The Arsenic Eater's Wife

by Tonya Mitchell, Penelope Rawlins (reader)

A woman is accused of killing her husband, but is she actually guilty? Inspired by a true historical case.

Liverpool, England, 1889: In the shadowy streets, the air is thick with secrets and the line between guilt and innocence blurs. Twenty-six-year-old Constance Sullivan is brought to trial charged with poisoning her husband, William. But William was no ordinary victim…

As Constance's barrister fights to prove her innocence, a sinister web of deception unravels, exposing the dark underbelly of their seemingly idyllic marriage. One by one, witnesses emerge with incriminating testimony and facts about the dark side of Constance and William’s marriage are revealed. For many, the widow’s guilt seems clear. But is someone holding the key to the whole truth?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Thriller, Historical, Gothic

Audio CD

First published February 8, 2024

About the author

Ever since reading Jane Eyre in high school, Tonya has been drawn to dark stories, particularly of the gothic variety. Her influences include Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, and Bram Stoker. More contemporarily, she loves the work of Shirley Jackson, Agatha Christie, Victoria Holt, Margaret Atwood, and Laura Purcell.

When she landed on a story about a woman who pretended to be insane in order to write a newspaper story, she knew she’d landed on something she was meant to write.

Tonya received her BA in journalism from Indiana University. Her short fiction has appeared in The Copperfield Review, Words Undone, and The Front Porch Review, as well as in various anthologies, including Furtive Dalliance, Welcome to Elsewhere, and Glimmer and Other Stories and Poems, for which she won the Cinnamon Press award in fiction.

She is a self-professed Anglophile and is obsessed with all things relating to the Victorian period. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society North America and resides in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband and three wildly energetic sons.

A Feigned Madness is her first novel.

Reviews

[Teres · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to Rosh for putting this chilling, historical mystery that’s steeped in the Victorian gothic on my radar.

Inspired by an actual 1889 case, our protagonist Constance Sullivan is accused of murdering her husband with arsenic.

Hubby William is a hypochondriac who suffers increasing bouts of ill health due to his penchant for regularly taking a powder of arsenic and strychnine…as medicine. 

Yup, crazy as it may sound today, to self-medicate with arsenic was considered an appropriate treatment in the nineteenth century.

Arsenic was thought to be an aphrodisiac as well as a general tonic. Ladies of the era were fond of using it as a means of whitening the skin when a whiter-than-white complexion was deemed desirable.

A tale of death, deception, and addiction, The Arsenic Eater’s Wife is told in a non-chronological manner, beginning with Constance’s arrest and then moving back in time as we watch her volatile marriage slowly decline.

William and Constance’s Gothic Revival house and its personification skillfully reinforces the oppression that Constance feels in her life and marriage — bravo, Tonya Mitchell!

Fans of historical fiction with a creepy gothic bent will definitely enjoy Mitchell’s most recent release. Be sure to read her Author’s Note at the conclusion of the novel for insight into the actual case upon which she bases her story.

[Rosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: A compelling historical fiction about a woman accused of murdering her husband. Quick pace, complicated characters. Based on true events. A bit dissatisfied with the ending scenes, but overall, definitely recommended.

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Plot Preview:

1889. Liverpool, England. Twenty-six-year-old Constance Sullivan has been accused of murdering her husband William. As the whole world turns against her, the only person on her side is her mother, who promises to hire the best legal counsel to prove her daughter's innocence.
As we see the proceedings of Constance's trial, we also see in flashbacks, the events that led to the trial.
The story comes to us in Constance's third person perspective, and is written entirely in present tense.

Bookish Yays:
😍 Constance as the lead character is exceptional - complicated and morally grey. I love how she wasn't portrayed as a picture-perfect innocent just because she was accused of a heinous crime she may or may not have committed. It's a credit to the author that she still makes us feel sympathetic to Constance's situation, though the character isn't entirely likeable.

😍 The remaining characters are also interesting. Constance's much older husband is such a person that I didn't know whether to sympathise with him or be glad that he was dead. Some of the other characters might appear clichéd but they do justify their role. Many of the characters cannot be categorised into definite good/bad slots. The most impressive was Sir Charles; I wish he had had a greater active role in the story.

😍 The structure of the writing added to the intrigue. I love how the story begins with William’s death and Constance’s arrest, and then moves back and forth in time. So we already know the future but the journey to understand what led to it is most interesting.

😍 I found the abuse of arsenic among the Victorian era people fascinating to read. I had heard of arsenic being used in wallpapers but never knew that people actually ate arsenic compounds in small quantities to improve their health, appearance or sexual potency.

😍 The pacing of the story is steady almost all the way. It doesn’t plod through needless descriptions, and yet offers enough of a glimpse of the 1890s to get the setting accurately.

😍 The author's note is brilliant. I always love it when historical fiction authors clarify which part of their story is based on facts and which events have been fabricated to add to the narrative. Her research shows!


Bookish Mixed Bags:
😐 Some of the scenes at the end felt exaggerated, with too many coincidences and too much drama. I admit, I was still caught by surprise by a couple of the reveals, but overall, this was a relatively weak section in an otherwise great book.

😐 There were too many characters at the start, which made the introductory chapters a bit confusing of me. But after a while, the going became easier.

😐 There are minor shifts back and forth in the timeline as we see the story from the present (the trial) and the past (Constance's life with William from a few years before the trial and leading to his death.) The timelines are clearly marked at the start of the chapter, so in that sense, there isn’t any doubt about which timeline we are reading. However, the entire story is written in the present tense. This doesn't work well for me because I like flashbacks to be in the past tense. It might not bother those readers who aren't bothered by such writing choices.


All in all, this is a powerful story about a woman's struggle to clear her name, and whether the law does her justice. The factual elements add to the impact. I'm very impressed by the author's dedication to being as faithful as possible to the actual events and yet adding enough to make it a work of fiction. I can't wait to try more of her works.

Strongly recommended to readers of historical fiction who would appreciate a legal drama based on facts.

4 stars.


My thanks to Bloodhound Books for a complimentary copy of “The Arsenic Eater's Wife”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

The digital version of this book is currently available free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.

Triggers: infidelity, self-harm, domestic abuse, animal death.


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This was a buddy read with Sri, and we had more or less similar opinions. Do check out her review to see how she felt about this novel.

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[John Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Victorian Melodrama!

This story, although a work of fiction, was based upon real events that took place in Liverpool towards the end of the 19th century. It details the generally accepted misogyny that infected all walks of life during the Victorian era. Women of all classes were merely possessions of their fathers and husbands. This book tells the tale of a rich young American heiress who falls in love with a much older British merchant. They marry but do not live happily ever after. He is a very unpleasant individual, addicted to small quantities of arsenic (amongst other things a 19th century aphrodisiac), is a womaniser and is happy to spend his wife's money. At the same time she isn't actually the perfect wife, after taking a lover. Eventually the husband dies of arsenic poisoning and his wife is convicted of murder. An undoubted miscarriage of justice. This was a dark and disturbing gothic mystery, based upon real events that made the story even more upsetting. I can't say it was an enjoyable read but it is a story that should be read.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! The author's second historical fiction novel grabbed me from the start and would not release me until the stunning ending. Based on a true story reimagined with Mitchell's gothic flair, The Arsenic Eater's Wife will keep you up late at night wondering as you race through the pages: "Did Constance Sullivan really poison her husband?" A gripping must read!

[Krystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Narrated by Penelope Rawlins
Presented by Dreamscape Media

A slow start for me but it did finally hook my interest.

Wasn't a huge fan of the narrator - her voice was quite soft making it hard to hear at times, even at a higher volume. That said, she still did a decent job filling the characters with life and differentiating between them.

The story jumps back and forth in time, which was a little confusing at first since I was tuning out some of it. But once it hooked my attention I followed it okay and appreciated the glimpses at the past as it related to the case in the present.

I was surprised by how long this went - it covered many more years than I anticipated and took a bit of an odd turn, I felt, towards the end. I started to lose interest again.

I think this is one I would have enjoyed more if I'd read it physically. The premise really interested me but the audio lost me early on, making it a little harder to commit to. But the mystery did eventually pull me in and I enjoyed listening along.

Historical fiction fans will no doubt take special delight in the arsenic angle, but on the whole this is still an interesting murder mystery tale.

With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC

[Lizzy Brannan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a true historical case, this historical mystery had me eating out of the palm of its' hand (pun intended).

It's 1889 in Liverpool, England and Constance and William Sullivan appear to have the perfect marriage. And yet, when William is found dead due to arsenic poisoning, Constance is hastily considered a suspect. For many, the widow's guilt seems clear, especially since many witnesses are now coming forward with incriminating testimony and facts about the dark side of Constance and William's marriage. There is a sinister web of deception weaving through the community and household. Who can Constance trust? Who is holding the key to the truth?

This book was absolutely fascinating. I was completely caught up in the narrator, Penelope Rawlins, and her interpretation of these characters. Her captivating reading far exceeded my expectations. I do think this book would be an incredible read in book form as well. It's just a well written mystery! The court scenes and mystery had me comparing the flow and aspects of the storyline to "Where the Crawdads Sing" mixed with "The Crucible". My need for vengeance in the last 30% of the book was playing out even better than I expected. The writing drew my attention to the social issues women faced in the 19th century and before. Such a solid mystery!

Thank you Tonya Mitchell, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for this captivating historical mystery in exchange for my honest review.

[Shannon M (Canada) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book that might appeal to British readers more than to North American ones. There are a few interesting details in it (that I’ll describe shortly) but mainly it is a long, drawn out melodrama hyped as a mystery. When I got to the detailed porn scene, I almost stopped. Instead I skipped quickly through the rest.

It describes a wealthy merchant household during the late 1890s, which I couldn’t relate to at all. (During that period , my ancestors were attempting to exist on ramshackle farms in Saskatchewan.) The “heroine”, Constance is so gullible that I couldn’t imagine someone like her existing. All the other characters are also despicable, except Constance’s mother, who stays in the background, supporting Constance.

Constance is accused of the murder of her husband, an arsenic eater. And the fact that wealthy men at the end of the century actually ingested arsenic in order to increase their sexual prowess is something I wasn’t aware of (although both my son and grandson were, and generally my historical knowledge is superior to theirs). I wish more of the story had been devoted to facts like this and less to romance and melodrama.

The novel also highlights the misogyny that was rife during the Victorian era—not a surprise to me, although I was amazed that wealthy women were treated little better than slaves in England during this time period. Yes, even in the 1960s, women were tied financially to their husbands—I remember trying to get my first credit card in my name—but most women, including my mother, had more say over the family finances than did Constance. For this reason, I simply can’t believe that a Constance existed. I guess there were a few such hapless women, but even among the lower middle-class, women had more power than portrayed in this novel, at least in North America. Constance was an aberration, I believe, not a typical upper-class woman; she was incredibly dense.

In my opinion, this book moves too slowly, has too many unnecessary details, and is relevant only to a very small segment of British society. I don’t recommend it.

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A woman is accused of killing her husband, but is she guilty? Inspired by a true historical case, this spellbinding novel will keep you guessing until the final heart-stopping revelation…

TITLE: THE ARSENIC EATERS WIFE
AUTHOR: Tonya Mitchell
PUB DATE: 01.24.2024
GENRE: Gothic Mystery

Provocative
Atmospheric
Suspenseful

The Arsenic Eater’s Wife is a thrilling story about a woman accused of killing her husband by poisoning him with arsenic. A simple plot that reimagines a true to life story from the late 1800’s Victorian era. The complex and deeply layered background and characters really shone as Constance Sullivan continues to be beaten down at every turn.

This was a feat of story telling with tight plotting and a historical mystery that modern thriller readers will devour.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting story. A chilling, historical mystery that is steeped in the gothic, I found the tale of William’s death to be fascinating. It is one of the rare occasions where I urge readers to take time to peruse the author note at the very end of the story as it adds further information into this tale of death, deception and addiction.

To self-medicate with arsenic was a concept I had never considered before, yet, it was considered as an appropriate treatment in the nineteenth century. Constance is well aware of William’s behaviours but leaves him to his potions, noticing when the effects of his medication wear off. However, a discovery into William’s background puts a considerable strain on their marriage and this leads Constance astray.

The story is told in non-chronological order and I enjoyed how readers see Constance’s arrest at the very beginning before moving back several years to watch her marriage decline. Yet, at times I found the story to be incredibly slow and this did lessen my enjoyment of the book. The atmosphere is quite heavy and I think this made the story more of challenge to absorb. At the same time however, I think this emphasised the atmosphere of Constance’s house. The use of personification and the gothic nature of the house reinforced the oppression that Constance feels in her life and marriage, feeling that William is merely using her for her wealth and connections.

Constance is imprisoned for the murder of her husband. Events leading up to William’s death would suggest that she had motive however, Constance forever protests her innocence. Following Constance through her sentence and beyond, I was curious to see how she would survive and, more importantly, what the real truth was behind the death. The investigations that take place in the final quarter of the story added even more tension to the plot and whilst I had predicted some of the outcome, the gothic horror, pathetic fallacy and returning characters made for engrossing reading.

I liked this book because it had such an intriguing plot about arsenic poisoning and the obvious perpetrator – the wife. Being based on fact made this more interesting and I enjoyed how Mitchell brings this story to life.

With thanks to Bloodhound books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Neha Jain · Rating 2 out of 5]

Format : Audiobook 🎧
Narrator : Penelope Rawlins

Court Room drama + Soap Opera

This is story of Constance who was falsely convicted of murder of her husband using arsenic poisoning in 1889 England. After a long courtroom trial and completing the sentence in prison, she finally was able to confront the actual murderer.

Nays
👎🏼 Its covered in two timelines, pre and post murder, both of which are written in present tense. It was difficult to differentiate in the Audiobook narration and eventually I lost track of exact year in both of them.

👎🏼 Further the book is 10.5 hours long (330+ pages). This was my biggest issue with the book. It felt like a soap opera where story moves just an inch in half hour episode. There is too much information leading up to murder, it just bored me out. By the way, I was listening at 1.75x speed and still found it slow.

👎🏼 Most reviews have mentioned an Author's note which talks about the true historical event. Since it was missing in Audiobook ARC, it creates a gap for the reader to be able to appreciate this as True Crime.

👎🏼 Constance's character is supper gullible. Even after being betrayed by everyone closest to her, she again trusts a random person visiting her in jail claiming to be her well wisher. Not even once she doubts his intention.

Yays

👍🏼 Versatile usage of Arsenic in that era was something unheard and explored. The only usage I knew of this was as a poison, but knowing that it was used in cosmetics and drugs was surprising.

👍🏼 This was my first historical court room drama, i guess. That was interesting and also well narrated giving a complete visualisation of the scene.

Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamspace media for the e-ARC in exchange of honest review.

Not Recommended

[Laura Doe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good and intriguing read!
I didn’t realise before starting this book that it was based on a true case, which makes it even more interesting to me!
Constance seems to get the bad end of the stick and blamed for a lot of things, while the men in her life seem to get away with all sorts. The conclusion of the book does tie it up nicely, although I’m not entirely sure that the conclusion Constance and Topp come to is the real conclusion (I don’t want to give away anything for people who haven’t read it yet!) but it does seem the nicest conclusion.
I can’t wait to see what else Tonya Mitchell writes, as her storytelling has kept me engaged throughout! Thank you to Tonya Mitchell and Bloodhound Books for allowing me the chance to read this wonderful historical novel.

[Laura (thenerdygnomelife) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took only a few minutes for me to become entranced with the world of Constance Sullivan, and her plight as a widow suspected of murdering her husband in 1889. Her husband, William, has recently died of what's suspected to be arsenic poisoning. But during a time when arsenic was both readily available and used by some, including William, as a way to ward off physical ailments, who's to say what was accidental or intentional?

I was intrigued to find this novel was inspired by a true historical case. I also was not expecting there to be so much of the plot hosted in the courtroom, and found it a fun surprise to enjoy what's essentially a courtroom drama with the unique twist of the Victorian era. The book was atmospheric, well-written, and dark. This was the first book I've read by Tonya Mitchell and I'm now motivated to read more. Penelope Rawlins did an excellent job with narration and helped to create an immersive experience.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Tonya Mitchell for the gift ot an advance copy for honest review.

[Sara Horvat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book purely because the cover caught my eye, and the plot sounded intriguing. 🔮It's part investigating murder, part Victorian housewife drama, and part Agatha Christie theatrics with a twist that genuinely caught me off guard. The craziest part? It's based on a real case! That alone had me hooked. ✔️

This book had me ✨on edge✨ the entire time. The way the mystery unfolded and the pieces of the past came together was so well done, but I spent most of the book furious on Constance’s behalf!! Everyone was blaming her and just getting away with it—it was so unfair! 😤 The courtroom scenes were definitely my favorite part, super intense and gripping.

The final twist - I saw it coming, which was a bit disappointing. And honestly, the last third of the book just didn’t hit the same for me. 🤷🏻‍♀️I needed justice for Constance, and I felt like it didn’t fully deliver. Still, if you like historical mysteries with a dramatic edge, it’s worth a read! Just be ready for some frustration!💅

💡What have I learned? First, there really were “arsenic eaters.” In the 19th century, a small group of people, mostly men, consumed arsenic for supposed medicinal benefits. ✨
This was happening in the late 1880s, a period when arsenic was widely available but also widely known as a deadly poison, commonly used to kill insects and rodents. It’s astonishing to think anyone would knowingly ingest something so dangerous!

4/5 arsenics stars ⭐️


📖BookClub readings📖

[Robert Gwaltney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tonya Mitchell’s The Arsenic Eater’s Wife renders a dark and intricately brushed portrait of the dichotomous business of human nature. Set against the scintillating murk of 19th Century Liverpool England, Mitchell’s novel simmers good, and hot, and glorious with atmosphere, arsenic, intrigue, and lies

[RoosBookReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friends, when I tell you this story had a grip on me I am not lying. Constance (also my MILs name!) meets a man on a ship and marries him 2 weeks later. He, as it turns out, is a b*stard (not literally) and is just using this young, navie woman 20ish years his junior for her money. Constance has an affair and decides she is going to leave the husband, but- wouldn't you know it- that guy also sucks hard. To say nothing of her brother in law who is also trying to have an affair with her!

Connie goes on trial for murder because her husband is poisoned by arsenic. However, we find out that not only is he a known arsenic eater, nobody can actually say why he died except that it isn't arsenic! This trial had me so mad.

After a lifetime away from her kids, Constance finally gets answers and is somehow still a decent person. Not perfect, because no one is, but tries to do the right thing even in bad situations. While I am a little sad that Connie doesn't go on the crime spree I think she should, I also understand.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author Tonya Mitchell, and Dreamscape Media for my ARC of this audiobook.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a young wife is accused of murder, how far will she go to clear her name? Inspired by an infamous real-life trial, THE ARSENIC EATER'S WIFE kept me guessing until the very end. What really happened to her husband? Why did so many people testify against her? The author's notes in the final chapter explain why the truth is often stranger than fiction.

*I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

[Stacie Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An atmospheric and deeply suspenseful tale, Mitchell’s sophomore novel kept me on the edge of my seat. Knowing it was based on a real case made it all the more compelling.

[Paulette Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A provocative, suspenseful Gothic treat of a novel, inspired by real events. Mitchell’s atmospheric prose carries readers into the past as a woman accused of murder desperately tries to reclaim her innocence and survive a harrowing betrayal. Rife with secrets, intrigue, and serpentine twists. You won’t be able to put it down!

[Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Arsenic Eater's Wife" by Tonya Mitchell is historical fiction set in England in 1889. Apparently, the author's note explains that this story is based on an actual case from 1889. The audiobook doesn't include that part. I learned that from other reviews.

So, in this book, there is a crime (or is there?) and a mystery, and a long rather boring trial.

I didn't like this book much at all. I found it depressing, far too slow, and some of it quite upsetting. Also, there there was far too much description of disgusting odors. Who needs that? I forced myself to finish listening to it. Had it been just a pleasure read, I would have DNF'd it at 25%. I didn't like any of the characters.

Characters - 4/5
Writing - 2/5
Plot - 3/5
Pacing - 2/5
Unputdownability - 2/5
Enjoyment - 0/5
Narration - 4/5 by Penelope Rollins
Cover - 4/5
Overall - 21/8 = 2 5/8
Rounded up to 3

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

[Jazzy Lemon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book caught my eye with the cover, and my mind with the literary prose straight away. It is based on a true event, and woman suffering from what appears to be arsenic poisoning is accused of poisoning her husband with arsenic...but did she? Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC/audiobook and the clever, soothing reading by the narrator.

[Petri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the courtroom scenes but found the spacing of the overall story, at times, too slow for my taste. Also the final "twist" was too obvious. Overall still an enjoyable reading experience.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on a true story that the author takes some liberties in writing, it is justice for Florence Maybrick.

[Clare Snow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this, until that histrionic ending

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical fiction isn't usually my go to genre, but I felt drawn to read this one with its fabulous cover and title! The fact that it was also inspired by a true historical case and also based in Liverpool, England, being from England myself, not too far from Liverpool.

It's set in 1889 and twenty-six-year-old mother of two Constance Sullivan is brought to trial accused of murdering her husband William.
The book begins with Williams death and subsequently Constance's arrest. We are then taken back in time to the events leading up to the death, which would suggest a possible motive and the demise of their marriage.

It takes us through just enough information of the trial and court case to tell the story without it taking over the plot. I felt a lot of empathy to Constance and the way women were unfairly treated back in the nineteenth century.

Although names and parts of the story, the trial and outcome were amended to keep this a fictional tale the authors notes afterwards tell of the original trial and ending. Mitchell also tells how the real life trial is also often cited as one of the cases that led to changes in the English law and justice system.

I found this story so well written and will definitely recommend this book and be looking for more by this author in the future.

Thank you to Tonya Mitchell and Bloodhound Books for this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This really gets your heart rate going.

Why is it always the husband or wife who committed the crime to their partner? That’s what this book is out to show.

Having this as an audiobook helped bring it to life. It brought out different tones and accents that helped add to the world of the book.

It was a bit of a slow burn, but took its time really painting a picture of everything that happened. It’s non-linear and gave us insight and backgrounds into many characters. It flipped between before the trial (with pertinent information/stories) and the trial days.

It was a bit hard to hear the case against her at times because so many women have been put down or written off solely for being women in the world today. It makes you wonder how well you would handle such a situation.

Thanks to the author, Tonya Mitchell, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this arc audiobook of The Arsenic Eater’s Wife!

TW: self-harm and dv

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this one. The writing was beautiful and the story was intense, sad, and so unfair. Until Constance took back her power✊

[Shirley Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gothic tale of a woman (unjustly) prosecuted for her husband’s murder, keeps the reader off balance with its dark twists, deceits, and fogged reality. The novel (inspired by the story of the first American woman to be sentenced to hang in England), follows Florence Sullivan, the trusting protagonist, as she is wrenched from the comforts of her upper class life in Liverpool, England into an unrelenting nightmare. Nothing is as it seems. Tonya Mitchell weaves the story from the moment Florence Sullivan wakes in a fog to find she is being arrested for her husband’s murder. Mitchell takes us through the travesty of Sullivan’s trial, while deftly uncovering the truth of her five-year marriage and the company she keeps. Mitchell’s flair for historical detail (she had me at Valentine’s Meat Juice), and her beautifully wrought descriptions of the depths of Florence’s ordeal are worth the price of admission. Taken as a whole, the book is a gripping historical whodunnit dripping with atmospheric flair.

[Robin Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical murder mysteries don't get any better than this. From the opening pages to the chilling denouement on the fog shrouded docks of Edwardian Liverpool I was totally hooked.
The author uses a real life court case in Liverpool in the 1880s as the inspiration to her novel. She shines a light on the way in which women were treated in Victorian England and how different legal rules applied to them even when seeking divorce from an unfaithful and/or violent husband.
Constance Sullivan is a very powerful character and her plight at the hands of those who sought to frame her for murder is written with razor-sharp precision.
The slums of Liverpool are drawn with an emotive skill providing a gothic backdrop of brooding menace and the conditions inside Victorian prisons are brutal and disturbing in their realism.
A triumphant achievement.

[Keeley Ribchester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Constance 17 falls in love with the 40 year old William on a 10 day voyage from Virgina to Liverpool. They disembark the ship in love and betrothed to each other. Little did Constance know that years down the line she would find herself standing in the dock accused of murdering her husband with Arsenic.
Living from a monthly allowance from Constance’s Mother and an inheritance from her Father William is always wanting more funds to allow him the lifestyle of entertaining, drinking and women. He has an appearance he says he needs to show to become a successful cotton broker in the city needing a valet and servants to complete the look of affluence.
Constance begins to feel neglected and blames it on pregnancies but each time William is more distant from her lying about his whereabouts and always out she decides to follow him and discovers his other life with partner Sandra and their children. This leads to Constance having a dalliance with Timothy Worth whom makes her realise she needs to divorce William.
William has an addiction to arsenic eating which Constance has worried about but doesn’t tackle the issue with him directly.
When William becomes unwell the doubt is laid at the hands of his wife. The affair with Timothy is uncovered and the divorce talk also comes out so when William dies Constance is arrested and found guilty is his murder.
Upon her release she sets to answering the questions of why and who killed William.
Based on a true story this is an enthralling story about the plight of a young woman who was treated badly as a wife and in turn accused and tried of a heinous crime she didn’t commit.
Beautifully told and totally captivating this is one not to be missed.

[Emma Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Book club book* Nothing like any book I would ever choose but I was really surprised by this! It was written really well and quite shocking the story it was based on! Author’s note at the end was interesting too, I felt really sorry for Constance/Florence, quite sad!