The Infernal Riddle of Thomas Peach: a gothic mystery with an edge of magick

Treadwell's book is a magnificent pastiche of 18th-century fiction, combining elements of historical pastiche, gothic horror, and adventure. It follows the story of Thomas Peach, a gentleman of modest means who has left London for the countryside to look after his ailing wife. When a letter threatens to cut off their livelihood, he rides out in search of a means to save himself, but fate has other plans. He encounters a mysterious young woman, raised as a rich man's ward, who may hold a dreadful secret.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 464 pages
Publication date: 07 April 2022
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Treadwell's book is a magnificent pastiche of 18th-century fiction, combining elements of Tristram Shandy, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and other works. It addresses dark and disturbing themes with tremendous wit, charm, and elegance. The Sunday Times praised it as a "remarkable achievement," while the Daily Express described it as an ambitious and stylistically bold 18th-century adventure with shades of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. SFX praised Treadwell's ability to entertain and impress, highlighting his extraordinary feat of literary ventriloquism and his reminder of what historical fiction does best: create an entirely convincing vanished world while also using that world as a lens through which to view the present day.

The novel takes place in 1785, in a modest countryside home where a gentleman has left London to care for his ailing wife. Among his new neighbors, tongues begin to wag, speculating about his locked chest under the stairs, its contents, and the mysterious illness afflicting his wife. For the most part, the couple lives in peace until a letter arrives, threatening to cut off their livelihood and expel them from their home. Faced with the prospect of penury and perhaps worse, the gentleman rides out in search of some means to save himself.

However, fate has other plans for Thomas Peach. A bizarre request brings him into contact with a mysterious young woman, raised from infancy as a rich man's ward, now condemned to the madhouse. As their paths become disturbingly entangled, Mr. Peach begins to suspect that in her past lies a dark secret that could threaten both their lives.

The novel is filled with vivid descriptions, intricate plotlines, and memorable characters. Treadwell's writing is elegant and evocative, transporting the reader back to the 18th century and immersing them in the world of the gentleman, his wife, and the mysterious young woman. The themes of love, loss, madness, and redemption are explored with depth and complexity, creating a rich and rewarding reading experience.

Overall, Treadwell's book is a masterpiece of historical fiction that combines elements of comedy, tragedy, and mystery in a way that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. It is a testament to the power of literature to transport the reader to another time and place, while also exploring the human condition in all its complexity and darkness.

Weight: 322g
Dimension: 131 x 198 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529347364