An Isle of Surrey: A Novel

"An Isle of Surrey: A Novel" by Richard Dowling is a captivating fiction set in the late 1800s. It kicks off in a somber spot near Welford Bridge, with shady guys hanging out by the South London Canal, whispering about Crawford's House and the new people inside. We meet Red Jim Ford and other dockworkers, all wondering what's up with their neighborhood, plus William Crawford, who's moved into the house everyone's talking about. Right from the start, there's a feeling of mystery and worry, as Red Jim and his friends can't stop gossiping about Crawford's House, especially the owner and what might have happened there before. The story also teases Crawford showing up at his new place, meeting the lively Hetty and her brother Alfred Layard, and a big secret about who Crawford really is and what he's done, setting the stage for a dramatic tale of characters whose lives are all mixed together in a tough world.