Young
Phoebe Stanbury is about to go up in the world socially when
she marries Benjamin Raycraft, son of the famous inventor,
Sir Jasper. But on a June evening in 1881, as the pair are
at their engagement party, a naked man bursts in and stabs
Phoebe, telling her astonished fiancé that he has done
it to save him. Meanwhile, timid lawyer William Lamb visits
a reclusive client for the first time and receives a mysterious
message for his employer. These seemingly unconnected events
set in motion an overdue investigation into a terrible secret
that has been hidden for centuries.
This is a real page-turner, and also that rarity – a
standalone novel which manages to tell a whole story within
two covers. It is not a short book, but there is always something
exciting going on, and secrets are unveiled in every chapter,
which is no mean feat. At first I found the multiple viewpoints
a bit disparate, but they soon started to converge and become
entwined in a fascinating way. This is late Victorian London
with a “what if” twist, which is not actually
supernatural or steampunk, but might appeal to readers who
enjoy those types of novels. It is mostly a mystery, as Detective
Harry Treadway is charged to investigate the murder, but William
is also doing some investigating of his own.
To say
much about the plot would give away some of the secrets that
make this book such a thrilling read, but expect the unexpected
and enjoy the ride. The author is mostly better at plotting
and writing exciting scenes than she is at innovative characterisation.
There are several stock villains, while Savannah does not
quite ring true as a real person, and Harry is the typical
world weary old detective at odds with his superiors. William
is the most interesting character in my opinion, as he changes
so much during his adventures. He goes from a timid and sheltered
man to somebody who has taken on the world and improved himself
by doing so. All together, this is a truly thrilling read,
and I will be looking out for this author’s next book.
Highly recommended.
Reviewers
Note: Some violence and gory moments
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