The House on Half Moon Street

Wonderfully atmospheric, each page carries the whiff of sulphur and gaslight * Red * From the first page of Reeve’s masterful debut, we are plunged into murky Victorian London. This is a brilliantly gripping, unsettling Gothic tale of murder, identity and desire * Diva * Highly original * Guardian * Reeve has not only crafted a brilliant crime novel, but has created a character who has made me see the world with new eyes. I await Leo’s – and Reeve’s – return eagerly. * The i * Creating a genuinely original protagonist in historical crime fiction is difficult, but Alex Reeve has succeeded ... An intriguing murder mystery and a complex portrait of a man isolated by his awareness of who he truly is * Sunday Times * An ingenious, pacey mystery with a sympathetic hero * Irish Times * An entertaining and ingenious psychological drama of gender identity enfolded within a dexterously plotted and deeply satisfying Victorian murder thriller. Leo Stanhope is an impulsive, infuriating and ardently honourable accidental detective driven by his passions – a vibrant, intense character for whom the ultimate mystery is himself -- Rachel Holmes A masterful Gothic mystery full of unsettling twists, riveting turns and characters that would make Dickens jealous -- Kaite Welsh, author of The Wages of Sin The House on Half Moon Street is everything you want from a novel - a wonderfully evoked setting, a fascinating cast of characters, a plot that turns the pages for you and beautiful, intricate writing. I loved it -- William Ryan A wonderfully fast moving drama with a wealth of captivating characters…And yet, below the decadent charm, historical issues of women’s rights are threaded so well into the plot - as is the writer’s sense of tenderness when describing the desperate loneliness of feeling ‘other’ in one’s physical body -- Essie Fox, author of The Last Days of Leda Grey It's hard to believe that this is a debut. Alex Reeve writes with confidence, insight and poise, and I was gripped from first page to last. Leo Stanhope got under my skin and has stayed there. He is authentic, engaging and utterly believable, and I felt for him at every step as he walked the streets of Victorian London. I adored this book, for its intricacy, its vividness and its compassionate heart. -- Stephanie Butland, author of Lost for Words Enthralling, exciting, extraordinary, and utterly convincing. Everything a great book should be -- Sarah Hilary Atmospheric, heartbreaking, and so tense it took my breath away. These characters have lodged firmly in my heart - I can’t wait to see where they go next -- Angela Clarke