Confession first - I love Matthew Hawkwood. He's come a long way since book one where he was a relatively simple Bow Street runner.

In this tale Hawkwood investigates the murder of a prostitute. Soon he's linking high class whores to members of parliament and getting far too close for comfort to plots that could cost him his life.

As always the writing is action packed. There are echoes of Jack the ripper with murdered prostitutes, always a hint of Sharpe with the lingering war. But Hawkwood is one on his own - with his own moral code and sense of justice. Not to be trifled with. Brilliant.

A wonderful historical thriller well written and well researched. There's more gore and violence than I usually like in book but the book kept hooked since the first pages.
Recommended.
Many thanks to HarperCollins and Netgalley for this ARC

The Reckoning by James McGee

This historical murder mystery set in London comes across as rough, gritty but atmospheric in its descriptions of the time. It's saving grace is the main character Matthew Hawkwood whose determination to uphold justice, even for the seemingly lowest of the low, a murdered prostitute whose body has been found dumped in an open grave.
Faced with opposition from the establishment, Hawkwood doggedly pursues the truth putting his own career and life on the line.
Not to my usual taste but enjoyable just the same...this is the 6th in a series featuring Matthew Hawkwood and I am now intrigued to find out more about his backstory. My only criticism would be that the author spends a lot of time explaining things to us about how and why things are done this way or that. It gets a bit tedious after a while and slows down the pace of the book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and HarperCollins Uk for a review copy of The Reckoning, the sixth novel to feature Matthew Hawkwood of London's Bow Street Runners.

Hawkwood is none too pleased when he is called to view a body in a grave. The body turns out not to be the intended resident but rather that of a young woman with suspicious wounds. The pathologist confirms murder, records prove she is not the first victim and some dogged investigation uncovers her identity. Unfortunately for Hawkwood and Chief Magistrate Read they are the only ones interested in justice as the investigation upsets some powerful people who try to shut it down.

What a read. This is the first novel in the series I have read so I wasn't sure what I'd be getting but I'm very impressed. Mr McGee does a sterling job with the history of the time, 1812 I think, from the politics of war with France to the poverty, smells and violence of everyday life because it was a time very different to ours. The descriptions of the smells, sludge and dirt had me shuddering in disgust as they are so well described. Yuk. The casual violence and cruelty from one man to another and to animals is unthinkable to modern sensibilities but realistic I imagine for the time. There was no financial security net so it was every man for himself in a fight for survival. It is one of the best descriptions of the times that I have ever read. I must admit that the politics of the war against France do not greatly interest me but I thoroughly enjoyed the idea that politicians even then believed that collateral damage is a necessary price for the greater good, or their perception of the greater good. It is a great plot device.

Along with or despite the politics and breathtaking descriptions of everyday life The Reckoning has a rollicking good plot. Hawkwood is determined to hunt down this serial killer because he is all the victims have and the many obstacles and lies he encounters only fuel his determination. He is resourceful and smart and well capable of vanquishing them. He is helped by his ex-army sergeant turned crook, Nathaniel Jago, his boss, Chief Magistrate Read and his trusty gun. His adventures make for a fun read, despite the grim backdrop, as they are a bit OTT and he brings a certain humour to his dealings. One of the running gags is about Tommy Reilly's pigs - think Hannibal and you'll get the picture.

The Reckoning is a class act which I have no hesitation in recommending as a great read.

This is a graphic brutal depiction of London in the Regency period, full of gore, lawlessness, nightmarish cruelty to animals.and the depraved sexual proclivities of the privileged in society satisfied by upmarket brothels. It is the first that I have read in the Matthew Hawkwood series, a man who has served as soldier and spy, but I found it worked perfectly well as a standalone which gives us some of his previous history and adventures. Hawkwood is now a principal police officer, a Bow Street Runner, working under Chief Magistrate James Read. It begins in St Giles Rookery with a gunfight at The Hanged Man, a tavern frequented by the criminal underworld, run by Nathaniel Jago, an ex-sergeant involved in crime, with a close relationship with Hawkwood where they are to all intents and purposes brothers protecting each others back. The gunfight ends with three men dead, whose bodies are carted off with no judicial repercussions, with life returning to normal as if it never happened. The dispensing of summary justice in London is an accepted practice in the community, no one bats an eyelid. Hawkswood has just returned from France.

A badly mutilated woman's body is discovered in an open grave, in a part of London that has requested help from the Bow Street Runners. When it becomes clear that she is a prostitute, for many it would be a reason to drop the case, but not for Hawkwood or his boss, Read. Hawkwood finds himself led to The Salon, run by Ellie Pearce, now known as Lady Eleanor Rain, who caters for the sexual appetites of the rich and powerful. It emerges that other women have been murdered in London with the same MO. The dangers that Hawkswood faces come from Addington at the Home Office, Sir Edmund Saxby with connections to the spy networks operating out of The Alien Office, supported by the arch political manipulator, Henry Brooke. James Read and Hawkswood are warned to drop the case in no uncertain terms which they are reluctant to do, even when the killer is allegedly discovered to have committed suicide. As Read's position is threatened and danger comes to those close to Hawkwood, it is clear that the government is ruthlessly protecting a killer for what they think is the greater good of the country. Hawkswood is forced to fall back on his criminal connections in his search for justice as he goes to war against those that threaten him and his nearest and dearest.

McGee paints a vibrant picture of Regency London, with the stinking sewage, knackers yards and toxic emissions. The extreme poverty of most people is juxtaposed with the power, wealth and ruthlessness of the ruling classes. Political intrigue runs rampant as key figures in government fund and ferment insurrection in Bonaparte's France. The author has clearly done his research on the period, utilising events, organisations and real people from the time, although he does take some liberties with dates. I should warn readers that there is plentiful coverage of horrific treatment of animals, I had to read quickly to move past these descriptions. Hawkswood is a man of integrity whilst at the same prepared to do whatever it takes to protect his own and gain some measure of justice. He is prepared to cross lines and tolerate brutality and killing which might upset some readers. I found this a compelling and gripping read even when I didn't like what I was reading. Highly recommended. Thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.