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Detective Watters #2
The Atlantic Street Murder: A Historical Crime Mystery
From hunting pickpockets in London omnibuses and ghosts in Hesse Square, Sergeant Watters and Detective Silver are led into the notorious Wild Geese public house, and a tangled mystery that involves the murder of a guardsman and the vivacious wife of an Austrian diplomat.
With the help of the Irish woman Rowena, Watters trawls through the back streets of London, encounters female prize-fighters and suave cracksmen, and finds himself in the savage world of espionage.
But can he unravel the mysterious ‘There is a storm from the east and the west’?
With the help of the Irish woman Rowena, Watters trawls through the back streets of London, encounters female prize-fighters and suave cracksmen, and finds himself in the savage world of espionage.
But can he unravel the mysterious ‘There is a storm from the east and the west’?
380 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 7, 2020
23 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Malcolm Archibald
130 books71 followersMy primary interest is historical, either fiction or non fiction, but I can enjoy most anything from Jane Austin to Kipling to J K Rowling. I have been very quiet on this site, but I think I might be a bit more active now.
I also enjoy the stimulation of meeting people and finding out about them.
I also enjoy the stimulation of meeting people and finding out about them.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 5, 2022
My review of: The Atlantic Street Murder – by – Malcolm Archibald
Another riveting, heart pounding, roller-coaster ride – life in 1854 London.
This is book 2 in the Detective Watters mysteries series but is a prequel to Fireraisers, set in Dundee in early 1860’s, a book I so thoroughly enjoyed.
Atlantic Street is earlier, 1854, and set in London. The enigmatic Watters, a Scotland Yard detective is set a task to break up a ring of pickpockets, especially as a well to do lady disappears and is not around to have her valuable possessions returned. However, Watters is more intrigued with the murder on Atlantic Street and especially, the goings on in a house of ill-repute; is there a link? But, he is steered clear by the authorities.
Sounds simple, but if you read any other books by Archibald, and there are many more that I intend to read, you will know that this is just the start of a roller coaster ride of complex local and international politics of the day, all wrapped up in real time social commentary of the haves and have nots and the feelings of civil unrest.
Archibald’s wonderfully descriptive powers and in-depth research enables the reader to imagine themselves in the centre of the plot and, it is not all pleasant, and, sometimes downright scary but, there is no denying, it is a fantastic adventure of complexity, violence, political upheaval, the State versus local unrest and international factions: The rebellious Irish, Russia, France and all that…
Having read other books by Archibald, I have learned to ready myself for non-stop action that begins so much earlier in the book than you would ordinarily expect. Twists and turns, blind alleys (literally), red herrings, Intelligencers and who to trust? And, love in amongst the abject poverty?
This book has everything and already I intend to buy another – 5 stars – I recommend this book and, after reading 3 by Archibald, I highly recommend this author.
Another riveting, heart pounding, roller-coaster ride – life in 1854 London.
This is book 2 in the Detective Watters mysteries series but is a prequel to Fireraisers, set in Dundee in early 1860’s, a book I so thoroughly enjoyed.
Atlantic Street is earlier, 1854, and set in London. The enigmatic Watters, a Scotland Yard detective is set a task to break up a ring of pickpockets, especially as a well to do lady disappears and is not around to have her valuable possessions returned. However, Watters is more intrigued with the murder on Atlantic Street and especially, the goings on in a house of ill-repute; is there a link? But, he is steered clear by the authorities.
Sounds simple, but if you read any other books by Archibald, and there are many more that I intend to read, you will know that this is just the start of a roller coaster ride of complex local and international politics of the day, all wrapped up in real time social commentary of the haves and have nots and the feelings of civil unrest.
Archibald’s wonderfully descriptive powers and in-depth research enables the reader to imagine themselves in the centre of the plot and, it is not all pleasant, and, sometimes downright scary but, there is no denying, it is a fantastic adventure of complexity, violence, political upheaval, the State versus local unrest and international factions: The rebellious Irish, Russia, France and all that…
Having read other books by Archibald, I have learned to ready myself for non-stop action that begins so much earlier in the book than you would ordinarily expect. Twists and turns, blind alleys (literally), red herrings, Intelligencers and who to trust? And, love in amongst the abject poverty?
This book has everything and already I intend to buy another – 5 stars – I recommend this book and, after reading 3 by Archibald, I highly recommend this author.
May 7, 2020
Superb historical drama from a great exponent of the genre
An action packed page Turner from the pen of Malcolm Archibald opens with the soldiers of the 113th infantry battalion serving in the Punjab in 1849, and ends with scenes of carnage and a number of desertion. What significance this will have on the plot of the book will gradually be revealed as Police Detective Sergeant George Watters returns in a new, at times, pulsating investigation. He is now aided by a new detective constable. Detective Silver is newly married and full of zeal and respect for his sergeant.
Atlantic Street is far from being one of London's most salubrious locations and is mostly populated by the poor, the downtrodden and those who see crime as a way of life. Central to the plot is a brothel which is run by a woman who rules her establishment with an iron fist. But after the murder of a soldier in close proximity to the brothel, Watters concludes that the brothel is deeply involved in a plot which may have serious terrorist activities at its core. The biggest problem for Watters is the presence of a new inspector who seems to have an illogical grudge against the sergeant and appears to hamper his investigation at every turn.
Without giving too much away, I can honestly say that Mr Archibald has once again created a wonderful picture of life in bygone times, with all the brutality and poverty of the mean streets of London exposed to the core.
My spirits were lifted in this terrific sequel to The Fire raisers, when to my surprise and delight, the usually gruff and ever-enigmatic Watters finds true love in the shape of his erstwhile new housekeeper, Rowena.
This is an excellent page-turner, which kept me awake reading well into the night during the four days it took me to read the book. I have no hesitation in awarding it 5 stars. I wish it could have been more!
An action packed page Turner from the pen of Malcolm Archibald opens with the soldiers of the 113th infantry battalion serving in the Punjab in 1849, and ends with scenes of carnage and a number of desertion. What significance this will have on the plot of the book will gradually be revealed as Police Detective Sergeant George Watters returns in a new, at times, pulsating investigation. He is now aided by a new detective constable. Detective Silver is newly married and full of zeal and respect for his sergeant.
Atlantic Street is far from being one of London's most salubrious locations and is mostly populated by the poor, the downtrodden and those who see crime as a way of life. Central to the plot is a brothel which is run by a woman who rules her establishment with an iron fist. But after the murder of a soldier in close proximity to the brothel, Watters concludes that the brothel is deeply involved in a plot which may have serious terrorist activities at its core. The biggest problem for Watters is the presence of a new inspector who seems to have an illogical grudge against the sergeant and appears to hamper his investigation at every turn.
Without giving too much away, I can honestly say that Mr Archibald has once again created a wonderful picture of life in bygone times, with all the brutality and poverty of the mean streets of London exposed to the core.
My spirits were lifted in this terrific sequel to The Fire raisers, when to my surprise and delight, the usually gruff and ever-enigmatic Watters finds true love in the shape of his erstwhile new housekeeper, Rowena.
This is an excellent page-turner, which kept me awake reading well into the night during the four days it took me to read the book. I have no hesitation in awarding it 5 stars. I wish it could have been more!
June 25, 2020
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A compelling murder mystery
This the first story I’ve read by Malcolm Archibald and it will certainly not be the last. Whilst hunting for pickpockets on London omnibuses in the 1850s, Detective Sergeant George Watters retrieves a stolen purse belonging to a well to do passenger with a foreign accent. His efforts in tracking the elusive victim down to return her belongings leads him into a far more sinister investigation that involves the murder of a guardsman near to a brothel run by a woman who rules it with an iron fist under suspicious circumstances. Despite being hampered at every turn by a new inspector who appears to bear a grudge against him, Watters, helped by his new detective constable Detective Silver, is determined to get the bottom of the mystery and finds himself delving deeper into a tangled web of international espionage.
This is a compelling murder mystery, full of twists and turns, that will have you hanging on to your seat until the very end. Highly recommended.
A compelling murder mystery
This the first story I’ve read by Malcolm Archibald and it will certainly not be the last. Whilst hunting for pickpockets on London omnibuses in the 1850s, Detective Sergeant George Watters retrieves a stolen purse belonging to a well to do passenger with a foreign accent. His efforts in tracking the elusive victim down to return her belongings leads him into a far more sinister investigation that involves the murder of a guardsman near to a brothel run by a woman who rules it with an iron fist under suspicious circumstances. Despite being hampered at every turn by a new inspector who appears to bear a grudge against him, Watters, helped by his new detective constable Detective Silver, is determined to get the bottom of the mystery and finds himself delving deeper into a tangled web of international espionage.
This is a compelling murder mystery, full of twists and turns, that will have you hanging on to your seat until the very end. Highly recommended.
June 27, 2020
Three men from the famed 113th Foot desert while fighting the Sikhs in India. They next surface in London as part of a group of assassins who murder an English soldier. Enter Sergeant Watters and Detective Silver. Of and on the case, with and without permission of their Lieutenant, these two stalwarts of the Scotland Yard chase the murderers through a myriad of twists and turns, national and international. There are some calm moments which come back to be the wonderful ending of the book. Russian spies, Irish discontents seeking revenge for the potato famine or some other real or imagined affront by the Brits, create an interesting and twisted tale. You can't put this one down. It will draw you back to it. I started reading one night and finished the next evening. As always the author is immaculate, the book is presented beautifully, and the side stories hold you while linking to the main plot. Malcolm Archibald weaves a tapestry of intrigue, dogged police work, and wonderful characters together in this brilliant book.
September 15, 2020
Harder to read than normal mystery.
Great mystery with some chapters yo long and stretched out. Detective Sergeant has many chapters of running and hiding. Just a bit long in the yelling.
Great mystery with some chapters yo long and stretched out. Detective Sergeant has many chapters of running and hiding. Just a bit long in the yelling.
September 26, 2021
A deadly conspiracy.
Another five star case for sergeant Watters. Action packed, tightly plotted and with memorable vividly imagined characters. Watters must solve the clues in time to avoid a diplomatic disaster, a street murder turning into a spy thriller.
Another five star case for sergeant Watters. Action packed, tightly plotted and with memorable vividly imagined characters. Watters must solve the clues in time to avoid a diplomatic disaster, a street murder turning into a spy thriller.
October 18, 2021
Despite being #2 in the series it makes more sense to read this first because it's set before the previous book. The lead character also seems slightly off and isn't completely consistent with the Sergeant Watters we previously encountered in the first book.
April 15, 2020
The Atlantic Street Murder is a prequel to The Fireraisers and sees Sergeant Watters of Scotland Yard battling pickpockets and murderers in London. With superb historical detail, the book ranges from the slums to high society, with an explosive climax. The characterisation is terrific and the action relentless. An excellent book.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews