Dark secrets. Perplexing murders. A tangled puzzle. Leeds, 1826. Thieftaker Simon Westow is watching Frederick Fox – a local crook who has recently returned to Leeds with his wife after receiving a mysterious pardon for stealing a gold bracelet.

With the help of his protégées, Jane and Sally, Simon tracks the Foxes to a property in the city – and discovers a body. What is the connection between the dead man and the Foxes, and is there a link to Frederick’s imprisonment?

When a ruthless killer strikes again, Simon struggles to make sense of the chilling discoveries. Nothing adds up as he is drawn into a twisted maze of murder and deception. Can he stay alive long enough to solve the puzzle?

The early reviews have started. Booklist says “Nickson vividly evokes the atmosphere of nineteenth-century Leeds and keeps the plot tense and twisty throughout. A good pick for historical-mystery fans.”

Kirkus calls it “A first-rate, complex mystery that delves deeply into the many social injustices of the
time.”

In a wonderful review, the Between the Covers blog says the book is “Chris Nickson at his best – complex, compelling and, above all. compassionate” with “ a deep sense of poetry in the book, not just in the words, but in the juxtaposition of images.” You can read the whole thing here.

Promoting Crime Fiction says it’s “a powerful book, with superb historical details, and strong, believable characters, the core group of whom are very engaging. Also, it has a complex plot that never flinches away from telling unpalatable truths. Although the book is set in the early nineteenth century, the themes explored in A Rage of Souls are timeless and universal.” Why not look at it all here?

Yorkshire Bylines says (among other things; it’s a lengthy, thoughtful reviews – read it): “It’s a great story, with the twists and turns we’ve come to expect from Chris Nickson, with added layers of insight into some really big issues. For example, he touches on different types of grief – from the raw grief of a parent who’s lost their son, to the complex grief for an abusive husband.”