*A huge thank you to Anne, for inviting me on another book
tour. And thank you to Orenda Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange
for an honest review.
The Betrayal of Thomas True by A.J. West
Synopsis
It is the year 1710, 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…
My review
I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading The Betrayal of Thomas
True by A.J. West. Even though it is set in the 1700s, it still, (sadly) feels very
apt today. Thomas True arrives in London and soon after finds himself at one of
its Molly Houses. Mother Clap’s Molly House (which was a real place!) is a
secret den where men could go and socialise with other men, engage in sexual
activity and above all, be their true selves! However, at this time to be found
guilty of being a sodomite could result in being hung. Many of Mother Clap’s
Molly House attendees begin getting brutally murdered, or arrested, and it is
clear that there is a rat amongst the Mollies, but who is it? Thomas is the
newest member and is automatically the prime suspect.
I loved the dry sense of humour in this book, the witty quips
and snide remarks between characters made me laugh several times. However, the
author found a perfect balance and hasn’t omitted any of the tragedy, or
violence that one would expect from this storyline. The Betrayal of Thomas True
encompasses comedy, tragedy, violence, betrayal, and love. It is uplifting, shocking, powerful, and sinister, all at once.
I enjoyed the love story between Gabriel and Thomas. Both of
their backstories were sad, and I'm glad they found love, comfort, and support
in one another. Thomas is naïve and sweet, and Gabriel is rough around the
edges, but loyal and kind. At first, I struggled to remember all the
characters' names, but once I got to know them, I became quite attached to some
of them. There is a wonderful sense of found family in this book.
There was a powerful moment towards the very end that gave
me chills. The characters stood together and spoke their truth, even though
it was dangerous to do so. This book will stay with me for a long time.
You can buy your own copy here
Meet the author
A.J. West's bestselling debut novel The Spirit Engineer won
the Historical Writers' Association Debut Crown Award, gaining international
praise for its telling of a long forgotten true story. An award-winning BBC
newsreader and reporter, he has written for national newspapers and regularly
appears on network television discussing his writing and the historical context
of contemporary events. A passionate historical researcher, he writes at The
London Library and museum archives around the world. To connect with AJ and
discover more about his research, visit www.ajwestauthor.com
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