The Women of Blackmouth Street

by Thea Sutton

A gifted psychologist is forced to hunt a serial killer or risk having a dark chapter of her past exposed—but her mission may mark her as the next victim…

1890’s London. Strong-willed Georgia Buchanan, a mind doctor and heiress, spends her time with the mad, the bad, and devils incarnate, armed only with her expert understanding of the human psyche.

But when her young, high-profile patient unexpectedly commits suicide, Georgia leaves Boston under a cloud of guilt. Lured to London’s notorious Bedlam asylum, she’s trapped by a vengeful detective and a dangerous anarchist—who know too much about her—into tracking a serial killer of women in the city’s East End.

As Georgia struggles to prevent more women from meeting a violent end, her own secrets and closest ties are stripped bare… With her Harvard mentor, William James, and his sister. With her wealthy, scandalous father. With a troubled patient. All the while the city’s streets reel with carnage and social unrest. Alone and questioning her abilities as the killer closes in, Georgia has one last chance to save the innocent before she confronts the most devastating truth yet.

A shocking, fast-paced period thriller, The Women of Blackmouth Street conjures a lush and gritty world of psychological profiling, political upheaval, and women on the edge of madness.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Ebooks

244 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 29, 2021

Reviews

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a shocking thriller set in 1890's London with amazing twists.

Georgia Buchanan hunts a serial killer. When a young, patient commits suicide, Georgia leaves Boston under a cloud of guilt to work in London’s Bedlam asylum.

Characters were strong and were well crafted and the story moved along very quickly

I highly recommend.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[♥ Sandi ❣ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars Thank you to Book Siren and Encircle Publications, LLC for allowing me to read and review this story. Published September 2021.

I had a hard time following along in this book. It just did not feel to me that the author totally completed her thoughts or the characters actions. I kept feeling that something was missing and I could not put my finger on it so therefore could not contract a full cohesive story. It felt like the story was rushed - moving quickly to be able to add more material, to the extent that nothing seemed to be fully developed or organized. The story line was just too scattered.

I think the premise of the story was a good, as I love Victorian historicals. I believe this was the debut book for Sutton. With a bit more time and writing knowledge I can see her developing some good work.

[Zelda FeatzReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical thriller fans prepare yourself for a gore-filled tale that will keep you reading late into the night. The Women of Blackmouth Street is a fast-paced period thriller that transports you to a world of psychological profiling, political unrest, and women on the brink of madness.
Thea Sutton wrote a gore-filled story that will leave your stomach-turning at times and still you feel as if you are reading a classic. Her depiction of the various scenes is creative and colourful allowing you to experience the story with all your senses. While this is not a genre I spend a lot of time with, I found myself captivated and curious to discover the conclusion of this dark twisty tale.
When one of her patients commits suicide, Georgia Buchanan leaves Boston to spend some time in London. Time to escape the horror of Sophie’s death and time to forget about William’s affection for her. However, her sabbatical ends abruptly when she is approached by police to assist with the investigation of a series of horrific murders in the East End. Caught between a publisher with a political agenda, a police commissioner, and her desire to save the women of East End from a brutal murderer, Georgia needs to unravel the truth, and quickly.
This book reads like a classic, and if like me, you do not spend a lot of time reading historical fiction it takes a bit of time to wrap your head around the dialogue and use of language. The good news is that this story is extremely intriguing, and you will find yourself quickly absorbed unable to put it down. I loved the focus on strong women. Women who, even living during the 1890s dared to pursue what they believed in. The conclusion of this story was brilliant and the revealing of the Shoreditch Savage’s identity will leave your jaw on the floor.
The women in this story remind me how lucky we are to be living in the “modern world”. The author brings to life a strong, independent woman who stands up for what she believes in during a time when women were viewed very differently. Georgia Buchanan is a remarkably brave and determined woman. While she is flawed and facing some internal struggles you cannot help but love the character. The author went above and beyond in her creation of this realistic, likeable woman.
While it took it bit of time, I fell headfirst into this novel, battling to drag myself away. The story is dark, gory and delivers twists when you least expect them. It might not be my genre of chose but I loved this book and highly recommend it to historical thriller and crime fans.

[Aisha Rowbottom-Isaacs · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to BookSirens for sending me this ARC.

When I came across the summary of this book, I was quite intrigued. A murder mystery set in the 1800s? It was two of my favourite genres thrown into one whole book. I was excited. And then I was disappointed.

Georgia Buchanan, a gifted psychologist, leaves Boston for London to escape a tragedy with one of her patients from an affluent family. In London, she is forced to hunt a serial killer or risk having the dark chapter of her past exposed-but her mission may mark her as the next victim.

This book had all the makings of a great, thrilling tale but I just wasn't taken with it. I found it tedious and boring and the language unnecessarily complicated. I've read regency era books before but the language wasn't nearly as brain-fuzzing. It gave me such Virginia Woolf, Mrs Dalloway feels, the language I mean, and even that book I enjoyed more than I did this one.

The characters were frustratingly bland and they all had this air of arrogance that I couldn't swallow. Georgia, the protagonist, spent the entirety of the novel flailing and completely missing the mark every single time. 40% into the book I just wanted to know who the killer was, my mental capacity for it all dwindling fast. And my assumptions of who the killer might be were spot on but the reason behind the whole murderous plot was so frivolous and petty.

I will say this, if you're looking for a gruesome tale with descriptions that leaves your senses jarring, this book has it in spades. Writing ability is not this author's downfall, its the execution that had me in knots.

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read & I read it in an afternoon. I love crime drama & history, so this was my kind of read.

Shrouded in darkness, this was fast paced, intense & compelling. With plenty of twists & turns to keep your mind guessing throughout its pages. The reveal at the end completely gobsmacked me as it wasn't who I was expecting the killer to be 😱

Very well written, with a medley of characters, some despisable, others likeable.

Many thanks to Random Things Tours for my tour spot & gifted copy.

𝗜 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 4 ⭐ 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴

[Matthew Cost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sutton enters the mind of Georgia Buchanan as she tries to untangle the motivations of the mad, the bad, and the devils incarnate on the streets of 1890’s London. This novel weaves a smoky tale of deception, corruption, and manipulation in a time and place of social unrest and poverty. Georgia is a wealthy American heiress trying to do the right thing for betterment of humanity, but what is the right thing? Nothing is what it seems as the mysterious serial killer of poor prostitutes terrorizes the city, and all want to use this and Georgia to their advantage, while she merely wants to stop the grisly murders. Sutton gives us a historical mystery that entrances, enthralls, and engages our every sense until the final page.

[Ann Dudzinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

After her young patient commits suicide, alienist Georgia Buchanan flees to London to leave the scandal behind her in Boston. She may have crossed an ocean, but she hasn’t outrun her troubles. Summoned to Bedlam in the middle of the night to prevent a woman’s death, she finds nothing amiss at the asylum, but London’s Assistant Commissioner of Police, Major Arthur Griffith, intercepts her and demands her assistance in identifying a serial murderer. Almost immediately after she declines the request, they are joined by Charles Knight, the publisher of a London newspaper, who insists she does not help the Commissioner. Both men threaten her with publication of photos of the scandal she feels responsible for and that would destroy both her and her father’s reputation.

With no clue who sent the original summons or which man to trust, if either of them, Georgia finds herself in the middle of the Ripper murders in London’s East End. When Georgia is commanded to indict a man who is clearly innocent and more women die, she becomes certain of only one thing: she must find the real killer while trusting no one.

I feel like I’ve read or watched a lot of fiction based on the Ripper murders lately and almost didn’t download this novel because of that. If I’d passed it by, it would have been a shame, because The Women of Blackmouth Street has something the other similar novels/shows didn’t: tension. From the first paragraph, I was drawn into this story and needed to know what happened next. I’ve referenced The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle before and when I pick up a mystery or thriller, I’m hoping for a story that good. This one delivered. The historic details are on point, the sensory details put the reader smack in the middle of dank, 1890s London, and the plot twists kept me guessing all the way through. I will admit, I guessed the actual killer before the end (although I loved the spin the author gave to the world’s oldest cold case) but the subplots twisting through the novel took me by surprise when they were tied up. Since I’m unable to read without mentally critiquing, my reviews tend to be harder than if I were just reading for pleasure. But this work was so gripping, I happily ignored the fact it began with a dream prologue. In fact, Sutton’s prose was so good, I found myself jotting down notes for future reference.

I read this as an ARC copy prior to publication, but it’s now available for purchase. If you like Historical Thrillers, I strongly suggest buying a copy. This story raised the bar on what I’ll use to compare other similar novels.

[William de_Rham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found “The Women of Blackmouth Street” to be an interesting yet challenging novel, Gothic in style and based, in part, on the Whitechapel/Jack the Ripper murders of the late 19th Century.

The year is 1891. Georgia Buchanan, daughter of a wealthy American Industrialist and a trained alienist (mental health practitioner), has come to London fresh on the heels of a scandal involving her practice in Boston. A serial killer stalks the East End, disemboweling “actresses” and causing panic, social unrest, and even rioting amongst the poor. The police want Georgia to assist in their inquiries and confirm the guilt of a madman they currently have in custody—a madman Georgia determines cannot be guilty. A publisher and an anarchist want Georgia to stay off the case. Everyone is threatening Georgia with ruin if she refuses to accede to their demands. Georgia is determined to solve the murders.

Georgia herself is a complex character. A professional during times that were not friendly to professional women, she is strong, focused, prickly at times, and can be seen as humorless, lacking charm, and somewhat arrogant. Then again, others may find her inestimably admirable. At odds with her father, who initially encouraged her intellectual pursuits but would now prefer she engage in more traditional activities, she smokes, drinks whiskey, and even finds benefit from the occasional cocaine lozenge. Friends with the James family (famous author Henry and siblings William and Alice), she has little interest in conformity but has been made secretly vulnerable by what happened back in Boston.

I am not very familiar with the London of the 1890s. But it seemed to me that author Thea Sutton did a very good job researching the period. Her writing is complex and seems evocative of the times. The vocabulary is high-level (I went to the dictionary on more than one occasion) and there’s liberal use of metaphor, simile, sentences abounding with descriptive clauses, and other literary devices. Readers unprepared to expend a fair amount of effort on this novel will probably not get much past the beginning. Conversely, those who enjoy Charles Dickens, Henry James, Sherlock Holmes, Late 19th Century/Victorian England, and/or the “Ripper Murders” may well find something to become absorbed in and enjoy.

[Sharon Rimmelzwaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Women of Blackmouth Street by Thea Sutton is a historical thriller that is set in the 1890s in London. A fast paced book which deals with murder, revenge and blackmail along the way.
1890’s London. Strong-willed Georgia Buchanan, a mind doctor and heiress, spends her time with the mad, the bad, and devils incarnate, armed only with her expert understanding of the human psyche.
But when her young, high-profile patient unexpectedly commits suicide, Georgia leaves Boston under a cloud of guilt. Lured to London���s notorious Bedlam asylum, she’s trapped by a vengeful detective and a dangerous anarchist—who know too much about her—into tracking a serial killer of women in the city’s East End.
As Georgia struggles to prevent more women from meeting a violent end, her own secrets and closest ties are stripped bare… With her Harvard mentor, William James,and his sister. With her wealthy, scandalous father. With a troubled patient. All the while the city’s streets reel with carnage and social unrest. Alone and questioning her abilities as the killer closes in, Georgia has one last chance to save the innocent before she confronts the most devastating truth yet.
An exquisitely written book which is twisty and dark as the London streets at that particular time period. The danger is apparent and the tension I felt could have almost been cut with a knife. Georgia is a character who is so far ahead of her time. Her intelligence and determination makes her a worthy adversary. She has no intention of stepping back, no matter what. A graphic story that brings to the fore mental illness, murder and the way in which women were treated back then. To give us such details Thea Sutton has done intensive research and it made me feel like I was there watching these women be treated like nothing.
We see Georgia determined to discover the murderer of the Blackmouth Street women to ease the feelings of guilt she had from losing a patient, as I said nothing will stand in her way, even if it risks her reputation and places her in physical danger too.
A dark story with characters that hold your attention with plenty of historical research done to make this a realistic and quite scary story. One that I really hope has more books to come.
Thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours and Encircle Publications for my copy of this book to bring you my thoughts today

[Martha Dunlop · Rating 4 out of 5]

The women of Blackmouth Street is an unusual murder mystery that digs deep into historical psychological theory and perceptions.

Georgia Buchanan is a gutsy and obsessive lead, who comes to quick conclusions about the murders and acts on them from a sense of moral obligation and crusade. Her psychological experience and knowledge bring an interesting background to the story, particularly when coupled with scenes set in Bedlam, where part of the book takes place.

Initially, the book appears to be a fairly straightforward murder mystery, however it takes its own path and delivers surprise after surprise. I did not see the ending coming.


The story is dark and graphic, dealing with murder, mutilation and mental illness as well as the mistreatment of women. It was clearly very well researched and was an interesting glimpse into the lives some women might have lived at the time.

With themes of guilt, obsession, and responsibility, the motivations of the characters are varied and often at least partially obscured, increasing the sense of mystery. Georgia Buchanan is determined to find the murderer of the women of Blackmouth Street in order to ease her guilt at failing to save a patient. She is determined to do this even if the attempt puts her in physical danger and risks the reputation she has worked so hard to build.

The Women of Blackmouth Street has gripping scenes, fascinating characters and interesting historical insight. Definitely one to read when you are in the mood for something dark and exciting.

[Katy The Sleepy Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Jack the Ripper stories, then this is the book for you. A historical thriller that is fast-paced and one you will not be able to put down.

Georgia Buchanan is an alienist, a mind doctor as they call her, a psychologist. With Victorian London in the late 1800's as our setting, we find someone who is not your typical woman for her time. Educated, independent and opinionated, Georgia is thrust into a world of murder, secrets and scandal. Someone has been murdering women in London's East End. She is determined to find the killer of these women, even at the cost of her own sanity. At first I thought this just was another Jack the Ripper book, I was much surprised to find out the author gave it a new spin, one I was not expecting.

The characters will definitely hold your attention and as someone who has read a lot about Jack the Ripper, the research done to convey this story was done very well. A graphic story with a backdrop that focuses on mental illness and those misunderstood with it, this story will keep you entertained for sure. I really enjoyed this story. Like I said, I have read and watched a lot when it comes to the story and lore of Jack the Ripper. This book had more of feminist feel to it than I normally prefer. But all in all, I really liked the idea of the story. I received this book free from Booksirens for a honest reveiw.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

An historical thriller set in London in the 1890’s and written in a style I found quite Conan Doyle like. Very descriptive you can imagine yourself wandering the dirty and dangerous streets of the poorer parts of London. Dark and atmospheric with graphic scenes of murder and medical treatments. Great characterisations but there are quite a lot of them, maybe too many to keep them all clear in my head.

Briefly, psychologist Georgia Buchanan fled the USA after her wealthy patient committed suicide. When she is asked by a detective, Charles Knight, and a dangerous anarchist, Cails, to help find a killer, targeting prostitutes and actresses, and leaving their bodies badly mutilated, she is keen to help. However, it soon become clear that they have ulterior motives for wanting her involvement.

Georgia is a complex character, from a wealthy family, she doesn’t need to work but is fascinated by matters of the mind. She blames herself for the death of a patient and feels she must atone. I found her likeable ( most of the time) and interesting but also stubborn and rather spoiled; a woman ahead of her times. The story was fast paced for the most part with a surprising ending for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Laurel Goddard Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent read that requires some patience in the early chapters, but in the end is well worth the effort! Set against a backdrop of late Victorian England, “The Women of Blackmouth St.,” is an engrossing tale of murder, blackmail and revenge that also exposes some of the darkest social issues of the time with gritty clarity. It is a novel that takes the reader well beyond the typical thriller genre. Intelligently written and well-crafted, the plot seemingly twists off course at times only to have Sutton artfully bring us back all while building spine tingling momentum as we push on toward the stunning conclusion. This is a book the reader won’t be able to just put down and turn out the lights!

Possessing education, wealth and beauty Georgia Buchanan is a complex character who lives on her own terms, refusing to accept the societal limitations placed on women at the time. In spite of or because of her independence she is unwillingly dragged into a compelling story whose relevancy reaches across history to resonate with women today. I hope we will see more of Georgia in future stories from this talented author!

[Brian Liddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a book that combines the origins of CSI (Crime Scene Investigations) with psychological profiling of a serial killer, a smart and complicated heroine, and intelligent elevated writing, then I can recommend The Women of Blackmouth Street. Being a fan of William James, Harvard’s father of American psychology and philosophy, I was surprised to find this related novel set in the 1890’s streets of London (a city of which I’ve lived) that incorporates historical details that are so absorbing alongside a fictional mystery that keeps providing twists and turns. The protagonist, Georgia Buchanan, serves as a strong female sleuth invading the twisted world of men, detectives, doctors, and killers by not only braving this dangerous society, but thriving through demonstrating she’s the smartest person in the room. As we follow her hunt for a killer through the dark streets of East End horror, we learn that she’s barely hanging on to her own secrets, reality, and her own life.

[Annemarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Georgina Buchanan fled America for England after her treatment of one of her patients went terribly wrong. Instead of being able to recoup, she is plunged into the chaos surrounding the murder and mutilation of prostitutes.

I found I could not 'warm' to the character of Georgina. Her privileged upbringing and education made her extremely arrogant. Even her attempts at finding the serial killer and stopping more prostitutes from being murdered, were selfish.

Georgina thought herself a very competent 'mind doctor', yet her arrogance prevented her from seeing what was under her nose.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Women of Blackmouth Street and if you love a story with plenty of action, you will too. The story moved along at a steady pace with enough twists to keep you turning the pages. The serial killer's identity isn't revealed until close to the end of the book, and that was a surprise in itself.

I received a free Advance Reader Copy of The Women of Blackmouth Street through BookSirens and have chosen to leave a review.

[Pancha Mantilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The synopsis got me thinking something completely different. Yet the mystery and thriller were an amazing surprise. The main character is a woman worthy of admiration. The characterization of her and the other characters is incredible. The plot moves around multiple twists that can lead to really different assumptions. A book perfect for fans of mysteries, murders, and detectives.

Since the main character is an alienist the topics that the book manages to bring in are something interesting. The portrait of how the world sees unstereotypical women is something worthy of admiration. To be able to contemplate this from multiple perspectives really brings the book together. A must-read for almost anyone looking for a good book.

I'm glad booksirens allowed me to read this book.

[Janet Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy for free and I am leaving a review voluntarily.

This is a brilliant book, well written.

A woman striving not only to be in a profession but also one of the mind.

She battles against the idea of a woman’s place and also the stigma of mental disease.

Moving to London from Boston, with ghosts of the past haunting her, she’s looking for a new life and hoping to make a difference. Instead she’s drawn into the dark underbelly of London.

Strong character you can empathise with. This book will keep you turning pages.

Highly recommended.

[Nimalee Ravi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is set in Victorian London in the 1890s. Georgia Buchanan is a strong female character. She's intelligent, strong, stubborn and independent.

I really enjoyed this unusual murder mystery. Initially I thought it was a standard murder mystery but definitely surprised me. I did not see the ending coming. The serial killer's identity isn't revealed until close to the end and it definitely was a suprise. I enjoyed this story. Plenty of action with twists and turns and will keep you hooked. Definitely recommend this book.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a excellent read in every way. The historical with the time period and the mystery itself kept me turning the pages in this well written thriller. So many twists and truly riveting in how it all came together. This is not my usual genre but I really reccomend this one if you can deal with the gore which was all story driven.
I received this book free from BookSirens. I am happy to leave this reveiw.

[EllenZReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, gothic, gory, and unsettling, this novel kept me enthralled and guessing at the killer's true identity until the unexpected ending. I agree with some other reviewers that Georgia wasn't always particularly likeable, but I did find her interesting and I enjoyed the story's connections with the James siblings. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy reading about the sinister underbelly of the Victorian era and the early days of psychology (then known as alienism) and criminal forensics.

[Susan Wands · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling tale of a complicated protagonist, Georgia Buchanan, set in 1890's London. This novel brings to mind a female Sherlock Holmes. When women keep being murdered in a bad part of town, the hunt is on and Georgia, the mind doctor, is put in charge to track down who is responsible. This intelligent protagonist bears the conflict between Victorian sexist men and women struggling to make a life for themselves outside the home. The ending was unexpected and powerful.

[Carol Stefanik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like strong female characters. I like the time frame. This book is exceedingly dark. If there is anything frightening to you about mental discord or mental therapy don't read this.

Some twists are foreshadowed enough to allow you to follow along and see where things are going. Others just sort of jump out and slap you upside the head.

Couldn't put it down but can't say I actually liked it. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Melanie Falconer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A historical fiction novel set in 1890’s London, this is a fast paced thriller. Georgia Buchanan flees Boston after a patient of hers dies. A mind doctor, an alienist, Georgia is drawn to the notorious Bedlam Asylum and finds herself drawn into the hunt for the Shoreditch Savage who is killing young women. As Georgia seeks to find the answers to the murders, she must also confront her past before its’s too late.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A feminist thriller/murder mystery…. Say no more!! The Women of Blackmouth Street is such a fun and intense read. Be ready to be transported through the twists and turns the streets of 1890’s London. It’s beautifully and cleverly written with a story line you won’t expect. I love the main character - she’s a strong, smart and complicated woman. Would love to read more by the author, Thea Sutton.

[Saralyn Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

History, mystery, twists & turns, and powerful prose in every chapter. This atmospheric novel grabbed me by the shoulders and wouldn't let go until the very last page. Even now, I can't stop thinking about Georgia Buchanan and the daunting challenges I faced while in her shoes. I was in the mood for a gripping, complicated story, and this book exceeded expectations.

[Tam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compulsive and gripping! Suspenseful, addictive and complex! A very well-written book with wonderfully-interesting characters. The suspense builds at just the right pace as the story unfolds. Will keep you swiping the pages furiously. Worthy of your TBR list.

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from in order to read and provide a voluntary and honest review, should I choose to do so.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great detective story, I enjoyed getting to know the characters and going through this mystery. It was a great start to the series and left me wanting more.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[✨Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

It it was my kind of read.

Historical mystery thriller and a very good one at that!

A dark, atmospheric page-turner with very real characters. If you love this genre you should definitely pick it up.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Book Sirens for the ARC!

[Shirley Schwartz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very well-written book. It must have been well-written in order for me to feel compelled to finish reading it. The book is not to my taste and is not in any genre that I usually read. It is definitely a horror story and I suppose well=timed for me to read around Hallowe'en. I was given the chance to read the book as an early release book, and I would like to thank the publisher and Thea Sutton for giving me the chance to read it. The book is set in 1890's London, and it tells the story of a young woman who is a trained psychologist, or alienist as they called them in this day. Georgia Buchanan has fled Boston for London in order to get away from a professional mistake that she had made while practicing her type of medicine. But in Georgia's case, she has jumped from the frying pan to the fire as there is a particularly gruesome killer roaming the streets of the East End and killing and mutilating prostitutes in the area. In her efforts to try to save innocent women's lives, she makes enemies of some very important people and puts herself in grave danger. There are lots of very graphic descriptions within the book, and I will admit that I did skim over some of them, but I did read the book in its entirety. Ms. Sutton's descriptions of what life was like on these impoverished streets is very colourful and realistic. It sometimes made me cringe with horror as I saw how people did live back in this era. There are lots of twists and turns and red herrings that will keep you guessing as you read the book. If you enjoy this type of historical psychological mystery, this book may be for you. For me, it was too graphic and I couldn't enjoy it because of that. Even so, I couldn't help but admire Ms. Sutton's writing skills. Her characters are real and her scenes are vivid. The parts of the story that occur in Bedlam come to mind the most when I think about the vividness of her writing.

[Gayle (OutsmartYourShelf) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 1890s see Georgia Buchanan, originally from Boston in the US, travel to London to escape a traumatic event in her past. She is a psychologist or alienist as they were first known, a person who works with those with mental health issues - a career & field of study which was in its infancy. Whilst in London, Georgia is asked to consult on a case where East End women are being gruesomely killed & mutilated.

Judging by the descriptions of the murders & some other details, the basic premise seems to have been loosely based on the murders of Jack the Ripper in Whitechapel, 1888. There was a lot of social history covered in the book, especially when it involved women of all classes; the well-off women who lived in gilded cages with enviable lives on the surface but who had to remain meek & biddable & put up with philandering husbands, the unfortunates who were locked away in asylums for being 'hysterical', & the women of no means who had to sell their bodies to make enough money for a bed for the night.

It could have easily have been a 4 or even 5 star read, but the way it was written meant I struggled to give it my full attention at times. For example, the main character was described as a "gifted psychologist" who is "arrogant", yet the reader sees little evidence of her supposed gift until the final chapters, so her arrogance seems misplaced & is therefore irritating. I rate it 3 stars for the way the author was able to bring Victorian London to life, but the story itself was not as good as I expected.

I received an advance review copy for free via BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.