Tom Harper is faced with a surge in violent crime in Leeds. The return to the city of a hardened criminal seems to be the cause, but is it really? Meanwhile, closer to home, his wife is keen to support the Suffrage Movement.
Chris Nickson writes wonderful books about Leeds and in this series it is the time just before the First World War. Atmospheric and showing a great understanding of a neglected city, Nickson's books are satisfying and this is no exception

Newly promoted Deputy Chief Constable, Tom Harper sometimes regrets his decision to take the job, but now he’s back in his old stomping ground of Millgarth, and happy to get stuck in with the lads on a complicated case. Davey Mullen’s back – a career criminal born in Leeds and living in America since childhood; he is violent, dangerous, and tough, recently surviving 11 gunshot wounds from a rival NY gang. As the murders and beatings add up, and one such puts Davey in the hospital with his jaw wired shut, Harper is frustrated by the lack of answers.

I enjoyed the characterisations here, particularly Harper, a dedicated, hands-on leader, respected by his men, and the way Nickson reminds us of the era. No lawyers are present at interviews, and suspects are held without charge, but I expect the paperwork hasn’t changed much, or the political wrangling and pressure to solve crimes quickly. Nickson’s criminal element are thugs and mostly thick as two planks, but bitingly accurate. And I loved the idea that it would be easy to find “an American” in Leeds in 1913! Reminded that police investigations are never as slick as they appear, I stuck with this slow-boil story of detective footwork, interviews, sightings, tips, and dead ends. I felt as though I was on a daily trek with Harper – elation and disappointment in equal measure. There were some loose ends: who is the third American, and why does Mullen visit Mary (Harper’s daughter)? This will please followers of the series, and it does offer insight into ‘brass lives’, but if you’re new I would suggest you pick an earlier book with hopes of a faster paced read.

This is one of my favorite historical mystery series and Chris Nickson never disappoints as he always delivers gripping and highly entertaining story.
The great characters and their personal stories, the excellent mix of historical facts and fictions, the solid mysteries are a constant in these riveting stories.
This one is no exception and I thoroughly enjoyed.
I think it's a bit darker and more complex than usual and these aspects made the story even more interesting.
I thoroughly enjoyed and read it in one setting.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Deputy Chief Constable Tom Harper has to solve a number of connected crimes in Leeds while coping with a visiting gangster from New York in Brass Lives. As he works methodically down the list, violence breaks out in Leeds, guns are missing and there is pressure for solutions. Excellent historical police procedural.

1913 Leeds, Crime and disruptions!

Tom Harper has two important aspects to his life. Deputy Chief Constable for Leeds police, and husband and father to two strong women, both heavily involved in the women’s suffrage movements.
It’s June 1913 and his women are knee deep in their suffrage pursuits. His wife Annabelle is intending to join a Suffragist rally (The Great Pilgrimage) journeying to London. Tom is involved in a policing capacity for the Leeds constabulary looking at safety and security issues. Mary has turned from the more radical Suffragette movement to training young women for office work. She runs a business school, The Harper Secretarial Agency and School.
Meanwhile Davey Mullen, a leading gangster from New York returns to Leeds to see his father. Murder attempts, and killings follow. Harper is in the middle, putting the puzzle together when gang violence erupts. When Harper’s family is threatened, the investigation takes on a more personal edge. The constabulary raids the gang controlled parts of Leeds in their bid to find the culprits. Harper has a list and he methodically crosses off missions accomplished. (I did hum “I have a little list” whenever that surfaced. Thank you Gilbert and Sullivan!)
Talk of war quietly surfaces and the Home Office is beginning to make plans. Just in case!
I enjoy Nickson’s ability to blend fact and fiction into a riveting historical mystery placed in the city he so obviously loves. I also enjoyed his brief but fascinating Afterwards.

A Canongate Severn House ARC via NetGalley

The year is 1913 and Deputy Chief Constable Tom Harper has an interesting case on his hands. After receiving information that an American gangster has arrived in Leeds, he soon finds himself acquainted with the man himself. Death seems to follow Davey Mullen around but is he responsible for the catalogue of crime that seems to have his name written all over it? With the campaign for women to gain the right to vote gathering pace, Harper is also overseeing a national suffragist pilgrimage that is due to arrive in Leeds, his wife, Annabelle, intending to take part. With worrying incidents affecting his family, this promises to be a difficult time for Tom as he begins to realise that things may never be the same again.

I love how we are moving through time in the Tom Harper series, having started back in the first book in 1890. In this time, we have seen Tom climb up the career ladder where he has now reached the position of Deputy Chief Constable. Not content with sitting behind a desk, Tom is pleased to be given the opportunity to join his detectives in trying to put an end to the crime spree that seems to have been precipitated by the arrival of Davey Mullen.

At a time before modern forensics, it is enjoyable to see the methods employed by the police in order to get the information they need, the emphasis being on getting out there and talking to people. There was one line, in particular, that really brought home for me the time setting, when someone is asked how they knew someone’s accent was American. Nowadays, this would seem like a silly question, but in an era before the advent of the talking film, people would not know what the American accent sounded like!

The plot is a complex one, with several threads that Chris Nickson manages to weave together perfectly. Murder, arson and gun theft are just some of the crimes that we see Harper investigating in what is a very enjoyable book and one of the best in the series. I am looking forward to seeing what happens next in Tom Harper’s life as Brass Lives has introduced a plot that I am sure will be revisited in the next book.

Not all lives are golden.

Chris Nickson presents the latest offering in his superb DI Tom Harper Series. We've followed Tom throughout the years as he made his way through the ranks of the Millgarth Police in Leeds. The stories have been solid and very reflective of Leeds during that time period. Nickson is a shining pro at researching the finest details of city landmarks, true shifty characters, and crimes committed in an era of desperate people with desperate agendas.

Tom Harper is now sitting behind his desk with quite the title printed on his office door. He's the Deputy Chief Constable in charge of all detectives in Leeds. Quite the title.......but quite the man. Tom relates to these men fully because he's walked in their footsteps leading to these ranks. He takes their concerns seriously and the respect is felt on both sides of that desk. Tom still takes to the streets alongside these foot soldiers. It's who he is and what he does.

Crime is crime on the homefront. But crime that is imported is another thing. Word has reached Leeds that a certain Davey Mullen is making his way back to Leeds. Although born in Leeds, Mullen has spent the majority of his life in New York City. Mullen carries quite the gang reputation with him. Tom wants to know what business Mullen has in Leeds. Can't be on the up-and-up, however. Tom is about to find out when battered bodies begin to show up on the doorsteps of Leeds. Shouldn't be a thread of coincidence here.

And just as life has moved on quickly for Tom, so it has with his wife, Annabelle, and his daughter, Mary. Mary is engaged to be married now and has started a women's business school of her own. But one evening arson is suspected at Mary's place of business. Could it be Mullen or another lowlife to get Tom's attention?

Annabelle Harper still owns her Victoria Public House after many years. Her talents take her into the Suffragist Movement supporting the right to vote for women. We'll experience Annabelle's hand in the Great Pilgrimage to London (an actual event) taken on by women traveling from all parts to London at the time. Chris Nickson raises our eyebrows as there appears to be a health concern facing Annabelle this time.

And the majority of Brass Lives is crafted with the top-drawer finesse of Chris Nickson as we settle into the Summer of 1913. Nickson has created this one with foreign influences, local hardcore criminals, stolen guns, and rapid-fire crime. Brass Lives gives us a long hard look into crime fighting without all the bells and whistles of today's tech. Keep 'em coming, Chris Nickson, just keep 'em coming. Bravo!

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Severn House and to the talented Chris Nickson for the opportunity.

Tom Harper has now become a Deputy Chief Constable, his job is mostly administrative, but he still likes to get into the action. He gets a letter from the New York City police, telling him that a known gang member is returning to Leeds to visit his father. Davey Mullen has survived several assassination attempts, and it appears someone is trying to frame him for several murders. Harper does not believe Mullen is guilty of the crimes the chief constable seems to think he is. Harper also has to plan for a parade of suffragists, who are marching across England to rally in London to urge Parliament to pass a bill permitting women to vote. Harper's wife, Annabelle, is excited to join them. And Harper's daughter, Mary, gets involved in Harper's case when her secretarial business is firebombed. Harper's personal life is about to get more complicated when Mary gets engaged and Annabelle appears to be having mini-strokes. This is such an interesting series, full of great historical details about life in the industrial city of Leeds in the early 20th century. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Severn House for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review “Brass Lives.” All opinions are my own.

Another strong entry in this long-running series, this one with an especially personal theme for Tom Harper and his family. That won’t stop him from pursuing justice in his home town of Leeds, England – always a character in itself.

Tom Harper is a Deputy Chief Constable now. The time is June, 1913. He’s been informed that an American “gangster” has arrived to see his father. Something that the police force will have to keep an eye on. Meanwhile, Mrs. Harper, Annabelle, is planning on participating in a march on London with her suffragist colleagues. And their daughter Mary is growing her secretarial business and getting very close to becoming engaged with her boyfriend.

Another American has come to town, probably to keep an eye -- or worse -- on the first one, and is soon found murdered. That case will be the substance of our story, but there are always other stories in these books; a missing suffragette, crimes in the city, the march. The family. Our author, Chris Nickson knows what he’s about in how he weaves all these together, documenting the stress of how the crimes are taking their toll on Harper and his men, even in the 19th century.

Mary is personally involved. The gangster’s father is killed. Later on, when things seem wrapped up, a prisoner escapes – after killing another prisoner. All of this takes times to be resolved, so a reader must be patient while the author ties everything up; the plot is definitely thickening. Someone is determined not to be found out. Harper gets back on the beat almost, determined to do his part ---and does it, definitely. Conspiracies are revealed, and a complicated tale comes to an end.

Tom must come to terms with what is happening within his family, which is heart-wrenching. I’m won’t spoil it for you. And adding to the trauma of that, a man from the Home Office comes to see him to speak of preparations for war.

An afterword explains some of the background for the story.

This was a hard book to finish, after I finished it. No, not because it wasn’t well written or anything like that; far from it. It is because I have followed the fortunes of Tom Harper and his family through nine books (if you’re a new reader, please don’t start here) and now, there are fears for the future. How our author, Chris Nickson handles all this in books to come will be interesting to see.

A rollicking and truculent whodunit set in Leeds just before WWI where some Anglo-American gangsters are poised to wreak havoc aroùnd town with lots of unexpected surprises.
So mayhem will definitely be on the menu, of course!

A marvellous series that I found more and more captivating with each new addition. Chris Nickson sure knows how to get the action flowing. He is one of my favorite wordsmiths at work today.

Brass Lives is a delightful ride into the underworld of criminal shenanigans & a thrilling historical dive into Leeds & its urban sprawl.
Cleverly plotted with lots of colorful characters and some delightful dialogues this marvellous novel should be enjoyed without any moderation!

I simply can't wait for the next installment👍

Many thanks to Netgalley and Canongate/Severn for this terrific ARC

Leeds 1913 Deputy Chief Constable Tom Harper's life is about to get busy. A suffragist march is arriving in Leeds and then travelling onto London, as suffragette Lilian Lenton is being released from jail to recover her health before her trial, under the watch of The Special Branch. Meanwhile several American gang members have arrived, resulting in a crime spree. Are any of them involved or is it the local gangs which are the cause. Harper and his team investigate.
Another entertaining mystery, a well-written story with its very likeable characters. A good addition to the series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I follow many historical mystery series, and Chris Nickson's DI Tom Harper series is one of my favorites. Set in Leeds, England, the latest volume takes place in 1913. Brass Lives offers much to enjoy: Nickson's most twisted plot yet, violence following an American gang member's presence in Leeds, a cross country pilgrimage by women fighting for the right to vote, and changes in the lives of Harper and his family.

I love the mix of puzzle and people in this series. Nickson adeptly moves readers inside the mind of DI Harper and lays out the logic steering complex investigations. There's action a-plenty, but also lots of thought. Through depictions of the daily lives of Harper and his family, Nickson creates a bond between reader and character that makes each new volume in the series a welcome treat.

If you enjoy historical mysteries and don't know this series, you're in for a delightful surprise. If you do know this series, you probably won't have read this far because you'll have stopped reading already in order to track down a copy of Brass Lives.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

[I have posted this review on LibraryThing and GoodReads.]

Deputy Chief Constable Tom Harper, has worked his way up through the ranks of the Leeds City Police force, but he still has that common touch, is aware of his officers strengths and weaknesses, and although he’s a busy man, he always finds time to help them in any way he can.

It’s the summer of 1913, and Harper is to oversee a meeting of the suffragists, who are gathering in Leeds from various parts of the country. His wife Annabelle is a follower, and hopes to join them on their onward journey. Their daughter Mary is all grown up now, and has started her own very successful business, and even has a young man in tow.

Life is going quite well, nothing too troubling within his patch, that is until he receives a letter from the New York police, informing him that American gangster Davey Mullen is on his way back to Leeds. Mullen is Leeds born, but has spent many years in New York, and he’s fleeing America, having been the victim of a shooting, barely escaping with his life. Harper intends to keep Mullen under close observation, he’s a very dangerous individual, yet despite him doing just that, there’s a sudden surge in crime, violence, and even murder on the streets of Leeds. Are all these incidents connected to Mullen? Harper doesn’t yet know - but he will certainly find out.


Part of a series, this is a top notch ( not to mention gripping) police procedural, set in the days before the advent of technology, just good old fashioned police detecting, and Leeds born author Chris Nickson’s love for the city of his birth is obvious, and lends much to the storylines. His research and attention to detail is second to none, and if you haven’t read his Tom Harper series, then you’re missing out on such a treat. Can’t wait for the next in the series, but I suppose I’ll have to!

The prolific and ever-reliable Yorkshire author Chris Nickson has been writing his Tom Harper series since 2014 when he introduced the Leeds copper in Gods of Gold. Since then he has stuck to the  theme of metal in the book titles, and now we have Brass Lives. Harper is now Deputy Chief Constable of the city where we first met him as a young detective in the 1890s.

As is customary, the action doesn't stray much beyond the city and its surrounding (and rapidly diminishing) countryside, but a slightly exotic element is introduced by way of two American gangsters. One, Davey Mullen, was born in Leeds, but emigrated across the Atlantic, where he has found infamy and wealth as a New York gangster. He has returned to his home town to visit his father. Louis Herman Fess, on the other hand has no interest in Leeds other than the fact that it is the current whereabouts of Mullen. Fess is a member of the delightfully named Hudson Dusters gang. They shot rival hoodlum Mullen eleven times, but he survived, and it seems as if Fess has come to West Yorkshire to resolve unfinished business. When Fess is found shot dead, Mullen is the obvious suspect, but try as they may, Harper and his team can find no evidence to link Mullen to the killing.

Politics are never far away in Chris NIckson novels, and in this case it is the enthusiasm of his delightful wife, Annabelle, for the Suffragist cause that takes centre stage. Note the word 'Suffragist' rather than 'Suffragette', a term we are more familiar with. The Suffragists were the earliest group to seek emancipation and electoral parity, and they believed in the power of persuasion, debate and education, rather than the direct action for which the Suffragettes were later known. Annabelle has always been careful not to embarrass her husband by falling foul of the law, but she plans to march alongside other campaigners in a march which is shortly due to enter Leeds. (See footnote * for more details) Annabelle's plans are, however, thwarted at the last moment by a cruel  twist of fate.

There is more murder and mayhem on the streets of Leeds and Tom Harper finds himself battling to solve perhaps the most complex case of his career, made all the more intractable because he faces a personal challenge more daunting than any he has ever faced in his professional life. Guns have played little part in Harper's police career thus far, but the theft of four Webley revolvers - plus ammunition - from Harewood Barracks, and the subsequent purchase of the guns by members of the Leeds underworld, adds a new and dangerous dimension to the case.

Nickson's love for his city - with all its many blemishes - is often voiced in the thoughts of Tom Harper. Here, he declines the use of his chauffeur driven car and opts for Shanks's Pony:

"A good walk to Sheepscar. A chance to idle along, to see things up close rather than hidden away in a motor car where he passed so quickly. All the smells and sounds that made up Leeds. Kosher food cooking in the Leylands, sauerkraut and chicken and the constant hum of sewing machines in the sweatshops. The malt from Brunswick brewery. The hot stink of iron rising from the foundries and the sewage stink of chemical works and tanneries up Meanwood Road. Little of it was lovely. But all of it was his. It was home."

Harper, rather like WS Gilbert's Ko-Ko, has a little list. It contains all the victims - and possible perpetrators - of the spate of crimes connected to Davey Mullen. One by one, through a mixture of persistence, skill and good luck, he manages to put a line through most of them by the closing chapters of Brass Lives. The book ends, however, on a sombre note, rather like a funeral bell tolling: it warns of a future that will have devastating consequences not only for Tom Harper, his family and his colleagues, but for millions of people right across Europe.

I believe that this series will be seen by readers, some of whom are still learning to read, as a perfect sequence that epitomises the very best of historical crime fiction. The empathy, the attention to detail, and the raw truth of how our ancestors lived will make the Tom Harper novels timeless. Brass Lives is published by Severn House in hardback, and is available now. It will be out as a Kindle in August.

Brass Lives certainly displayed the masterful writing skills of the author. Chris Nickson’s talent of keeping my interest with his addition of seven new cases to his major theme. Remarkably all these cases seem to revolve around one person. Having never read any of his books, found this book to be refreshing and unconventional.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House Publishers for an eARC.

An excellent police procedural that has Deputy Chief Constable Tom Harper jumping out from behind his desk to assist in some street policing as things get more complex in Leeds. It all starts out innocent enough, with an American gangster traveling to Leeds to visit his father. Being aware that where this man goes, trouble can usually be found, it’s no surprise when things go wrong in the city.

As Harper tries to learn if the American gangster is the guilty party or if it's someone trying to make him look guilty, things get more complicated. Before the book is done there are two murders, an arson attack, a severe beating with the victim left for dead, and missing weapons from a barracks burglary in the past. The more he investigates, the more connected these things seem to be; but it’s difficult to determine who is at the center of all the chaos.

Meanwhile, Harper’s home life is requiring more of his attention. His daughter is getting engaged, his wife is having episodes of memory loss, and suffragists, the non-militant group of women who are peacefully rallying for women to be allowed to vote. Because this is the ninth book in the series, many of the personal aspects are continuing stories from earlier books. The author does an excellent job of including enough past information so that readers who are new to the series will have no trouble placing people and events in the proper perspective. For readers who prefer serial books, they may have more enjoyment of the book if they read the earlier books first and in order.

While this is not a classic mystery as one where there are clues placed around, along with red herrings so the reader can try to solve the case along with the detectives, it does give a good picture of what it is like to do police work. The methodical approach taken by Harper and the men serving under him is well presented. As they uncover one piece of information it is reported, so the reader can follow the investigation and reach the solution along with Harper.

My thanks to Canongate Books Severn House Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy for review. The opinions stated here are entirely my own.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House Publishers for an advance copy of Brass Lives, the ninth novel to feature Deputy Chief Constable Tom Harper, set in Leeds in 1913.

Davey Mullen, a New York gangster, returns to his home town of Leeds and soon there is a wave of violence in the city. Tom Harper must work out if Davey is responsible for it or if something else is going on.

I thoroughly enjoyed Brass Lives which is an engrossing read with a wide ranging plot - Tom ends up with nine events an people to investigate so there is never a dull moment.

I have read most of the novels in this series and I think this is the best so far, simply because I couldn’t put it down and read it in one sitting. The plot appealed to me with the many different crimes and the puzzle of trying to work out how they connect and I thought the solutions ingenious.

As this is a historical novel the investigation relies heavily on contacts, interviews and, in this case, incriminating paperwork. I know it’s corny but I love the way a brief description, like a limp, immediately narrows the suspect pool, because the police work on the assumption that the perpetrator will be known to them. It brings a familiarity and warmth to the novel.

I think the plot is well constructed and the author does a great job of hiding both the perpetrators and the big picture, gradually revealing them piece by piece in the latter stages. There are twists, false starts and misdirection throughout so it’s no wonder I was hooked.

The author does a good job of the historical detail. There is no doubt about the poverty in Leeds at the time, but Tom and his family are lucky as they have a solid income and a comfortable life. The contrast is evident and, unfortunately, nothing has changed. The series emphasises this as it doesn’t ignore Tom’s family life. His daughter Mary, now 21, runs her own business, set up with family money, and is moving ahead in life. His wife, Annabelle, is still heavily involved in the suffragist movement and has the time to devote to it. With war on the horizon all this could change.

Brass Lives is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Having read all the books in this series, I feel qualified to say this, Book #9, was the best of them all!The story line never quit, one event after another kept happening until the very last page. Tom Harper and his family have so much depth after eight books, that there was a constant interplay of different happenings that were gripping.

DCI Harper and his colleagues from years past all coalesce to solve what seemed like an endless and ever growing list of crimes. An actual list which the inspector pinned up on his office wall and added to as they went along. Starting with an American criminal based "loosely" on a real man who was a product of Leeds incidents of increasing importance occurred. Pressure was put on the various divisions that Harper was in charge of by the newspapers and other city officials.

Added to that is the facts that 20 years have occurred since the first book, and both Tom and his wife Annabelle are aging. Their daughter Mary, a business woman now is engaged to be married. Now she and her father must conspire in their protection of a possible live changing event for his wife and her "Mam".

From the author's ending of the book, I am hoping we are going to be expecting a tenth in the series as "War" has been mentioned by the Chief Constable and the Home Office. DCI Harper needs to start preparing for replacements in the force as well as changed in his personal life. I'll be waiting!

No spoilers: It is the long hot summer of 1913. DCI Harper is faced with a seemingly intractable case - the more his team dig the further they seem to get from any answers. Meanwhile his family life, a source of pleasure and pride, also brings anxiety. I very much enjoyed this book, which lived up to Nickson’s usual high standards. The characterisation is good and over the series he has developed the lives of the Tom, his family and colleagues really well. Set around 20 years after the first book - and 5 years after the previous one - The Molten City, which has similar themes - Harper is just beginning to feel his age.

The novel works as a stand alone book, but is enriched by knowing the first 8 books in the series. This is because Nickson always focuses on the story and subtly weaves the geography, history and characterisation around and through the story. If you know the area well then it makes it more vivid and immersive, but if you don’t then no problem. He handles the series aspect in the same way - this book sees various minor characters from earlier stories have walk-on parts. If you know the earlier books then it is good to catch up with them; if not then, again, no problem.

I love Nickson’s books because of an interest in the local history of Leeds. His author blog shows (just) some of the level of research and expertise that goes into his books.

Chris Nickson again delivers his signature blend of excellent storytelling, clever plotting and rich place evocation in BRASS LIVES, book 9 in his Tom Harper mystery series. Set in 1913, it uses historical events and figures to dramatic effect, honoring their factual roots while also stitching them seamlessly into his fictional fabric. The suffrage movement continues to figure vividly in this installment of the Harper family's story and the appearance of American gangster Davey Mullen, inspired by the real-life Owen Mullen, initiates a compelling mystery. Nickson thoughtfully balances Harper's personal and professional lives, giving both their due, and all of the Harpers (Tom, his wife Annabelle, and their daughter Mary) emerge as equally poignant and convincing characters. As usual Nickson uses his expertise about Leeds city history to ground the book, making the story's setting as vivid and colorful as his human characters. Nickson goes from strength to strength in this top-notch historical mystery series.