Published
by Head of Zeus,
1 June 2017.
ISBN: 978-1-7849-7800-9
London, 1884. Geraldine Hockaday,
the daughter of a respected Naval captain, was outraged on the streets of
London – yet her attacker is still on the loose. Then a chance encounter in a
cafe brings a new victin to light, and London’s foremost private detective,
Sidney Grice, is on the trail, aided by his ward, March Middleton.
This
Victorian investigation is narrated by March, and is framed by two short 1944
narratives, where she looks back at the episode. She’s a lively ‘Watson’ who is
determined to follow her guardian’s profession. We sympathise with her hurt at
her guardian’s constant gybes, and her desire for love, but her impulsiveness
creates serious trouble on several occasions. Grice is an entertaining character,
full of Sherlockina deductions, but even more irascible and abrupt, with a
wonderful range of put-downs. Other good characters were Molly, the maid, with
her confusing double negatives, the horribly-scarred Frederica, who was the
only person to survive the burning of the sinister Steep House, and her
beautiful friend, Lucy. The plot was fast-moving, whizzed along by short,
intriguingly-titled chapters. There were a lot of twists and turns, a high and
gruesome body-count, and a breathless finale which put all the key characters who’d
survived this far in danger. The Victorian background was enjoyably done,
convincing without being heavy, and the visits to Steep House and the
backstreet opium den atmospherically sinister. The light, sharp writing made it
an enjoyable read, but there was a vein of tragedy underlying it, and the
ending was far from happy for all concerned. This is the fifth adventure of
Grice and Middleton, so there were a number of references to previous cases,
and to Middleton’s emotional life, though it read well as a stand-alone.
A
fast-moving Victorian thriller, with a high body count and a seriousness under
its light-hearted prose. The series begins with The Mangle Street Murders.
------
Reviewer: Marsali
Taylor
M. R. C. Kasasian was raised in
Lancashire, and has had careers as varied as factory hand, wine waiter,
veterinary assistant, fairground worker and
dentist. He lives with his wife in Suffolk in the winter and in a
fishing village in the south of Malta during the summer. He is now a full time
author.
Marsali Taylor grew up near
Edinburgh, and came to Shetland as a newly-qualified teacher. She is currently
a part-time teacher on Shetland's scenic west side, living with her husband and
two Shetland ponies. Marsali is a qualified STGA tourist-guide who is
fascinated by history, and has published plays in Shetland's distinctive
dialect, as well as a history of women's suffrage in Shetland. She's also a
keen sailor who enjoys exploring in her own 8m yacht, and an active member of
her local drama group. Marsali also does
a regular monthly column for the Mystery People e-zine.
A review of her recent book Ghosts
of the Vikings can be read here.
www.marsalitaylor.co.uk
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