I am a huge fan of this genre of historical fiction so when the time came to read this book I was so excited as from first impression it sounded great and I was not disappointed at all! You can tell such thought and certainly research has gone into the story to ensure that the reader is truly transported back in time and I can say I was - I felt part of all the drama and mystery! It is well written and gives an insight into historical societal issues that in fact we are still seeing today therefore makes you think and reflect while reading - something which I love from a book. I overall found it to be so fascinating and well thought out and from reading this book I will be looking to read more from this author.

An excellent read! The content of Hudson's Kill is grotesquely descriptive and perhaps not for the faint of heart, but for lovers of mystery and intrigue it promises a fascinating well researched read. The history appears, well-studied, accurate and uncensored, a rare trait of much historical fiction. The language used throughout sections of speech is often appropriate to the time period and the book even includes a useful glossary at the back to help readers with some of the more obscure terms. Paddy Hirsch presents a strikingly honest portrayal of New York in the early 19th Century discussing themes such as race, religion, gang warfare, poverty, organised crime, infant mortality, human trafficking, murder, rudimentary forensic science, early policing, civil unrest and warfare. A young girl has been killed, her body discovered by Kerry O'Toole who although neutral herself has links to both of the major crime gangs in New York, as well as to the early policing network. It is through the investigations into this murder that we as readers are introduced to the powder keg of a political situation that is at the very heart of New York itself. The descriptive writing in this novel is outstanding, at times I felt like I could see and smell the surroundings in which the characters were placed, particularly those of the market area. One aspect of the novel that I particularly enjoyed was the debate over morality. 'Hudson's Kill' appears to be a tale of good and evil, but not in the traditional sense. The complex collection of characters are so well written that they represent the very best and very worst of humanity. Acts of atrocities are committed by those too naive to know better whilst the brotherhood of criminals commit acts of integrity and kindness. The question of whether or not bad deeds can be done for the best of reasons is frequently raised throughout the novel and the complex nature of morality is certainly presented as something to think about. This is the first book of Paddy Hirsch's that I have read but I will certainly be reading his first novel and eagerly awaiting any more of his books in the future. I admire the work that has obviously led to the historical accuracy of this novel, something which I as a historian and Literature graduate often find disappointingly lacking in much historical fiction. The atmosphere felt realistic and the majority of characters behaved in a believable fashion for the era. The tone of 'Hudson's Kill', as the title and blood spattered cover suggests, is dark and it certainly delivers the serious yet entertaining and absorbing read that I was hoping for. I would definitely recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction and mystery thrillers.

I am a fan of historical thrillers, and this one meets all my requirements. Paddy Hirsch writes brilliantly, and paints the smells and sounds of Nineteenth Century New York. The characters are great and come to life as you read. New York is an expanding city and is rife with with tension and violence on every street. When a young girl is brutally murdered, Marshall Just Flanagan must find the killer before the gangs run riot and take over control of the city. Kerry O,Toole is Just,s friend and she also pursues her own investigation into the murder. They both encounter a treacherous web of conspiracy and danger. If you are a fan of CJ Sanson then this is for you. I could not put the book down. A well written and enjoyable read

A Grave for Two is set in Norway and maybe because I'm not a fan of winter sports nor familiar with its developments, I didn't find myself charmed by the plot. The writing is although good and once I started it I refused to put it down. I think I was more looking forward to get it over and done with rather than curious on getting answers. I was expecting more of a thriller, but it ended up being more of a mystery only. At some point there's so many people involved and cross interests that they may turn the not so keen reader away before the last page. I might recommend to readers highly interested in crime novels, but other than that, it's probably not worth it. I think it will be a huge hit in the northern countries, but others may fail to relate.

I loved The Devil’s Half-Mile, the first book in the series, and in Hudson’s Kill the author once again transports the reader to the powder keg that is New York in 1803, where gangs and other power brokers are seeking to stake their claims to areas of the rapidly expanding city. The author brilliantly conjures up the sights, sounds and smells of early nineteenth century New York. Aptly described as ‘a dangerous place to live’, the city is overcrowded, many of its inhabitants are prey to gang warfare and disease, and the contrast between the slums and shanty towns of the poor and the lavish homes of the rich is stark. The story’s told in the same colourful, lively prose as the previous book. Generous helpings of period slang (nimgimmer, dimber), imaginative curses (‘tossy-locked florence’) and memorable one-liners (‘Just because I’m togged in buntings and a snicket don’t mean you can treat me like some judy hick’) add to the sense of authenticity and atmosphere. You’ll definitely want to make use of the helpful glossary at the back of the book and it’s only right to give a shout out to the copy editing and proofreading team. And, if you’ve ever wondered about the hierarchy of prostitutes in early nineteenth century New York, well, Paddy Hirsch has done the research for you. As Kerry learns in preparation for an undercover role, it goes ‘bunters’, ‘buricks’, ‘curtezan’ and top of the tree, ‘gentry-mort’. I was pleased to see many of the larger-than-life characters from the first book make return appearances: Justy’s uncle, Ignatius Flanagan, known as ‘The Bull’; Justy’s friend, Lars Hokkanssen, the tough red-bearded sailor; streetwise Kerry O’Toole; and Kerry’s cousin, Lew Owens. But there are also new characters to get to know, such as the memorably named Hardluck. And, of course, there’s the man himself, Justy Flanagan. His moral complexity makes him a fascinating and engaging leading character. He’s shrewd, observant, resourceful and pretty handy with a ‘chive’ or in a ‘clutch’. (Sorry, you need that glossary again.) But Justy, a word – Eliza is definitely not the woman for you. You need to listen to Lars. The gruesome discovery in the opening chapter sees Justy and Kerry each embark on their own inquiries into the death of a young girl. Whilst for Justy it’s largely professional, it also speaks to his sense of justice and desire to see everyone – rich or poor, black or white – treated equally under the law. As he says, “We have to speak for her. We have to act for her. And that means finding her killer”. For Kerry, there’s a very personal reason why she’s equally determined to see justice done. However, if you ask questions, especially questions that bring you to the attention of criminals and murderers, then you court danger, as both Justy and Kerry find out to their cost. Throw in a range war between competing gang leaders, corruption and conspiracy in high places and you have all the components for a conflagration – and not necessarily just metaphorical. Oh, and remember there are spies and informers everywhere so be very careful who you trust. The plot takes advantage of the febrile state of New York at the beginning of the nineteenth century to create a page-turning crime mystery but also touches on issues of contemporary relevance, such as immigration, racial discrimination and segregation. Paddy Hirsch certainly knows how ‘to spin a cakey dit’*. Hudson’s Kill is as fast-moving and intricately plotted as its predecessor with the same fantastic period atmosphere and great cast of characters. I absolutely loved it. On behalf of historical crime fans, I fervently hope there are more adventures awaiting Justy Flanagan. * to tell a good story (You see why you need that glossary?)