James McGee (1)

What a jolly good romp through the underground of Regency London. This debut offers the reader a great new hero who is a bit of a different kind of character we usually see. Retiring from the army, a Captain in the Napoleonic Wars Rifle regiment, Matthew Hawkwood now works for the famous Bow Street Runners catching criminals. The reader does not encounter the wealthy ton of London, but is introduced to the seedy side of the city, complete with rapscallions, pick-pockets, wharfrats, show more prostitutes, mudlarks, and the entire array of anyone and everything unsavory. The book has great characters, a vivid depiction of what life was like in the late 1700's and early 1800s London and lots of action, humor, and mystery. I loved this debut and hope the author continues with the series in the same adventurous flavor. McGee's writing style could be compared to that of Bernard Cornwell, polished and engaging from start to finish. Bravo Mr. McGee, keep 'em coming. show less

Officer Matthew Harkwood, a Bow Street Runner (London's Foot Patrol), is charged with investigating the recent atrocities by the city's busy resurrectionists, gangs of men who plunder the dead to sell for medical research. In the course of looking into the macabre murder of a minister by a mental patient in the notorious Bedlam, Hawkwood discovers a nefarious plot by a surgeon that leads from the pubs of Smithfield to the highest echelons of government.
Based on actual people and events, the show more author recreates with chilling and authentic detail the grim realities of medical research in the era, when progressive surgeons imagine medical feats to preserve lives, though still far from the practices that might eventually accommodate their goals. McGee comfortably, almost off-handedly, lays out the vivid reality of resurrectionists and life in morgues and psychiatric facilities. He does not paint a picture of the genteel aristocratic residents of the period, but depicts the sights and smells of the slums of London - and it's not pleasant.
Hawkwood is a great character, both dark and likeable, as is the supporting cast, with quick-witted dialogue, a maintenance of suspense and barely a wasted page to break the pace. The historical context of the books is also well done; McGee has clearly done his research.
It's not for the faint-hearted, but it's a really good read. I enjoyed the first book in the series, and this will keep me following Hawkwood to his next adventure. show less

I have to declare to being a fan of James McGee. I waited a long time for this new book and it did not disappoint. The teeming, fetid stench of a criminal London in the early 1800's is vividly described. The gentry guarding their sordid activities, Hawkwood uses his contacts to thwart both the criminals and their titled masters. Excellent series and highly recommended.

A good Victorian mystery with plenty of ambiance and a main character that was easy for me to root for. There is a pretty explicit sex scene, but does turn out to be 'necessary' to the plot line later on. You can still skip the scene if you'd rather, just knowing that it happens will be enough. It can be bloody, and the author is not squeamish about the seedier aspects of life in Victorian London. This is not a 'feel good' romp through an imaginary Victorian London where everything comes up show more roses. This is a determined walk towards the elusive truth through a more realistic Victorian London, complete with economic and social disparity, appalling poverty and antipathy towards the poor, and of course standard greed and complicit cooperation between the 'law' and those criminals well off enough to buy themselves out of trouble. show less