Gallows Thief

Name: Gallows Thief
Brand: Harper Audio
Availability: InStock
Author: Bernard Cornwell
ISBN: 9780060784515

Author: Bernard Cornwell

Narrator: James Frain

Abridged: 5 hr 47 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Harper

Published: 01/25/2005

Categories: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Suspense & Thriller, Mystery & Detective

Synopsis

Rider Sandman, having fought Napoleon in the French wars, expected to lead the life of an English country gentleman, but now, two years after Waterloo, his family is impoverished, his name is disgraced and he has been forced to relinquish the woman he loves from her obligation to marry him. Desperate to earn money he accepts the job of being the government's Investigator; an official who discovers whether petitions for mercy sent by condemned criminals should be granted. His first case concerns a portrait painter who is due to hang for murder in a week's time and the government makes it clear that they want the verdict confirmed.But Rider Sandman, whose qualifications for the post are nonexistent, discovers that the painter is almost certainly innocent and, as he peels back the layers of a corrupt penal system, he finds himself pitted against some of the wealthiest and most ruthless men in Regency England who want to keep the truth hidden.

About Bernard Cornwell

Bernard Cornwell is an internationally acclaimed historical fiction author celebrated for bringing the past to life with gripping battles, vivid landscapes, and unforgettable heroes. Best known for The Last Kingdom series-which inspired the hit Netflix adaptation-Cornwell has earned a global readership through his unmatched ability to blend meticulous research with page-turning storytelling.

Across more than sixty novels, including the beloved Sharpe series, The Warlord Chronicles, and numerous standalone works, Cornwell transports readers to pivotal eras of history, from medieval Britain to the Napoleonic Wars. His books are praised for their authenticity, rich character detail, and immersive depictions of strategy, honor, and survival on the battlefield.

Born in London and later making his home in the United States, Cornwell's lifelong passion for history and storytelling drives his work, earning him recognition as one of the most influential historical novelists of our time. Whether following an English archer, a Saxon warrior, or a reluctant soldier thrust into war, audiences trust Bernard Cornwell to deliver sweeping adventures that resonate long after the final chapter.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Gary on December 10, 2020

One of Cornwell's finest. It is London in 1820, an England of much poverty, social injustice and social ills, and the gallows are busier than they have ever been in England with men and women hung for a variety of crimes without distinction between foul murder and petty theft. A tragic scene at the b......more

Goodreads review by Valeriu on November 13, 2024

Hoțul de spînzurătoare este, bineînțeles, un thriller istoric. Acțiunea se petrece în 1817. Există o traducere românească, care s-a publicat în 2007 la Reader's Digest. Eu am cules cartea din magazia cu vechituri a internetului. Romanul e accesibil, deci, celor dispuși să citească o carte într-un PD......more

Goodreads review by Emma on October 13, 2017

I really enjoyed this! From about halfway through, I was checking to see if this could be the first in a series, as there was plenty of opportunity and story material for one, but alas, no. Set in the Regency period, this story places the spotlight on hanging as corporal punishment. Between 1816 and......more

Goodreads review by Paul on November 10, 2022

A thrilling race against London's hangman! Captain Rider Sandman, a veteran of the Napoleonic Wars and the Battle of Waterloo, has returned to England to find a civilian life in shambles. As a matter of personal honour, Sandman has sold his commission to raise cash to help repay a portion of the debt......more

Goodreads review by Gary on July 09, 2017