The Thieves’ Labyrinth
Encyclopedia
The Thieves’ Labyrinth is the third book in a series of Victorian detective novels by author James McCreet
, published in May 2011. It continues the adventures of a set of characters established in the first book, The Incendiary’s Trail
, namely: George Williamson, Albert Newsome, Noah Dyson, Benjamin and John Cullen.
, Inspector Albert Newsome of the Metropolitan Police
’s Detective Force has been temporarily demoted to the Thames River Police for his insubordination. He can retain his old position only if he proves himself with good behaviour. Meanwhile, his old enemy George Williamson is working as a private detective at the theatres of London, where his job is to catch pickpockets. Both men are highly suspicious of a new face in London: Eldritch Batchem, who claims to be an investigator “By Royal Appointment”. When an outrageous theft is made from the city’s docks, a competition then begins to see who will be the first to solve the crime, with consequences that none of them could have expected.
later in the century.
James McCreet
James McCreet is a British writer, the author of a series of Victorian detective thrillers set in 1840s London. His works are known for their fast-paced, historically accurate and complex plotlines featuring the same core characters....
, published in May 2011. It continues the adventures of a set of characters established in the first book, The Incendiary’s Trail
The Incendiary’s Trail
The Incendiary’s Trail is the debut novel from writer James McCreet, first published in July 2009. It is a Victorian detective thriller set in 1840s London and introduces a series of characters that recur in successive books.- Plot summary :...
, namely: George Williamson, Albert Newsome, Noah Dyson, Benjamin and John Cullen.
Plot summary
Following the second instalment of the series, The Vice SocietyThe Vice Society
The Vice Society is the second novel from writer James McCreet, first published in May 2010. It is a Victorian detective thriller set in 1840s London and continues a series featuring the characters of George Williamson, Noah Dyson and Inspector Albert Newsome.- Plot summary :Ex-detective George...
, Inspector Albert Newsome of the Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
’s Detective Force has been temporarily demoted to the Thames River Police for his insubordination. He can retain his old position only if he proves himself with good behaviour. Meanwhile, his old enemy George Williamson is working as a private detective at the theatres of London, where his job is to catch pickpockets. Both men are highly suspicious of a new face in London: Eldritch Batchem, who claims to be an investigator “By Royal Appointment”. When an outrageous theft is made from the city’s docks, a competition then begins to see who will be the first to solve the crime, with consequences that none of them could have expected.
Characters
The main characters are broadly the same as the first two books (The Incendiary’s Trail, The Vice Society), with the addition of the curious investigator Eldritch Batchem and a villain known only as “The Italian”. As in the previous books, the relationships and commingled paths of the various protagonists inform how they react to each other, establishing constant tensions and rivalry. McCreet has said: “All have developed since The Vice Society and each has a personal agenda . . . I surprised myself with this book – really exploring some alternative aspects of London while testing my characters to the limit.”River commerce
The Thieves’ Labyrinth is based around the considerable river trade of London in the nineteenth century. As well as Inspector Newsome’s duty with the River Police, there are a number of scenes at London dock and St Katharine’s dock, during which the reader learns about the global import and export trade, the warehouses, the customs regulations and even the various methods of controlling rats. There is also a focus on the sewer system that emptied into the river before the great drains were built by Joseph BazalgetteJoseph Bazalgette
Sir Joseph William Bazalgette, CB was an English civil engineer of the 19th century. As chief engineer of London's Metropolitan Board of Works his major achievement was the creation of a sewer network for central London which was instrumental in relieving the city from cholera epidemics, while...
later in the century.