The Silver Collar

1728 a few years after surviving the hangman's noose, Thomas Hawkins returns to London with Kitty and back to the Cocked Pistol - Kitty's disreputable bookshop - and back to happiness. Or so they believe.
When Tom is attacked by a group of men, he discovers he has an enemy who wants him dead, and as he digs deeper, their happy life soon turns into a nightmare.
This is book 4 in the Thomas Hawkins series. A powerful, captivating and often dark story that kept me gripped to the end.

This is one hell of a book.

Antonia Hodgson has kept us waiting for a few years for the latest instalment of Thomas Hawkins’ story, but my god was it worth the wait. What a book.

Slightly different to the previous books in the series, this is a personal story which sees Hawkins in a race against time to find his missing wife. Hodgson has become a master of the craft. She weaves humour and despair effortlessly throughout the novel which creates a masterful tale this is virtually impossibly to put down.

I found the Silver Collar to be a powerful book. It pulled my emotions every which way, which just added to the pleasure of reading it.

It’s such a satisfying read, with a hugely enjoyable conclusion. An almost perfect read, I can’t wait for the next one.

The Silver Collar by Antonia Hodgson is the fourth book to feature Thomas Hawkins. This story is set in 1728 or the Georgian period. Thomas Hawkins and Kitty now own a disreputable bookshop called ‘The Cocked Pistol,’ and for a time, life seems to be a roaring success. I loved the bawdy, spicy humour in the first part of this book, it fits in nicely with the narrative.

It is not long, however, until their happiness is cut short. Thomas is set upon by a street gang and events very quickly spiral, as he discovers there’s a price on his head. Who could want him dead? Living the life of a celebrity as ‘Half-Hanged Hawkins’ is not easy. With the help of Sam Fleet’s underworld connections, Tom realises that you can only run so far from your past before it catches up to you! Hiding in the shadows is the enigmatic, cunning Lady Vanhook, who will change Thomas’s life forever!

If you are new to this book then this is a great starting point, although there’s a bit of a backstory, this never gets in the way of the narrative. The author skilfully weaves plots together, so that this can easily be read as a standalone. Plus, you get to go back and enjoy Thomas’s three previous adventures.

The story is told in the first-person perspective, so you get everything from Thomas Hawkins’ point of view. Thomas is quite a loveable rogue and always tries to do the right thing, however, trouble is never far behind. The author draws on the Georgian period detail very expertly and weaves this into the narrative. This never gets in the way of the story, plot or characters. There is a shift in the perspective narrative partway through to the second person as we see events from Kitty’s perspective. Both perspectives work well.

The period detail is woven expertly as is the plot, it’s quite a wild reading ride, with some great characters that you could easily imagine lived and have been lifted straight out of history as it felt quite realistic.

There also some very emotive subject matters discussed throughout this novel, such as slavery and the role of women in Georgian society, love, friendships and the nature of evil. All this goes into making this one of my favourite and most compelling historical reads of the year.


Thanks to Hoddor and NetGalley for providing a reading copy. All points of view are my own.

I absolutely loved this book - great characters, a totally compelling story and it's beautifully written. For me, this is what historical fiction should be like. The period detail is so well drawn that you really feel as though you're there, in Georgian London, but it's skilfully woven in - there's none of the clumsy 'Ding, dong, research coming through' stuff that ruins a lot of historical novels. And the language is refreshingly free from gadzookery but still feels appropriate to the period.

I didn't realise when I started reading that this is the fourth in a series - there's quite a lot of backstory to bring again, but again, the author does this very skilfully so it never feels like tedious exposition. If you haven't read the other three, this works as a stand alone story - and as soon as I'd finished it, I went back and bought the first three.

This is the first Antonia Hodgson book that I have read. I didn't realise it was part of a series when I requested it. Despite being the fourth (I think) in the series I got into The Silver Collar quickly. Hodgson weaves in the back story subtly so you can pick up enough information without it intruding on the narrative in this book. I enjoyed the book more and more as I read.

The Silver Collar by Antonia Hodgson
This is the fourth novel featuring Thomas Hawkins; better known as Half Hanged Hawkins. I had read and enjoyed the previous three novels but those who had not had this pleasure would be able to read this as a stand-alone novel. The backstory is filled in without getting in the way of the fast moving plot.
At the very beginning of the story we encounter a young slave girl held captive by the silver collar of the title. It is clear that someone wishes to free her from servitude but we have to wait until later the story to see how this story links to that of Thomas Hawkins.
The story, set in 1728, opens with Thomas and Kitty living and working at The Cocked Pistol where gentlemen are able to purchase all manner of bawdy material. Their relationship is loving but turbulent and after another of their arguments as he is pounding the streets in anger Thomas finds himself set upon by men with murderous intent. Indeed he is only rescued by the intervention of Sam Fleet his young ‘apprentice’ who thinks of Thomas as his brother.
He tracks down those who have plotted his murder and so begins his struggle to track down those who would see him dead and wish ill upon Kitty. The story is extremely well researched and life in London of the period is vividly evoked. It also features real characters of the period such as Sir John Gonson and Edmund Chishull. It has a very topical and moving account of the life of a slave in Antigua during the period. It is a fantastic, thrilling read and one which I thoroughly enjoyed. I will definitely be recommending this book to my various book groups. I would like to thank Hodder and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the book in return for an honest review.

Slavery, private madhouses, love and revenge. The most ambitious and the most gripping of Thomas Hawkins’ adventures so far. I loved it. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to read.

It's been a while, but the fourth book in the Thomas Hawkins series is here. Set in 1728, several months after book three, Thomas and Kitty are growing the ‘The Cocked Pistol,’ to include not just books, but objects to enhance your lovelife. and the money is pouring in. The tone and humour of the previous books remains. Still not married though!

But as usual things quickly turn bad, and once again Thomas is on the run, with a definite personal interest this time. All good stuff. As with all these series, some background knowledge is useful, but the book has enough backfill to allow a reader to jump right in.

As in previous books, the Georgian period is well drawn without being a historical essay. You get a good feel for some of the hardships and issues of the time. But none of that gets in the way of another romp through Thomas' turbulent life. Like other recent works by Laura Shepherd-Robinson and Frannie Langton, topics touched on include slavery and the demeaning of women in Georgian times,

All in all, another excellent chapter in the series, and fans of Imogen Robertson, CJ Mackenzie et al will be satisfied.

I wish I had known about this series before as from the first chapter I knew that I loved this book and soon realised that I had could have had the pleasure of the company of Kitty and Thomas before. I have clearly missed out on some of the characters history and previous amazing adventures. This book does neatly cover the essential history so it can be read and enjoyed without having read the previous books, I’m just disappointed in myself for not knowing previous books existed!

This book is a great historical thriller with a sense of fun and adventure but for all the fun of this romp through history and the adventures of Kitty and Thomas, there is also quite a serious and emotional element to this story and I think that’s what makes this book so good; the balance of a good story at the same time paying tribute to the history of the time.

This book is set in 1728. The main characters are Thomas Hawkins and Kitty Sparks. They are happily living their lives running a disreputable bookshop when Tom’s life is threatened. With the help of Thomas’s ward Sam Fleet Thomas starts to uncover a plot to try and take him down.

I was drawn into the world of Thomas and Kitty and quickly adored both characters. I loved how initially the story was told from Thomas' perspective, but then changed to include the world from Kitty's view. A woman's view of 18th Century Britain was an interesting add to the storyline. The other characters were richly described and added hugely to the story, especially Sam.
The many twists and turns of the story were intriguing and kept the plot moving, with the love of family a recurring theme throughout the many subplots.

The quiet life is all Thomas Hawkins and Kitty Sparks have ever wanted, and it seems that’s what they’ve got. Kitty’s disreputable shop, The Cocked Pistol, is thriving and Thomas is living off his celebrity name ‘Half Hanged Hawkins’. Life is great, but as usual life is never simple for Tom and Kitty.
When Tom gets jumped by a street gang and a price is put on his head, Kitty receives a visit from a man who shuts her shop down and wants to save her soul. Tom starts to make enquiries with the help of his long time friend, Sam Fleet, and Sam’s shady underground connections.
Things start to escalate quickly after a visit to meet Lady Vanhook and a chance meeting with an ex slave by the name of Jeremiah Patience.
Soon after Kitty is taken and Tom must move Heaven and earth to find her before she is lost to him forever.
Antonia Hodgson has created another stunning novel. With her portrayal of London in the late 1720’s and with strong characters, wonderful language and incredibly creative writing, this is just sublime. Thomas Hawkins is a creation that rivals any character in historical fiction and Antonia Hodgson’s writing is nothing but five star. I absolutely loved it.

Antonia Hodgson really is the mistress of her craft. She's lived previous lives in the past, I'm sure of it and she takes you on a guided tour of the streets of London. ALL the feels and then some.

This book is part of a series but it can be read alone. However your enjoyment will multiply if you read the others first. As then you will realise just how fantastic this book is. It's even grittier, darker and more immersive than the others. The stakes have been raised.

A real character led series too so its' great to see how old faviourites are getting on. Sam really comes into his own here and steals the show. The relationship between Sam and Thomas is a great highlight of the book. Very nicely done.

This is a series that should really be out there and on your reading radar!

I’ve been a fan of this series for a while now so jumped at the chance to take part in the blog tour for the newest instalment. Set in the early eighteenth century, each story is a mystery centred around the protagonist, Thomas Hawkins. You don’t have to have read the previous three books to enjoy this one as each is a standalone and works well if read in isolation. Twenty-six-year-old Thomas is a luckless gambler and disreputable gentleman who is nevertheless intelligent, sharp, and caring. His partner Kitty is independent, fiery and wealthy in her own right and I love the relationship between Tom and Kitty as it’s one of healthy mutual respect based on love. This mystery ends up testing their love more than they ever expected and I was invested in their emotional journey and rooting for them to conquer all.

Another fantastic element of this series is the evocative London setting. The author really captures the essence of this slice of history and creates an authentic portrayal of everyday life. She also touches on the wider issues prevalent during this time period such as slavery and women’s rights. I thought both were handled well, especially slavery which was explored via the character of escaped-slave Jeremiah Patience; Jeremiah’s history is recounted in part four and makes a horrifying read. Through the character of Kitty, the author also explores the impact of a patriarchal society on women and their curtailed freedoms.

The villain of the story was probably one of the most complex and terrifying antagonists I’ve ever read. Their intelligence and ruthlessness combine to create a truly formidable opponent. From the very first page, I was gripped by this well-written mystery. The evocative setting was wonderfully authentic and the nuanced explorations of slavery and women’s rights were handled skilfully. The best element, as ever, was the characters. Each one is fully-rendered and fleshed-out, remaining memorable in the reader’s imagination long after finishing. If you’re looking for a new series to start then I’d highly recommend this one as it’s sure not to disappoint.

London in the 1720s, Thomas Hawkins is still living with Kitty but has decided that he needs to make his own money and starts to 'help' people. Kitty is being pressured to close her booksellers by Gonson the magistrate but one evening she is kidnapped. Her supposedly dead mother has returned from Antigua and is hellbent on taking Kitty's money by claiming she is mad. Thomas tried to find Kitty, his search even more desperate as he knows Kitty is pregnant.
Hodgson's books are always brilliant but I loved this one especially. Focusing in on two abuses of liberty - slavery and asylums - she educates the reader whilst they are enjoying an exciting plot. Here the anti-hero Hawkins develops some maturity and a strong conscience. As ever the sense of time and place is superb.

This is the first book i read in this series and won't surely be the last as it's brilliant.
Great character development and storytelling, a vivid and well researched historical background, a mystery that kept me on the edge and guessing till the end.
An excellent and gripping read the I strongly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

The Silver Collar is the first novel I have read by Antonia Hodgson and it will most definitely not be the last. We are in 1728, at The Cocked Pistol, the (not so reputable) bookstore run by Kitty Sparks, who lives there with our hero Thomas Hawkins. They are doing fine but things get complicated when Thomas learns someone wants him dead. Who and why we discover as we follow him through this well written thriller, and I don’t want to say more.
We meet many interesting characters on our heroes’ way: the preacher of good manner Sir Gonson, the former slave Jeremiah, many characters of the underworld especially the Fleet family, the unbearable Lady Vanhook, and many others. They experience love, friendship, hate, and so many others on the rainbow of emotions. The description of these characters, their thoughts and opinions is a real delight to read: beautiful choice of words, depth and wit.
The plot is very good and the author has found a very nice way to include the historical context, which she clearly researched, while keeping the story flowing and entertaining.
I loved this book and, in particular, the great writing. It is a book to enjoy slowly. Looking forward to the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and to the author Antonia Hogsdon for giving me the privilege of an advance reader copy of this book.

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