Tag: ReadersFirst

Book Review: Hudson’s Kill (Justice Flanagan #2) by Paddy Hirsch

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hudson's killAbout the Book

New York, 1803. The expanding city is rife with tension, and violence simmers on every street as black and Irish gangs fight for control.  When a young girl is found brutally murdered, Marshal Justy Flanagan must find the killer before a mob takes the law into its own hands.

Kerry O’Toole, Justy’s friend and ally, decides to pursue her own inquiries into the girl’s murder.  When they each find their way to a shadowy community on the fringes of the city, Just and Kerry encounter a treacherous web of political conspiracy and criminal enterprise.  As events dangerously escalate, they must fight to save not only the city,  but also themselves…

Format: Hardcover, ebook (320pp.)    Publisher: Corvus Books
Published: 4th July 2019     Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Crime

Purchase Links*
Amazon.co.uk  ǀ  Amazon.com  ǀ Hive.co.uk (supporting UK bookshops)
*links provided for convenience, not as part of any affiliate programme

Find Hudson’s Kill (Justice Flanagan #2) on Goodreads

My Review

I loved The Devil’s Half-Mile, the first book in the series, and in Hudson’s Kill the author once again transports the reader to the powder keg that is New York in 1803, where gangs and other power brokers are seeking to stake their claims to areas of the rapidly expanding city.

The author brilliantly conjures up the sights, sounds and smells of early nineteenth century New York. Aptly described as ‘a dangerous place to live’, the city is overcrowded, many of its inhabitants are prey to gang warfare and disease, and the contrast between the slums and shanty towns of the poor and the lavish homes of the rich is stark.

The story’s told in the same colourful, lively prose as the previous book. Generous helpings of period slang (nimgimmer, dimber), imaginative curses (‘tossy-locked florence’) and memorable one-liners (‘Just because I’m togged in buntings and a snicket don’t mean you can treat me like some judy hick’) add to the sense of authenticity and atmosphere. You’ll definitely want to make use of the helpful glossary at the back of the book and it’s only right to give a shout out to the copy editing and proofreading team. And, if you’ve ever wondered about the hierarchy of prostitutes in early nineteenth century New York, well, Paddy Hirsch has done the research for you. As Kerry learns in preparation for an undercover role, it goes ‘bunters’, ‘buricks’, ‘curtezan’ and top of the tree, ‘gentry-mort’.

I was pleased to see many of the larger-than-life characters from the first book make return appearances: Justy’s uncle, Ignatius Flanagan, known as ‘The Bull’; Justy’s friend, Lars Hokkanssen, the tough red-bearded sailor; streetwise Kerry O’Toole; and Kerry’s cousin, Lew Owens. But there are also new characters to get to know, such as the memorably named Hardluck. And, of course, there’s the man himself, Justy Flanagan. His moral complexity makes him a fascinating and engaging leading character. He’s shrewd, observant, resourceful and pretty handy with a ‘chive’ or in a ‘clutch’. (Sorry, you need that glossary again.) But Justy, a word – Eliza is definitely not the woman for you. You need to listen to Lars.

The gruesome discovery in the opening chapter sees Justy and Kerry each embark on their own inquiries into the death of a young girl. Whilst for Justy it’s largely professional, it also speaks to his sense of justice and desire to see everyone – rich or poor, black or white – treated equally under the law. As he says, “We have to speak for her. We have to act for her. And that means finding her killer”. For Kerry, there’s a very personal reason why she’s equally determined to see justice done.

However, if you ask questions, especially questions that bring you to the attention of criminals and murderers, then you court danger, as both Justy and Kerry find out to their cost. Throw in a range war between competing gang leaders, corruption and conspiracy in high places and you have all the components for a conflagration – and not necessarily just metaphorical. Oh, and remember there are spies and informers everywhere so be very careful who you trust.

The plot takes advantage of the febrile state of New York at the beginning of the nineteenth century to create a page-turning crime mystery but also touches on issues of contemporary relevance, such as immigration, racial discrimination and segregation.

Paddy Hirsch certainly knows how ‘to spin a cakey dit’*.  Hudson’s Kill is as fast-moving and intricately plotted as its predecessor with the same fantastic period atmosphere and great cast of characters. I absolutely loved it. On behalf of historical crime fans, I fervently hope there are more adventures awaiting Justy Flanagan.

I received an advance review copy courtesy of Readers First and publishers, Corvus.

* to tell a good story (You see why you need that glossary?)

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In three words: Gripping, immersive, fast-paced

Try something similar…Blood & Sugar by Laura Shepherd-Robinson (read my review here)

Paddy HirschAbout the Author

Paddy Hirsch was educated in Dublin and Belfast, and the University of Warwick, where he founded the University’s Irish Society.  He started his journalism career in Hong Kong after a short stint in the military, and spent the next few years working in East and Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe.  From there to America, where he covered various aspects of Wall Street for a variety of American and European news outlets.  He now lives in Los Angeles.  (Photo credit: Goodreads author page)

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Book Review: Fled by Meg Keneally

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FledAbout the Book

She will do anything for freedom, but at what cost?

Jenny Trelawney is no ordinary thief. Forced by poverty to live in the forest, she becomes a successful highwaywoman – until her luck runs out.

Transported to Britain’s furthest colony, Jenny must tackle new challenges and growing responsibilities. And when famine hits the new colony, Jenny becomes convinced that those she most cares about will not survive. She becomes the leader in a grand plot of escape, but is survival any more certain in a small open boat on an unknown ocean?

Format: Paperback (400 pp.)    Publisher: Zaffre
Published: 15th April 2019 Genre: Historical Fiction

Purchase Links*
Amazon.co.uk  ǀ  Amazon.com  ǀ Hive.co.uk (supporting UK bookshops)
*links provided for convenience, not as part of any affiliate programme

Find Fled on Goodreads

My Review

Meg Keneally’s debut solo novel is described as ‘an epic historical adventure based on the extraordinary life of convict Mary Bryant’.  In her historical note, the author explains where the story departs from known facts – relatively few occasions, as it happens – and where fictional characters replace their real life counterparts.

The prologue, set in 1791, provides a taste of the remarkable events that will unfold but first of all the reader is transported back in time to Cornwall in 1783.  When Jenny Trelawney’s fisherman father is killed at sea, she chances upon highway robbery as a way to keep her family from poverty.  This is despite her fear of ending up as one of the grisly corpses displayed at the crossroads, Four Turnings.  (Perhaps a little nod there to the opening lines of Daphne du Maurier’s novel My Cousin Rachel: ‘They used to hang men at Four Turnings in the old days’.)  Her encounter with the mysterious highwayman, Mr. Black, draws Jenny further into a life of crime that ultimately sees her convicted of robbery and sentenced to death.

The commutation of her sentence to transportation seems like a lucky escape until the horrors of the voyage to Australia are revealed.  Once there, and now with the protection of a husband, Dan Gwyn, things are little better.  The newly established convict colony struggle to support themselves.  Starvation and disease are always close at hand.  Contrary to the actions of the Governor and his staff, Jenny welcomes contact from the indigenous people who provide valuable information that enables the colonists to survive, but only barely.  Jenny also benefits from help from a rather unexpected source.  (I initially thought it was a bit too convenient and rather unlikely but learned from the author’s historical note that it is based on fact.)

Jenny realises there is no future for her and those she loves in Australia and sets out to convince Dan and others that escape is the only option, notwithstanding the perils that await them at sea.  As she says, their most valuable asset is that they possess “The skill to leave, and the courage to do it’.  Those perils are thrillingly brought to life in the part of the book I found most compelling.  After what can only be described as an epic adventure on the high seas, Jenny and her companions seem to have reached safety but will it prove short-lived or is there a possibility of a more hopeful future?

Jenny (or rather her real life counterpart, Mary Bryant) is a remarkable character brought convincingly to life by the author.  Jenny’s determination to take control of her own destiny is admirable and not easily resisted by those around her.  When she remarks to husband, Dan, “You are a brave man” he replies, “Not brave enough to defy you.”  Fled is a compelling and skilfully told story of courage, resolve and fortitude that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I received a review copy courtesy of publishers, Zaffre, and Readers First. Fled is the first book from my 20 Books of Summer Reading Challenge list.

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In three words: Compelling, atmospheric, dramatic

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Meg KeneallyAbout the Author

Meg Keneally started her working life as a junior public affairs officer at the Australian Consulate-General in New York, before moving to Dublin to work as a sub-editor and freelance features writer. On returning to Australia, she joined the Daily Telegraph as a general news reporter, covering everything from courts to crime to animals’ birthday parties at the zoo. She then joined Radio 2UE as a talkback radio producer.

In 1997 Meg co-founded a financial service public relations company, which she sold after having her first child. For more than ten years, Margaret has worked in corporate affairs for listed financial services companies, and doubles as a part-time SCUBA diving instructor. She lives in Sydney with her husband Craig and children Rory and Alex. (Photo credit: Goodreads author page)

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