Leeds. November, 1823. After hearing about the brutal deaths of two young boys, thief-taker Simon Westow's painful memories of his childhood reawaken. Unable to sleep, he goes for a walk - and stumbles upon a body being pulled from the river. Simon is drawn into investigating the deaths, but the pursuit of the truth takes him down a dangerous path.

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 Review

Leeds. 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?

Chris Nickson is the author of nine Tom Harper mysteries and seven highly acclaimed novels in the Richard Nottingham series. The Blood Covenant is the fourth title in the Simon Westow series. He is also a well-known music journalist. He lives in his beloved Leeds.