Status
Available
Call number
Publication
London : HarperCollins, 2002, c2001.
Description
A spellbinding historical drama about an ex-soldier in 1820s London who must help rescue an innocent man from Death Row, by bestselling author Bernard Cornwell It is the end of the Napoleonic Wars and England has just fought its last victorious battle against the French. As Rider Sandman and the other heroes of Waterloo begin to make their way back to England, they find a country where corruption, poverty, and social unrest run rampant, and where "justice" is most often delivered at the end of a hangman's noose. Nowhere in London are the streets as busy as in front of Newgate Prison, its largest penitentiary, where mobs gather regularly to watch the terrible spectacle of the doomed men and women on the gallows' stands. Rider Sandman -- whose reputation on the battlefields of France is exceeded only by his renown on the cricket fields of England -- returns home from war to discover his personal affairs in a shambles. Creditors have taken over his estate, leaving him penniless -- and forcing him to release the woman he loves from her obligations to marry him. Desperate to right his situation, he accepts the offer of a job investigating the claims of innocence by a painter due to hang for murder in a few days' time. The Home Secretary makes it clear that this is pro-forma, and that he expects Sandman to rubber-stamp the verdict. But Sandman's investigation reveals that something is amiss -- that there is merit to the young artist's claims. He further discovers that, though the Queen herself has ordered a reinvestigation of the circumstances, someone else does not want the truth revealed. In a race against the clock, Sandman moves from the hellish bowels of Newgate prison to the perfumed drawing rooms of the aristocracy, determined to rescue the innocent man from the rope. As he begins to peel back the layers of an utterly corrupt penal system, he finds himself pitted against some of the wealthiest and most ruthless men in Regency England. Gallows Thief combines the rich historical texture of Edward Rutherford and the taut suspense of Caleb Carr to create an eviscerating portrait of capital punishment in nineteenth-century London.… (more)
Media reviews
Fans of Cornwell's gallant up-from-the-ranks rifleman, Richard Sharpe, will welcome the upright Captain Rider Sandman, a veteran, like Sharpe, of Waterloo and the Peninsula campaign, in a mystery that highlights the horrors of capital punishment in Regency England.
User reviews
LibraryThing member AltheaAnn
This is likely my favorite book that I've read by Bernard Cornwell.
Although he always writes well-researched historical novels, many of
them are just a little bit too masculine and military-focused for my
taste. With this historical mystery set in 19th century London, he
achieves a more balanced
Rider Sandman returns to London a veteran of the Battle of Waterloo
expecting the respect given a military hero. However, he finds that in
his absence, his father gambled the family fortune away, and then
committed suicide, leaving him penniless and with an indelible stain
upon his reputation. To make things worse, his mother and sister
expect him to keep them in their accustomed idle and luxurious
lifestyle - they can't even imagine the shame of becoming working
women.
On top of all this, Sandman's planned wedding seems to definitely be off.
Sandman's only source of income is now to play cricket matches -
something he's luckily good at. But is certainly not enough money to
sustain him, and so when Lord Sidmouth recommends him for a job, he's
quick to take it. It seems an easy commission - a portrait painter is
accused of raping and murdering a wealthy lady as she sat for her
portrait. It's sure that he's guilty, but an investigation needs to be
done - purely as a formality - before the man can be hanged.
Unfortunately, when Rider embarks upon his investigation, he quickly
becomes certain that the portrait painter is innocent. For one thing,
he's gay, so it seems very unlikely he would have murdered a woman in
a crime of passion, as it is being alleged. For another thing, the
maid who would have been able to confirm the painter's alibi has
mysteriously disappeared.
Against Lord Sidmouth's wishes, the upright and honest Sandman
involves himself in a race against time to discover the truth before
the young painter is hanged...
Lots of dramatic tension and unexpected plot twists keep the book
exciting, as Cornwell takes the reader on a tour of the gritty,
realistic underside of London's criminal justice system.
Although he always writes well-researched historical novels, many of
them are just a little bit too masculine and military-focused for my
taste. With this historical mystery set in 19th century London, he
achieves a more balanced
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milieu.Rider Sandman returns to London a veteran of the Battle of Waterloo
expecting the respect given a military hero. However, he finds that in
his absence, his father gambled the family fortune away, and then
committed suicide, leaving him penniless and with an indelible stain
upon his reputation. To make things worse, his mother and sister
expect him to keep them in their accustomed idle and luxurious
lifestyle - they can't even imagine the shame of becoming working
women.
On top of all this, Sandman's planned wedding seems to definitely be off.
Sandman's only source of income is now to play cricket matches -
something he's luckily good at. But is certainly not enough money to
sustain him, and so when Lord Sidmouth recommends him for a job, he's
quick to take it. It seems an easy commission - a portrait painter is
accused of raping and murdering a wealthy lady as she sat for her
portrait. It's sure that he's guilty, but an investigation needs to be
done - purely as a formality - before the man can be hanged.
Unfortunately, when Rider embarks upon his investigation, he quickly
becomes certain that the portrait painter is innocent. For one thing,
he's gay, so it seems very unlikely he would have murdered a woman in
a crime of passion, as it is being alleged. For another thing, the
maid who would have been able to confirm the painter's alibi has
mysteriously disappeared.
Against Lord Sidmouth's wishes, the upright and honest Sandman
involves himself in a race against time to discover the truth before
the young painter is hanged...
Lots of dramatic tension and unexpected plot twists keep the book
exciting, as Cornwell takes the reader on a tour of the gritty,
realistic underside of London's criminal justice system.
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LibraryThing member elleceetee
As a writer, Bernard Cornwell can be slotted into the same category as writers like Stephen King and John Grisham. He knows his genre and cranks out novel in that genre at an extraordinary speed. None of his books are particularly fantastic, my memories of them generally fade within a couple of
Bernard Cornwell’s genre of choice is historical fiction. Most of his books take place during England’s history (though there are some exceptions) and I appreciate that even though the books are essentially fluffy reads, they do seem to be fairly historically accurate. The Gallow’s Thief follows Rider Sandman, a former army captain who has been disgraced by his father’s suicide. Desperate for work, he takes a job as special investigator for Charles Corday, an artist and convicted murderer. As one would expect in this kind of book, Corday is obviously not guilty, and Captain Sandman has to work for his money in order to find the real killer.
The book follows most of the conventions of both mystery novels and historical fiction novels, complete with carriage chases, gun fights, breaking and entering, and even the occasional cricket match (okay, that’s a little different). It’s not great literature, but it’s entertaining. I bought it for 4,000/= in Tanzania (that’s about 2 dollars), and I don’t feel like I wasted my money.
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weeks of reading them, yet they are good for entertainment value and keep my attention. Bernard Cornwell’s genre of choice is historical fiction. Most of his books take place during England’s history (though there are some exceptions) and I appreciate that even though the books are essentially fluffy reads, they do seem to be fairly historically accurate. The Gallow’s Thief follows Rider Sandman, a former army captain who has been disgraced by his father’s suicide. Desperate for work, he takes a job as special investigator for Charles Corday, an artist and convicted murderer. As one would expect in this kind of book, Corday is obviously not guilty, and Captain Sandman has to work for his money in order to find the real killer.
The book follows most of the conventions of both mystery novels and historical fiction novels, complete with carriage chases, gun fights, breaking and entering, and even the occasional cricket match (okay, that’s a little different). It’s not great literature, but it’s entertaining. I bought it for 4,000/= in Tanzania (that’s about 2 dollars), and I don’t feel like I wasted my money.
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LibraryThing member BruderBane
A great one shot from Cornwell. I have truly become enamored with this man’s work and find even this stand alone a great read. Although not packed with wall-to-wall battle scenes like his other novels, Cornwell manages to capture the malaise and drama of the era.
LibraryThing member hjjugovic
Cornwell creates another Sharpe-like protagonist in post-Napoleanic London. Sandman investigates the innocence of a man condemned to hang at Newgate in a world that does not care much for justice. Cornwell's portrayal of a London hungry for death, and the flaws in the justice system, illuminate a
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time when the death penalty was commonplace and questions its place in our own time. Show Less
LibraryThing member rsstick
Captain Rider Sandman is down on his luck. His father, Ludovic Sandman, after swindling a number of people of large amounts of money and losing all his own fortune, had committed suicide leaving his family with a disgraced name and no money. This catastrophe caused Rider to sell his army commission
Cornwell has deftly woven a delightful who-done-it set mostly in London two years after Waterloo. This is by far the most lighthearted Cornwell novel I have come across, but it still offers a rich plot, strong characterizations, suspense, and enough twists and turns to keep me guessing until the end. I loved it!
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to provide a modest home for his mother and sister, and forced his beloved fiancee Eleanor to break off their engagement at the insistance of her mother. His two consolations are cricket, from which he derived a small income, and his clubfooted friend, the Rev. Lord Alexander Pleydell. Things were about to change.Cornwell has deftly woven a delightful who-done-it set mostly in London two years after Waterloo. This is by far the most lighthearted Cornwell novel I have come across, but it still offers a rich plot, strong characterizations, suspense, and enough twists and turns to keep me guessing until the end. I loved it!
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LibraryThing member harpua
I tried, I really did try. A good friend recommended this book too me and let me borrow his copy. I immediately sat down and devoured the first chapter which was incredible. Moving past that initial setup, it came to a screeching halt for me. It's the not the typical kind of book I read anyway and
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this just moved way to slow for me. If you like this genre, then this may be a great book. My friend reads a lot of these type of books and he loved it. Just not for me. Show Less
LibraryThing member Neilsantos
This was ok, I'd probably buy it, not quite as gripping to me as his military stuff.
LibraryThing member TheoClarke
A roaring concoction of Regency England, mixing murder mystery with cricket in long coats and high stocks. Cornwell captures the seaminess of London at this time without losing the excitement of the social melange.
LibraryThing member barpurple
Think Prattchet's Sam Vimes mixed with Cornwall's Richard Sharpe and you've got Rider Sandman. Gallow's Thief has all of the colour and depth that is found in Cornwall's novels. You'll get a great education in "flash"!
LibraryThing member donagiles
Near do man gets job to find out if man is guilty or not of murder, first crown detictive you mite say.
LibraryThing member Helenliz
Somewhat out of Cornwell's usual style, this doesn't contain a single battle - but it does contain a military man or two. Set some time in the late 1810s, after the battle of Waterloo, Captain Ryder Sandman is trying to earn sufficient money to keep his mother and sister after his father shot
Ryder (who is, incidentally a very attractive character) goes to see the accused and starts to investigate, assisted by a local tavern wench, a Sergeant and a member of the aristocracy. He gets into a fair number of difficult positions in the week he has to find the truth, some of them physically dangerous. The tale ends as if there was to be a sequel, but I'm not aware of one.
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himself after being found a swindler and forger. He's left the army and is living in a cheep tavern in London. He finds himself offered wages as a temporary employee of the government in order to investigate if a murderer did, in fact, commit the crime and should hang. this isn't due to any qualm of conscience on the part of the Home secretary, more that the Queen has been persuaded to add her name to a petition, so the Home Secretary has to be seen to do something... Ryder (who is, incidentally a very attractive character) goes to see the accused and starts to investigate, assisted by a local tavern wench, a Sergeant and a member of the aristocracy. He gets into a fair number of difficult positions in the week he has to find the truth, some of them physically dangerous. The tale ends as if there was to be a sequel, but I'm not aware of one.
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LibraryThing member Bookmarque
A decent tale, but had flaws. The central crime made no sense since the perpetrator was so wealthy and had covered up enough of it that it was unbelievable that he wouldn't take a final and permanent step to silence the last witness. And the ending seemed very cliched and as if it were being
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written for a 1940s serial and not a modern novel. Show Less
LibraryThing member devenish
This is a stand-alone novel with a theme of capital punishment in the year 1817. Captain Rider Sandman investigates the case of a man incarcerated in Newgate prison who is subject to hang in the near future. As he proceeds with his investigations,Sandman becomes convinced that the man is innocent
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and another person is the true killer. Can he obtain the evidence to save the prisoner in time ?. A complete departure for Bernard Cornwell in that there are no battles in sight,and indeed very little fighting. However there is certainly the usual high level of excitement here as usual in Cornwell's books. Show Less
LibraryThing member quiBee
Only average compared to the Sharpe series. Wish I could do a 2 1/2 star rating in that it was ok, but really not up to standard.
LibraryThing member BooksForDinner
A solid historical thriller/mystery/etc from the Sharpe series author.
LibraryThing member wealhtheowwylfing
Well written adventure from the author of the Sharpe novels. I have a huge weakness for down-at-the-heels gentlemen, especially when they are too smart for their own good.
LibraryThing member varielle
Rider Sandman is a hero of Waterloo, a cricket champion and former army Captain who sold his commission to pay off his father's gambling debts. In the bargain he has lost his fiancee because he is no longer good enough for her family. He is hired to investigate whether a man sentenced to hang is
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actually guilty of the murder of a Countess. Gallows Thief is not so gritty as the Sharpe series, except for descriptions of the executions and prison system in Britain. It will likely have broader appeal as it has enough romance to appeal to gentler readers. Unlike Sharpe, Sandman is an educated man and a gentleman despite his diminished circumstances. Parts do become tedious and repetitious as Sandman keeps running into the same obstacles which take a while to get resolved. All in all a worthwhile adventure, which has the potential to become a series. Show Less
LibraryThing member busterrll
Not one of his better books - Predictable ending
LibraryThing member ko40370
Not in the same league as the Sharpe novels.
LibraryThing member TheCriticalTimes
I would categorize this novel as a 'follow-along' or 'solve-along' historical mystery. There is no big reveal where we're stumped we didn't see it coming. That's also not the point or purpose of the book. We're invited to live-along a number of people who lived during extraordinary times in history
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and through the way its told we get a glimpse of what it might have been like to have been there. All of this is wrapped in an entertaining story that will propel you along all the events and characters laid out for us in a nicely digestible feast. This novel is about immersion, it's about being there and seeing what the characters saw. Show Less
LibraryThing member kwskultety
Excellent period piece--mystery, humor and a love story that's not too annoying! It's the only Cornwell that I have read....and I"m still waiting for a sequel.
LibraryThing member borbet
Solid historical fiction. Interesting time period. Little too much defining of London period slang terms within the text. Well plotted with a very likeable protagonist and sturdy supporting characters.
LibraryThing member golfjr
more juvenile than his other novels; holds your interest but
LibraryThing member SandyAMcPherson
Quite the gritty story, set in post-Napoleanic London at a time when the justice system was venal and uncaring. Executions were frequently by hanging and a source of enthusiastic public spectacles.
Having forgotten that I read this story about 10 years ago, it now strikes me that many passages are
The story had a serious flaw in that the central theme upon which the mystery revolved was nonsensical:the murderer was wealthy and had covered his tracks perfectly adequately for the times . I admired the main protagonist (as I did in the first reading), which is a plus. The author's historical notes at the end were illuminating of the times and very useful to put the novel's setting in perspective.
Having forgotten that I read this story about 10 years ago, it now strikes me that many passages are
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quite repetitious. The ending was predictable, which takes away from building suspense. Prolonged chases to track down the main witness were tedious, since by then it seemed a bit pointless. The story had a serious flaw in that the central theme upon which the mystery revolved was nonsensical:
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Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2001
Physical description
406 p.; 17.8 cm
ISBN
0007127162 / 9780007127160