Chris Nickson Books

The brutal deaths of two young boys and a young man connected to a mill in Leeds propel thief-taker Simon Westow into a disturbing, twisty mystery that recalls his own traumatic past."Nickson does a superb job using the grim living and working conditions for the city’s poor as a backdrop for a memorable and affecting plot. James Ellroy fans will be enthralled" -  Publishers Weekly  Starred ReviewLeeds. November, 1823. When a doctor from the infirmary tells thief-taker Simon Westow about the brutal deaths of two young boys at the hands of a mill overseer, Simon's painful memories of his childhood reawaken. Unable to sleep, he goes for a walk - and stumbles upon the body of a young man being pulled from the river.Simon and his assistant, Jane, are drawn into investigating the deaths, seeking a measure of justice for the powerless dead. But the pursuit of the truth takes them down a dangerous and deadly path. Can they overcome a powerful enemy who knows he stands above the law in Leeds - and the shadowy figure that stands behind him?

Fourth title in the gripping medieval mystery series set in Chesterfield

Thief-taker Simon Westow uncovers an evil lurking in the underbelly of Leeds in this page-turning historical mystery, perfect for fans of Anne Perry and Charles Finch. Leeds, October 1824. Thief-taker Simon Westow's job seems straightforward. Captain Holcomb's maid, Sophie, has stolen important papers that could ruin the family's reputation, and he's desperate for their return. But the case very quickly takes a murderous turn, and it becomes clear the papers are hiding a host of sins . . . During the search, Simon's assistant, Jane, hears a horrific tale: men are snatching young girls from small towns for use by the rich. Those who are unwanted are tossed on to the streets of Leeds to survive among the homeless. With the help of an unlikely, deadly new companion, Jane will do everything to discover who's responsible and make them pay. Can Simon and Jane recover Holcomb's letters and get justice for the stolen girls? It becomes a battle that might result in them losing everything . . . including their lives.

Leeds, 1908. Detective Superintendent Tom Harper has received an anonymous letter claiming that a young boy called Andrew Sharp was stolen from his family fourteen years before. But why was the disappearance ignored? Harper is drawn deep into the dark underworld of child-snatching, corruption and murder as Leeds becomes a molten, rioting city.

Leeds, 1920. Chief Constable Tom Harper of Leeds City Police has just six weeks left in the role before his well-earned retirement. But although his distinguished career is coming to an end, the crime and mayhem on the city's streets shows no sign of stopping.

Simon Westow, the city's unwavering thief-taker, must confront betrayal, history and murder in this gritty page-turner set in nineteenth-century Leeds. Leeds, May 1825. Thief-taker Simon Westow is hired by Sir Robert Foley to find four silver cups stolen by his servant. The cups are a family treasure, crafted by local silversmith Arthur Mangey over a century before. Meanwhile, Simon has also been invited to witness the demolition of Middle Row, where Mangey reputedly had a secret workshop for coin clipping, the very crime he was hanged for in 1696. Is it a coincidence or a terrible omen? Simon's curiosity swiftly turns to horror when he discovers Foley's servant lying dead in the clandestine room. How can a long-dead criminal be involved in the servant's demise? Simon needs all the help he can get from his assistant Jane and deadly prot�g� Sally to navigate the twisted path from history to the present amidst the growing number of dead bodies. But is the truth worth dying for? This authentic and atmospheric historical mystery will appeal to fans of Anne Perry and Charles Finch.

Leeds, Christmas Eve, 1890. A young man has been found stabbed to death in the city's poverty-stricken Jewish district, his body arranged in the shape of a cross, two bronze pennies covering his eyes. As fear rises in the Jewish community, DI Tom Harper is forced to use unorthodox methods to find the killer.

`Chris Nickson works his usual magic, populating late medieval Chesterfield with characters that are clearly of their time and yet jump off the page, vibrant and familiar.

Standing for election as a Poor Law Guardian, Tom Harper's wife Annabelle and the other female candidates have been receiving anonymous, threatening letters. The threats turn deadly with carefully-targeted explosions. The only clue Harper has is a scrap of paper containing a fragment from an old folk song. But what is its significance?

June, 1890. The gas workers are on strike and Leeds is close to breaking point. Detective Inspector Tom Harper is more concerned with the disappearance of 8-year-old Martha Parkinson. Then he discovers that there may be a connection between Martha's disappearance and the murder of a replacement gas worker, stabbed to death outside the Town Hall.

Two macabre discoveries in a single morning present an intriguing challenge for Detective Inspector Tom Harper Leeds, England. July, 1893. D.I. Tom Harper is witnessing the demonstration of a devastating new naval weapon, the torpedo, at Roundhay Park. The explosion brings up a body in the lake, a rope lashed tightly around its waist. At the same time, dredging operations in the River Aire are disrupted when a woman's severed leg floats to the water's surface, still clad in its stocking and boot. Could the two macabre discoveries be connected? Harper's investigations will lead him right to the heart of the criminal underworld that underpins the city - and into the path of a merciless killer.

As so many give their lives in the trenches, Deputy Chief Constable Tom Harper and his men are working harder than ever to catch a saboteur running loose on the streets of Leeds - and their investigation takes a dark twist with two shootings. With his back against the wall and the war effort at stake, Harper can't afford to fail.

"Leeds, June 1913. Deputy Chief Constable Tom Harper is a busy man. He's overseeing a national suffragist pilgrimage due in Leeds that his wife Annabelle intends to join, and his daughter Mary has exciting plans of her own. Then a letter arrives from police in New York: Davey Mullen, an American gangster born in Leeds, is on his way back to the city, fleeing a bloody gang war. Despite Tom's best efforts to keep an eye on him, Davey's arrival triggers a series of chilling events in the city. Is he responsible for the sudden surge in crime, violence and murder on Leeds's streets? Facing a mounting workload, Tom must hunt down a cold-blooded killer while also confronting danger and tragedy close to home."--Publisher

Leeds, 1957: When enquiry agent Dan Markham and his new partner, retired Detective Sergeant Baker, take on a missing persons case, a simple matter turns into a murder investigation when a body is recovered from the River Aire.

DS Tom Harper helps his colleague Billy Reid after his brother, Charlie, commits suicide. Could crippling rent increases have been the cause? As Harper investigates, a web of intimidation and corruption is linked to a mysterious company in Leeds, which could be bringing misery and violence to the people of the city. But who is behind the company?

Leeds, 1895. After his release from prison, Henry White is found stabbed to death on Copper Street. In a neighbourhood where people are hostile to the police, DI Tom Harper finds the investigation tricky. Meanwhile, acid is thrown over a young boy in a local bakery. Harper must uncover the motives in these cases to catch the culprits.

Leeds, 1822. When Simon Westow's friend Davey Ashton is arrested for sedition, he is determined to clear his name. But Davey's not the only one who needs Simon's help - another man has been 'hocussed' by a mysterious young woman. Simon and his assistant Jane encounter murder, lies and betrayal as they attempt to save Davey and find the hocus girl.

Leeds, 1822. The body of Laurence Poole, a petty local thief, emerges from the melting snow by the river at Flay Cross Mill. Could a coded notebook found in his room explain what caused his death? Thief-taker Simon Westow's hunt for the truth pits him against some dangerous, powerful enemies who'll happily kill him in a heartbeat - if they can.

Leeds, 1891. An unclaimed parcel at the Central Post Office is discovered to contain the decomposing body of a baby boy. At the same time, a woman's body is found at Leeds' railway station, stabbed to death. Was the dead woman's involvement in the local suffragist movement connected with her death? And is there a connection with the dead baby boy?

1924: Still reeling from the effects of the Great War, life in the city of Leeds is hard: poverty is rife, work is scarce and crime is becoming more sophisticated. Bravely entering this maelstrom is one of the city's first policewomen to walk the beat, the resourceful, inquisitive and practical WPC Lottie Armstrong. Eager to prove herself and determined to succeed, Lottie faces apathy from colleagues and the general public alike until she suddenly finds herself on the trail of a missing girl that leads to the underbelly of the city and to murder.As Lottie uncovers a plot involving high level corruption, CID reluctantly find they need her knowledge and people skills, but as the truth is slowly laid bare Lottie's bravery is tested to its limit in a breathtaking climax.

Leeds, 1954: When Joanna Hart came into his office, enquiry agent Dan Markham thought it would be an easy case. As the evidence piles against him, he realises someone has set him up. But can he hope to be any match against a killer who has spies on every corner of Leeds and a reach that goes all the way to Whitehall?

1361: Orphaned by the Black Death, all John possesses are the tools that belonged to his father, a carpenter, and an uncanny ability to work wood. But no sooner does he begin than the master carpenter is murdered and John himself becomes a suspect.

Introducing thief-taker Simon Westow in the first in a new historical mystery series set in Regency Leeds. Leeds, 1820. Thief-taker Simon Westow knows all about lost property. A boy from the workhouse, he now has a comfortable business finding and returning his clients' stolen possessions. But when John Milner, a successful Leeds businessman, seeks out Simon's services to find his kidnapped daughter, Hannah, it's clear he faces a challenge like no other.Accompanied by his enigmatic and capable young assistant, Jane, Simon takes to the dark, shadowy streets of Leeds for information - streets he knows like the back of his hand. But his enquiries lead Simon and Jane into great danger. Could the answers lie in Simon's own past, and an old enemy seeking revenge?

Always outrageous but equally compelling, its THE book to have on Ozzy, MTV's The Osbournes, and everything in between.Meet the children Kelly and Jack, mother Sharon, and the father, none other than Godfather of Metal Ozzy Osbourne. Starring in MTV's most popular show ever, the Osbournes have proven that the family of a heavy metal superstar can teach America what parenting is all about with their new twist on family values.So what's made Ozzy into such a great father? Experience. You name it, he's done it. He's bitten the heads off doves and bats, urinated on the Alamo (while wearing a woman's dress!), and been addicted to drink and drugs. With his first band, Black Sabbath, he practically invented heavy metal. As a solo performer, he's sold millions of albums, and helped turn the annual Ozzfest tour into one of the biggest events in music.Learn how Ozzy went from being banned at the Alamo to a guest at the White House, from bats to Beverly Hills. It's all in here, with plenty of trivia-like why oldest daughter, Aimee, didn't want to be a part of series- and all the parenting tips any father needs to be as good a dad as Ozzy.

Since 1994 OutKast have been reinventing the rules of hip-hop, blending different styles of music into a Southern style that is wholly their own, soulful, outrageous, and addictive. They've captured the hearts of fans and music critics alike, and have achieved records and scaled heights in the music world that most artists can only dream of.The full story of OutKast has never before been told. Now in Hey Ya! you'll go behind the scenes into the world of Big Boi and Andre 3000, from their start as teenage hopefuls in Atlanta to their international rise to fame. Along the way you'll learn about the creative forces that have kept them on the cutting edge of hip-hop for a decade, and keep them pushing forward into tomorrow. From their first breakthrough with "Player's Ball" to their six Grammy wins, their upcoming movie and more, Hey Ya! Is the ultimate look at two of the most creative forces in music today and is the definitive guide to everything OutKast!

The tale of Mariah Carey's rise to pop stardom, this work recounts how she came from a broken home and slaved her way through her teens simply trying to get noticed in the recording industry. It tells of her discovery, in almost fairy-tale circumstances, by Columbia Records boss, Tommy Mottola.

Thief-taker Simon Westow is used to finding stolen goods, not stolen bodies . . . Can he hunt down those committing crimes against the dead in Leeds?Leeds. April, 1824. Wealthy engineer Joseph Clark employs thief-taker Simon Westow to find the men who stole the buried corpse of Catherine Jordan, his employee's daughter.Simon is stunned and horrified to realize there's a gang of body snatchers in Leeds. He needs to discover who bought Catherine's body and where it is now. As he hunts for answers, he learns that a number of corpses have vanished from graveyards in the town. Can Simon and his assistant Jane bring the brutal, violent Resurrection men who are selling the dead to medical schools to justice and give some peace to the bereft families?

1944: 20 years after WPC Lottie Armstrong was dismissed from Leeds police for insubordination, she's back, now a member of the Women's Auxiliary Police Corps and driving for her old boss. DCS McMillan is now head of Criminal Investigation Department, trying to keep order with a depleted force as crime grows. But when the body of a young woman is found among the ruins of Kirkstall Abbey, things take a darker turn. The next night another young woman's corpse is found. Both are in the service. Both have been shot by an American pistol. As World War II rages around them, can Lottie and McMillan stop a blackout killer with a taste for murder?