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The Emerald Shawl
1864, Bristol, England
The seamstress is found in the darkened docks, floating, silenced. Those who found her are sure it must be a tragic accident, probably the result of too many drinks in a nearby public house. But journalist Nelly Brooks recognises the dead woman immediately – Nelly has her emerald shawl in her bag.
Because they had met just one day before, when the seamstress had begged Nelly to investigate the death of the woman who’d given her that same shawl – a wealthy man’s wife. Nelly had tried to insist that her job at the newspaper is only meant to be writing about the best ways to darn a sock or to decorate a drawing room. She’s not meant to actually investigate anything. That’s a job for a man.
But the seamstress trusted her, and Nelly knows she must find out the truth. Even though her investigation will bring her up against the great and the good of the city; with connections that go as high as the crown. And she will have nothing but her wits to ensure she does not become a murderous man’s next victim…
Bestselling author Louise Douglas returns with darkly gothic historical novel of love, murder, madness and secrets, perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, Lucinda Riley and Jane Eyre.
The seamstress is found in the darkened docks, floating, silenced. Those who found her are sure it must be a tragic accident, probably the result of too many drinks in a nearby public house. But journalist Nelly Brooks recognises the dead woman immediately – Nelly has her emerald shawl in her bag.
Because they had met just one day before, when the seamstress had begged Nelly to investigate the death of the woman who’d given her that same shawl – a wealthy man’s wife. Nelly had tried to insist that her job at the newspaper is only meant to be writing about the best ways to darn a sock or to decorate a drawing room. She’s not meant to actually investigate anything. That’s a job for a man.
But the seamstress trusted her, and Nelly knows she must find out the truth. Even though her investigation will bring her up against the great and the good of the city; with connections that go as high as the crown. And she will have nothing but her wits to ensure she does not become a murderous man’s next victim…
Bestselling author Louise Douglas returns with darkly gothic historical novel of love, murder, madness and secrets, perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, Lucinda Riley and Jane Eyre.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2025
1026 people are currently reading
181 people want to read
About the author
Louise Douglas
32 books842 followersHello and thank you for visiting my profile page. I write contemporary Gothic novels which are usually inspired by places close to where I live in the Mendips, close to Bristol in the UK, or by places I've visited, especially Italy and Sicily. The House by the Sea won the Jackie Collins Romantic Suspense Award in 2021. The Love of My Life, my first book, was longlisted for the Romantic Novel of the Year Award. My second book, Missing You, won the RNA Readers' Choice Award, and my third, The Secrets Between Us was a 2012 Richard and Judy Summer Read.
The next book, The Room in the Attic is due to be published in October 2021 and is a ghost story set in a Victorian asylum-turned-boarding school on Dartmoor.
If you'd like to connect, you'll find me on Facebook Louise Amy Douglas or Twitter: @LouiseDouglas3.
The next book, The Room in the Attic is due to be published in October 2021 and is a ghost story set in a Victorian asylum-turned-boarding school on Dartmoor.
If you'd like to connect, you'll find me on Facebook Louise Amy Douglas or Twitter: @LouiseDouglas3.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
July 16, 2025
A different type of book from Louise but, nevertheless very enjoyable. It had me hooked quickly and I was desperate to find out who committed the murder. Set in days gone by this was very atmospheric. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher's for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
July 30, 2025
I’d forgotten how much I love reading Louise Douglas! I’ve read four of her books and particularly enjoyed the du Maurier-inspired The Secrets Between Us, but then I seemed to lose track and missed all of her more recent ones. The Emerald Shawl turned out to be the perfect choice for my return to her work.
The novel opens in Bristol in 1864, with journalist Nelly Brooks meeting a woman in a green shawl by the docks. Nelly’s ‘journalism’ amounts to writing a women’s column for the Courier, giving advice on cooking, cleaning and decorating, which is all her editor will allow her to do. She hasn’t given up on her dream of becoming a serious news reporter like her male colleagues, however, and when Eliza Morgan, the woman in the shawl, tells her of the murder of the wife and newborn child of an important man, Nelly is sure she’s found the story she’s been hoping for. When Eliza herself is found floating lifeless in the river the next day, Nelly doesn’t believe the verdict that it was an accidental drowning. She’s convinced that Eliza was murdered and that she is the only person who may be able to find out who killed her.
The mystery is the main focus of the book, but Nelly’s personal life is also interesting. Having become pregnant at the age of fifteen, she spent several years in an asylum, sent there by her parents who found it preferable to admitting that she’d had an illegitimate child. Nelly has had no contact with her daughter – or her parents – since the baby was removed from her after the birth, but she has now discovered that twelve-year-old Hannah is attending a school near Nelly’s place of work. As well as investigating Eliza’s death, Nelly also sets out to find a way to bring Hannah back into her life.
The characters in the book range from the very wealthy, such as the politician Sir Edward Fairfield and his wife, for whom Eliza Morgan worked as a seamstress, to the working class Skinners, who are drawn into the mystery when their daughter’s body is stolen from the morgue. Although both families live in Bristol, they may as well be in different worlds and Nelly has to navigate between the two.
I found it interesting to learn after finishing the book that Douglas based Nelly’s character on the American journalist Nellie Bly, who went undercover to report on conditions inside a mental institution. The fictional Nelly’s own experience of mental institutions allows Douglas to explore issues around mental health and how ‘insanity’ could be used as a convenient way of dealing with people seen as problematic. I also loved the Victorian Bristol setting, which made a nice change from the usual Victorian London settings! The building of the Clifton Suspension Bridge is completed during the course of the novel, an important event in Bristol’s history which helps set the story in a wider historical context.
I hope Louise Douglas will return to Nelly Brooks in a future book as I think there’s a lot of scope to do more with the character. If not, I still have plenty of her earlier novels to enjoy!
The novel opens in Bristol in 1864, with journalist Nelly Brooks meeting a woman in a green shawl by the docks. Nelly’s ‘journalism’ amounts to writing a women’s column for the Courier, giving advice on cooking, cleaning and decorating, which is all her editor will allow her to do. She hasn’t given up on her dream of becoming a serious news reporter like her male colleagues, however, and when Eliza Morgan, the woman in the shawl, tells her of the murder of the wife and newborn child of an important man, Nelly is sure she’s found the story she’s been hoping for. When Eliza herself is found floating lifeless in the river the next day, Nelly doesn’t believe the verdict that it was an accidental drowning. She’s convinced that Eliza was murdered and that she is the only person who may be able to find out who killed her.
The mystery is the main focus of the book, but Nelly’s personal life is also interesting. Having become pregnant at the age of fifteen, she spent several years in an asylum, sent there by her parents who found it preferable to admitting that she’d had an illegitimate child. Nelly has had no contact with her daughter – or her parents – since the baby was removed from her after the birth, but she has now discovered that twelve-year-old Hannah is attending a school near Nelly’s place of work. As well as investigating Eliza’s death, Nelly also sets out to find a way to bring Hannah back into her life.
The characters in the book range from the very wealthy, such as the politician Sir Edward Fairfield and his wife, for whom Eliza Morgan worked as a seamstress, to the working class Skinners, who are drawn into the mystery when their daughter’s body is stolen from the morgue. Although both families live in Bristol, they may as well be in different worlds and Nelly has to navigate between the two.
I found it interesting to learn after finishing the book that Douglas based Nelly’s character on the American journalist Nellie Bly, who went undercover to report on conditions inside a mental institution. The fictional Nelly’s own experience of mental institutions allows Douglas to explore issues around mental health and how ‘insanity’ could be used as a convenient way of dealing with people seen as problematic. I also loved the Victorian Bristol setting, which made a nice change from the usual Victorian London settings! The building of the Clifton Suspension Bridge is completed during the course of the novel, an important event in Bristol’s history which helps set the story in a wider historical context.
I hope Louise Douglas will return to Nelly Brooks in a future book as I think there’s a lot of scope to do more with the character. If not, I still have plenty of her earlier novels to enjoy!
June 9, 2025
Words cannot describe what I felt for this work of art that this novel is. The Emerald Shawl is a brilliant Victorian Era mystery that has a female reporter who dabbles in detective work and has some of the mannerisms of the famous reporter Nellie Bly. I will admit I was on the edge of my seat many times because I was worried that someone else would end up getting killed or even our heroine herself would meet her end. Thankfully it never came to that situation and everything turned out okay in the end.
Our main character is Nelly Brooks who is the first female reporter for her town newspaper. Now Nellie has had a very difficult life what with her parents putting her an asylum as a teenager. Thankfully her aunt managed to get her out. One day she is approached by a woman who has information that the wife of an aristocrat was actually murdered and didn't die in childbirth.
However, shortly after this conversation the woman is found dead. Nelly wants to investigate some more but is discouraged to do so because they don't allow female reporters to investigate murders. Although she does manage to get some help from another reporter named Will to investigate.
Nelly also finds the opportunity to sneak into the manor house undetected. Although does come close to getting caught but manages to sneak out with some very important evidence. As they come across more details they start to wonder what truly happened and eventually the truth to everything does come to light.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.
Our main character is Nelly Brooks who is the first female reporter for her town newspaper. Now Nellie has had a very difficult life what with her parents putting her an asylum as a teenager. Thankfully her aunt managed to get her out. One day she is approached by a woman who has information that the wife of an aristocrat was actually murdered and didn't die in childbirth.
However, shortly after this conversation the woman is found dead. Nelly wants to investigate some more but is discouraged to do so because they don't allow female reporters to investigate murders. Although she does manage to get some help from another reporter named Will to investigate.
Nelly also finds the opportunity to sneak into the manor house undetected. Although does come close to getting caught but manages to sneak out with some very important evidence. As they come across more details they start to wonder what truly happened and eventually the truth to everything does come to light.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.
August 13, 2025
I always enjoy Louise’s books and this is a super historical mystery with an engaging and sympathetic character at its heart. Nelly has such a sad backstory, being placed in an asylum for the ‘crime’ of having a child at 15. Despite this awful start she starts to rebuild her life and when her job as a reporter on a local paper leads her to a suspicious death and murder, she has to investigate, putting herself in danger. I loved the characters of Nelly, her colleague Will and her landladies who showed her nothing but kindness.
The descriptions of Bristol in the 1800’s gave the story an atmospheric feel and it was easy to visualise the slums and the dirt with the stench pervading everything. A fantastic evocative story which also showed a different side to Nelly when dealing with difficult family matters. I was totally invested in Nelly’s life and rooting for her all the way. I would love to see a follow up story featuring Nelly.
The descriptions of Bristol in the 1800’s gave the story an atmospheric feel and it was easy to visualise the slums and the dirt with the stench pervading everything. A fantastic evocative story which also showed a different side to Nelly when dealing with difficult family matters. I was totally invested in Nelly’s life and rooting for her all the way. I would love to see a follow up story featuring Nelly.
September 18, 2025
Nelly Brooks is a reporter for the Bristol Herald, she’s usually tasked with writing the female columns, writing simple articles about decorating your home, darning, etc. However she’s desperate to be allowed to investigate and write a proper story, when Seamstress Eliza contacts her and asks her to meet, she tells her about a wealthy woman who has been killed by her husband and begs her to investigate and bring him to justice. She doesn’t give away too many details promising to meet her the next day to share the diary the wife has written detailing everything the husband has put her through. She hurries away, leaving behind an Emerald Shawl she claimed the Wife had given her . Unfortunately the 2nd meeting doesn’t take place as Eliza is found drowned the very next day.
Nelly’s interest is peaked and she cannot get this awful feeling that Elsie was telling the truth and has also been murdered out of her mind. She begins to investigate and soon gets the feeling she is being followed. When she believes she has discovered the identity of the wife, she then comes face to face with her husband Edward Fairfield,ma prominent politician. He makes some veiled threats and Nelly is even more convinced he has done harm to his wife, who supposedly died in Childbirth
I’ve enjoyed many of Louise’s books and this one was no different. Her descriptions of each character brought them all to life, the detailed description of Bristol made the setting perfect.
I loved the character Nelly and her colleagues and was totally invested in this story and how things developed. I would absolutely love a follow up to this story as I felt several characters had more to tell and I would love to know how things turned out for them all
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this title
Nelly’s interest is peaked and she cannot get this awful feeling that Elsie was telling the truth and has also been murdered out of her mind. She begins to investigate and soon gets the feeling she is being followed. When she believes she has discovered the identity of the wife, she then comes face to face with her husband Edward Fairfield,ma prominent politician. He makes some veiled threats and Nelly is even more convinced he has done harm to his wife, who supposedly died in Childbirth
I’ve enjoyed many of Louise’s books and this one was no different. Her descriptions of each character brought them all to life, the detailed description of Bristol made the setting perfect.
I loved the character Nelly and her colleagues and was totally invested in this story and how things developed. I would absolutely love a follow up to this story as I felt several characters had more to tell and I would love to know how things turned out for them all
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this title
July 31, 2025
1864 in Bristol, England
Nelly was a reporter, but she was given the column to write about women, not exciting stories of everyday life.
When she received news of the murder, she knew it was the story of a lifetime. A story that could change everything in her life. She might even get her daughter, Harriet, back.
Nelly met with Eliza, who told her that the wife and baby of a prominent man had been murdered. When Eliza's body was found in the river the next day, Nelly knew she had to investigate both cases.
Little did she know, however, that she would put herself in danger and even lose her daughter before she could get her back.
Nelly was persistent, ambitious, and dreamed of reclaiming her daughter, who had been taken from her shortly after birth. She was only fifteen when her family took Harriet away and sent Nellie to a mental institution.
This was the story of a woman who fought for her daughter, for her dreams, for justice, and for the truth.
It was an interesting and quick read. This book captivated me enough that I couldn't put it down. I was expecting a more gothic atmosphere and some kind of suspenseful twist that would have added a bit more depth to the story.
Would I recommend this book to others? Yes. If you like mysteries, you'll definitely enjoy it.
Nelly was a reporter, but she was given the column to write about women, not exciting stories of everyday life.
When she received news of the murder, she knew it was the story of a lifetime. A story that could change everything in her life. She might even get her daughter, Harriet, back.
Nelly met with Eliza, who told her that the wife and baby of a prominent man had been murdered. When Eliza's body was found in the river the next day, Nelly knew she had to investigate both cases.
Little did she know, however, that she would put herself in danger and even lose her daughter before she could get her back.
Nelly was persistent, ambitious, and dreamed of reclaiming her daughter, who had been taken from her shortly after birth. She was only fifteen when her family took Harriet away and sent Nellie to a mental institution.
This was the story of a woman who fought for her daughter, for her dreams, for justice, and for the truth.
It was an interesting and quick read. This book captivated me enough that I couldn't put it down. I was expecting a more gothic atmosphere and some kind of suspenseful twist that would have added a bit more depth to the story.
Would I recommend this book to others? Yes. If you like mysteries, you'll definitely enjoy it.
August 1, 2025
Set in Victorian Bristol, The Emerald Shawl is a superb novel full of mystery, suspense and investigative charm.
The author has so accurately depicted the world in which women lived in this era. Women didn’t have choices; their paths were directed by men (their fathers and husbands) and by societal expectations.
I was rooting for Nelly throughout the entire book. She is such an endearing character, who has suffered injustices of her own, yet she has a determined spirit, a strong sense of independence and a desire to help others.
The author’s writing is so atmospheric. I was able to feel a vivid sense of time and place in the darkness of Bristol’s docks, the eerie silence of Arnos Vale cemetery, and the old corridors of Mordaunt Hall.
The plot is so cleverly crafted and I was as keen as Nelly to uncover the truth.
The Emerald Shawl is a real page-turner and I loved it!
Thank you to Boldwood Books for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The author has so accurately depicted the world in which women lived in this era. Women didn’t have choices; their paths were directed by men (their fathers and husbands) and by societal expectations.
I was rooting for Nelly throughout the entire book. She is such an endearing character, who has suffered injustices of her own, yet she has a determined spirit, a strong sense of independence and a desire to help others.
The author’s writing is so atmospheric. I was able to feel a vivid sense of time and place in the darkness of Bristol’s docks, the eerie silence of Arnos Vale cemetery, and the old corridors of Mordaunt Hall.
The plot is so cleverly crafted and I was as keen as Nelly to uncover the truth.
The Emerald Shawl is a real page-turner and I loved it!
Thank you to Boldwood Books for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 17, 2025
This story ticked all the boxes for me; 1860s England, a mystery with great characters, easy to follow, and a great wrap-up. Not only was this an enjoyable read, it explored the hardships for women during their childbearing years and how women were at the mercy of the men around them. I highly recommend it!
Thank you, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this ARC.
Thank you, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this ARC.
August 10, 2025
The Emerald Shawl
By: Louise Douglas
5 Stars
Nelly knows her fair share of pain. She was in an asylum for 10 years for having a child at a young age. Now, she is out, thanks to an aunt. She has a home and a job at the paper. She becomes embroiled in a mystery when a woman comes in spouting a crazy tale, then ends up dead. Soon, Nelly is onto the story of her life following a prominent man and the death of his young wife and child. This story leads Nelly and everyone she is close to on a journey steeped in danger.
This was such a complex story. It was about Nelly and her child, while also being about Nelly and the time she spent in the asylum. Then, It was also a great murder mystery that is steeped in danger, drama, and mysticism. This was a story that was descriptive and intriguing. It captivates from the beginning. It was filled with so much history, and It had so much emotion. This was a great book that really had all my favorite things. Emotions, history, drama, romance, danger, I mean, what more can a reader ask for in a good book? I have learned that this author always delivers a moving story. I have become quite the fan.
*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*
Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Reviews
By: Louise Douglas
5 Stars
Nelly knows her fair share of pain. She was in an asylum for 10 years for having a child at a young age. Now, she is out, thanks to an aunt. She has a home and a job at the paper. She becomes embroiled in a mystery when a woman comes in spouting a crazy tale, then ends up dead. Soon, Nelly is onto the story of her life following a prominent man and the death of his young wife and child. This story leads Nelly and everyone she is close to on a journey steeped in danger.
This was such a complex story. It was about Nelly and her child, while also being about Nelly and the time she spent in the asylum. Then, It was also a great murder mystery that is steeped in danger, drama, and mysticism. This was a story that was descriptive and intriguing. It captivates from the beginning. It was filled with so much history, and It had so much emotion. This was a great book that really had all my favorite things. Emotions, history, drama, romance, danger, I mean, what more can a reader ask for in a good book? I have learned that this author always delivers a moving story. I have become quite the fan.
*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*
Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Reviews
October 7, 2025
An intriguing read
I enjoyed this book however I felt it was rather slow to start.An interesting story involving the treatment and attitudes, towards women in this era,by men .
I enjoyed this book however I felt it was rather slow to start.An interesting story involving the treatment and attitudes, towards women in this era,by men .
July 31, 2025
An absolutely terrific read - exactly what I would expect from this author.
In the second half of the nineteenth century, Nelly is breaking stereotypes by getting a job at the local paper. Although she is kept firmly in her place writing for the women's pages, she is contacted by a young woman with a story for her. When the same person turns up floating in the docks the next day, Nelly finds that she can't let it go - not even when she knows it's not the kind of story the paper will let her write . . .
I'm a firm fan of all of this author's novels. At the start of each one, I know I'm in for a treat and this one did not disappoint. I read on long after I should have been in the land of nod and couldn't wait to continue the next day. A beautiful read, well written with a great cast of characters and a firm storyline. Highly recommended and most definitely meriting all five glowing stars.
In the second half of the nineteenth century, Nelly is breaking stereotypes by getting a job at the local paper. Although she is kept firmly in her place writing for the women's pages, she is contacted by a young woman with a story for her. When the same person turns up floating in the docks the next day, Nelly finds that she can't let it go - not even when she knows it's not the kind of story the paper will let her write . . .
I'm a firm fan of all of this author's novels. At the start of each one, I know I'm in for a treat and this one did not disappoint. I read on long after I should have been in the land of nod and couldn't wait to continue the next day. A beautiful read, well written with a great cast of characters and a firm storyline. Highly recommended and most definitely meriting all five glowing stars.
July 31, 2025
This was a good mystery full of surprises. I liked Nelly and her determination to get to the bottom of things. The story did seem to be a little too long and dragged at times. I did still enjoy the story and want to know what happens to Nelly and her life.
August 25, 2025
Overall, I thought The Emerald Shawl by Louise Douglas* was a light easy read, with a quick paced mystery of murder, abuse, betrayal, and secrets; which wraps up this case neatly by the end, but also leaves the door open for possible future investigations.
My Rating: Good ❤️❤️
My full review: https://thebookwormchronicles.wordpre...
*I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from Boldwood Books, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.
My Rating: Good ❤️❤️
My full review: https://thebookwormchronicles.wordpre...
*I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from Boldwood Books, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 25, 2025
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy of this novel.
The emerald shawl of the title is the principal key to the mystery that young reporter Nelly Brooks, hired by the Bristol Courier to report on domestic issues, sets out to solve. It was gifted to seamstress Eliza Morgan, who sewed for the beautiful young wife of a nasty member of the House of Lords. Pregnant with the child that the much older Earl desperately wanted—in hopes that the baby would be his sole male heir after the death of his first wife—she died suddenly in childbirth. The baby boy was stillborn. This was in no way unusual in Victorian Britain, especially in filthy industrial towns like Bristol. Nelly agreed to meet Eliza at a dockside tavern, where, while drinking heavily, she related her suspicions that both wives and the baby were murdered.
Abject poverty had made Eliza shrewd and quick to demand a fair price. Known to have a drinking problem, she had several gins on Nelly’s bill during their meeting, but revealed only a few select details. The bait was a promise to turn over the deceased woman’s diary for a price far higher than Nelly could afford. But a story like this one, if the promised evidence was in hand, could elevate Nelly’s career. She could finally put aside the stultifying writing of trite household advice to entice middle-class women to read their husbands’ newspaper.
They agreed to meet again when Nelly had found a way to meet the price. Eliza departed for another appointment, forgetting the shawl. Nelly took it home, thinking to return it quickly. The next morning, Elizabeth was identified as the drowned, probably drunk, woman who had fallen into the dirty waters of the dock only steps from the tavern. This story also made perfect sense. But not for Nelly. Did someone go after Eliza to shut her up about the earl’s dead wife and child? Perhaps about both dead wives? What role did the earl’s adult stepdaughter, inherited from his first marriage, have in all this? Was Nelly now also in danger?
By making her one of Britain’s first female journalists, the author is modelling her Nelly Brooks on the famous historical character Nellie Bly. Bly was an intrepid reporter, women’s rights supporter, and champion of better treatment of the poor, especially mothers and children. Like Nelly Brooks, she was also ruthless in her pursuit and exposure of the truth.
It is this dogged determination that propels Nelly. She had suffered her own loss of a child, born to her at the age of 15, to be raised by her well-off parents as their own. When she told her parents of her plan to support herself and take back her baby, they spirited the child to a hidden location and cut off all contact with her. Finding her daughter, almost ten by the time Nelly has settled in Bristol, becomes another of the mysteries that she is driven to unravel.
And then there is the handsome young reporter who shows her great kindness in the office and would like to be her friend as well as her colleague. She likes him but, not surprisingly, doesn’t want romantic involvement. She also wonders whether his offers of help in finding out whether the suspected murders were connected and why, and whether the earl was behind one or both, are just his attempts to ‘scoop’ her story in the highly competitive press environment.
These interwoven strands make the book suspenseful and compelling but they are also somewhat confusing for a short novel. In particular, the heartbreaking story about the search for her daughter takes the reader away from the main story. But the character of Nellie Brooks, as well as the setting of the misogynistic press and the larger society, are so finely drawn that I can highly recommend this excellent historical mystery.
The emerald shawl of the title is the principal key to the mystery that young reporter Nelly Brooks, hired by the Bristol Courier to report on domestic issues, sets out to solve. It was gifted to seamstress Eliza Morgan, who sewed for the beautiful young wife of a nasty member of the House of Lords. Pregnant with the child that the much older Earl desperately wanted—in hopes that the baby would be his sole male heir after the death of his first wife—she died suddenly in childbirth. The baby boy was stillborn. This was in no way unusual in Victorian Britain, especially in filthy industrial towns like Bristol. Nelly agreed to meet Eliza at a dockside tavern, where, while drinking heavily, she related her suspicions that both wives and the baby were murdered.
Abject poverty had made Eliza shrewd and quick to demand a fair price. Known to have a drinking problem, she had several gins on Nelly’s bill during their meeting, but revealed only a few select details. The bait was a promise to turn over the deceased woman’s diary for a price far higher than Nelly could afford. But a story like this one, if the promised evidence was in hand, could elevate Nelly’s career. She could finally put aside the stultifying writing of trite household advice to entice middle-class women to read their husbands’ newspaper.
They agreed to meet again when Nelly had found a way to meet the price. Eliza departed for another appointment, forgetting the shawl. Nelly took it home, thinking to return it quickly. The next morning, Elizabeth was identified as the drowned, probably drunk, woman who had fallen into the dirty waters of the dock only steps from the tavern. This story also made perfect sense. But not for Nelly. Did someone go after Eliza to shut her up about the earl’s dead wife and child? Perhaps about both dead wives? What role did the earl’s adult stepdaughter, inherited from his first marriage, have in all this? Was Nelly now also in danger?
By making her one of Britain’s first female journalists, the author is modelling her Nelly Brooks on the famous historical character Nellie Bly. Bly was an intrepid reporter, women’s rights supporter, and champion of better treatment of the poor, especially mothers and children. Like Nelly Brooks, she was also ruthless in her pursuit and exposure of the truth.
It is this dogged determination that propels Nelly. She had suffered her own loss of a child, born to her at the age of 15, to be raised by her well-off parents as their own. When she told her parents of her plan to support herself and take back her baby, they spirited the child to a hidden location and cut off all contact with her. Finding her daughter, almost ten by the time Nelly has settled in Bristol, becomes another of the mysteries that she is driven to unravel.
And then there is the handsome young reporter who shows her great kindness in the office and would like to be her friend as well as her colleague. She likes him but, not surprisingly, doesn’t want romantic involvement. She also wonders whether his offers of help in finding out whether the suspected murders were connected and why, and whether the earl was behind one or both, are just his attempts to ‘scoop’ her story in the highly competitive press environment.
These interwoven strands make the book suspenseful and compelling but they are also somewhat confusing for a short novel. In particular, the heartbreaking story about the search for her daughter takes the reader away from the main story. But the character of Nellie Brooks, as well as the setting of the misogynistic press and the larger society, are so finely drawn that I can highly recommend this excellent historical mystery.
July 25, 2025
Brief synopsis from the book cover:
1864, Bristol, England
The seamstress is found in the darkened docks, floating, silenced. Those who found her are sure it must be a tragic accident, probably the result of too many drinks in a nearby public house. But journalist Nelly Brooks recognises the dead woman immediately – Nelly has her emerald shawl in her bag.
Because they had met just one day before, when the seamstress had begged Nelly to investigate the death of the woman who’d given her that same shawl – a wealthy man’s wife. Nelly had tried to insist that her job at the newspaper is only meant to be writing about the best ways to darn a sock or to decorate a drawing room. She’s not meant to actually investigate anything. That’s a job for a man.
But the seamstress trusted her, and Nelly knows she must find out the truth. Even though her investigation will bring her up against the great and the good of the city; with connections that go as high as the crown. And she will have nothing but her wits to ensure she does not become a murderous man’s next victim…
My rating:
Plot: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Writing: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Character development: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Recommended for readers of:
Historical Fiction
Mystery and Suspense
Review:
This book takes you back to the Edwardian England a very different time where women still had few rights. The main character Nelly Brooks is a strong woman who is determent to forge a life for herself despite the restrictions and limits set by society or her job.. As one of the few female reporters of the time with a strong sense of justice, she is determent to investigate when a source tells her about a possible murder cover up, Things turn more serious when the source is found dead the next day.
The book is well written, atmospheric and full of intrigue. The story flows well and has the right amount of mystery and suspense that makes it hard to put the book down. The characters are well developed; their personalities were explained with enough detail so that they felt realistic.
Overall:
This is an interesting story that captures you from the beginning, with realistic characters and the right amount of mystery and suspense.
Review copy provided through Netgalley at no cost to me.
1864, Bristol, England
The seamstress is found in the darkened docks, floating, silenced. Those who found her are sure it must be a tragic accident, probably the result of too many drinks in a nearby public house. But journalist Nelly Brooks recognises the dead woman immediately – Nelly has her emerald shawl in her bag.
Because they had met just one day before, when the seamstress had begged Nelly to investigate the death of the woman who’d given her that same shawl – a wealthy man’s wife. Nelly had tried to insist that her job at the newspaper is only meant to be writing about the best ways to darn a sock or to decorate a drawing room. She’s not meant to actually investigate anything. That’s a job for a man.
But the seamstress trusted her, and Nelly knows she must find out the truth. Even though her investigation will bring her up against the great and the good of the city; with connections that go as high as the crown. And she will have nothing but her wits to ensure she does not become a murderous man’s next victim…
My rating:
Plot: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Writing: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Character development: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Recommended for readers of:
Historical Fiction
Mystery and Suspense
Review:
This book takes you back to the Edwardian England a very different time where women still had few rights. The main character Nelly Brooks is a strong woman who is determent to forge a life for herself despite the restrictions and limits set by society or her job.. As one of the few female reporters of the time with a strong sense of justice, she is determent to investigate when a source tells her about a possible murder cover up, Things turn more serious when the source is found dead the next day.
The book is well written, atmospheric and full of intrigue. The story flows well and has the right amount of mystery and suspense that makes it hard to put the book down. The characters are well developed; their personalities were explained with enough detail so that they felt realistic.
Overall:
This is an interesting story that captures you from the beginning, with realistic characters and the right amount of mystery and suspense.
Review copy provided through Netgalley at no cost to me.
July 31, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)
The Emerald Shawl is a rich, atmospheric historical mystery with a strong, determined heroine you can’t help but root for. Set in 1864 Bristol, this book follows Nelly Brooks, a young reporter stuck writing a women’s column- until a mysterious woman in a green shawl brings her a story too big to ignore: a supposed childbirth death that may actually be murder. When that same woman is found dead the next day, Nelly refuses to let it go, even if it means putting her own life, and her hopes of reuniting with her estranged daughter, at risk.
What makes this story shine isn’t just the twisty murder plot (though that kept me turning the pages), but Nelly herself. She’s a mix of grit, vulnerability, and relentless drive. Her past, being institutionalized as a teen for getting pregnant, losing her daughter, and being constantly dismissed in a man’s world, adds real emotional weight to the story. Her journey to find the truth and reclaim her own life is as compelling as the mystery she’s trying to solve.
I also loved the setting, Victorian Bristol is beautifully drawn, and it’s refreshing to get a break from the usual London backdrop. There’s a great balance of social commentary, suspense, and character-driven storytelling. While the pacing lagged just slightly in the middle and I wouldn’t have minded a touch more gothic atmosphere, it was still a satisfying, immersive read.
Highly recommend this one if you like historical fiction with smart, resilient female leads, a bit of danger, and a mystery that unfolds at just the right pace. I’d definitely read more Nelly Brooks if this turns into a series, she’s a character with more stories to tell.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Emerald Shawl is a rich, atmospheric historical mystery with a strong, determined heroine you can’t help but root for. Set in 1864 Bristol, this book follows Nelly Brooks, a young reporter stuck writing a women’s column- until a mysterious woman in a green shawl brings her a story too big to ignore: a supposed childbirth death that may actually be murder. When that same woman is found dead the next day, Nelly refuses to let it go, even if it means putting her own life, and her hopes of reuniting with her estranged daughter, at risk.
What makes this story shine isn’t just the twisty murder plot (though that kept me turning the pages), but Nelly herself. She’s a mix of grit, vulnerability, and relentless drive. Her past, being institutionalized as a teen for getting pregnant, losing her daughter, and being constantly dismissed in a man’s world, adds real emotional weight to the story. Her journey to find the truth and reclaim her own life is as compelling as the mystery she’s trying to solve.
I also loved the setting, Victorian Bristol is beautifully drawn, and it’s refreshing to get a break from the usual London backdrop. There’s a great balance of social commentary, suspense, and character-driven storytelling. While the pacing lagged just slightly in the middle and I wouldn’t have minded a touch more gothic atmosphere, it was still a satisfying, immersive read.
Highly recommend this one if you like historical fiction with smart, resilient female leads, a bit of danger, and a mystery that unfolds at just the right pace. I’d definitely read more Nelly Brooks if this turns into a series, she’s a character with more stories to tell.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 22, 2025
The Emerald Shawl is a novel set in Victorian England. Nelly, an aspiring journalist, acquires the shawl, when its owner leaves it behind, after telling Nelly that she has heard that a high ranking gentleman had murdered his wife and new born baby. The very next day Nelly witnesses the woman's lifeless body being pulled out of the docks. Nelly is determined to investigate, despite the consequences being potentially devastating for Nelly herself as she has been rescued by her aunt from an asylum, after her parents at fifteen for giving brith to an illegitimate child. The child is in potential peril also, as her parents have sent her to a reform school, which by coincidence, is in the same town where Nelly is working.
I enjoyed this novel. I am not a great fan of historical novels, but this piqued my interest. The way in which women were at the mercy of their parents and their husbands in times gone past is eye opening and disturbing, with the options open to them being narrow and challenging, and then only if they went against societal norms. However, the mystery at the heart of this novel is well written too and drew me in. I was sorry about some aspects of the endings, but my preferred ending is probably too saccharine and sentimental and not true to the period! Definitely recommended.
I enjoyed this novel. I am not a great fan of historical novels, but this piqued my interest. The way in which women were at the mercy of their parents and their husbands in times gone past is eye opening and disturbing, with the options open to them being narrow and challenging, and then only if they went against societal norms. However, the mystery at the heart of this novel is well written too and drew me in. I was sorry about some aspects of the endings, but my preferred ending is probably too saccharine and sentimental and not true to the period! Definitely recommended.
June 25, 2025
Thanks to Louise and NetGalley for allowing me to read The Emerald Shawl before the publication date.
The setting for this book is Bristol in 1864, with bustling docks , dirty cobbles, dark narrow alleys and families crowded into insanitary accommodation. Money talks and corruption is rife.
It explores the culture of the era, particularly women’s rights, or rather the lack thereof.
The characters are many and varied, some with colourful backstories, others with very sad lives.
The central character is Nelly Brooks, the first woman reporter at the Courier, albeit that her role is to write articles which will appeal to the women readers (heaven forbid that she should even consider writing about something serious or might upset the sensibilities of the women readers, although I doubt that anyone actually asked the readers for their opinion).
Nelly has a disturbing history before arriving at the Courier and that will impact on her decisions. Her saving grace is her aunt Angela, aka Angel, who, with her wisdom and kind heart, will always be there for Nelly.
Louise has introduced a tiny bit of humour in what is a very sad story by using names for a couple of the characters which reflect their responsibilities ( i.e. Mr Snitch, the timekeeper and Mr Cuddy, the coachman).
I hope that this might be the start of a series.
The setting for this book is Bristol in 1864, with bustling docks , dirty cobbles, dark narrow alleys and families crowded into insanitary accommodation. Money talks and corruption is rife.
It explores the culture of the era, particularly women’s rights, or rather the lack thereof.
The characters are many and varied, some with colourful backstories, others with very sad lives.
The central character is Nelly Brooks, the first woman reporter at the Courier, albeit that her role is to write articles which will appeal to the women readers (heaven forbid that she should even consider writing about something serious or might upset the sensibilities of the women readers, although I doubt that anyone actually asked the readers for their opinion).
Nelly has a disturbing history before arriving at the Courier and that will impact on her decisions. Her saving grace is her aunt Angela, aka Angel, who, with her wisdom and kind heart, will always be there for Nelly.
Louise has introduced a tiny bit of humour in what is a very sad story by using names for a couple of the characters which reflect their responsibilities ( i.e. Mr Snitch, the timekeeper and Mr Cuddy, the coachman).
I hope that this might be the start of a series.
August 22, 2025
In this fun new Victorian historical mystery novel, readers follow journalist Nelly Brooks as she tries to uncover the reason behind the murder of a local seamstress whose emerald shawl Nelly has in her possession. Having met the day before, the seamstress asked Nelly to investigate another woman’s (the original owner of the shawl) death, but Nelly technically isn’t supposed to investigate anything. Defying her boss and braving the risks of this unknown killer, Nelly decides to find the truth no matter who she has to confront or investigate. Packed with details, fascinating, and absolutely entertaining, readers will love the depth to this new mystery novel and its historical setting. The characters are well-written, detailed, and fascinating, and readers will really enjoy solving the mystery alongside Nelly. The mystery itself is fascinating and interesting, and the historical setting and added drama of the class and gender conflicts at play will intrigue readers. The attention to detail and the intricacy of the different storylines and threads of the mystery will keep readers on their toes throughout the book, and Louise Douglas has brought a fascinating side of 1864 Bristol to life in this new, immersive, intense, and high-stakes historical mystery novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy.
August 5, 2025
Oh my goodness, what a read – such a well-drawn historical setting, an intrepid and very sympathetic heroine in Nelly, a whole cast of characters I so enjoyed, and a real gothic chill throughout. And such a gripping story, wonderfully told – I honestly loved every moment.
Nelly had a difficult start in life – with experiences that still haunt her – spending time in an asylum until her caring aunt was able to secure her freedom. She now works on a Bristol newspaper, frustrated that her writing is confined to the women’s page. But an opportunity crosses her path when she’s approached by seamstress Eliza who tells her a horrifying story about the murder of a mother and child, convinced that her aristocratic husband was responsible. Eliza herself ends up dead – found floating in the dock – and that only increases Nelly’s appetite to uncover the truth, however dangerous that might prove to be.
She finds a friend and ally in crime reporter Will – one of the few who takes her ambitions seriously, involving her in another investigation into a missing young woman. And he’s by her side when things become even darker – she’s aware that her movements are being watched, and that she might have some powerful enemies, but she remains undeterred. And not only undeterred – she takes the most immense risks in her pursuit of the full story, endangering both her job and her life, with a range of risky actions that sometimes made me want to look away (but, of course, I didn’t – the narrative was far too gripping!).
I was firmly in Nelly’s corner throughout, with her passion to do the right thing while following her own dream – and the issues of her past, and the way they resonate throughout the story, only made me love her more. She’s very much a woman of her time, fighting against constraints and expectations – and the backdrop of 1800s Bristol, every mirky back street, the shadows hiding who-knows-what, set against the insights into others’ privileged lives, is superbly done. Although things can get a bit disturbing at times – graveyards at night tend to be that way, and perhaps more wisely avoided – the whole story manages to be tremendous fun too, the pace never easing with every new discovery. And I really loved the plotting, the way the different threads of the story were slowly pulled together by its unexpected end – storytelling at its very best.
So, something a little different this time, but still everything I love about the author’s writing. If historical and gothic are something that whet your appetite, with a substantial slice of excitement and danger, this is a book you’re going to love – and its emotional touches are equally perfectly handled. Very much recommended – and most definitely one of my books of the year.
Nelly had a difficult start in life – with experiences that still haunt her – spending time in an asylum until her caring aunt was able to secure her freedom. She now works on a Bristol newspaper, frustrated that her writing is confined to the women’s page. But an opportunity crosses her path when she’s approached by seamstress Eliza who tells her a horrifying story about the murder of a mother and child, convinced that her aristocratic husband was responsible. Eliza herself ends up dead – found floating in the dock – and that only increases Nelly’s appetite to uncover the truth, however dangerous that might prove to be.
She finds a friend and ally in crime reporter Will – one of the few who takes her ambitions seriously, involving her in another investigation into a missing young woman. And he’s by her side when things become even darker – she’s aware that her movements are being watched, and that she might have some powerful enemies, but she remains undeterred. And not only undeterred – she takes the most immense risks in her pursuit of the full story, endangering both her job and her life, with a range of risky actions that sometimes made me want to look away (but, of course, I didn’t – the narrative was far too gripping!).
I was firmly in Nelly’s corner throughout, with her passion to do the right thing while following her own dream – and the issues of her past, and the way they resonate throughout the story, only made me love her more. She’s very much a woman of her time, fighting against constraints and expectations – and the backdrop of 1800s Bristol, every mirky back street, the shadows hiding who-knows-what, set against the insights into others’ privileged lives, is superbly done. Although things can get a bit disturbing at times – graveyards at night tend to be that way, and perhaps more wisely avoided – the whole story manages to be tremendous fun too, the pace never easing with every new discovery. And I really loved the plotting, the way the different threads of the story were slowly pulled together by its unexpected end – storytelling at its very best.
So, something a little different this time, but still everything I love about the author’s writing. If historical and gothic are something that whet your appetite, with a substantial slice of excitement and danger, this is a book you’re going to love – and its emotional touches are equally perfectly handled. Very much recommended – and most definitely one of my books of the year.
July 5, 2025
Nelly Brooks is a journalist in a time when women are limited in not just professions but life. When a local seamstress comes to Nelly to report a story about a wealthy man's wife who was murdered along with her baby. When the seamstress is found dead the next day, Nelly knows she is onto a story but will she be able to investigate it as she is relegated to reporting on women's issues only. What is the truth behind the woman's death, did she die while giving birth or is there more to the story?
This was an interesting read, I liked the plot, the mystery that was involved in both the seamstress death and the death of the wealthy man's wife was well conceived. I cannot imagine the brutality of the times especially for women. The author does a great job of portraying the times and characters.
This was an interesting read, I liked the plot, the mystery that was involved in both the seamstress death and the death of the wealthy man's wife was well conceived. I cannot imagine the brutality of the times especially for women. The author does a great job of portraying the times and characters.
December 5, 2025
3.5⭐️ “Winter was here. Things always seemed worse when the days were short and the nights were long.” p 207
Louise Douglas’s books are kind of hit or miss for me but for some reason when I see one of hers available to read I am always drawn to check it out. This was a new one available with prime reading, and it sounded interesting enough so I added it to my Kindle library.
Douglas wasted no time getting into the story- the first chapter began with exactly what was going on. The chapters were short which I loved and was able to read through it pretty quickly. The middle dragged a little bit for me, with Nelly trying to gather clues about some of the things happening. And although it was necessary to the plot, it did feel slower paced at those times. The ending was good, I enjoyed the twist at the end. Overall, this one was a solid read.
June 15, 2025
Nelly Brooks has always been interested in writing and is happy to be employed at the Bristol Courier newspaper, however she's disappointed that all the editor wants from her are articles pleasing to women. In Victorian England women were seen but not heard and according to the men in their lives should only be interested in fripperies.
Until she meets Eliza Morgan, a seamstress, who tells her the tale of a titled woman murdered by her husband. Nelly takes on the story, unbeknown to her editor, but puts her life and those she loves at risk.
Nelly's character was stoic and determined, I loved how she didn't back away from the threats she received. The storyline was engaging and tense.
The setting was appropriate and descriptive
Until she meets Eliza Morgan, a seamstress, who tells her the tale of a titled woman murdered by her husband. Nelly takes on the story, unbeknown to her editor, but puts her life and those she loves at risk.
Nelly's character was stoic and determined, I loved how she didn't back away from the threats she received. The storyline was engaging and tense.
The setting was appropriate and descriptive
July 27, 2025
After a hard start following giving birth at just 15 and then being locked up by her parents, saved by her aunt. Nelly still longs for her daughter, but is determined to make her own way. She has managed to get a job working with a newspaper in Bristol. However, this is Victorian England so she is only able to write on women’s stories, not the news she wishes to cover.
One day she meets a woman with a story to tell, she is carrying a beautiful emerald shawl she was given by a young woman. This woman and her child have been killed. Nelly senses a story, even more so when the young woman is fishes out of the harbour, dead.
I enjoyed reading this book and following Nelly as she follows the story. My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.
One day she meets a woman with a story to tell, she is carrying a beautiful emerald shawl she was given by a young woman. This woman and her child have been killed. Nelly senses a story, even more so when the young woman is fishes out of the harbour, dead.
I enjoyed reading this book and following Nelly as she follows the story. My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.
September 26, 2025
📚The Emerald Shawl
✍️Louise Douglas
3⭐️
Set in 1860s Bristol, Nelly is one of the few female journalists working in the city when she is approached by a seamstress who tells a fanciful tale of dead wives, dead infants, murderous husbands and kept stepdaughters. Nelly meanwhile has a past of her own, after being committed to an asylum by her parents for a decade after falling pregnant at 15. These themes of historical feminism and the wrongs done to women were incredibly pronounced, but I felt could have been explored in more detail. The various plot strands came together well and I enjoyed the story Louise Douglas wanted to tell, I did however feel that the execution was lacking and this wasn’t as polished and seamless as her other novels.
✍️Louise Douglas
3⭐️
Set in 1860s Bristol, Nelly is one of the few female journalists working in the city when she is approached by a seamstress who tells a fanciful tale of dead wives, dead infants, murderous husbands and kept stepdaughters. Nelly meanwhile has a past of her own, after being committed to an asylum by her parents for a decade after falling pregnant at 15. These themes of historical feminism and the wrongs done to women were incredibly pronounced, but I felt could have been explored in more detail. The various plot strands came together well and I enjoyed the story Louise Douglas wanted to tell, I did however feel that the execution was lacking and this wasn’t as polished and seamless as her other novels.
December 7, 2025
ok but predictable
First, this book was very well written. There were no spelling or grammatical errors that I noticed. The characters all played apart in the end, while mingled in here and there to tell the story. The thing I didn’t care for was the lead character, Nelly, seemed so much a feminist/narcissist that she couldn’t abide by civil rules to keep a job or have a boyfriend. She was given a great opportunity, at that time, in being a journalist, yet she always felt a slight because men were holding her down (instead of being grateful that she was able to fully support herself). It ruined the story a bit for me. She came across as ungrateful even though she had risen above her former status as an institutionalized person.
First, this book was very well written. There were no spelling or grammatical errors that I noticed. The characters all played apart in the end, while mingled in here and there to tell the story. The thing I didn’t care for was the lead character, Nelly, seemed so much a feminist/narcissist that she couldn’t abide by civil rules to keep a job or have a boyfriend. She was given a great opportunity, at that time, in being a journalist, yet she always felt a slight because men were holding her down (instead of being grateful that she was able to fully support herself). It ruined the story a bit for me. She came across as ungrateful even though she had risen above her former status as an institutionalized person.
June 15, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the eARC.
This is a good book with an engaging protagonist, Nelly, in 1850's Bristol. She had a terrible past, spending10 years in an asylum when she was pregnant at the age of 15.
Now she's working as a woman reporter and feels content. When she's been told of the
possible murder of the wife and baby of an MP, Sir Edward, she decides to look into story ...
maybe she could write an article! But she soon finds herself in danger and is being followed.
Louise Douglas is one of my favorite authors, I've read all her books. This particular book wasn't as compelling, but still very enjoyable.
This is a good book with an engaging protagonist, Nelly, in 1850's Bristol. She had a terrible past, spending10 years in an asylum when she was pregnant at the age of 15.
Now she's working as a woman reporter and feels content. When she's been told of the
possible murder of the wife and baby of an MP, Sir Edward, she decides to look into story ...
maybe she could write an article! But she soon finds herself in danger and is being followed.
Louise Douglas is one of my favorite authors, I've read all her books. This particular book wasn't as compelling, but still very enjoyable.
June 29, 2025
This was a descriptive and suspenseful mystery that drew me in from the first pages. I love a strong female heroine and Nelly Brooks did not disappoint. There were certain plot twists that took me completely by surprise, and others I suspected were coming, but not in a way that diminished my enjoyment of the story. Although not everything was resolved at the end, I didn't feel that the story lacked closure. I came away satisfied that all would be well for Nelly in the future. The emerald shawl didn't play as much of a part as I thought it would, given it's the title of the book, but that was really my only disappointment. 4.5 stars.
July 8, 2025
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
This book was so good! It grabbed my attention right from the beginning. I liked the time period (1864) and all the descriptions. This is about Nelly Brooks, who is a budding journalist. It is hard for her to report on the big stories because she is a woman. She becomes involved in two mysteries-the drowning death of a seamstress and the possible murder of a young lady and her baby. Louise Douglas is an excellent author! The story is intriguing, and the characters are very well written. Highly recommend this book if you like mysteries with a gothic feel!
This book was so good! It grabbed my attention right from the beginning. I liked the time period (1864) and all the descriptions. This is about Nelly Brooks, who is a budding journalist. It is hard for her to report on the big stories because she is a woman. She becomes involved in two mysteries-the drowning death of a seamstress and the possible murder of a young lady and her baby. Louise Douglas is an excellent author! The story is intriguing, and the characters are very well written. Highly recommend this book if you like mysteries with a gothic feel!
August 2, 2025
Nelly was an ambitious young journalist whose job was writing a column for women in the local newspaper during the 1860’s, but she wants more. When she meets the woman in the emerald shawl, Eliza Morgan who tells her about a murder, she thinks it’s her big break. However, Eliza is found floating in a river the next day. Nelly is convinced she was murdered. The characters in the story came from a wide and varied background adding interest and mystery to the story. The historical setting was very interesting and I learned some new facts about the time period. I loved the mystery element of the book and thought Nelly was a great character.
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