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saraf7990's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
usbsticky's review against another edition
5.0
Spoilers ahead:
I have a feeling this really should be the beginning of a series. These stand alone really shows the versatility of Bernard Cornwell. I started off reading his Saxon books, thought they were ok. Then I went on to his Sharpe books, which were much better. I'm now into his stand alone books and they have really wow'd me. Some of his boos remind me of the writing of Ken Follett and Wilbur Smith, which is high praise. Cornwell does a fantastic job of writing a sympathetic protagonist, which is half the battle. Then he provides a story which puts the protagonist in a tough situation and makes him come out on top.
This book: It's a few years after Waterloo and Captain Rider Sandman is between jobs, having to sell his commission in order to try and satisfy his father's debts and prevent his mother and sister from going into the poor house. The Home Secretary offers him a temporary job. A portrait artist is to be hanged for murder of a countess. The artist's mother is a maid to the Queen. And the Queen has requested that the artist's case be investigated.
Since the protagonist is a decent guy, he takes the job and instead of phoning in the result, he actually decides to investigate. It's a good mystery book or detective protocol book where he starts by looking for clues, questioning suspects and witnesses and doing the footwork.
As with most of Cornwell's books, there are plenty of interesting characters including sidekicks and villains, a lot of history and background and description of contemporary injustices. All of which results in a book imbued with a great setting and story.
It really is too bad that this isn't a series because I can see Rider Sandman making this his career, either officially sanctioned or hired as a private investigator. Excellent book.
I have a feeling this really should be the beginning of a series. These stand alone really shows the versatility of Bernard Cornwell. I started off reading his Saxon books, thought they were ok. Then I went on to his Sharpe books, which were much better. I'm now into his stand alone books and they have really wow'd me. Some of his boos remind me of the writing of Ken Follett and Wilbur Smith, which is high praise. Cornwell does a fantastic job of writing a sympathetic protagonist, which is half the battle. Then he provides a story which puts the protagonist in a tough situation and makes him come out on top.
This book: It's a few years after Waterloo and Captain Rider Sandman is between jobs, having to sell his commission in order to try and satisfy his father's debts and prevent his mother and sister from going into the poor house. The Home Secretary offers him a temporary job. A portrait artist is to be hanged for murder of a countess. The artist's mother is a maid to the Queen. And the Queen has requested that the artist's case be investigated.
Since the protagonist is a decent guy, he takes the job and instead of phoning in the result, he actually decides to investigate. It's a good mystery book or detective protocol book where he starts by looking for clues, questioning suspects and witnesses and doing the footwork.
As with most of Cornwell's books, there are plenty of interesting characters including sidekicks and villains, a lot of history and background and description of contemporary injustices. All of which results in a book imbued with a great setting and story.
It really is too bad that this isn't a series because I can see Rider Sandman making this his career, either officially sanctioned or hired as a private investigator. Excellent book.
dianthalikesyellow's review against another edition
4.0
Picked up these book thinking it was a period drama, got a lot more detective work than I expected. The characters and side characters are entertaining and likeable. The story is not amazingly surprising, but the final chapters create a riveting sense of urgency and excitement. Overall, really enjoyed it and will probably pick this book up for a second time.
weaselweader's review against another edition
4.0
A thrilling race against London's hangman!
Captain Rider Sandman, a veteran of the Napoleonic Wars and the Battle of Waterloo, has returned to England to find a civilian life in shambles. As a matter of personal honour, Sandman has sold his commission to raise cash to help repay a portion of the debts left behind by his disgraced father when he committed suicide. Now unemployed and with no income or prospects, his fiancée's family have cancelled their wedding plans and Sandman finds himself forced to lodge in an attic room in the Wheatsheaf Tavern in London's Drury Lane, a known criminal "flash" haunt of rather shady repute.
Charles Corday, an up and coming young artist and portrait painter to London's moneyed class, sits on death row in Newgate Prison awaiting imminent execution for the murder of the Countess of Avebury. His mother, a seamstress to Queen Charlotte has successfully begged the Queen's intervention to support a letter of petition for clemency or pardon asking the Home Secretary to investigate more carefully and to assure Her Majesty that justice is being done. Captain Sandman is surprised to find himself summoned to the Home Office to be granted the appointment as investigator. Of course, as a very upright, disciplined officer with an extremely well-established sense of duty and obligation, he takes the task much more seriously than the rather cynical instructions he received upon the appointment - "I suggest your work need not be laborious. There is no doubt of the man's guilt. Corday is a rapist, a murderer, and a liar, and all we need of him is a confession. You will find him in Newgate, and if you are sufficiently forceful then I have no doubt he will confess to his brutal crime and your work will then be done." I'm sure you won't be surprised to hear that just isn't the way the story unfolds at all ...
A historical piece set in the height of the Regency period, GALLOWS THIEF is a thoroughly enjoyable lightweight mystery that will not fail to amuse Cornwell's legion of fans. Although not entirely devoid of narrative description, much of the flavour of the period is derived from other areas - the nature of the plot and the intense explanation of the judicial "process", imprisonment and hanging; a colourfully described side dish of London's recreational pursuits such as hunting, cricket and the theatre; absolutely sparkling, witty dialogue that is brilliantly differentiated depending on the class, wealth and occupation of the speaker and listener; the earthy, often racy, "flash" vocabulary of the criminal and lower class; the camaraderie of the military; the overbearing, stuffy sense of entitlement that is unique to London's wealthy gentry; the amorality, corruption and decadence of a London gentleman's club that is, in fact, a very sleazy bordello; and the politics of marriage.
Sandman's partners in the investigation - Sally Hood, an actress and nude model, Sergeant Rex Barrigan, also a veteran of the Battle of Waterloo and his ex-fiancée, Eleanor Forrest - are characterized brilliantly with an abundant serving of warmth, love, life and humour. We can but hope that they'll all make appearances in future novels penned by the very talented Bernard Cornwell. Two thumbs up!
Paul Weiss
Captain Rider Sandman, a veteran of the Napoleonic Wars and the Battle of Waterloo, has returned to England to find a civilian life in shambles. As a matter of personal honour, Sandman has sold his commission to raise cash to help repay a portion of the debts left behind by his disgraced father when he committed suicide. Now unemployed and with no income or prospects, his fiancée's family have cancelled their wedding plans and Sandman finds himself forced to lodge in an attic room in the Wheatsheaf Tavern in London's Drury Lane, a known criminal "flash" haunt of rather shady repute.
Charles Corday, an up and coming young artist and portrait painter to London's moneyed class, sits on death row in Newgate Prison awaiting imminent execution for the murder of the Countess of Avebury. His mother, a seamstress to Queen Charlotte has successfully begged the Queen's intervention to support a letter of petition for clemency or pardon asking the Home Secretary to investigate more carefully and to assure Her Majesty that justice is being done. Captain Sandman is surprised to find himself summoned to the Home Office to be granted the appointment as investigator. Of course, as a very upright, disciplined officer with an extremely well-established sense of duty and obligation, he takes the task much more seriously than the rather cynical instructions he received upon the appointment - "I suggest your work need not be laborious. There is no doubt of the man's guilt. Corday is a rapist, a murderer, and a liar, and all we need of him is a confession. You will find him in Newgate, and if you are sufficiently forceful then I have no doubt he will confess to his brutal crime and your work will then be done." I'm sure you won't be surprised to hear that just isn't the way the story unfolds at all ...
A historical piece set in the height of the Regency period, GALLOWS THIEF is a thoroughly enjoyable lightweight mystery that will not fail to amuse Cornwell's legion of fans. Although not entirely devoid of narrative description, much of the flavour of the period is derived from other areas - the nature of the plot and the intense explanation of the judicial "process", imprisonment and hanging; a colourfully described side dish of London's recreational pursuits such as hunting, cricket and the theatre; absolutely sparkling, witty dialogue that is brilliantly differentiated depending on the class, wealth and occupation of the speaker and listener; the earthy, often racy, "flash" vocabulary of the criminal and lower class; the camaraderie of the military; the overbearing, stuffy sense of entitlement that is unique to London's wealthy gentry; the amorality, corruption and decadence of a London gentleman's club that is, in fact, a very sleazy bordello; and the politics of marriage.
Sandman's partners in the investigation - Sally Hood, an actress and nude model, Sergeant Rex Barrigan, also a veteran of the Battle of Waterloo and his ex-fiancée, Eleanor Forrest - are characterized brilliantly with an abundant serving of warmth, love, life and humour. We can but hope that they'll all make appearances in future novels penned by the very talented Bernard Cornwell. Two thumbs up!
Paul Weiss
rojo25's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this. Thought it was Cornwall at his best. I like the fact it’s a stand alone story although it could be made into a series. The historical background of 1820 London was well researched and my favorite part of the story.
Rider Sandman is a Napoleonic War veteran who broke after selling his commission to take care of his mother and sister. His father had debts and committed suicide. He’s hired to investigate a murder of a woman. In a week the murderer is scheduled to hang and nobody seems to care if the man is innocent or not.
It’s incredible.
Rider Sandman is a Napoleonic War veteran who broke after selling his commission to take care of his mother and sister. His father had debts and committed suicide. He’s hired to investigate a murder of a woman. In a week the murderer is scheduled to hang and nobody seems to care if the man is innocent or not.
It’s incredible.
kfreedman's review against another edition
Detective spy novel set in 1817 England. I’d call this a third rate book, just interesting enough for me to continue on and finish it but not good enough to recommend it to anyone, even Dad who really enjoys mystery books.
mioleo9's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
davybaby's review against another edition
1.0
On a train ride from Chicago to West Glacier, Montana, I finished the book I'd been reading, and sought a replacement. I'd heard of Bernard Cornwell as one of the best historical fiction authors around, so when I saw Gallows Thief on a very sad Take-a-Book-Leave-a-Book shelf at a whistle stop, I thought I'd give it a go.
The book follows the absurdly-named Rider Sandman, a recently impoverished former officer and cricketer who now has to (gasp!) find a job. He takes a commission as an investigator for the British government to verify the guilt or prove the innocence of a young man condemned to death (despite the fact that he has no real skills in this line of work, and it took a thinly veiled mcgufffin to get him involved in it). In the course of his investigation, he meets clichés who say and do cliché things, and suffers harrowing plot points and an inevitable, unsurprising final twist.
But that's not all you get! Your conceptions of traditional manliness and superiority over those jerks in the past will be reinforced. You'll be reminded that all ugly people are wicked, and gay people are weak. You'll get your necessary quota of manly violence and stumbling romantic dialogue, as well as some clumsy and half-hearted Christian Values.
If this isn't enough to make you wet your pants with anticipation, all this can be yours for the low low price of FREE! All you have to do is pick it up from the Williston, North Dakota train station, where I threw it forcefully as soon as the train stopped.
The book follows the absurdly-named Rider Sandman, a recently impoverished former officer and cricketer who now has to (gasp!) find a job. He takes a commission as an investigator for the British government to verify the guilt or prove the innocence of a young man condemned to death (despite the fact that he has no real skills in this line of work, and it took a thinly veiled mcgufffin to get him involved in it). In the course of his investigation, he meets clichés who say and do cliché things, and suffers harrowing plot points and an inevitable, unsurprising final twist.
But that's not all you get! Your conceptions of traditional manliness and superiority over those jerks in the past will be reinforced. You'll be reminded that all ugly people are wicked, and gay people are weak. You'll get your necessary quota of manly violence and stumbling romantic dialogue, as well as some clumsy and half-hearted Christian Values.
If this isn't enough to make you wet your pants with anticipation, all this can be yours for the low low price of FREE! All you have to do is pick it up from the Williston, North Dakota train station, where I threw it forcefully as soon as the train stopped.
auntieg0412's review
3.0
This is a pretty good historical mystery, a fast and enjoyable read. It's the first of Mr. Cornwell's books that I've read, and I like his writing style. I will check into his other work.
msbug18's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25