The Devil in the Marshalsea by Antonia Hodgson
Genre: Historical Thriller Setting: 18th Century London Release: 2014
He did not eat or drink, just sat, silently, still clutching the black ledger, bony hands stroking the surface as if it were a purring cat. He leaned forward to catch my response.
Thomas Hawkins has lived on the edge for a while but he has yet to encounter the 'devil'. Gambling, brothels and encounters within the shady underbelly of 1700s London catch up with him and our loveable rogue ends up deeper in trouble than ever before - locked up inside the infamous debtors prison - the Marshalsea.
Marshalsea Prison - where the devil himself moves
In the 18th Century, gaols existed for those who owed money and the Marshalsea is a pit of disease and danger. It even comes with it's own devil: Samuel Fleet. A man feared over London for his ruthless reputation. By fate of ill fortune, Fleet is Hawkins' new cellmate and Tom's life is in danger, with no easy route of escape or release. Even worse - Tom takes up the task of understanding what happened to Fleet's previous cellmate - the murdered Captain Roberts.
The Devil in the Marshalsea is an outstanding thriller with superb attention to detail that helps bring her period setting alive. The success of this first novel spurned an excellent four-book series.
Dig in. Unlike Hawkins, you won't be looking for an escape.
BOOK REVIEW OF: The Devil in the Marshalsea by Antonia Hodgson