Them Without Pain

An early 19th century thief taker, takes on a murderer.
This is the first Simon Westow novel I’ve read, and although seventh in the series, it can be read as a standalone story.
Simon Westow is a thief-taker – a sort of early 19th century bounty hunter who, for a fee, repatriates stolen goods to their rightful owners. He’s also a good guy and runs a form of a co-operative business (my words not the author’s) where street children work to gather information. Two such are Jane, now adult and living comfortably with an old lady; and Sally, still a child but streetwise enough to be Simon’s lookout.
The story involves the theft of priceless silver cups belonging to Sir Robert Foley. The latter employs Westow to find and return said cups. The objects were made by a famous/infamous silversmith, Mangey (who was a real silversmith), who was accused of coin clipping and executed for the crime. But complications abound, when during his investigations Westow discovers a murdered man in a secret room once used by Mangey. Who knew about the secret room and how did the body get there? As the body count climbs it becomes apparent, further deaths are linked, finding the cups becomes a matter of getting justice for the dead.
This was an enjoyable read that was never dull and had me turning the pages. There are several subplots woven in, involving Jane (a character from earlier in the series) and Sally. I liked both these strong female characters, their loyalty to others, and willingness to take the law into their own hands in a sort of vigilante justice.
Simon Westow has his own travails, in a crisis of confidence and awareness of his own mortality. Again, this was an interesting twist for a man who hunts dangerous men for a living.
What stood out for me was the world of the story, the grittiness of Leeds, and the spirit necessary to survive in such times. There was a feeling that none of the characters were immune from death, which added to the tension.
My only (minor) quibble is the title “Them Without Pain.” I feel I’ve missed something as despite reading and enjoying the book, I’m still scratching my head as to the relevance of the title.
For transparency: ARC supplied in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Author Chris Nickson is back with book #7 in the Simon Westow series.
Now, it’s no secret that I am a massive fan of this author. He is a native of Leeds in the North of England, where the series is set in the early 19th century, and what Chris doesn’t know about the history of his home city isn’t worth knowing, which makes for a truly authentic reading experience.

Simon Westow (thief taker) has managed to carve a niche for himself, finding and returning stolen possessions to their rightful owners for a fee. This time around, Simon’s former assistant Jane returns to help him in his quest, together with protégé Sally, both of them having the knowledge needed to survive in difficult and dangerous places in the city, further more, they are more than capable of dealing with the more violent aspects of the job. Wife Rosie (former thief taker) is always invaluable when it comes to gathering crucial information in each case.

It’s May 1825 and Simon’s task this time is to find and return four silver cups to Sir Robert Foley. The cups were stolen by Foley’s servant and are a family treasure, crafted by local silversmith Arthur Mangey over a century before. Coincidentally (or is it?) Simon has been invited to witness the demolition of Middle Row, where Mangey reputedly had a secret workshop for coin clipping, the very crime he was hanged for in 1696. Simon's curiosity swiftly turns to horror when he discovers Foley's servant lying dead in the clandestine room.

This will prove to be one of Simon’s most dangerous assignments, however, he needs to keep working to pay for his twins (Richard and Amos’s education), but he’s reached a time in his life when he appears to be losing confidence in his own abilities, and fear seems to be his constant companion on the old cobbled streets of Leeds.

Another gritty well crafted mystery, and as ever, the author takes us back through the mists of time to bring alive the city of Leeds and the daily lives for its inhabitants in those far off days.

Love this series, love this family, love this author!

Simon Westow is a thief-taker in early 19th century Leeds. He is hired to find four silver cups, stolen by a servant of Sir Robert Foley. He quickly finds the body of the thief, but no cups. Where have they gone? Meanwhile, his former employee, Jane, is questioning her quiet existence. Is she really happy, just living with her elderly friend and learning how to make tinctures? Simon asks Jane to help him search from who might have murdered Foley's servant and taken the cups. Also assisted by his deadly assistant, Sally, Simon begins investigating who had the most to gain from the theft and the murder. One of Jane's friends, a street beggar, with a prosthetic leg is beaten almost to death by a man he is trying to help. Jane and Sally soon discover this man is insane and has to be stopped. Simon has uncovered a young man who feels he is entitled to have the silver cups due to his relation to the original silversmith from the 18th century. As always, this is a very well-researched book with entertaining writing and characters who continue to grow. Recommended.

I love Chris Nickson's historical mystery series. I haven't read my way through all of them yet, but I'm always on the lookout for a new one. Most of his series are set in Leeds, but take place in very different time periods. As a result, one gathers a sense of the flow of history not just within series, but across them. My first Nickson series feature D.I. Tom Harper and takes place—in Leeds—between 1890 and 1920. That series had ended, alas, but I treasure the time I spent with its characters. Nickson does a wonderful job of letting us sees the rises and fall of characters, the changes in their lives over time, the way they wrestle with the effects of aging.

Now I'm making my way through the Simon Westow series, which begins—in Leeds—in 1820. Westow is a thief-taker and recoverer of stolen property. In Them Without Pain (my current Nickson read) what begins as a quest for four heirloom silver goblets branches out into something much more dangerous—a series of murders. And another murderer with a different M.O. and inexplicable motivations also emerges. This is the most complex Westow mystery I've read. I kept thinking the novel was close to a resolution, but new complications kept coming up, letting me know that I wasn't yet at the heart of the puzzle. I quite enjoy that sort of "problem."

Lucky for me (and you) the Westow series is ongoing and Nickson has a number of other Leeds-based series: the Richard Nottingham series, set in the 17th Century; a 1920s series featuring WPC (Woman Police Constable) Lottie Armstrong; and the Dan Markham series set in the 1950s. See what I mean about the flow of history?

He also has a 14th Century series set in Chesterfield and a 1980s series set in Seattle. I haven't yet tried either of these, but I'll be getting to them eventually.

I received a free electronic review copy of Them Without Pain from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

I thank NetGalley and Severn House for an advance reader copy of “Them Without Pain.” All opinions and comments are my own.

What happens when a man who makes a living by violence and constantly faces the possibility of death by said violence loses his nerve? Can he come back from that? That’s the reality facing Simon Westow as he confronts his worst demons in “Them Without Pain,” the latest in the historical mystery series by Chris Nickson, set in a grim and gritty 1825 Leeds. Leeds, belching with smoke, pulsing with life. Always a character in a Chris Nickson book. Every nook and cranny a place for a story in itself.

A small job, an inconsequential job for a thief-taker leads to something oh so much bigger for Simon and a “retired” Jane as they become involved in a crime that stems from events that occurred 100 years ago, ones that lead to greed, the need for secrecy and thus the course of murder and more murder. The hunt for stolen cups ends up with Simon in personal danger and Jane making a life-changing decision. Filled with scenes that will get your blood racing, “Them Without Pain” is a masterful addition to the series.
An Afterword explains that Arthur Mangey is a real historical character and everything said about him in the book is true. The rest is a fine writer’s imagination.