I love this series and I loved this instalment that kept me hooked.
It's always great to meet the flamboyant MC, travel to the Victorian London and visit its seediest parts.
The mystery is solid, full of twists and turns, and kept me guessing.
It was an engrossing and entertaining read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

ARC recieved for review thanks to Netgalley.

Arrowood is a private detective, and this the third book he features in, I haven't read any previously so am coming to this with no preconceptions.

He and his assistant are commissioned by a Captain Moon to find out who it is that has been causing mischief around his steam boat in an attempt to force him off his pleasure sailing route. But as with all good detective novels there is far more to the story than meets the eye, and the minor acts of vandalism soon turn to arson, violence and death.

The corpses in the title are a string of three bodies tied in the middle of the night to the railing of Cpt Moon's boat, alongside a number of skulls. What does Cpt Moon's past have to do with this?

Overall I quite enjoyed the book but found that some of the "twists" were ridiculously easy to predict and Arrowood's constant whining about the attention a certain Mr Sherlock Holmes recieves became irritating very early in the book. But I would happily pick up one of the earlier books knowing not to expect to be overly challenged by the mystery in the plot.

This is the first book in the Arrowood series I have read. Although I usually enjoy historical murder mysteries I found this one tedious. Unfortunately I didn't particularly like any of the characters except Ettie. Finlay must have done a lot of research to portray late Victorian London with so much detail and realism. Haven't worked to achieve this realism, I could not understand the inclusion of Arrowood's obsession with Sherlock Holmes as it undermined this. Unfortunately this book wasn't for me.

In South London in 1896, private enquiry agent William Arrowood and his assistant, Norman Barnett are visited by Captain Moon and his daughter, Suzie, who run the little pleasure steamer, the Gravesend Queen, on the River Thames. They pick up passengers at Old Swan Pier by London Bridge and take them to Terrace Pier in Gravesend and have been doing this route for 13 or 14 years. They’ve been having trouble with a man called Polgreen who started up on the same route a year ago and is now trying to put them out of business by sabotaging their boat. They ask Arrowood and Barnett to help them out and gather evidence to prove that it is Polgreen who has been damaging their steamer.

At first, the case seems fairly straightforward but then, following an arson attack by a gang of masked men, a shocking discovery turns things on its head and the private detectives soon realise they’ve become embroiled in something far bigger and more dangerous than they were expecting.

As the story races along and the body count rises, we follow Arrowood and Barnett all over dirty, impoverished London to various areas and establishments as they try to get to the bottom of things and stay out of trouble, while struggling to survive on little money and, in Arrowood’s case, trying to support his sister, Ettie, and a baby. They both ending up pawning things just to have enough money to eat sometimes.

The two main protagonists work well together and have a good partnership. They each have their flaws but they look after, and bring out the best in, each other.

This was a fascinating historical read, with brilliant attention to detail, and vividly descriptive; I could almost smell the pungent and disgusting aromas of Victorian London. The story was rather gory and revolting at times but it definitely helped to create an atmospheric and graphic read. Everything and everyone seemed to be grimy, sweaty, greasy, bloody or oozing and there were rats and other nasties everywhere! I feel like I need a good wash after reading it!

There was a great cast of characters, with lovely names like ratcatcher Foulpipe Annie and cracksman Flatnose Fisher, from all walks of life, from the street urchin children to the violent thugs and the more distinguished individuals. The story was well researched and I really felt that I got to know all the types of people and the period of time in which the book is set.

There were several twists, turns and misdirections, as well as some shocking revelations, which I hadn’t seen coming! The story had a lot of depth and, at times, I was a little overwhelmed by the cast of characters and had to remind myself who was who.

Overall, I really enjoyed this cleverly plotted and well-written story. It’s not my usual genre but I found it really absorbing and loved the layering of the story and the way it built up a great picture of the horrors of the city at the time. I hadn’t realised this was the third book in the series but I’ll definitely be checking out the others, Arrowood and The Murder Pit, now!

Am I excited about this book, or what? The long-awaited latest instalment of the fabulous Arrowood Mysteries is back, I have been waiting with baited breathe for this book and it was well and truly worth the wait. Mick Finlay has sealed his name as one of the best historical mystery fiction writers of the time, this is a gripping, atmospheric, richly detailed, gritty, darkly funny and realistic mystery.
Those who haven’t read an Arrowood mystery – then you are really missing something – each book is a stand-alone story so anyone can pick up any of the books without worrying about whether they have missed something. William Arrowood is a London Private Detective, not to be mistaken for the famed Sherlock Holmes, Arrowood takes on those cases that the celebrated Holmes wouldn’t touch with a barge pole. There are some cracking moments especially with Arrowood as he continues his secret loathing and one-sided feud with the much-acclaimed detective, he hates that Holmes has the fame and the respect of the city and he loves to compare his superior brain and knowledge with Holmes. As before the whole saga is told through the eyes of Arrowood’s assistance; Norman Barnett who is a man of the world he isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty and he is loyal and protective of his boss.
Set in London 1896; Private Detective William Arrowood is approached by a Captain Moon and his daughter Suzie who are reaching out for help, their boat; The Gravesend Queen, a pleasure steamer which runs tourists and locals down the river and back again. Their family-run boat is being targeted with what they believe for the intention of running them out of business and to take over their routes. So Arrowood along with his loyal sidekick; Norman Barnett take on the case, but soon it becomes apparent that there is more going on than mere route wars, as the deeper the investigate the ore dangerous it all becomes especially when a line of skulls and corpses or found tied to a boat, who put them there and is it connected to what is happening with Captains Moons’ boat?
It hooks you from the off, with each you are pulled into the dark and grimy Victorian world which is full of dingy working-class life and strife, plus the vivid description of just how desolate, grimy and harsh Victorian London really held my attention, it’s raw, honest and brilliantly engaging. If you love your murkier historical mystery crime fiction which has the slightest Sherlock Holmes essence and a large spoonful of Ripper Street and the best characters in the genre, then Arrowood is the book and series you need to read.
The writing is impeccable as is Finlay’s flawless research into the era, I cannot say a single negative word against this amazing book or it’s a hugely talented author. It is memorable as it is thrilling and I am already waiting for the next instalment from the remarkable Arrowood series.
There is a real buzz about it that I can’t quite describe, I don’t have the adequate words but believe me when I say that this really is an absolute stonking great book, a huge joy to read; in other words, pure brilliance!!
This was an arc copy via the publisher which I voluntarily reviewed as apart of this blog tour, thank you Sian and the HQ team. Xx

One of the most amusing things about William Arrowood is his obsession with his nemesis Sherlock Holmes. According to Arrowood, Holmes is all about fame and money, and doesn't mind taking the credit for crimes other people have solved. He is a thorn in Arrowood's side.

Arrowood and Barnett are the crime-solving sleuths of the poor and disadvantaged - Sherlock and Watson are the sleuths of the rich and privileged. Lines are drawn in the dirt, as the barely scraping by duo is pitted against the master of propaganda. They aren't really, but that narrative always sounds great when Arrowood is grumbling about it.

This time the two of them are tasked with finding out who is trying to destroy the business of a certain Captain Moon. Damaging his boat, trying to interfere with his ability to feed himself and his daughter. Small acts of vandalism become something more nefarious as things turn deadly.

It's historical crime fiction set in Victorian London, in the midst of mayhem, murder and squalor.

I am happy to say that Finlay keeps stepping up his game - this book is even better than the last ones. This time the reader gets to delve deeper than ever into the characters past, emotions and what drives them. It opens up so many storylines for the future, and I am hoping there will be many more books. This is the kind of historical crime series that would play well on screen. Just saying. Either way this is great read.

My thanks to HQ for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Arrowood and the Thames Corpses’ by Mick Finlay in exchange for an honest review. It was published on 2 April and I quickly purchased its ebook and audiobook editions.

This is the third in his Arrowood series set in Victorian London. I have read the previous two books and enjoyed both very much. The books are narrated by Norman Barnett, who serves as assistant to William Arrowood, a down market ‘private investigating agent’.

In the summer of 1896, Arrowood and Barnett are approached by Captain Moon, the owner of The Gravesend Queen, a pleasure steamer moored on the Thames. He complains that someone has been damaging his boat, putting his business in serious jeopardy. However, what seems to be a case of professional jealousy becomes more serious when a shocking discovery is pulled from the river.

No further details in order to avoid spoilers though I found it well plotted and very exciting. Its main characters were further developed, which is one of the benefits in reading a series from its beginning. However, enough background is provided for new readers.

It’s quite a dark and grisly tale though some humour is provided by Arrowood’s irritation at the continuing adulation directed at Sherlock Holmes. He and Norman even pay a visit to 221b Baker Street!

This is a series that continues to go from strength to strength and I felt that this was the best to date. Finlay has done an excellent job of evoking London of the period, focusing mainly upon members of its working class and the poor. Given the subject of this case special attention is given to the Thames, which was a busy working river during the 1890s.

In the closing Historical Note he includes a list of sources for those readers who might be interested in investigating the social history of the late Victorian period in more detail.

A highly recommended novel and series.

I absolutely love historical fiction with a particular focus on fiction set during the Victorian era. So when I read the synopsis for 'Arrowood & The Thames Corpses', you can probably understand why this book appealed to me. I couldn't wait to get started on the book and so without further ado, I grabbed a copy of the book and settled down to read it. 'Arrowood & The Thames Corpses' is a cracking read and I enjoyed every single moment of it but more about that in a bit.
I loved the detective pairing of William Arrowood and his trusty sidekick Barnett. More to the point Arrowood is the detective and Barnett is the hired muscle ready to step in to defend Arrowood and to strike fear into the hearts of those they come up against. Arrowood is a bit of a touchy devil in that he does not like being compared to Sherlock Holmes, the other great private detective of the Victorian era, nor does he like having to take the cases that Holmes turns down or are not deemed important enough for Holmes. Arrowood strikes me as being a bit eccentric but he certainly knows his stuff and he certainly has a keen ability for getting to the truth.
It didn't take me long to get into this story. In fact by the end of the first couple of chapters, I knew that I was going to be in for one hell of a read and I wasn't wrong either. I wasn't able to read this book over the course of a single day because boring things like life got in the way but I did managed to binge read the book over the course of about three days. Whilst reading this book I was able to concentrate solely on the story and I was able to shut out all other distractions, which is rare for me as I usually have the attention span of a gnat and I am easily distracted but not in this case. I loved the combination of the humour with the drama Certain things that Arrowood said or did made me have a little chuckle to myself.
'Arrowood & The Thames Corpses' is well written. In Arrowood & Barnett, the author has created two memorable characters and I loved the way in which they were so comfortable with each other. The author has one of those easy going writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. He drew me into the story from the first word on the first page and then took me on one historical adventure and a half. Whilst reading this book, I did feel as though I had literally borrowed Dr. Who's Tardis and I had travelled back in time to the Victorian era and that's all thanks to Mick's very vivid and realistic writing.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Arrowood & The Thames Corpses' and I would definitely recommend it to other readers, but particularly to those readers who enjoy historical fiction. I will definitely be reading more of Mick's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.

A run of the mill case for Arrowood and his assistant takes a sinister turn, leading to many bodies, and connections to a cold case. This is a dark, gritty historical crime thriller, set in Victorian London, which doesn't shy away from the deprivation and danger. Graphic descriptions portray the setting, and ethos of the time, make it grisly reading but add to the historical authenticity.

Arrowood is enigmatic and not at all glamorous. but his knowledge of psychology sharpens his detective skills. His life is chaotic, but his crime-solving is exemplary. There are touches of humour in this story that lighten the noir quality, and the crime-fighting team, have a good dynamic.

Atmospheric, authentic and absorbing, with a cleverly crafted plot, and a cast of believably flawed historical characters.

I received a copy of this book from HQ in return for an honest review.

This guy know his stuff! I have read that the author (born in Glasgow, lived in Canada and now England in Brighton) had run a market stall in Portobello Road, before that a tent in a travelling circus, a butcher's boy, a hotel porter, NHS worker and now anacademic with a psychology department and of course author.
He has certainly used his past experiences and melded them with a thoroughly entertaining plot. But be warned it's gritty, gruesome and might just make your stomach a bit queasy as the sights sounds and smells of Victorian London on the edges of the River Thames come across each page.
I liked the main characters Arrowood and Barnett and there's plenty of backstory on both to set their place within the duo of detectives unravelling a gory tale that is based almost entirely along the canals main river of old London town. A point of reference was Henry Mayhew's 'London Labour and the London Poor' which I remember reading as a student and certainly although he's done his research the author sets it nicely as we go around the city with our main protagonists. I particularly liked the pudding shop and loathed (but in an animal welfare care) the ratting competition which was one of the vilest things I'd read for some time!
There's a limit to how much Victorian crime one can take and the inclusion of a slightly spurious nod to Sherlock Holmes was perhaps unnecessary as the plot itself had enough twists and red herrings to move it along. Never trust anyone it seems and a line in the novel that says there's a"A shipload of sorrows" fairly sums up the human emotional side of the story which delves into a lot of tragedy. The trick was not to make it too macabre and his forever light touch enabled that to be done.
I expect to see more about Arrowood and Barnett and shall thoroughly look forward to the next outing on the page. Just make sure it's not soon after a meal!!

I did enjoy this, and anyone enjoying classic Sherlock Holmes type novels will also enjoy it. Set in the seedier side of London it gives a vivid description of the times and squalor. Well-written, and although part of a series it can be read as a stand-alone.

*4.5 stars *

London 1896, and the River Thames is a place teaming with life, not just for the working boats, but the pleasure steamers were very much in demand at this time too. However, when the owner of one such vessel, Captain Moon, approaches Private Enquiry agent William Arrowood, complaining that someone has been damaging his boat, Arrowood will discover that there’s much more to this case than meets the eye. Indeed it will prove to be extremely dangerous, particularly for his sidekick Norman Barnett.

A somewhat grumpy, ill tempered individual, Arrowood isn’t always in charge of his emotions, and woe betide anyone who mentions Sherlock Holmes in his presence - he hates the man with a passion, hates the fact that Holmes gets all the attention, and all the best cases, and his agitation at his nemesis, borders on the amusing!

Here we have a Private Enquiry Agent who studies the physchology of the mind, something which undeniably helps him in his investigations, and makes him quite unique. His sidekick, Barnett thinks Arrowood has a pig-knuckle head - furiously working things out without a plan, but despite this, he’s proud of him, and wouldn’t want to work with anyone else, and besides, beneath that gruff exterior lies a good heart.

There’s a bloody scene within the storyline, depicting a ratting competition - something that was popular in working class pubs at the time, and involves a terrier dog being put in a cage full of rats. Bets were placed on how many rats the dog would kill in a given time. I had to skim through that chapter - way too much for me. That said, this was a terrific read, the characters are colourful, and have great depth to them. The storyline was quite unique, and certainly held my interest throughout, and clearly the author has conducted extensive research, managing to conjure up 1890’s London wonderfully, with its smells, sights, and sounds - so much so, that you feel transported. Though this is the third in the series, it read well as a stand-alone. A great addition for anyone interested in the historical crime genre.

I really enjoyed this book. The descriptions of Victorian London really set the scene and I loved the references to Sherlock Holmes. This is the first book that I have read in this series. I will definitely be reading the rest.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Mick Finlay's latest addition to the Private Enquiry Agent, William Arrowood and his assistant, Norman Barnett, may well be the best in this series, set in a less that salubrious Victorian London and the River Thames. This is a London that is a central character of its own, with its overflowing sewage, disgusting stench, filth, diseases, widespread infections, murk, vicious criminal underworld, lack of hygiene, where for the wretched poor, destitute and working class, death is but a breath away. Arrowood rails against the fates that leave him unrecognised and unrewarded in comparison to the riches and fame enjoyed by Sherlock Holmes. It is 1896, and Captain Moon, and his 15 year old daughter, Suzie, provide what appears to be a straightforward case. Moon runs the pleasure steamer, The Gravesend Queen, which is being sabotaged regularly, and he thinks he knows the culprit, the owner of another pleasure steamer, a rival on the Gravesend route.

It is a investigation that begins to take a deadly turn, bringing unknown dangers, a rising body count, where the skulls of 14 children are knotted in a rope on the boat, and three corpses, two women and a man, are attached to another rope. The police become involved with Inspector Petleigh, of Scotland Yard, with a man he is training up. As Arrowood and Barnett begin to delve deeper into the affair, they uncover connections to a tragedy that occurred in Oxford 16 years ago. Additionally, Barnett sees the possibility of a connection that is personal to him, in a past that includes a shameful incident he is reluctant to reveal to anyone. Arrowood's home circumstances become more and more chaotic, this includes his sister, Ettie, now living with him, having returned with a baby in tow, refusing to say who the father is. In the most twisted of cases, there are colourful characters galore, such as Foulpipe Annie, a hired assassin, and a rat catcher supplying London pubs, betrayal, and a much too close an acquaintance with Newgate Prison.

Finlay's research of the Victorian period is impeccable, he atmospherically conveys a time and city that comes vibrantly alive, sometimes a tad too much with the darkness, horrors and brutality of the period, for example, the scenes where Arrowood is pushed amongst the rats and dogs in a pub made my stomach turn. The class distinctions, the vast inequalities between the haves and the have nots, the greater power and influence of the aristocracy and the wealthy, with the poor condemned to a lack of a real justice system, the desperate prison conditions, and attitudes to homosexuality are well documented in the narrative. This is a terrific addition to what is turning out to be a stellar Victorian crime series. Many thanks to HQ for an ARC.

Ooh this was a corking read!!

Mick Finlay writes the perfect mix of Knowing tongue in cheek digs at Conan Doyle’ s Deerstalker wearing tec and engaging, gritty grimy crime novel.

The gin and hot potatoes , the bodies, the do gooders and the n’er do wells all coalesce into a thoroughly engaging story that will have me seeking all the books in the series .

Read as a stand alone , would definitely recommend this!! .

This is the third installment in the series featuring private investigator William Arrowood and his partner Barnett. Personally, I struggled a little with the second of these books but felt this one was a return to the strengths of the first in the series.

In this book, Arrowood and his partner are struggling to make ends meet as private detectives in Victorian London, with Arrowood in particular feeling a sense of rivalry with the great Sherlock Holmes. They are employed by Captain Moon to discover who is sabotaging his pleasure steamer and trying to ruin his business and livelihood. However, things soon take a turn for the unexpected when the titular Thames corpses turn up and the investigators find themselves the subject of scrutiny. The pair find themselves embroiled in something much bigger than they expected and digging deeply into London's seamy criminal underworld.

As with the other novels, the setting is vividly described; there is a real sense of the atmosphere of the grubbier side of Victorian London. In this case, it's quite stomach-churning in places, with some graphic and gruesome images that aren't for the faint-hearted. The characters are well-drawn and interesting although, as with the setting, there is no sanitising here; Arrowood is every bit as repulsive as he is astute. I particularly liked the female characters although I wish they took more of a role in the story - Arrowood's sister is particularly likeable and interesting.

Overall, this is a cleverly plotted and atmospheric historical novel. It's quite grim in places which deterred me slightly, but it's an engaging and entertaining read. I look forward to the next in the series.

What initially appears to be a straightforward case soon becomes complicated. Arrowood is recruited by Captain Moon and his daughter to investigate sabotage and victimisation. With the help of his faithful employee, Barnett, Arrowood soon finds himself involved with a murder investigation and an incompetent police detective.
With the investigators blundering along, events suddenly takes a serious turn for the worse and Arrowood has to use all his ingenuity and acting skills to try to solve the case.
This is the third book in the Arrowood series and it is the best so far. The usual humorous tone and fast pace, coupled with a thrilling, twisting plot make this an exciting read. As always, the characters, full of personality, make this an excellent series. Highly recommended.

Arrowood and his partner are set up in business as PI’s in Victorian England. They are approached by a young French woman who engages them to find her missing brother. These two most unpromising investigators involved in what was a trivial case, leads to vicious criminals, murder, kidnapping, Irish terrorists, high level corruption, blackmail and pornography. The story has a rich cast of characters and gives a good insight into the culture and social conditions of the time. How they cope and survive and are able to send the client happily on her way makes a most enjoyable and exciting story with all the villains meeting their just ends..

Excellent historical mystery with a complicated and hard up MC navigating the seedy underbelly of Victorian society in all it’s grim poverty. Well plotted, fast paced and addictive. Highly recommend

This is a grim but engrossing read. William Arrowood, the poor man's Sherlock Holmes, is back - along with his trusted colleague Norman Barnett. This is the 3rd book in the series about the Victorian detective who lives and works in the poorest part of London. The story opens with a visit from paddle steamer owner Captain Moon and his young daughter Suzie. The captain hires Arrowood to discover who is damaging his pleasure boat, seemingly in order to drive him out of business.
Always one step away from the pawn shop, Arrowood takes the case and gradually reveals a terrible story from 16 years ago. But, before then, the attacks on Captain Moon's boat escalate with a horrific find which brings Inspector Petleigh of Scotland Yard into the picture. He warns Arrowood to stay out of the case, but the private detective believes the policeman is not up to the job and he and Barnett continue their dogged search for the truth.
The action moves throughout the seedy underbelly of London, from the city docklands via London's music halls to pubs which stage rat baiting with customers gambling on how many rats a single terrier will kill. Everywhere there is filth and crippling poverty in a capital city where human life is cheap.
Meanwhile, there are a number of colourful characters who either help or hinder Arrowood's investigation. And now and then, he will rant about the "luck" of Sherlock Holmes and his belief that the famous detective often fails to catch the real culprit. He despairs when he discovers that even the people who seek his help know little or nothing of his successful cases.
At home - above a shop which sells puddings - his sister Ettie has returned with her young child, refusing to tell her brother who the father is, although he and Barnett have their suspicions. Later, another woman and baby arrive to further complicate Arrowood's life.
As usual, author Mick Finlay's research is impeccable and he effortlessly captures the sights, sounds and smells of late Victorian London, whether he's describing a poor man's funeral or the vicious spectacle of a rat fight in a London pub. This is a wonderful historical fiction mystery and the best in the Arrowood series so far.