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Victorian Detectives #1
Diamonds & Dust
When a horrific murder takes place on a dark night in 1860's London, it changes two women for ever. New light is cast upon past lives they thought they knew so well, and suddenly their futures become intertwined.
The death of her uncle will leave eighteen-year-old Josephine King an orphan, an heiress and the owner of a priceless diamond, The Eye of the Khan. For Lilith Marks, a chance finally arises to end her life as a highly paid prostitute and to prove herself as a serious businesswoman.
Set against the backdrop of the great gas-lit city, the two women are drawn together in their quest to discover just who killed the man they both loved.
Diamonds & Dust is a page-whizzing narrative, with an intricate and absorbing plot that entices you through the teeming streets of Victorian London. If Wilkie Collins, Charles Dickens and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle all washed up on a desert island, they might have come up with something like this.
The death of her uncle will leave eighteen-year-old Josephine King an orphan, an heiress and the owner of a priceless diamond, The Eye of the Khan. For Lilith Marks, a chance finally arises to end her life as a highly paid prostitute and to prove herself as a serious businesswoman.
Set against the backdrop of the great gas-lit city, the two women are drawn together in their quest to discover just who killed the man they both loved.
Diamonds & Dust is a page-whizzing narrative, with an intricate and absorbing plot that entices you through the teeming streets of Victorian London. If Wilkie Collins, Charles Dickens and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle all washed up on a desert island, they might have come up with something like this.
263 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 2, 2013
215 people are currently reading
299 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
January 13, 2014
I hate it when I read a book so fast, but at the same time, I really can't stop myself! And Diamonds and Dust is that kind of book. What a romp! It's really great and is just waiting for a film to happen. I love the way it's written in the present tense and in scenes. It really is very filmic and as you read, you watch it all unfolding in your mind. But not just that, it's also an astute look at what life was about in Victorian London. I genuinely sympathised with Detective Jack Cully who on seeing the pointless, vacuous lives of the rich, ponders on the book he's just finished reading by one Karl Marx. I also liked the 'cameo' entries with real people like Charles Dickens. On the surface, it is a great and rollicking adventure in the literary tradition of Bram Stoker or Jekyll & Hyde, but Josephine and Isabella , Mrs Thorpe and Gussy, and even Lileth Marks could be from Georgette Heyer or Jane Austen novels. 'Oi', Annie and Mrs Hudson, on the other hand, have lovely Dickensian colour. As for the the scene setting, it is reminiscent of Victor Hugo at his richest...and so I could go on. There is much more to this book than its story, and below the surface lurks the rather chilling reality of 19th century London. This is a real historical novel written in great 21st century style with more than a touch of social comment thrown in. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Well done, Carol Hedges. This comes as highly recommended!
December 12, 2016
What a superb novel Diamonds and Dust is. It transports you immediately to 1860’s Victorian London. I particularly enjoyed the use of present tense which is unusual but helps you see the scenes unfolding before your eyes. Carol Hedges descriptions of the city are so masterful that you can smell the smog and see the filth and grime of the streets. It’s very atmospheric which adds to the tension. I certainly would have been frightened to go out after nightfall into those gas lit streets or dark alleyways. There is a definite touch of the Gothic horror here. The author has quite clearly done a great deal of research to get that degree of realism. The heroine, Josephine King has been rescued from the Bertha Helstone Institute for Orphaned Clergy Daughters by her Uncle Herbert King. Soon afterwards he is brutally murdered. The police are baffled and are not helped by the attitude of the press (what’s new!) The plot involves a stolen diamond and a mysterious countess and is so fast paced I could hardly put it down. The intrepid heroine puts herself in danger endeavouring to solve the mystery. It takes us from the upper echelons of society to the lowest and highlights the huge contrast between them. It’s a real social comment as well and there is a reference to the detective Cully reading Marx. Every character from the pushy Mrs Thorpe to ‘Oi’ is so well depicted. This is wonderful storytelling with an unexpected twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. Terrific tale which I could see being a TV drama. Highly Recommended.
April 13, 2015
This is a very stylish read with a strong authorial voice, and this witty and almost gleeful tone makes the book lighter than you would expect for a Victorian murder mystery. The style reminds me of Phillip Pullman's young adult books such as 'Ruby in the Smoke', and this fact and the paranormal storyline (I wont give too much away) means it would make a great read for younger readers too. Victorian London is conjured with relish, and I loved the anorexic Isabella, muse to the Pre-Raphaelite painter, and her abominable brother, Gussy, quite as much as the feisty main character, Jo King.
Diamonds and Dust is delightful, with quality writing, great atmosphere, and larger-than-life characterization.
BUT - it isn't a dark and gripping thriller of a mystery, so if you are looking for that, prepare to be surprised (in a good way)
Diamonds and Dust is delightful, with quality writing, great atmosphere, and larger-than-life characterization.
BUT - it isn't a dark and gripping thriller of a mystery, so if you are looking for that, prepare to be surprised (in a good way)
April 6, 2015
...a delightful, highly-polished gem of a novel...
..come, treat yourself to a superlatively polished gem of an offering from a gifted wordsmith... Ms Hedges crafts her characters and locales so deftly, you can smell the filth in the London sewers, taste the vintage wines at m’Ludship's table, sense the grime of smog-laden nightfall, and savour the delicious anticipation of intrigue and scandal among society’s posh and impoverished... the lines are enriched with more than artful narrative---humour drenched in wit, with little pearls dropped in unexpectedly, delight and deflect all the way through Diamonds and Dust...crime, murders, and romance form a wickedly enjoyable traipse through 1860s Victorianism in all its grubbiness and glory...
..come, treat yourself to a superlatively polished gem of an offering from a gifted wordsmith... Ms Hedges crafts her characters and locales so deftly, you can smell the filth in the London sewers, taste the vintage wines at m’Ludship's table, sense the grime of smog-laden nightfall, and savour the delicious anticipation of intrigue and scandal among society’s posh and impoverished... the lines are enriched with more than artful narrative---humour drenched in wit, with little pearls dropped in unexpectedly, delight and deflect all the way through Diamonds and Dust...crime, murders, and romance form a wickedly enjoyable traipse through 1860s Victorianism in all its grubbiness and glory...
July 2, 2019
I'm at a loss in how to describe this book. The style of writing the author used to create her world was unique and not something I've ever read before. It was almost like having the story read to me as I was reading it.
My biggest problem, however, came with the ending. I won't say who the killer was here because it's evident that Carol Hedges put a lot of work into creating this story and, given the reviews and ratings of others here, I'm in the minority when it comes to not enjoying the book.
It was a plodding book that took a lot of time getting anywhere. As I said, it's not my cup of tea, but if you like weird stories set in Victorian England, it may be yours.
My biggest problem, however, came with the ending. I won't say who the killer was here because it's evident that Carol Hedges put a lot of work into creating this story and, given the reviews and ratings of others here, I'm in the minority when it comes to not enjoying the book.
It was a plodding book that took a lot of time getting anywhere. As I said, it's not my cup of tea, but if you like weird stories set in Victorian England, it may be yours.
June 29, 2014
A very, very well deserved five stars!
Diamonds and Dust is a perfectly presented book - I am the world's worst skip reader but I think I read every word of this, because every one was worth reading. Some passages I read more than once, particularly those describing London in 1860, in which the book is set. The book is SO well researched, and this shines through; the atmosphere of the time is portrayed with real feeling.
I'm not much of a one for murder mysteries, generally, but I still loved it. The plot is intricately woven and releases just the right amount of information at the right time(s), but what I liked most about it was that it's so clever, and funny. My favourite passages were those about the ghastly social climbing that occurred in the Victorian middle classes, even the snobbery amongst the servants.
One thing I love in a book is when the secondary characters are as thoughtfully illustrated as the principal ones; such is the case here, even down to the brief portrait of a simple Welsh police constable in his Watch Box on a cold frosty night. I can't recommend this book too highly, and will be the first person clicking 'buy now' when the sequel, Honour and Obey, is published - I hear the contract has recently been signed!
Diamonds and Dust is a perfectly presented book - I am the world's worst skip reader but I think I read every word of this, because every one was worth reading. Some passages I read more than once, particularly those describing London in 1860, in which the book is set. The book is SO well researched, and this shines through; the atmosphere of the time is portrayed with real feeling.
I'm not much of a one for murder mysteries, generally, but I still loved it. The plot is intricately woven and releases just the right amount of information at the right time(s), but what I liked most about it was that it's so clever, and funny. My favourite passages were those about the ghastly social climbing that occurred in the Victorian middle classes, even the snobbery amongst the servants.
One thing I love in a book is when the secondary characters are as thoughtfully illustrated as the principal ones; such is the case here, even down to the brief portrait of a simple Welsh police constable in his Watch Box on a cold frosty night. I can't recommend this book too highly, and will be the first person clicking 'buy now' when the sequel, Honour and Obey, is published - I hear the contract has recently been signed!
October 18, 2023
Categories rated on a 10 point scale. Averaged and then translated into Star Rating. See CAWPILE by Book Roast.
I read this book via ebook on Kindle Unlimited. I DNF’d at 55%.
These characters come alive and step out of the very well written world they inhabit, yet lacked any spark that will allow me to remember them or their environs years from now.
The writing was beautiful prose, even if I often caught myself googling unfamiliar words. It is a British author with a British setting after all. Perhaps never meant for an American audience?
The plot was hard to make out. 55% of the way through and I still couldn't quite see what the one character's dalliances and eating disorder had to do with the poor main character's plight. The seemingly supernatural nature of the murders with the attack of the wolf-dog felt jumbled with no progression by the constabulary.
All in all, the book was not bad; it just got to the point where I was downright bored. I wanted to scream "Get on with it!" and "For Queen's sake! Stop talking about this stupid girl in pink who means absolutely nothing!"
Characters: 6.6
Atmosphere: 6.5
Writing: 7.0
Plot: 5.0
Intrigue: 4.9
Logic: 6.6
Enjoyment: 6.8
Book Points Earned: 43.4/70.0
Category Average: 6.20
Low 3.5 Stars, rounded down to 3.
I read this book via ebook on Kindle Unlimited. I DNF’d at 55%.
These characters come alive and step out of the very well written world they inhabit, yet lacked any spark that will allow me to remember them or their environs years from now.
The writing was beautiful prose, even if I often caught myself googling unfamiliar words. It is a British author with a British setting after all. Perhaps never meant for an American audience?
The plot was hard to make out. 55% of the way through and I still couldn't quite see what the one character's dalliances and eating disorder had to do with the poor main character's plight. The seemingly supernatural nature of the murders with the attack of the wolf-dog felt jumbled with no progression by the constabulary.
All in all, the book was not bad; it just got to the point where I was downright bored. I wanted to scream "Get on with it!" and "For Queen's sake! Stop talking about this stupid girl in pink who means absolutely nothing!"
Characters: 6.6
Atmosphere: 6.5
Writing: 7.0
Plot: 5.0
Intrigue: 4.9
Logic: 6.6
Enjoyment: 6.8
Book Points Earned: 43.4/70.0
Category Average: 6.20
Low 3.5 Stars, rounded down to 3.
October 20, 2018
Superb. Easily one of the best books I've read this year. Gloriously gothic, villainously Victorian, told with a sardonic, if not unsympathetic voice, and containing many small delights, cameos, twists, witty descriptions, as well as larger ones, like the beautiful descriptions of London (so much a presence in the book, the city is almost a character itself), the sense of life in smells, food, clothing... I could go on, but that's wasting time you should spend reading this book. Highly recommended.
March 6, 2014
This book made my heart race as I found myself screaming at the heroine Josephine not to leave her room to investigate a noise, but like all heroines, she did.
Josephine has just found herself some luck in life after a bad few years and now it looks like everything could be taken away again.
When you read that someone has a precious and unusual diamond you know that someone else is going to want to take it from them although I did think that Josephine was particularly careless with hers. I suspected everyone in the book and trusted no one but I was wrong until near the end when it all came together.
The author has obviously put in a lot of research into this book, with Victorian street names and descriptions of homes and traditions. I was transported by the sights and smells back to Victorian London, a place I'm so glad I was not born into as it seems whether rich or poor, women seemed to have a raw deal. There were lots of facts I didn't know until reading this, like the need to pay for a boy to brush the street in front of you as you crossed the road.
Poor Isabella as her mother calls her is being forced into marriage with a horrible man but her parents don't seem to care what he's like or what he gets up to as long as their daughter is married. Isabella is having control of her life by not eating and seeing an artist in secret. I can see no good coming from that liaison. Although Isabella and the Thorpes were part of a back story I would like to have known more about what happens to poor Isabella in the future, perhaps we will have a sequel.
Author, Carol Hedges.
I loved the language of this book, the words ran across the page like honey. I saw the narrator as some kind of divine being looking out on London like an all seeing eye, allowing me to be privy to something no one else knew about. The characters are all believable and I found myself wanting the best outcome for our heroine, Josephine. The story kept me on the edge of my seat and for a few nights when my husband was away from home I had to put it aside because I'm such a scaredy cat.
There are a few nods in the story to classic writers and books which I thought was a lovely touch by the author. I hope you have fun finding them out. I would describe this book as a historical crime novel with a touch of the supernatural,something for everyone.
I also have to say I loved the front cover it's very elegant and I'm sure wouldn't have been out of place in Josephine's library.
Josephine has just found herself some luck in life after a bad few years and now it looks like everything could be taken away again.
When you read that someone has a precious and unusual diamond you know that someone else is going to want to take it from them although I did think that Josephine was particularly careless with hers. I suspected everyone in the book and trusted no one but I was wrong until near the end when it all came together.
The author has obviously put in a lot of research into this book, with Victorian street names and descriptions of homes and traditions. I was transported by the sights and smells back to Victorian London, a place I'm so glad I was not born into as it seems whether rich or poor, women seemed to have a raw deal. There were lots of facts I didn't know until reading this, like the need to pay for a boy to brush the street in front of you as you crossed the road.
Poor Isabella as her mother calls her is being forced into marriage with a horrible man but her parents don't seem to care what he's like or what he gets up to as long as their daughter is married. Isabella is having control of her life by not eating and seeing an artist in secret. I can see no good coming from that liaison. Although Isabella and the Thorpes were part of a back story I would like to have known more about what happens to poor Isabella in the future, perhaps we will have a sequel.
Author, Carol Hedges.
I loved the language of this book, the words ran across the page like honey. I saw the narrator as some kind of divine being looking out on London like an all seeing eye, allowing me to be privy to something no one else knew about. The characters are all believable and I found myself wanting the best outcome for our heroine, Josephine. The story kept me on the edge of my seat and for a few nights when my husband was away from home I had to put it aside because I'm such a scaredy cat.
There are a few nods in the story to classic writers and books which I thought was a lovely touch by the author. I hope you have fun finding them out. I would describe this book as a historical crime novel with a touch of the supernatural,something for everyone.
I also have to say I loved the front cover it's very elegant and I'm sure wouldn't have been out of place in Josephine's library.
February 18, 2015
4.5 stars
After a dismal start in life, eighteen year old Josephine King was rescued from the Bertha Helstone Institute for Orphaned Clergy Daughters (the name itself enough to strike fear into the heart) by her uncle, Herbert King. Herbert made his fortune abroad and now lives very comfortably. Josephine delights in the unaccustomed luxury and looks forward to a very pleasing future. But her world is turned upside down when she has a visit from the police to say her uncle has been murdered in very mysterious circumstances. The two policemen, Detective Inspector Stride and Detective Sergeant Cully, are not having much luck solving the case.
As Josephine tries to make sense of her uncle’s death and the strange events that follow, she and her uncle’s mistress, Lilith Marks, set out to track down the murderer. Josephine, now an heiress and the owner of a priceless diamond, has strength of character and is not cowed by being a young woman on her own. And Lilith, a highly paid prostitute who, thanks to Herbert King’s bequest, can now start the business she has always dreamed of. Circumstances have forged an unlikely friendship between the two women.
A wonderfully memorable secondary cast, who are all completely believable in the context of Victorian London, include Oi, the impish road sweeper and Trafalgar Moggs, the clerk at the offices of King & Co. I love the complexity and detail of these characters, the determined Mrs Thorpe and her daughter Isabella who can’t face her future nuptials to the debauched George Osborne (!) Isabella’s brother, the equally distasteful Gussy, who her mother is trying to pair off with Josephine. An heiress is, after all, a very good catch.
The descriptions of Victorian London are incredibly vivid and invoke a sense of actually being there with all the dirt and grime, the stark contrasts and immense divide between the haves and the have-nots.
Carol Hedges has a very individual style of writing which, to be honest I was a little unsure about initially, but I was very soon drawn into the flow of the story. Full of humour and wit, greed, affluence and the darker side of human nature, the story explores all levels of society. It’s a very entertaining read with some unexpected twists and a satisfying ending.
After a dismal start in life, eighteen year old Josephine King was rescued from the Bertha Helstone Institute for Orphaned Clergy Daughters (the name itself enough to strike fear into the heart) by her uncle, Herbert King. Herbert made his fortune abroad and now lives very comfortably. Josephine delights in the unaccustomed luxury and looks forward to a very pleasing future. But her world is turned upside down when she has a visit from the police to say her uncle has been murdered in very mysterious circumstances. The two policemen, Detective Inspector Stride and Detective Sergeant Cully, are not having much luck solving the case.
As Josephine tries to make sense of her uncle’s death and the strange events that follow, she and her uncle’s mistress, Lilith Marks, set out to track down the murderer. Josephine, now an heiress and the owner of a priceless diamond, has strength of character and is not cowed by being a young woman on her own. And Lilith, a highly paid prostitute who, thanks to Herbert King’s bequest, can now start the business she has always dreamed of. Circumstances have forged an unlikely friendship between the two women.
A wonderfully memorable secondary cast, who are all completely believable in the context of Victorian London, include Oi, the impish road sweeper and Trafalgar Moggs, the clerk at the offices of King & Co. I love the complexity and detail of these characters, the determined Mrs Thorpe and her daughter Isabella who can’t face her future nuptials to the debauched George Osborne (!) Isabella’s brother, the equally distasteful Gussy, who her mother is trying to pair off with Josephine. An heiress is, after all, a very good catch.
The descriptions of Victorian London are incredibly vivid and invoke a sense of actually being there with all the dirt and grime, the stark contrasts and immense divide between the haves and the have-nots.
Carol Hedges has a very individual style of writing which, to be honest I was a little unsure about initially, but I was very soon drawn into the flow of the story. Full of humour and wit, greed, affluence and the darker side of human nature, the story explores all levels of society. It’s a very entertaining read with some unexpected twists and a satisfying ending.
October 6, 2014
“Diamonds and Dust” plunges straight in to the murky night of Victorian London and a dastardly murder. The early descriptive paragraphs of the misty dark river and alleyways, written in the present tense, take you straight to the London of “Bleak House” and you are quickly caught up in the mystery and fear.
Eighteen year old Josephine King is left with the task of solving the murder of her recently discovered guardian and uncle in an inhospitable environment, summoning the strength of character she acquired from years living in an orphanage. Her unlikely allies are a brothel-keeper and a ragged crossing sweeper called Oi.
As the police make no progress, Josephine discovers that the murder may be connected to a collection of valuable jewels. There are incredible headlines in the newspapers of, “A Fearful monstrous Hound striking terror,” and no-one feels safe on the streets at night.
While Josephine puts herself at risk, striving to discover the murderer, Isabella Thorpe, a tragic acquaintance, fights to maintain her sanity, destined to be given in marriage to a depraved bully.
Every scene is filled with period detail, painting a picture of the surroundings without detracting from the fast-moving plot. In one delightful vignette Josephine even meets Charles Dickens though she is not impressed by him!
The characters, such as Pennyworth Candy and Trafalgar Moggs, have such perfect names and in this moral tale all receive their just deserts as the result of two determined women, even if the police take all the credit.
Eighteen year old Josephine King is left with the task of solving the murder of her recently discovered guardian and uncle in an inhospitable environment, summoning the strength of character she acquired from years living in an orphanage. Her unlikely allies are a brothel-keeper and a ragged crossing sweeper called Oi.
As the police make no progress, Josephine discovers that the murder may be connected to a collection of valuable jewels. There are incredible headlines in the newspapers of, “A Fearful monstrous Hound striking terror,” and no-one feels safe on the streets at night.
While Josephine puts herself at risk, striving to discover the murderer, Isabella Thorpe, a tragic acquaintance, fights to maintain her sanity, destined to be given in marriage to a depraved bully.
Every scene is filled with period detail, painting a picture of the surroundings without detracting from the fast-moving plot. In one delightful vignette Josephine even meets Charles Dickens though she is not impressed by him!
The characters, such as Pennyworth Candy and Trafalgar Moggs, have such perfect names and in this moral tale all receive their just deserts as the result of two determined women, even if the police take all the credit.
August 31, 2016
I really enjoyed this atmospheric Victorian murder mystery.
I'm not usually keen on novels written in the present tense, but this was so gripping that within a few paragraphs I had totally cast aside my prejudices. The heroine, Josephine, is a wonderful creation. Shaped by her years in an orphanage she is feisty, unwilling to be constrained and is able to deal with the most horrendous events with equanimity (which is just as well given what happens!). The other supporting characters are equally well drawn, all with their own personalities. I particularly felt empathy with Isabella, who rebelled against her odious, social climbing mother in her own quiet way.
As well as being a cracking mystery, the book provides a remarkable insight into the conditions of the time. From the vivid evocation of the smogs and the descriptions of the food and clothes, to the chilling insight into the plight of women - no detail is spared. And although the themes dealt with are serious, Ms Hedges also manages to write with a wry humour throughout.
In summary, a cracking read, and off now to download the next two in the series!
I'm not usually keen on novels written in the present tense, but this was so gripping that within a few paragraphs I had totally cast aside my prejudices. The heroine, Josephine, is a wonderful creation. Shaped by her years in an orphanage she is feisty, unwilling to be constrained and is able to deal with the most horrendous events with equanimity (which is just as well given what happens!). The other supporting characters are equally well drawn, all with their own personalities. I particularly felt empathy with Isabella, who rebelled against her odious, social climbing mother in her own quiet way.
As well as being a cracking mystery, the book provides a remarkable insight into the conditions of the time. From the vivid evocation of the smogs and the descriptions of the food and clothes, to the chilling insight into the plight of women - no detail is spared. And although the themes dealt with are serious, Ms Hedges also manages to write with a wry humour throughout.
In summary, a cracking read, and off now to download the next two in the series!
April 4, 2021
The description of the premise of this book sounded like a good one, but the execution was sadly lacking. Perhaps it would have been better with a shade more attention from an editor. The author too often used awkward language or phrases. For example, in the first few pages she keeps referring to the Detective Police. For more than 40 years, I have literally been reading both fiction set in Victorian England as well as fiction written during that time period and not once have I ever noted a member of Scotland Yard referred to as a Detective Police. Then there is the fact that the dialogue written for several characters is entirely wrong for the station the character holds in society. Next up is this odd need to hyphenate words, it was done so often it became distracting in the reading. And finally, I was roughly a quarter of the way into the book and the main character development thus far would best be described as milquetoast. I finally gave up
November 13, 2019
Started off really well as seemed like this would be a really good Victorian Crime Novel....
The last couple of chapters totally ruined this when you find out the baddy is actually a female WEREWOLF!!! I mean, come on! As If!!
Until this is really enjoyed the characters and story but then ending the book with something totally unrealistic and unbelievable like a werewolf REALLY ruined this for me!
Unfortunately I have already paid for the other books in this series so I’m hoping she hasn’t gone ever more OTT and thrown in a few vampires or the tooth-fairy! #disappointed
The last couple of chapters totally ruined this when you find out the baddy is actually a female WEREWOLF!!! I mean, come on! As If!!
Until this is really enjoyed the characters and story but then ending the book with something totally unrealistic and unbelievable like a werewolf REALLY ruined this for me!
Unfortunately I have already paid for the other books in this series so I’m hoping she hasn’t gone ever more OTT and thrown in a few vampires or the tooth-fairy! #disappointed
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2014
Diamonds and Dust is a thoroughly entertaining read, packed with mystery, humour and melodrama. Carol Hedges has a nice way with words and crafts a well turned plot that is rich with memorable characters and period detail. It took me a while to get used to the present tense narration (and I couldn't help feeling that it wasn't quite in keeping with the period) but overall this was a really fun Victorian romp.
May 9, 2014
Fabulous book! The first adult novel by Carol Hedges and hopefully not the last. Engaging characters and plenty of atmosphere. Couldn't put it down!
January 28, 2019
This was my first taste of The Victorian Detectives series by Carol Hedges and oh what a bumper hamper of treats it turned out to be.
Set in a London of the 1860s with deliberately Dickensian echoes (the great man himself makes a cameo appearance à la Hitchcock), the story follows the fortunes of its rags-to-riches heroine, 18-year-old Josephine (aka Jo) King (some great Nabokovian wordplay in this book), who finds herself miraculously snatched from a Lowood-style orphanage by her kindly uncle Herbert, and whisked off to live in a desirable residence in St John’s Wood
Scarcely has the story begun than Uncle Herbert meets an untimely demise at the hands or rather the claws and jaws of a horrid, hybrid, Baskervillian creature who lopes and snarls through the rest of the book, its red-eyed gaze fixed on our hapless heroine. Aided and abetted by Victorian detective duo, DI Stride and DS Cully, Josephine sets out to discover the truth about her uncle’s murder and how it relates to a priceless diamond of mysterious origins.
The rollicking, rolling plot features a cast of deliciously named and vividly drawn heroes and villains, who leap from the pages with a flourish of the author’s quill and a wink at her literary predecessors, characters inhabiting a London of guttering gas lamps, greasy fog, misty moons, sooty yards, a mighty river and shiny broughams.
The whole book is a reader’s delight, a rich plum pudding full of goodies, written in a masterly style. It will leave fiction fans simultaneously purring with pleasure and breathless with admiration.
Please Madam I want some more…
Set in a London of the 1860s with deliberately Dickensian echoes (the great man himself makes a cameo appearance à la Hitchcock), the story follows the fortunes of its rags-to-riches heroine, 18-year-old Josephine (aka Jo) King (some great Nabokovian wordplay in this book), who finds herself miraculously snatched from a Lowood-style orphanage by her kindly uncle Herbert, and whisked off to live in a desirable residence in St John’s Wood
Scarcely has the story begun than Uncle Herbert meets an untimely demise at the hands or rather the claws and jaws of a horrid, hybrid, Baskervillian creature who lopes and snarls through the rest of the book, its red-eyed gaze fixed on our hapless heroine. Aided and abetted by Victorian detective duo, DI Stride and DS Cully, Josephine sets out to discover the truth about her uncle’s murder and how it relates to a priceless diamond of mysterious origins.
The rollicking, rolling plot features a cast of deliciously named and vividly drawn heroes and villains, who leap from the pages with a flourish of the author’s quill and a wink at her literary predecessors, characters inhabiting a London of guttering gas lamps, greasy fog, misty moons, sooty yards, a mighty river and shiny broughams.
The whole book is a reader’s delight, a rich plum pudding full of goodies, written in a masterly style. It will leave fiction fans simultaneously purring with pleasure and breathless with admiration.
Please Madam I want some more…
October 12, 2017
Josephine King is an orphan in 1860's London. Recently taken in by her bachelor uncle, life is good. But not for long. He is murdered and his body is stolen from the cemetery. But he has left her something very special in his will. Something that people kill for and die because of. The police are not very helpful. She is left pretty much to her own devices. But she has found a good friend in a high priced lady of the evening, who was her uncle's special friend. Together, with a street urchin, they must solve the mystery of her uncle's murder and the theft of the cursed jewel he left her. This is an excellent
read with a great plot and character development.
read with a great plot and character development.
February 5, 2018
Wonderfully written but strange
I read this based upon the description, thinking it would be a historical detective mystery. Unfortunately, there was a supernatural element that completely ruined it for me. I also have no idea why the Thorpe's were included as they had nothing to do with the central storyline, but seem to be included to "fluff out" the story. The writing itself is wonderfully descriptive and atmospheric, but the story for me, just wasn't there. Rather disappointed.
I read this based upon the description, thinking it would be a historical detective mystery. Unfortunately, there was a supernatural element that completely ruined it for me. I also have no idea why the Thorpe's were included as they had nothing to do with the central storyline, but seem to be included to "fluff out" the story. The writing itself is wonderfully descriptive and atmospheric, but the story for me, just wasn't there. Rather disappointed.
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December 19, 2020Hugely enjoyable
Gothic, mysterious, moody, misty London and the early years of the detective. Seething with atmosphere, this Victorian murder mystery has all the perfect ingredients; plucky heroines, Scotland Yard's finest, misbehaving rakes, dark and smoky London streets, a coughing orphan boy and bags of acerbic humour with a bit of social commentary thrown in. The author is bitingly sarcastic, but this is no parody; this has a great plot and some wonderfully drawn characters. Highly recommended. Right, I'm off to crack on with Book 2.
Gothic, mysterious, moody, misty London and the early years of the detective. Seething with atmosphere, this Victorian murder mystery has all the perfect ingredients; plucky heroines, Scotland Yard's finest, misbehaving rakes, dark and smoky London streets, a coughing orphan boy and bags of acerbic humour with a bit of social commentary thrown in. The author is bitingly sarcastic, but this is no parody; this has a great plot and some wonderfully drawn characters. Highly recommended. Right, I'm off to crack on with Book 2.
September 10, 2021
Just plain Fun to read
Set in the mid Victorian age 1860 something, this very dark and at times pretty darn funny #1 in the series is a delight to read. I was cought unawares by the tongue in cheek nature of the description as the action was described, and Characters wandered about the dark dangerous streets of London.It's either a quick read ,or I was so taken by surprise that I read it quickly.....you will have to decide for yourself when you read it ! I'm on to #2 right now, do excuse me eh ?
Set in the mid Victorian age 1860 something, this very dark and at times pretty darn funny #1 in the series is a delight to read. I was cought unawares by the tongue in cheek nature of the description as the action was described, and Characters wandered about the dark dangerous streets of London.It's either a quick read ,or I was so taken by surprise that I read it quickly.....you will have to decide for yourself when you read it ! I'm on to #2 right now, do excuse me eh ?
October 17, 2017
So good
From the first few pages you are transported into this london of smog and smell The various descriptions of clothing and everything else of that era are not too long or complicated so you really can. picture them. Just when you think you know what's going to happen next it changes and you are left turning the pages ( no housework ,no dinner made) as you need to find out what happens next! A great read !
From the first few pages you are transported into this london of smog and smell The various descriptions of clothing and everything else of that era are not too long or complicated so you really can. picture them. Just when you think you know what's going to happen next it changes and you are left turning the pages ( no housework ,no dinner made) as you need to find out what happens next! A great read !
March 24, 2021
The blurb for this book sounded good, but it didn’t quite live up to its hype. It was a “page-whizzing narrative”, but I was disappointed that Lilith and Josephine didn’t team up earlier. The two detectives were irritatingly hopeless.
May 11, 2024
Very enjoyable tale!
Well-paced story, with interesting characters and plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. The dark streets of Victorian London are brought to life, so you can feel as though you could reach out and hail a horse drawn cab to take you to your desired destination. A supernatural twist just adds to the enjoyment of this story, and I am very much looking forward to reading the next books in the series.
Well-paced story, with interesting characters and plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. The dark streets of Victorian London are brought to life, so you can feel as though you could reach out and hail a horse drawn cab to take you to your desired destination. A supernatural twist just adds to the enjoyment of this story, and I am very much looking forward to reading the next books in the series.
March 31, 2019
Could have been good
The end just cut off and you never found out about ANY of the side characters. Did Fussy get his promotion? What happened in Paris? How did William get his name? Is she running a halfway house? Did the anorexic girl ever get well? Did that lump get out of jail? WHO KNOWS?!
The end just cut off and you never found out about ANY of the side characters. Did Fussy get his promotion? What happened in Paris? How did William get his name? Is she running a halfway house? Did the anorexic girl ever get well? Did that lump get out of jail? WHO KNOWS?!
September 6, 2019
Surprise at the end,
I have recently come to read Victorian crime novels and enjoyed this one very much. A young woman's uncle dies leaving her a treasures. He did not did naturally. I see now that the surprise at the end was not as unexpected as I first thought.
I Pluto read the entire series.
I have recently come to read Victorian crime novels and enjoyed this one very much. A young woman's uncle dies leaving her a treasures. He did not did naturally. I see now that the surprise at the end was not as unexpected as I first thought.
I Pluto read the entire series.
June 9, 2020
On the one hand, atmospherically this is a great representation of the Victorian era, and was deeply compelling in that way. On the other, the plot threads don't tie together, and we just don't get enough background to understand people's connections and motivations. (As well, it was in need of a diligent proofreader.)
August 10, 2020
A fun romp of a tale though, for me, a little uneven.
The different story strands sometimes felt that they ran alongside each other, while not always intertwining in the manner they were set up early on.
The detectives are a secondary focus of the novel and didn’t drive it. That was confusing as this was book 1 of a series.
While I enjoyed the read, I’m not tempted to move on to book 2.
The different story strands sometimes felt that they ran alongside each other, while not always intertwining in the manner they were set up early on.
The detectives are a secondary focus of the novel and didn’t drive it. That was confusing as this was book 1 of a series.
While I enjoyed the read, I’m not tempted to move on to book 2.
January 18, 2021
This is well written, and quirky in a good way! I loved the subtle humour sprinkled in, which was very natural, like a friend who drops in a joke that you ‘get’ five seconds later. Giggle moments!
Good characterisation and dialogue and a well thought through (and quirky!) plot that kept me flipping pages (or whatever the Kindle phrase is). Downloaded book two immediately. A lovely read.
Good characterisation and dialogue and a well thought through (and quirky!) plot that kept me flipping pages (or whatever the Kindle phrase is). Downloaded book two immediately. A lovely read.
November 22, 2025
Loved it!
Diamonds and Dust is hard to pigeonhole: part mystery, part fantasy, part historical fiction, it’s also witty and not afraid to betray the more modern social positions of its author.
It’s cracking good fun and a very agreeable way to spend a few hours. I suspect I shall be making my way through the whole series between now and Easter.
Diamonds and Dust is hard to pigeonhole: part mystery, part fantasy, part historical fiction, it’s also witty and not afraid to betray the more modern social positions of its author.
It’s cracking good fun and a very agreeable way to spend a few hours. I suspect I shall be making my way through the whole series between now and Easter.
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