New2theScene

The Hocus Girl

Chris Nickson

The Hocus Girl

Paperback
,
October 30, 2020
£ 13.99 
Buy now
Combines multiple twists, vivid descriptions of life in the early nineteenth century, strong characters, and a surprising ending.
Booklist

Synopsis

Book 2 of 6: Simon Westow Mysteries

Thief-taker Simon Westow must save one of his closest friends from a grim fate at the hands of the government in this compelling historical mystery.

Leeds, May 1822. Thief-taker Simon Westow owes Davey and Emily Ashton everything - the siblings gave him sanctuary when he needed it most. So when Davey is arrested for sedition and Emily begs Simon for help, he starts asking questions, determined to clear his friend. Are the answers linked to rumours of a mysterious government spy in town?

Davey's not the only one who needs Simon's help. Timber merchant George Ericsson has been 'hocussed' by a young woman who spiked his drink and stole his valuable ring and watch. Who is she, and how does she know one of Simon's assistant Jane's deepest secrets? The path to the truth is twisted and dangerous. Simon and Jane encounter murder, lies, betrayal and a government terrified of its own people as they attempt to save Davey and find the hocus girl.

Product Information

Number of pages
224
Publisher
Canongate Books
#ISBN
Number of pages
9781780296494
Date of Publication
October 30, 2020
Format
Paperback
Weight
306
g
Dimensions
13.9
x
21.6
x
1.7
cm

More books in the series

Reviews

Beautifully balanced between suspense and action... the historical background... as always, engaging, detailed and authentic.
Joanne Harris, bestselling author of Chocolat
This historical tour de force reminds readers who come for the mystery that life hasn't changed for the disenfranchised.
Kirkus Reviews

About the author

Chris Nickson

I've been killing people in Leeds (and a couple of other places) since 1730. In books, at least. It's my home, and I eventually moved back here in 2013. I feel the place in my bones. I know it. I love it.

The Richard Nottingham books take place in the 1730s. He's the Constable of Leeds - as the real Richard Nottingham was - just as the town was becoming weathy on the wool trade.

By the 1820s, the setting for the Simon Westow series, Leeds was an industrial town, with plenty of those dark Satanics Mills. Simon is a thief-taker, retrieving stolen items for money and often discovering danger along the way. He works with a teenage girl, Jane, who has a dark past of her own and a deadly, unforgiving way with a knife.

By the 1890s, Leeds was a city, one of the great industrial centres of empire. It's where Tom Harper is a policeman, a detective inspector at first, then superintendent. His wife owns a pub in the working-class area of Sheepscar, and is very involved with the Suffragists. The books are crime, but relationships are paramount, as well as politics - strikes, racism against Jewish immigrants, the slow build of socialism and the Suffragettes. The series moves into the 20th century. A chornicle of a place and a family.

I've also written about Leeds in the 1920s and '40s (Lottie Armstrong) and the '50s (Dan Markham). Different ideas, the same evolving place at the heart.

I spent a little while living near Chesterfield, which gave rise to a medieval series set there, featuring John the Carpenter, who has a taent for solving killings.

I lived in Seattle for 20 years, working as a music journalist. That inspired a pair of novels set in the music scene there: Emerald City and the follow-up, West Seattle Blues.

Candace Robb, author of the excellent Owen Archer mysteries, said my books are "total immersion experiences in the underbelly of 18th century Leeds. Clever use of period slang and vivid detail bring to life the people, the culture, the gritty reality of early industrial culture, brutal and dehumanizing."

Best-selling author Joanne Harris said my work has "a vibrant sense of living history, well-drawn characters..."

Writing the novels has led to curious things - writing a couple of plays, one featuring a live jazz quintent, and being inolved in arranging a couple of exhibitions celebrating the march to women's suffrage in Leeds. I'm also the writer-in-residence for Abbey House Museum here. All from putting a few words on paper...

Visit their full profile
£ 13.99 

New2theScene

Competitions

Heading

Heading 1

Heading 2

Heading 3

Heading 4

Heading 5
Heading 6

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.

Block quote

Ordered list

  1. Item 1
  2. Item 2
  3. Item 3

Unordered list

  • Item A
  • Item B
  • Item C

Text link

Bold text

Emphasis

Superscript

Subscript

First Prize

£50

A huge achievement worth shouting about, the winning story recieves the following:

  • £50 of New2theScene vouchers.
  • Interviewed by our New2theScene presenter for a winner’s edition podcast - a fantastic opportunity to introduce yourself to the literary world and potential publishers.
  • Featured in our 'Origins' blog - telling the world your journey, passions and dreams in the literary world.
  • Story and author promoted on our website and across our social channels.
  • May feature in future anthologies – so you may see your words in print, fingers crossed!

Notable Mentions

£15

A great achievement, notable mentions receive the following:

  • £15 of New2theScene vouchers.
  • May feature in future anthologies – so you may see your words in print, fingers crossed!

How to enter

  • Carefully read the rules, entry requirements and eligibility before submission.
  • Check you’re sending the final, best version of your submission.
  • Follow the format requirements for the competition (found in ‘Rules of entry’).
  • Pay your entry fee.
  • Check your emails and click the 'submit you story' button, remembering to copy your submission number.
  • Upload your entry, using your submission number for reference.
  • Good luck!

FAQs

Can I submit more than one entry?
How do I change my entry if I made a mistake?
Can I submit by post?
I have had worked published. Can I still enter the competition?
Do I have to feature on the podcast if I win?
Can I get feedback on my submission?
Can I have a refund?