"London in 1601 is the setting for Josh Lacey's Bearkeeper. The thronging citizenry and sewery stench of the capital are brought to stark, vivid life as he tells the story of Pip, a country boy who leaves his village home to seek the father he has believed to be dead for seven years.

For a time Pip falls in with the denizens of the Globe Theatre - Shakespeare included, of course - but it's when he takes custody of a fighting bear that he discovers his true calling, as well as a chance of saving his dad from a gang of vicious debt collectors.

Lacey inserts brief segments of history lesson into the narrative, but in such a way that they don't intrude and instead make the past more tangibly real to readers: he comments on the lack of police in the 17th century or compares a journey that takes 20 minutes by train now but back then was two days' walk. Bloody, brutal and bold, Bearkeeper informs as it entertains and intrigues as it enlightens."

The Financial Times, 10 May 2008