Der Mord in der Rose Street

Leo Stanhope #2

by Alex Reeve

London, 1881: Ein Jahr ist vergangen, seit Leo Stanhope nicht nur die Frau verloren hat, die er liebte, sondern beinahe auch sein eigenes Leben. Eigentlich möchte er nur ein ruhiges Leben führen – doch dann steht erneut die Polizei vor seiner Tür. Eine Anarchistin ist ermordet worden, und sie trug Leos Adresse bei sich.

Am Tatort trifft Leo überraschend auf einen Mann aus seiner Vergangenheit: Der junge Adlige John Thackery ist unter falschem Namen zum Arbeiterführer geworden, um gegen seinen tyrannischen Vater zu rebellieren. Er weiß, dass Leo früher einen anderen Namen trug. Und er droht, ihn zu verraten, sollte Leo ihm kein Alibi für die Mord-Nacht liefern. Im besten Fall würde man Leo »nur« ins Irrenhaus werfen – aber kann er deshalb einen Mörder schützen?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Crime, Mystery, Historical, Fiction, LGBT, Transgender

416 pages, Paperback

First published May 2, 2019

About the author

Alex Reeve was born in Twickenham and now lives in Marlow, Buckinghamshire with his wife and two sons. Having done many jobs, including working in a pub and teaching English as a foreign language in Paris, he is now a University lecturer and is working intermittently on a PhD. His debut novel The House on Half Moon Street, the first in a Victorian crime series featuring Leo Stanhope, will be published by Bloomsbury in 2018. Leo was born when Alex came across an article about transgender people in Victorian England, and he was amazed to see how little had changed.

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sequel to Alex Reeve's historical crime fiction series set in the Victorian era featuring Leo Stanhope reads considerably more fluently than the first, largely because the characters have become established in the setting of the London in this period. It is Leo and the predicament he finds himself in that makes this series worth reading, for he was born Charlotte 'Lottie' Pritchard, the daughter of a vicar and father he has been estranged from for many years. These are dangerous times to be transgender, if he is exposed, he will lose everything and will be incarcerated in an asylum and face deadly 'medical' experiments. After the horror of previous events, Leo has been living quietly, working in the hospital morgue, and living with Alfie and his daughter, 12 year old Constance, who provide him with an alternative family. His life is disrupted when the police arrive and he is taken to an Anarchists Club for radicals, the scene of the murder of Dora Hannigan, who had a card with his name on it.

Leo had met Dora earlier with her two children, Aiden and Ciara, asking for credit at Alfie's shop. He denies knowing her, but bumps into a man he knows, John Thackery. John knew him as Lottie, and recognises him instantly, and then proceeds to blackmail Leo to provide him with a false alibi. Leo has no choice but to comply as he finds himself trying to look after and protect Dora's children from the dangers they face. Ciara had seen her mother being murdered by a 'lion' and is suffering from recurring night fits. Sir Reginald Thackery, a man with a huge sense of entitlement and power runs a mill by the river which exploits its workers and endangers their lives and health. John Thackery hates his father and has been working with other radicals to bring down his father. However, this is a time when the powerful industrialists have the power to use the police to bring down those who fight for the rights of workers. Leo looks for a murderer in this most twisted of stories, as he once again connects with and works with mother and baker, Rosie Flowers, a woman who needs a more meaningful life, and is driven by her hatred of injustice to help Leo.

This is a dark and disturbing story of family secrets, murders, sibling rivalries, and a Victorian London where the rich and powerful are ruthlessly determined to maintain their influence by maintaining the existing economic, social and political order. The likes of Sir Reginald convince themselves of their superiority and right to power by their self serving co-option of Darwin's theories of evolution, as they dismiss the poor and deny rights to their workers. Leo finds himself confronting a terminally ill father who bears no resemblance to the man he knew, and his sister, Jane, continues to refuse to accept him as Leo. This is a wonderfully compelling read, historical fiction that draws the reader in easily, and with characters that you come to care about. I am looking forward to the next in the series. Many thanks to Bloomsbury for an ARC.

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having been captivated and utterly blown away by Alex Reeve's historical crime debut The House on Half Moon Street, the first in the Victorian era Leo Stanhope series, I never thought Mr Reeve could match the quality and compulsive nature of the first novel; I was wrong. This is somehow even better. There are many aspects that make this an unmissable series, not least that our protagonist Leo was born Charlotte Pritchard and reflecting the views of the period transgender Leo would be in great danger should his secret ever be exposed leading to a natural tension. This is a compelling and deeply engaging mystery in which the characters and plot deepen effortlessly with every turn of the page.

The Anarchists' Club is a well researched and beautifully plotted yarn which can easily be read as a standalone but naturally, a deeper understanding of everything would only be achieved by reading them chronologically and watching the characters evolve over time. There is a constant sense of tension and unease unpinning the entire mystery and Reeve manages to ratchet up the suspense to create an ominous atmosphere. With a likeable cast, a pacy narrative and a wise message about the shockingly different lives the wealthy led as opposed to the impoverished in dirty Victorian London, this complex novel held me hostage from first page to last.

All in all, this is an intelligent and original piece of crime fiction. I look forward to the next instalment. Many thanks to Raven Books for an ARC.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this is one day - beautifully written, a fascinating story and such a vividly realised historical setting (London in the 1880s). I love Leo Stanhope, who carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. Even better than the House on Half Moon Street and stands alone perfectly. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted to www.rebeccasravereviews.wordpress.com

I received a copy of The Anarchists’ Club in exchange for an honest review, so thanks to NetGalley and Raven Books.

Urghhhhhh.

You know when you really don’t want to write a review?

First off, I want to preface all of this by saying that I am a cis woman. And that’s important to say, because this is a novel about a trans man.

Leo Stanhope is still reeling from the events of last year, when the woman he loved turned up dead and he became mixed up in the investigation to find her killer. But now, another woman has turned up dead – with his name and address in her pocket. As figures from his past crop up and he tries to avoid their threats while work out their secrets, Leo also finds himself going out of his way to care for the dead woman’s two children. As he tries to find answers, he also tries to keep anyone from finding out the secret most dear to him.

This is the second in the Leo Stanhope series, and I ADORED the first one – The House On Half Moon Street – and you can read the review here. I loved seeing a trans character in Victorian London, which is a dynamic I can’t say I’ve read before. The mystery was thrilling and I raced through the book.

My only fault – and it is a big one – was the – slight spoiler – rape of the main character. It was as if we, as readers, needed to be reminded that Leo was actually a woman? That he was still vulnerable in all the ways women are? And I don’t think the author intended it this way. Leo ended up in this situation because he tried to protect a friend of his who was about to be raped – but still. Using rape in this situation did nothing to propel the story forward and it could have been pretty much the same without. To use it as a plot device in this way was lazy, unimaginative, and disrespectful. I read reviews of The House on Half Moon Street that said it was completely obvious that the author was cis, and that there were glaringly obvious problems with the novel. As I said at the beginning, I’m cis, and so there are obviously people who can see the problems in this book that I overlooked because of my position.

I have found this interview Reeve did which talks about this reasoning for writing about a trans character. And that backs up my reasoning for feeling that he had good intentions with this book and character. But – ‘…I gave myself a rule: this wouldn’t be a novel about being trans, it would be a novel about a man who happened to be trans. That clarified everything for me. Leo was confronted by a tragedy anyone might face; it was neither caused or solved by his being trans. He has a unique perspective, but being trans is just one part of who he is, not the sum of it.’ is something that I have great issue with when it comes to The Anarchists’ Club. I’ll come back to this in a minute.

But I had higher hopes for The Anarchists’ Club. Unfortunately, I was disappointed.

The reasons I disliked this book were two-fold.

First off – it was boring. I didn’t care for any of the new characters introduced in this book – I found their motives lacking and their reasoning quite 2D. The plot was very simplistic, and I just didn’t feel invested in any of it.

The second reason, and the most important, is the way Leo was constantly reminded of ‘who he really was’ and was blackmailed to keep his past a secret. This is where Reeve’s quote from above comes in. ‘Leo was confronted by a tragedy anyone might face; it was neither caused or solved by his being trans.’ Except, when a man from Leo’s past pops up and knows that Leo was ‘born a girl’ this becomes more than that. When Leo is made – and I say made, because Reeve made this character and creates their arc and lives and everything in it – to reconnect with people who insist on calling him Charlotte, to be constantly threatened because of who he is – that’s more than just ‘happens to be trans.’

I just didn’t like it. The whole story revolved around other characters blackmailing Leo for who he used to be, bringing up his past which he’d rather forget, and threatening him. And I know that this does happen, and that this sort of stuff is relevant to trans characters and trans people. It just… didn’t feel like it was presented in the right way. This was a mystery novel which was meant to just ‘happen to have a trans character’ and instead so much rested on Leo’s gender.

I was majorly disappointed and can’t see myself following the rest of the series, should it continue.

However, I would love to discuss this book and the topics raised so if anyone else has read it too, I’d love to chat!

The Anarchist’ Club is out now, if I haven’t put you off.

[Marcel Haußmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex Reeve entführt uns wieder ins viktorianische London und der Fall hört sich wieder verdammt spannend an:

Nachdem Leo Stanhope die Frau seines Lebens verloren hat, möchte er nur seine Ruhe haben. Doch dann wird eine Anarchistin ermordet und hatte Leos Adresse bei sich. Am Tatort trifft Leo auf den jungen Adligen John, der unter falschem Namen zum Arbeiterführer geworden ist, um gegen seinen Vater zu rebellieren. Er weiß, dass Leo früher einen anderen Namen trug. Und er droht, ihn zu verraten, sollte Leo ihm kein Alibi für den Mord liefern. Kann Leo einen Mörder schützen, für seine eigene Sicherheit?

Auch im zweiten Teil der Reihe lässt der Autor das viktorianische London wieder authentisch aufleben. Gerade die Zeit der Industrialisierung ist spannend dargestellt durch den Klassenkampf Arm gegen Reich und den Problemen, die diese mitbringen.

Mitten drin befindet sich unser Protagonist Leo, der es als Transmann in der damaligen Zeit nicht leicht hat und jeden Tag um sein Leben fürchten muss. Leo ist ein sehr interessanter Charakter, der mir durch seine Entwicklung nochmal deutlich besser gefallen hat als in Band 1. Der Konflikt in ihm sie selbst zu offenbaren oder einen eventuellen Mörder zu schützen wurde gut dargestellt und ich konnte mich gut in Leo hineinfühlen.

Alex Reeves Schreibstil hat mir wie schon in Band 1 gut gefallen. Der Fall um die ermordete Anarchistin und den Verbleib ihrer Kinder ist richtig spannend und durchzogen von falschen Fährten und Plottwists. Dadurch bleibt die Spannung über das gesamte Buch erhalten.

Der 2. Fall von Leo konnte mich absolut begeistern und hat mir deutlich besser gefallen als Band 1. Die Entwicklungen rund um Leo und der spannende Fall sorgen dafür, dass man durch die Seiten fliegt. Ich bin gespannt wie es für Leo weiter geht und freu mich auf Band 3 der Reihe.

4,5 von 5 Sternen

[Ellen IJzerman (Prowisorio) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kom op, Leo, minder peinzen, meer anarchie!

The anarchists’ club van Alex Reeve is een verhaal dat zich niet in één (genre)hokje laat proppen, maar het is ieder geval een historische detectiveverhaal. Het speelt zich namelijk af in Victoriaans Londen, er is een lijk en de hoofdpersoon, Leo Stanhope, wordt tegen wil en dank, speurder. Weer een speurder eigenlijk, want dat overkwam hem ook al in het debuut van Reeve, The house on Half Moon street, waarvan de Nederlandse vertaling in december uitkomt onder de titel De schaker en het meisje.  

Some people are born to lead and others to follow. That’s what Darwin discovered. The strongest lines survive, but only if they’re kept pure. We mustn’t be contaminated by the weak  

Deze keer raakt Leo betrokken bij een moord doordat zijn naam en adres gevonden worden in de portemonnee van een vermoorde vrouw, Dora Hannigan. Zij is gevonden in een ondiep graf op de binnenplaats van een club bezocht door leden van een anarchistische beweging. Op het moment dat hij - door de politie meegevraagd - bij het lijk arriveert, herkent hij de vrouw die hem een dag eerder om hulp vroeg. Als assistent van een lijkschouwer schrikt hij er niet voor terug het lijk te onderzoeken en de politie direct zijn mening te geven, maar hij schrikt wel van een van de aanwezige anarchisten: John Thackery.
Leo Stanhope draagt namelijk een geheim met zich mee dat zijn dagelijks leven zwaar beïnvloedt, al was het maar omdat het ervoor zorgt dat hij zelfs de mensen van wie hij houdt en die hem het meest nabij staan, continu voorliegt en bedriegt. John Thackery herkent Leo, en dwingt hem om zijn alibi te zijn door hem te chanteren. Dat Leo daarom zijn verhaal ter plaatse moet aanpassen, zorgt er natuurlijk voor dat de politie Leo nog verdachter gaat vinden dan hij al is.  

Because the police are too busy condemning the radicals to see anything else. Because those children deserve to know why their mother was killed, and who did it. [...] Someone had snuffed out Dora Hannigan’s life like a candle and was living their own as if she and her children didn’t matter a jot. It was wrong. It was iniquitous. I couldn’t fix it, but I could make sure that whoever it was faced justice.  

Maar Leo heeft meer redenen om op onderzoek uit te gaan en deze moord op te lossen: Aiden and Ciara, de twee kinderen van de vermoorde Dora Hannigan. Leo wordt daarbij geholpen door Rosie Flowers, een weduwe die ‘hartige taarten’ verkoopt, met wie hij in het vorige boek ook al een moordenaar heeft ontmaskerd.  

Dat The anarchists’ club meer is dan een detectiveverhaal, wordt veroorzaakt door de verpakking: het door Reeve prachtig verbeelde leven in Victoriaans Londen. Zo bezoekt Leo Stanhope tijdens zijn speurtocht  bijvoorbeeld een theater waar hij getrakteerd wordt op een enorme variëteit aan optredens. Van totaal mislukt en (dus) van de bühne gefloten en gevloekt, tot zinnen begoochelende, betoverende optredens. Dan is het niet alleen Leo die onder de indruk raakt en helemaal meegenomen wordt, maar ook de lezer.  

And at the same time,’ continued Rosie, ‘his son has scarpered, and your alibi’s gone with him. What a coincidence. Seems to me they’ve tried to make you look guilty of the murder of the mother as well. These rich families, they always stick together against the likes of you and me.  

Die onderdelen in het verhaal benadrukken hoe goed en meeslepend Reeve kan vertellen, maar zorgen er tegelijkertijd voor dat het lastiger is hem te vergeven voor de mindere onderdelen: Leo’s geheim zit hem wel erg dwars waardoor hij er te vaak, en daardoor tot vervelens toe mee bezig is, terwijl de anarchisten uit de titel nauwelijks aandacht krijgen. Dat laat allemaal niet onverlet dat Leo, zijn entourage en Victoriaans Londen naar meer smaken en interessant genoeg zijn om nog vele moorden op te lossen.

Gerecenseerd voor Hebban.nl.

[Gayatri Saikia | per_fictionist · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Anarchists' Club, a brilliant price of historical crime fiction set in the revolutionary period of England  is a continuation of the Leo Stanhope detective series.

Leo Stanhope, born as Charlotte 'Lottie' Pritchard, the daughter of a vicar finds who now lives a renewed life with her new name and identity finds herself amidst crimes and secrets that are linked to her past and has the potential to reveal her old identity.

The story unravels with an woman named Dora, who is later murdered and her two children Ciara and Aiden visiting Leo's pharmacy and asking for some credit which he refuses. Leo later forgets about the trivial incident but what is shocking is the discovery of Leo's name and address that is found with Dora's dead body. And as Leo tries to steer clear of the homicide, he is further inundated with the arrival of John Duport a.k.a John Thackery, another character from his past that holds the key to his deep secrets. Leo also develops a kind of rekindled companionship with the orphaned kids and as their lives are at probable danger, Leo tries his utmost best to solve the murder and most importantly protect the children.

The protagonist Mr. Leo Stanhope is one that will stay with me for a longtime. Calling Mr. Stanhope a detective won't be justified as he is much more than that. Although he has his own vices and doesn't come off as confident all through out the book, he doesn't give up. Leo, walks on a very thin line through out the book with the risk of his own secrets being spilled out as the case is very closely connected with his once dreadful past life. But that doesn't hamper Leo's investigation in finding who the culprit is. For this he even visits, his estranged father after a gap of ten years and even though their relationship doesn't sweeten, we definetly get to see his emotional side. The plot of the book was quite submersive and also gives an idea of the Vicotrian Era. The expolitation of mill workers by the owners, conspiracies of the radicals against the bourgeois and the dismal treatment of the transgenders find their place in the story.

Every charcater was assigned to their role very well and played their part that built up to an amazing climax. However I felt that the character of John Thackery should've been given a little more lime-light as to what his original plans were. 

Although this book can be read as a standalone(which I did), I suggest you read the first book i.e The House on Half Moon Street to get an insight of the relationship dynamics between Leo and Mrs. Flowers, who was another prominent character in the story.

An absolutely enjoyable read for thriller fans and lovers of historical fiction.

[Sharon Gladstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stronger than the first novel with less need to spend time on character introduction, Reeves invested in greater plot and an even more atmospheric setting. This time Leo, the transgender unassuming amateur detective, stumbles across the murder of Dora Hannigan at the Anarchist’s club. He becomes fixated on doing the right thing by her orphaned children, Aiden and Ciara, and this time the mystery moves between the club, the music hall (and new character Peregrine Black), the chemist and London Zoo. As before, he draws on the support of his pie-making friend Rosie Flowers and the wisdom of chess player, Jacob. All the characters appear fully formed and continue to develop in interesting ways. The plot was gripping, well crafted and led to a satisfying conclusion of murder, arson and high drama. Can’t wait for the next one.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first Stanhope mystery The House on Half Moon Street. I thought the representation was a little offish but I loved Reeves' Victorian London and the feelings of mystery and suspense I felt throughout the novel.

The representation has improved and Leo's character is beginning to develop, alongside his relationship with Mrs Flowers. The Anarchist's Club is not a fast-paced mystery but it is written in a way that slowly unravels the twists and turns of the case of Dora Hannigan.

I hope Reeve continues to write more Stanhope cases, I love the setting and the way he writes.

[Katiesreadingjourney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great sequel!
I enjoyed the story, characters and the twist at the end plus I was hooked all the way through. I’ve already reserved the next one in the series!
Very chilled book, not a ‘racy’ thriller or a horror! But good for a chilled audiobook with twists, turns and good storytelling.

[Jayne {aka cupcakesandbookshelves} · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steeped in danger and suspense this was a brilliant continuation of the Leo Stanhope series. A unique tale, capturing the atmosphere of the time so well, I can't wait to see where it goes next.

*Copy kindly given by NetGallery in exchange for an honest review, thank you so much*

[Siobhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The follow up to The House on Half Moon Street, The Anarchists' Club is a historical crime novel that follows Leo Stanhope again as he finds himself caught up in another mystery. His life has been quiet since the events of the previous book, but when the police come to talk to him about a woman found dead in a club for anarchists with his address in her purse, he is drawn into her murder and into what has happened to her two children. And tied up in the case is a man from his past who blackmails him into providing an alibi, making Leo more mixed up in the events than expected.

As with the previous novel, the characters are what really make this series. Leo is a great protagonist, a trans man who plays chess every week and can't help but get involved when there's a mystery to get to the bottom of. Leo's landlord Alfie and Alfie's daughter Constance are also vivid characters, a kind of family that Leo has found in the heart of London who try to look out for him, despite his foolish tendency to get into trouble. The plot is a gripping one, a tangled web with a rich family in the middle and an anarchists' club who find themselves as a police scapegoat. It would've been interesting to hear more about the anarchists' club, but as Leo isn't interested in revolutionary politics, the reader will have to stick with glimpses into that world.

In some ways, The Anarchists' Club makes for a more thrilling read than its predecessor, as it doesn't need to set up the characters as much, but can delve further into them as the narrative progresses. The somewhat clumsy emphasis on Leo's physical discomfort that let the first book down is less prevalent in this one, too. The series isn't always nuanced, but the depiction of Victorian crime and Leo's tendency to run headfirst into trying to help people make the books a decent read.

[Moravian1297 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mentioned in my review of the first Leo Stanhope novel, ”The House on Half Moon Street", on how frustrating and naive the character could be in the context of his decision making, unfortunately this vexatious habit continues on into "The Anarchists' Club".
I was hoping for a bit more learned maturity and through hard won experience, that Leo would be a tad more street wise, but no, right from the get go I'm pulling my hair out in anguish, as we have someone trying to blackmail Leo into giving them an alibi, which Leo, albeit reluctantly, but nevertheless still naively accedes to.

There's been a corpse dug up in the grounds of a club frequented by radicals and a note with Leo Stanhope's name and address has been discovered in a pocket of the dead body. This is the reason why the police have fetched Leo and we now find him at murder ground zero.
Unfortunately for Leo, someone from Leo's past as "Lottie Pritchard", John Thackery, is also at the scene and is not only one of the many suspects, he is confident enough in his recognition of Leo, to pull him aside and blackmail him. John Thackery tells Leo that if he doesn't supply him with an alibi, then he will tell the police about Leo's past identity, which could lead to Leo's incarceration, which in turn could lead to the utter horrors of institutionalization, a lobotomy and female genital mutilation, effectively female castration, which, according to the author is carried out with a red hot piece of iron! Ooft!!
So you can understand Leo's dilemma, but if he just took a step back, and looked at it with a bit more focus and pragmatism, he'd have surely called Thackery's bluff, as Thackery would have had just as much to lose as Leo, at the threat of the police knowing he was looking for an alibi, after all, that could end up with Thackery’s execution!
But, at the end of the day, if Leo had thought on his feet and had made that pragmatic choice, then there possibly wouldn't have been a story to tell, so I'll shut up and just remain exasperated, but I'm "just sayin'!"

Taking Leo's continued naivety and inability to learn from past mistakes and experience and his almost complete self containment, which was to the detriment of the few people that seemed to care for him, into account, his continuing melancholy at his situation, was starting to come across as self pitying whining and I was beginning to lose some sympathy I had built up for him. Although I still felt empathy toward Leo, at the end of the day though, nobody likes a whinger! Then again, given the consequences of what could happen to Leo if he was ever discovered by the authorities to be transgender, I am perhaps being a bit harsh!

I was also a tad disappointed by the overall lack of any leading roles for anarchist/socialist characters and their subsequent politics. Despite the title of the book and the description in the synopsis, where it told us that Leo found himself in a ”hotbed of radicals”, there was surprisingly little in the way of any anarchist activity, thought or indeed, philosophy.
It was mainly a run of the mill murder mystery with cat and mouse chases involving some orphans.
There was a bit of a thought provoking speech at the funeral of the first murder victim, a couple of first hand experienced, horrifically violent scenes of police brutality and a statement by the lead detective (inspector! that always made me smile!) which went,

"It shows how far we've slipped, giving credence to an anarchist over a man of honour and decency"

Showing how the police are there as instruments of the boss class, rather than having any semblance of upholding law and order. There was also some choice words from a Music Hall performing character named Peregrine Black to look out for,

" Men like him control the churches and the factories, so why not the music halls as well? Keeps everyone in line"

( https://youtu.be/8jkNNNRkYlM?si=hZt1s...

So, there was some political accoutrements, but for me, simply not enough. The author could have done so much more with the themes and the era. London at that time was an absolute hive of political radicals and exiles. A veritable hotbed of anarchists, communists, socialists and fenians of all creeds and colours who were shaping the future and are now very much household names. Low hanging left wing fruit, whom would surely have been ripe for the plucking and some sort of cameo within the pages of this underwhelming effort!

To sum up then, a relatively decent follow up to "The House on...." , but it could've been so much more than a standard murder mystery. However, the delightful Constance was always on hand to put a smile on your face, especially at her discomfort over her fathers new belle, Mrs Thingy!
And just like I’d imagine Leo himself would wish, I certainly hope Mr Stanhope grows some slightly bigger cojones taking him into the future novels!

[Pavitra (For The Love of Fictional Worlds) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Also Posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds

Disclaimer: An ARC was provided via Bloomsbury Indiain exchange for an honest review. The Thoughts, opinions & feelings expressed in the review are therefore, my own.

This is the second book in the Leo Stanhope Mysteries -and though the Anarchist’s Club can be read as standalone – I think it would be better if you read the first book – The House on Half Moon Street– for the development of the protagonist as well as some of the important events + a relationship with a secondary important character has its foundation in the first book ( I say this because I did not, and I found myself a bit lost in terms of the personal character development of the protagonist!).

Leo Stanhope, born Charlotte “Lottie” Pritchard – identifies as a male, whatever gender he may have been born with. Set in the historical genre, the fact that he had the courage to be true to himself, even if that meant hat he was estranged from his family – this already made sure that Leo made an impact on me as a reader. As I progressed through the book, Leo pretty much cemented his initial impact.

Reluctant participant in the murder investigation of a woman, Dora, he met only once and a champion of her orphaned kids – he is a man who wants to live his life as drama free as possible – but somehow gets embroiled in a mystery, no matter how unwilling he may be. The threads of this mystery slowly unravels its threads to soon reveal that some of these may lead to a past that Leo has striven hard to escape from.


The Anarchist’s Club had everything I could ever like about a book – a historical thriller mystery, brilliant character growth of the protagonist, the realistic struggle of the protagonist undergoes between choosing the right path for the greater good, and an instinctual survival instinct to remain as invisible as possible with the path that he has chosen.

The plot itself was attention grabbing, yet somehow stayed away from being sensational – it had enough twists and turns to keep the reader’s attention and the climax was action packed enough to have an impact on the reader.

However, by the end it was quite clear that has still a whole lot of growth to undergo & I am looking forward to seeing the journey the author will be taking Leo Stanhope on!



For more reviews visit For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)

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[Booxoul · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will sound creepy when I say that I thrive on crime thrillers, especially psycho thrillers. So when I got this book The Anarchists’ Club to review, I was pretty excited and thrilled. Even though the book looked huge and daunting. I nevertheless embarked on a journey with Leo Stanhope as my companion.

Blurb
‘Leo Stanhope is a wonderful creation, his world atmospheric and terrifying, and his own story as powerful and enthralling as the mysteries he investigates’ Sam Blake

The second book in the acclaimed new historical crime series following on from the Richard & Judy Book Club 2019 pick, The House on Half Moon Street.

It’s been a year since Leo Stanhope lost the woman he loved and came closing to losing his own life. Now, more than ever, he is determined to keep his head down and stay safe, without risking those he holds dear. But Leo’s hopes for peace and security are shattered when the police unexpectedly arrive at his lodgings: a woman has been found murdered at a club for anarchists, and Leo’s address is in her purse. When Leo is taken to the club by the police, he is shocked to discover there a man from his past, a man who knows Leo’s birth identity. And if Leo does not provide him with an alibi for the night of the woman’s killing, he is going to share this information with the authorities.

If Leo’s true identity is unmasked, he will be thrown into an asylum, but if he lies… will he be protecting a murderer?

Review
The Anarchists' Club by Alex ReeveLeo Stanhope was first introduced to us in the book ‘The House on Half Moon Street‘, A Leo Stanhope Case series.

Even though I didn’t read the first book, I was pretty enamored and intrigued by the character of Leo Stanhope in the “The Anarchists’ Club“. The way Author Alex Reeve weaved the character of Leo: emotional, calm, complex and incredible.

Moreover, the protagonist has a fascinating back story, which compels the readers to delve further into the story.

The secret that Leo is carrying around once revealed will destroy him. He probably will be tortured or sent to the asylum. Hence to hide his true identity, Leo treads a fine line. Walking always on the sidelines, merging with shadows. One wrong move and everything will come tumbling down.

And Leo’s secret is that he is a transgender. A man in a woman’s body. And being a transgender in the Victorian Era is dangerous.

I really loved the author’s portrayal of London in the 1880s. The characters, the story, the places, and everything is steeped in Victorian times.

The narrative is so absorbing that you’ll be lost in solving Dora Hannigan’s murder mystery and would also want to smooth the wrinkles on Leo’s life.

I am amazed that how the author has penned each and every detail of the murder mystery in such a way that that the readers are compelled to second guess the reasons and motives behind the character’s every move. Kudos to such an insightful Author.

Reeve’s The Anarchists’ Club is a very fast-paced novel, which will keep its readers in knots and twist, till the end of the book.

The Anarchists’ Club can be read as a standalone novel. Though after reading this book, I am compelled to read the first book ‘The House on Half Moon Street‘, in ‘Leo Stanhope Case’ series

I will highly recommend this book to one and all. Especially the crime and thriller fanatics. For me, it’s a 5 out of 5 stars read.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Bloomsbury for a review copy of this excellent novel.

The Anarchists' Club sees us paying a second visit to the world of Leo Stanhope, a man who was born a woman, trying to live his life and protect his secret in the heart of Victorian London.

We rejoin Leo a year on from the events in the first book of the series, 'The House of Half Moon Street.' He is still living with Alfie and Constance and has tried to put the tragic events of the earlier novel behind him. Naturally this happy situation does not last long as he finds himself unwillingly drawn into another murder investigation, this time of a woman he met just once when she came to buy bromide from Alfie's Pharmacy.

As the story proceeds Leo finds himself increasingly concerned with the welfare of Aidan and Ciara, the dead woman's two children. Their fate is very much in the balance without their mother to protect them especially when it becomes apparent that one of them may have seen the criminal.

The backdrop to the novel is the titular 'Anarchists' Club', a meeting place for those who are dissatisfied with the way in which the wealthy exploit the labour of their employees. Once more Alex Reeve weaves the inherent injustice present in Victorian society so that it pervades and underscores the whole novel without ever becoming 'preachy'. The motivations of both sides are clear, each believing entirely in the rightness of their attitude. There is a memorable scene where one character from the ruling classes tries to justify his actions by reading passages from Darwin's 'On the Origin of Species.'

In addition to all this we discover that surrogacy and homosexuality were also prevalent in the era though not spoken of and, once again, Alex Reeve allows these subjects to influence his story without overdoing the social history.

Leo, of course, is still trying to keep his secret - he is living as a man but is terrified of being exposed as a woman. His fear of being found out and the consequences which that would entail influence all his actions. We also find out more about his family life before he ran away as he discovers that the father he hated so much is dying and wants to meet one more time. Leo's struggle with his conscience over whether to grant this last request is very poignant as is his coming to terms with the fact that the fault may not all have been on one side.

The story is well told and gripping with the characters and the world they inhabit well drawn and easy to imagine. The clues were all there and I felt that I should have worked out who the criminal was before the dénouement but Mr Reeve beat me!

I would recommend the book though I would strongly advise people to read the earlier novel in the series first. Not only do many characters appear in the new book but some essential plot points from book one are explicitly stated here which may well ruin the experience of the earlier story if the books are read out of sequence. That aside it is nice to follow Leo's life as he experiences it and becomes more used to his role as an unwilling adventurer.

I very much look forward to reading more of his exploits in future tales.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Following his traumatic adventures in book 1 of this series, Leo Stanhope has settled into a mundane existence, working as a hospital orderly, playing chess with his friend Jacob, and living a solitary life in his quarters over the small pharmacy owned by his landlord Alfie and his twelve-year-old daughter, Constance. When a strange woman Leo appears at the pharmacy with two children and tries to persuade him to sell her more of a bromide than she can afford to pay for, Leo politely but firmly sends her away.
When the police alarmingly turn up a few days later and request Leo's attendance at a crime scene, Leo is shocked to find that the corpse unearthed in a back yard is that same mysterious woman. She has been run through, likely with a short sword or knife. But where are her children? And why did she have Leo's name and address in her pocket? Why had she visited the pharmacy?
Among the watchers at the murder scene is someone Leo recognizes. Worse, he recognizes Leo, from the days when Leo was Lottie Pritchard, a vicar's daughter. John Thackeray coerces Leo to give him an alibi for the murder or he will expose Leo's secret.
Leo feels compelled to find the children of Dora Hannigan, the murdered woman, to which end he eventually enlists the help of Rosie Flowers, his companion from book 1. Rosie and Leo have not
healed their relationship: Leo has been unable to tell her she was the cause of the death of Leo's lover.
Still, Rosie tries to help Leo as he learns how Dora's life was intertwined with the Thackerays. Sir Reginald Thackeray is a wealthy industrialist; Dora worked with anarchists and unionists, trying to help the workers at Thackeray's mill. But her son Aiden bears a striking resemblance to the other Thackeray son, Peter. Meanwhile, Ciara Hannigan may have witnessed her mother's murder, but describes the killer as looking like a lion, walking upright like a man.
As Leo becomes attached to the Hannigan children, he worries whether his feelings are paternal, or maternal, a piece of that other person he left behind. And he learns his own father is dying from his estranged sister; can he bear to see the old man as Lottie, or can he brave the visit as his present self?
The "villains" in this outing are no more believable than in book 1. The villains tend to be "types" cut to fit the plot--in this case, a hard-hearted manufacturing mogul who scorns his workers as barely worthy of notice, let alone care or consideration. There isn't a great deal of complexity to the bad guys. It is the many supporting characters who are of greatest interest, including a fiery anarchist, a bi-sexual theater manager, and of course Constance, Alfie and Rosie. Given how enjoyably fully formed the supporting characters are becoming, I feel a bit like when I find a TV show where I love the cast, but wish the writers gave them more interesting stories.
I'll keep an eye peeled for more books in the series all the same. Leo bears revisiting, as do the other regulars, and it looks as if Leo may find himself becoming a detective in name as well as by chance, if the final chapter of the book is any indicator.

[Marjorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex Reeve is a new author to me so I had no previous knowledge of Leo Stanhope and the set up surrounding this tale. It made no difference at all, within a few pages it was very clear what Leo was hiding from the world and just how dangerous his secret was. I also felt right at home with the characters and the location very early on; there is a little bit of referencing the first book here and there but no over recapping so if you have read the first one there is no need to skip pages of tedious stuff you already know. If you haven't read the first one you don't feel like you are missing out on any vital information by jumping in with this book and it works well as a standalone. That said I will be purchasing The House On Half Moon Street and reading out of order.

One of the great joys of this book was, for me, the world created on the page. There are no flowery descriptions of the privations of Victorian London, just a few matter of fact words to conjure the place in all it's festering glory. Somehow this paucity of words allowed the reader a much more fluid experience and somehow brought the streets to life in your head. This technique is employed throughout the book so whether in Sir Reginald Thackeray's withdrawing room, the Calcutta Theatre, Mrs Flower's Pie Shop or even The Anarchist's Club itself you really felt like you were there; all achieved with a handful of words instead of a handful of pages (if you can't tell one of my pet peeves in Historical Fiction is lengthy descriptive passages).

I found Leo Stanhope to be a bit of a difficult character to actually like. Whilst I could empathise with the situation he is in, there was just something about him that irritated me. His behaviour towards others can be downright reprehensible and he just doesn't seem to see that some of the hostility he faces is not because the secret but because he can be a bit of a prat. On the other side of that coin I did find myself wanting him to come good in the end and to stay safely outside the asylum.

The plot itself is fairly straightforward and explained well in the publisher's blurb. What it doesn't prepare you for is the richness of the location, the fully rounded characters and the simple joy of story telling that leaps off the page. One of my favourite characters is Peregrine Black and he appears in a total of about 10 pages throughout the book so that gives you an idea of how well constructed this world is. The only thing that let it down is that some of the murder mystery element all felt a bit muddled and as though it had to be pulled together to meet the deadline rather than unfolding naturally.

Great entertainment and, despite all the peril, a relaxing read.

THIS IS AN HONEST AND UNBIASED REVIEW OF A FREE COPY OF THE BOOK RECEIVED VIA THE PIGEONHOLE.

[Havers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mit Leo Stanhope hat der Autor Alex Reeve einen ungewöhnlichen Protagonisten erschaffen. Ursprünglich als Lottie Pritchard, Tochter eines Landpfarrers geboren, nun als Transgender-Mann im viktorianischen London lebend, als es das Wort noch nicht einmal gab. Und es ist dieses biografische Detail, das in „Der Mord in der Rose Street“ verstärkt in den Fokus rückt, als Leo wider Willen in einen düsteren Mordfall hineingezogen wird.

Es hat sich nicht viel in Leos Leben verändert. Noch immer arbeitet er als Pedell am St Thomas’s Hospital, noch immer bewohnt er das Zimmer über der Apotheke, noch immer bemüht er sich nicht aufzufallen, um seine Identität zu schützen. Aber dann wird in einem Hinterhof-Club, in dem sich Umstürzler, Sozialisten und Anarchisten treffen, eine Kundin der Apotheke ermordet aufgefunden, die einen Zettel bei sich hat, auf dem Leos Name und Adresse steht. Kein Wunder, dass kurz darauf die Polizei vor seiner Tür steht.

Er wird zu dem Tatort gebracht, wo er auf den Hauptverdächtigen John Thackery, Sohn eines vermögenden Fabrikbesitzers trifft, den Leo aus seinem früheren Leben kennt und der ihn in große Schwierigkeiten bringen könnte, Droht er doch, sein Wissen über Leo preiszugeben, wenn er ihn nicht mit einem Alibi versorgt. Zähneknirschend willigt Leo ein, denn es steht nichts weniger als sein neues Leben auf dem Spiel. Aber die Frage nach Thackerys Unschuld oder Schuld treibt Leo um, er muss dringend herausfinden, was hier gespielt wird, zumal die Kinder des Opfers seinen Beschützerinstinkt wecken. Unterstützung erfährt er von Rosie, der Kuchenbäckerin, die ihm, wie schon im letzten Band, eine große Hilfe ist.

Es ist eine spannende Epoche, in der dieser Kriminalroman angesiedelt ist. Durch die Industrialisierung haben sich die gesellschaftlichen Probleme Englands immens verstärkt. Die Fabrikbesitzer sind zu Ansehen und Reichtum durch die Ausbeutung ihrer Arbeiter gelangt, die Kluft zwischen Arm und Reich gewachsen, das Wahlrecht bedarf dringend einer Reform. Viele Brandherde, aber leider bleiben diese Aspekte der sozialen Spannungen in der Handlung weitestgehend unberücksichtigt und werden nur angedeutet.

Ein weiteres Manko ist das Setting. Es fehlen die Beschreibungen der Schauplätze, der besonderen Atmosphäre, die man bei viktorianischen Krimis zwangsläufig erwartet. Alles wird überlagert von den persönlichen Problemen, mit denen sich der Protagonist aufgrund seiner persönlichen Situation herumschlagen muss. Hier wäre etwas mehr Realismus und gleichberechtigtes Nebeneinander dieser verschiedenen Faktoren wünschenswert gewesen und hätte der Story mit Sicherheit gut getan. Es bleibt also Luft nach oben.

[Pretty Little Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: The Anarchists’ Club
Author: Alex Reeve
Publisher: Raven Books
Published on: 2nd May, 2019
Genre: Historical Crime
Format: Paperback
Language: English
No. of pages: 370 (in proof copy)

My review:
I received an Uncorrected Proof copy from Bloomsbury in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Recently I have been watching crime thrillers on Netflix and I was only very delighted to pick up The Anarchists’ Club by Alex Reeve. I had not read the prequel to this – The House on Half Mon Street, and so I kind of went in pretty blind. This book has a really original voice, I feel, and it was so atmospheric that I felt as if I was with Leo in London, investigating this crime.
In the backdrop, we see a radical rising, what today we can call a Socialist uprising and having read Dickens, I guess I can say that Reeve might have made him make a run for his money!
Moreover, since I had not read the first book in this Leo Stanhope series, I was surprised when I realized the identity of the protagonist. I have never read of transgender people in those times and I’m sure that so many of have not either. I have always wondered and thus, reading this book made me realize what a serious ‘problem’ it might have been in those times – to be born as such. The author has also brought in another LGBTQ person in Peregrine Black, who is a bisexual an and it is interesting to read about him.
The author has also brought in the angle of family drama and it is just as interesting. The narrative is very gripping and as we rush along with Mr. Stanhope, we are compelled to turn the pages – ‘just on more chapter’ albeit the fact that its half past 2 at night!
The plot is well made and I was totally clueless until the very end. The narrative structure is very engaging as well – you cannot help but be a part of this mystery and have your heart thudding just like Mr. Stanhope, afraid that your hiding place may be discovered!
This was a greatly enjoyable read for me and I’m hoping to pick up the prequel soon!

Verdict:
I had no option but dived right in – such is this read. I really recommend it to all crime-thriller lovers and hope that you will enjoy it just as much as I did. I rate it 4/5 stars.

[A.J. Sefton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A highly original Victorian murder mystery, which is totally absorbing with a unique central character.
This is the second book in a series but stands alone well, without any obvious recap or information dump. It features a transgender man, which, in Victorian times would have put him in an asylum should his secret become known. The 'secret' is a factor in the mystery surrounding the murder of a woman and the future of her orphaned children, but does not dominate the story otherwise. This is handled much better than I imagined it would be.

Nineteenth century London is depicted in a charming way, with appropriate language such as the use of the words 'fellow' and 'marvellous' and no pseudo-historical speech. There is a music hall, pie shop and a pharmacy that has a dentist's chair. None of these are lost in swathes of descriptive text but included in the stride of the story.

The titular Anarchists' Club highlights the contrast between the social classes and the issues of poverty, working conditions and education. There are references to the wave of revolution that had already spread through the rest of Europe nearly forty years earlier, which includes new ideas such as those of Darwin. The survival of the fittest concept being used to exploit poor because that is the natural order of things.

The theme of family runs throughout, with several characters in conflict with their natural parents while others struggle to find out their true parentage. As in real life, families and loyalties are complicated and tested frequently. The idea of only women being able to raise children is considered, as the protagonist seeks out women (mothers) to adopt a pair of orphans before he realises that both his landlord and his own father raised their children without mothers. The bond builds between the orphans and the transgender amateur detective, which makes him wonder if he has an instinctive desire to nurture them. As his female friend says about raising children: 'It's like bits of your soul detaching themselves and walking around on their own.'

​There is tension, atmosphere and terror in this excellent book and I am looking forward to reading more about this unique character.

#NetGalley #TheAnarchistsClub

[Vivienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing U.K./Raven Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Anarchists’ Club’ by Alex Reeve in exchange for an honest review. Thanks also to in The Pigeonhole for hosting a group read.

This is the second in a series of crime thrillers set in Victorian London featuring a transgender protagonist. A year has passed since the events of ‘Half Moon Street’ and Leo Stanhope is continuing his work as a hospital porter living a quiet life above the pharmacy run by his friend Alfie. He is determined to keep his head down as his fear of being exposed is always present.

One day a woman comes into the pharmacy with her two children and has a brief interaction with Leo (she requests credit that he cannot grant). A few days later the police call on Leo with news that the woman’s body has been found in a shallow grave. A note with Leo’s name has been found on her body. Her body was found at a club where anarchists meet.

When the police take Leo there he recognises a man from his past who knows his birth identity. He basically demands that Leo provide him with an alibi for the night of the murder or he will expose Leo to the authorities. Oh dear! There are further murders, family secrets and more before the final dramatic scenes.

Again Reeve has created a strong sense of the period and setting. I had loved ‘Half Moon Street’ for this as well as its strong plot and of course, Leo. I do feel it is best to read them in chronological order as ‘The Anarchists’ Club’ builds on the characterisation of Leo and his allies established in ‘Half Moon Street’. I especially adore Rosie Flowers, who is so down-to-earth, a natural investigator, and such a good friend to Leo.

I found this another very compelling read as good as if not better than the first novel. Alongside a great mystery Reeve explores social themes of workers rights and the relationship between the working poor and those rich and powerful men in charge of industry.

I was very pleased to find myself back in Leo’s company and am certainly looking forward to more cases for Leo, Rosie and friends.

[Krishne Tanneerbavi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sequel to ‘The House on Half Moon Street’ ,a historic crime fiction series set in the Victorian era, follows Leo Stanhope who just wants to lead a quiet life after the previous year’s events when he came close to losing his life. Leo was born as Charlotte Lottie , daughter of a vicar. Those were dangerous times to be transgender, if the truth about his life comes out Leo’s life will be ruined.

Leo’s life is disrupted when the police take him to the Anarchists’ club , the scene of murder of Dora Hannigan. They’ve met only once but she has his address in her purse. There he meets John Thackery, who knows about his past life and threatens him. From that point on Leo gets involved in solving this even though he initially just wants to stay away. He risks his life and security to get her children’s life to safety.

I sometimes found it difficult to get the context since it takes place in Victorian era but it gives a lot of insight to the politics, power and the state of people LGBTQ+ community at the time. The fact that a person with power and money can get away with anything and justice favours that person is true to this day and age.

Murder mysteries are always fun when someone other than a detective is trying to solve it without the complete authority. Leo along with Mrs Flowers starts to investigate the matter in hand. The chemistry and understanding between them was amazing. Leo likes her but doesn’t acknowledge it because of the fact that she knows who he really is.

Leo stays with Alfie and his 12 year old daughter, Constance. Constance was my favourite character as she brought light humour to this dark story. She’s a bold young girl ready to face the world and supports Leo and practically considers him family.

I loved the part where Leo gets confused about his maternal instincts to take care of Dora’s children and when he decides to meet his father as Leo and not as Lottie. The book was page turner and I finished it one go but at the end I felt a little more explanation would be nice regarding a few things like the address in her purse and Aiden’s (Dora’s son ) behaviour.
Recommended: Mystery lovers PLEASE pick it up.

[Uday Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just the look and feel of this book got me hooked to it way before I even dove into the plot. That’s something that I want every book to do. Also, since it came from my favorite genre, which most of you know is thriller, I had a lot (a lot!) of expectations from it. Let me tell you if it took care of them or not.

The book takes up to England in the the Victorian era; a time of mysteries. The plot follows Leo Stanhope, who was born as Charlotte, a vicar’s daughter who lives under a new identity running away from the links of her past. The book is the part of a series, so there’s a lot more to that part, well beyond this book.

Coming back to the plot, the story revolves around the murder of Dora Hannigan which took place at the Anarchists’ Club. That’s where John Thackery comes into story, he’s the one who knows about Leo’s past and threatens. And what follows is a series of incidents pushing Leo into the mystery, twists and risks he didn’t want to come close to. I won’t go any deep into the story to avoid any potential spoiler or to give away any important information.

The writing style in this book got me hooked to it with ease, with a flow in the story that was quick enough to be grasped and slow enough to pin down all the important details. The attention to the loops in the story made it way easier to pick up and understand. A development of thrill takes place during the initial and middle chapters of the story. Steadily but at different paces.

The characters were also realistic and since the story dated back to the society which was anything but modern, they also had to face the power-play, politics and thought-process of people; especially around topics like LGBTQ+ segment of the population, people-in-power, and more. There is a taste of horror, humor and mystery bundled in this book; all placed at smartly chosen times. That leads to several interesting points to dig into while reading the book.

This, from me, is a sure-shot recommendation for readers like me, who are looking for a deep story to follow with more books in place when the this one ends.

[Ronita Banerjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

People try to be courageous in different ways. I chose to be courageous by reading a thriller I was putting away for all the wrong reasons. The Anarchist’s club being the second installment in the Leo Stanhope series raised my doubts while reading it as I was not familiar with the first one ( The House on Half Moon Street) I am glad my doubts were rubbished by the author. Not only was the book enjoyable but also filled with bits from the previous one which will help in understanding our hero better.

Did I mention that our hero was not always a hero? Well there lies the catch. Leo Stanhope was Charlotte 'Lottie' Pritchard. The Reverend’s daughter who did not want to remain caged in the body she was born with. To hide her true self she took desperate measures.



Leo’s new life or perhaps his monotonous new life was the one that suited him which was disturbed when a young mother came to visit the shop he worked along with her two children. The death of the woman forces Leo to get involved in the mess which threatened his very existence, by unearthing secrets he wants desperately to hide.





What worked for me was a female-turned-male detective(I do avoid using the word “trans” as I never liked the sound of it), a Victorian setting and the thrill of catching a killer in this fine mess. The relationship that Leo developed with the two unfortunate children Aiden and Ciara, certainly had my heart. I loved how the author breezed effortlessly through the plot revealing things at the ultimate moment. I would also admit that choice of the perpetrator surprised me a little though not much.



The start was however slow at the beginning and it did take a substantial amount of time to get to the plot. I am quite sure that I didn’t get enough hang of the anarchist’s club and its’ occupants and also the fates of the children at the last did disappoint me a little.



However apart from some minor hiccups I loved the very purpose of a strong and stubborn hero who can change the views of the world by challenging every notion and shaking up the beliefs that are deeply embedded into the very core of this society.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

To get the best from this book I would really recommend that you read the first in series, The House on Half Moon Street, before starting this sequel. You really need the whole background to really appreciate who Leo Stanhope is and where he came from.
Leo is still living with Alfie and Constance and is perturbed when one day he is called to the scene of a crime, his ink being that his name was found on the victim. Coincidentally (or not) said victim visited him in the chemist not long since wanting a large quantity of a drug on account. Was his refusal to supply connected to her death? At the scene he encounters someone who knows his past, someone who could expose him. Someone who then blackmails him for an alibi. What has Leo got himself embroiled in and will he be able to get to the truth before too late?
In this book, we see another different side of Leo as he tries to help the children of the murdered woman. With what had gone before in the first in series to shape Leo was rounded off nicely with this extra characteristic and only made me sympathise/empathise with him more. And, with the majority of the background and scene setting stuff also having been set up nicely in the series opener, the story in this sequel was more able to get on with itself, the foundations already having been fully established. This made the book flow better and the author was able to fully develop the plot as it went on. Leo also has some tricky family stuff to contend with in this book and this is handled very well. Sure was a different time back then.
Once again the author has done a great job of describing Victorian London, both the time and place, especially with respect to prejudices and class difference. Highlighted by the setting of the Anarchists' Club of the title. Plotting is tight and description is kept to only the necessary without the need for padding.
All in all, a cracking follow up which held my attention throughout and left me satisfied at its conclusion. Roll on book three. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Uwe Tächl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hervorragend gelungene Fortsetzung

Der Mord in der Rose Street ist das zweite Buch rund um Leo Stanhope, der als Frau geboren nun ein ruhiges, unauffälliges Leben als Mann führen möchte. Doch das Schicksal hat andere Pläne, als er auf einen alten Bekannten trifft, der seine Herkunft kennt und dem er ein Alibi geben muss. Doch dies ist nur der Anfang eines spannenden und bedrohlichen Abenteuers, das Leo wieder alles abverlangt.

Auch wenn ein Jahr vergangen ist, hat sich in Leos Leben nicht viel verändert und man findet sofort wieder in Charakter, Handlung und Umfeld hinein. Wie der Titel der Originalausgabe verrät geht es um einen Mord in einem Anarchisten-Club. Die Tote hatte Leos Adresse bei sich, so dass er selbst unter Verdacht gerät, einem alten Bekannten ein Alibi liefern und sich letztendlich um die beiden Kinder der Toten kümmern muss. Schon ist man mittendrin und kann miterleben, wie Leo mit seinen Ermittlungen beginnt, unterstützt von Rosie, die ihm schon im ersten Teil zur Seite stand.

Das Buch hat tolle Charaktere, zeigt einen hervorragenden Blick auf das viktorianische London im Jahr 1881 und handelt von einem fesselnden Mordfall, der seine Kreise zieht.

Gelesen wird das Hörbuch wie beim ersten Teil von Viola Müller, die Leo perfekt verkörpert und mit der man gerne der Handlung lauscht. Tempo, Rollenverteilung und Lesestil haben mir sehr gut gefallen. Ein Hörbuch, das man richtig genießen kann.

Wie schon der erste Teil bin ich auch vom zweiten begeistert und gespannt darauf wie es weitergehen wird. Leo Stanhope ist als Charakter klasse und meistert das Leben als Transgender so gut, wie es eben geht. Als ob diese Situation nicht schon herausfordernd genug wäre, schlittert er in Herausforderungen hinein, die er einfach mit vollem Einsatz und Herzblut angehen muss. Ein historischer Krimi für Fans des ersten Teils, den man besser zuvor gelesen haben sollte. Für Liebhaber von Krimis aus dem viktorianischen England, die auf besondere Hauptcharaktere stehen.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE ANARCHISTS' CLUB is a comfortable, warming read that encourages the reader to ‘take the air’ of Victorian London. The light of the lamps beckons.

A year ago, Leo Stanhope was a crossroads. Leo has plenty of excellent reasons to keep a low profile and is keen to move on from the vivid memories of violence and horror that almost cost him his life. He may not be flush with funds but Leo is comforted by the fact that his life now has a structure of sorts. He has friends, he has work, he has a home.

An odd encounter in his landlord’s pharmacy followed by a murder leads to the police coming to visit Leo. At a club frequented by radicals and foreigners, a woman has been murdered and Leo’s address was in her purse. When asked to accompany the police to the scene of the murder, Leo is horrified to recognize someone from his past who knew him back then as someone entirely different. Worse, Leo is threatened with exposure if he does not provide this man with an alibi for the time of the killing.

THE ANARCHISTS’ CLUB is the second book of an original new historical crime series set in Victorian London. Our dashing young protagonist Leo Stanhope has far more challenges to face than the average young Londoner of the age but dives headfirst regardless into peril to get to the truth. Leo was assigned the female gender at birth and is now living as best he can as a man in an era that is either ignorant or hostile to the plight of transgender people.

What strikes you first about this novel is how utterly convincing the setting is to read of. Only a few pages in, you will be completely sold on the author’s version of Victorian England from the street lamps to the street urchins. You are absolutely there, and everyone we meet springs fully realized to the page.

It is difficult not to feel anxious for Leo as he lives his somewhat attenuated life on the fringe, constantly shadowed by multiple threats, real or imagined. This casts a blanket of fear over everything that he does, with every interaction Leo has with others needing to be examined in the moment, and also after. Leo has a necessary preoccupation with self, a heightened constant state of awareness to his surrounds. It is exhausting a life fraught with tension.

THE ANARCHISTS’ CLUB is a captivating wintry mystery set in a time that lends itself well to the premise of an amateur detective who need to employ both wits and foot power in his investigations. At the core of this read is family – the burden of its expectations and responsibilities, secret shame, the weight that the past can have on the present.

British author Alex Reeves’ first novel THE HOUSE ON HALF MOON STREET was a 2019 Richard and Judy Book Club pick.

[Karai Khan · Rating 3 out of 5]

London im ausgehenden 19. Jahrhundert: Das ist ein literarisch reizvoller Ort und dementsprechend reich bevölkert mit Literatur aller Genre ist er denn auch. Alex Reeve siedelt dort seine historische Kriminalreihe um Leo Stanhope an. »Der Mord in der Rose Street« ist Teil 2, allerdings der erste, der mir in die Hände fiel. Es gibt zwar verschiedene Verweise auf den ersten Fall, aber die Unkenntnis desselben hindert Verständnis und Lesefluss überhaupt nicht.

Leo Stanhope hat es nicht leicht: Da seine Familie – für das viktorianische England nun keineswegs untypisch – Schwierigkeiten damit hat, dass die geliebte Tochter sich als Mann identifiziert, muss er weit unter den materiellen Verhältnissen seines Standes leben und verdient sich seinen Lebensunterhalt sehr mühsam. Dass er unversehens ins Visier einer Mordermittlung gerät, ist dabei nicht hilfreich.

In seinem wendungsreichen Krimi, der unter Mittellosen und Revolutionären ebenso wie unter Reichen und Mächtigen spielt, gelingen Reeve ein paar interessante Charakterstudien – ohne das hier jetzt zu hoch hängen zu wollen. Aber seine Figuren sind plastisch und bei aller notwendiger Typisierung keineswegs eindimensional. Gerade das besondere Beziehungsgeflecht, in dem Stanhope sich bewegt, einem Netzwerk, das er zum Überleben braucht, bei dem zu große Nähe aber sofort auch Gefahr bedeutet, das ist gut herausgearbeitet. Überhaupt: Wie die besondere Gefahr, in der sich Stanhope (hier ganz klassisch Detektiv wider Willen) permanent befindet, immer spürbar bleibt, ohne vordergründig zu werden, das ist geschickt gemacht. Mir brachte es die kontraintuitive Erkenntnis, dass gerade die prüden Beschränkungen der viktorianischen Sexualmoral, die zu einer gezwungenen Zurückhaltung in der Öffentlichkeit führten, Freiheiten ermöglicht haben könnten.

Alles in allem eine angenehme Krimilektüre, kurzweilig und gerne gelesen.

[Cheryl M-M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Leo Stanhope series, and if you haven’t read the first one yet, The House on Half Moon Street, then please do, because you are missing out on a great book.

Leo gets called to identify the body of a woman who has been buried in the midst of a burrow of rooms and hallways that harbour a group of anarchists. His first instinct is to lie and his second one is to worry about who wasn’t found with the corpse.

Leo and Rosie end up as a sleuthing duo again in this story, although their relationship is quite rocky. Leo finds it difficult to forgive Rosie for what happened to Leo in that room. They need to have clarification on why Leo feels so betrayed. Not that it was her fault that they ended up there, but perhaps it has more to do with seeing his vulnerable side and being a witness to the worst thing that could possibly happen to Leo or Rosie. She has seen his shame, but then wasn’t she the one who opened that door?

The premise is absolutely refreshing. Reeve wants the reader to understand the limitations for transgender people in this particular era, which can’t really be compared to those in the 21st century. Although, to be completely fair there are still plenty of countries with laws comparable to those in the dark ages.

It’s historical crime fiction with a compelling main character. Reeve has a natural flair for crime and for telling a story. This isn’t a writer who has decided to throw in a transgender character to shake a genre up or be in vogue. He has created a main character with longevity and potential, and it certainly wouldn’t work if he wasn’t such a talented scribe. Luckily he is, which hopefully means we will be hearing a lot more from Reeve in the future.
*I received a courtesy copy*