Publishers Weekly
★ 08/17/2020
In Finlay’s outstanding third Victorian whodunit featuring private inquiry agents William Arrowood and Norman Barnett (after 2018’s The Murder Pit), the detectives, unlike Sherlock Holmes, whom Arrowood both envies and despises, continue to get prosaic clients with prosaic problems. One such problem, however, becomes much more complex. Captain Moon, the owner of a pleasure steamer that operates on the Thames, reports that someone, probably his business rival Captain Polgreen, has been vandalizing his boat when it’s docked at night. Arrowood and Barnett agree to talk to Polgreen, who denies the charges and claims instead that it was his vessel that was damaged by Moon. The case takes a much darker turn after Barnett and Moon find two ropes tied to Moon’s steamer the morning after their visit to Polgreen: 14 children’s skulls are strung along one rope, and a second is affixed to the murdered bodies of a man and two women. The tension builds as the investigators probe who sent Moon this grisly message and why. Finlay’s grim depictions of the inhabitants of the more impoverished parts of London evoke Dickens. Fans of gritty historicals will be richly rewarded. (June)
From the Publisher
‘A crime novel of thrilling intricacy … Arrowood is a terrific creation, and this book wins five rosettes’ The Tablet
‘Think Sherlock Holmes is the only detective working in Victorian London? Meet William Arrowood, the hero of Mick Finlay’s series of absorbing novels … Finlay depicts a seedy, desperate London and vivid characters with considerable skill’ The Times
‘A good belting read … a gripping historical crime novel … book clubs will love it especially fans of C J Sansom’ NB Magazine
‘Outstanding … Finlay’s grim depictions of the inhabitants of the more impoverished parts of London evoke Dickens. Fans of gritty historicals will be richly rewarded’ Publishers Weekly (starred review)
‘Mick Finlay, the new master of gritty, gruesome and gripping historical crime fiction … Brimming with dark humour, fast-paced action, intriguing twists and turns, and a cast of characters that could well have been conjured up by the late, great Mr Dickens, this is a top-class series that grows in stature with every new book’Lancashire Evening Post
‘Loved it – the sights, sounds, smells, and horrors of Victorian London are so vividly portrayed’ Roz Watkins
‘Mick Finlay’s richly told story evokes the bustling all-encompassing worlds of CJ Samson and Charles Dickens. I loved it’ Lesley Thomson
PRAISE FOR MICK FINLAY:
‘Another brilliant read from Mick Finlay . . . even better than [Arrowood]’ B.A. Paris
‘Gripping’ Daily Telegraph
‘astounding … If you crave Victorian age murder mystery, love darkly gothic atmospheres and want your detective rather tattered and torn at the edges Arrowood is your man.’ SHOTS
‘Enthralling’ Publishers Weekly (starred review)
‘Arrowood is a flawed but engaging hero and the plot spins from peril to twist and back with real panache’ The Times
‘A fantastic creation’ The Spectator
‘Richly inventive’ Daily Telegraph
‘Compelling’ Seattle Times
