The historic tale of Arthur Mangey, a talented silversmith accused of coin-clipping and hanged in 1696, has elicited this excellent crime thriller, set in 1825 Leeds. Thief-taker Simon Westow, and assistants Jane Truscott and young Sally, have their wits tested by solving the novel’s multiple crimes. Four silver cups made by Mangey are stolen by a valet, his body then found inside a secret room when the buildings of Middle Row are demolished. Jane is sent to Mangey-expert, historian Armistead, to research background, but another murder takes place and a third follows in quick succession. Meanwhile, a parallel story runs alongside: one of gruesome murders and beatings. Sally and Jane follow instruction from Westow regarding the silver cups’ crimes, whilst nursing personal vengeance against the other killer.

Despite having not met any of these characters before, I found them easy to fall in with. Jane and Sally are both strong characters, watching each other’s back, working simultaneously with and apart from Westow. Jane’s backstory, which had her taking a sojourn from thief-taker work, is woven in, but the reader can surmise a lot from a little. Now she is faced with the decision to go back to the work, or leave it behind. Sally is a child, but one whose character and lethal strength you can’t help but admire. Nineteenth-century Leeds is a dangerous place; knives are the weapon of choice, and everyone carries one—Westow secretes three about his person. In this episode, we catch glimpses of Westow’s more vulnerable nature, which may take the next book in some intriguing directions. This is a complex multiple-murder mystery set in smoke-filled, murky mid-industrial revolution Leeds; an atmospheric tale made even more so by Nickson’s obvious research on knife-fights, and his evident love and respect for his home town.

Death at Dead Man’s Stake sounds like something from the Wild West, but it is, in this new novel by former copper Nick Oldham, an incident at an isolated farm in Lancashire. With his veteran Henry Christie perhaps taking a well-deserved break at his (hopefully) rebuilt moorland pub, Oldham introduces Detective Sergeant Jessica Raker. After fatally shooting a London gangster following a botched raid on a jewellers’ in Greenwich, Raker has been moved to the North West – where she grew up – in an attempt to distance her from the dead man’s vengeful relatives.

Her first day is nothing if not eventful. She has barely unloaded her kit into the Sergeant’s office from her car, when she is called out to a crisis at Dead Man’s Stake. When the local fire brigade attends an unexplained fire in the derelict farmyard, one of the firefighters is grabbed and held hostage by the farmer, a drunken, mildly crazed man called Bill Ramsden. Jessica rescues the fireman after tazering Ramsden. Her day is not over, however. A cantankerous old man, resident of a local cafe home, is found dead, his corpse floating in a nearby reservoir. Raker, viewing the scene, suspects that a physical struggle lead to the old man ending up in the water.

Jessica Raker is a good copper, but she has been dealt a poor hand. At the Greenwich heist, who was one of the customers eying up an expensive item at the moment the robbers burst in? None other than her husband Josh, a high flying player in a City firm. And the piece of jewellery was intended not for Jessica, but for his secretary. Improbably, the marriage has survived, and Josh is now working in Manchester, but resentful at the move.

Meanwhile, we learn a little more about the man Jessica shot dead in Greenwich. He was the most ungovernable of the sons of Billy Moss, a millionaire crook grown rich on the proceeds of all manner of criminaity, ranging from the inevitable drug trade to trafficking people. Goss wants revenge. He wants the hapless amateurs who lured Terry Moss into the doomed jewellery raid, but most of all, he wants Jessica. The problem is that the Met Police have done a very good job in smuggling her away to the Ribble Valley, and she has gone completely off the Moss radar. Nonetheless, a professional killer is hired to hunt her down and end her life. While on the school run, Jessica bumps into an old adversary. Years ago, when she was growing up in Clitheroe Jessica and Maggie Goss fell out over a mutually desired boyfriend, and Maggie, now boss of huge scrapyard empire, hasn’t forgotten the teenage slights. What is more important is that the scrapyard business is a million miles away from being strictly legit, and one of Maggie’s LinkedIn buddies is none other than Billy Moss.

It is not just Nick Oldham’s years of experience as a working copper that makes his books so good. Nor is it the loving and detailed sense of place, where he describes a beautiful and windswept rural Lancashire, blissful yet only an hour’s drive from pockets of deprivation and criminality like Blackpool. For me, what puts his novels up there on a pinnacle is his sense of dialogue – nothing flashy or pretentiously poetic – but an unerring version of how real people actually speak to each other.

As the Moss organisation moves against Jessica Raker, there is a satisfying symmetry to the main plot, as it ends where it began, out at Dead Man’s Stake. This is a firecracker of a police thriller, and Nick Oldham has established a cast of coppers, with Jess Raker at its heart, who will keep us entertained for many years to come. The novel is published by Severn House, and is available now.

Simon Westow is starting to feel as though he is not fast enough to continue in his role as a thief-taker. His reactions are slowing ans he worries that one day he will have a fight he cannot win. However, his new helper Sally is shaping well. When Westow is commissioned to recover a set of valuable silver cups, he falls headlong into a mystery surrounding the family of the maker which involves several murders. Meanwhile Sally and his former assistant Jane are searching for a homeless man who has hurt their acquaintances. In 1820s Leeds, violence is a way of life, but who will survive?
This is another excellent instalment of Nickson's books set in early industrial Leeds and the sense of time and place is superb. I love the descriptions of places that are familiar to me but from the perspective of 200 years ago. As ever, the plot is detailed and satisfying and the action fizzes along.

this is the seventh book in the Simon Westow series, I have read a few of the others and had no problem with following the story and think you could read as a standalone. Simon is a thief taker, in Leeds England in 1825, he is given requests to find and return items that have been stolen and he receives a fee upon their return. He makes a decent living going this, enough to support his wife and two children, though he worries about paying for further education for his children (at a time when most children don't receive much of one). Simon has been tasked with recovering four silver cups that had been stolen by the butler/servant of an upper class type of home. The cups are a family heirloom made by a notable silver smith some 100 or so years ago. Simon has a small band of female helpers, Sally his most recent helper is only 12, but already is accomplished in using her knife and guarding him on his walks through the city. A former helper, Jane, had stepped away from the band and after a plea for her assistance she steps back in to assist, along with Simon's wife, Rosie, who is a former thief taker, they begin to look for the cups. Simon is asked if wants to witness the demolition of a building and to take a look at a room where the silver smith used to work, and where a rumored secret room lies hidden. After some knocking on walls, the room is found and in it is the servant, deceased, who had stolen the cups, the cups are not found. Simon and his band look by asking questions of everyone about everything, Simon hangs around a coffee cart and listens to the talk of others, his wife talks to prostitutes, Sally tasks a group of homeless children to look and report if they find certain people. In an era where no phones or electricity exists, their method is the only way to find information to lead them to the individual. A very good book that really brings to life of the people and city of Leeds. I would recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Severn House for the ARC.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. The author and I have been friends for close to thirty years, yet I’ve never read any of his novels. I will be honest and say that a book set in 1825 Leeds might not have been my first choice. Likewise, I was picking up in the middle of a series, and I worried I’d be lost. Not so! I was immediately swept up in the action with well-defined characters and a plot that kept me interested. Possibly a bit too gory for my taste, but I guess it goes with the time period. What should I read next, Chris?

3.5 stars. This book transported me to the streets of Leeds in 1825. I agree with all the readers who found it a well-written, compelling story. I was unaware it was the seventh book in a series, and I felt I was missing information that kept me puzzled about some past details. Simon Westow, the principal character, is a Thief Taker. He is paid to find and return items that have been stolen from the owners. He is feeling the aches and pains that come with growing older. He no longer feels confident, is slowing down, is cautious, and is always filled with fear. He must keep working to provide for his wife (a former thief-taker) and enable his twin boys to obtain a better education. I wondered if he had always been less than suited for the job or if something traumatic destroyed his joy in the work and led to his present nervousness.

Sir Robert Foley has hired him to find four silver cups that were stolen by his servant. The cups were treasured and had been in his family since crafted by Arthur Mangey, a talented silversmith, over a century earlier. At the same time, Simon was invited to observe the demolition of a building where Mangey had a hidden room. This secret room was rumoured to be a workshop where he clipped coins. This was considered not only a crime but treason, and Mangey was hanged. Simon finds the thief lying dead in that room. This death is quickly followed by two more murders that seem to be related.

The four silver cups are still missing. Simon employs two young girls, Jane and Sally, who formerly lived on the streets. The girls have come from a tough background of violence and poverty and have vicious knife skills. Their contact with gangs of street children enables them to get information and help from these impoverished, raggedy boys and girls. Jane and Sally return their assistance with compassion and coins. I was puzzled about when and how these two young girls came into Simon's employ.

They served as his bodyguards, following him and fearlessly attacking anyone who might harm Simon. They were also dispatched to search for suspects who might be killers or have the missing silver. They were deadly with the knives they always carried. While Simon was trembling in fear. Simon's wife was also helpful in gathering information. I was wondering if he relied on his helpers more than previously. I thought the story was slow-paced earlier but intensified to a frantic and dangerous conclusion. Simon, Jane, Sally, and his wife compromised on how Simon could remain a Thief-Taker without the stress and strain he had been experiencing.

Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for an advance copy of this exciting, compelling book, published on September 3rd. I apologize for the delayed review. I moved and had to wait almost two weeks to get the internet connected and was unable to use my Kindle.

Them Without Pain transports readers to a richly detailed Leeds, England, in 1825. The immersive quality of the writing draws readers into the bustling streets, smoky factories, and close quarters of the era.
Simon Westow, his wife Rosie and their children have added two young women to their circle. Jane and Sally, girls from the street, have become important assets to the Westow's business of thief-taking. These characters have evolved and changed throughout the series, responding to the challenges and opportunities of their time and place.
The author has a remarkable ability to capture the essence of 19th-century Leeds. From the social stratification based on gender, income, and upbringing to the inherited wealth that dictated many lives, Them Without Pain offers a fascinating glimpse into a society that was in some ways not so different from our own. The novel sheds light on the struggles and triumphs of individuals navigating this complex social landscape.
Overall, Them Without Pain is a treat for those interested in historical fiction, character-driven narratives, and exploring the complexities of 19th-century society.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is book 7 in the series and while not the first I have read I haven't read them all. I do have a soft spot for this series being born and bred in Leeds myself. However the author makes it seem like a much more gritty time and place with this well written mystery that appears at first a straight forward case but turn into something much more twisty and complex for Simon. This is a slightly unusual series in that Simons helpers are women he has recruited from the streets who are very good at defending themselves and Simon with knives which is handy as death seems to stalk both Simon and his family and friends. Another great read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Another winnder by Chris Nickson and another excellent mystery in this series. Well plotted, intriguing, vivid historical background, and solid mystery
I was delighted to catch up with the pleasant and well-developed characters of this series
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Leeds 1825 Westow, thief-taker, is employed by Sir Robert Foley to find his missing 100 year old silver cups made by Arthur Mangey, presumed stolen by his missing valet Thomas Kendall. But his body is soon discovered. Westow has the help, of his new assistant Sally, and requests the help of the old, Jane Truscott.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery with its likeable and interesting main characters. Another good addition to this enjoyable series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Silver cups—a stolen history!

Leeds Thief-taker Simon Westow takes on a strange case from Sir Robert Foley. It’s 1825 and Foley wants Simon to find some stolen silver cups made by the very talented silversmith Arthur Mangey who’d been hung for treason a century before. Imagine Simon’s shock when Foley’s servant is found dead in a secret workshop in of a row of buildings being demolished in the name of progress.
This case will test Simon. He finds himself slowing down. He needs to be in top form. Jane comes back to assist. Sally their protege is part of the investigation. She and Jane feel the need to hone their knife skills.
A startling and shocking situation emerges. Death hides and stalks Simon, his family and friends.
Another fantastic Westow mystery from the indomitable Chris Nickson.

A Severn House ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

I thank NetGalley and Severn House for an advance reader copy of “Them Without Pain.” All opinions and comments are my own.

What happens when a man who makes a living by violence and constantly faces the possibility of death by said violence loses his nerve? Can he come back from that? That’s the reality facing Simon Westow as he confronts his worst demons in “Them Without Pain,” the latest in the historical mystery series by Chris Nickson, set in a grim and gritty 1825 Leeds. Leeds, belching with smoke, pulsing with life. Always a character in a Chris Nickson book. Every nook and cranny a place for a story in itself.

A small job, an inconsequential job for a thief-taker leads to something oh so much bigger for Simon and a “retired” Jane as they become involved in a crime that stems from events that occurred 100 years ago, ones that lead to greed, the need for secrecy and thus the course of murder and more murder. The hunt for stolen cups ends up with Simon in personal danger and Jane making a life-changing decision. Filled with scenes that will get your blood racing, “Them Without Pain” is a masterful addition to the series.
An Afterword explains that Arthur Mangey is a real historical character and everything said about him in the book is true. The rest is a fine writer’s imagination.

An intriguing historical mystery set among the grittier elements of 1825 Leeds. Simon was hired to find four silver cups but it turns out there's an older mystery related to the theft- and it's more dangerous than he anticipated. Luckily, he's got Jane and Sally to help as well as their connections. I'd not read the earlier books in the series but this worked just fine as a standalone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm going to look for Nickson again.

I love Chris Nickson's historical mystery series. I haven't read my way through all of them yet, but I'm always on the lookout for a new one. Most of his series are set in Leeds, but take place in very different time periods. As a result, one gathers a sense of the flow of history not just within series, but across them. My first Nickson series feature D.I. Tom Harper and takes place—in Leeds—between 1890 and 1920. That series had ended, alas, but I treasure the time I spent with its characters. Nickson does a wonderful job of letting us sees the rises and fall of characters, the changes in their lives over time, the way they wrestle with the effects of aging.

Now I'm making my way through the Simon Westow series, which begins—in Leeds—in 1820. Westow is a thief-taker and recoverer of stolen property. In Them Without Pain (my current Nickson read) what begins as a quest for four heirloom silver goblets branches out into something much more dangerous—a series of murders. And another murderer with a different M.O. and inexplicable motivations also emerges. This is the most complex Westow mystery I've read. I kept thinking the novel was close to a resolution, but new complications kept coming up, letting me know that I wasn't yet at the heart of the puzzle. I quite enjoy that sort of "problem."

Lucky for me (and you) the Westow series is ongoing and Nickson has a number of other Leeds-based series: the Richard Nottingham series, set in the 17th Century; a 1920s series featuring WPC (Woman Police Constable) Lottie Armstrong; and the Dan Markham series set in the 1950s. See what I mean about the flow of history?

He also has a 14th Century series set in Chesterfield and a 1980s series set in Seattle. I haven't yet tried either of these, but I'll be getting to them eventually.

I received a free electronic review copy of Them Without Pain from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

Simon Westow is a thief-taker in early 19th century Leeds. He is hired to find four silver cups, stolen by a servant of Sir Robert Foley. He quickly finds the body of the thief, but no cups. Where have they gone? Meanwhile, his former employee, Jane, is questioning her quiet existence. Is she really happy, just living with her elderly friend and learning how to make tinctures? Simon asks Jane to help him search from who might have murdered Foley's servant and taken the cups. Also assisted by his deadly assistant, Sally, Simon begins investigating who had the most to gain from the theft and the murder. One of Jane's friends, a street beggar, with a prosthetic leg is beaten almost to death by a man he is trying to help. Jane and Sally soon discover this man is insane and has to be stopped. Simon has uncovered a young man who feels he is entitled to have the silver cups due to his relation to the original silversmith from the 18th century. As always, this is a very well-researched book with entertaining writing and characters who continue to grow. Recommended.

If you've ever read a Chris Nickson novel, then you know you're in for a locked-in experience every time. Them Without Pain delivers.

Simon Westow is a thief-taker in Leeds in 1825 in Northern England. He's been on his own since he was a child and time and situation have leaned on him hard. His job has been to locate stolen items and the persons responsible. It's been a harrowing occupation all along.

Chris Nickson paints Simon with different strokes in Them Without Pain. Each book will read quite well as standalones. Simon has taken on so many dangerous exploits over the years. It's beginning to show more and more. He is aging and his confidence has been shaken over a multitude of beatings and severe injuries. Simon weighs how much longer he can still maintain his thief-taker business and provide for his wife, Rosie, and their twin sons.

A new case is brought to his attention by Sir Robert Foley. It appears that his valet has stolen four silver cups that have been in his possession for years. The cups were created by Arthur Mangey a once renowned silversmith. Mangey was hanged for questionable treason. The silver cups can never be replaced.

What appears to be a cut and dry case will turn into a complicated and complex case. The valet shows up dead. Now there's a murderer responsible for killing the thief. But who and why?

Simon has employed two girls from off the streets of Leeds. Both are remarkable with the use of knives to defend themselves and to defend Simon when necessary. They are also highly analytical in their skills from living off the streets and being so aware of human nature. They are assets to Simon, but this case will even be a challenge to them.

Them Without Pain is a gripper of a read. Nickson has a solid talent for presenting his characters with the scars of living in these dangerous times. When pressed to a corner, humans will take to desperate means. Nothing is more evident than that in Them Without Pain. Pain comes at all levels and all intensities. Some of it is thrust upon the innocent and some of it is self-imposed. Times change, but human nature doesn't always. Survival leads individuals to fight for their cause even if it is abysmal. Stay tuned to see who rallies here.

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

An early 19th century thief taker, takes on a murderer.
This is the first Simon Westow novel I’ve read, and although seventh in the series, it can be read as a standalone story.
Simon Westow is a thief-taker – a sort of early 19th century bounty hunter who, for a fee, repatriates stolen goods to their rightful owners. He’s also a good guy and runs a form of a co-operative business (my words not the author’s) where street children work to gather information. Two such are Jane, now adult and living comfortably with an old lady; and Sally, still a child but streetwise enough to be Simon’s lookout.
The story involves the theft of priceless silver cups belonging to Sir Robert Foley. The latter employs Westow to find and return said cups. The objects were made by a famous/infamous silversmith, Mangey (who was a real silversmith), who was accused of coin clipping and executed for the crime. But complications abound, when during his investigations Westow discovers a murdered man in a secret room once used by Mangey. Who knew about the secret room and how did the body get there? As the body count climbs it becomes apparent, further deaths are linked, finding the cups becomes a matter of getting justice for the dead.
This was an enjoyable read that was never dull and had me turning the pages. There are several subplots woven in, involving Jane (a character from earlier in the series) and Sally. I liked both these strong female characters, their loyalty to others, and willingness to take the law into their own hands in a sort of vigilante justice.
Simon Westow has his own travails, in a crisis of confidence and awareness of his own mortality. Again, this was an interesting twist for a man who hunts dangerous men for a living.
What stood out for me was the world of the story, the grittiness of Leeds, and the spirit necessary to survive in such times. There was a feeling that none of the characters were immune from death, which added to the tension.
My only (minor) quibble is the title “Them Without Pain.” I feel I’ve missed something as despite reading and enjoying the book, I’m still scratching my head as to the relevance of the title.
For transparency: ARC supplied in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Author Chris Nickson is back with book #7 in the Simon Westow series.
Now, it’s no secret that I am a massive fan of this author. He is a native of Leeds in the North of England, where the series is set in the early 19th century, and what Chris doesn’t know about the history of his home city isn’t worth knowing, which makes for a truly authentic reading experience.

Simon Westow (thief taker) has managed to carve a niche for himself, finding and returning stolen possessions to their rightful owners for a fee. This time around, Simon’s former assistant Jane returns to help him in his quest, together with protégé Sally, both of them having the knowledge needed to survive in difficult and dangerous places in the city, further more, they are more than capable of dealing with the more violent aspects of the job. Wife Rosie (former thief taker) is always invaluable when it comes to gathering crucial information in each case.

It’s May 1825 and Simon’s task this time is to find and return four silver cups to Sir Robert Foley. The cups were stolen by Foley’s servant and are a family treasure, crafted by local silversmith Arthur Mangey over a century before. Coincidentally (or is it?) Simon has 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. Simon's curiosity swiftly turns to horror when he discovers Foley's servant lying dead in the clandestine room.

This will prove to be one of Simon’s most dangerous assignments, however, he needs to keep working to pay for his twins (Richard and Amos’s education), but he’s reached a time in his life when he appears to be losing confidence in his own abilities, and fear seems to be his constant companion on the old cobbled streets of Leeds.

Another gritty well crafted mystery, and as ever, the author takes us back through the mists of time to bring alive the city of Leeds and the daily lives for its inhabitants in those far off days.

Love this series, love this family, love this author!