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The House of Fallen Sisters
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Expected 12 Feb 26The exquisite new novel from bestselling author Louise Hare based in 18th century LondonDecember, 1765. In the early hours of the morning, Sukey Maynard flees her home – a brothel in Covent Garden. Her maidenhood is about to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, and she is too frightened to stay. But when she is captured and returned to the house of fallen sisters, she has a choice to make – should she stay, or should she run again?
As Sukey accepts her fate, she begins to learn how to navigate this strange new life of hers, and soon realises that there are those who wish her and her sisters harm. But this world that operates in the shadows has its own set of rules, and if Sukey is to survive then she must learn to play the game …
From the brothels of Covent Garden to the oppressive society of the eighteenth century, Louise Hare’s enthralling historical masterpiece paints a vivid picture of London’s underbelly and shows how, even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for a better future.
* * * *
As Sukey accepts her fate, she begins to learn how to navigate this strange new life of hers, and soon realises that there are those who wish her and her sisters harm. But this world that operates in the shadows has its own set of rules, and if Sukey is to survive then she must learn to play the game …
From the brothels of Covent Garden to the oppressive society of the eighteenth century, Louise Hare’s enthralling historical masterpiece paints a vivid picture of London’s underbelly and shows how, even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for a better future.
* * * *
- GenresHistorical Fiction
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 12, 2026
258 people want to read
About the author
Louise Hare
7 books297 followersLouise Hare is a London-based writer and has an MA in Creative Writing from Birkbeck, University of London. Originally from Warrington, the capital is the inspiration for much of her work, including This Lovely City, which began life after a trip into the deep level shelter below Clapham Common.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 21, 2025
December 1765
Young Sukey Maynard has stolen away from Mrs. Macauley’s house of ill repute in London’s Covent Garden. She comes across a badly beaten young man who she takes to Dr Sharp on Mincing Lane – two desperate souls who badly need help in an unsympathetic world. Dr Sharp helps the young man who proves to be Jonathan Strong. Sadly for Sukey, her escape from Mrs Macauley’s is short lived and she is taken back very unwillingly. Here, she knows her virginity will be auctioned off to the highest bidder – should she stay or try to run again? She accepts she has little choice as her status is low but also because of her skin tone. However, she has come to know this dark, dark underbelly of London, especially in the brothels, as they operate to their own set of rules and so she aims to set her own. Dare she be optimistic for a better future for herself?
This is a terrific novel, the storytelling is outstanding as Louise Hare makes me feel as if I’m there, so visual is the writing. It’s an absorbing read, richly atmospheric as Covent Garden and the surrounding areas spring to life. I admire the fact that the author shines a light on marginalised groups that history frequently overlooks. Included are not just the “fallen sisters“ but other groups of the poor whose freedom is not guaranteed and the cruelty that lies therein. It contrasts so strongly with the rich clients of Mrs. Macauley and others who run the brothels. Sukey is a good central character to focus the story around and I grow immensely fond of her. I love her resilience, her care for the likes of Jonathan as well as her pragmatism.
The novel really captures the times and deftly weaves with fiction. Jonathan Strong is real, as is Doctor Sharp whose brother Granville is a famous abolitionist who strikes an anti-slavery blow in a court case centred around Jonathan. The author also references Harris’s List of Covent Garden Ladies which unbelievably is also true, and is the directory of prostitutes with other information about them. I’ve always said truth is frequently stranger than fiction! The list in itself should tell you plenty about late Georgian attitudes.
What emerges is definitely harsh, it’s dark and gritty, undeniably authentic, there’s danger and cruelty with every human emotion from revenge to jealousy to love but it’s also full of heart via Sukey and other central characters. The novel twists and turns through Covent Garden to a good ending.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for the much appreciated early copy and return for an honest review.
Young Sukey Maynard has stolen away from Mrs. Macauley’s house of ill repute in London’s Covent Garden. She comes across a badly beaten young man who she takes to Dr Sharp on Mincing Lane – two desperate souls who badly need help in an unsympathetic world. Dr Sharp helps the young man who proves to be Jonathan Strong. Sadly for Sukey, her escape from Mrs Macauley’s is short lived and she is taken back very unwillingly. Here, she knows her virginity will be auctioned off to the highest bidder – should she stay or try to run again? She accepts she has little choice as her status is low but also because of her skin tone. However, she has come to know this dark, dark underbelly of London, especially in the brothels, as they operate to their own set of rules and so she aims to set her own. Dare she be optimistic for a better future for herself?
This is a terrific novel, the storytelling is outstanding as Louise Hare makes me feel as if I’m there, so visual is the writing. It’s an absorbing read, richly atmospheric as Covent Garden and the surrounding areas spring to life. I admire the fact that the author shines a light on marginalised groups that history frequently overlooks. Included are not just the “fallen sisters“ but other groups of the poor whose freedom is not guaranteed and the cruelty that lies therein. It contrasts so strongly with the rich clients of Mrs. Macauley and others who run the brothels. Sukey is a good central character to focus the story around and I grow immensely fond of her. I love her resilience, her care for the likes of Jonathan as well as her pragmatism.
The novel really captures the times and deftly weaves with fiction. Jonathan Strong is real, as is Doctor Sharp whose brother Granville is a famous abolitionist who strikes an anti-slavery blow in a court case centred around Jonathan. The author also references Harris’s List of Covent Garden Ladies which unbelievably is also true, and is the directory of prostitutes with other information about them. I’ve always said truth is frequently stranger than fiction! The list in itself should tell you plenty about late Georgian attitudes.
What emerges is definitely harsh, it’s dark and gritty, undeniably authentic, there’s danger and cruelty with every human emotion from revenge to jealousy to love but it’s also full of heart via Sukey and other central characters. The novel twists and turns through Covent Garden to a good ending.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for the much appreciated early copy and return for an honest review.
August 10, 2025
Utterly compelling, atmospheric, thrilling, and binge-worthy, The House of Fallen Sisters is a must-read for fans of Covent Garden Ladies, Daughters of Night, and indeed the excellent TV series Harlots. I blazed through this flawless piece of Historical Fiction and I applaud Louise for her talents in transporting me into a different world. Bravo!!!
November 21, 2025
A beautifully realised romp through the stews of Eighteenth Century London with the pacing of a thriller. We accompany Sukey Maynard, a young black woman brought up in a restrictive, religious household as she is relocated to London and an unexpected new life as a prostitute in Covent Garden. Attempting to escape her fate, Sukey is drawn into a dark plot that tangles her back into brothel life and forces her to grow up fast. The characters are fantastic, the history is worn lightly and never intrudes into the plot in a way that trips up the flow of the narrative, but which situates the characters perfectly in their time and place. This was a terrific read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Seedy Georgian London under belly. Really atmospheric and gripping
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
This is another book I had on pre-order but had to cancel due to money issues, so I was excited to receive an early copy.
I do own Louise's three others books - This Lovely City, Miss Aldridge Regrets, and Harlem After Midnight - but for one reason or another, I am yet to read them, and so I had no real expectations going into this.
It is very honest and raw and brutal. It's not always an easy book to read, it has a lot of very uncomfortable moments and topics in it, but I think overall she has handled them well.
But overall I wasn't overly enamoured by the whole book.
There isn't a huge amount of plot, which isn't necessarily a negative, as long as there's something else to keep me interested, good characters or the suchlike, but they didn't excite me either. Sukey is our main protagonist and she was interesting but I was still after something more, given her difficult background and fierce passion and desire to make something of herself. But she, like the other characters, were a bit too 2D for me to really invest in. There just wasn't much depth. I can't say anything specifically bad about the plot or the characters, they just all seemed to plod on without really getting anywhere.
There are a few substories or side-stories as it were, all of which have merit on their own, but they didn't all feel finished and I don't like having loose ends. And the ending itself, whilst perfectly fine, it felt perhaps a bit too neat and tidy for the rest of the story.
Louise has done a tremendous job at giving us a sense of space and time and atmosphere. .Everything is dialled up and you can practically see yourself on the page. And I commend her ability to balance the historical elements without being so distracting to the overall story.
Some historical novels can be dry and sluggish, whereas this one was well paced and I did fly through it, even though I wished there was a bit more to get my teeth into.
I do wonder if the problem is with me rather than with the book. I have read countless of historical books about women forced to work in brothels for fear of what would happen to them otherwise. So it's not necessarily a bad book, but it didn't give me anything new, it just felt like I was re-reading something I'd read countless of times before.
I am clearly in the minority here because I have found it almost impossible to find a review that wasn't 4 or 5 stars absolutely raving about it.
Whilst it wasn't my favourite book, it is clear that Louise has a strong and intelligent voice in historical fiction and I am still interesting in reading her previous books.
This is another book I had on pre-order but had to cancel due to money issues, so I was excited to receive an early copy.
I do own Louise's three others books - This Lovely City, Miss Aldridge Regrets, and Harlem After Midnight - but for one reason or another, I am yet to read them, and so I had no real expectations going into this.
It is very honest and raw and brutal. It's not always an easy book to read, it has a lot of very uncomfortable moments and topics in it, but I think overall she has handled them well.
But overall I wasn't overly enamoured by the whole book.
There isn't a huge amount of plot, which isn't necessarily a negative, as long as there's something else to keep me interested, good characters or the suchlike, but they didn't excite me either. Sukey is our main protagonist and she was interesting but I was still after something more, given her difficult background and fierce passion and desire to make something of herself. But she, like the other characters, were a bit too 2D for me to really invest in. There just wasn't much depth. I can't say anything specifically bad about the plot or the characters, they just all seemed to plod on without really getting anywhere.
There are a few substories or side-stories as it were, all of which have merit on their own, but they didn't all feel finished and I don't like having loose ends. And the ending itself, whilst perfectly fine, it felt perhaps a bit too neat and tidy for the rest of the story.
Louise has done a tremendous job at giving us a sense of space and time and atmosphere. .Everything is dialled up and you can practically see yourself on the page. And I commend her ability to balance the historical elements without being so distracting to the overall story.
Some historical novels can be dry and sluggish, whereas this one was well paced and I did fly through it, even though I wished there was a bit more to get my teeth into.
I do wonder if the problem is with me rather than with the book. I have read countless of historical books about women forced to work in brothels for fear of what would happen to them otherwise. So it's not necessarily a bad book, but it didn't give me anything new, it just felt like I was re-reading something I'd read countless of times before.
I am clearly in the minority here because I have found it almost impossible to find a review that wasn't 4 or 5 stars absolutely raving about it.
Whilst it wasn't my favourite book, it is clear that Louise has a strong and intelligent voice in historical fiction and I am still interesting in reading her previous books.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The House of Fallen Sisters by Louise Hare
Having read This Lovely City, Miss Aldridge Regrets and Harlem After Midnight by the same author I was very interested to see how she wrote about a period further back in time for this novel is set in London in 1765. At the opening of the novel we encounter Sukey Maynard who has escaped from Mrs Macauley’s house of ill repute in Covent Garden. Sukey has just arrived in London having been brought up in the countryside in a god-fearing household.
She comes across a young man, Jonathan, who has been beaten almost to death, and Sukey helps him to the home of Dr Sharp a renowned doctor who offers assistance to those unable to pay for their treatment. Her escape from Mrs Macauley does not last very long and she is returned to the house of ill repute where her virginity will be auctioned to the highest bidder.
The plight of Sukey and the other girls in her position is told with compassion and as a person of colour Sukey seems to accept that it is her fate to be sold to a man for his entertainment. We also become involved with other slaves who have escaped from their masters and the whole idea of whether it is possible to own another person is questioned.
Sukey, the central character, is very well drawn and there are other characters with whom she is involved who are based on real characters from the time such as Doctor Sharp and his brother Granville. The writer also talks about a book of the time called Harris’s List of Covent Garden Ladies which gave details of the ladies available at the various houses and their attributes.
I thoroughly enjoyed the novel and will be recommending it at my various book groups. Many thanks to the author, the publishers and to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
Having read This Lovely City, Miss Aldridge Regrets and Harlem After Midnight by the same author I was very interested to see how she wrote about a period further back in time for this novel is set in London in 1765. At the opening of the novel we encounter Sukey Maynard who has escaped from Mrs Macauley’s house of ill repute in Covent Garden. Sukey has just arrived in London having been brought up in the countryside in a god-fearing household.
She comes across a young man, Jonathan, who has been beaten almost to death, and Sukey helps him to the home of Dr Sharp a renowned doctor who offers assistance to those unable to pay for their treatment. Her escape from Mrs Macauley does not last very long and she is returned to the house of ill repute where her virginity will be auctioned to the highest bidder.
The plight of Sukey and the other girls in her position is told with compassion and as a person of colour Sukey seems to accept that it is her fate to be sold to a man for his entertainment. We also become involved with other slaves who have escaped from their masters and the whole idea of whether it is possible to own another person is questioned.
Sukey, the central character, is very well drawn and there are other characters with whom she is involved who are based on real characters from the time such as Doctor Sharp and his brother Granville. The writer also talks about a book of the time called Harris’s List of Covent Garden Ladies which gave details of the ladies available at the various houses and their attributes.
I thoroughly enjoyed the novel and will be recommending it at my various book groups. Many thanks to the author, the publishers and to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Set in December 1765, this novel plunges the reader into the shadowy underbelly of Georgian London, following Sukey Maynard as she flees a Covent Garden brothel to escape the auctioning of her maidenhood. When she is captured and forced to return, Sukey must decide whether to accept her fate or risk everything by running again. As she learns to survive within this dangerous world, she discovers that threats lurk not only outside the brothel but within the rigid, unspoken rules that govern life on the margins of society.
Louise Hare’s writing is, as expected, beautifully done. The prose is vivid and immersive, bringing 18th-century London to life with richly detailed settings that make the streets, rooms, and hidden corners feel tangible. Hare excels at atmosphere, and her portrayal of Georgian London—particularly the lives of the poor and people of colour—is compelling and thoughtfully rendered. The novel offers an engaging and often unsettling glimpse into a world that operates in secrecy and desperation, while still allowing space for hope.
However, while the story itself is enjoyable, the characterisation feels like a missed opportunity. Having previously read This Lovely City, I had hoped to see the authors progression in creating more depth and development in the characters, but instead the large cast here feels even less fleshed out. Sukey’s journey is interesting, yet many of the supporting characters lack the complexity needed to make them truly memorable. Despite this, the novel remains an engaging read overall, elevated by strong writing and historical detail, even if it doesn’t quite reach its full potential.
Louise Hare’s writing is, as expected, beautifully done. The prose is vivid and immersive, bringing 18th-century London to life with richly detailed settings that make the streets, rooms, and hidden corners feel tangible. Hare excels at atmosphere, and her portrayal of Georgian London—particularly the lives of the poor and people of colour—is compelling and thoughtfully rendered. The novel offers an engaging and often unsettling glimpse into a world that operates in secrecy and desperation, while still allowing space for hope.
However, while the story itself is enjoyable, the characterisation feels like a missed opportunity. Having previously read This Lovely City, I had hoped to see the authors progression in creating more depth and development in the characters, but instead the large cast here feels even less fleshed out. Sukey’s journey is interesting, yet many of the supporting characters lack the complexity needed to make them truly memorable. Despite this, the novel remains an engaging read overall, elevated by strong writing and historical detail, even if it doesn’t quite reach its full potential.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Louise Hare’s The House of Fallen Sisters is a novel that grips you from its opening scene and doesn’t let go. Set in 1765, it follows Sukey Maynard, a young woman whose desperate flight from a Covent Garden brothel is cut short, forcing her back into a world where survival depends on wit, resilience, and courage.
What makes this book so compelling is the way Hare balances grit with tenderness. The brothel, with its shadowy rules and dangerous patrons, is vividly drawn—an underworld of London that feels both atmospheric and authentic. Yet at the heart of the story is Sukey herself: frightened but determined, vulnerable yet quietly defiant. Watching her navigate this perilous life, learning when to bend and when to fight back, is both heartbreaking and inspiring.
Hare’s prose is steady and evocative, painting London’s underbelly with rich detail while never losing sight of the humanity of those trapped within it. The novel is dark, yes, but it’s also full of hope—reminding us that even in the bleakest corners of history, there are sparks of resilience and dreams of a better future.
This is historical fiction at its most immersive: atmospheric, poignant, and deeply human. Sukey’s journey lingers long after the final page, a testament to Hare’s gift for storytelling and her ability to give voice to those history often overlooks.
My thanks to Louise Hare, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
What makes this book so compelling is the way Hare balances grit with tenderness. The brothel, with its shadowy rules and dangerous patrons, is vividly drawn—an underworld of London that feels both atmospheric and authentic. Yet at the heart of the story is Sukey herself: frightened but determined, vulnerable yet quietly defiant. Watching her navigate this perilous life, learning when to bend and when to fight back, is both heartbreaking and inspiring.
Hare’s prose is steady and evocative, painting London’s underbelly with rich detail while never losing sight of the humanity of those trapped within it. The novel is dark, yes, but it’s also full of hope—reminding us that even in the bleakest corners of history, there are sparks of resilience and dreams of a better future.
This is historical fiction at its most immersive: atmospheric, poignant, and deeply human. Sukey’s journey lingers long after the final page, a testament to Hare’s gift for storytelling and her ability to give voice to those history often overlooks.
My thanks to Louise Hare, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Louise Hare takes the reader back to Georgian England in her latest novel. ‘The House of Fallen Sisters’ focuses on Sukey Maynard, a young mixed-race girl who has been forced to work as a prostitute in one of London’s brothels. Just before her virginity is auctioned off to the highest bidder, she makes a vain attempt to escape. During her few hours of freedom, she stumbles upon a young man close to death and is able to help him to a sympathetic doctor who promises to tend to him. Both Dr Sharp and his patient, Jonathan Strong, really did exist and the author manages to make her fictitious characters just as plausible through close attention to the attitudes and customs of the time.
This novel reminds us that the United Kingdom has been home to a mix of ethnicities and cultures forever. However, Hare also highlights that Sukey struggles to carve out any sort of meaningful life for herself, hampered as she is by both her gender and ethnicity. However, she is determined to do so. Through her thoughts and actions, we understand just how courageous and tough the poor and marginalised have to be to move forward in such a class bound, misogynistic society. ‘The House of Fallen Sisters’ will appeal to all who are interested in voices rarely heard.
My thanks to NetGalley and HQ for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
This novel reminds us that the United Kingdom has been home to a mix of ethnicities and cultures forever. However, Hare also highlights that Sukey struggles to carve out any sort of meaningful life for herself, hampered as she is by both her gender and ethnicity. However, she is determined to do so. Through her thoughts and actions, we understand just how courageous and tough the poor and marginalised have to be to move forward in such a class bound, misogynistic society. ‘The House of Fallen Sisters’ will appeal to all who are interested in voices rarely heard.
My thanks to NetGalley and HQ for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In 1765, sixteen-year-old Jonathan Strong was beaten almost to death and thrown into a London gutter by the man who claimed to ‘own’ him. The legal aftermath of this assault is often pinpointed by historians as the beginning of the campaign in Britain against slavery. But it is not known how, following the savage attack, Jonathan came to be in the medical care of Dr William Sharp whose brother Granville was to become Jonathan’s legal benefactor and an early crusader for the abolition movement. The gap in this momentous chapter of British history is filled by Louise Hare’s compelling new novel The House of Fallen Sisters. In this engrossing re-telling, Jonathan finds his first saviour in the fictional Sukey Maynard, a young girl of colour fleeing from the Covent Garden brothel where her maidenhead has been put up for auction to the highest bidder. Sukey leads us on her perilous journey through the city’s seamiest houses in a gripping tale that weaves in and out of known facts about the case of Jonathan Strong and the lives of Black people in Georgian London. A wonderfully sparky and appealing protagonist, Sukey’s heart-wrenching quest for dignity and happiness is hard to put down.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
The House of Fallen Sisters is the latest book by Louise Hare due out early 2026 and it is my favourite of hers so far. Set in 18th Century Covent Garden, London, this explores the true undercurrent of the great city that runs beneath the respectable and noble appearances. Brothel houses, abject poverty and terrible conditions are everyday for so many, and the character of Sukey is fresh to this scene and has to learn her true friends from her enemies.
Louise Hare is masterful in her writing, I felt fully immersed in the time and invested in the characters, I could easily see this making a fantastic TV costume drama. I was cheering for the wins, and absolutely devastated at the heartbreaking moments. This is a truly wonderful book.
Louise Hare is masterful in her writing, I felt fully immersed in the time and invested in the characters, I could easily see this making a fantastic TV costume drama. I was cheering for the wins, and absolutely devastated at the heartbreaking moments. This is a truly wonderful book.
September 10, 2025
The House of the Fallen Sisters is a wonderful, page turning and important book. Its thrilling story, told with masterful precision, had me racing to get to each new chapter. Alongside the exemplary storytelling though, is a profound exploration of regency London which has been much lacking in the recent rush of love for that period. In her novel, Louise Hare gives voice to the marginalised, the poor, the much maligned, and most importantly, the hidden people of the city. Making The House of the Fallen sisters a deeply emotive and vital read for historical fiction lovers and beyond.
Seriously good writing!
Seriously good writing!
August 3, 2025
The House of Fallen Sisters is an extraordinary, thought-provoking, addictive and thrilling novel. On one level, it is an excellent, page-turning story that I couldn’t wait to get back to. On another, it is a fascinating exploration of the lives of those vilified by all, yet used (and abused) by those at the apex of society. The best of historical fiction gives voice to those excluded from the history books, and Hare does exactly this with great skill and exceptional storytelling. I absolutely loved it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It is 1765 and prostitutes are going missing in London. Sukey has fled from Mrs Macauley's establishment as she doesn't want to be a prostitute. She had grown up in the country with Mrs Macauley's daughter Emma, until at the age of 14 Mrs Macauley had brought them back from her sister's house to work for her.
A compelling read about the underworld of the 18th century.
A compelling read about the underworld of the 18th century.
December 3, 2025
This was a very sad story in many ways but was uplifting when a solution was found.. A very varied cast of characters and a well depicted time in history. A great read and relief that life has improved.
December 15, 2025
This book had me hooked straight away, with the grit and glow of 18th century Covent Garden. The writing painted a picture so vivid I felt transported to the dark alleyways and bawdy houses.
I loved how the book gives space to the voices history usually ignores, from the 'fallen sisters' to the poor and the exploited. Sukey was a great narrator and I loved getting to know her in this book. Do I wish things turned out differently for her? Absolutely.
I did feel some threads felt unfinished, especially Jonas, and I do feel things ended quite quickly and a bit too neatly? But, with that being said, it's still a great read!
Perfect for historical fiction lovers who prefer their Regency stories with truth, grit, and soul.
I loved how the book gives space to the voices history usually ignores, from the 'fallen sisters' to the poor and the exploited. Sukey was a great narrator and I loved getting to know her in this book. Do I wish things turned out differently for her? Absolutely.
I did feel some threads felt unfinished, especially Jonas, and I do feel things ended quite quickly and a bit too neatly? But, with that being said, it's still a great read!
Perfect for historical fiction lovers who prefer their Regency stories with truth, grit, and soul.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews