{"product_id":"9781916788152","title":"The Betrayal of Thomas True : This year's most devastating, unforgettable historical thriller by A.J. West","description":"Set in the buried streets of Georgian London and the outrageous underworld of the molly houses, a carpenter hiding a double life searches for a traitor who is betraying the secrets of the mollies. The visceral, raucous, tender and utterly enchanting historical thriller by the award-winning author of?The Spirit Engineer.    ? `Heartbreaking, beautiful, lyrical. I was captivated from the start . you won't want to put it down'?Catriona Ward ? `A rare gem of a novel. Gloriously gritty . a darkly thrilling romp in 18th century London that simmers with sinister menace and illicit temptation'?Susan Stokes-Chapman ? `Stunning and powerful - an atmospheric thriller that is both heartfelt and meticulously researched. You'll never forget?Thomas True'?Janice Hallett ? `Really very, very good'?Stephen Fry ?***WINNER OF THE HWA DEBUT CROWN*** _________________ ?The?only?sin is betrayal. ? It is the year 1715, and Thomas True has arrived on old London Bridge with a dangerous secret. One night, lost amongst the squalor of London's hidden back streets, he finds himself drawn into the outrageous underworld of the molly houses.    ? Meanwhile, carpenter Gabriel Griffin struggles to hide his double life as Lotty, the molly's stoic guard. When a young man is found murdered, he realises there is a rat amongst them, betraying their secrets to a pair of murderous Justices.    ? Can Gabriel unmask the traitor before they hang? Can he save hapless Thomas from peril, and their own forbidden love? ? Set amidst the buried streets of Georgian London,?The Betrayal of Thomas True?is a brutal and devastating thriller, where love must overcome evil, and the only true sin is betrayal. _______________________ ? `Sometimes you find a novel that is?electric . West's talent as a writer?- Dickensian-style vivacious characterisation and fast paced action - make this an unputdownable read' Attitude Magazine ? `Quite simply divine - historical, a thriller, comedic, fantastical and, above all, a love story that had me in all sorts of tears'?Jennie Godfrey ? `A clever mystery, a powerful love story . affected me more than anything I've read in a long time'?Gareth Brown ? `Plunges readers into the dark, treacherous streets of Georgian London in this epic adventure of love in a time of danger - a must-read for lovers of gritty, thrilling, historical fiction. An absolute page-turner!'?Hallie Rubenhold ? `An exuberant, moving story of double lives, forbidden love and personal identity'?Rosie Andrews ? `Vivid, impressive and utterly immersive . I was weeping by the final pages. Masterful'?D.V. Bishop ? `You'll smile, you'll gasp, you'll cry at this Georgian-era thriller awash with mystery and mayhem . and magnificent mollies'?Essie Fox ? `There has never been a book that made me cry . until today. It chewed me up hard more than once, but it was also funny, colourful and decadent. Truly extraordinary'?Suzie Edge ? `Fierce, funny, and fabulous; this is an important and deeply moving story'?Jonathan Harvey ? 'Both a roaring Georgian romp and a moving story of injustice and discrimination . hugely entertaining'?Anna Mazzola ? `Takes you into the dramatic heart of gay London in the early 18th century. Bursting with memorable characters and stunning imagery . a thriller, a tragedy and a love story all in one'?Sean Lusk ? `A thrilling historical mystery, brilliantly researched and lavishly written'?Emma Stonex ? `Writing like a modern Fielding, A.J. West packs in humour, horror and a raging sense of injustice'?Kate Griffin ? `A beautiful, dark love story set in the fetid streets of Georgian London . unputdownable'?Gareth Russell ? `A beautifully told story that broke my heart and energised my soul in equal measure. A cunningly plotted, twisty and twisted tale of love, betrayal and the human spirit . a timely reminder of the heavy cost of freedom'?Tracy King ? `The wit of Wilde still lives!'?Gyles Brandreth ? `A gripping epic tale . a powerful new voice in historical fiction'?Gill Paul ? `A picaresque gay romp through 18th-century London, with a dark and troubling heart'?Annie Garthwaite\u003cbr\u003eBinding: Hardback","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44581557403826,"sku":"9781916788152","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781916788152.jpg?v=1720885477","url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/products\/9781916788152","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}