You can tell this book had been meticulously researched whilst reading it it was so atmospheric and infused with history. I loved it

My thanks to the Author publisher's and NetGalley for providing me with a Kindle version of this book to read and honestly review.
Well written and researched atmospheric descriptive with a real feel for time and place. Apparently according to the blurb 'Peaky Blinders' meets 'Moll Flanders' as I am not familiar with either I cannot comment. But I thoroughly enjoyed this entertaining character driven story which is gruesome at times but always entertaining.
Completely recommended.

I received a free copy of “ The Thief Taker” through Net Galley.

I recommend that any prospective reader take note of the cover blurb “ London 1745…before there was an organized police, there was the Thief Taker…..” I also recommend that the reader flip to the last few pages for the author’s notes. mentioning that the novel was based on the tales of the real Thief Taker and his life and times. I wish that the author had put that note at the beginning of the book to give this reader some of context ( also known as “ who are these people and what the Devil is going on?”) before I dove into this swamp.
It seems that one Dempsey was the powerful leader of one quasi- approved criminal gang who used every means at his disposal to gain and keep control of London’s underworld. At the beginning of the novel, the reader is dropped into the miasmic, fetid and dangerous swamp that is the slums of London , mid 18 th. Century. A convicted man is being escorted to the gallows. Law is capriciously handed down by drunken magistrates and enforced by Thief Takers who get commissions for receiving stolen property. Both the the thieving and the enforcers are of a group of criminals under the iron fist of Dempsey, the Thief Taker of the title. I say “ appears” because not much seemed clear to me. One third of the way into this book and nothing was really clear. It pretty much stayed that way.
The novels is not big on character development. It is big on making sure the reader knows that far aside from London’s palaces and upper class, the city is a squalid sink of misery. The iteration of dirty bodies, rotten teeth, verminous clothes gets tiresome. That pretty much covers the exposition talent of the writer.
Is Dempsey a good guy or a bad guy? Yes. Does he have any redeeming quality? No- he is vicious and will easily turn on an ally and do anything to bring down his perceived foes. The reader is “ treated” to a tale of how one gang of crooks throws feces into the stills of gin to break the profits of a rival criminal gang. Another treat is Dempsey’s raid on a “Sodomite brothel ” , complete with graphic descriptions of activities therein, into order to gain material for blackmail.
I could go on, but finishing the book was a struggle. I found nothing to recommend this book - not the characters nor the theme. I have enjoyed many good historical fictions where the writer uses depictions of the living conditions of the poor to tell a story of human endurance. I did look forward to “ The Thief Taker” but was sorely disappointed.

Something smells rotten in the streets and alleyways of London at the tail-end of the first Hanoverian's reign, a dark and dangerous urban spiderweb where all types of criminal shenanigans coalesced into shallow streams full of corruption, rapacious desires, covetousness, betrayals, human debaucheries and violent deaths, hellish streams that irrigate without impunity the decaying soul of the great Metropolis...

The thief-taker is a breathtaking piece of historical fiction!

Ruthless mobsters and their bloody turf wars are at the center of this captivating and adrenaline-fueled journey into urban violence, an unforgettable voyage into madness, superbly plotted and blessed with a vast and colorful cast of exquisitely drawn characters and enough violent twists and turns to keep you entranced and shaking on the edge of your seat for a few hours! This marvellous literary gift will definitely be among my favorite novels of 2023!

Highly recommended and to be enjoyed without any moderation whatsoever!

Many thanks to Matador and Netgalley for this fabulous ARC!

An exciting thriller set in Georgian England in the days before an organized police force and the streets were often ruled by gangs and the only real law enforcement were "thief takers" that often were in league, if not the leader, of these gangs. William Dempsey, one such man, fights to maintain both personas but rival gang leaders and politicians themselves are eager to take him down. Can he survive?

An interesting look into this often lawless and dangerous time but also very vibrant. Some of the characters are based on real people which makes the characters and atmosphere all that more authentic.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

An atmospheric historical crime drama, set in a period before professional policing. Interesting characters, some based on real people and the underworld elements are well written.

An enjoyable period drama, making a nice change from my usual modern day reading. If you like to drift back in time, give this one a shot.