Simon Westow, the city’s unwavering thief-taker, must confront betrayal, history and murder in this gritty page-turner set in nineteenth-century Leeds.

Leeds, May 1825. Thief-taker Simon Westow is hired by Sir Robert Foley to find four silver cups stolen by his servant. The cups are a family treasure, crafted by local silversmith Arthur Mangey over a century before.

Meanwhile, Simon has also 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. Is it a coincidence or a terrible omen? Simon’s curiosity swiftly turns to horror when he discovers Foley’s servant lying dead in the clandestine room.

How can a long-dead criminal be involved in the servant’s demise? Simon needs all the help he can get from his assistant Jane and deadly protégé Sally to navigate the twisted path from history to the present amidst the growing number of dead bodies. But is the truth worth dying for?

This authentic and atmospheric historical mystery will appeal to fans of Anne Perry and Charles Finch.