Margins
The Devil in the Marshalsea book cover
The Devil in the Marshalsea
2014
First Published
3.97
Average Rating
400
Number of Pages

Part of Series

London, 1727, and Tom Hawkins is about to fall from his heaven of card games, brothels and coffee-houses into the hell of a debtors' prison. The Marshalsea is a savage world of its own, with simple rules: those with family or friends who can lend them a little money may survive in relative comfort. Those with none will starve in squalor and disease. And those who try to escape will suffer a gruesome fate at the hands of the gaol's rutheless governor and his cronies. The trouble is, Tom Hawkins has never been good at following rules - even simple ones. And the recent grisly murder of a debtor, Captain Roberts, has brought further terror to the gaol. While the Captain's beautiful widow cries for justice, the finger of suspicion points only one way: to the sly, enigmatic figure of Samuel Fleet. Some call Fleet a devil, a man to avoid at all costs. But Tom Hawkins is sharing his cell. Soon, Tom's choice is clear: get to the truth of the murder - or be the next to die. A twisting mystery, a dazzling evocation of early 18th Century London, The Devil in the Marshalsea is a thrilling debut novel full of intrigue and suspense.

Avg Rating
3.97
Number of Ratings
4,767
5 STARS
31%
4 STARS
42%
3 STARS
21%
2 STARS
4%
1 STARS
1%
goodreads

Author

Antonia Hodgson
Antonia Hodgson
Author · 7 books
Antonia Hodgson was born and grew up in Derby. She studied English at the University of Leeds. Her first novel, The Devil in the Marshalsea, won the CWA Historical Dagger 2014 and was shortlisted for several other awards. Its sequel, The Last Confession of Thomas Hawkins, was released to widespread acclaim in 2015. Her third novel, A Death at Fountains Abbey, comes out in August 2016.
548 Market St PMB 65688, San Francisco California 94104-5401 USA
© 2026 Paratext Inc. All rights reserved