Black Dog
A Tyburn Filos Novella
Dean Hamilton
eISBN 9780993917424
ASIN B00W0DCGCK
I have had this story and the first novel in the series for a while. But they got lost on my Kindle in my ever growing ‘To Be Read’ list. For years I have used the Kindle apps, but this year at Christmas my daughter got me a dedicated Kindle device. I went through the oldest of my Kindle volumes that were unread and picked this as on to read and it was my first read on my new device.
The description of this story is:
“Hangings were always a good draw.
When the Earl of Worcester’s Men take advantage of the crowds drawn to a mass execution, they hoped for a strong turn-out and a fat payday. They didn’t expect to run afoul of London’s most notorious prison rooker, the Black Dog.
Now with one of the troupe facing slow death in gaol or penury in the face of the Black Dog’s threats, the troupe must turn to its newest member for help. Christopher Tyburn, ex-soldier turned play-actor, must dive into cesspool of London’s back-alleys, pursuing the Black Dog’s secrets in order to turn the tables on the deadly blackmailer.
But you don’t stalk the Black Dog without consequences….”
This story drew me in right away. While reading it I thought about Cue for Treason by Geoffrey Trease, which is one of the first books I remember read, and reread a few years ago. But this story is for a much older and more mature audience. Christopher Tyburn in this novella is a very intriguing character. He is haunted by his time in the military. He is working as an actor in an established company. This story takes place in 1574, Tyburn is a former soldier and is very confident in his skills and talents. And he appears to hate bullies. After an encounter with Roose who calls himself The Black Dog. During that encounter Roose kills a dog and threatens a friend and co-worker of Tyburn. He can’t let that be.
Writing short fiction is a very different skill than long form fiction. Hamilton has proved a master of the shorter form and I look forward to exploring his novels. In some ways this reads Elizabethan Age Jack Reacher or John Wick. Tyburn won't let a bully get away with being a thug, and he killed a dog!
This is a great novella and it leaves you wanting more. Fortunately it is followed by 2 novels. This is great historical fiction. An action story I can easily recommend.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan!
Books by Dean Hamilton:
Tyburn Filos Series:
The Jesuit Letter
Thieves’ Castle
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