The Thief-Taker: Memoirs of a Bow Street Runner
Penzler Pick,November 2001:The first in a new series called "Memoirs  of a Bow Street Runner," this well-executed historical draws readers back into  the London of the early 19th century, when hackney coaches fought for space with  brewery carts, horse-drawn chaises, peddlers' wagons, and milling throngs on the  city's rough-and-tumble streets.Banks has created a living, breathing landscape peopled with such characters as  Bow Street constable Henry Morton and his intimate acquaintance, actress  Arabella Malibrant, along with Chief Bow Street Magistrate Sir Nathaniel Conant,  all of whom one will be delighted to encounter again.When we first meet the large, lean Morton, with his "dark and inquisitive" eyes,  the independent-minded officer of the law has been summoned from the boxing  ring, where he regularly takes evening exercise, to the Portman Square townhouse  of Mrs. Malibrant. There a rich young gentleman in an unfortunate condition (he  is dead!) has arrived in a hackney, the driver of which has disappeared into the  gloom of night.Apparently the corpse had been alive enough that very morning to participate in  a duel, but he has not succumbed to any wounds sustained in that battle. Upon  seeing the body, as Arabella reports to Morton, one of her dinner guests, a Miss  Louisa Hamilton, nearly fell over prostrate with grief."If you had heard poor Miss Hamilton cry out, Henry, you would have done  anything to ease her pain. I tell you, it was wrenching. I could never duplicate  it." She pitched her voice low and tried anyway."'Oh, Richard,  Richard...'""Very touching, I'm sure," Morton said. "There is only one problem...."Arabella raised one perfect eyebrow."His name was not Richard."Not all mystery fans enjoy the historical subgenre, while others read nothing  else. This book is entertaining enough to appeal to either group, with T.F.  Banks possessing the confidence and light touch of an outstanding new talent.--Otto Penzler--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.