Tom Wasp and the Newgate Knocker

When chimney sweep Tom Wasp is handed a pawn ticket by his friend Eliza Hogg on the day before she is due to be hanged in Newgate, both he and his apprentice Ned are mystified when the reclaimed item turns out to be a sailor doll.

It is no ordinary doll, however. This one holds a secret that has the two most notorious gangs in London’s East End, the Rat Mob and the Nichols, at each other’s throats. When Dinah, the daughter of the leaders of the Rat Mob, is found murdered Tom resolves to find her killer. Helped by Ned and the self-appointed Bug Destroyer to Her Majesty, the redoubtable Mr Chuckwick, Tom pursues the trail.

©2010 Amy Myers (P)2010 Soundings

Great Historical Mystery

I very much enjoy historical mysteries, and this one was a good one. The narrator was excellent and brought the story of Tom Wasp, Ned and their friends and acquaintances and enemies to life. Tom works hard to solve the mystery of the china figurine and how it fits in with the death of a housemaid while still doing his job as a chimney sweep. I am looking forward to listening to another of these books in the series.