The Angel of Highgate

People die . . . but love endures immortal.

Lord Geoffrey Thraxton is notorious in Victorian society—a Byronesque rakehell with a reputation as the “wickedest man in London.”

After surviving a pistol duel, Thraxton boasts his contempt for death and insults the attending physician. It is a mistake he will regret, for Silas Garrette is a deranged sociopath and chloroform-addict whose mind was broken on the battlefields of Crimea.

Oblivious to the danger, Thraxton’s pursuit of idle pleasure leads him through the fog shrouded streets of London—from champagne soirees in the mummy room of the British Museum, to its high-class brothels and low-class opium dens. But when Thraxton falls in love with a mysterious woman who haunts Highgate Cemetery by night, he unwittingly provides the murderous doctor with the perfect means to punish a man with no fear of death.

A magnificently written, provocative novel.
—Kirkus Reviews

…an enthralling, old-fashioned style yarn that engages its reader through atmospherically described locations and eccentric, cartoonish characters.
—Starburst Magazine

…it is both original and familiar, something that not many books can pull off.
—The Consulting Detective

It’s brilliantly written, in the style of the age. Alternately lush and morbidly black, its rich prose reflects the classic Victorian love of florid over-statement.
—Crime Review

Praise

“A magnificently written, provocative novel.”
—Kirkus Reviews (read the full review)

“Entwistle’s novel is an enthralling, old-fashioned style yarn that engages its reader through atmospherically described locations and eccentric, cartoonish characters.”
—Starburst Magazine (read the full review)

“With devastatingly complex characters and skilful prose, Vaughn Entwistle creates a version of Victorian London that sits neatly alongside Dickens and Conan Doyle. The Angel of Highgate’s ultimate charm lies in that fact; it is both original and familiar, something that not many books can pull off.”
—The Consulting Detective (read the full review)

“It’s brilliantly written, in the style of the age. Alternately lush and morbidly black, its rich prose reflects the classic Victorian love of florid over-statement. The baddies are seriously bad. But they are balanced by the common sense and humanity of the ‘ordinary’ people, from all strata of society, who are so quintessentially ‘English’ as to be stereotypical.”
—Crime Review (read the full review)

“What added even more to the story was Vaughn Entwistle’s writing. It was just pure brilliance that draws you in from page one. I am now a huge fan of Vaughn Entwistle and want to read more of his work.”
—The Literary Wisdom (read the full review)

“The Angel of Highgate is a ripping yarn but also a rather confounding read because it is an olde style, air-punching adventure and a glimpse into the eyes of actual decay… It is an admirably thought-provoking, often fun and impressively decent tale. It’s high points make it easy to overlook the few flaws, and result in an enjoyable read that grips you most of the way through.”
—SciFiNow (read the full review)

“So if you are looking for a funny, light hearted romp, where some lovable characters need to mix it up with a few evil serial killers, this would be a good novel for you. I enjoyed it fully and would look forward to getting anything else by Entwistle.”
—SF Reader (read the full review)