Thief-taker Simon Westow tries to forget his brutal past in the Leeds mills but when a local doctor tells him of the deaths of two young boys at the hands of the overseers, Westow wants to help. By doing so he comes into the orbit of two violent and powerful men who will stop at nothing to ensure that their businesses remain profitable. As the body count rises Westow needs to protect those near to him whilst Jane is confronted by her own past.
I have always loved Nickson novels set in Leeds and at its heart this is no different. The setting in the early years of the Industrial Revolution is well laid out and the knowledge of the geography of the city is impressive. My only quibble with this book is that it all ended up a bit 'Peaky Blinders' for me - there is a lot of violence and manoeuvring in the last half of the story. It's still great though. ( )

Heart in mouth read!

Gripping continuation of the Simon Westow thief taker series set in Leeds. Nickson’s channeled the historical injustices of the time, the brutality of the majority of factory owners and overseers towards the children who worked in the mills, the cheapness of life, the bullying of the powerful who are never called to account. Until they are!
Two young factory lads die from injuries received from brutal mill overseers at Seaton’s Mill. Simon is enraged. It brings back memories of his time in the factories. He still carries the marks.
Wealthy factory owner Thomas Arden, and his associate, mill owner Seaton have a long relationship, and Simon and his family are in their sights.
Jane is as usual slipping around the city. Some strange happenings have her on high alert and she continually senses someone following her.
When Simon’s children are targeted Simon, Rosie and Jane become a focused combination of vengeance.
Jane comes face to face with her nemesis. It’s not pretty. My heart as always goes out to her.
I am overawed by Nickson’s dedication to historical truths about his beloved Leeds, his research and the depth of his visceral reaction to the more unpleasant aspects. This is the icing on the cake that gives legs to this novel. In his Author’s Notes Nickson gives a measured explanation about the source of the energy in writing this novel.
“ Simon Westow novels have always been carried along on a wave of anger, and mine was certainly there. It was sparked by the excavation of bodies in the graveyard of the old Ebenezer Chapel. The dead factory children brought from the earth had been starving when alive, always hungry although they and their families worked twelve hours a day. Then the pandemic arrived, and the fury evaporated, replaced by sorrow and the sense of fragility and impermanence of life.”
I loved this episode in the lives of this little community.

A Severn House ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change ( )