Brass Lives: 9 (A Tom Harper Mystery, 9)
Newly promoted Deputy Chief Constable, Tom Harper sometimes regrets his decision to take the job, but now he’s back in his old stomping ground of Millgarth, and happy to get stuck in with the lads on a complicated case. Davey Mullen’s back – a career criminal born in Leeds and living in America since childhood; he is violent, dangerous, and tough, recently surviving 11 gunshot wounds from a rival NY gang. As the murders and beatings add up, and one such puts Davey in the hospital with his jaw wired shut, Harper is frustrated by the lack of answers.
I enjoyed the characterisations here, particularly Harper, a dedicated, hands-on leader, respected by his men, and the way Nickson reminds us of the era. No lawyers are present at interviews, and suspects are held without charge, but I expect the paperwork hasn’t changed much, or the political wrangling and pressure to solve crimes quickly. Nickson’s criminal element are thugs and mostly thick as two planks, but bitingly accurate. And I loved the idea that it would be easy to find “an American” in Leeds in 1913! Reminded that police investigations are never as slick as they appear, I stuck with this slow-boil story of detective footwork, interviews, sightings, tips, and dead ends. I felt as though I was on a daily trek with Harper – elation and disappointment in equal measure. There were some loose ends: who is the third American, and why does Mullen visit Mary (Harper’s daughter)? This will please followers of the series, and it does offer insight into ‘brass lives’, but if you’re new I would suggest you pick an earlier book with hopes of a faster paced read.
