Hudson’s Kill is the second novel in the Justice “Justy” Flanagan series set in New York around the turn of the nineteenth century and having not read the first, The Devil’s Half Mile, I approached this book without knowing the background or the protagonist. I can comfortably confirm that this didn’t prove a hindrance to my understanding and entertainment from a rousing story and a meeting with Justy Flanagan, a flawed protagonist who fights for the truth. 1803 Manhattan and crime is escalating as the city expands and the Irish, black and American nativist gangs fight for control and with immigrants flooding into the city, neutral territory is scarce. Whilst the powerful men who dominate the city are protected and attended by slaves, for other citizens the streets can be lawless and the atmosphere bristles with tension as the melting pot threatens to spoil over with violence or an outbreak of fire. Intimidation and maiming might be prevalent, but an obvious murder is far less frequent and when twenty-year-old Kerry O’Toole discovers a dying dark-skinned teenage girl with a horrific knife wound she immediately sends for Marshal Justice Flanagan, knowing that he will do what is right by the victim. However, feisty Kerry is equally determined to find answers, all of which is compounded by the fact that nobody comes to claim the victim. Justy has spent four years acting as one of five Mayor’s Marshals having oversight of the city but lacking in power to stave off the rising wave of crime. Whilst his superior, High Constable Jacob Hays, lobbies the Mayor for a permanent police presence, the upper-classes are opposed to what is essentially an English idea. And with his military background, imposing stature and strong moral compass, Justy, is a man who loathes injustice and is not afraid to fight dirty if he has to. His very unofficial ally is mixed-race reformed pickpocket, Kerry O’Toole, the daughter of an Irish gangster and a runaway slave with links - and protection - from the two most powerful gangs, who together rule the city with their racketeering. Through a series of observations (skin colour, religious tattoos and expensive attire), delicate inquiries and the word on the street, Justy and Kerry separately arrive at the same conclusion that the victim hails from inside the walls of a secretive compound beyond the slums of Canvas Town. Both have their own ingenious ways of getting beyond the walls but discovering the real reason why the victims body was never claimed is a far more sordid one. As the Muslim encampment and their leader, Umar, prove openly hostile, the heads of two rival gangs (Justy’s uncle Ignatius ‘The Bull’ Flanagan and Kerry’s cousin Lew Owens) start circling.. Not only is the research that has gone into the story phenomenal but it is made incredibly accessible by Paddy Hirsch with a constant drip-feed of the knowledge needed to enable the story to flow and be comprehensive. The Manhattan setting is richly described with every aspect from the unsavoury to the hard realities brought to life and the brutal pecking order that dictates the class hierarchy explored. A continual underlying debate on morality and social hierarchy rumbles on throughout the story making for a thought-provoking aside to Justy’s endeavours. The story draws in the good, bad, rich and poor across the city as Justy leaves no stone unturned and refuses to be treat the entitled as off limits or beyond answering to wrongdoing, meaning his interaction with the lowly to the most eminent of men has a charged edge. There is a liberal smattering of ‘flash’ (underworld slang) in the narrative and although much of it can be understood in context, there is a handy glossary included. The violence is graphic and frequent but feels appropriate for the dog eat dog culture of the era. Admittedly the plot contains quite a number of convenient coincidences, however this feels necessary in order to keep the pace brisk and momentum high. Justy and Kerry are both credibly flawed characters with Justy street smart and not beyond violence but inherently kind-hearted with a respect for all, regardless of status or creed, and genuine compassion. In this quality he is united with Kerry, who although internally wrangling with her own background and path in life, sides fiercely with the oppressed and disenfranchised, whether it be through their gender or class. Although Justy and Kerry don’t work in tandem, both of them are loosely aware of the others activity as they vie for the same cause. And with clear romantic tension between the pair with Justy wearing his heart of his sleeve and Kerry’s tough exterior making her reluctant to reciprocate, who knows what the future has in store for this dynamic duo..! This is definitely a series I intend to follow with the first book already on my list! With thanks to Readers First who provided me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I really enjoyed this period tale of murder, mystery and conspiracy. The book is well written, and the author appears to have done a lot of research - there is even a glossary at the back. The story is set in New York in 1803 and opens with Kerry O'Toole discovering a girl who has been brutally attacked. Her friend, Marshall Justice Flanagan is alerted and starts to investigate. His inquiries take him from one end of the social divide to the other, and everywhere in between. The author paints each scene vividly, you really feel like you've been dragged into the shadowy fringes of society. (NB Some of the violence is quite graphically written - so may not be suitable for some). I don't really want to write too much more as I feel it would spoil the story. This is the second book starring Marshall Justice Flanagan and Kerry O'Toole, although it can be read as a standalone. I haven't read the first, but on the strength of this book I'll be seeking it out.

In the vein of Peaky Blinders and Murdoch Mysteries Hudson's Kill is set in 19th Century New York, where black and irish gangs fight for control of the streets, and when a young girl is found dying in an alleyway, tensions begin to climb, It's up to Marshal Justy Flanagan to find the killer before the lynch mobs do, not an easy task when.no one is willing to speak, This is a book that will keep the reader up until the early hours..

New York, in 1803, is a city filled with tension, as black and Irish gangs fight for control on the streets. Violence is never far away. When a young girl is found murdered in an alleyway, Marshal Justy Flanagan undertakes the difficult search for the killer, before the mob takes the law into their own hands. Kerry O'Toole, Justy's friend and ally, was the one who found the murdered girl. The killing haunts her and she decides to look into the murder herself to find out the truth behind why a young girl was left butchered in the mud. Justy and Kelly's inquiries will lead them to a shadowy community living on the edges of the city, but there is more at stake than the search for the killer of a young girl. They are about to find themselves involved in a web of deceit that runs deep into both the political and criminal hierarchies. Justy and Kerry must fight to save the city and for their own survival. I cannot tell you how much I loved, loved, loved this book! This is actually book two in the Lawless New York series - historical thrillers set in the steaming cauldron of the early days of New York city, around the turn of the 19th century. The days when the black and Irish gangs ran the seedy side of the over-crowded city, while the "nobs" concerned themselves with money and high living. Tension abounds and violence is always close to the surface, as the few Marshals try to impose some sort of law and order. Justy is desperate to do the right thing, for the good of the city, but has just the right amount of disregard for procedure necessary to get to the truth. He is a good man in a city of brigands, but has enough contacts on both sides of the law to get the job done, and is not afraid to make enemies along the way. Kerry is living a more or less respectable life, but her past on the wrong side of the law, and relations in the criminal underworld are very helpful sometimes. She too has a passion for doing what is right, even if she finds this hard to admit to others. She makes a good partner for Justy, but they need to trust each other more - their simmering, but unspoken love for each other gets in the way at times, but all works out well in the end. There are some great supporting characters in this book too, such as Justy's friend Lars, and I particulary enjoyed the part played by Hardluck, the slave carriage driver. Great villians abound, who you will love to hate and long for them to get their come-uppance. As someone who has devoured the entire Richard Sharpe series, I can detect echoes of Bernard Cornwall in this book - which is a very fine thing indeed. Paddy Hirsch has clearly done his homework on the origins of New York here and this tells. If you are looking for a fine historical thriller, with good guys you can get behind, and bad guys you can detest, then this is exactly the book you are looking for. I adored it and devoured in in practically one whole sitting, while on a flight back from Cyprus. In fact, I liked it so much that I have bought book one, The Devil's Half Mile, so I can fill in the back stories of Justy, Kelly and co!

Hudson’s Kill- A historical thriller adventure! Thanks Readers First & Atlantic for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis; New York, 1803. The expanding city is rife with tension, and violence simmers on every street as black and Irish gangs fight for control. When a young girl is found brutally murdered, Marshal Justy Flanagan must find the killer before a mob takes the law into their own hands. Kerry O'Toole, Justy's friend and ally, decides to pursue her own inquiries into the girl's murder. When they each find their way into a shadowy community on the fringes of the city, Justy and Kerry encounter a treacherous web of political conspiracy and criminal enterprise. As events dangerously escalate, they must fight to save not only the city, but also themselves... Thoughts: The best story I’ve read in a while! Main Character Justy a city marshal tries to find out who killed a young black women and left her in the ally to die. This book has romance, violence, tension, action, friendship and more! It gives you a real picture into what New York was like back then. It’s hard to believe black people were slaves and were treated so badly. There’s so many different gangs in this book too. It’s so interesting. If you like historical fiction and thrillers/ crime stories you’ll love this!