i suspect there aren't many people who choose this as their first chricton novel. but this did not disappoint! chricton chose a fascinating story in itself, but peppered it with just the right amount of historical context. if for nothing else, an entertaining read to discover how weird the victorians were and how much crazy slang they had just for criminal enterprises. (also, i love the idea that a treadmill was essentially conceived of as a form of punishment.) a quick, compelling and occasionally edifying read.