The Betrayal Of Thomas True - A.J. West

For lovers of historical fiction, The Betrayal of Thomas True is an absolute masterpiece in storytelling and a must read this summer. 

Journey into Georgian London. From the rural outskirts of a Highgate rectory, into the urine soaked streets and harlot filled alleyways of the bustling City of London, into a whole new world for Thomas True. Where at first all is familiar. Two sides of one coin; the poor and desperately deprived rubbing shoulders alongside the affluent high society. However, slice through these familiar layers to reveal a secret realm that co-exists. A realm that the Society for the Reformation of Manners wants to obliterate. 

By day Gabriel Griffin, a hulking bear of a man, works on the final restoration of St Paul’s Cathedral as a carpenter. But at night he transforms into Lotty Lump, the molly guard at Mother Clap’s. And so unfolds a colourful cast of men who find solace behind the secret peacock painting and clandestine gatherings, filled with raucous drinking and entertainment. But their secret quickly begins to unravel as there is a rat who is unmasking these perfectly decent, hardworking men and putting their lives in serious danger. The story transforms into a murder mystery as you try to work out which character is the rat and what their true motive is.

However, at the heart of the novel is an incredibly moving love story. The relationship between Verity True-tongue and Lotty Lump unfolds tenderly throughout the story. We learn of an extremely unhappy childhood that led to Thomas’s escape to London. We also understand the complexities of Gabriel as a character and the grief and shame he shoulders every day. 

This beautiful, and at times harrowing and violent story, is exquisitely told through a London that you can hear, smell and taste. The friendships and unrelenting loyalty between characters who make a stand to remain ‘always together’ is so incredibly powerful and stays with you long after you’ve finished the final page. And it becomes so poignant as you read in the author’s notes that the novel was inspired by real events that until now had been lost. There is so much to say about this book, but very hard not to give away any spoilers. I was totally lost in the story, finishing it in a weekend.

If you’ve enjoyed novels from Laura Shepherd-Robinson, Laura Purcell, Andrew Taylor or Essie Fox this is absolutely for you. And if you haven’t read The Spirit Engineer, A.J. West’s first novel, then you absolutely must!