The Industry of Human Happiness

‘Although it comes dressed as a high-camp thriller, complete with sinister underworld powers, a spectacularly gruesome murder, corrupt policemen, opulent brothels, squalid opium dens and the occasionally ‘thrilling décolletage’, this is in fact a grim cautionary tale about the dangers of obsession. Hall’s deep understanding and fondness for his subject comes crackling out of every page” * Crime Review *
‘This debut, historical ‘faction’ with a decidedly noir crime twist is also a celebration of the magic of music. Meticulously researched and written with a real passion for the subject, it’s a brilliantly pacy, page-turning thriller – and absolutely cries out for an ambitious producer to turn it into a TV series or movie’
‘It’s full of diverse and delicious pieces of information about recorded sound, and it’s a page-turner. I was absolutely gripped. I can see this as a television series’ -- Sean Rafferty * BBC Radio 3 *
“A fascinating novel set in a fascinating world” -- Robert Elms
“Absolutely enthralling, The Industry of Human Happiness immerses you in the sights, smells and above all the sounds of 1890s London and beyond, so that you too are walking along the streets; a musical, erudite roller-coaster of a book” -- Rosamund Lupton
‘Although it comes dressed as a high-camp thriller, complete with sinister underworld powers, a spectacularly gruesome murder, corrupt policemen, opulent brothels, squalid opium dens and the occasionally ‘thrilling décolletage’, this is in fact a grim cautionary tale about the dangers of obsession. Hall’s deep understanding and fondness for his subject comes crackling out of every page” - Crime Review || ‘It’s full of diverse and delicious pieces of information about recorded sound, and it’s a page-turner. I was absolutely gripped. I can see this as a television series’ - BBC Radio 3 - Sean Rafferty || ‘This debut, historical ‘faction’ with a decidedly noir crime twist is also a celebration of the magic of music. Meticulously researched and written with a real passion for the subject, it’s a brilliantly pacy, page-turning thriller – and absolutely cries out for an ambitious producer to turn it into a TV series or movie’ || “A fascinating novel set in a fascinating world” - Robert Elms || “Absolutely enthralling, The Industry of Human Happiness immerses you in the sights, smells and above all the sounds of 1890s London and beyond, so that you too are walking along the streets; a musical, erudite roller-coaster of a book” - Rosamund Lupton
‘Although it comes dressed as a high-camp thriller, complete with sinister underworld powers, a spectacularly gruesome murder, corrupt policemen, opulent brothels, squalid opium dens and the occasionally ‘thrilling décolletage’, this is in fact a grim cautionary tale about the dangers of obsession. Hall’s deep understanding and fondness for his subject comes crackling out of every page” - Crime Review || ‘It’s full of diverse and delicious pieces of information about recorded sound, and it’s a page-turner. I was absolutely gripped. I can see this as a television series’ - BBC Radio 3 - Sean Rafferty || ‘This debut, historical ‘faction’ with a decidedly noir crime twist is also a celebration of the magic of music. Meticulously researched and written with a real passion for the subject, it’s a brilliantly pacy, page-turning thriller – and absolutely cries out for an ambitious producer to turn it into a TV series or movie’ || “A fascinating novel set in a fascinating world” - Robert Elms || “Absolutely enthralling, The Industry of Human Happiness immerses you in the sights, smells and above all the sounds of 1890s London and beyond, so that you too are walking along the streets; a musical, erudite roller-coaster of a book” - Rosamund Lupton