Title: The Betrayal of Thomas True
Author: A. J. West
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Orenda
Publication Date: 4th July 2024
Rating: 5/5
Cover:
Book Summary:
The only sin is betrayal…
It is the year 1715, and Thomas True has arrived on old London Bridge with a dangerous secret. One night, lost amongst the squalor of London’s hidden back streets, he finds himself drawn into the outrageous underworld of the molly houses.
Meanwhile, carpenter Gabriel Griffin struggles to hide his double life as Lotty, the molly’s stoic guard. When a young man is found murdered, he realises there is a rat amongst them, betraying their secrets to a pair of murderous Justices.
Can Gabriel unmask the traitor before they hang? Can he save hapless Thomas from peril, and their own forbidden love?
Set amidst the buried streets of Georgian London, The Betrayal of Thomas True is a brutal and devastating thriller, where love must overcome evil, and the only true sin is betrayal…
Review:
I feel like The Betrayal of Thomas True has been receiving some serious hype and I have to say, it is one hundred percent justified. It is a bawdy, gritty, lyrical feast that will keep you hooked and then break your heart. It takes its readers deep into the dark underbelly of Georgian London and reveals the dangerous cost that people had to pay simply for being who they were. The depth and intricacy of historical research undertaken by West is evident throughout. The language is viscerally evocative and you can practically smell, taste and hear 18th century London in all its grime and glory.
I also found The Betrayal of Thomas True heart-wrenchingly emotional. It certainly has plenty of wit and a dash of humour but at its heart it is about persecution, betrayal, violence and the way that those who are the real sinners, people like the Justices Grimp and Myre, manipulate and twist their authority to perpetuate injustice and hatred. The Betrayal of Thomas True is an almost Dickensian romp intertwined with a love story and a reckoning. It is vivid, lyrically satisfying, soaked in atmosphere and full of beautifully realised and colourful characters. Highly recommended.
★★★★★
Thank you so much to Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours for inviting me on this tour and organising it. I kindly received a copy of the book from the publisher. My review is entirely my own honest opinion.
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