‘Tom Wasp and the Murdered Stunner’
by Amy Myers
Published by Five Star Thomson Gale USA . ISBN 13978-1-59414-593-3
This is certainly told in a fresh voice - indeed it fascinates me the way the hero sees and describes the world through the prism of his own profession. Tom Wasp is a Victorian chimney sweep who guides us through a London underworld which touches the over world at intervals. He is a compassionate and upright man (though physically bent) and has a homespun philosophy based on a combination of the frightening experiences of a child chimney boy, religion and his own unique responses to the world expressed in the language of chimney sweeping.
Tom’s assistant and surrogate son (called his chummy) is 12 year old Ned who has nightmares of his own as another ex-climbing boy. Tom lives in the East End but obviously his work involves him visiting the houses of the wealthy and privileged and his views are through their chimneys. In the 1860s the use of climbing boys is forbidden by law but enforcement is poor so the boys still exist in the company of many other helpless children. The poverty of the inhabitants of East End London is graphically displayed as Tom investigates the life of Bessie - the murdered stunner of the book’s title.
One of Tom’s clients was a society painter who decided that Tom would look very effective in a painting in company with the model Bessie. Emphasis is always made on the outward dirt of Tom contrasted to his pure motives - indeed the implications are clear that Tom while looking outwardly evil is inwardly good whereas many with whom he deals in the wealthy parts of London are inwardly depraved and cruel although they have clean exteriors. Tom proves to be a doughty investigator when Bessie’s murdered body is found. His searches are at first ineffective but gradually, as Tom puts it ’a lot of soot was beginning to loosen.’ The story becomes darker and more complex but Tom perseveres and reaches a terrifying conclusion.
I really enjoyed a book set in the mid 19th century which gives equal weight to the poor and privileged parts of society and, by doing so, reveals far more about the slums from the point of view of those who live there than is usual. The setting, characters and mystery enmesh together most effectively.
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Jennifer S. Palmer
Amy Myers has a series of 11 detective novels about Auguste Didier, French chef in the Edwardian era which began with Murder in Pug’s Parlour and ended with Murder in the Queen’s Boudoir though she still publishes short stories about Auguste. She has short stories in several anthologies and a collection called Murder, ‘Orrible Murder, a modern series about Peter and Georgia Marsh which begins with The Wickenham Murders as well as the new venture of Tom Wasp.