A Death at Fountains Abbey
Longlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Hodder & Stoughton
Published:7th Sep '17
Should be back in stock very soon
'In a tale that more than matches its predecessors for pace and atmosphere, Hawkins is forced into confrontation with a psychopathic killer...hugely enjoyable' The Sunday Times
'You will burn.'
Late spring, 1728. Fresh from his escape from the gallows, Thomas Hawkins has arrived in Yorkshire with his ward, Sam Fleet. But death still has a hand upon his shoulder, even in such idyllic surroundings.
John Aislabie, Tom's reluctant host, is being tormented by anonymous letters threatening murder. A disgraced politician, Aislabie certainly has plenty of enemies. But, trapped in a house haunted by old tragedies, Tom begins to suspect that the danger lies much closer to home. Someone is playing a subtle and deadly game of revenge, years in the planning. And now Tom is standing in their way...
Through an admirable amount of research the award-winning author has used real people, events and settings to create a delightfully enjoyable standalone thriller. It crackles with wit and charm and cements Hawkins' place as the most lovable rogue in historical fiction. * Daily Express *
A tale that more than matches its predecessors for pace and atmosphere. * The Sunday Times *
I love Antonia Hodgson's slightly wicked sense of humour and it's put to good use here and her clear affection for Tom and Kitty and Sam, as well as her enthusiasm for the period, is infectious. This is such a strong series and I hope it goes on and on. * For Winter Nights *
Antonia Hodgson weaves a fantastic tale of both fact and fiction and emerges with a thoroughly enjoyable romp of a story. * Nudge *
A cracking murder mystery...The writing is clever, witty, eloquent and gripping, a real pleasure to read...you can almost feel that you are living in 18th century London. Historical fiction fans will lap this up, as did I. * Breakaway Reviewers *
A glorious Georgian mystery...irresistible -- Essie Fox, Sunday Times Crime Club
Hodgson's firm grip of characterisation and plot produces an occasionally outrageous, mischievous, entertaining and immensely enjoyable adventure story from its dramatic prologue to its chilling finale. * Crime Review *
A delightfully enjoyable standalone thriller. It crackles with wit and charm and cements Hawkins'place as the most lovable rogue in historical fiction ***** * Daily Express *
Sharp, funny and wearing its antiquity lightly, this is historical crime that contemporary readers can relate to * Sunday Times, Crime Book Club of the Month *
A new book in Antonia Hodgson's Tom Hawkins series is a longed-for event and A Death at Fountains Abbey satisfies that longing from start to finish * The Bookbag *
Excellent, full of historical details and narrative verve. The characters are multi-layered, and the plot skips along rapidly ... I'm already looking forward to number four * Historical Novel Society *
An immensely enjoyable adventure story from its dramatic prologue to its chilling finale * Crime Review *
A page-turner full of suspense and intrigue. I loved it! * Novelicious *
Antonia Hodgson has a real feel for how people thought and spoke at the time - and God knows, that's a rare talent -- Andrew Taylor, author of The Fires of London
Something new in the world of historical crime fiction, with mesmerising detail and atmosphere * Financial Times *
Hodgson has a knack for convincing dialogue that crackles with period cadence and flavour * Daily Mail *
Hodgson shows the seamy underbelly of Georgian London, and does for this era what C.J. Sansom and Rory Clements have done for Tudor times * Historical Novel Society *
Historical fiction just doesn't get any better than this -- Jeffrey Deaver
At times Hodgson even rivals Dickens * Daily Express *
Any historical fiction enthusiast who isn't a Tom Hawkins fan, has probably just not read any yet * The Bookbag *
Praise for THE DEVIL IN THE MARSHALSEA and THE LAST CONFESSION OF THOMAS HAWKINS * . *
Intelligent and engrossing reading. * The Sunday Times *
Hodgson has again married immaculate research to the rip-roaring pace of the modern thriller and come up with a triumphant slice of historical fiction. * The Independent on Sunday *
[A] rip-roaring historical thriller . . . I look forward to seeing what scurries out of the dark and grimy streets in Hodgson's next masterpiece. * Daily Express *
Dark, twisting and witty. Dripping with 18th century intrigue - from the slums to the palaces of London. -- S D Sykes author of PLAGUE LAND
A rattling, rakish romp through Georgian London. More please! -- William Ryan
Take a rip-roaring ride through Georgian London's back streets with THE LAST CONFESSION OF THOMAS HAWKINS. This historical mystery by Antonia Hodgson is wonderfully atmospheric and entertaining. * Good Housekeeping *
Historical fiction just doesn't get any better than this . . . Tom Hawkins is one of the best protagonists to come along in years. Magnificent! -- Jeffery Deaver
A wonderfully convincing picture of the seamier side of eighteenth-century life . . . I very much look forward to discovering what Tom Hawkins does next. -- Andrew Taylor * Spectator *
Antonia Hodgson's London of 1727 offers that rare achievement in historical fiction: a time and place suspensefully different from our own, yet real . . . A damn'd good read. -- Elizabeth Kostova, author of The Historian
Fiendishly plotted and dropping with atmosphere. I cannot wait for Tom Hawkins' next adventure. -- Mark Billingham
[A] fun, twisting, shock riddled masterpiece that ends way too soon. As Thomas heads towards his fate, we may or may not see him again but hopefully we'll see much more of Antonia. * The Bookbag *
ISBN: 9781473615113
Dimensions: 196mm x 126mm x 26mm
Weight: 256g
368 pages