"The axe forgets, but the tree remembers." (African Proverb)

And vengeance waits silently in the darkness biding time for the right moment. Sometimes it never comes. But when it does, the sky opens and the stars fall landing in just the designated shadow........seen directly or perhaps not.

Chris Nickson has outdone himself in The Blood Covenant. There's truly a different tone in this one. We find Simon Weslow suffering for over three months due to a mysterious illness. that has left him weak and almost frail. The once dynamic thief-taker who searched for stolen items to return to their rightful owner for a fee is now winded and breaking into a deep sweat with activity. This opens concern on the part of the readers. Will he ever be restored to his former self?

If there's one bit of near reverence on the part of Simon, it's his unshakeable love for his wife Rosie and his twin sons, Richard and Amos. He also has respect for young Jane, his partner, who is beyond talented with a knife. Nickson sends a new vibe into this one with the reader realizing that these beloved individuals may well be in danger........with Simon less than fit and able.

Chris Nickson turns Simon's attention to the abuse of young children working in the mills of Leeds in October of 1823. Nickson's research on Leeds is impeccable. We become aware of child labor and the cruelty of 12-14 hour shifts for these young ones. Simon recalls his own childhood experiences with brutalities in these workhouses. Dr. Hey shows Simon the bodies of two young boys starved and overworked to death. Simon knows he can't bring them back, but he can seek atonement for the families. And he will dance with the devil himself who will put a target on Simon's own back.

Simon will tangle with the "untouchables" of Leeds who have the police and the city constable in their pockets. Those who speak out will find themselves dead on the Leeds Bridge near the river never to utter another word.

The Afterword gives a solid voice to the writings of Chris Nickson. These have been challenging times of late and there is a pent-up energy suffering from misplacement. Anger and frustration must be tapped down in spite of their markings on our souls. Nickson brings through the element of family and what we wouldn't do to protect our loved ones......and to what extent. The Blood Covenant shines a different light on Simon, Rosie, and Jane this time and reveals the hearts of lions released and shakened. Bravo, Chris Nickson, just 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.

4.5 stars and Many Thanks to Chris Nickson, Severn House and NetGalley. for this epic tale of old Leeds. As the author says the Simon Westow books have always been "carried on a wave of anger". In this pandemic time there were echoes of frustration so it was a hard read.

As the author said so well "History is cruel" . Fine job as always, Chris!

*4.5 Stars*

October 1823, Leeds in the North of England during the Industrial revolution, a place of your archetypal dark satanic mills. It’s here that we meet Simon Westow, a thief taker,(someone who is hired to retrieve stolen items for a fee), though he has been known to hunt for missing persons too.

When Simon starts asking questions about the brutal death of two boys at a local mill, it will stir up a heap of trouble, and lead to much fear for Simon and his whole family, with many deaths along the way. You don’t cause trouble for the mill owners without repercussions!

Simon still has very painful memories of his childhood days, firstly in the workhouse, and then in a mill, and he still has the scars to show for it, so if he can help put a stop to any ill treatment he will do. In the meantime, he comes across a body ( clearly a murder victim ) being pulled from the River Aire, and whilst investigating this, he and his trusty assistant Jane, are led to other deaths that he decides demand justice.

I love Simon and his family, and not forgetting his assistant Jane ( a troubled soul), but she always has Simon’s back. The plot was gripping, and (as ever) the author captures a sense of old Leeds. There are cobbled courts and alleyways that actually existed, and though no longer there, they’re brought vividly back to life. Nickson is a master when it comes to historical crime fiction, and together with his phenomenal research, he continually provides a cracking read!