Set in London in 1782, Laura Shepherd-Robinson takes us to a Georgiann world of sex workers and high society, of thief-takers and Bow Street constables and, of course, murders. All levels of society close ranks in this tale as Caroline, known as Caro, tries to find out who killed her friend Lucy. There is plenty of perilous action and vivid descriptions in this complicated plot. Occasionally I was glad of the comprehensive list of characters at the beginning. An enjoyable and engaging read wilth most ts crossed by the end. ( )

4.5* ( )

In London in 1782, Caroline Corsham discovers the body of a woman she was intending to meet in Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. Exposing the victim as a prostitute the police are reluctant to investigate. Caroline hires the thief-taker Peregrine Child, ex-magistrate, to uncover the killer. As the bodies mount up it is clear that this is more than a simple crime of passion and reaches much further into society that anyone would suspect.

Set in the world where wealth and aristocracy meet high- and low-class courtesans, where status and perception are all important, this book is built around secrets and lies and how people use them for advantage and can be destroyed by them. All the characters hide and/or reveal things about themselves that keep us switching our allegiances and changing who we think is the killer. Clues and investigation is based almost entirely on what people say or do; there is hardly any reliance, except in passing, and mainly to confuse the reader, on physical forensic evidence.

Caroline is a strong and determined woman, although not particularly likeable, who demonstrates courage in addressing the crimes and in deciding her own way in the world. Child plays a less prominent role, primarily being there to do the things that Caroline cannot. I found the prostitute characters rather flat and indistinguishable.

Altogether an intriguing story well told from rather an oblique angle. ( )

London 1782. Whilst her husband is away on government business Caro Corsham has been unfaithful and is now pregnant. She meets up with a woman she thought an Italian countess to procure an abortifacient but in the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens she finds Lucia murdered. Lucia is actually a notorious whore and Caro hires thief-taker Child to find her murderer. However the circumstances lead Caro and Child into the heart of Government, business and the world of courtesans.

Having loved 'Blood and Sugar', Shepherd-Robinson's first novel. I was looking forward to reading this one and it didn't disappoint. Taking two characters from the first book, Caro Corsham and Child, and weaving a tale of society at all levels this book is brilliant. The research is meticulous, both about the social lives but also business and banking in the 18th century. The plot is many layered and therefore has an ending so full of twists that the reader is satisfied. ( )