By Michele Karlsberg–
Michele Karlsberg: Alex Reeve’s “Leo Stanhope” series consists of three crime novels based in 1880s Victorian England, with a fourth one in the process. With the series going strong, please enjoy an excerpt from his most recent release in North America, The Anarchists’ Club (Felony and Mayhem Press 2021).
A man approached and put out his hand, which I ignored. He was the large, whiskered fellow I’d seen earlier.
“J.T. Whitford,” he announced. “The Daily Chronicle. And you are?”
“Cold,” I replied. “And wet. And keen to get home.”
Whitford pulled out a notebook and pencil. Today, everyone seemed to want to write down what I had to say. “When did you first meet Dora Hannigan?”
He had a blunt accent that I thought might come from Yorkshire. My sister, who could place a voice to any county south of Hadrian’s Wall, could have told me for sure, down to the nearest town, probably.
“Never.”
“Are you a member of the club here or just a radical sympathizer?”
“What?”
He rolled his eyes. “Look, these coppers’ll spill the whole story for fourpence. For a cigarette, most of’em. You might as well tell me what you’re doing here.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t help you.”
I pushed past him, intending to leave, but then stopped. The man I had recognized, with the ragged beard and unlaundered suit, was staring at me. I ignored him, but he waved insistently, and I feared he would call out my name if I didn’t respond. It was a risk I couldn’t take.
He was huddled against the wall, so deep in the shadows I could hardly see him. He grabbed my sleeve and pulled me closer, almost hissing into my ear.”
“Why are you here? Tell me. Be quick.”
Despite his urgency, his voice was well mannered and clipped, every consonant pronounced perfectly.
“I will not,” I said, trying to pull away from him without anyone noticing.
“Dora must have kept your name and address. That’s it, isn’t it?” He stepped into the lamplight, his eyes shining orange. “But this could be good news. You could be helpful. And you’ll do it, won’t you?”
“I don’t even know who you are.”
“Of course you do. We met in Enfield … goodness, it must be ten years ago. More, even. Our mothers tried to … well, it seems pretty foolish now, wouldn’t you say? My word, and to think of what might have happened.”
“I don’t know you.”
“Oh yes you do.” He dropped his voice to a whisper. “I’m John Thackery. And you’re Miss Lottie Pritchard. Or you used to be.”
I could feel myself shaking, and I clasped my hands together, inching the skin fiercely between my thumb and forefinger. I wished I had refused to come to this place. I wished I had acknowledged having met Dora Hannigan. And I wished most of all that I had not come face to face with this man.
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about I need an alibi for yesterday,” he said. “And unless you want your secret exposed right now to those policemen, you’re going to provide me with one.”
Alex Reeve lives in Buckinghamshire with his wife and two sons. Having done many jobs, including working in a pub and teaching English as a foreign language in Paris, he is now a university lecturer. His debut novel, “Half Moon Street,” was the first in a Victorian crime series featuring transgender amateur sleuth Leo Stanhope. His writing focuses on closing the gap between the actual Victorian era and how the period is perceived. https://tinyurl.com/5e6yk4ax
Michele Karlsberg Marketing and Management specializes in publicity for the LGBTQ+ community. This year, Karlsberg celebrates 32 years of successful marketing campaigns. For more information: https://www.michelekarlsberg.com
Published on August 26, 2021
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