Vice Society

Albert Newsome #2

by James McCreet

In Victorian London, gruesome events are afoot. Some are asking why the Detective Force's Inspector Albert Newsome is investigating the curious but - apparently - insignificant death that occurred in Holywell Street. What seemed like a common enough incident is complicated when the Inspector discovers his ex-colleague (and master detective) George Williamson is also pursuing the case, as well as a sinister former criminal named Noah Dyson. Then the questions begin to multiply: why are prostitutes being poisoned? Who is exerting pressure on the Commissioner of police? And who, or what, is 'Persephone'? From the gutter to the drawing rooms of St James, the two detectives choose their allies and plunge into the underworld of Victorian London, where nothing is quite as it seems and the razor's flash waits around every corner.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Crime, Historical Mystery, Mystery, Historical

386 pages, Paperback

First published May 7, 2010

Reviews

[Michelle Hoogterp · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some odd plot holes that made this frustrating to read. The biggest issue is that the book claims, on my covers edition that before there was Sherlock there was Inspector Newsome....except Newsome is a horrid figure and not nearly as bright as his ex partner who has been booted off the force and who is investigating the same crime as Newsome (albeit privately).

I also take issue that this brilliant other ex officer is supposed to be the letter writing scam artist who would be an author that Newsome initially tries to find and arrest.

The letter writer becomes the narrator...but also keeps rooms in a busted up old set he rents and writes and has a young woman he seems to love....but the ex officer we read about doesn't associate comfortably with 'loose women' and has his own house he shared with his now dead wife. So....I'm being asked to believe that a character who is described as the total opposite is the same person?

Nah.

[ghostly_bookish · Rating 3 out of 5]

CAWPILE 6.14
3.5 STARS

Book #2 in the Albert Newsome series, although I'm still unsure why the series is named after him when George and Noah are the main leads!
I thought this was fascinating, very twisty- I really enjoyed the cat and mouse games that were played. Also loved John Cullen!
Not sure whether I'll continue the series.

[Dulshani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging and intriguing with well-rounded, complex characters and solidly researched historic details of Victorian London.

[Tim Chaplin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another crime novel about Victorian London from the author of the Incendiary Trails. Inspector Newsome is investigating the strange death of a man who has fallen out of a window in Holywell Street. He is not pleased to discover that ex-colleague George Williamson is also investigating the case with the help of ex-criminal Noah Dyson. Williamson has received a letter from a mysterious person who goes by the name of Persephone. The anonymous letter tells him that his wife's death of seven years before was murder and not an accident and that the solution to her murder is linked to the case that his ex-boss Inspector Newsome is currently investigating.
Newsome, Williamson and Dyson work together in an uneasy alliance to solve the poisoning of street girls and they are pitted against the gentleman visitors of drawing rooms and spies from a society working against vice and the illicit selling of pornography in book shops.
There are great descriptions of the many inhabitants of the streets, gin bars and opium dens of London. However you have to get used to the narration of the fictional author of this book and also the Victorian like language. This was another enjoyable book and part of a series of three (The next being The Thieves Labyrinth).

[Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was a well written book based in an interesting era and written in language of that period. There was a varied mixture of unusual characters that worked well in the context of the story. It was a dark tale and I could feel the grime of olde London seeping through the pages as I read of the macabre events contained within.

[Rob Cohen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good solid entry but not as good as the first one. The first one was much creepier and sinister; this one was more from the standpoint of the search for the criminals. The first book was much more of a view from both sides so we got to see the unidentified killer in action which was so much fun. I would give it 3 1/2 stars.

[Mary G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Vice Society was another great story by James McCreet. The characters are well drawn and very interesting. Noah Dyson, his friend Benjamin and George Williamson makes a formidable team of investigators. McCreet has a way of bringing Victorian society to life.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

very gothic crime thriller with the new adventures of inspector newsome, george williamson and noah dyson venturing into the the death of williamson's wife and the un explained deaths and venturing into the underworld of london's vice and echoes of dickensian poverty of victorian london

[Ben Chenoweth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow, that took a while. This one took such a long time to get going (one of the major characters only appears a third of the way in!) and the mystery was unnecessarily drawn out. While the ending was satisfactory, I think it just took too long to get to.

[Divine · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. what an amazing book. i was frankly blown away. the characters were very real and loveable. the suspense palpable. i was especially captivated by the narrator who was this somewhat invisible character who was also part of the story. so much crime and deception... all i can say is WOW!!!!

[Elizabeth101 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/10169038