- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: W&N; hardcover edition (6 July 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 029785237X
- ISBN-13: 978-0297852377
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.4 x 3.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 509,719 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Last Days Of Newgate (A Pyke Mystery)
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Review
'The main character is a Bow Street Runner who is investigating three brutal murders in St Giles, London. He crosses powerful people, ends up in Newgate prison heading for the gallows, has the help of a headstrong aristocratic beauty...a story of high intrigue and low politics, brutal murder and cunning conspiracies...Tangy and rambunctious stuff.' (Peter Guttridge OBSERVER (18.6.06) )
'The novel drips with all the atmospheric detail of a pre-Victorian murder mystery - "pea-soupers", dingy lanterns and laudanum.' (John Cooper TIMES (27.6.06) )
'This is an excellent, atmospheric mystery...it is the character of Pyke that is of greatest interest. I struggle to find anyone to compare him with, with the possible exception of Patricia Highsmith's Ripley. He is an anti-hero who intends to prove his innocence at whatever cost. But his acts can be heroic - and there is no lack of morality in the book. The final chapter hints at the impact of some of the compromises made. I can't wait for the sequel.' (CRIMESQUAD.COM )
'Gripping and atmospheric.' (DAILY EXPRESS (21.7.06) )
'[The Last Days of Newgate is] peppered with thrilling escapes, audacious crimes, snatched sexual encounters. Several murders (including that of a baby) are graphically described, as is the way that Pyke tortures his principal adversary before consigning him to a cage of hungry sewer rats.' (Sarah Burton TIMES (15.7.06) )
'Pyke is violent, vengeful and conflicted in the best tradition of detectives. His story takes in grisly murder and torture, and uses 1800s London in the same way that hard-boiled fiction uses Los Angeles as a mirror of a corrupt society.' (Jerome de Groot TIME OUT (2-9 August) **** )
'...the period detail is well observed, with the issues of of the day effectively illustrated.' (Robert Colbeck YORKSHIRE EVENING POST (29.7.06) )
'Well researched and enjoyably disturbing, THE LAST DAYS OF NEWGATE is on of the few novels in the new wave of historical fiction likely to leave the reader clamouring for more.' (TLS (27.10.06) )
'This is a potent mix of sectarian politics and raw violence, a richly-researched novel...with a provocative hero...This gritty detective novel will apeal to those who loke plenty of gore and bodies galore.' (Marina Oliver HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW (August 2007) )
'The novel drips with all the atmospheric detail of a pre-Victorian murder mystery - "pea-soupers", dingy lanterns and laudanum.' (John Cooper TIMES (27.6.06) )
'This is an excellent, atmospheric mystery...it is the character of Pyke that is of greatest interest. I struggle to find anyone to compare him with, with the possible exception of Patricia Highsmith's Ripley. He is an anti-hero who intends to prove his innocence at whatever cost. But his acts can be heroic - and there is no lack of morality in the book. The final chapter hints at the impact of some of the compromises made. I can't wait for the sequel.' (CRIMESQUAD.COM )
'Gripping and atmospheric.' (DAILY EXPRESS (21.7.06) )
'[The Last Days of Newgate is] peppered with thrilling escapes, audacious crimes, snatched sexual encounters. Several murders (including that of a baby) are graphically described, as is the way that Pyke tortures his principal adversary before consigning him to a cage of hungry sewer rats.' (Sarah Burton TIMES (15.7.06) )
'Pyke is violent, vengeful and conflicted in the best tradition of detectives. His story takes in grisly murder and torture, and uses 1800s London in the same way that hard-boiled fiction uses Los Angeles as a mirror of a corrupt society.' (Jerome de Groot TIME OUT (2-9 August) **** )
'...the period detail is well observed, with the issues of of the day effectively illustrated.' (Robert Colbeck YORKSHIRE EVENING POST (29.7.06) )
'Well researched and enjoyably disturbing, THE LAST DAYS OF NEWGATE is on of the few novels in the new wave of historical fiction likely to leave the reader clamouring for more.' (TLS (27.10.06) )
'This is a potent mix of sectarian politics and raw violence, a richly-researched novel...with a provocative hero...This gritty detective novel will apeal to those who loke plenty of gore and bodies galore.' (Marina Oliver HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW (August 2007) )
DAILY EXPRESS (21.7.06)
'Gripping and atmospheric.'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book charts the path of Pyke, a sometime Bow Street Runner and sometime crook and takes place in the London of 1829. For those who have read James McGee's Ratcatcher and Resurrectionist there are similarities, both in the main character, Pyke and of course the period that the book takes place. I enjoyed this book as I did the two mentioned above. The pre-Victorian era conjures up a picture of dark London streets, with mist rising from the river. A place where only the brave or foolish would venture out alone at night.
The author is a new one to me, which was a pleasant surprise, because I now have a new source of books, always a joy. I found the book well researched, the characters believable and more importantly it was a very enjoyable read. Since this book was written I believe the author has added at least one other book to the series.
The author is a new one to me, which was a pleasant surprise, because I now have a new source of books, always a joy. I found the book well researched, the characters believable and more importantly it was a very enjoyable read. Since this book was written I believe the author has added at least one other book to the series.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
There are many positive and negative reviews for this author but I felt that it would be worth giving this book a try anyway.
I am very glad that I did!
It is always a matter of personal taste but the story carried me along and I enjoyed the pace.
Is Pyke a man I would like to have as a friend, no!
Is he someone I would like to date my daughter, no!
Is he an entertaining fictional character that I can enjoy reading about, of course.
On the strength of my enjoyment of this book I bought the other novels straight away - I feel that they are just as good. If you want to have complete historical accuracy in your reads or you worry more about sentence construction then maybe this author isn't for you - but if an engaging tale is what you want, give him a go.
I am very glad that I did!
It is always a matter of personal taste but the story carried me along and I enjoyed the pace.
Is Pyke a man I would like to have as a friend, no!
Is he someone I would like to date my daughter, no!
Is he an entertaining fictional character that I can enjoy reading about, of course.
On the strength of my enjoyment of this book I bought the other novels straight away - I feel that they are just as good. If you want to have complete historical accuracy in your reads or you worry more about sentence construction then maybe this author isn't for you - but if an engaging tale is what you want, give him a go.
21 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
In an age in which we're overcrowded with more detectives and crime-fiction protagonists than we can possibly keep track off, Andrew Pepper has delivered a central character who is truly unforgettable. `Pyke' is an extraordinarily vivid, and quite unsettling, creation. On his own, he would make this a compulsive read. But better yet, Pepper clearly knows what to do with him. His brilliant novel turns C19th London into a distinctive and authentic hard-boiled city - edgy, confusing, threatening, labyrinthine and teeming with shadow-bound forces. The stench of gin and laudanum comes reeking off the page.
The novel is set in 1829, when ideals and realities that we might call our own - concerning the nature of the State, of justice, of social control, of national identity - are still coming into existence. As such, the book shows them to be, at best, murky and ambiguous. And, as with the best historical novels, this makes Last Days of Newgate very relevant to today.
But none of this is added-on or laborious. Pepper effortlessly makes full use of the historical setting, while keeping his eye on the action, his foot firmly on the accelerator. He has a great filmic writing style, both cajoling and startling, and a genuinely page-turning sense of pace and suspense. While a hard-boiled sensibility is to the fore, the book is packed full with good old-fashioned heroic elements: here there be narrow escapes, trysts with maidens, and feats of daring-do aplenty. There's also a teasingly well-handled `will they? won't they?' love interest. In all, this is a fantastic read and an auspicious debut.
The novel is set in 1829, when ideals and realities that we might call our own - concerning the nature of the State, of justice, of social control, of national identity - are still coming into existence. As such, the book shows them to be, at best, murky and ambiguous. And, as with the best historical novels, this makes Last Days of Newgate very relevant to today.
But none of this is added-on or laborious. Pepper effortlessly makes full use of the historical setting, while keeping his eye on the action, his foot firmly on the accelerator. He has a great filmic writing style, both cajoling and startling, and a genuinely page-turning sense of pace and suspense. While a hard-boiled sensibility is to the fore, the book is packed full with good old-fashioned heroic elements: here there be narrow escapes, trysts with maidens, and feats of daring-do aplenty. There's also a teasingly well-handled `will they? won't they?' love interest. In all, this is a fantastic read and an auspicious debut.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Pyke has a long way to go!
For fans of period British crime stories, "The Last Days of Newgate" by Andrew Pepper is likely to fill the bill. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Billy J. Hobbs
Thoroughly enjoyable. Couldn't put it down.
I have only just discovered the Pyke series and I am so glad I have - as I have found it so refreshing. Read more
Published 4 months ago by S Clark H
Seriously?
First book of a currently five novel series titles `A Pyke Mystery' which is set in 1800s London. The series follows an acutely unpleasant man called Pyke as he investigates a... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Eden
a good read
mr pepper will take you back to london in the eighteen thirtys and you will want to read the rest of mr pyke
Published 23 months ago by jinks
peters review
this book was recommended to me by my daughter and I was very sceptical, but she compared it to the series of books by C. Read more
Published 24 months ago by Peter Buchanan
Oh dear.
This is dreadful. Try this sentence; 'He also knew for a fact that Goddard and Townsend were, by no means, Vines's men. Read more
Published on 2 Sep 2009 by Mr. Dean Glover
If You Can't Write, Make it Sadistic
I bought this book because other readers gave it four or five stars. Did we read the same novel? Is it a guy thing? Read more
Published on 30 July 2009 by Nancy Swing
Enjoyable but feels like a deja vu
It's enjoyable and quite well written, however, having enjoyed David Liss' novels already, reading this one feels like reading a copy of the former... Read more
Published on 6 Jun 2008 by F. S. Carr
A riveting read
As Victorian mysteries are a favourite genre, both classic and modern, I thought I would try this Andrew Pepper novel. I was not disappointed. Read more
Published on 3 April 2008 by Ms. K. Johnston
Dross
I did try with this, really! I am afraid that I was reminded of a masochistic attempt I made to digest a Dan Brown- with the protagonist described as a square-jawed heroic type:... Read more
Published on 21 Mar 2008 by A Messenger
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