The first in The Piccadilly Noir Series and this is a very dark tale centred around private detective George Harley set in London SoHo district in the late 1920’s. Working as a private detective Harley has previously been in the army and MI5 and still has flashbacks, verging on PTSD about some of the things he’s done and seen but that doesn’t stop him getting involved in the most horrendous of investigations. Brought up in the area Harley is well acquainted with the cities underbelly of gangsters, corrupt police, prostitution and sordid nightclubs, but this case is a step further. Written in the style of the Golden Age it was an immersive read.

Briefly, after saving a girl who was being abducted Harley finds the attempt appears to be related to a number of terrible murders, with the child victims horribly staged. Asked by a member of the police force to investigate, off the books, Harley agrees to help search for a missing boy and to investigate the murders.

There are a lot of characters so I did find it a bit of a slow burner and I must reiterate that there are some very disturbing scenes of child abuse so be aware. That said I really enjoyed the book and the main character. The red herrings were good, I didn’t guess the killer until it was revealed, or the sadistic and cruel motive. An atmospheric and emotional thriller with some loose end that are obviously leading to book two. An intriguing and entertaining read.

Phil Lecomber's Midnight Streets has a promising concept, a working-class detective in 1920's Soho. There aren't many of those about, especially in British mysteries. The book is a bit uneven -- there are some wonderfully-drawn characters and clever scenes, but the scenario is lurid, and the writing can be heavy-handed (did we really need it explained that "happy dust" is cocaine?). Still, there's enough here that I hope the book is a success, and that the series will gain in strength as it continues.

Phil Lecomber’s Midnight Streets invites readers into the shadowy alleys and smoky clubs of late 1920s Soho, delivering a gritty and immersive Golden Age crime thriller that eschews the polished parlours of classic whodunnits for the grimy streets of working-class London.

George Harley, a Cockney private detective, finds himself drawn into a tangled web of danger after saving a young girl from an abduction attempt. The stakes are quickly raised as he discovers the incident is tied to an incendiary book and a series of gruesome murders, dragging him into a deadly game of wits with a vicious killer. Harley’s uneasy alliance with Scotland Yard adds tension to his position in Soho’s underworld, where gangsters and informants are as threatening as the mysteries he’s trying to solve.

Lecomber’s London is richly atmospheric, painted in shades of smoggy greys and flickering streetlights. From the razor-wielding gangsters to the weary streetwalkers, the supporting cast brims with vivid characters who bring Soho’s underbelly to life. Harley himself is a compelling protagonist—gritty yet sharp-witted, with just enough heart to keep readers rooting for him as he navigates a world of betrayal, violence, and moral ambiguity.

The novel’s strength lies in its attention to historical detail. Lecomber skilfully recreates 1929 London, capturing the language, culture, and tensions of the time. The contrast between the glitz of upper-class crime fiction and the stark realism of Harley’s world adds depth, making the narrative as much about the era as it is about the mystery.

Midnight Streets is a gripping read that blends the hard-boiled detective tradition with a distinctly British flavour. Fans of historical crime fiction and atmospheric mysteries will find plenty to love in George Harley’s debut adventure. Lecomber’s Soho feels so real you can almost hear the rattle of trams and the clink of pint glasses—and it’s a place you won’t soon forget.

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