the family where Birdy is married and a police officer not ready to work.
The book has dealt with some heavy topics related to psychological disorders such as autism and down syndrome though the words used then were completely different and maybe a little racist too. I really liked how everything was not to so easy for them and they were not the most of the polish people. And though everyone was creating problems for them and questioning there capability as a detective they still managed to get everything done which just made the whole book more interesting to read.
Count this as a definite recommendation from my side.
Now coming to the book. I will try to keep it short because I don’t want to spill any beans . Mr.Arrowood is a detective in the late nineteenth century in London . As Sherlock Holmes looks after cases of the rich and the government , Mr Arrowood looks after cases of the middle class and the poor; people who talk about Sherlock but can’t really afford him. So I am going to give you all an honest confession I have never been a fan of Sherlock Holmes maybe because he uses to much science or its just his work felt to intelligent me , so this was an underlying reason for liking Arrowood because even he doesn’t like Sherlock Holmes.
The case in the book revolves around parents who have just married there daughter off but have been not able to see her after the marriage and because of this they call Mr.Arrowood . This book talks about psychological and mental diseases and how those patients were treated back then . How even there parents didn’t love them and treated them as slaves and how there were so many prejudices beliefs. Though at the same time this was a period when a lot of research was happening to understand these issues and how to solve them.
Mr.Arrowood is a detective who solves cases through human emotions , reactions and behaviour which was really fun to read and understand . The book has been told by the point of view of Mr.Arrowood’s assistant . Other major characters were Mr.Arrowood’s sister who was a really nice character to read about (she is a strong women working for the betterment of other women through her mission) and his best friend who is there forever supporter.
Though Mr. Arrowood and his assistant start on the lookout for Birdy (the girl who is not able to meet her parents) at the house and town she is married but end up stumbling on a murder , a town where no one wants to talk about the family where Birdy is married and a police officer not ready to work.
The book has dealt with some heavy topics related to psychological disorders such as autism and down syndrome though the words used then were completely different and maybe a little racist too. I really liked how everything was not to so easy for them and they were not the most of the polish people. And though everyone was creating problems for them and questioning there capability as a detective they still managed to get everything done which just made the whole book more interesting to read.
Count this as a definite recommendation from my side.
March 20, 2026
I have to admit that if it wasn't for the nice Barnett and the childish, egoistical, pompous Arrowood I probably wouldn't read any more books by Finlay, because this story was...well, weak. There is fairly much going on, but it still didn't grip me.
I do like Barnett and the way he sees the world and of course the way he takes care of his boss Arrowood (because the man sure need it) in a loving, clever way. I don't like Arrowood much, but he is a very fun character to follow. The writing is great, but the story is rather weak, and I don't know if it's me or if it's Finlay who simply not had the story completely clear in his head? No matter, I still liked the twist and turns within the story, so I'll hold my fingers crossed that there will be more Barnett for me in the near future.
(Please forgive my poor English, my excuse is I’m Swedish).
I do like Barnett and the way he sees the world and of course the way he takes care of his boss Arrowood (because the man sure need it) in a loving, clever way. I don't like Arrowood much, but he is a very fun character to follow. The writing is great, but the story is rather weak, and I don't know if it's me or if it's Finlay who simply not had the story completely clear in his head? No matter, I still liked the twist and turns within the story, so I'll hold my fingers crossed that there will be more Barnett for me in the near future.
(Please forgive my poor English, my excuse is I’m Swedish).
March 24, 2019
Loved this wonderful book and the quirky detective duo.
June 11, 2019
Mick Finlay neemt je vanaf de allereerste bladzijde mee naar het Londen van de 19e eeuw. De beschrijving van de omgeving is door het hele boek enorm knap gedaan, zodat het voelt alsof je naar een film kijkt:
"Zuid-Londen, 1896
Onder de schone schijn verbergt zich soms een verschrikking, zoals het geval was in de zaak-Birdie Barclay. Het nieuwe jaar was net begonnen, de modder in de straten was stijf bevroren, roetvlokjes dreven als zwarte sneeuw in de mist. Rillende paarden sjokten voorbij, onwillig naar onherbergzame oorden voortgedreven door norse mannen met rode koppen. Schooiers loodsten deftige burgers door de menigte in de hoop op een aalmoes... "
In De Moordput lees je vanuit het perspectief van Barnett: hij is de partner van Arrowood en op het eerste gezicht een stuk sympathieker dan zijn baas.
William Arrowood is privédetective en met de hulp van Barnett probeert hij de zaken op te lossen; meestal stellen deze niet al te veel voor en leveren ook niet veel op. De mooiste zaken gaan naar Sherlock Holmes en Watson. Zo nu en dan komt Sherlock Holmes ter sprake, maar dat gebeurt niet zo vaak dat het hinderlijk is. Ook Irene Adler passeert de revue.
Lees mijn recensie hier verder: https://graaggelezen.blogspot.com/201...
"Zuid-Londen, 1896
Onder de schone schijn verbergt zich soms een verschrikking, zoals het geval was in de zaak-Birdie Barclay. Het nieuwe jaar was net begonnen, de modder in de straten was stijf bevroren, roetvlokjes dreven als zwarte sneeuw in de mist. Rillende paarden sjokten voorbij, onwillig naar onherbergzame oorden voortgedreven door norse mannen met rode koppen. Schooiers loodsten deftige burgers door de menigte in de hoop op een aalmoes... "
In De Moordput lees je vanuit het perspectief van Barnett: hij is de partner van Arrowood en op het eerste gezicht een stuk sympathieker dan zijn baas.
William Arrowood is privédetective en met de hulp van Barnett probeert hij de zaken op te lossen; meestal stellen deze niet al te veel voor en leveren ook niet veel op. De mooiste zaken gaan naar Sherlock Holmes en Watson. Zo nu en dan komt Sherlock Holmes ter sprake, maar dat gebeurt niet zo vaak dat het hinderlijk is. Ook Irene Adler passeert de revue.
Lees mijn recensie hier verder: https://graaggelezen.blogspot.com/201...
August 23, 2020
The story was what the story was, and I can not say the the plot was the strongest part of the book. It was exposition and description that made this book worth reading.
I have not read the first novel in the series, and discovered this fact when I was quite invested into this one. The author, in my opinion, is quite wise with the words that are dated and are considered "offensive" and "uncouth" by modern standards. He states blatantly and honestly that these words will be used to convey the authenticity of the dialogue, and thus should be viewed in this vein only.
As I said earlier, the strongest point of this book is its descriptive part that serves its direct purpose of description and transports us to the Victorian city in its details, smells, and sounds. Description is also a tool of social messages about the abomination of state of mental health in Victorian England, abject poverty, and also a way to capture the transience of the epoch with its technological revolution in full march.
I was intrigued enough by this book to read the first part just to put things in order with the series.
I have not read the first novel in the series, and discovered this fact when I was quite invested into this one. The author, in my opinion, is quite wise with the words that are dated and are considered "offensive" and "uncouth" by modern standards. He states blatantly and honestly that these words will be used to convey the authenticity of the dialogue, and thus should be viewed in this vein only.
As I said earlier, the strongest point of this book is its descriptive part that serves its direct purpose of description and transports us to the Victorian city in its details, smells, and sounds. Description is also a tool of social messages about the abomination of state of mental health in Victorian England, abject poverty, and also a way to capture the transience of the epoch with its technological revolution in full march.
I was intrigued enough by this book to read the first part just to put things in order with the series.
January 4, 2019
I was looking forward to this second instalment .
I was not disappointed at all.
Fast paced
Mystery
Intrigue
Plot twists
And includes historical fiction
What more can you ask for ? Perfect book to start this year reading challenge and 2019.
I was not disappointed at all.
Fast paced
Mystery
Intrigue
Plot twists
And includes historical fiction
What more can you ask for ? Perfect book to start this year reading challenge and 2019.
June 27, 2019
You know you have listened to a great audio book when after you finish you feel as if you have just come back from the theater.
This 2nd book in the Arrowood series is set in 1896 – in a time where Sherlock Holmes gets all the attention, recognition and money. However, William Arrowood is a professional private detective in the same era and he and his partner take on the more grittier cases that often don’t involve the upper class. In this story, a couple requests Arrowood bring their daughter back home to them. They believe she has married someone who does not treat her right and is preventing her from seeing her parents. Arrowood and his partner take on the case, but soon find themselves rebuffed at just about every contact attempt they try to make with her. However, not to be deterred they then take multiple different avenues to try and find out what is going on. But one of these avenues leads to a woman going missing. A woman who had tried to give them a few hints about what direction to take and had even agreed to help them make specific contacts with those that might help answer some questions.
In addition to the larger mystery at hand, this particular book tackles how mental health, mental institutions, asylums, and mentally challenged individuals were viewed or regarded in the late 1800s. Certain characters pronounce facts from books or from known “research” of their time that are completely debunked in today’s time. The audio book itself opens with the definition and description of Mongolianism vs Down Syndrome and for what time period each were used or no longer used. Then, at the end of the novel are further definitions such as what imbecile vs idiot meant for them as well as other time period information.
In general, this series feels more like a traditional detective series, which is very refreshing. It is rich in detail, historical accuracy, story telling, and character development. The audio book itself is outstanding. Each and every voice is unique. Never once did I have to question which one of the two main characters were speaking or other any other characters for that matter. And so much drama was put into the acting that it really felt like I was at the theater. So engrossing at times that I didn’t want to get out of my car when I had come to my destination.
The Murder Pit by Mick Finlay is the 2nd in the Arrowood Mystery series. However, it was my first time to read a book by this author and after finishing this mystery it definitely won’t be my last – especially since during the writing of this review I went and checked out the first audio book in this series from the library.
This 2nd book in the Arrowood series is set in 1896 – in a time where Sherlock Holmes gets all the attention, recognition and money. However, William Arrowood is a professional private detective in the same era and he and his partner take on the more grittier cases that often don’t involve the upper class. In this story, a couple requests Arrowood bring their daughter back home to them. They believe she has married someone who does not treat her right and is preventing her from seeing her parents. Arrowood and his partner take on the case, but soon find themselves rebuffed at just about every contact attempt they try to make with her. However, not to be deterred they then take multiple different avenues to try and find out what is going on. But one of these avenues leads to a woman going missing. A woman who had tried to give them a few hints about what direction to take and had even agreed to help them make specific contacts with those that might help answer some questions.
In addition to the larger mystery at hand, this particular book tackles how mental health, mental institutions, asylums, and mentally challenged individuals were viewed or regarded in the late 1800s. Certain characters pronounce facts from books or from known “research” of their time that are completely debunked in today’s time. The audio book itself opens with the definition and description of Mongolianism vs Down Syndrome and for what time period each were used or no longer used. Then, at the end of the novel are further definitions such as what imbecile vs idiot meant for them as well as other time period information.
In general, this series feels more like a traditional detective series, which is very refreshing. It is rich in detail, historical accuracy, story telling, and character development. The audio book itself is outstanding. Each and every voice is unique. Never once did I have to question which one of the two main characters were speaking or other any other characters for that matter. And so much drama was put into the acting that it really felt like I was at the theater. So engrossing at times that I didn’t want to get out of my car when I had come to my destination.
The Murder Pit by Mick Finlay is the 2nd in the Arrowood Mystery series. However, it was my first time to read a book by this author and after finishing this mystery it definitely won’t be my last – especially since during the writing of this review I went and checked out the first audio book in this series from the library.
April 24, 2019
Ook dit deel kent weer 'sfeervolle' beschrijvingen van het armste deel van Londen halverwege de jaren '90 van de 19e eeuw:
"Het nieuwe jaar was net begonnen, de modder in de straten was stijf bevroren, roetvlokjes dreven als zwarte sneeuw in de mist. Rillende paarden sjokten voorbij, onwillig naar onherbergzame oorden voortgedreven door norse mannen met rode koppen. Schooiers loodsten deftige burgers door de menigte in de hoop op een aalmoes, terwijl oudjes zich vastgrepen aan muren en balustrades om niet uit te glijden over de glibberige straatstenen, zuchtend, mompelend en van bacillen vergeven fluimen ophoestend die ze met kracht in de bergen paardenmest spogen die op elke straathoek lagen opgetast."
Het verhaal speelt begin 1896, wanneer de privédetectives William Arrowood en diens assistent Norman Barnett van de heer en mevrouw Barclay de opdracht krijgen een ontmoeting te arrangeren met hun zes maanden eerder getrouwde dochter Birdie. Birdie is licht verstandelijk gehandicapt, gehuwd met de eveneens verstandelijk beperkte Walter Ockwell en zij wonen samen met Walters broer Godwin en diens vrouw Polly, hun ongehuwde zuster Rosanna en hun bedlegerige moeder op een voorheen welvarende maar sinds een aantal jaren a.g.v. financiële problemen verwaarloosde varkensboerderij net buiten Londen. Ondanks diverse bezoeken aan de boerderij hebben de Barclays hun dochter niet meer gezien of te spreken gekregen; brieven bleven onbeantwoord en bij monde van Rosanna werd hun medegedeeld dat Birdie haar ouders niet meer wenste te zien...
Arrowood en Barnett stuiten bij hun pogingen om Birdie te spreken te krijgen en tijdens hun verdere onderzoek op vele leugens, tegenwerking door de Ockwells, hun dorpsgenoten en de lokale politiebeambten, de raadselachtige verdwijning van een zigeunervrouw die hun een dag eerder interessante informatie had verstrekt, enkele zwaar mishandelde, in mensonterende en ten hemel schreiende omstandigheden levende arbeiders op de Ockwell-boerderij en uiteindelijk op een frauduleus complot waarvan patiënten van het zwakzinnigen- en krankzinnigengesticht de dupe werden.
Interessant was te lezen hoe in die tijd werd gedacht over mensen met het syndroom van Down en andere, al dan niet aangeboren geestelijke aandoeningen. De historische achtergrond en geraadpleegde bronnen worden door de auteur in een apart hoofdstuk aan het einde toegelicht.
"Het nieuwe jaar was net begonnen, de modder in de straten was stijf bevroren, roetvlokjes dreven als zwarte sneeuw in de mist. Rillende paarden sjokten voorbij, onwillig naar onherbergzame oorden voortgedreven door norse mannen met rode koppen. Schooiers loodsten deftige burgers door de menigte in de hoop op een aalmoes, terwijl oudjes zich vastgrepen aan muren en balustrades om niet uit te glijden over de glibberige straatstenen, zuchtend, mompelend en van bacillen vergeven fluimen ophoestend die ze met kracht in de bergen paardenmest spogen die op elke straathoek lagen opgetast."
Het verhaal speelt begin 1896, wanneer de privédetectives William Arrowood en diens assistent Norman Barnett van de heer en mevrouw Barclay de opdracht krijgen een ontmoeting te arrangeren met hun zes maanden eerder getrouwde dochter Birdie. Birdie is licht verstandelijk gehandicapt, gehuwd met de eveneens verstandelijk beperkte Walter Ockwell en zij wonen samen met Walters broer Godwin en diens vrouw Polly, hun ongehuwde zuster Rosanna en hun bedlegerige moeder op een voorheen welvarende maar sinds een aantal jaren a.g.v. financiële problemen verwaarloosde varkensboerderij net buiten Londen. Ondanks diverse bezoeken aan de boerderij hebben de Barclays hun dochter niet meer gezien of te spreken gekregen; brieven bleven onbeantwoord en bij monde van Rosanna werd hun medegedeeld dat Birdie haar ouders niet meer wenste te zien...
Arrowood en Barnett stuiten bij hun pogingen om Birdie te spreken te krijgen en tijdens hun verdere onderzoek op vele leugens, tegenwerking door de Ockwells, hun dorpsgenoten en de lokale politiebeambten, de raadselachtige verdwijning van een zigeunervrouw die hun een dag eerder interessante informatie had verstrekt, enkele zwaar mishandelde, in mensonterende en ten hemel schreiende omstandigheden levende arbeiders op de Ockwell-boerderij en uiteindelijk op een frauduleus complot waarvan patiënten van het zwakzinnigen- en krankzinnigengesticht de dupe werden.
Interessant was te lezen hoe in die tijd werd gedacht over mensen met het syndroom van Down en andere, al dan niet aangeboren geestelijke aandoeningen. De historische achtergrond en geraadpleegde bronnen worden door de auteur in een apart hoofdstuk aan het einde toegelicht.
May 21, 2019
Londyn w roku 1896 może żyć tylko jednym - kolejnym sukcesem Sherlocka Holmesa. Jest to niewątpliwe szczęście dla mieszkańców, ale również wielka krzywda dla mniejszych detektywów, pokroju Williama Arrowooda. Arrowood wydaje się być idealnym rozwiązaniem dla biedniejszych mieszkańców Londynu, szczególnie, że w swojej opinii stoi na równi z Holmesem. Nowe zlecenie traktuje jako pikuś, bo przecież jakim wyczynem jest odnalezienie jednej dziewczyny? Łatwizna, przynajmniej dopóki na jaw nie wychodzą nowe szczegóły, a w historii nie pojawia się morderca...
Brudny, niebezpieczny i zagadkowy Londyn to coś, co niezmiernie polubiłam w pierwszym tomie. Autor bardzo dobrze wystylizował historię i czytając ją czuję jakbym naprawdę miała okazję żyć w XIX wieku! Zachowanie bohaterów, sposoby myślenia, okolica, zapachy, potrawy - to wszystko jest dopracowane na tyle, by poczuć klimat epoki.
"Prawdziwa potworność potrafi pojawić się ze zniewalającym uśmiechem na twarzy."
Z bohaterami jest podobnie. Przygody Arrowooda opisywane są przez jego pomocnika, Barnetta, przez co historia jeszcze bardziej kojarzy mi się z przygodami Holmesa i Watsona. Jednocześnie sposoby działania detektywów się od siebie różnią, więc nie czuć powielania schematów.
Mick Finlay również nie przedstawił swoich bohaterów jako ideałów. Zarówno Barnett, jak i Arrowood mają specyficzne sytuacje w rodzinie, posiadają też swoje słabości i uzależnienia.
Fabuła książki zdecydowanie była ciekawie przemyślana, choć realizacja wypadła nieco gorzej. Sprawa, choć wydawała się oczywista i łatwa do rozwiązania, plącze się na każdym kroku, a mimo działań bohaterów niewiele wynika. Miałam wrażenie, że kilka ślepych dróg autor wprowadził z braku pomysłu, byle książki nie zakończyć zbyt szybko. Plusem jest jednak fakt, że autor ma przyjemny sposób pisania i książką się nie dłużyła. Czytałam ją na kilka podejść jedynie ze względu na matury, w innym przypadku byłaby to lektura na wieczór.
Nie wiem czy w planach są kolejne tomy przygód Arrowooda i Barnetta, ale jeśli tak, to się piszę! Mimo kilku niepotrzebnych jak dla mnie wątków historia mnie porwała i z przyjemnością wróciłam do bohaterów poznanych w pierwszym tomie.
https://cos-o-ksiazkach.blogspot.com/...
Brudny, niebezpieczny i zagadkowy Londyn to coś, co niezmiernie polubiłam w pierwszym tomie. Autor bardzo dobrze wystylizował historię i czytając ją czuję jakbym naprawdę miała okazję żyć w XIX wieku! Zachowanie bohaterów, sposoby myślenia, okolica, zapachy, potrawy - to wszystko jest dopracowane na tyle, by poczuć klimat epoki.
"Prawdziwa potworność potrafi pojawić się ze zniewalającym uśmiechem na twarzy."
Z bohaterami jest podobnie. Przygody Arrowooda opisywane są przez jego pomocnika, Barnetta, przez co historia jeszcze bardziej kojarzy mi się z przygodami Holmesa i Watsona. Jednocześnie sposoby działania detektywów się od siebie różnią, więc nie czuć powielania schematów.
Mick Finlay również nie przedstawił swoich bohaterów jako ideałów. Zarówno Barnett, jak i Arrowood mają specyficzne sytuacje w rodzinie, posiadają też swoje słabości i uzależnienia.
Fabuła książki zdecydowanie była ciekawie przemyślana, choć realizacja wypadła nieco gorzej. Sprawa, choć wydawała się oczywista i łatwa do rozwiązania, plącze się na każdym kroku, a mimo działań bohaterów niewiele wynika. Miałam wrażenie, że kilka ślepych dróg autor wprowadził z braku pomysłu, byle książki nie zakończyć zbyt szybko. Plusem jest jednak fakt, że autor ma przyjemny sposób pisania i książką się nie dłużyła. Czytałam ją na kilka podejść jedynie ze względu na matury, w innym przypadku byłaby to lektura na wieczór.
Nie wiem czy w planach są kolejne tomy przygód Arrowooda i Barnetta, ale jeśli tak, to się piszę! Mimo kilku niepotrzebnych jak dla mnie wątków historia mnie porwała i z przyjemnością wróciłam do bohaterów poznanych w pierwszym tomie.
https://cos-o-ksiazkach.blogspot.com/...
February 27, 2020
Miss Birdie
Wie immer muss William Arrowood neidvoll zugestehen, dass Sherlock Holmes einfach die bessere Presse bekommt. Er ist in die Suche eines jungen Adligen einbezogen. Zu Arrowood kommt dagegen das Ehepaar Barcley. Dieses will herausfinden, wieso ihre Tochter Birdie, die seit ein paar Monaten verheiratet ist, ihre Eltern nicht sehen will. Es ist nicht schwierig, die frisch Verheirateten zu finden. Birdie und ihr Mann leben auf einer Farm. Doch bei einem Treffen ist kaum ein Wort aus Birdie herauszukriegen. Allerdings wirkt sie nicht sehr glücklich. Neugierig geworden, beginnen Arrowood und sein Partner Barnett mit weiteren Nachforschungen.
Dies ist der zweite Fall, in dem Arrowood und Barnett ermitteln, wobei Arrowoods Konkurrenz zu Sherlock Holmes nur am Rande auftaucht. Zu beschäftigt sind die beiden mit ihrem neuen eigenen Fall, die sie natürlich nicht in gehobenere Kreise führt, sondern eher in die Reihen der weniger Betuchten. Birdie ist dem Anschein nach eine freundliche, aber eher schlichte junge Frau. Sie schafft es nicht, sich aus ihrer Situation zu lösen. Ist sie überhaupt gerne verheiratet? Und was geht sonst noch auf der Farm vor sich? Ein Besuch dort ist unerläßlich und Arrowood erfährt, dass die Farm mehrere Arbeiter beschäftigt, die offensichtlich geistig eingeschränkt sind.
Nach dem ersten Band, in dem Arrowood wie eine Art armer Verwandter des weithin bekannten Holmes auftaucht und der dadurch seinen Charme bezieht, fehlt diesem zweiten Band diese Überraschung zwangsläufig. Am Beginn entwickelt sich die Geschichte so langsam und betulich, dass man zu der Überlegung kommt, ob man dem Roman sei es auch nur als Hörbuch noch mehr Zeit widmen möchte. Erst recht spät kommt der Autor zu dem eigentlichen Thema, der Behandlung oder eher Misshandlung der geistig Behinderten im ausgehenden 19. Jahrhundert, wobei einige Beschreibungen kaum zu ertragen sind. Doch man beginnt mitzufiebern, ob nicht wenigstens ein paar der bedauernswerten Menschen aus ihrer Lage gerettet werden können und einer besseren Zukunft entgegensehen können. Dass Arrowood, um das ehrenvolle Ziel zu erreichen, teilweise seine schlechteren Seiten zeigen muss, nimmt man ihm nach einigen Erläuterungen nicht allzu übel.
Angenehm vorgetragen wird dieses Hörbuch, das einiges Durchhaltevermögen einfordert, sich dann aber einen sehr interessanten Thema zuwendet, von Alexis Krüger.
3,5 Sterne
Wie immer muss William Arrowood neidvoll zugestehen, dass Sherlock Holmes einfach die bessere Presse bekommt. Er ist in die Suche eines jungen Adligen einbezogen. Zu Arrowood kommt dagegen das Ehepaar Barcley. Dieses will herausfinden, wieso ihre Tochter Birdie, die seit ein paar Monaten verheiratet ist, ihre Eltern nicht sehen will. Es ist nicht schwierig, die frisch Verheirateten zu finden. Birdie und ihr Mann leben auf einer Farm. Doch bei einem Treffen ist kaum ein Wort aus Birdie herauszukriegen. Allerdings wirkt sie nicht sehr glücklich. Neugierig geworden, beginnen Arrowood und sein Partner Barnett mit weiteren Nachforschungen.
Dies ist der zweite Fall, in dem Arrowood und Barnett ermitteln, wobei Arrowoods Konkurrenz zu Sherlock Holmes nur am Rande auftaucht. Zu beschäftigt sind die beiden mit ihrem neuen eigenen Fall, die sie natürlich nicht in gehobenere Kreise führt, sondern eher in die Reihen der weniger Betuchten. Birdie ist dem Anschein nach eine freundliche, aber eher schlichte junge Frau. Sie schafft es nicht, sich aus ihrer Situation zu lösen. Ist sie überhaupt gerne verheiratet? Und was geht sonst noch auf der Farm vor sich? Ein Besuch dort ist unerläßlich und Arrowood erfährt, dass die Farm mehrere Arbeiter beschäftigt, die offensichtlich geistig eingeschränkt sind.
Nach dem ersten Band, in dem Arrowood wie eine Art armer Verwandter des weithin bekannten Holmes auftaucht und der dadurch seinen Charme bezieht, fehlt diesem zweiten Band diese Überraschung zwangsläufig. Am Beginn entwickelt sich die Geschichte so langsam und betulich, dass man zu der Überlegung kommt, ob man dem Roman sei es auch nur als Hörbuch noch mehr Zeit widmen möchte. Erst recht spät kommt der Autor zu dem eigentlichen Thema, der Behandlung oder eher Misshandlung der geistig Behinderten im ausgehenden 19. Jahrhundert, wobei einige Beschreibungen kaum zu ertragen sind. Doch man beginnt mitzufiebern, ob nicht wenigstens ein paar der bedauernswerten Menschen aus ihrer Lage gerettet werden können und einer besseren Zukunft entgegensehen können. Dass Arrowood, um das ehrenvolle Ziel zu erreichen, teilweise seine schlechteren Seiten zeigen muss, nimmt man ihm nach einigen Erläuterungen nicht allzu übel.
Angenehm vorgetragen wird dieses Hörbuch, das einiges Durchhaltevermögen einfordert, sich dann aber einen sehr interessanten Thema zuwendet, von Alexis Krüger.
3,5 Sterne
March 1, 2019
The Murder Pit is a witty take on Victorian London with frequent humorous potshots at the Holmes canon that also contains an intriguing mystery. If you ever wanted more humor in, say, the Hounds of the Baskervilles, this book is for you!
Arrowood is a consulting detective for the poorer residents of London. Perennially jealous of the money and fame of his contemporary, Sherlock Holmes, Arrowood insists his method of studying people—rather than footprints—is more effective. He just needs one big case to make him as well known as that other consulting detective.
The Barclays engage Arrowood’s services complaining that their daughter’s husband won’t let them see or talk with her. They are concerned that Birdie has been harmed or is being held against her will on the husband’s rural farm. Birdie is slow and her husband, Walter, has served time for blinding a man in a fit of rage. Despite Arrowood’s concern with the Barclay’s authenticity, Arrowood and Barnett, his scrappy Watson, investigate and find an unusual case indeed.
The Murder Pit is the second entry in the series but can be read as a standalone. It is an enjoyable and humorous dive into lower class London and the Holmes canon. Arrowood’s appetite and marital problems seem genuine. Barnett doesn’t always agree with Arrowood but continues to protect him from physical harm.
Overall, the unusual setting, superb characterizations and witty banter make the Murder Pit an excellent mystery choice. 4 stars!
Thanks to Mira and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Arrowood is a consulting detective for the poorer residents of London. Perennially jealous of the money and fame of his contemporary, Sherlock Holmes, Arrowood insists his method of studying people—rather than footprints—is more effective. He just needs one big case to make him as well known as that other consulting detective.
The Barclays engage Arrowood’s services complaining that their daughter’s husband won’t let them see or talk with her. They are concerned that Birdie has been harmed or is being held against her will on the husband’s rural farm. Birdie is slow and her husband, Walter, has served time for blinding a man in a fit of rage. Despite Arrowood’s concern with the Barclay’s authenticity, Arrowood and Barnett, his scrappy Watson, investigate and find an unusual case indeed.
The Murder Pit is the second entry in the series but can be read as a standalone. It is an enjoyable and humorous dive into lower class London and the Holmes canon. Arrowood’s appetite and marital problems seem genuine. Barnett doesn’t always agree with Arrowood but continues to protect him from physical harm.
Overall, the unusual setting, superb characterizations and witty banter make the Murder Pit an excellent mystery choice. 4 stars!
Thanks to Mira and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
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