Murder, suffrage and anarchy in 20C Leeds!
The Molten City (Tom Harper Mystery #8) by Chris Nickson
I have no idea why this is my first Tom Harper book. I've read many Nickson novels but not about this particular Superintendent of the Leeds City Police. My loss.
Leeds, obviously a place Nickson likes to set his mysteries. There's his historical series with Simon Weston in the 1820's Leeds of Regency times. Fast forward a hundred years to the early 1900's and Leeds' crime stories of the late Victorian years.
"To those who fought so we’d all have the vote. We owe you more than we can ever pay." I love this--Nickson's dedication. Something I feel strongly about, particularly as every time I go to the polls I know I stand on the shoulders of particularly the women who fought for my right to vote. I refuse to throw their gift away.
But back to Leeds in 1908 and the logistical nightmare of deployment of police forces Tom Harper is faced with. The Prime Minister, Asquith, has chosen to visit Leeds at a time of rife unemployment and all that follows from that for the citizens and their families. Feelings are high, a known anarchist is stirring up people, and Tom foresees trouble. Along with this, the more militant branch of the suffragette movement, those of the Emily Pankhurst arm are planning to demonstrate. As all this occurring, a letter is delivered to Harper about two children who went missing fourteen years ago, snatched and never heard of again. Linked to this will be three deaths.
On the home front Tom's wife Annabelle has been made on offer on her pub. Meanwhile their sixteen year old daughter Mary is longing for more direct action on the question of voting for women. Annabelle has been working quietly over the years towards women's suffrage with the Suffragist Society whose methods are different to those of the Suffragetres. She is at a crossroads of determining where her energies should lie and whether or not to sell her cherished pub.
Missing children, political forces, and murder. Tom Harper has his hands full.
A fascinating and enjoyable historical murder / crime story set against a volatile background.
A Severn House ARC via NetGalley
****
I have no idea why this is my first Tom Harper book. I've read many Nickson novels but not about this particular Superintendent of the Leeds City Police. My loss.
Leeds, obviously a place Nickson likes to set his mysteries. There's his historical series with Simon Weston in the 1820's Leeds of Regency times. Fast forward a hundred years to the early 1900's and Leeds' crime stories of the late Victorian years.
"To those who fought so we’d all have the vote. We owe you more than we can ever pay." I love this--Nickson's dedication. Something I feel strongly about, particularly as every time I go to the polls I know I stand on the shoulders of particularly the women who fought for my right to vote. I refuse to throw their gift away.
But back to Leeds in 1908 and the logistical nightmare of deployment of police forces Tom Harper is faced with. The Prime Minister, Asquith, has chosen to visit Leeds at a time of rife unemployment and all that follows from that for the citizens and their families. Feelings are high, a known anarchist is stirring up people, and Tom foresees trouble. Along with this, the more militant branch of the suffragette movement, those of the Emily Pankhurst arm are planning to demonstrate. As all this occurring, a letter is delivered to Harper about two children who went missing fourteen years ago, snatched and never heard of again. Linked to this will be three deaths.
On the home front Tom's wife Annabelle has been made on offer on her pub. Meanwhile their sixteen year old daughter Mary is longing for more direct action on the question of voting for women. Annabelle has been working quietly over the years towards women's suffrage with the Suffragist Society whose methods are different to those of the Suffragetres. She is at a crossroads of determining where her energies should lie and whether or not to sell her cherished pub.
Missing children, political forces, and murder. Tom Harper has his hands full.
A fascinating and enjoyable historical murder / crime story set against a volatile background.
A Severn House ARC via NetGalley
****
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