The Devil in the Marshalsea

Get in the xigxag app
Already purchased

Click to open directly in the xigxag app.

This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book. Pre-order Buy Now £{{ price }} Send as a gift

Listen to a sample

What to expect

London, 1727 - and Tom Hawkins is about to fall from his heaven of card games, brothels and coffee-houses to the hell of a debtors' prison.

The Marshalsea is a savage world of its own, with simple rules: those with family or friends who can lend them a little money may survive in relative comfort. Those with none will starve in squalor and disease. And those who try to escape will suffer a gruesome fate at the hands of the gaol's rutheless governor and his cronies.

The trouble is, Tom Hawkins has never been good at following rules - even simple ones. And the recent grisly murder of a debtor, Captain Roberts, has brought further terror to the gaol. While the Captain's beautiful widow cries for justice, the finger of suspicion points only one way: to the sly, enigmatic figure of Samuel Fleet.

Some call Fleet a devil, a man to avoid at all costs. But Tom Hawkins is sharing his cell. Soon, Tom's choice is clear: get to the truth of the murder - or be the next to die.

A twisting mystery, a dazzling evocation of early 18th Century London, THE DEVIL IN THE MARSHALSEA is a thrilling debut novel full of intrigue and suspense.

(P)2014 Hodder & Stoughton

Critics Review

A splendid debut … this is a truly spellbinding tale.

Guardian

Hodgson’s utterly compelling debut is fiendishly plotted and dripping with atmosphere. I cannot wait for Tom Hawkin’s next adventure.

Mark Billingham

It is the mesh of lies and duplicity that draws you into this brilliant first novel …a blood-drenched investigation that twists and turns in the vortex of Georgian society

The Times

Historical fiction just doesn’t get any better than this. Magnificent!

Jeffery Deaver

The pace is relentless …an absolutely superb debut novel

Crime Review

Antonia Hodgson has a real feel for how people thought and spoke at the time – and God knows, that’s a rare talent

Andrew Taylor, author of The Fires of London

Something new in the world of historical crime fiction, with mesmerising detail and atmosphere

Financial Times

Hodgson has a knack for convincing dialogue that crackles with period cadence and flavour

Daily Mail

Hodgson shows the seamy underbelly of Georgian London, and does for this era what C.J. Sansom and Rory Clements have done for Tudor times

Historical Novel Society

At times Hodgson even rivals Dickens

Daily Express

Any historical fiction enthusiast who isn’t a Tom Hawkins fan, has probably just not read any yet

The Bookbag

A riveting historical thriller

Daily Mail

A book to be read by candlelight: part romance, part social history …and a lesson in evil

John Taylor (Duran Duran)

A damn’d good read

Elizabeth Kostova, author of The Historian

A hugely enjoyable and fast-paced story which takes the reader into the dark world of Georgian crime

Tracy Borman, author of Thomas Cromwell

A superb debut, tense and atmospheric, that beautifully evokes the dark underbelly of 18th Century London. I was gripped

Saul David

A wonderfully entertaining novel, twist and claustrophic as an underground maze

Maria McCann, author of The Wilding

About xigxag

Enjoy the best audiobooks on xigxag, an innovative, user-friendly audiobook platform that makes it easy to find, purchase, and enjoy your favorite books in audio format. xigxag’s flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less – affordable prices and the best audiobook deals with no subscription required.  Give the perfect gift with our audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

 

xigxag’s commitment to sustainability and ethical practices ensures a guilt-free listening experience from an exceptional digital book platform – an exciting alternative to big tech.  Enjoy audiobooks from the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service and a leader in audiobook innovation.

 

Search effortlessly, read honest audiobook reviews evaluating both the book and the narration, and discover hidden gems.  Download or stream top audiobook titles anytime, anywhere and get the best possible listening experience on the UK’s best independent audiobook app.  Experience the future of audiobooks today.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to get tailored content recommendations, product updates and info on new releases. Your data is your own: we commit to protect your data and respect your privacy.