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A review by veronica87
The Thief Taker by C.S. Quinn
3.0
Set in London in 1665, the first book in this series introduces readers to Charlie Tuesday, a thief taker - which basically means that he finds lost items for a fee. That's his usual gig anyway but the plague is hitting London hard and that means that a whole lot of people are either dying or leaving town for safer pastures, the consequence of which is that Charlie is having a hard time making his rent. Enter Maria, whose sister was brutally murdered in the prologue, who is dead set on seeing the killer found and brought to justice and who is willing to pay to see it done.
Now, here is where I have issues with the basic plot. I can understand Maria's anger and need for justice BUT, with the plague ravaging London and corpses piling up in mass graves and infection spreading faster than anyone can deal with, it just seems to me that Maria should have other matters taking precedence at this particular time...like survival. Of course, I never really liked Maria. It's nothing I can put my finger on or point to and say, "Oh yes, that's why I don't like her". I just never warmed to her and I didn't buy any of her actions but, then again, I consider it a matter of high stupidity to keep rushing into areas that are hardest hit with the plague just on the off chance of finding a clue. And the ending, as it pertains to her...I was really tempted to deduct a full star for that. It's clear she's meant to be the romantic love interest but from where I sit, there is zero/zip/zilch spark with Charlie.
To be fair to Maria, Charlie was also charging into plague infested areas of London and earning his fee isn't his only motivation. There's a mystery surrounding his mother and the strange key she left with him. I gather this element of the narrative will serve as longer arc through the series. I'm curious enough about that to give the second book in this series a try. I found the mystery in this one a bit iffy and confusing. Sitting here now, having just finished reading this last night, I'm having difficulty understanding what the killer's motivation was.
Now, here is where I have issues with the basic plot. I can understand Maria's anger and need for justice BUT, with the plague ravaging London and corpses piling up in mass graves and infection spreading faster than anyone can deal with, it just seems to me that Maria should have other matters taking precedence at this particular time...like survival. Of course, I never really liked Maria. It's nothing I can put my finger on or point to and say, "Oh yes, that's why I don't like her". I just never warmed to her and I didn't buy any of her actions but, then again, I consider it a matter of high stupidity to keep rushing into areas that are hardest hit with the plague just on the off chance of finding a clue. And the ending, as it pertains to her...I was really tempted to deduct a full star for that. It's clear she's meant to be the romantic love interest but from where I sit, there is zero/zip/zilch spark with Charlie.
To be fair to Maria, Charlie was also charging into plague infested areas of London and earning his fee isn't his only motivation. There's a mystery surrounding his mother and the strange key she left with him. I gather this element of the narrative will serve as longer arc through the series. I'm curious enough about that to give the second book in this series a try. I found the mystery in this one a bit iffy and confusing. Sitting here now, having just finished reading this last night, I'm having difficulty understanding what the killer's motivation was.