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The Unseeing
A thrilling debut based based on the real case of Sarah Gale, a seamstress and mother sentenced to hang for her alleged role in a shocking murder, bringing together the accused with an idealistic young lawyer assigned to investigate whether she is a guilty murderer or an unfortunate victim. Something is keeping Sarah Gale silent despite the risk of a death sentence. Is it guilt? Fear? Love? Sentenced to hang for her alleged role in a shocking murder, Sarah confronts the young lawyer asked to examine her guilty verdict. She says she is innocent, but she refuses to explain the evidence given in court -- the evidence that convicted her. Battling his own demons, Edmund Fleetwood is determined to find the truth -- and to uncover why Sarah won't talk. Darkness hides in Sarah's past, Edmund is certain, but surviving on the streets of London often means that one has to make difficult choices. Does it matter what else she's done, if she's innocent of murder? As the day of execution draws closer, Edmund struggles to discover whether she is the victim of a terrible miscarriage of justice, or a dangerous and devious criminal. Bringing 1837 London alive in the most visceral way, The Unseeing is a tense novel of human frailty and fear -- and of the terrible consequences of jealousy and misunderstanding.
592 pages, Hardcover
First published July 14, 2016
165 people are currently reading
3995 people want to read
About the author
Anna Mazzola
9 books382 followersAnna Mazzola is a writer of historical and Gothic fiction.
Her bestselling third novel, The Clockwork Girl, set in Paris in 1750, is a Sunday Times Historical Fiction pick for 2022
Her debut novel, The Unseeing, won an Edgar Allan Poe award. Her fourth novel, The House of Whispers, is a ghost story set in Fascist Italy and will be published in April 2023.
Anna also writes legal thrillers under the name Anna Sharpe, the first of which will be published in 2024.
When not writing or tutoring, Anna is a human rights and criminal justice solicitor, working with victims of crime. She lives in South London, with her husband, their two children, a snake and a cat.
She loves to hear from readers, so do get in touch on Goodreads or on social media.
annamazzola.com
Her bestselling third novel, The Clockwork Girl, set in Paris in 1750, is a Sunday Times Historical Fiction pick for 2022
Her debut novel, The Unseeing, won an Edgar Allan Poe award. Her fourth novel, The House of Whispers, is a ghost story set in Fascist Italy and will be published in April 2023.
Anna also writes legal thrillers under the name Anna Sharpe, the first of which will be published in 2024.
When not writing or tutoring, Anna is a human rights and criminal justice solicitor, working with victims of crime. She lives in South London, with her husband, their two children, a snake and a cat.
She loves to hear from readers, so do get in touch on Goodreads or on social media.
annamazzola.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 270 reviews
October 11, 2020
4.5 stars
"Remember that, while women are often very good liars, they are generally less capable of independent and complex thought. It will therefore be necessary to subject her account to rigorous scrutiny- test her on each point; push her; catch her out."
This book is a work of fiction based on the real murder of Hannah Brown which became known as the "Edgeware Road murder" due to where the first body part was found. Subsequent body parts were found in various locations and the writing on one of the bags led the investigators back to James Greenacre and Sarah Gale. Upon their arrest, Sarah Gale stated that she knew nothing of the murder and dismemberment of Hannah Brown.
I love books based on real events especially on historical events/crimes. The author did take some liberty with some characters - she describes which ones and why in her "Historical Note” The newspaper clippings used in this book were from the real case. Don't read the Historical Note until you finish this book!
I knew nothing of this case when I started this book and I think that is the best way to read this book. Go in not knowing the facts except for those given in the synopsis of this book. Set in 1837, Sarah Gale has been sentenced to Hang for being an accomplice in the Murder of Hannah Brown. No one believed her when she stated that she did not know about the murder or the hiding of the body parts. In Mazzola's book, the reader is shown Sarah's plight as she is in a women's prison, her petition for mercy and her meetings with Edmond Fleetwood, her appointed attorney. The reader is shown the harsh conditions of the women's prison, the treatment received from the guards and imprisoned women’s interactions with each other.
"Criminal Women, as a class, are found to be more uncivilised (his spelling) than the savage, more degraded than the slave, less true to all womanly instincts than the untutored squaw of a native American Indian tribe." - "Criminal Women" by M.E. Owen, Churchill Magazine 1866
I loved how the Author had me guessing the entire book as to Sarah's innocence or guilt, was she knowledgeable or was she a victim herself? In the book she really does not do much to help herself, she is mainly quiet. She does always maintain that she knew nothing. Her attorney struggles with whether Sarah Gale is protecting someone, is she telling the truth or is she to blame?
Plus, the viewpoints on women at the time are also on display in this book:
"No, indeed, she was convicted of something far worse. You see, once a woman has begun to descend the slippery slope of immorality, there is no limit as to what she is capable of. Falsum in uno, falsum in omnibus. Remember that Edmund. Once a woman has lost her sexual scruples then she will stop at nothing."
This book stops at nothing in bringing this case alive. I was sucked in from the very first sentence and desperately wanted to know the truth. This book is a mystery and I felt that I, along with Sarah Gale's attorney, was on a quest to determine Sarah's innocence or guilt. Although this book does deal with a brutal murder and dismemberment - these scenes are NOT shown whatsoever in this book. This book is not graphic in the blood and guts/gore sense. It is a mystery that deals with a real case and historical facts. This book shows how people are judged on appearances, on group mentality, and by those with hidden agendas. Investigators in the 1800's did not have the forensic tools that we have today, they had eye witness accounts, bias, and the forensics of that time to investigate their cases. One was not innocent until proven guilty in those days - they were guilty until proven innocent.
I found this book to be riveting, well-written and captivating. Was she innocent? Was she guilty? I went back and forth while reading this book with regards to her involvement or lack of involvement. I thought this book was extremely well done and loved the real newspaper clippings added to the book.
***This book is an EDGAR Award Winner.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Sourcebooks Landmark who provided me with a copy of this bo0k in exchange for an honest review.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
"Remember that, while women are often very good liars, they are generally less capable of independent and complex thought. It will therefore be necessary to subject her account to rigorous scrutiny- test her on each point; push her; catch her out."
This book is a work of fiction based on the real murder of Hannah Brown which became known as the "Edgeware Road murder" due to where the first body part was found. Subsequent body parts were found in various locations and the writing on one of the bags led the investigators back to James Greenacre and Sarah Gale. Upon their arrest, Sarah Gale stated that she knew nothing of the murder and dismemberment of Hannah Brown.
I love books based on real events especially on historical events/crimes. The author did take some liberty with some characters - she describes which ones and why in her "Historical Note” The newspaper clippings used in this book were from the real case. Don't read the Historical Note until you finish this book!
I knew nothing of this case when I started this book and I think that is the best way to read this book. Go in not knowing the facts except for those given in the synopsis of this book. Set in 1837, Sarah Gale has been sentenced to Hang for being an accomplice in the Murder of Hannah Brown. No one believed her when she stated that she did not know about the murder or the hiding of the body parts. In Mazzola's book, the reader is shown Sarah's plight as she is in a women's prison, her petition for mercy and her meetings with Edmond Fleetwood, her appointed attorney. The reader is shown the harsh conditions of the women's prison, the treatment received from the guards and imprisoned women’s interactions with each other.
"Criminal Women, as a class, are found to be more uncivilised (his spelling) than the savage, more degraded than the slave, less true to all womanly instincts than the untutored squaw of a native American Indian tribe." - "Criminal Women" by M.E. Owen, Churchill Magazine 1866
I loved how the Author had me guessing the entire book as to Sarah's innocence or guilt, was she knowledgeable or was she a victim herself? In the book she really does not do much to help herself, she is mainly quiet. She does always maintain that she knew nothing. Her attorney struggles with whether Sarah Gale is protecting someone, is she telling the truth or is she to blame?
Plus, the viewpoints on women at the time are also on display in this book:
"No, indeed, she was convicted of something far worse. You see, once a woman has begun to descend the slippery slope of immorality, there is no limit as to what she is capable of. Falsum in uno, falsum in omnibus. Remember that Edmund. Once a woman has lost her sexual scruples then she will stop at nothing."
This book stops at nothing in bringing this case alive. I was sucked in from the very first sentence and desperately wanted to know the truth. This book is a mystery and I felt that I, along with Sarah Gale's attorney, was on a quest to determine Sarah's innocence or guilt. Although this book does deal with a brutal murder and dismemberment - these scenes are NOT shown whatsoever in this book. This book is not graphic in the blood and guts/gore sense. It is a mystery that deals with a real case and historical facts. This book shows how people are judged on appearances, on group mentality, and by those with hidden agendas. Investigators in the 1800's did not have the forensic tools that we have today, they had eye witness accounts, bias, and the forensics of that time to investigate their cases. One was not innocent until proven guilty in those days - they were guilty until proven innocent.
I found this book to be riveting, well-written and captivating. Was she innocent? Was she guilty? I went back and forth while reading this book with regards to her involvement or lack of involvement. I thought this book was extremely well done and loved the real newspaper clippings added to the book.
***This book is an EDGAR Award Winner.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Sourcebooks Landmark who provided me with a copy of this bo0k in exchange for an honest review.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
February 7, 2017
4.5 stars!
This is a historical crime page turner set in the Victorian time period. It is a work of fiction but based on a true murder case called The Edgeware Road Murder of 1837. It is set in London.
Sarah Gale is sentenced to hang as she was convicted of aiding and a betting, James Greenacre in the murder of Hannah Brown. Sarah was his mistress and lover.
During the trial Sarah has done nothing to protest her innocence and even changes her statement. Hannah Brown's body was found dismembered. Edmund Fleetwood is her attorney who is assigned to review Sarah's conviction and decide if the death penalty should apply. Sarah has a four year old son and he finds her life at stake. He feels she is very uncooperative and reluctant to open up to him. Edmund is sure Sarah is hiding something but what could she be hiding. He becomes very emotionally involved.
Anna Mazzola's debut novel sets the facts of the case within a web of secrets.
The book is suspenseful with a few twists. I loved the book straight from the beginning to the end. I do feel though that the author could of done a little bit better with the character development but other than that I felt the book was done outstandingly well.
I want to thank Netgalley, Anna Mazzola and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a historical crime page turner set in the Victorian time period. It is a work of fiction but based on a true murder case called The Edgeware Road Murder of 1837. It is set in London.
Sarah Gale is sentenced to hang as she was convicted of aiding and a betting, James Greenacre in the murder of Hannah Brown. Sarah was his mistress and lover.
During the trial Sarah has done nothing to protest her innocence and even changes her statement. Hannah Brown's body was found dismembered. Edmund Fleetwood is her attorney who is assigned to review Sarah's conviction and decide if the death penalty should apply. Sarah has a four year old son and he finds her life at stake. He feels she is very uncooperative and reluctant to open up to him. Edmund is sure Sarah is hiding something but what could she be hiding. He becomes very emotionally involved.
Anna Mazzola's debut novel sets the facts of the case within a web of secrets.
The book is suspenseful with a few twists. I loved the book straight from the beginning to the end. I do feel though that the author could of done a little bit better with the character development but other than that I felt the book was done outstandingly well.
I want to thank Netgalley, Anna Mazzola and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 28, 2017
Wisdom Eyes are said to see in all directions at the same time.
And someone saw what happened to Hannah Brown on that fateful night. A gruesome crime was committed on Christmas Eve in 1836 in the small home of Hannah's betrothed, James Greenacre. Hannah and James were to be married the following day. Hannah would never be able to slip on the fancy red wedding gown laid out for her to wear.
But a trail of uncertainty leads to both James and Sarah Gale who had lived with him prior to his involvement with Hannah. Both James and Sarah are arrested and taken to Newgate Prison in London. Although James swears that Sarah knew nothing about the murder of Hannah, the court sees otherwise.
Sarah anxiously writes a letter to the court for a Petition for Clemency even though the court has found her guilty. She has a four year old son and fears for him. Edmund Fleetwood, a criminal barrister, is assigned to her appeal. Edmund visits Sarah daily in prison hearing small segments of her story. He begs her to state the explicit truth in order to save herself from hanging in the gallows. Sarah guards her story and for some reason continually hesitates. What actually happened on that ill-fated night?
Anna Mazzola lays out a story that will make your toes curl. Please know that the crime is indeed gruesome and based on an actual murder of that time period. But she adds a superb fictional twist to the well-thought-out details presented. Mazzola has a crafty way of keeping all the cards in play. It is a wondrous debut novel told in three parts with clever insets from the actual London Standard, excerpts from Demonstrations of Anatomy, nursery rhymes, and the like that tease at the beginning of all the chapters.
The Unseeing is filled with the driving energy of plundering towards the truth. And that truth lies behind whose eyes, indeed?
I received a copy of The Unseeing through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Sourcebooks and to Anna Mazzola for the opportunity.
And someone saw what happened to Hannah Brown on that fateful night. A gruesome crime was committed on Christmas Eve in 1836 in the small home of Hannah's betrothed, James Greenacre. Hannah and James were to be married the following day. Hannah would never be able to slip on the fancy red wedding gown laid out for her to wear.
But a trail of uncertainty leads to both James and Sarah Gale who had lived with him prior to his involvement with Hannah. Both James and Sarah are arrested and taken to Newgate Prison in London. Although James swears that Sarah knew nothing about the murder of Hannah, the court sees otherwise.
Sarah anxiously writes a letter to the court for a Petition for Clemency even though the court has found her guilty. She has a four year old son and fears for him. Edmund Fleetwood, a criminal barrister, is assigned to her appeal. Edmund visits Sarah daily in prison hearing small segments of her story. He begs her to state the explicit truth in order to save herself from hanging in the gallows. Sarah guards her story and for some reason continually hesitates. What actually happened on that ill-fated night?
Anna Mazzola lays out a story that will make your toes curl. Please know that the crime is indeed gruesome and based on an actual murder of that time period. But she adds a superb fictional twist to the well-thought-out details presented. Mazzola has a crafty way of keeping all the cards in play. It is a wondrous debut novel told in three parts with clever insets from the actual London Standard, excerpts from Demonstrations of Anatomy, nursery rhymes, and the like that tease at the beginning of all the chapters.
The Unseeing is filled with the driving energy of plundering towards the truth. And that truth lies behind whose eyes, indeed?
I received a copy of The Unseeing through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Sourcebooks and to Anna Mazzola for the opportunity.
March 2, 2017
A gripping Murder Mystery wonderfully vivid, dark and disturbing and based on true events.
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This is one of those novels that had me reading way past my bed time and sneaking off for a half hour read when I should have been doing other things but I just couldn't put this stunning debut novel down as it is extremely well written and relates a wonderful sense of time and place.
Based on actual events in 1837 Sarah Gale a Seamstress has been sentenced to hang for her role in the murder of Hannah Brown on the eve of her wedding. Much of the Novel is set in Newgate which was was one of the most notorious prisons in England and the author really convinces the reader of the hell the prisoners endured during their time there. The murder of Hannah Brown caused a sensation at the time and Anna Mazzola creates a wonderful and convincing historical fiction story around the events of the time. Great characters and plot make this such a compelling read and I she had me captivated with her wonderful storytelling.
The author includes an Histroical Note at the end of her novel where she explains that The Unseeing is a work of fiction, based on fact. All of the newspaper extracts used in the Unseeing are real, as are many of the details of the crime itself and the subsequent investigation and trial. She also explained that she has twisted the truth in order to make a better story and this worked extremely well in the story.
I was amazed to learn that this was Mazzola debut novel and look forward to further books by this author. A gripping murder story that many readers of historical fiction will really enjoy.
image:
This is one of those novels that had me reading way past my bed time and sneaking off for a half hour read when I should have been doing other things but I just couldn't put this stunning debut novel down as it is extremely well written and relates a wonderful sense of time and place.
Based on actual events in 1837 Sarah Gale a Seamstress has been sentenced to hang for her role in the murder of Hannah Brown on the eve of her wedding. Much of the Novel is set in Newgate which was was one of the most notorious prisons in England and the author really convinces the reader of the hell the prisoners endured during their time there. The murder of Hannah Brown caused a sensation at the time and Anna Mazzola creates a wonderful and convincing historical fiction story around the events of the time. Great characters and plot make this such a compelling read and I she had me captivated with her wonderful storytelling.
The author includes an Histroical Note at the end of her novel where she explains that The Unseeing is a work of fiction, based on fact. All of the newspaper extracts used in the Unseeing are real, as are many of the details of the crime itself and the subsequent investigation and trial. She also explained that she has twisted the truth in order to make a better story and this worked extremely well in the story.
I was amazed to learn that this was Mazzola debut novel and look forward to further books by this author. A gripping murder story that many readers of historical fiction will really enjoy.
February 6, 2017
4.5 stars
The Unseeing is a finely crafted neo-Victorian mystery based on real life events. It drew me in and left me wanting more!
The gruesome nature of Hannah Brown’s murder created a public uproar. Condemned to death for aiding and abetting, Sarah Gale is brought to Newgate prison to spend her final days before hanging. When a petition of mercy is filed, Edmund Fleetwood is hired to investigate whether or not the court made the correct recommendation in ordering Sarah to death.
While Edmund approaches the case objectively, he finds himself being drawn in more and more by Sarah, to the point where one wonders how much she is telling the truth and how much she is simply manipulating Edmund. It is clear that Sarah is hiding a secret and as the events that led to Hannah’s death are gradually revealed, Sarah’s fate is left in Edmund’s hands.
The Unseeing is a well-written debut novel packed with tension and some surprising twists and turns. I highly recommend!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The Unseeing is a finely crafted neo-Victorian mystery based on real life events. It drew me in and left me wanting more!
The gruesome nature of Hannah Brown’s murder created a public uproar. Condemned to death for aiding and abetting, Sarah Gale is brought to Newgate prison to spend her final days before hanging. When a petition of mercy is filed, Edmund Fleetwood is hired to investigate whether or not the court made the correct recommendation in ordering Sarah to death.
While Edmund approaches the case objectively, he finds himself being drawn in more and more by Sarah, to the point where one wonders how much she is telling the truth and how much she is simply manipulating Edmund. It is clear that Sarah is hiding a secret and as the events that led to Hannah’s death are gradually revealed, Sarah’s fate is left in Edmund’s hands.
The Unseeing is a well-written debut novel packed with tension and some surprising twists and turns. I highly recommend!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 6, 2017
1837, during the course of this book, the Victorian age will be ushered in, and a young woman and mother would be sentenced to hang. When body parts of a murders woman are found in various areas, a Christmas Eve murder would be uncovered. The body traced back to James Greenacre, his live in mistress, Sarah deemed culpable and sentenced to Newgate to await her execution date. But was she guilty. She refuses to say much of anything, claiming not to know what happened. Edmund, a young barrister is charged with uncovering her story, a charge which will uncover many secrets and have a profound effect on his own life.
Darkly atmospheric, richly described, this story based on a real life case, quickly drew me in and kept me turning the pages wanting to uncover the heart of this mystery. Using actual newspaper headlines from the time, court transcripts, the author add a few characters of her own invention to enrich and define this addictive story. The descriptions of the treatment and conditions of Bedlam were appalling. Justice back then was not exactly fitting to the crime, much, much, harsher than today. Our legal system has come a long way, thank goodness.
Reminds me a little of the atmosphere in Burial rites, another book about a convicted murderess.
An debut novel by a very capable author.
ARC from Netgalley.
Release date, February 7th by Sourcebooks Landmark.
Darkly atmospheric, richly described, this story based on a real life case, quickly drew me in and kept me turning the pages wanting to uncover the heart of this mystery. Using actual newspaper headlines from the time, court transcripts, the author add a few characters of her own invention to enrich and define this addictive story. The descriptions of the treatment and conditions of Bedlam were appalling. Justice back then was not exactly fitting to the crime, much, much, harsher than today. Our legal system has come a long way, thank goodness.
Reminds me a little of the atmosphere in Burial rites, another book about a convicted murderess.
An debut novel by a very capable author.
ARC from Netgalley.
Release date, February 7th by Sourcebooks Landmark.
February 7, 2017
3.5 stars
Overall, it was the feeling of the novel that was the most appealing. Well, as much as the dank, fetid cells of Newgate can be considered so. The sense of place is done well, supporting and enhancing the plot without overwhelming it. Even better were the quotes from contemporary sources which began each chapter and illuminated the thematic nature of the subsequent scenes. In many cases, they added another layer of meaning to the events through only a few lines. Cleverly done. They were also an excellent way of illustrating ways of thinking of the period, especially that of the female mind. What immoral creatures we all are.
What lets the novel down is the pacing and lack of any real character development save perhaps that of Edmund Fleetwood, the investigator. Mazzola clearly had few details with which to flesh out Sarah Gale and her equivocal nature is utilised as a means of making the reader unsure as to her guilt/innocence, but it results in a rather changeable main character whose reticence is irritatingly slow to disappear. At times portrayed as intelligent, even sly, at others uncertain and fearful, she offers little opportunity for reader sympathy. I didn't care whether she killed Hannah Brown or not, I just wanted to her spit out whatever it was she was hiding so we could all move forward. As a result of this ongoing fluctuation, the plot plodded then raced, it was entirely uneven and towards the end felt rather stretched, the revelations appearing as new information to keep the story going rather than building on evidence from the first parts of the novel. The parts didn't quite feel like they made a whole.
ARC via Netgalley.
Overall, it was the feeling of the novel that was the most appealing. Well, as much as the dank, fetid cells of Newgate can be considered so. The sense of place is done well, supporting and enhancing the plot without overwhelming it. Even better were the quotes from contemporary sources which began each chapter and illuminated the thematic nature of the subsequent scenes. In many cases, they added another layer of meaning to the events through only a few lines. Cleverly done. They were also an excellent way of illustrating ways of thinking of the period, especially that of the female mind. What immoral creatures we all are.
What lets the novel down is the pacing and lack of any real character development save perhaps that of Edmund Fleetwood, the investigator. Mazzola clearly had few details with which to flesh out Sarah Gale and her equivocal nature is utilised as a means of making the reader unsure as to her guilt/innocence, but it results in a rather changeable main character whose reticence is irritatingly slow to disappear. At times portrayed as intelligent, even sly, at others uncertain and fearful, she offers little opportunity for reader sympathy. I didn't care whether she killed Hannah Brown or not, I just wanted to her spit out whatever it was she was hiding so we could all move forward. As a result of this ongoing fluctuation, the plot plodded then raced, it was entirely uneven and towards the end felt rather stretched, the revelations appearing as new information to keep the story going rather than building on evidence from the first parts of the novel. The parts didn't quite feel like they made a whole.
ARC via Netgalley.
July 6, 2017
3.5 Stars → Ripped from the headlines of 1837! Based on the infamous Edgware Road Murder and the trial that followed in London, THE UNSEEING blends facts and fiction to bring to life this disturbing historical mystery.
Who killed Hannah Brown and why? Sarah Gale, poor seamstress and single mother of a small boy, sits in dismal Newgate Prison, waiting to hang for her part in the grizzly murder. But was Sarah unfairly convicted? Lawyer Edmund Fleetwood is sent to investigate. Edmund suspects she is not telling the whole truth about Hannah’s murder, which makes his job of saving her from the gallows very difficult.
This book was well researched and also gave readers an imaginative spin on the Edgware Road Murder. The author did a fantastic job conveying what life was like around the eve of the Victorian Era. It was difficult, to say the least, especially for a poor woman like Sarah. The pacing was slow in spots, and I was kind of annoyed that Sarah kept her secret from Edmund for so long. Clearly, he could be trusted, and Sarah had a child to consider too. I liked how the author had the crime and punishment play out in the end. It was fitting with the the actual events that took place.
Audiobook • 11 hrs, 26 mins • Liz Pearce, Narrator
I enjoyed Liz Pearce’s narration very much! There were several different characters from different classes, and her many accents were spot on and entertaining. I especially liked her voice for the awful prison guard Miss Sowerton. Her character was just as horrible as Newgate Prison itself!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this audiobook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Who killed Hannah Brown and why? Sarah Gale, poor seamstress and single mother of a small boy, sits in dismal Newgate Prison, waiting to hang for her part in the grizzly murder. But was Sarah unfairly convicted? Lawyer Edmund Fleetwood is sent to investigate. Edmund suspects she is not telling the whole truth about Hannah’s murder, which makes his job of saving her from the gallows very difficult.
This book was well researched and also gave readers an imaginative spin on the Edgware Road Murder. The author did a fantastic job conveying what life was like around the eve of the Victorian Era. It was difficult, to say the least, especially for a poor woman like Sarah. The pacing was slow in spots, and I was kind of annoyed that Sarah kept her secret from Edmund for so long. Clearly, he could be trusted, and Sarah had a child to consider too. I liked how the author had the crime and punishment play out in the end. It was fitting with the the actual events that took place.
Audiobook • 11 hrs, 26 mins • Liz Pearce, Narrator
I enjoyed Liz Pearce’s narration very much! There were several different characters from different classes, and her many accents were spot on and entertaining. I especially liked her voice for the awful prison guard Miss Sowerton. Her character was just as horrible as Newgate Prison itself!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this audiobook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 2, 2017
This historical novel takes, as its basis, real events which took place in 1836 and 1837. It begins with the murder of Hannah Brown and the arrest, for the crime, of James Greenacre and Sarah Gale. When we first meet Sarah, she is in Newgate, charged with aiding and abetting the Edgware Road murder. Sarah has been convicted, found guilty and has been given the death penalty. Separated from her sister, Rosina, and young son, George, she has one chance of having the verdict overturned.
After the jury only took fifteen minutes to convict her, a petition has been sent to the Home Secretary, alleging she is innocent. Edmund Fleetwood, a struggling young lawyer, has been recommended by his father to look into the case and is given a few weeks to investigate and present his findings. However, from the first, Edmund is sure that Sarah is holding back important information. In the grim surroundings of Newgate, he attempts to get Sarah to open up about the events surrounding the crime. What evolves is a game of cat and mouse; during which Edmund reveals much about himself in order to try to convince Sarah to trust him. Why did she refuse to speak out at the trial and how can he help her, if she refuses to tell the truth?
I really enjoyed this debut novel and I hope that Edmund Fleetword appears in future books. There is a hint at the end of this novel that he might and I would certainly enjoy reading more about him. I thought the author did a wonderful job of recreating the times and the limited opportunities that women like Sarah had. An excellent historical crime novel, with good characters and an interesting plot.
After the jury only took fifteen minutes to convict her, a petition has been sent to the Home Secretary, alleging she is innocent. Edmund Fleetwood, a struggling young lawyer, has been recommended by his father to look into the case and is given a few weeks to investigate and present his findings. However, from the first, Edmund is sure that Sarah is holding back important information. In the grim surroundings of Newgate, he attempts to get Sarah to open up about the events surrounding the crime. What evolves is a game of cat and mouse; during which Edmund reveals much about himself in order to try to convince Sarah to trust him. Why did she refuse to speak out at the trial and how can he help her, if she refuses to tell the truth?
I really enjoyed this debut novel and I hope that Edmund Fleetword appears in future books. There is a hint at the end of this novel that he might and I would certainly enjoy reading more about him. I thought the author did a wonderful job of recreating the times and the limited opportunities that women like Sarah had. An excellent historical crime novel, with good characters and an interesting plot.
May 7, 2017
3.5★
This immediately followed a mystery/crime novel that was much more interesting and compelling for me even though this one was based on, and included details from, an actual murder. The pacing was too slow making the almost 400 pages too long. I did not connect with the characters and even though body parts were found in various places, eventually I did not care how they came to be there or who was responsible. The historical aspects of the time and place came across well, some sections better than others. A not too hot, not too cold read.
This immediately followed a mystery/crime novel that was much more interesting and compelling for me even though this one was based on, and included details from, an actual murder. The pacing was too slow making the almost 400 pages too long. I did not connect with the characters and even though body parts were found in various places, eventually I did not care how they came to be there or who was responsible. The historical aspects of the time and place came across well, some sections better than others. A not too hot, not too cold read.
July 27, 2016
Despite my patchy reading of historical crime fiction, I heard Anna Mazzola talk about her debut at this year’s CrimeFest convention in Bristol, and was suitably intrigued by this fictionalisation of a true murder case from the Victorian period. The Edgeware Road Murder of 1837 which led to many a lurid story in the popular press, resulted in Sarah Gale being convicted of aiding and abetting James Greenacre in the murder of his fiancée Hannah Brown. Gale refused to give a full testimony, simply stating that she knew nothing. Frankly, having been bored witless by other non-fiction accounts of Victorian murder cases e.g. The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, hopes were high that the story of Sarah Gale would draw me in…
From the very beginning I found this an intelligent, detailed and emotionally engaging read. Mazzola’s characterisation of Sarah in particular was incredibly powerful, showing a woman struggling with the secrets that she chooses not to expose in open court, and thus willingly forfeiting her right to a fair trial. As the plot unfolds, and Edmund Fleetwood investigates her case further to commute her sentence, it becomes abundantly clear why she has adopted such a closed and taciturn demeanour during her trial. Mazzola controls the pace of Fleetwood’s uncovering of Sarah’s motivations and actions beautifully, and the characterisation of both is perfectly drawn throughout. Sarah exudes a natural dignity that makes her appear rather closed down from natural emotion, and I liked the way that layers of her character are revealed gradually, with her fierce loyalty to both her sister Rosina, and her young son George, shaping her reluctance to reveal her suspected involvement in the murder of Hannah Brown. Mazzola neatly swings our own perception of her back and forth, with us constantly questioning her innocence or guilt in this heinous crime, and cleverly uses the, at times, witless Fleetwood to echo the doubts of the reader as he tries to unpick the mystery that is Sarah Gale, and in the process exposing some of his own family’s unsavoury secrets…
Mazzola’s depth of research is constantly in evidence, but never to the detriment of her ability for natural storytelling. You can positively taste, smell and feel the fear that inhabits Newgate prison, where Sarah is incarcerated. The utter despair or false bravado of her fellow prisoners is portrayed wonderfully, and the rundown and unhygienic confines of this disease-riddled gaol enfolds the reader in a foul miasma. A particular enjoyment of this book is the way that Mazzola incorporates the less politically correct attitudes exhibited in relation to women from the press, the courts and in wider society itself, neatly summed up by one quote from Fleetwood’s father; “Remember that, while women are often very good liars, they are generally less capable of independent and complex thought” and that women are generally more susceptible to loose morality and scurrilous crime. The book is peppered with references to the unfairness of the legal system when women are in the dock, and how the punishments meted out to them are more harsh in relation to the crimes committed, and more often than not leading to convictions on the flimsiest of evidence.
So all in all, a brilliantly researched, emotional, perceptive, and utterly engaging slice of Victorian crime fiction. It skilfully manipulates the reader’s responses to the accused, Sarah Gale, by using the reactions of Edmund Fleetwood who is emotionally drawn to both her, and the seeming travesty of justice against her, as well as painting a visceral and realistic picture of the period itself. Highly recommended.
From the very beginning I found this an intelligent, detailed and emotionally engaging read. Mazzola’s characterisation of Sarah in particular was incredibly powerful, showing a woman struggling with the secrets that she chooses not to expose in open court, and thus willingly forfeiting her right to a fair trial. As the plot unfolds, and Edmund Fleetwood investigates her case further to commute her sentence, it becomes abundantly clear why she has adopted such a closed and taciturn demeanour during her trial. Mazzola controls the pace of Fleetwood’s uncovering of Sarah’s motivations and actions beautifully, and the characterisation of both is perfectly drawn throughout. Sarah exudes a natural dignity that makes her appear rather closed down from natural emotion, and I liked the way that layers of her character are revealed gradually, with her fierce loyalty to both her sister Rosina, and her young son George, shaping her reluctance to reveal her suspected involvement in the murder of Hannah Brown. Mazzola neatly swings our own perception of her back and forth, with us constantly questioning her innocence or guilt in this heinous crime, and cleverly uses the, at times, witless Fleetwood to echo the doubts of the reader as he tries to unpick the mystery that is Sarah Gale, and in the process exposing some of his own family’s unsavoury secrets…
Mazzola’s depth of research is constantly in evidence, but never to the detriment of her ability for natural storytelling. You can positively taste, smell and feel the fear that inhabits Newgate prison, where Sarah is incarcerated. The utter despair or false bravado of her fellow prisoners is portrayed wonderfully, and the rundown and unhygienic confines of this disease-riddled gaol enfolds the reader in a foul miasma. A particular enjoyment of this book is the way that Mazzola incorporates the less politically correct attitudes exhibited in relation to women from the press, the courts and in wider society itself, neatly summed up by one quote from Fleetwood’s father; “Remember that, while women are often very good liars, they are generally less capable of independent and complex thought” and that women are generally more susceptible to loose morality and scurrilous crime. The book is peppered with references to the unfairness of the legal system when women are in the dock, and how the punishments meted out to them are more harsh in relation to the crimes committed, and more often than not leading to convictions on the flimsiest of evidence.
So all in all, a brilliantly researched, emotional, perceptive, and utterly engaging slice of Victorian crime fiction. It skilfully manipulates the reader’s responses to the accused, Sarah Gale, by using the reactions of Edmund Fleetwood who is emotionally drawn to both her, and the seeming travesty of justice against her, as well as painting a visceral and realistic picture of the period itself. Highly recommended.
March 5, 2017
4 stars
Historical fiction book pertaining to the Edgeware Road Murder case. On Christmas Eve 1836, Hannah Brown was murdered and dismembered the day before her wedding. James Greenacre, Hannah Brown's fiance, and his former mistress, Sarah Gale, are arrested and accused of the murder. This novel covers the trial of Sarah Gale, her incarceration in Newgate prison during Victorian times, and a further investigation into Sarah Gale's case as she petitions for mercy/clemency.
Edmund Fleetwood is the lawyer charged with futher investigation into Sarah Gale's role in the murder, a charge Sarah denies knowing anything about. As Fleetwood digs deeper into the case, more questions begin and some of the answers will change Fleetwood's life dramatically.
A very good historical fiction novel as the murder case and main characters are real and the chapters begin with quotes from newpaper articles, parts of the trial transcripts, etc. The ending of the novel is also based on fact and Anna Mazzola provides an afterword letting readers know the outcomes of the main characters. The case was investigated for clemency but the character of Fleetwood is fiction. Anna Mazzola does an excellent job in making this novel a page-turner, especially with the setting of Victorian times, poverty, conditions at Newgate prison and being a woman with no civil rights.
Historical fiction book pertaining to the Edgeware Road Murder case. On Christmas Eve 1836, Hannah Brown was murdered and dismembered the day before her wedding. James Greenacre, Hannah Brown's fiance, and his former mistress, Sarah Gale, are arrested and accused of the murder. This novel covers the trial of Sarah Gale, her incarceration in Newgate prison during Victorian times, and a further investigation into Sarah Gale's case as she petitions for mercy/clemency.
Edmund Fleetwood is the lawyer charged with futher investigation into Sarah Gale's role in the murder, a charge Sarah denies knowing anything about. As Fleetwood digs deeper into the case, more questions begin and some of the answers will change Fleetwood's life dramatically.
A very good historical fiction novel as the murder case and main characters are real and the chapters begin with quotes from newpaper articles, parts of the trial transcripts, etc. The ending of the novel is also based on fact and Anna Mazzola provides an afterword letting readers know the outcomes of the main characters. The case was investigated for clemency but the character of Fleetwood is fiction. Anna Mazzola does an excellent job in making this novel a page-turner, especially with the setting of Victorian times, poverty, conditions at Newgate prison and being a woman with no civil rights.
August 6, 2016
I received a copy of this via BookBridgr in return for a fair and honest review.
This is one of those books that I happily lost sleep over as I was unable to read 'just one chapter more' before bed as I just wanted to know what was going to happen next!
Set in 1837 and beautifully captures the sights and sounds of London of the time, unpleasant times that they were! Sarah Gale is the main character and we are introduced to her as she arrives at Newgate prison, accused of being complicit in the murder of Hannah Brown. Sarah has remained almost silent as she was quizzed over the details of what happened on the night that her lover, James Greenacre, is alleged to have murdered his fiancee Hannah Brown. And when Edward Fleetwood is given the task of further investigating exactly what happened then you are drawn into a story of lies, abuse and you often find yourself wondering just who to trust.
This story is a work of fiction based on fact, and this adds so much depth to the storyline as it features newspaper snippets and court notes - there is even the link to the real trial transcript online which i will definitely be looking into further.
As the story unfolds you cannot help but be drawn in by the complex characters and bleakness of the situation that Sarah finds herself in and she begins to creep under the skin of Edward Fleetwood who seems perplexed as to why she is staying so silent on many details that could clear her name, and help her avoid the death penalty.
Highly recommended as a perfect piece of historical crime fiction! Astonishing debut!!
This is one of those books that I happily lost sleep over as I was unable to read 'just one chapter more' before bed as I just wanted to know what was going to happen next!
Set in 1837 and beautifully captures the sights and sounds of London of the time, unpleasant times that they were! Sarah Gale is the main character and we are introduced to her as she arrives at Newgate prison, accused of being complicit in the murder of Hannah Brown. Sarah has remained almost silent as she was quizzed over the details of what happened on the night that her lover, James Greenacre, is alleged to have murdered his fiancee Hannah Brown. And when Edward Fleetwood is given the task of further investigating exactly what happened then you are drawn into a story of lies, abuse and you often find yourself wondering just who to trust.
This story is a work of fiction based on fact, and this adds so much depth to the storyline as it features newspaper snippets and court notes - there is even the link to the real trial transcript online which i will definitely be looking into further.
As the story unfolds you cannot help but be drawn in by the complex characters and bleakness of the situation that Sarah finds herself in and she begins to creep under the skin of Edward Fleetwood who seems perplexed as to why she is staying so silent on many details that could clear her name, and help her avoid the death penalty.
Highly recommended as a perfect piece of historical crime fiction! Astonishing debut!!
February 7, 2017
Believing is unseeing. This is a semi fictional story based on a very real crime that apparently shook up the Victorian England, the delicate bunch that they were. Actually this takes place right around the time of Victoria's ascension to the throne. England is filthy, violent and brutal for anyone who hasn't got the funds to raise above the poverty levels. A young woman stands convicted of aiding and abetting in murder when an ambitious lawyer (or barrister, really) with much to prove to his domineering father takes up her case to try to prove her innocence and spare her life. Slowly, ever so slowly secrets rise up from the murky waters, emotions enter the scene, muddling the case, obscuring and obfuscating the truth. And whatever's found out is nothing comparing to what is left unseen. Willingly or otherwise. The reader is along for the ride, much like the lawyer, Edmund Fleetwood, relying much too much on trust, empathy, compassion (all those non legal things)...willfully blinding himself to reality. Of course, the readers have the benefit of perspective and distance, so it's easier to figure out the plot, yet this is still a very enjoyable read. Mazzola did a great job fictionizing this story, staying true to the facts, but infusing the bare knucleness of them with details, colors, sounds. She invents characters and motivations, it's really a very impressive dramatization. This is historical fiction at its finest and I was indeed very impressed. Not to mention this is a debut. Very auspicious one at that. Would have loved for it to be more mysterious, but it is what it is. For what a story like that can be, for an absolutely awesome spin on this prisoner/defender/guilty/not guilty Victorian mystery drama, check out Sarah Waters' Affinity. Something about Victorians and their repressions and secrets. Thanks Netgalley.
January 8, 2017
‘The Unseeing’ is fiction spun around historical fact.
Hannah Brown was brutally murdered on the eve of her wedding, in 1937, and parts of her dismembered body were found in different sites around London. James Greenacre, the man she would have married, was arrested. At first he denied all knowledge of what had happened, but he would change his story. He would claim Hannah’s death had been an accident and that he had paniced and disposed of her body because he knew that suspicion was likely to fall on him, because he had fallen foul of the law before..
Sarah Gale was tried as an accessory and, after offering no defence, she was convicted. She had a child but no husband, and she had lived with Greenacre as his ‘housekeeper’ until he had taken up with Hannah Brown, who he believed to be alone in the world with independent means.
After Hannah’s disappearance, Sarah returned to Greenacre’s household and was seen to be attempting to pawn Hannah’s belongings, and wearing her clothes.
Greenacre was found guilty and he hanged, but, after a petition for mercy, Sarah Gale’s sentence was commuted to transportation. She and her son were sent to Australia, and no more of her story is known.
Anna Mazzola’s story considers some of the unanswered questions about Sarah Gale.
Why was she granted a petition?
What did she know about the death of Hannah Brown? What did she do?
Why did she offer no defence?
Edmund Fleetwood is a fictional character. He is a young lawyer, and he is delighted to receive a first commission from the Home Secretary. He must investigate whether there are grounds to give Sarah Gale a pardon. Because the evidence against her is circumstantial; because she is the mother of a young child; because Elizabeth Fry has taken up her cause; because she has the support of the general public ….
The lawyer visits James Greenacre before his execution. He speaks with Sarah’s sister, who is looking after her child and is terrible worried. And he visits Sarah herself, who is willing to talk to him but unwilling to answer the questions that he needs answered. Edmund is inclined to believe her, but the question of whether or not she is telling the truth, of whether the image she presents to him is real or a construct, is always looming. The answer to that question is always in doubt, and carefully timed revelations made considering that question fascinating.
Anna Mazzola’s writing has many strengths.
Her descriptions are wonderfully vivid, evoking the terrible atmosphere of Newgate prison. She allows her characters to speak, quite naturally, of the way the law is weighted against women and against the poor. I believed in all of those characters; and in everything that was said and done in that prison.
She constructed a compelling story that worked with the real, historical events. It is a credible – but rather improbable – account of the crime, and it respects the memories of the real people who lived through these events.
Her characterisation of Sarah is particularly striking, showing a woman struggling with the secrets that she chooses not to share in court; even though she know that she will suffer from the consequences of that decision.
I have to say that the setting up of the story is stronger that its playing out. Because the author gave every character a story, because she was careful to explain everything, I came to feel that there was a little too much going on. Real life is rarely tidied up so well, and that made events seem less real.
The story was strongest when it focused on Sarah Gale. On her life story, on her criminal conviction and on her life in prison.
Edmund Fleetwood was a credible and engaging character, but it was his own story that unbalanced this book for me. I wish that he had been simply the agent of Sarah’s story.
That said, the plotting was very effective.
There were some lulls in the story, but there was always more than enough to hold my interest.
I had to keep turning the pages, and I am very glad that I did.
Hannah Brown was brutally murdered on the eve of her wedding, in 1937, and parts of her dismembered body were found in different sites around London. James Greenacre, the man she would have married, was arrested. At first he denied all knowledge of what had happened, but he would change his story. He would claim Hannah’s death had been an accident and that he had paniced and disposed of her body because he knew that suspicion was likely to fall on him, because he had fallen foul of the law before..
Sarah Gale was tried as an accessory and, after offering no defence, she was convicted. She had a child but no husband, and she had lived with Greenacre as his ‘housekeeper’ until he had taken up with Hannah Brown, who he believed to be alone in the world with independent means.
After Hannah’s disappearance, Sarah returned to Greenacre’s household and was seen to be attempting to pawn Hannah’s belongings, and wearing her clothes.
Greenacre was found guilty and he hanged, but, after a petition for mercy, Sarah Gale’s sentence was commuted to transportation. She and her son were sent to Australia, and no more of her story is known.
Anna Mazzola’s story considers some of the unanswered questions about Sarah Gale.
Why was she granted a petition?
What did she know about the death of Hannah Brown? What did she do?
Why did she offer no defence?
Edmund Fleetwood is a fictional character. He is a young lawyer, and he is delighted to receive a first commission from the Home Secretary. He must investigate whether there are grounds to give Sarah Gale a pardon. Because the evidence against her is circumstantial; because she is the mother of a young child; because Elizabeth Fry has taken up her cause; because she has the support of the general public ….
The lawyer visits James Greenacre before his execution. He speaks with Sarah’s sister, who is looking after her child and is terrible worried. And he visits Sarah herself, who is willing to talk to him but unwilling to answer the questions that he needs answered. Edmund is inclined to believe her, but the question of whether or not she is telling the truth, of whether the image she presents to him is real or a construct, is always looming. The answer to that question is always in doubt, and carefully timed revelations made considering that question fascinating.
Anna Mazzola’s writing has many strengths.
Her descriptions are wonderfully vivid, evoking the terrible atmosphere of Newgate prison. She allows her characters to speak, quite naturally, of the way the law is weighted against women and against the poor. I believed in all of those characters; and in everything that was said and done in that prison.
She constructed a compelling story that worked with the real, historical events. It is a credible – but rather improbable – account of the crime, and it respects the memories of the real people who lived through these events.
Her characterisation of Sarah is particularly striking, showing a woman struggling with the secrets that she chooses not to share in court; even though she know that she will suffer from the consequences of that decision.
I have to say that the setting up of the story is stronger that its playing out. Because the author gave every character a story, because she was careful to explain everything, I came to feel that there was a little too much going on. Real life is rarely tidied up so well, and that made events seem less real.
The story was strongest when it focused on Sarah Gale. On her life story, on her criminal conviction and on her life in prison.
Edmund Fleetwood was a credible and engaging character, but it was his own story that unbalanced this book for me. I wish that he had been simply the agent of Sarah’s story.
That said, the plotting was very effective.
There were some lulls in the story, but there was always more than enough to hold my interest.
I had to keep turning the pages, and I am very glad that I did.
October 18, 2016
Using the bare bones of a real historical crime, Anna Mazzola has filled in the gaps to present a gripping story, one that feels entirely authentic.
The year is 1837 and Queen Victoria is on the throne, London is a bustling array of work while a woman’s life is dependent on class and money and being married. Meet Sarah Gale who has been sentenced to hang for being an accomplice to the murder of Hannah Brown, a woman cut down on the eve of her wedding. Sarah sits in an impeccably described cell in Newgate awaiting her fate. With the public clamouring for her sentence to be reduced, a lawyer young Edmund Fleetwood is asked by the attorney general to review the evidence and produce a report for him. Edmund goes about his task diligently, but it’s not easy, Sarah has given no real defence and with her former lover about to be hung for murder Edmund has his work cut out for him.
Sarah was a seamstress in London at the time the murder took place with a young son in tow she was ripe for being taken advantage of so when her lover James Greenacre takes up with someone else, that someone being the future victim, Hannah Brown, Sarah shuffles off to a local boarding house wondering how she was going to keep herself and her son out of the ever looming fear of the workhouse.
Anna Mazzola really conjures up the time period for us in this pitch-perfect historical thriller with the details of the time period delicately placed so that never once did it feel like that her obviously meticulous research had been indiscriminately scattered across the pages. And then there is the plot, the most obvious and troubling question being why won’t Sarah defend herself? Edmund is fearful that if he can’t get her to talk she will hang for a crime she has not committed. But this talented debut author doesn’t just follow that question around bends, there are other side-plots to explore with a whole cast of characters that may be not all they first appear to be. Put simply, this is a book which has undertone of dark and disturbing matters, some of which have stayed hidden for quite some time. It is these undertones which add the real feeling of layering to the story this is far from a bit of imagination being added to the real story of The Edgeware Road Murders, with a complex tale that the author has spiced up with additional characters and these are delivered with a real emotional context given to their actions. With these multiple layers so pleasingly presented I was completely immersed in the tale as it unfolded; I could imagine Sarah sat in her small cell, the lawyer beside her coaxing a defence from her tight lips and despite her reluctance we learn a little bit more and this kept me turning those pages until the fitting finale.
If you haven’t already guessed, I loved this book, there was nothing that felt the tiniest bit out of place and the author subtlety manipulates the reader’s emotions by the drip-feed of bits of information. I also rarely mention titles in my reviews but this is a good one in part it relates to Hannah Brown who had an eye removed in the course of the murder but it also applies to other characters too which pleases my love of continuity between a title and a novel. This really is an exceptional debut, and I’m looking forward to finding out what else this talented author will produce for my enjoyment.
I was exceptionally grateful to be provided this book by the publisher Tinder Press and this honest review is my thanks to them.
The year is 1837 and Queen Victoria is on the throne, London is a bustling array of work while a woman’s life is dependent on class and money and being married. Meet Sarah Gale who has been sentenced to hang for being an accomplice to the murder of Hannah Brown, a woman cut down on the eve of her wedding. Sarah sits in an impeccably described cell in Newgate awaiting her fate. With the public clamouring for her sentence to be reduced, a lawyer young Edmund Fleetwood is asked by the attorney general to review the evidence and produce a report for him. Edmund goes about his task diligently, but it’s not easy, Sarah has given no real defence and with her former lover about to be hung for murder Edmund has his work cut out for him.
Sarah was a seamstress in London at the time the murder took place with a young son in tow she was ripe for being taken advantage of so when her lover James Greenacre takes up with someone else, that someone being the future victim, Hannah Brown, Sarah shuffles off to a local boarding house wondering how she was going to keep herself and her son out of the ever looming fear of the workhouse.
Anna Mazzola really conjures up the time period for us in this pitch-perfect historical thriller with the details of the time period delicately placed so that never once did it feel like that her obviously meticulous research had been indiscriminately scattered across the pages. And then there is the plot, the most obvious and troubling question being why won’t Sarah defend herself? Edmund is fearful that if he can’t get her to talk she will hang for a crime she has not committed. But this talented debut author doesn’t just follow that question around bends, there are other side-plots to explore with a whole cast of characters that may be not all they first appear to be. Put simply, this is a book which has undertone of dark and disturbing matters, some of which have stayed hidden for quite some time. It is these undertones which add the real feeling of layering to the story this is far from a bit of imagination being added to the real story of The Edgeware Road Murders, with a complex tale that the author has spiced up with additional characters and these are delivered with a real emotional context given to their actions. With these multiple layers so pleasingly presented I was completely immersed in the tale as it unfolded; I could imagine Sarah sat in her small cell, the lawyer beside her coaxing a defence from her tight lips and despite her reluctance we learn a little bit more and this kept me turning those pages until the fitting finale.
If you haven’t already guessed, I loved this book, there was nothing that felt the tiniest bit out of place and the author subtlety manipulates the reader’s emotions by the drip-feed of bits of information. I also rarely mention titles in my reviews but this is a good one in part it relates to Hannah Brown who had an eye removed in the course of the murder but it also applies to other characters too which pleases my love of continuity between a title and a novel. This really is an exceptional debut, and I’m looking forward to finding out what else this talented author will produce for my enjoyment.
I was exceptionally grateful to be provided this book by the publisher Tinder Press and this honest review is my thanks to them.
December 23, 2016
3 stars doesn't mean this book is bad! It just wasn't for me.
Here's what I did not like:
1. Slow character development.
2. Plot twists were the bare minimum of what I'd expect in a crime mystery.
3. Lack of engaging secondary characters.
The writing was very to the point and precise, but I felt the pace should have been quicker. The accused protagonist doesn't inspire sympathy or intrigue very much, her perspective stays nearly the same throughout the novel. I wasn't really shocked by the ending or plot twist, thought it did have intriguing elements.
But I still think this would be a great read for anyone looking for a historical crime fiction to read over the weekend. It just didn't suit my taste which was leaning more towards a fast paced read.
Here's what I did not like:
1. Slow character development.
2. Plot twists were the bare minimum of what I'd expect in a crime mystery.
3. Lack of engaging secondary characters.
The writing was very to the point and precise, but I felt the pace should have been quicker. The accused protagonist doesn't inspire sympathy or intrigue very much, her perspective stays nearly the same throughout the novel. I wasn't really shocked by the ending or plot twist, thought it did have intriguing elements.
But I still think this would be a great read for anyone looking for a historical crime fiction to read over the weekend. It just didn't suit my taste which was leaning more towards a fast paced read.
February 11, 2017
4.5*
Dear Reader,
This is an intriguing and deeply compelling story based on fact.
Centred around the murder and mutilation of Hannah Brown at the hands of her fiancée James Greenacre,ably abetted by his former lover,Sarah Gale,we are immediately immersed in the dirty,cloying and murky surroundings of London.
Sarah,refusing to fully explain the circumstances surrounding Hannah's death, proclaims her innocence and claims she has nothing to say in her defence,other than she knows nothing.
James,a violent and devious man,whose former wives have died under unnervingly sinister circumstances,admits disposing of the body but not to the deceased's murder.
Edmund Fleetwood,tasked with investigating whether the death penalty is a merited punishment for Sarah,endeavours to unfurl a mystery that sees him piecing together this puzzle into a preconceived picture he assures himself mirrors the truth.
But what exactly is Sarah hiding,why is she staunchly loyal to James,a man who has physically and psychologically abused her, and will Edmund be able to persuade her to trust him with the truth of the events that occurred on that fateful night?
This was a very intriguing read that had me turning pages and burning the midnight oil,so eager was I to discover the truth behind this compelling story.
Beautifully crafted,we are not merely enticed to read the story,but are immediately drawn in and invited to sit beside Sarah in Newgate Prison,experience the abuse suffered by central characters and smile knowingly when we are privy to the final reveal.
Highly recommended to all lovers of well written mystery stories looking for something a little outside the box!!
Dear Reader,
This is an intriguing and deeply compelling story based on fact.
Centred around the murder and mutilation of Hannah Brown at the hands of her fiancée James Greenacre,ably abetted by his former lover,Sarah Gale,we are immediately immersed in the dirty,cloying and murky surroundings of London.
Sarah,refusing to fully explain the circumstances surrounding Hannah's death, proclaims her innocence and claims she has nothing to say in her defence,other than she knows nothing.
James,a violent and devious man,whose former wives have died under unnervingly sinister circumstances,admits disposing of the body but not to the deceased's murder.
Edmund Fleetwood,tasked with investigating whether the death penalty is a merited punishment for Sarah,endeavours to unfurl a mystery that sees him piecing together this puzzle into a preconceived picture he assures himself mirrors the truth.
But what exactly is Sarah hiding,why is she staunchly loyal to James,a man who has physically and psychologically abused her, and will Edmund be able to persuade her to trust him with the truth of the events that occurred on that fateful night?
This was a very intriguing read that had me turning pages and burning the midnight oil,so eager was I to discover the truth behind this compelling story.
Beautifully crafted,we are not merely enticed to read the story,but are immediately drawn in and invited to sit beside Sarah in Newgate Prison,experience the abuse suffered by central characters and smile knowingly when we are privy to the final reveal.
Highly recommended to all lovers of well written mystery stories looking for something a little outside the box!!
September 6, 2024
Tepid Atwood/Waters wannabe—not terrible but also not memorable. It started out decent enough but got worse as it went, slowly devolving into flat characters with forcibly tangled plot threads that either went nowhere or were (mostly) predictable. Just a blah & mediocre read.
July 21, 2016
Historical fiction is not normally my genre of choice but the premise of this book, the fact that it centres about the life and conviction of a real woman, intrigued me. The Unseeing is set in Victorian Britain and opens with the imprisonment of Sarah Gale who has been sentenced to hang for covering up the murder of Hannah Brown. Hannah was the partner of James Greenacre, whom was Sarah's lover up until he asked her to leave his home to make way for Hannah. James has been sentenced for the murder of Hannah and is also on borrowed time until he is hanged.
Sarah is petitioning for mercy, despite having not said much during their trial to defend herself, or conversely to incriminate James, and the Home Secretary assigns the review of the conviction to Edmund - an upcoming lawyer who is trying to make a name for himself rather than living in his father's shadow.
However, in order to progress with looking into the facts of the investigation and help Sarah, Edmund first has to get her to talk about that night, something that she is not forthcoming with. Mazzola wonderfully weaves the tension, bringing to life the inner turmoil that Sarah is having - wanting to be free to see her child grow up versus conquering her demons that are keeping her from speaking.
Sarah and Edmund form an unusual friendship, one of which goes a little bit too far for Edmund when he realises that he is falling for the mysterious Sarah and distancing himself from his wife, Bessie.
The Unseeing is truly outstanding debut novel, the narrative is well written and flows between perspectives, bringing together the story as to what happened on that fateful night when Hannah died and her body parts spread across London in the most undignified manner. I particularly liked the snippets at the start of each chapter from newspaper articles of the murder and trial as well as quotes from books from that period, this helped with the authenticity of the conviction.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to more from Mazzola, the realness of the Victorian period and the difficult time that Sarah is experiencing comes through in the authentic language, the descriptions of Victorian London and Newgate Prison as well as the convincing presentation of the evidence.
A fantastic combination of real life and fiction, of history and crime.
Thank you to the publisher, Tinder Press, and the author for my ARC of The Unseeing
Sarah is petitioning for mercy, despite having not said much during their trial to defend herself, or conversely to incriminate James, and the Home Secretary assigns the review of the conviction to Edmund - an upcoming lawyer who is trying to make a name for himself rather than living in his father's shadow.
However, in order to progress with looking into the facts of the investigation and help Sarah, Edmund first has to get her to talk about that night, something that she is not forthcoming with. Mazzola wonderfully weaves the tension, bringing to life the inner turmoil that Sarah is having - wanting to be free to see her child grow up versus conquering her demons that are keeping her from speaking.
Sarah and Edmund form an unusual friendship, one of which goes a little bit too far for Edmund when he realises that he is falling for the mysterious Sarah and distancing himself from his wife, Bessie.
The Unseeing is truly outstanding debut novel, the narrative is well written and flows between perspectives, bringing together the story as to what happened on that fateful night when Hannah died and her body parts spread across London in the most undignified manner. I particularly liked the snippets at the start of each chapter from newspaper articles of the murder and trial as well as quotes from books from that period, this helped with the authenticity of the conviction.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to more from Mazzola, the realness of the Victorian period and the difficult time that Sarah is experiencing comes through in the authentic language, the descriptions of Victorian London and Newgate Prison as well as the convincing presentation of the evidence.
A fantastic combination of real life and fiction, of history and crime.
Thank you to the publisher, Tinder Press, and the author for my ARC of The Unseeing
December 22, 2016
It's 1837 and Sarah Gale has been sentenced to hang. She's believed to be an accomplice in the murder of Hannah Brown. James Greenacre cut Hannah's body up and hid the pieces at different places in town. Hannah was supposed to get married to him and Sarah was the one he sent away. After covering up and hiding Hannah's body James took Sarah back. Nobody believes she was oblivious and didn't know someone was murdered in her home just hours before she moved in again.
Edmund Fleetwood is the lawyer who has to look into Sarah's case. She doesn't want to talk and is destined to be executed, but he thinks she's innocent. He desperately wants her to tell him the truth and wonders how can he get her to trust him in the short amount of time that they have. He can't believe the kind woman he's visiting in jail is the person who has coldheartedly covered up a brutal murder. Is he right and is Sarah indeed innocent or is she a good actress who feeds him lie after lie?
The Unseeing is a gripping novel about a woman who's been sentenced for a crime she might not have committed. I was hooked from the start and couldn't wait to find out what really happened to Hannah Brown. Anna Mazzola has written a fantastic book that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading. I felt sympathy for Sarah, but also was on guard as it's clear something is off. I had my suspicions and I badly wanted to know if I was right. The Unseeing is a fascinating, thrilling and captivating novel.
Anna Mazzola is a great writer. I love her beautiful writing style and the way she handles suspense, by releasing it in small dosages, is laudable. I highly recommend this nerve-wracking book. I couldn't put it down and was intrigued by the murder itself and by Sarah and the ordeals she went through in her life. Edmund asks the right questions, but he's also blind to a certain part of the truth. His quest to find justice is admirable and his character has many interesting layers. Anna Mazzola's character building is absolutely amazing.
I'm a big fan of stories that are based on true events and I think the way Anna Mazzola describes Hannah Brown's murder is brilliant. Her approach is sensitive, intelligent and compelling at the same time. I loved the adrenaline rush I was feeling while I was reading the story and think this book is an absolute must-read.
Edmund Fleetwood is the lawyer who has to look into Sarah's case. She doesn't want to talk and is destined to be executed, but he thinks she's innocent. He desperately wants her to tell him the truth and wonders how can he get her to trust him in the short amount of time that they have. He can't believe the kind woman he's visiting in jail is the person who has coldheartedly covered up a brutal murder. Is he right and is Sarah indeed innocent or is she a good actress who feeds him lie after lie?
The Unseeing is a gripping novel about a woman who's been sentenced for a crime she might not have committed. I was hooked from the start and couldn't wait to find out what really happened to Hannah Brown. Anna Mazzola has written a fantastic book that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading. I felt sympathy for Sarah, but also was on guard as it's clear something is off. I had my suspicions and I badly wanted to know if I was right. The Unseeing is a fascinating, thrilling and captivating novel.
Anna Mazzola is a great writer. I love her beautiful writing style and the way she handles suspense, by releasing it in small dosages, is laudable. I highly recommend this nerve-wracking book. I couldn't put it down and was intrigued by the murder itself and by Sarah and the ordeals she went through in her life. Edmund asks the right questions, but he's also blind to a certain part of the truth. His quest to find justice is admirable and his character has many interesting layers. Anna Mazzola's character building is absolutely amazing.
I'm a big fan of stories that are based on true events and I think the way Anna Mazzola describes Hannah Brown's murder is brilliant. Her approach is sensitive, intelligent and compelling at the same time. I loved the adrenaline rush I was feeling while I was reading the story and think this book is an absolute must-read.
May 14, 2017
The Unseeing by Anne Mazzola is a historical crime drama that pits a son against his father and a young mother against the world. This book goes under the category of books I have read this year that far exceed my expectations. If you have not heard of this book in the past, don't feel bad, I didn't either but now I have to wonder how I missed it. Intricately plotted, Mazzola tells the tale of injustice and struggle amid the turbulent 1800s in London, England.
Sarah Gale is a seamstress and mother, a woman whose life has fallen over the years. Born into wealth and privilege, her life changed drastically when her family was abandoned by her father and Sarah and her sister found themselves abandoned and living on the streets. But her life takes a turn for the worse when she is tried and convicted for her role in the murder of Hannah Brown. Hannah was marrying the man Sarah had been living with for years and now Sarah was to be homeless with her young son once again.
Edmund Fleetwood, the son of a powerful and influential man, is appointed by the Home Secretary to look into Sarah's petition for mercy. Sarah is sentenced to be hanged and with the brutality of the crime, the city itself wants her dead. Hannah was not only murdered, but her body was cut into pieces and distributed around the city. Sarah is not accused of committing the actual murder but of helping her lover cover it up afterwards. For that, she is sentenced to death. Edmund sees this as a possible opportunity to further his career and remove him from the shadow of his father.
As Edmund digs into the facts of the case, he finds lies and corruption throughout. He is not convinced that Sarah is innocent, but does she deserve to die for her part in covering up the murder. But the going is tough as Sarah refuses to be of any help. What Edmund finds are secrets upon secrets and a life full of pain and hurt. Yet Sarah keeps her secrets to herself and Edmund must battle the system and Sarah to unearth what truly happened to Hannah Brown. But why, Edmund must ask himself, is someone willing to go to the gallows rather than speak what she knows. But those secrets, could very well end up at Edmund's own door.
I had not heard of Anna Mazzola and The Unseeing prior to picking this one up and though I had read the blurbs, the novel itself did not truly strike a cord with me. But after the first few pages of this book, I was emotionally and intensely involved with the story. Based on an actual murder case, The Unseeing is a powerful tale of the state of justice and the rights of the accused in Victorian England.
Sarah is an intriguing character and her time in prison is both real and depressing. She holds onto what little hope she has, while struggling with the truths that bind her even more than the cell she is locked into. You are never convinced that she is innocent but there is always the thought that she is at the least, innocent of what she is accused of.
But it is Edmund who drives this story. He is relentless of his pursuit of the truth. Even when the truth may cost him his future and his marriage. The world he lives in is as much a prison as where Sarah is kept. The behavior and obligations that are expected of him. The sense that what people think of him is above all else.
Mazzola has written a terrific novel here, infusing it with enough truth and the setting to make the characters come alive. This is a book for lovers of historical fiction. Mazzola has researched her case well. I missed it early on but am so happy to have found it.
This is one not to be missed!
Sarah Gale is a seamstress and mother, a woman whose life has fallen over the years. Born into wealth and privilege, her life changed drastically when her family was abandoned by her father and Sarah and her sister found themselves abandoned and living on the streets. But her life takes a turn for the worse when she is tried and convicted for her role in the murder of Hannah Brown. Hannah was marrying the man Sarah had been living with for years and now Sarah was to be homeless with her young son once again.
Edmund Fleetwood, the son of a powerful and influential man, is appointed by the Home Secretary to look into Sarah's petition for mercy. Sarah is sentenced to be hanged and with the brutality of the crime, the city itself wants her dead. Hannah was not only murdered, but her body was cut into pieces and distributed around the city. Sarah is not accused of committing the actual murder but of helping her lover cover it up afterwards. For that, she is sentenced to death. Edmund sees this as a possible opportunity to further his career and remove him from the shadow of his father.
As Edmund digs into the facts of the case, he finds lies and corruption throughout. He is not convinced that Sarah is innocent, but does she deserve to die for her part in covering up the murder. But the going is tough as Sarah refuses to be of any help. What Edmund finds are secrets upon secrets and a life full of pain and hurt. Yet Sarah keeps her secrets to herself and Edmund must battle the system and Sarah to unearth what truly happened to Hannah Brown. But why, Edmund must ask himself, is someone willing to go to the gallows rather than speak what she knows. But those secrets, could very well end up at Edmund's own door.
I had not heard of Anna Mazzola and The Unseeing prior to picking this one up and though I had read the blurbs, the novel itself did not truly strike a cord with me. But after the first few pages of this book, I was emotionally and intensely involved with the story. Based on an actual murder case, The Unseeing is a powerful tale of the state of justice and the rights of the accused in Victorian England.
Sarah is an intriguing character and her time in prison is both real and depressing. She holds onto what little hope she has, while struggling with the truths that bind her even more than the cell she is locked into. You are never convinced that she is innocent but there is always the thought that she is at the least, innocent of what she is accused of.
But it is Edmund who drives this story. He is relentless of his pursuit of the truth. Even when the truth may cost him his future and his marriage. The world he lives in is as much a prison as where Sarah is kept. The behavior and obligations that are expected of him. The sense that what people think of him is above all else.
Mazzola has written a terrific novel here, infusing it with enough truth and the setting to make the characters come alive. This is a book for lovers of historical fiction. Mazzola has researched her case well. I missed it early on but am so happy to have found it.
This is one not to be missed!
June 7, 2018
This was a hard book to get through for various reasons. The content was interesting enough, but the writing fell flat, and I found it hard to really 'like' or be interested in the two majors. Here goes...
The story is based on the true events of the 'Edgeware Road Murder,' 1836, in which Hannah Brown is found dead, cut into pieces which have been spread around town. Hannah's fiance and lover, James Greenacre, is accused of the murder; Sarah Gale, James' former lover, of helping to hide the dead woman's body. Both are found guilty and sentenced to death. This all happens quite quickly...
The major part of the story, then, is what happens when Edmund Fleetwood, a young lawyer, is sent to investigate Sarah Gale's conviction to make sure no stones were left unturned, etc. He interviews Sarah in prison over the course of two weeks, as well as various witnesses to the crime. However, what should have been a suspenseful, interesting read was one I had to push myself to finish. This is also one of those books where one of the major characters - in this case Sarah - has a secret, or secrets, which she knows but YOU, dear reader, do NOT. It's just not handled all that well. Fleetwood is also kept in the dark, but I found it more irritating than interesting and kept thinking, yeah, so Sarah has a BIG SECRET she just can't tell Edmund, but why can't she tell the reader?
So I'd read 20 pages, then say okay, just do 20 more and take a break. The characters were never fully-fleshed out. The description and dialogue read like this could have been a first draft, one in which nothing was added later to create a sense of realism, tension or suspense. The ending was artificial and unnatural, too, with a bunch of coincidences thrown in to tighten up all the loose ends. I was utterly underwhelmed.
It could have - and considering the source material - been much better.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3
The story is based on the true events of the 'Edgeware Road Murder,' 1836, in which Hannah Brown is found dead, cut into pieces which have been spread around town. Hannah's fiance and lover, James Greenacre, is accused of the murder; Sarah Gale, James' former lover, of helping to hide the dead woman's body. Both are found guilty and sentenced to death. This all happens quite quickly...
The major part of the story, then, is what happens when Edmund Fleetwood, a young lawyer, is sent to investigate Sarah Gale's conviction to make sure no stones were left unturned, etc. He interviews Sarah in prison over the course of two weeks, as well as various witnesses to the crime. However, what should have been a suspenseful, interesting read was one I had to push myself to finish. This is also one of those books where one of the major characters - in this case Sarah - has a secret, or secrets, which she knows but YOU, dear reader, do NOT. It's just not handled all that well. Fleetwood is also kept in the dark, but I found it more irritating than interesting and kept thinking, yeah, so Sarah has a BIG SECRET she just can't tell Edmund, but why can't she tell the reader?
So I'd read 20 pages, then say okay, just do 20 more and take a break. The characters were never fully-fleshed out. The description and dialogue read like this could have been a first draft, one in which nothing was added later to create a sense of realism, tension or suspense. The ending was artificial and unnatural, too, with a bunch of coincidences thrown in to tighten up all the loose ends. I was utterly underwhelmed.
It could have - and considering the source material - been much better.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3
December 7, 2019
Utterly fascinating read, set in 1837 London as woman pleas for mercy after being convicted for aiding in the brutal murder of her former partner’s new lover. There are so many secrets that twist and blacken this book, that I dared not trust an evidence found or statements given. I was so enraptured that I was shocked when it ended, but upon reflection felt that it had a wonderfully satisfying ending.
August 12, 2023
I enjoyed this book but it promised more than it delivered.
The story is a fictional account of matters arising after a true Victorian crime, the grisly Edgware Road murder. The plot concerns the questionable conviction of Sarah Gale, as an accomplice to murder and the subsequent appeal into her conviction, by Edmund Fleetwood. The blurb promises twists and turns and family secrets, which all sound jolly promising.
In reality, this is a well-written, atmospheric book, but for me, it lacked real tension. That Sarah appears to be withholding the truth (not a plot spoiler, this is the assumption from the start) begins to wear thin after a while and I began to lose sympathy because of her stubbornness. To be prepared to hang to protect the secret, must make it a pretty spectacular one...and when the revelation comes, for me it falls flat on its face. Yes, the arguments are sound as to why Sarah would keep quiet, but the author had failed to make me care about the relevant parties and so it was a bit of a 'blah' moment.
I have been spoiled recently by some awesome reads written with poetic prose. Whilst well-written, this book lacked enchanting language, so much so that I don't think I hightlighted a single sentence. Don't get me wrong, a worthwhile read (3.5 stars) but it doesnt rip up any bridges and I was glad to finish it.
The story is a fictional account of matters arising after a true Victorian crime, the grisly Edgware Road murder. The plot concerns the questionable conviction of Sarah Gale, as an accomplice to murder and the subsequent appeal into her conviction, by Edmund Fleetwood. The blurb promises twists and turns and family secrets, which all sound jolly promising.
In reality, this is a well-written, atmospheric book, but for me, it lacked real tension. That Sarah appears to be withholding the truth (not a plot spoiler, this is the assumption from the start) begins to wear thin after a while and I began to lose sympathy because of her stubbornness. To be prepared to hang to protect the secret, must make it a pretty spectacular one...and when the revelation comes, for me it falls flat on its face. Yes, the arguments are sound as to why Sarah would keep quiet, but the author had failed to make me care about the relevant parties and so it was a bit of a 'blah' moment.
I have been spoiled recently by some awesome reads written with poetic prose. Whilst well-written, this book lacked enchanting language, so much so that I don't think I hightlighted a single sentence. Don't get me wrong, a worthwhile read (3.5 stars) but it doesnt rip up any bridges and I was glad to finish it.
January 26, 2017
This is a brilliant book. I can not believe it is Mazzola's first novel; it is so eloquent, engaging, evocative and quite frankly, just down right excellent!
I read about this book on Twitter and knew it was THE book I had to read in 2017 so I was absolutely delighted to receive an advance copy from Millie Seaward at Tinder Press - the best belated Christmas present ever!
So what makes this book so brilliant?
How long have you got?!
It's set in 1837 and I don't think I have read a book recently that has been able to place me so firmly in its historical setting. The sights, smells, sounds and surroundings are evoked with such conviction and authenticity that you are utterly transported back in time. Mazzola's careful attention to detail means that the reader is completely immersed in the 1830s and able to experience the reality of living in London at this time. Whatever stenches Mazzola does bring to our attention, there is not a whiff of academia or showing off - she does not draw unnecessary attention to the extensive research that must have gone it to this book. She has a fascinating story to tell and is a gifted story teller. The setting, the social context and the historical references creep like shadows onto the page, furnishing your mind with all it needs to feel as if you are walking the streets alongside Edmund and Sarah rather than reminding you this is based on a real case in history and it is 1837. Mazzola manages to create a wonderful reimagining of this time and place with immense success.
"Back out on Newgate Street, Edmund was hit by the stink of horses hit and cesspits, the shouts of hawkers, the clatter of hoofs, the crack of a coachman's whip."
It's a gritty novel. London in the 1830s is not a pleasant place and Newgate Prison is a terrible institution. Conditions are horrific and there is a dark, oppressive atmosphere running through the novel which helps to build tension, suspense and as well as a sense of despair. Although Mazzola's description of life inside the prison is not for the fainthearted, it is completely compelling. It reminded me of several authors like Dickens and Wilkie Collins.
"The dark cells: that place of utter blackness beneath Newgate where those who refused to keep silent were shackled to the wall, gagged and then left to their own private hell."
And there is real resonance in some of the phrases:
"After a few weeks of Newgate's regis, she no longer looked much like a child bearing woman. She was beginning to resemble the skeleton she would become."
So alongside the fantastic atmosphere, this novel is also riddled with intrigue. Firstly, it is based on a real murder case so this in itself creates a sense of tension. Secondly there is the mystery of what actually happened to Hannah Brown and how she died. There is the intrigue about Sarah's lover James, who was also engaged to Hannah, his relationship with the two women and his role in Hannah's death. Then finally, the intrigue surrounding Sarah and her reluctance to speak up about the events or go to any trouble to defend herself.
Sarah is a highly complicated protagonist. The reader is continually guessing whether she is guilty or not guilty, an actress or a vulnerable woman, a victim or a manipulative liar. It's impossible to know and I thought she was a really compelling and fascinating character. There are times when she seems to be playing Edmund - "she was not at all sure that she had the right cards, nor whether it was the right time to show them" - and then times when she appears to have been completely manipulated by a controlling, obsessed lover:
"James had a way with words: he always knew what to say to buoy people up and make them trust him. But he also knew what would cut the deepest. He began with little slices, barely perceptible and then, when, she was broken down, move on to the bigger incisions."
There is a humanity about Sarah which is reflected in her relationship with her sister, then one of the inmates and most significantly with her young son, George. But equally this is a woman who also appears to have stood by and watch her lover cut the throat of his fiancé. I really enjoyed the passage when Sarah considers what might happen to her body after her hanging has taken place. It reminds the reader not only of medial education at the time, but also medical understanding of the mind and of the criminal at this point in history:
"Or would she be anatomised..... this Gentlemen is what an evil woman's heart looks like: observe how strangely it is formed........A sure sign of a diseased and dangerous mind."
I also enjoyed the character of Edmund Fleetwood, who has the complicated job of investigating Sarah's sentence despite an overwhelming belief that she had a fair trial with representation. "She chose to say virtually nothing at all," states the Home Secretary. She is appealing for mercy and yet refuses to speak up. She's adamant that she is innocent but won't really help Edmund put together a convincing case. But Edmund is a conscientious man who sees something in Sarah, he decides to do all he can to discover the truth and save Sarah's life even when at the detriment of his own. I liked the suspense and tension that followed Edmund around as he sought answers to his difficult questions and the implication that he was becoming haunted by this case. It emphasised a sense of something foreboding lurking within the final chapters.
"Thinking he had heard the light tread of footsteps close behind him, Edmund turned back, but only saw rags hanging on washing lines overhead, moving in the breeze like phantoms."
I love the fact that Mazzola has quoted King Lear after one of the chapter headings. The title of the novel is "The Unseeing" and the notion of sight, perception, reality, shadows, dreams and sight - both literal and metaphorical, are used effectively within the novel adding depth, fear and anticipation to the characters and the plot. It did remind me of King Lear a few times so the quote seemed very appropriate -as were all the quotes chosen to head each chapter. There were some fascinating extracts from court cases and academic quotes about women and prison which add further food for thought to the themes explored by Mazzola.
As I said before, the historical research that went into this book must have been immense but it is not intrusive. This book is for fans of historical fiction but also for fans of crime writing. It is for fans of novels that are as much character driven as plot driven and for fans of a story that weaves an intricate web of secrets and lies. Ultimately this is a book for fans of exquisite, engrossing and absorbing writing and who like a story that is both exciting and moving.
"The Unseeing" has a complex plot which is impressively handled; it explores many interesting themes and provides real insight into society at a particular moment in time. It has appealing characters who are created with the skill of an accomplished writer. It's impossible to accept this books comes from a debut novelist. It really reminded me of one of my all time favourite writers Sarah Waters and if you enjoyed this book you should definitely read her novels!
I loved it. I highly recommend it. I can't do it justice in this review and all I can say is read it. My first book hangover of 2017!
I read about this book on Twitter and knew it was THE book I had to read in 2017 so I was absolutely delighted to receive an advance copy from Millie Seaward at Tinder Press - the best belated Christmas present ever!
So what makes this book so brilliant?
How long have you got?!
It's set in 1837 and I don't think I have read a book recently that has been able to place me so firmly in its historical setting. The sights, smells, sounds and surroundings are evoked with such conviction and authenticity that you are utterly transported back in time. Mazzola's careful attention to detail means that the reader is completely immersed in the 1830s and able to experience the reality of living in London at this time. Whatever stenches Mazzola does bring to our attention, there is not a whiff of academia or showing off - she does not draw unnecessary attention to the extensive research that must have gone it to this book. She has a fascinating story to tell and is a gifted story teller. The setting, the social context and the historical references creep like shadows onto the page, furnishing your mind with all it needs to feel as if you are walking the streets alongside Edmund and Sarah rather than reminding you this is based on a real case in history and it is 1837. Mazzola manages to create a wonderful reimagining of this time and place with immense success.
"Back out on Newgate Street, Edmund was hit by the stink of horses hit and cesspits, the shouts of hawkers, the clatter of hoofs, the crack of a coachman's whip."
It's a gritty novel. London in the 1830s is not a pleasant place and Newgate Prison is a terrible institution. Conditions are horrific and there is a dark, oppressive atmosphere running through the novel which helps to build tension, suspense and as well as a sense of despair. Although Mazzola's description of life inside the prison is not for the fainthearted, it is completely compelling. It reminded me of several authors like Dickens and Wilkie Collins.
"The dark cells: that place of utter blackness beneath Newgate where those who refused to keep silent were shackled to the wall, gagged and then left to their own private hell."
And there is real resonance in some of the phrases:
"After a few weeks of Newgate's regis, she no longer looked much like a child bearing woman. She was beginning to resemble the skeleton she would become."
So alongside the fantastic atmosphere, this novel is also riddled with intrigue. Firstly, it is based on a real murder case so this in itself creates a sense of tension. Secondly there is the mystery of what actually happened to Hannah Brown and how she died. There is the intrigue about Sarah's lover James, who was also engaged to Hannah, his relationship with the two women and his role in Hannah's death. Then finally, the intrigue surrounding Sarah and her reluctance to speak up about the events or go to any trouble to defend herself.
Sarah is a highly complicated protagonist. The reader is continually guessing whether she is guilty or not guilty, an actress or a vulnerable woman, a victim or a manipulative liar. It's impossible to know and I thought she was a really compelling and fascinating character. There are times when she seems to be playing Edmund - "she was not at all sure that she had the right cards, nor whether it was the right time to show them" - and then times when she appears to have been completely manipulated by a controlling, obsessed lover:
"James had a way with words: he always knew what to say to buoy people up and make them trust him. But he also knew what would cut the deepest. He began with little slices, barely perceptible and then, when, she was broken down, move on to the bigger incisions."
There is a humanity about Sarah which is reflected in her relationship with her sister, then one of the inmates and most significantly with her young son, George. But equally this is a woman who also appears to have stood by and watch her lover cut the throat of his fiancé. I really enjoyed the passage when Sarah considers what might happen to her body after her hanging has taken place. It reminds the reader not only of medial education at the time, but also medical understanding of the mind and of the criminal at this point in history:
"Or would she be anatomised..... this Gentlemen is what an evil woman's heart looks like: observe how strangely it is formed........A sure sign of a diseased and dangerous mind."
I also enjoyed the character of Edmund Fleetwood, who has the complicated job of investigating Sarah's sentence despite an overwhelming belief that she had a fair trial with representation. "She chose to say virtually nothing at all," states the Home Secretary. She is appealing for mercy and yet refuses to speak up. She's adamant that she is innocent but won't really help Edmund put together a convincing case. But Edmund is a conscientious man who sees something in Sarah, he decides to do all he can to discover the truth and save Sarah's life even when at the detriment of his own. I liked the suspense and tension that followed Edmund around as he sought answers to his difficult questions and the implication that he was becoming haunted by this case. It emphasised a sense of something foreboding lurking within the final chapters.
"Thinking he had heard the light tread of footsteps close behind him, Edmund turned back, but only saw rags hanging on washing lines overhead, moving in the breeze like phantoms."
I love the fact that Mazzola has quoted King Lear after one of the chapter headings. The title of the novel is "The Unseeing" and the notion of sight, perception, reality, shadows, dreams and sight - both literal and metaphorical, are used effectively within the novel adding depth, fear and anticipation to the characters and the plot. It did remind me of King Lear a few times so the quote seemed very appropriate -as were all the quotes chosen to head each chapter. There were some fascinating extracts from court cases and academic quotes about women and prison which add further food for thought to the themes explored by Mazzola.
As I said before, the historical research that went into this book must have been immense but it is not intrusive. This book is for fans of historical fiction but also for fans of crime writing. It is for fans of novels that are as much character driven as plot driven and for fans of a story that weaves an intricate web of secrets and lies. Ultimately this is a book for fans of exquisite, engrossing and absorbing writing and who like a story that is both exciting and moving.
"The Unseeing" has a complex plot which is impressively handled; it explores many interesting themes and provides real insight into society at a particular moment in time. It has appealing characters who are created with the skill of an accomplished writer. It's impossible to accept this books comes from a debut novelist. It really reminded me of one of my all time favourite writers Sarah Waters and if you enjoyed this book you should definitely read her novels!
I loved it. I highly recommend it. I can't do it justice in this review and all I can say is read it. My first book hangover of 2017!
October 29, 2017
Based on the actual crime dubbed, The Edgeware Road Murder when a torso was found in a house under a stone on Edgeware Road back on December 28th, 1836, then later a head and a few months after two workers find a pair of legs belonging to a woman identified as Hannah Brown. The murder was eventually traced back to James Greenacre and Sarah Gale, who was accused of aiding and abetting in the crime of this gruesome murder, from here author Anna Mazzola weaves her version of the crime, filled with deception, lies and suspense. Very Atmospheric of the era, this was well written, and descriptive.
March 21, 2017
This book seemed to be haunting me from the very moment I read the mini summary and everywhere I looked, I was being told to “read this now!” but I had to admit to myself that the books that have been screaming at me to look at this year just disappointed me one time too many, so I fought all temptation and waited. I only kept the excitement at bay for so long before I would come back to another review or offer to read and this back and forth struggle and overall impression as I finally finished reminded me of how I felt when I put down The Alienist (completely different setting from The Unseeing) many years ago. It’s strange how certain books somehow remind you of other reads and I know that may not be a understandable comparison but there it was that same feeling of finally admitted disappointment after obsessing over the shelves and initial smile of contentment vanishing as the lack of likable vivid characters and predictable mystery elements slowly appeared from all corners. Still I thought it will get better and the interesting articles on the Edgware Road Murder tucked in the chapters had me reaching for my kindle before and after work but the odd restrained descriptions of 19th-century London surroundings, heavy dose of obvious modern issues, overuse of symbolism, repetitive questions and sad unsympathetic tone throughout this novel toward the unfortunate victim just had me shaking my head by the final page. I really hate to go against so many glowing reviews and I do realise this is an ambitious debut novel but perhaps in the end this book wasn’t for me and I don’t know if I can honestly recommend it. Still this could be worth some patient reader’s time especially if you are looking for an introduction to true crime cases from early 19th-century London. It all depends what you are looking for or willing to ignore.
*I would like to thank Tinder Press and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read The Unseeing
*I would like to thank Tinder Press and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read The Unseeing
March 25, 2017
Had trouble getting through this one, just too slow a pace. While it is a mystery, based in fact, it doesn't really follow a mystery format or have any real sense of urgency. The characters were lackluster to the point of pure boredom, and I honestly could have cared less about either of them. While it's definitely well drawn and wonderfully atmospheric I found myself skimming because it was just too slow.
December 11, 2016
Loved this superb twisty historical drama - review to follow soon.
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