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The Lombroso Series #2
The Devil's Daughters
A darkly atmospheric thriller set in 19th century Scotland and Turin from the winner of the Good Housekeeping New Novel Competition.
1888. When young Scottish scientist James Murray receives a letter from Sofia Esposito, a woman he once loved and lost, he cannot refuse her cry for help. Sofia's fifteen-year-old cousin has vanished but, because of her lower-class status, the police are unwilling to investigate.
Accompanied by his younger sister Lucy, Murray returns to the city of Turin where he was once apprenticed to the world-famous criminologist, Cesare Lombroso. As he embarks on his search for the missing girl, Murray uncovers a series of mysterious disappearances of young women and rumours of a haunted abbey on the outskirts of the city.
When the body of one of the girls turns up bearing evidence of a satanic ritual, Murray begins to slot together the pieces of the puzzle. But as two more bodies are discovered, fear grips the city and a desperate hunt begins to find a truly terrifying killer before he claims his next victim.
The Devil's Daughters is the gripping new novel from Diana Bretherick, author of City of Devils.
1888. When young Scottish scientist James Murray receives a letter from Sofia Esposito, a woman he once loved and lost, he cannot refuse her cry for help. Sofia's fifteen-year-old cousin has vanished but, because of her lower-class status, the police are unwilling to investigate.
Accompanied by his younger sister Lucy, Murray returns to the city of Turin where he was once apprenticed to the world-famous criminologist, Cesare Lombroso. As he embarks on his search for the missing girl, Murray uncovers a series of mysterious disappearances of young women and rumours of a haunted abbey on the outskirts of the city.
When the body of one of the girls turns up bearing evidence of a satanic ritual, Murray begins to slot together the pieces of the puzzle. But as two more bodies are discovered, fear grips the city and a desperate hunt begins to find a truly terrifying killer before he claims his next victim.
The Devil's Daughters is the gripping new novel from Diana Bretherick, author of City of Devils.
480 pages, Paperback
First published August 27, 2015
4 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
Diana Bretherick
5 books13 followersAuthor Diana Bretherick is a former criminal barrister and a criminologist. She lectures in crime and popular culture and criminal law at the University of Portsmouth.
Her first novel, City of Devils (published by Orion Books), is an historical thriller set in the Italian city of Turin in 1887, featuring the world’s first criminologist Cesare Lombroso. In 2012 it won the first Good Housekeeping Magazine new novel competition and in 2013 it was selected for the ITV3 Crime Thriller Book Club.
She is currently working on a sequel. Diana lives in Southsea, Hampshire with her husband and a small but extremely destructive cat.
Her first novel, City of Devils (published by Orion Books), is an historical thriller set in the Italian city of Turin in 1887, featuring the world’s first criminologist Cesare Lombroso. In 2012 it won the first Good Housekeeping Magazine new novel competition and in 2013 it was selected for the ITV3 Crime Thriller Book Club.
She is currently working on a sequel. Diana lives in Southsea, Hampshire with her husband and a small but extremely destructive cat.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 22, 2016
It's 1888 and James Murray returns to Italy together with his sister Lucy. James has assisted a well known criminologist in Turin before, which is where he met Sophia. There's nothing he wouldn't do for her and when she asks him to help her find her cousin James immediately offers his expertise. The police won't look into the matter because she's a lower-class girl. They assume she's run away. More girls are missing though and James suspects something big and sinister is going on. Someone wants him to leave the matter alone and will stop at nothing to achieve that...
The Devil's Daughters is a gripping story with an amazing unexpected ending. I loved the setting, Turin in the 19th century is an impressive place to read about. Diana Bretherick's descriptions are vivid and beautiful. She has a compelling writing style and I immediately fell in love with her story. Every chapter begins with a quote about female criminals. They're fabulous and I often laughed out loud when I read the theories of the authors. They gave the story a lovely hint of irony. I liked her version of the men versus women debate. It's an interesting idea for a story and Diana Bretherick has clearly researched her topic very well, which makes it even more fascinating.
James is a gentleman who follows his heart and intuition. He's an intriguing main character and I loved reading about his relationship with Sofia. They know much about one another and James doesn't care that there's a class difference, I really liked that about him. His sister Lucy isn't used to seeing so little of her brother and she spends most of her time with people she didn't know before she arrived in Italy. That gives the reader the opportunity to get to know them as well, which is a smart way to write the second story of a series so that could also be read as a standalone. The main characters are all remarkable and I was curious to find out more about their lives.
Diana Bretherick has a captivating way of describing things and the mystery aspect of her story is quite creepy. She kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading. I was hooked from the start and loved the original crime scenes, the strange disappearances and the abundance of brilliant secrets. There's something dark and eerie going on and I couldn't wait to find out who and what was behind it. There are plenty of surprising twists and turns and I loved the creativity behind them. The Devil's Daughters is a fantastic story with a terrific evil plot.
The Devil's Daughters is a gripping story with an amazing unexpected ending. I loved the setting, Turin in the 19th century is an impressive place to read about. Diana Bretherick's descriptions are vivid and beautiful. She has a compelling writing style and I immediately fell in love with her story. Every chapter begins with a quote about female criminals. They're fabulous and I often laughed out loud when I read the theories of the authors. They gave the story a lovely hint of irony. I liked her version of the men versus women debate. It's an interesting idea for a story and Diana Bretherick has clearly researched her topic very well, which makes it even more fascinating.
James is a gentleman who follows his heart and intuition. He's an intriguing main character and I loved reading about his relationship with Sofia. They know much about one another and James doesn't care that there's a class difference, I really liked that about him. His sister Lucy isn't used to seeing so little of her brother and she spends most of her time with people she didn't know before she arrived in Italy. That gives the reader the opportunity to get to know them as well, which is a smart way to write the second story of a series so that could also be read as a standalone. The main characters are all remarkable and I was curious to find out more about their lives.
Diana Bretherick has a captivating way of describing things and the mystery aspect of her story is quite creepy. She kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading. I was hooked from the start and loved the original crime scenes, the strange disappearances and the abundance of brilliant secrets. There's something dark and eerie going on and I couldn't wait to find out who and what was behind it. There are plenty of surprising twists and turns and I loved the creativity behind them. The Devil's Daughters is a fantastic story with a terrific evil plot.
August 28, 2016
Enjoyable fast-moving historical thriller set in Turin in 1888, with some great characters, including the pompous and always amusing Lombroso (who was a real person.) Some of the harebrained ideas that were assumed to be true at the beginning of criminal anthropology as a subject are highly amusing, and there are extracts from his book at the beginning of each chapter. Full review at https://crimeworm.wordpress.com.2016/...
August 18, 2024
The second entertaining if long-winded, instalment of Diana Bretherick's creation of Turin, Italy in the late 1880s involving a troubled Scottish scientist with a growing interest in 'forensics' & solving of mysteries etc...as a student of Mr Joseph Bell...an inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle's creation of a certain Mr Sherlock Holmes. Who reads him these days with so many Miss Marple clones in the crime novel world?!
James Murray & his ambitious though diffident younger sister Lucy, having suffered the sordid death of their insane father set off to Piedmont to help James's Italian lover, Sofia with a personal crisis...& re-establish a professional rapport with Dr Lombroso, the professor at the university with new theories & approaches to crime, criminals & criminal investigations.
And from the moment of their arrival as guests of the Lombroso family, their lives are transformed by bizarre events involving mysterious disappearances, unfortunate inter-cultural misunderstandings & abused corpses of young women around a rural village with much to hide.
It reads well...even if I...as an amateur sleuth myself!... could detect the clear underlying ethos of creating 'strong female' characters, reflecting the female author's 21st century mind-set & the woke publishing industry.
To be fair, Bretherick doesn't spoil it with her somewhat subjective viewpoints...as several of the female characters are every bit as warped psychologically as the male ones! (They even fancy some sexual shenanigans quite shamelessly!)
Her chapter headings that quote Lombroso - a real, blood pulsing person! - are quite the strongest examples of a dedicated, obsessive male expert who isn't at all convinced that all women are angels...& that some, for a variety of reasons, are in word & deed, very devils incarnate, hidden by their usual feminine wiles, subterfuges & emotion-affecting tricks which so confound male sensibilities into believing them to be wholly holy!
James Murray & his ambitious though diffident younger sister Lucy, having suffered the sordid death of their insane father set off to Piedmont to help James's Italian lover, Sofia with a personal crisis...& re-establish a professional rapport with Dr Lombroso, the professor at the university with new theories & approaches to crime, criminals & criminal investigations.
And from the moment of their arrival as guests of the Lombroso family, their lives are transformed by bizarre events involving mysterious disappearances, unfortunate inter-cultural misunderstandings & abused corpses of young women around a rural village with much to hide.
It reads well...even if I...as an amateur sleuth myself!... could detect the clear underlying ethos of creating 'strong female' characters, reflecting the female author's 21st century mind-set & the woke publishing industry.
To be fair, Bretherick doesn't spoil it with her somewhat subjective viewpoints...as several of the female characters are every bit as warped psychologically as the male ones! (They even fancy some sexual shenanigans quite shamelessly!)
Her chapter headings that quote Lombroso - a real, blood pulsing person! - are quite the strongest examples of a dedicated, obsessive male expert who isn't at all convinced that all women are angels...& that some, for a variety of reasons, are in word & deed, very devils incarnate, hidden by their usual feminine wiles, subterfuges & emotion-affecting tricks which so confound male sensibilities into believing them to be wholly holy!
September 18, 2016
Who doesn't love a bit of historical crime every now and then! And if you don't, can I suggest that you read this book? It will totally change your mind!
James Murray receives a letter from his Italian love, asking for help but saying little else. He's a dashing and chivalrous kind of chap so he runs to her aide with his teenage sister, Lucy, in tow. Upon arrival in Turin he discovers that Sofia is not keen to rekindle their love affair as hoped; all she wants is James' help in finding her missing cousin, Chiara. Broken-hearted, James sets out on the hunt for Chiara, only to discover the disfigured body of a girl. Before long he and his mentor Lombroso, are on the hunt for a savage killer. It doesn't help that someone is out to discredit James and have him returned to Scotland. It also doesn't help that someone has their eye on his sister...
This is a fantastic book which I thoroughly enjoyed. I try and avoid reading historical crime on a regular basis as it's a special treat to myself, and this book goes to prove my theory about it being a treat. What a treat The Devil's Daughters is! I loved the plot of this enchanting novel (enchanting makes it sound all light and fluffy - it's not, it's got just the right amount of blood, guts and a little bit of gore!). I was drawn in from very early on and completely mesmerised by some wonderful characters who felt very real to me (yes, I know Lombroso was a real person!). I adored James, what a kind hearted and chivalrous young man. He, to me, felt like the main protagonist with Lombroso taking a back seat. Lucy's desire to become an accomplished writer of detective novels was so very charming, along with her desire to do what the blinking heck she wants to do, gender aside! I even liked Miss Trott (what am I saying, I loved Miss Trott!).
Although I found the reveal of the murderer a little obvious, there were plenty of other surprises along the way to keep my interest. Red herrings galore to keep you guessing, just the way I like my crime novels. It's a brilliant book and, I'll say it again, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm off to add the first book, City of Devils, to my wishlist!
Would I recommend this book? I would. It's a wonderfully written historical crime novel, with an endearing cast of believable characters. I hope there is more to come from James Murray and Lombroso, but we'll have to see.
Four out of five stars.
Many thanks to Emma Dowson, Orion Books and Diana Bretherick for providing me with a copy of The Devil's Daughters in exchange for an honest review.
James Murray receives a letter from his Italian love, asking for help but saying little else. He's a dashing and chivalrous kind of chap so he runs to her aide with his teenage sister, Lucy, in tow. Upon arrival in Turin he discovers that Sofia is not keen to rekindle their love affair as hoped; all she wants is James' help in finding her missing cousin, Chiara. Broken-hearted, James sets out on the hunt for Chiara, only to discover the disfigured body of a girl. Before long he and his mentor Lombroso, are on the hunt for a savage killer. It doesn't help that someone is out to discredit James and have him returned to Scotland. It also doesn't help that someone has their eye on his sister...
This is a fantastic book which I thoroughly enjoyed. I try and avoid reading historical crime on a regular basis as it's a special treat to myself, and this book goes to prove my theory about it being a treat. What a treat The Devil's Daughters is! I loved the plot of this enchanting novel (enchanting makes it sound all light and fluffy - it's not, it's got just the right amount of blood, guts and a little bit of gore!). I was drawn in from very early on and completely mesmerised by some wonderful characters who felt very real to me (yes, I know Lombroso was a real person!). I adored James, what a kind hearted and chivalrous young man. He, to me, felt like the main protagonist with Lombroso taking a back seat. Lucy's desire to become an accomplished writer of detective novels was so very charming, along with her desire to do what the blinking heck she wants to do, gender aside! I even liked Miss Trott (what am I saying, I loved Miss Trott!).
Although I found the reveal of the murderer a little obvious, there were plenty of other surprises along the way to keep my interest. Red herrings galore to keep you guessing, just the way I like my crime novels. It's a brilliant book and, I'll say it again, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm off to add the first book, City of Devils, to my wishlist!
Would I recommend this book? I would. It's a wonderfully written historical crime novel, with an endearing cast of believable characters. I hope there is more to come from James Murray and Lombroso, but we'll have to see.
Four out of five stars.
Many thanks to Emma Dowson, Orion Books and Diana Bretherick for providing me with a copy of The Devil's Daughters in exchange for an honest review.
August 21, 2015
It takes a certain talent to blend late 19th century society with dark, serial murder, satanic rites, incest and good sprinkling of other vices and human frailties and I'm unsure whether it is complementary to state that Diana bretherick has the ideal mind for the job!
I was well and truly hooked almost immediately and by the closing chapters my entire life was on hold.
I have to add that I am most grateful for (and amused by) the snippets at the beginning of each chapter which have helped me enormously with understanding women.
I was well and truly hooked almost immediately and by the closing chapters my entire life was on hold.
I have to add that I am most grateful for (and amused by) the snippets at the beginning of each chapter which have helped me enormously with understanding women.
April 1, 2018
A crime novel set in the late 19th century, of a couple of scientists putting together a theory of criminology, when young girls begin disappearing from Turin. James Murray is Scottish and has brought his orphaned sister Lucy to Turin where he is working under Lombroso, a renowned criminologist (and real historical figure) on the criminality of women. He becomes involved in trying to help his lover Sofia to find her missing cousin, which no one is looking for because she was only a servant. As James goes deeper into his search he steps on a couple of toes, which lands him in all sorts of trouble.
Lucy is by far the more interesting of the two Murray siblings. A rich Scottish girl with a sheltered upbringing, she desires to become a detective, and as such, seems to have less fear and more brains than his brother, regardless of the unpleasant, and at times downright terrifying, situations that befall her.
Lucy is by far the more interesting of the two Murray siblings. A rich Scottish girl with a sheltered upbringing, she desires to become a detective, and as such, seems to have less fear and more brains than his brother, regardless of the unpleasant, and at times downright terrifying, situations that befall her.
July 30, 2017
I recently borrowed the CD version from the Library and ... what a long drawn out story. Although I persevered to the end I found it to be overwritten and repetitive. I enjoyed the storyline (for the most part) and wanted to know how it ended but I think a lot of the content could have been left out with the same if not better result at the end. Had I actually read the book, I would have skipped quite a few parts.
February 10, 2018
James Murray and his sister head to Turin to help Sophia (Jame's ex girlfriend) find her missing niece. This is a historical crime novel based in the 1890s. The introductions to each chapter made me laugh out loud, the famous criminologist Lombroso is quoted on what where the beliefs of the time of how criminals could be identified. His descriptions of female criminals was hilarious, sexist, ridiculous and prejudiced. The story itself was entertaining and interesting.
March 9, 2023
I really liked it and my favourite parts were from the prisoners pov. There's not much I can really say about this book because it's better to go into it not knowing much. I found it really fascinating to read. I would have given it 5 stars if it didn't get slow at some points. I kept getting frustrated I couldn't find out what happened next as soon as I turned the page. Solid 4 starrs ⭐⭐⭐⭐ enjoyable read would reccomend
November 20, 2017
I found this novel charming and intriguing. It has that note of romanticism about Italy which was a way that British people saw it during the 1900s. The characters are clearly drawn and attractive. The plot has crimes and mysteries and keeps one turning the pages. I feel that the author had a lot of fun writing the novel and wasn't always overwhelming serious.
August 14, 2020
Enjoyable, fast-moving historical thriller set in Turin in 1888, with some great characters and an amazing unexpected ending.
Paul - The Book Grocer
Purchase here for just $3.00!
Paul - The Book Grocer
Purchase here for just $3.00!
October 5, 2017
As a student of criminology , I really enjoyed the believable way the author introduced Lombroso alongside the fictional protagonist James Murray. Fun holiday read, with some serious attention to historical social science. Definitely worth a read
April 22, 2023
People can be experts in their field but be unable to write a good book about it: case in point
September 21, 2015
The Devil's Daughters is a dark and delicious gothic murder mystery and so dissimilar to other books I have read.
1888
Turin - a girl walks through the shadowy streets. Instead of arriving to her workplace as normal she is drugged, bundled into a carriage and spirited away.
Edinburgh - Dr James Murray, a young scientist, returns from his fathers funeral to find a letter from his former paramour Sofia Esposito. The letter is a cry for help informing James of her cousins disappearance. James has hope that they may still have a future together and that Sofia desires his return. He sets out back to Turin, accompanied with his new charge of his 17 year old sister Lucy and her chaperone Miss Euphemia Trott.
Turin - Settled back in the house of his criminologist mentor Professor Lombroso James quickly returns to their academic research and work. However as promised to Sofia he undertakes the investigation into her missing younger cousin. As further girls are revealed as missing and gruesome embalmed bodies are discovered, James is led deeper into trouble and the darkness engulfing the city. Who or what is carrying out these strange satanic rituals and killings? Fear is high and suspicions rife.
I initially was drawn to this book from it's description being set in 19th century Scotland and Italy. Although several early chapters were set in Edinburgh the remainder are in Turin. Despite the lack of Scottish scenes I was quickly drawn in and transported to the interesting Turin backdrop with it's equally dark and macabre history.
Criminologist Diana Bretherick's knowledge of the history of her field is clear to perceive in this imaginative fictional novel. The character of Professor Cesare Lombroso was an actual Italian criminologist and physician. His theory of anthropological criminology suggested that someone born criminal could be identified by certain physical attributes or defects. The fictional and actual are well inter worked.
I enjoyed reading this diverse atmospheric novel and would recommend.
4 Stars
- Received uncorrected proof from Orion Publishing Group for honest review thank you.
1888
Turin - a girl walks through the shadowy streets. Instead of arriving to her workplace as normal she is drugged, bundled into a carriage and spirited away.
Edinburgh - Dr James Murray, a young scientist, returns from his fathers funeral to find a letter from his former paramour Sofia Esposito. The letter is a cry for help informing James of her cousins disappearance. James has hope that they may still have a future together and that Sofia desires his return. He sets out back to Turin, accompanied with his new charge of his 17 year old sister Lucy and her chaperone Miss Euphemia Trott.
Turin - Settled back in the house of his criminologist mentor Professor Lombroso James quickly returns to their academic research and work. However as promised to Sofia he undertakes the investigation into her missing younger cousin. As further girls are revealed as missing and gruesome embalmed bodies are discovered, James is led deeper into trouble and the darkness engulfing the city. Who or what is carrying out these strange satanic rituals and killings? Fear is high and suspicions rife.
I initially was drawn to this book from it's description being set in 19th century Scotland and Italy. Although several early chapters were set in Edinburgh the remainder are in Turin. Despite the lack of Scottish scenes I was quickly drawn in and transported to the interesting Turin backdrop with it's equally dark and macabre history.
Criminologist Diana Bretherick's knowledge of the history of her field is clear to perceive in this imaginative fictional novel. The character of Professor Cesare Lombroso was an actual Italian criminologist and physician. His theory of anthropological criminology suggested that someone born criminal could be identified by certain physical attributes or defects. The fictional and actual are well inter worked.
I enjoyed reading this diverse atmospheric novel and would recommend.
4 Stars
- Received uncorrected proof from Orion Publishing Group for honest review thank you.
September 27, 2015
James Murray returns to Turin after receiving a letter from his former lover asking for help to find her missing cousin. Once more he finds himself as the assistant of famed criminal anthropologist Cesare Lombroso while a serial killer is on the loose. This was a really good crime novel with plenty of twists and some interesting characters. Sadly the way the book ended seemed to indicate that there would be no more Murray/Lombroso adventures.
November 7, 2015
I won this book from Goodreads Giveaways. Although I'm a lover of crime fiction, I was unsure whether I would enjoy a book set in the late 1800's. Once I started it, however, I couldn't put it down. It's a story with several layers: murder, romance, emancipation and incest - all set against a gothic backdrop. Altogether a good read.
August 19, 2015
I tried. I put it down, I picked it back up, but ultimately only made it 100 pages in. The prose read like a 12th grade creative writing project and constantly made reference to a first book in the series which I didn't know existed, let alone read. Ultimately I gave up.
November 3, 2015
James Murray receives a letter to go help the love of his life find her cousin.
Thinking of reconciliation he goes to her and takes his sister with him as he does not want his sister to feel abandoned.
Then we get many twists through the story and I quite enjoyed it!
Thinking of reconciliation he goes to her and takes his sister with him as he does not want his sister to feel abandoned.
Then we get many twists through the story and I quite enjoyed it!
September 12, 2016
Gothic horror set in Turin mostly. It might have helped if I'd read her first in the series before this one, but still an enjoyable read, especially is it was an airport buy with no knowledge of the author.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews