#BlogTour Arrowood and the Thames Corpses by Mick Finlay

Today it's a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour Arrowood and the Thames Corpses by Mick Finlay.

About the Author
Mick Finlay was born in Glasgow but left as a young boy, living in Canada and then England. Before becoming an academic, he ran a market stall on Portobello Road, and has worked as a tent-hand in a travelling circus, a butcher's boy, a hotel porter, and in various jobs in the NHS and social services. He teaches in a Psychology Department, and has published research on political violence and persuasion, verbal and non-verbal communication, and disability. He now lives in Brighton with his family.

Follow @mickfinlay2 on Twitter, on Amazon, on Goodreads,Visit mickfinlay.com, Buy Arrowood and the Thames Corpses

About the book
South London, 1896. William Arrowood, Victorian London's less salubrious private detective,is paid a visit by Captain Moon, the owner of a pleasure steamer moored on the Thames. He complains that someone has been damaging his boat, putting his business in jeopardy.

Arrowood and his trusty sidekick Barnett suspect professional jealousy, but when a string of skulls is retrieved from the river, it seems like even fouler play is afoot. It's up to Arrowood and his trusty sidekick Barnett to solve the case, before any more corpses end up in the watery depths...

Review
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.

Buy Arrowood and the Thames Corpses at Amazon UK  or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: HQ; pub date 2nd April 2020 -Paperback £8.99 - eBook £4.99 - Audio Download £12.99. Buy at Amazon com.

Read my reviews of Arrowood and The Murder Pit by Mick Finlay.

#BlogTour The Murder Pit by Mick Finlay

Today it is my turn on the BlogTour The Murder Pit by Mick Finlay, the second book in the Arrowood series. It's a captivating, and yet an equally amusing and tragic read. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this murder mystery series set in the Victorian era.

About the Author
Mick Finlay was born in Glasgow but left as a young boy, living in Canada and then England. Before becoming an academic, he ran a market stall on Portobello Road, and has worked as a tent-hand in a travelling circus, a butcher's boy, a hotel porter, and in various jobs in the NHS and social services. He teaches in a Psychology Department, and has published research on political violence and persuasion, verbal nd non-verbal communication, and disability. He now lives in Brighton with his family.

Follow @mickfinlay2 @HQStories @HQDigitalUK on Twitter,Visit mickfinlay.com, Buy The Murder Pit

About the book
1896: Sherlock Holmes has once again hit the headlines, solving mysteries for the cream of aristocracy. But among the workhouses and pudding shops of South London, private detective William Arrowood is presented with far grittier, more violent and considerably less well-paid cases. Arrowood has no doubt who is the better detective, and when Mr. and Mrs. Barclay engage him to find their estranged daughter, Birdie, he’s sure it won’t be long before he and his assistant, Barnett, have tracked her down.

But this seemingly simple missing-person case soon turns into a murder investigation. Far from the comfort of Baker Street, Arrowood’s London is a city of unrelenting cruelty, where evil is waiting to be uncovered…

Review
This is the second book in the Arrowood series. When I read the first book I can remember thinking what an excellent premise this is. Presenting a disgruntled, a down to earth and a more working class persona as the nemesis to Sherlock Holmes, albeit one he is more or less unaware of, is an amusing and intriguing read.

Although considered politically incorrect in our era; the definitions, medical theories and treatment of people with mental health issues and deficiencies during the Victorian era, are an important part of history. It is pertinent to shed a light on advances in thought processes and advancements, and just as important to understand the tragedy of misunderstanding mental health in this historical and fictional context.

The injustice and maltreatment, especially in the cases of women in particular, is shocking at the very least. The author takes the opportunity to highlight a few infamous cases of how to get rid of someone via the overall descriptor of mania, insanity or hysteria with some of the most ridiculous and dangerous theories of that era.

Which brings us to the case of Birdie, a young woman with diminished mental capacities, who has not been seen by her parents since she was married off to an equally mentally challenged young man. The family she married into is reluctant to let Birdie interact with anyone outside of her new family. In fact Arrowood thinks this case is more than just a family disagreement.

Barnett finally admits the truth about his personal situation and takes a small uncertain step towards allowing himself a break and trying to enter the inner circle. At the heart of his reluctance lies a feeling of inadequacy. In comparison to Arrowood he still feels like a second class citizen. The fact his curmudgeonly boss and partner in crime-solving has a hair-trigger temper and a penchant for unpredictable bouts of violence and throwing objects at him, only serves to ingrain these emotions in him.

Part of the charm of Arrowood and Co. is the genuine need to help the innocent and vulnerable, regardless of the danger, obstruction and lack of payment they often face. Unlike the best detective in the world, Sherlock Holmes, who as Arrowood often points out, is only in it for the fame and money.

Finlay has certainly honed his craft and given due diligence to the research on mental illness during the Victorian era, which makes this an exceptional murder mystery read. I would enjoy seeing this as a television version - the imperfection and rough exterior would be a more realistic representation of a Victorian detective and even more amusing considering how disgruntled Arrowood is when it comes to Holmes and Watson.

I sincerely hope this second book is one of many to come. Finlay is most definitely an author to watch. The second book in the Arrowood series is a captivating, and yet an equally amusing and tragic read. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this murder mystery series set in the Victorian era.

Buy The Murder Pit (Arrowood Mystery #2) at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.
Publisher: HQ Digital pub date 10 Jan. 2019

Read my review of Arrowood (book #1) by Mick Finlay

Arrowood by Mick Finlay

It's an interesting concept, viewing Sherlock as the attention seeking famemonger instead of the observant intelligent world famous detective. Arrowood is convinced that Sherlock only points out the obvious, and has just had a really long run of luck. As I said, it is sort of amusing to think of him as the annoying fly in the ointment.

Arrowood considers himself to be equal to Sherlock in every sense, well perhaps it would be more accurate to say that he considers himself to be superior to him. As far as Arrowood is concerned, Sherlock is too interested in fame and being a celebrity. Someone as vane, pompous and enamoured by his own intelligence could never be a decent detective.

Just like the fame-hogging Sherlock, Arrowood has also got a very sensible and capable sidekick. Norman Barnett seems to be more of a general dogsbody and more often than not he ends up in very dangerous situations, courtesy of Arrowood of course.

The main character is certainly the anti-type to Sherlock. In more ways than he might think. Behind all the complaining and the hard-nosed façade there lurks a huge heart, but hey don't tell anyone, none of us want to ruin his street cred, right?

Finlay has created a detective, who actually represents the dark side of London. Where Sherlock merely dabbles now and again in the murky underworld and streets filled with people trying to survive, Arrowood lives and breathes that stark reality.

It is a fresh and captivating read with a memorable set of characters. Hopefully this won't be the last we hear of Arrowood & Co.

Buy Arrowood at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.