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Victorian Detectives #3
Death & Dominion
When Detectives Stride & Cully are called in to investigate a fatal case of arsenic poisoning, they quickly realise that there is a lot more to it than meets the eye. Despite their best efforts, secrets and lies will dog the investigation and frustrate their efforts. It will take all the skill and ingenuity of two of Scotland Yard's finest to get to the truth of the matter.
Meanwhile London is playing host to two enigmatic strangers: Darkly handsome Mark Hawksley has come to enrich himself at the expense of the gullible and greedy by selling fake shares in a bogus diamond mine company. Beautiful Belinda Kite has come to find excitement and adventure, and maybe bag herself the prize of a rich husband in the process. What will happen when their paths cross?
Murder, love, trickery and false identities abound in this third Victorian crime novel, set once again in the foggy gas-lit streets and twisting alleyways of 1860s London.
Praise for Diamonds & Dust:
“…a vivid page turner…”
~ Historical Novel Review
Praise for Honour & Obey:
“Carol Hedges has again delivered a book which is written to be devoured in one sitting.” ~ A Woman’s Wisdom
Meanwhile London is playing host to two enigmatic strangers: Darkly handsome Mark Hawksley has come to enrich himself at the expense of the gullible and greedy by selling fake shares in a bogus diamond mine company. Beautiful Belinda Kite has come to find excitement and adventure, and maybe bag herself the prize of a rich husband in the process. What will happen when their paths cross?
Murder, love, trickery and false identities abound in this third Victorian crime novel, set once again in the foggy gas-lit streets and twisting alleyways of 1860s London.
Praise for Diamonds & Dust:
“…a vivid page turner…”
~ Historical Novel Review
Praise for Honour & Obey:
“Carol Hedges has again delivered a book which is written to be devoured in one sitting.” ~ A Woman’s Wisdom
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2015
63 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 19, 2015
I was looking forward to this book being published, and I loved it so much I want to give it six stars; I shall have to make do with five big shiny gold ones instead!
First, the basic plot. Dashing bounder Mark Hawksley is busy enticing the gullible moneyed of London into investing into his diamond mine. A pornography loving, wife betraying solicitor (the thin, grey haired Frederick Undershaft, marvellous name!) narrowly escapes being poisoned by some arsenic laden cakes. The sharp-witted, sexy and ambitious Belinda Kite takes up a position as ladies' companion to the dreary Grizelda Bulstrode, sister of 'bluff, no-nonsense northerner' Josiah.
The plot is expertly worked, with many threads and red herrings, though in some ways it actually comes second to the descriptive passages and crystal clear characterisation.
I love Carol Hedges' portrayal of atmosphere, from the chill of a Victorian London winter: "Wind batters the city, rattling the windows and inn-signs, whipping up the Thames into a white-capped rage".... "A foggy morning in London...the river an oozing stinking miasma of low-tide mud. Grimy pavements. No shade lighter than slate grey. Hoofbeats hollow in the fog" ... and her gift for conveying exactly what a character is like in just a sentence or two: "..a red mouth, determined chin and hair the colour of falling Autumn" (Belinda Kite, my favourite character!). Or "The young lady reminds Belinda of a watercolour painting done by someone who had not much colour but a lot of water, giving off the impression of not only being colourless, but rather damp." That was Grizelda Bulstrode, who, when eating breakfast "conveys tiny squares of buttered toast into her mouth with the cautious apprehension of one posting letters." Or the street urchins: "Average age in years: about eleven. Average age in cynicism and malevolent evil: about one hundred and thirty-five".
At the forefront of all crime solving is the Victorian version of Reagan and Carter of the Sweeney: Detectives Stride and Cully: "...whereas some people could say things in a cutting way, Stride could listen in a cutting way. Stride could make something sound stupid just by hearing it". Okay, no more quotes (apart from Stride's observation about many of the reports on his desk: "Most of this stuff isn't for reading, it's for having being written.") I highlighted so many terrific lines and passages; perhaps the best I can do is just to advise you to buy and read this immediately!
This is the third in the series, but they're all complete stand alones. There are references to events in the previous books but it's not necessary to read them first.
I read some passages several times to enjoy them all over again, there's not one single boring bit. It's so well researched, too; I wonder if Ms Hedges actually time-travelled to discover those dark, dangerous alleyways herself! Best way to read it? Sitting up in bed with lots of pillows, in a warm room with coffee, tea and possibly cakes, it's a delightfully 'cosy' book.
To sum up: a work of art :)
First, the basic plot. Dashing bounder Mark Hawksley is busy enticing the gullible moneyed of London into investing into his diamond mine. A pornography loving, wife betraying solicitor (the thin, grey haired Frederick Undershaft, marvellous name!) narrowly escapes being poisoned by some arsenic laden cakes. The sharp-witted, sexy and ambitious Belinda Kite takes up a position as ladies' companion to the dreary Grizelda Bulstrode, sister of 'bluff, no-nonsense northerner' Josiah.
The plot is expertly worked, with many threads and red herrings, though in some ways it actually comes second to the descriptive passages and crystal clear characterisation.
I love Carol Hedges' portrayal of atmosphere, from the chill of a Victorian London winter: "Wind batters the city, rattling the windows and inn-signs, whipping up the Thames into a white-capped rage".... "A foggy morning in London...the river an oozing stinking miasma of low-tide mud. Grimy pavements. No shade lighter than slate grey. Hoofbeats hollow in the fog" ... and her gift for conveying exactly what a character is like in just a sentence or two: "..a red mouth, determined chin and hair the colour of falling Autumn" (Belinda Kite, my favourite character!). Or "The young lady reminds Belinda of a watercolour painting done by someone who had not much colour but a lot of water, giving off the impression of not only being colourless, but rather damp." That was Grizelda Bulstrode, who, when eating breakfast "conveys tiny squares of buttered toast into her mouth with the cautious apprehension of one posting letters." Or the street urchins: "Average age in years: about eleven. Average age in cynicism and malevolent evil: about one hundred and thirty-five".
At the forefront of all crime solving is the Victorian version of Reagan and Carter of the Sweeney: Detectives Stride and Cully: "...whereas some people could say things in a cutting way, Stride could listen in a cutting way. Stride could make something sound stupid just by hearing it". Okay, no more quotes (apart from Stride's observation about many of the reports on his desk: "Most of this stuff isn't for reading, it's for having being written.") I highlighted so many terrific lines and passages; perhaps the best I can do is just to advise you to buy and read this immediately!
This is the third in the series, but they're all complete stand alones. There are references to events in the previous books but it's not necessary to read them first.
I read some passages several times to enjoy them all over again, there's not one single boring bit. It's so well researched, too; I wonder if Ms Hedges actually time-travelled to discover those dark, dangerous alleyways herself! Best way to read it? Sitting up in bed with lots of pillows, in a warm room with coffee, tea and possibly cakes, it's a delightfully 'cosy' book.
To sum up: a work of art :)
October 26, 2015
This sensational novel has everything; passion, mystery, love, disappointment and humour. A devastatingly handsome man, Mr Mark Hawksley, who is not all he seems, impresses all he encounters, from the no-nonsense northern factory owner, Mr Bulstrode, to the russet haired, penniless lady’s companion, Belinda Kite, just arrived in London and hungry for all it offers.
As Bulstrode and other men of substance are pulled into the web of a promised fortune and Belinda finds opportunities for happiness and material goods, two other couples are bitter and despondent. As if nothing worse could happen, poison enters their homes, but who is the culprit? Detecting the crime is the responsibility of Detective Inspector Stride and Detective Sergeant Cully, whom you may have met before in Diamonds and Dust or Honour and Obey, where they proved themselves to be honourable, hard working men, eager to find the truth. But they have another case to solve. All over London Biblical condemnations such as, “Thou shalt not worship graven images,” are appearing, written in bright red paint and the gutter press have seized upon this to comment that while London is on the verge of anarchy, the police force are unable to cope.
The transition between the actions and emotions of our flawed heroine, Belinda and the gradual revelations about the criminal cases investigated by the two policemen are interwoven seamlessly as the story flows to a just conclusion. Those who have done wrong, suffer suitable punishment, the good are rewarded and a few, whom we can’t help liking despite their misdemeanours, have the chance to set out on a new course of life.
Once again, Carol Hedges has immersed us in the murky but fascinating world of Victorian London with her atmospheric descriptions and superb characterisation. A must read book!
As Bulstrode and other men of substance are pulled into the web of a promised fortune and Belinda finds opportunities for happiness and material goods, two other couples are bitter and despondent. As if nothing worse could happen, poison enters their homes, but who is the culprit? Detecting the crime is the responsibility of Detective Inspector Stride and Detective Sergeant Cully, whom you may have met before in Diamonds and Dust or Honour and Obey, where they proved themselves to be honourable, hard working men, eager to find the truth. But they have another case to solve. All over London Biblical condemnations such as, “Thou shalt not worship graven images,” are appearing, written in bright red paint and the gutter press have seized upon this to comment that while London is on the verge of anarchy, the police force are unable to cope.
The transition between the actions and emotions of our flawed heroine, Belinda and the gradual revelations about the criminal cases investigated by the two policemen are interwoven seamlessly as the story flows to a just conclusion. Those who have done wrong, suffer suitable punishment, the good are rewarded and a few, whom we can’t help liking despite their misdemeanours, have the chance to set out on a new course of life.
Once again, Carol Hedges has immersed us in the murky but fascinating world of Victorian London with her atmospheric descriptions and superb characterisation. A must read book!
January 14, 2016
...Ms Hedges bakes exceedingly good novels...
...yet another tour de force from Ms Hedges... Victorian London, suitably garbed in swirling fogs and reeking of dankness in its eerie alleyways as night falls... daytime thoroughfares bustle where horse-drawn carriages and buses crowd the cobbles in the vibrant West End... the proximity of upper middle-class rubs sometimes easily, sometimes awkwardly as the characters mingle across the pages... the Metropolitan Detective Police, stoutly represented by Detective Inspector Stride and Detective Sergeant Cully are apprised of a couple of deaths in two middle class households, caused it seems by poisoning... a smooth, sophisticated businessman, Mark Hawksley oozes onto the scene with an offer of participation in a new diamond mining adventure in Africa, tempting the commercial rich to part with their wealth in pursuit of future promised gains... current companion of Grizelda Bulstrode, (daughter of Josiah, Northern shoe and boot manufacturing mogul), the beautiful Belinda Kite, enchants the reader and Mr Hawksley, but exudes aspirations of higher society indulgence... the fabulously named Frederick Undershaft, lawyer and philanderer, is a tragicomic figure spun in the author’s unique descriptive style... mix in a religious group with access to pots of red paint, applied liberally in the daubing of chosen statues and doors of houses of dubious repute... and the whole novel sings along gaily... marvellous read...
...yet another tour de force from Ms Hedges... Victorian London, suitably garbed in swirling fogs and reeking of dankness in its eerie alleyways as night falls... daytime thoroughfares bustle where horse-drawn carriages and buses crowd the cobbles in the vibrant West End... the proximity of upper middle-class rubs sometimes easily, sometimes awkwardly as the characters mingle across the pages... the Metropolitan Detective Police, stoutly represented by Detective Inspector Stride and Detective Sergeant Cully are apprised of a couple of deaths in two middle class households, caused it seems by poisoning... a smooth, sophisticated businessman, Mark Hawksley oozes onto the scene with an offer of participation in a new diamond mining adventure in Africa, tempting the commercial rich to part with their wealth in pursuit of future promised gains... current companion of Grizelda Bulstrode, (daughter of Josiah, Northern shoe and boot manufacturing mogul), the beautiful Belinda Kite, enchants the reader and Mr Hawksley, but exudes aspirations of higher society indulgence... the fabulously named Frederick Undershaft, lawyer and philanderer, is a tragicomic figure spun in the author’s unique descriptive style... mix in a religious group with access to pots of red paint, applied liberally in the daubing of chosen statues and doors of houses of dubious repute... and the whole novel sings along gaily... marvellous read...
February 10, 2021
This is the third novel in the Victorian Detectives series, but the fifth that I’ve enjoyed so far. In her inimitable style, Carol Hedges transports us once more to Victorian London, in company with detectives Stride and Cully, as they struggle to solve both mysteries and murder.
I love the way the author describes the foggy, atmospheric London of the 1860s, from its elegant streets and shops to the squalid homes in back alleys just yards away. From the dank river to taverns and chop-houses, then on to fine hotels and houses with servants, this is a London inhabited by a distinctive array of characters both rich and poor. Reminiscent of Dickens, yes, but Carol Hedges keeps a fine pace, with the morals and activities of the main characters drawing us along to some excellent conclusions. With regard to Death & Dominion, I must say I found the ending particularly satisfying!
I love the way the author describes the foggy, atmospheric London of the 1860s, from its elegant streets and shops to the squalid homes in back alleys just yards away. From the dank river to taverns and chop-houses, then on to fine hotels and houses with servants, this is a London inhabited by a distinctive array of characters both rich and poor. Reminiscent of Dickens, yes, but Carol Hedges keeps a fine pace, with the morals and activities of the main characters drawing us along to some excellent conclusions. With regard to Death & Dominion, I must say I found the ending particularly satisfying!
January 1, 2016
Really enjoyed this one, although the crimes are separate there are links between the books. A character from one book may pop up in another so it's fun to watch out for them. Then there are the names, Most sound like something out of Dickens.
June 23, 2020
Well Written
Carol Hedges' books are very good. Sometimes a little risque' for me in places but not vulgar. They keep me turning pages till I almost finish in one sitting. You will love the characters as well as the environment of time and place. Enjoy!
Carol Hedges' books are very good. Sometimes a little risque' for me in places but not vulgar. They keep me turning pages till I almost finish in one sitting. You will love the characters as well as the environment of time and place. Enjoy!
May 10, 2021
Death & Dominion
This is not a book I would ever recommend to anyone...there are four story lines
Which are going independently...Which have nothing to do to each other...Which
Makes the book a mess to read!
This is not a book I would ever recommend to anyone...there are four story lines
Which are going independently...Which have nothing to do to each other...Which
Makes the book a mess to read!
January 30, 2017
How I have come to love these Victorian murder mysteries! They are just so much more than that with wonderfully vivid descriptions of London which bring it so vibrantly to life. I can almost smell the stink and the smog. The contrast between the rich and poor is also brought sharply into focus. The icing on the cake though is the range of characters all of whom are so real. I love the way we get little snapshots of the characters and the way their lives touch. There is beautiful and intelligent Belinda Kite who is engaged as a companion to Grizelda Bulstrode by her gruff but likeable brother Josiah. They are both caught up in the plotting of the seemingly charming and gentlemanly Mr Mark Hawksley. I was so pleased when that gentleman got his well deserved comeuppance! The delightfully sexy and smart Belinda shows she is quite capable of living off her wits. She is a bit of a minx but very likeable for all that.
Two servants from different households are found poisoned. Both have eaten cake which had been delivered to the respective homes. Detectives Stride and Cully are investigating the poisonings. They question one of the intended victims, the solicitor Frederick Undershaft and his wife Georgiana. He is a terrific character and perfectly exposes the double standards of Victorian society. His is a very thin veneer of respectability.
Add to this the antics of the Red Hand Gang, a religious group, who are vandalising various landmarks with red paint. The police of course are not helped by the popular press and the very unpopular (to Stride and Cully) Mr Dandy.
The way all these various plot strands work out is just masterly. Fast paced, funny and so evocative of the time. Wonderful stuff!
Two servants from different households are found poisoned. Both have eaten cake which had been delivered to the respective homes. Detectives Stride and Cully are investigating the poisonings. They question one of the intended victims, the solicitor Frederick Undershaft and his wife Georgiana. He is a terrific character and perfectly exposes the double standards of Victorian society. His is a very thin veneer of respectability.
Add to this the antics of the Red Hand Gang, a religious group, who are vandalising various landmarks with red paint. The police of course are not helped by the popular press and the very unpopular (to Stride and Cully) Mr Dandy.
The way all these various plot strands work out is just masterly. Fast paced, funny and so evocative of the time. Wonderful stuff!
November 1, 2018
Really good
It took me a while to get used to the style of the story telling, but I have really loved the interlocking characters stories and how they affect each other. It's funny, wry, very human and thoroughly enjoyable.
It took me a while to get used to the style of the story telling, but I have really loved the interlocking characters stories and how they affect each other. It's funny, wry, very human and thoroughly enjoyable.
March 9, 2022
Death & Dominion
Another excellent novel by Carol Hedges. I truly enjoyed the characters and the story. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series of The Victorian Detectives.
Another excellent novel by Carol Hedges. I truly enjoyed the characters and the story. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series of The Victorian Detectives.
September 27, 2019
I really liked this one!
The author writes it in present tense which is perfect for the stories of these very flawed, very human characters.
The author writes it in present tense which is perfect for the stories of these very flawed, very human characters.
August 23, 2020
Excellent
A really good story with very likeable lead characters and written in a warm, gently humorous and compassionate style. Very enjoyable.
A really good story with very likeable lead characters and written in a warm, gently humorous and compassionate style. Very enjoyable.
November 7, 2020
Brilliant!
Absolutely enjoyed this story. Stonking good read! Carol Hedges uses her knowledge of Victorian London to good affect. Well written!
Absolutely enjoyed this story. Stonking good read! Carol Hedges uses her knowledge of Victorian London to good affect. Well written!
April 9, 2021
4.5*s
January 6, 2022
This book
I like the humour the author brings to these novels.however at times I find the storyline a bit confusing and I lose track and interest in the middle
I like the humour the author brings to these novels.however at times I find the storyline a bit confusing and I lose track and interest in the middle
May 26, 2022
Disappointed
I thought this book not as good as the first book,and finished story ,for the price of the book I thought a bit boring
I thought this book not as good as the first book,and finished story ,for the price of the book I thought a bit boring
June 10, 2025
A jolly romp through Victorian London
February 6, 2016
In this third murder mystery starring Victorian-era London detectives Stride & Cully, a case of arsenic poisoning becomes something much more sinister.
One thing that amazes me about this series is how Carol Hedges manages to set her novels firmly in their time and place and still give each book a twist that makes it completely unique. For DIAMONDS & DUST, that means a scary, otherworldly flavor. HONOUR & OBEY out-Dickens Dickens in its realistic lens on the social and economic inequities of the era, while at the same time setting loose a gruesome serial killer who would make Jack The Ripper tremble in admiration. This time around the author dips her pen into the Victorian "sensation" novel, with its domestic melodrama, smooth-talking con-men, and cunning acts of revenge.
The plot of DEATH & DOMINION seems straight-forward at first--murder by arsenic poisoning--but things get complicated as the bodies multiply and useful leads lay thin on the ground. Detectives Stride & Cully, still the favorite prey of the local gutter press, are stonewalled by some of London's most genteel ladies and gentlemen, who have more to hide than most courtesans--including our favorite ex-madam, Lilith Marks. Her cameo appearance is one of my favorite things about the book. I also enjoyed the Belinda Kite subplot. This "lady's companion" with a murky past is a great mix of vulnerability and daring. She and the handsome trickster Mark Hawksley are a perfect match. Awful as they are (well, as awful he is and she would LIKE to be) I found myself rooting for them.
Hedges does a wonderful job exposing the seedy underbelly of Victorian propriety, especially when it comes to marriage and fidelity. I followed with morbid fascination the icy home life of Frederick and Georgiana Undershaft. Georgiana's situation and her personal quandary--what does a good wife have the right to expect from her husband--remained with me long after I finished the book.
I will say that the wrap up of both the main plot and the sub-plot left me a little dissatisfied. Here I need to take care not to ruin it for you. Let's say that both main parties get what they deserve, though the means of this "rough justice" is highly melodramatic. Now, this fits right in with the conventions of the Sensation Novel--soap opera at its finest. I can appreciate this, but being a modern reader, I would have preferred a more extended and character-driven wrap up.
One thing that amazes me about this series is how Carol Hedges manages to set her novels firmly in their time and place and still give each book a twist that makes it completely unique. For DIAMONDS & DUST, that means a scary, otherworldly flavor. HONOUR & OBEY out-Dickens Dickens in its realistic lens on the social and economic inequities of the era, while at the same time setting loose a gruesome serial killer who would make Jack The Ripper tremble in admiration. This time around the author dips her pen into the Victorian "sensation" novel, with its domestic melodrama, smooth-talking con-men, and cunning acts of revenge.
The plot of DEATH & DOMINION seems straight-forward at first--murder by arsenic poisoning--but things get complicated as the bodies multiply and useful leads lay thin on the ground. Detectives Stride & Cully, still the favorite prey of the local gutter press, are stonewalled by some of London's most genteel ladies and gentlemen, who have more to hide than most courtesans--including our favorite ex-madam, Lilith Marks. Her cameo appearance is one of my favorite things about the book. I also enjoyed the Belinda Kite subplot. This "lady's companion" with a murky past is a great mix of vulnerability and daring. She and the handsome trickster Mark Hawksley are a perfect match. Awful as they are (well, as awful he is and she would LIKE to be) I found myself rooting for them.
Hedges does a wonderful job exposing the seedy underbelly of Victorian propriety, especially when it comes to marriage and fidelity. I followed with morbid fascination the icy home life of Frederick and Georgiana Undershaft. Georgiana's situation and her personal quandary--what does a good wife have the right to expect from her husband--remained with me long after I finished the book.
I will say that the wrap up of both the main plot and the sub-plot left me a little dissatisfied. Here I need to take care not to ruin it for you. Let's say that both main parties get what they deserve, though the means of this "rough justice" is highly melodramatic. Now, this fits right in with the conventions of the Sensation Novel--soap opera at its finest. I can appreciate this, but being a modern reader, I would have preferred a more extended and character-driven wrap up.
September 23, 2018
I absolutely LOVED the prose style of this book. Breezy just isn't the right word. It's deft, clever, articulate and simply joyous to read. The story is almost a secondary pleasure.
Said story is embedded in the gorgeous style, evocative locations and settings and intriguing characters. The plot is intriguing but I almost lost the thread of it in the various machinations and character interactions. I think I must have missed the subtle denouement because somehow I still don't actually know who poisoned who and how. But the power of Carol Hedges' writing is that I really didn't care!
The author has a marvellous way with words - a sly, conspiratorial narrative voice that takes you into its confidence and then surprises you as it thrusts you around an unseen corner. The characters are beautifully introduced and masterfully entwined and the whole reading experience is just an enjoyable ride that it's hard to get off. I'm genuinely mystified by the Terry Pratchett comparisons - while there is comedy and depth in the world of Stride and Cully I never felt that Pratchett was stringing you along as a neophyte observer in the way that Hedges manages to do here.
This is an easy five stars to award - I will definitely be reading more of Carol Hedges' work and would thoroughly recommend this book.
Said story is embedded in the gorgeous style, evocative locations and settings and intriguing characters. The plot is intriguing but I almost lost the thread of it in the various machinations and character interactions. I think I must have missed the subtle denouement because somehow I still don't actually know who poisoned who and how. But the power of Carol Hedges' writing is that I really didn't care!
The author has a marvellous way with words - a sly, conspiratorial narrative voice that takes you into its confidence and then surprises you as it thrusts you around an unseen corner. The characters are beautifully introduced and masterfully entwined and the whole reading experience is just an enjoyable ride that it's hard to get off. I'm genuinely mystified by the Terry Pratchett comparisons - while there is comedy and depth in the world of Stride and Cully I never felt that Pratchett was stringing you along as a neophyte observer in the way that Hedges manages to do here.
This is an easy five stars to award - I will definitely be reading more of Carol Hedges' work and would thoroughly recommend this book.
December 20, 2015
Tall and handsome, Mark Hawksley arrives in London and, with his partners in crime, intends to assemble as many rich business men as possible with the promise of more wealth if they will only consider investing in his diamond mine. Another newcomer to the city is Miss Belinda Kite, arriving as companion to Miss Grizelda Bulstrode, sister of Josiah Bulstrode, who are in London to escape an ‘Unfortunate Incident’ suffered by Grizelda.
Meanwhile Detective Inspector Stride and Detective Sergeant Cully are about to be fully occupied in trying to solve fatal cases of arsenic poisoning and acts of moralistic vandalism, while dogged by the gutter press. Mr Frederick Undershaft, lawyer and serial philanderer, receives a box of poisoned cakes. He isn’t the only recipient. And in a seedy and run down area of the city buildings defaced with red paint are brought to the attention of Sergeant Evans.
As with the first two books in the series, Carol Hedges with a great eye for detail, paints a vivid and atmospheric picture of Victorian London, with the sights and smells, and its very different inhabitants, hardship and poverty for some, privilege and wealth for others. The squalid, filthy streets and alleyways compared to the much more high-class areas. Full of keenly researched period detail and the character descriptions give an immediate visual image. Josiah Bulstrode is ‘a well built man in his late thirties, with a high complexion and Macassar-oiled hair and moustaches.’ Mark Hawksley has ‘dark brown eyes, straight brows and chiselled saturnine features. He has black hair with just a tiny touch of grey at the temple. He sports side-whiskers, but his chin and upper lip are clean shaven.’
The two main elements of the story play out, and are woven together, perfectly, with lots of intrigue, wonderful characterisations and wry humour. Engaging and smoothly flowing writing explores the many levels of society, with unexpected twists and a very satisfying ending.
Meanwhile Detective Inspector Stride and Detective Sergeant Cully are about to be fully occupied in trying to solve fatal cases of arsenic poisoning and acts of moralistic vandalism, while dogged by the gutter press. Mr Frederick Undershaft, lawyer and serial philanderer, receives a box of poisoned cakes. He isn’t the only recipient. And in a seedy and run down area of the city buildings defaced with red paint are brought to the attention of Sergeant Evans.
As with the first two books in the series, Carol Hedges with a great eye for detail, paints a vivid and atmospheric picture of Victorian London, with the sights and smells, and its very different inhabitants, hardship and poverty for some, privilege and wealth for others. The squalid, filthy streets and alleyways compared to the much more high-class areas. Full of keenly researched period detail and the character descriptions give an immediate visual image. Josiah Bulstrode is ‘a well built man in his late thirties, with a high complexion and Macassar-oiled hair and moustaches.’ Mark Hawksley has ‘dark brown eyes, straight brows and chiselled saturnine features. He has black hair with just a tiny touch of grey at the temple. He sports side-whiskers, but his chin and upper lip are clean shaven.’
The two main elements of the story play out, and are woven together, perfectly, with lots of intrigue, wonderful characterisations and wry humour. Engaging and smoothly flowing writing explores the many levels of society, with unexpected twists and a very satisfying ending.
October 27, 2015
London 1862. We are instantly swept along the streets of Victorian London in all its glory, where we meet the darkly handsome, Mark Hawksley and his companions, for the third in Carol Hedges’ Victorian Sensational Novel Series.
Across London, we are introduced to the beautiful red-head, Miss Belinda Kite (pronounced Keet), as she takes on new employment, and our favourite detectives, Sergeant Jack Cully and Detective Inspector Stride, return to pound the pavements and shuffle paperwork.
As the story unfolds, we find the aforementioned, Mark Hawksley, enticing huge sums of money from the business elite, as he gathers investors for his Diamond Mine.
This is of no concern to Stride and Cully, however, as they are kept busy by the Undershaft’s and their poisoned cakes, as well as the unwanted vandalism of prominent landmarks by the ‘Red Hand Gang’ (aptly named by our favourite reporter, My Dandy).
As with Carol’s first two books, the atmosphere and characterisation are flawless. Her descriptive writing pulls you through the back streets of London and the grand establishments of Regent Street, until you can almost smell the murky water of the Thames, and taste the delicate scones and tiny sandwiches.
I especially loved Sergeant Evans and the effortless way he dealt with people, as well as his relationship with Cully. The no-nonsense northerner, Josiah Bulstrode and his dear sister, Grizelda, also found a spot on my favourite character list. I also quite liked Mr Hawksley’s character, which no doubt reflects badly on my taste in men!
The thing I enjoy most about this series is how Carol wraps it all up so beautifully at the end. Balance is restored, and order returned to the streets of London once more – or until book four comes out!
Across London, we are introduced to the beautiful red-head, Miss Belinda Kite (pronounced Keet), as she takes on new employment, and our favourite detectives, Sergeant Jack Cully and Detective Inspector Stride, return to pound the pavements and shuffle paperwork.
As the story unfolds, we find the aforementioned, Mark Hawksley, enticing huge sums of money from the business elite, as he gathers investors for his Diamond Mine.
This is of no concern to Stride and Cully, however, as they are kept busy by the Undershaft’s and their poisoned cakes, as well as the unwanted vandalism of prominent landmarks by the ‘Red Hand Gang’ (aptly named by our favourite reporter, My Dandy).
As with Carol’s first two books, the atmosphere and characterisation are flawless. Her descriptive writing pulls you through the back streets of London and the grand establishments of Regent Street, until you can almost smell the murky water of the Thames, and taste the delicate scones and tiny sandwiches.
I especially loved Sergeant Evans and the effortless way he dealt with people, as well as his relationship with Cully. The no-nonsense northerner, Josiah Bulstrode and his dear sister, Grizelda, also found a spot on my favourite character list. I also quite liked Mr Hawksley’s character, which no doubt reflects badly on my taste in men!
The thing I enjoy most about this series is how Carol wraps it all up so beautifully at the end. Balance is restored, and order returned to the streets of London once more – or until book four comes out!
December 14, 2015
Perfect Victorian Mystery Novel
I have read Ms Hedges's previous novels in this series; it still took me a few pages to put myself back into time. I then could feel the pollution in the air, the rain, and the fog. I could remember what I have read about how men treated women.
This book is about the interactions between the up and lower classes. Servants, shopkeepers, and police are considered lower class. Mistresses are considered "normal" at that time. A mistress is not a person, but a toy to be played with and discarded.
Ms Hedges skillfully takes the reader back to the Victorian Era I with her scenes of London and the use of words and and phrases used at that time.
Ms Hedges takes us back to a time when women and the lower class seemingly didn't have any civil rights. I cringed when I read how a young woman's sole purpose in life was to a wife, mother, and willing sex pardner.
This point in time did not seem to have any services to help the unemployed, the homeless, nor the homeless children living on the streets. Medical care was for the rich, not the poor. Ms Hedges captures all of this very well with her words.
I can't wait for the next book in this series. I have loved the three books. I hope Ms Hedges has more Victorian Mystery Novels in work.
I have read Ms Hedges's previous novels in this series; it still took me a few pages to put myself back into time. I then could feel the pollution in the air, the rain, and the fog. I could remember what I have read about how men treated women.
This book is about the interactions between the up and lower classes. Servants, shopkeepers, and police are considered lower class. Mistresses are considered "normal" at that time. A mistress is not a person, but a toy to be played with and discarded.
Ms Hedges skillfully takes the reader back to the Victorian Era I with her scenes of London and the use of words and and phrases used at that time.
Ms Hedges takes us back to a time when women and the lower class seemingly didn't have any civil rights. I cringed when I read how a young woman's sole purpose in life was to a wife, mother, and willing sex pardner.
This point in time did not seem to have any services to help the unemployed, the homeless, nor the homeless children living on the streets. Medical care was for the rich, not the poor. Ms Hedges captures all of this very well with her words.
I can't wait for the next book in this series. I have loved the three books. I hope Ms Hedges has more Victorian Mystery Novels in work.
November 5, 2016
Death and Dominion by Carol Hedges
Step aside Becky Sharpe, Nana and Irene Adler – you’ve got a rival!
If you enjoy crime stories set in Britain's Victorian era then you have treat in store with this book. The plot is an excellent one but the book has two even greater merits. The first is the style of narration – it’s in the present tense, an approach that doesn’t always work – but it does here, very effectively. The tone is so engaging and humorous, and frequently ironic, that one can almost hear the narrator speaking. It cries out to be an audio-book, as it would make a splendid companion on a long car journey. The second great merit is the introduction of an anti-heroine called Belinda Kite, a vixen in the Becky Sharpe mould who is unscrupulous, ruthless and very likable. She is a splendid creation and one can see this book as a launching pad for a series of not particularly reputable adventures set not just in the Britain of the era, but in Europe and elsewhere. Gullible men, especially if they are wealthy and powerful, need to be very careful now that this scheming adventuress – with echoes of Zola’s Nana and Conan Doyle’s Irene Adler – is on the loose. More Belinda please!
Step aside Becky Sharpe, Nana and Irene Adler – you’ve got a rival!
If you enjoy crime stories set in Britain's Victorian era then you have treat in store with this book. The plot is an excellent one but the book has two even greater merits. The first is the style of narration – it’s in the present tense, an approach that doesn’t always work – but it does here, very effectively. The tone is so engaging and humorous, and frequently ironic, that one can almost hear the narrator speaking. It cries out to be an audio-book, as it would make a splendid companion on a long car journey. The second great merit is the introduction of an anti-heroine called Belinda Kite, a vixen in the Becky Sharpe mould who is unscrupulous, ruthless and very likable. She is a splendid creation and one can see this book as a launching pad for a series of not particularly reputable adventures set not just in the Britain of the era, but in Europe and elsewhere. Gullible men, especially if they are wealthy and powerful, need to be very careful now that this scheming adventuress – with echoes of Zola’s Nana and Conan Doyle’s Irene Adler – is on the loose. More Belinda please!
March 10, 2016
Reading for Pleasure
I really enjoyed this book. It has à lot of twists and turns. Interesting characters. I cam always looking for a good author and I have found one in you.
I really enjoyed this book. It has à lot of twists and turns. Interesting characters. I cam always looking for a good author and I have found one in you.
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