A young girl—a mudlark—is found dead on the muddy bank of the Thames in her best dress, a crystal perfume bottle clutched in her lifeless hand…
Fearing foul play, widow Amelia Greystone sends for Scotland Yard Inspector Henry Field—the man still haunted by his failure to solve her husband’s murder. Though the trust between them is fragile, Amelia believes Henry is the only one capable of delivering justice.
Henry soon confirms Amelia’s suspicion but is met with orders to abandon the case. He refuses to turn a blind eye and reluctantly agrees that Amelia aid him as he conducts a clandestine investigation.
As secrets unravel, a second body surfaces, and the pair unearth a plot with chilling ties to the government. When Amelia’s personal demons threaten to drive her into the killer’s path, Henry must confront his own fears to not only save her but stop the villain.
This second novel in The Field & Greystone series set on the dark streets of Victorian London is perfect for fans of Irina Shapiro, Charles Finch, and Andrea Penrose.
Review:
Loving this series! It’s not even really a romance–yet; I live in hope!–but these characters are just wonderful and the mysteries feel fresh and unique <3
Whereas the last book introduced us to the world of the Tower of London ravens and their keepers, this time we meet the mudlarks–London orphans who make a living searching the mud of the Thames for things they can sell. (Yes, it’s as heartbreaking as you’re imagining.) Amelia just happens to be interviewing a barge captain when the first body–that we know of, anyway–is found. Naturally she asks the responding patrolman to send for Henry, and from that point the investigation is on.
Except of course Henry can’t make it a *real* investigation…because that orphan child might have just poisoned herself. You know how that is. Even the second one doesn’t totally convince his superior…grrrr.
I loved being able to solve the mystery along with Henry and Amelia, even if I did figure it out quite a bit before they did (did you hear someone screaming, No, Amelia, don’t go in there! on the night of 11/26? Yeah, that was probably me) and watching them grow closer as they did so was the cherry on top. I can’t wait to read their next adventure!
(I realize that I read/watch more Regency Era stories, but I am continuously blown away by all the minutiae of Victorian life that Ms Williams brings into these books; it really makes reading them feel like an almost-immersive experience. Do I want to admit that I Googled “eel pie” after Henry and Fletcher had some for lunch and even read through 2 whole recipes? And no, I don’t even like seafood and have zero intention of ever making it. I just couldn’t stop myself.)
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.