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Victorian Mystery #7
River of Fallen Angels
Award-winning author Laura Joh Rowland is back with the seventh in her critically acclaimed Victorian mystery series in which Sarah Bain Barrett is pitted against a true-crime serial killer who may have ties to Jack the Ripper.
London, April 1891. When the severed torso of a woman washes up on the bank of the river Thames, London believes a serial killer from the past has struck again. Crime photographer and investigator Sarah Bain Barrett is on the scene with her friends Mick O’Reilly and Lord Hugh Staunton. This is their chance to solve a grisly cold case and deliver a monster to belated justice, with help from Sarah’s husband Detective Sergeant Thomas Barrett; her sister Sally Albert, an intrepid newspaper reporter; and Hugh’s psychologist, Dr. Joshua Lewes, who’s a pioneer in the new science of criminal profiling. But the opportunity brings troubles galore: Sarah and her husband can’t agree on what direction their inquiries should take. Barrett favors concentrating on two shady characters he knows from his days a a patrol constable in Whitechapel, while Sarah suspects the charismatic leader of a polygamous religious sect from which at least one woman has gone missing. Their discord threatens not only the investigation but their marriage.
To complicate matters, Sarah’s bitter enemy, Inspector Reid, is leading the police’s hunt for the killer they’re calling the Torso Murderer. Obsessed with the Ripper case and his own failure to solve it, he thinks the Ripper and the Torso Murderer are one and the same person—a notion that could steer the police investigation disastrously off course. Hot in pursuit of the killer, Reid is also hell-bent on discovering what Sarah and company have been hiding about the Ripper.
The Torso Murder case threatens to expose a dangerous truth, tear apart Sarah’s close-knit band of comrades, and send them to the gallows before they can put the killer out of action.
London, April 1891. When the severed torso of a woman washes up on the bank of the river Thames, London believes a serial killer from the past has struck again. Crime photographer and investigator Sarah Bain Barrett is on the scene with her friends Mick O’Reilly and Lord Hugh Staunton. This is their chance to solve a grisly cold case and deliver a monster to belated justice, with help from Sarah’s husband Detective Sergeant Thomas Barrett; her sister Sally Albert, an intrepid newspaper reporter; and Hugh’s psychologist, Dr. Joshua Lewes, who’s a pioneer in the new science of criminal profiling. But the opportunity brings troubles galore: Sarah and her husband can’t agree on what direction their inquiries should take. Barrett favors concentrating on two shady characters he knows from his days a a patrol constable in Whitechapel, while Sarah suspects the charismatic leader of a polygamous religious sect from which at least one woman has gone missing. Their discord threatens not only the investigation but their marriage.
To complicate matters, Sarah’s bitter enemy, Inspector Reid, is leading the police’s hunt for the killer they’re calling the Torso Murderer. Obsessed with the Ripper case and his own failure to solve it, he thinks the Ripper and the Torso Murderer are one and the same person—a notion that could steer the police investigation disastrously off course. Hot in pursuit of the killer, Reid is also hell-bent on discovering what Sarah and company have been hiding about the Ripper.
The Torso Murder case threatens to expose a dangerous truth, tear apart Sarah’s close-knit band of comrades, and send them to the gallows before they can put the killer out of action.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published January 10, 2023
37 people are currently reading
2432 people want to read
About the author
Laura Joh Rowland
46 books1,290 followersGranddaughter of Chinese and Korean immigrants, Laura Joh Rowland grew up in Michigan and where she graduated with a B.S. in microbiology and a Master of Public Health at the University of Michigan. She currently lives in New Orleans with her husband. She has worked as a chemist, microbiologist, sanitary inspector and quality engineer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
July 27, 2022
Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent.
And there's plenty seeds of guilt planted on the streets of the East End in London in April of 1891. The Whitechapel area still doesn't have the strength of a lead in the Ripper Murders. Ol' Jack has left his trademark killings of dead women to the horror of those who live there and beyond. But there may be a new murderer rising to the occasion.
We'll meet up with Sarah Barrett, a crime photographer who works for the Daily World newspaper headed by Sir Gerald Mariner. Sarah is surrounded by her crew. Mick was a former street urchin. Lord Hugh Staunton comes from money, but he's been turned away from his family because of his life choice. Sally Albert is Sarah's younger sister who works as a dedicated crime reporter. The group works together like a well-oiled machine.
But it is DS Thomas Barrett of the Metropolitan Police who has Sarah's heart. They've been newly married with not much time to honeymoon. Crime demands their time.
When a woman's torso is found in the Thames River, Sarah and her crew deliver photos and bits of a beginning story to Sir Gerald. Thomas has been assigned to cover the morgue when families come to identify this woman. Inspector Edmund Reid has been an evil nemesis for both Sarah and Thomas. Downgrading Thomas to the morgue is a bit of satisfaction for him.
When more bodies turn up, the group throws out different scenarios and unsettled leads at the moment. Laura Joh Rowland does a bang-up job of peeling away the known from the unknown. Rowland slips in a questionable mid-wife, Jack himself, a barber with razor talents, and a bizarre religious cult on the fringes. Rowland will make her readers unpack this one clue by clue. And what's better than an invitation to walk down the dark streets of the East End? Just heard my name. How 'bout you?
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to the talented Laura Joh Rowland for the opportunity.
And there's plenty seeds of guilt planted on the streets of the East End in London in April of 1891. The Whitechapel area still doesn't have the strength of a lead in the Ripper Murders. Ol' Jack has left his trademark killings of dead women to the horror of those who live there and beyond. But there may be a new murderer rising to the occasion.
We'll meet up with Sarah Barrett, a crime photographer who works for the Daily World newspaper headed by Sir Gerald Mariner. Sarah is surrounded by her crew. Mick was a former street urchin. Lord Hugh Staunton comes from money, but he's been turned away from his family because of his life choice. Sally Albert is Sarah's younger sister who works as a dedicated crime reporter. The group works together like a well-oiled machine.
But it is DS Thomas Barrett of the Metropolitan Police who has Sarah's heart. They've been newly married with not much time to honeymoon. Crime demands their time.
When a woman's torso is found in the Thames River, Sarah and her crew deliver photos and bits of a beginning story to Sir Gerald. Thomas has been assigned to cover the morgue when families come to identify this woman. Inspector Edmund Reid has been an evil nemesis for both Sarah and Thomas. Downgrading Thomas to the morgue is a bit of satisfaction for him.
When more bodies turn up, the group throws out different scenarios and unsettled leads at the moment. Laura Joh Rowland does a bang-up job of peeling away the known from the unknown. Rowland slips in a questionable mid-wife, Jack himself, a barber with razor talents, and a bizarre religious cult on the fringes. Rowland will make her readers unpack this one clue by clue. And what's better than an invitation to walk down the dark streets of the East End? Just heard my name. How 'bout you?
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to the talented Laura Joh Rowland for the opportunity.
November 22, 2022
Publication Date: 10th Jan 2023
4 Stars
One Liner: Intriguing
London, April 1891
Sarah Bain Barrett (a crime reporter) and her gang are back in action. Sarah, Hugh, and Mick are at London Bridge when a mutilated torso washes to the shore. It resembles the bodies disposed of by the Thames Torso Murderer and creates a huge stir. Everyone wants to know if the killer is back.
The gang is up for the challenge to solve the case and boost the sales of the Daily News newspaper. Thomas Barrett, Sarah’s husband and detective sergeant, is also on the case though Inspector Reid wants him on the sidelines. Not to mention that Reid thinks Ripper is the Torso Murderer.
With little to no information available and random threads dangling around, can Sarah and Thomas find the killer before it’s too late? What happens when they have a difference of opinion? Does Dr. Lewes’ criminal profiling expertise help them?
The story comes from Sarah’s first-person POV.
What I Like:
As the seventh book in the series, it does work well as a standalone. However, knowing the characters will make it easier to follow their actions and thoughts.
Well, this book is better-paced than the previous one. (It dips in the middle but gains momentum in the last part). A lot happens and leads to a definite climax and ending.
Sally, Sarah’s younger sister, has an active role in the story, though her presence is still limited. She seems to be entering the main line, and I can’t wait to see her role in the next book.
The main plot is interesting and progresses well. We see an array of characters, each of them contributing something to the story.
Beloved Lamb as a polygamous religious cult leader, hit the mark. The setting of his ‘House of Love’ church, his multiple wives and their devotion to him, etc., are vivid and impactful.
Hugh is back in his previous avatar, which is great to read. Mick wavered, but I’m sure he’ll be his original self in the next one.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
Sarah and Thomas have disagreements again. While conflict is necessary to keep the story engaging, it is tiring to see them fight in almost every book after they’ve married (I started reading the series from book 5).
While Sarah’s voice is authentic to her character, it doesn’t feel as strong as before. Her personality isn’t forceful, even when she takes reckless risks. She feels more like a tired narrator than a determined woman (yeah, she is exhausted, but we can’t have it become a prominent part of her voice).
I’m not sure I like the shift in Barrett’s character. I hope it is temporary and limited to this book.
To summarize, River of Fallen Angels is an engaging Victorian mystery with people from the other side of London.
Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #RiverofFallenAngels
4 Stars
One Liner: Intriguing
London, April 1891
Sarah Bain Barrett (a crime reporter) and her gang are back in action. Sarah, Hugh, and Mick are at London Bridge when a mutilated torso washes to the shore. It resembles the bodies disposed of by the Thames Torso Murderer and creates a huge stir. Everyone wants to know if the killer is back.
The gang is up for the challenge to solve the case and boost the sales of the Daily News newspaper. Thomas Barrett, Sarah’s husband and detective sergeant, is also on the case though Inspector Reid wants him on the sidelines. Not to mention that Reid thinks Ripper is the Torso Murderer.
With little to no information available and random threads dangling around, can Sarah and Thomas find the killer before it’s too late? What happens when they have a difference of opinion? Does Dr. Lewes’ criminal profiling expertise help them?
The story comes from Sarah’s first-person POV.
What I Like:
As the seventh book in the series, it does work well as a standalone. However, knowing the characters will make it easier to follow their actions and thoughts.
Well, this book is better-paced than the previous one. (It dips in the middle but gains momentum in the last part). A lot happens and leads to a definite climax and ending.
Sally, Sarah’s younger sister, has an active role in the story, though her presence is still limited. She seems to be entering the main line, and I can’t wait to see her role in the next book.
The main plot is interesting and progresses well. We see an array of characters, each of them contributing something to the story.
Beloved Lamb as a polygamous religious cult leader, hit the mark. The setting of his ‘House of Love’ church, his multiple wives and their devotion to him, etc., are vivid and impactful.
Hugh is back in his previous avatar, which is great to read. Mick wavered, but I’m sure he’ll be his original self in the next one.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
Sarah and Thomas have disagreements again. While conflict is necessary to keep the story engaging, it is tiring to see them fight in almost every book after they’ve married (I started reading the series from book 5).
While Sarah’s voice is authentic to her character, it doesn’t feel as strong as before. Her personality isn’t forceful, even when she takes reckless risks. She feels more like a tired narrator than a determined woman (yeah, she is exhausted, but we can’t have it become a prominent part of her voice).
I’m not sure I like the shift in Barrett’s character. I hope it is temporary and limited to this book.
To summarize, River of Fallen Angels is an engaging Victorian mystery with people from the other side of London.
Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #RiverofFallenAngels
December 7, 2022
Laura Joh Rowland's Victorian Mystery Series is a delight for readers of historical mysteries. Like many such series it features an interesting mix of central characters, in this case a septet:
• Sarah Bain Barrett: abandoned by her criminal father as a child, she is now a photographer, crime reporter, and amateur detective and is married to—
• Thomas Barrett: a detective-sergeant and Sarah Bain Barrett's husband
• Lord Hugh Staunton: a nobleman rejected by his family and society after being caught in a raid on a gay club and now working as a crime reporter
• Fitzmorris: Lord Staunton's valet
• Mich O'Reilly: a former street urchin and assistant to Sarah and Lord Hugh
• Dr. Joshua Lewis: psychologist and friend of Lord Hugh
• Sally Albert: Sarah's half-sister—also abandoned by Sarah's father when he left the woman he'd left Sarah's mother for...
They all live in the same household except Sally and Joshua, who are newer to the group.
So what would my odds be of finding a group of this mix of individuals if I time-traveled to Victorian London? Slim to none, as they say. But fiction, including historical fiction, isn't time travel. It's a world based upon a particular moment in time that is shaped the the imagination of the authors and readers.
I quite like having women who are smart, who can take the lead, and who are considered equals to the men around them. I also quite like having a gay man who is discrete, but not at all ashamed of his identity. And, I also like having characters represent different class strata and areas of expertise.
This isn't my favorite book in the series. The introduction of Dr. Lewis has Sarah thinking in "psychology" a lot—which seems anachronistic and becomes irritating. She ponders things like "communication in marriage" in ways that seem that seem distractingly of the present moment.
The action here is fast and complex and involves our cast of characters working to solve a series of murders before their nemesis Inspector Reid can do so. Reid does all he can to intimidate and obstruct. Our characters keep coming up with new ways to get around him.
If you like ahistorical-historical mysteries, you'll enjoy spending time with Laura Joh Rowland's unlikely cast of characters.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title; the opinions are my own.
• Sarah Bain Barrett: abandoned by her criminal father as a child, she is now a photographer, crime reporter, and amateur detective and is married to—
• Thomas Barrett: a detective-sergeant and Sarah Bain Barrett's husband
• Lord Hugh Staunton: a nobleman rejected by his family and society after being caught in a raid on a gay club and now working as a crime reporter
• Fitzmorris: Lord Staunton's valet
• Mich O'Reilly: a former street urchin and assistant to Sarah and Lord Hugh
• Dr. Joshua Lewis: psychologist and friend of Lord Hugh
• Sally Albert: Sarah's half-sister—also abandoned by Sarah's father when he left the woman he'd left Sarah's mother for...
They all live in the same household except Sally and Joshua, who are newer to the group.
So what would my odds be of finding a group of this mix of individuals if I time-traveled to Victorian London? Slim to none, as they say. But fiction, including historical fiction, isn't time travel. It's a world based upon a particular moment in time that is shaped the the imagination of the authors and readers.
I quite like having women who are smart, who can take the lead, and who are considered equals to the men around them. I also quite like having a gay man who is discrete, but not at all ashamed of his identity. And, I also like having characters represent different class strata and areas of expertise.
This isn't my favorite book in the series. The introduction of Dr. Lewis has Sarah thinking in "psychology" a lot—which seems anachronistic and becomes irritating. She ponders things like "communication in marriage" in ways that seem that seem distractingly of the present moment.
The action here is fast and complex and involves our cast of characters working to solve a series of murders before their nemesis Inspector Reid can do so. Reid does all he can to intimidate and obstruct. Our characters keep coming up with new ways to get around him.
If you like ahistorical-historical mysteries, you'll enjoy spending time with Laura Joh Rowland's unlikely cast of characters.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title; the opinions are my own.
September 18, 2022
The next instalment in this victorian murder mystery series. Under cover of London's earie mist, our band of rebel investigators go all the way in uncovering the killer of the so called torso murders. A well written, fast paced, exciting story that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
January 9, 2023
Torso murderer?
Once again it’s Sarah Bain Barrett and her family elect against the odds.
Dismembered bodies are turning up in the Thames, identification is impossible and Inspector Reid is convinced it’s the work of Jack the Ripper. Sarah and friends know that’s impossible. Sarah’s sister Sally is alarmingly taken with the idea, and how to divert her is troublesome.
When a charasmatic vicar is tracked down, his flock of sacred lambs and vestal virgins is no laughing matter. Guilty of starting a cult he may be, but murder?
An exciting mystery that travels further into the lives of Sarah and Thomas, and leaves one rewarded but exhausted.
A Crooked Lane Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Once again it’s Sarah Bain Barrett and her family elect against the odds.
Dismembered bodies are turning up in the Thames, identification is impossible and Inspector Reid is convinced it’s the work of Jack the Ripper. Sarah and friends know that’s impossible. Sarah’s sister Sally is alarmingly taken with the idea, and how to divert her is troublesome.
When a charasmatic vicar is tracked down, his flock of sacred lambs and vestal virgins is no laughing matter. Guilty of starting a cult he may be, but murder?
An exciting mystery that travels further into the lives of Sarah and Thomas, and leaves one rewarded but exhausted.
A Crooked Lane Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
February 13, 2023
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
During the Victorian era, right after the Jack The Ripper killings stop, there starts a series of torso killings. Our group investigates, despite the opposition of the police.
It's all too familiar.
During the Victorian era, right after the Jack The Ripper killings stop, there starts a series of torso killings. Our group investigates, despite the opposition of the police.
It's all too familiar.
February 10, 2023
I really enjoyed this book even though it was a Victorian mystery. I’m more into thrillers but this book had a really good plot and it did keep me interested!! I would definitely recommend this book!! I will even get a copy for myself.
December 25, 2022
Sarah Bain Barrett and her crew including her husband Detective Sergeant Thomas Barrett, Lord Hugh Staunton, and Mick O'Reilly are on the case again when Sarah almost steps on the torso of a woman while taking photographs. It is feared that a serial killer who has left a trail of women's body parts in the Thames is back in action again.
Spearheading the police investigation if Inspector Reid who is a long-time enemy of Sarah's. He's certain that she knows more than she's saying about the Jack the Ripper murders, which is true, but the truth coming out would mean that she and her partners would be in grave legal trouble.
Reid is convinced that the Ripper murders and the Torso murders were committed by the same person and Sarah's sister Sally who has begun a new career as a reporter also believes this. Meanwhile, Sarah and Thomas have radically different ideas about how to pursue this new case and discover who the Torso murderer is which creates a lot of conflict in their marriage.
Hugh's new psychologist Dr. Joshua Lewes is a pioneer in the field of criminal profiling and is quick to share is favorite theories about this murderer too. Sarah is afraid that he might just be too perceptive about the various secrets she's hiding.
This was an engaging and entertaining historical mystery set in London in 1891.
Spearheading the police investigation if Inspector Reid who is a long-time enemy of Sarah's. He's certain that she knows more than she's saying about the Jack the Ripper murders, which is true, but the truth coming out would mean that she and her partners would be in grave legal trouble.
Reid is convinced that the Ripper murders and the Torso murders were committed by the same person and Sarah's sister Sally who has begun a new career as a reporter also believes this. Meanwhile, Sarah and Thomas have radically different ideas about how to pursue this new case and discover who the Torso murderer is which creates a lot of conflict in their marriage.
Hugh's new psychologist Dr. Joshua Lewes is a pioneer in the field of criminal profiling and is quick to share is favorite theories about this murderer too. Sarah is afraid that he might just be too perceptive about the various secrets she's hiding.
This was an engaging and entertaining historical mystery set in London in 1891.
December 17, 2022
River of Fallen Angels is the seventh in author Laura Joh Rowland's gripping Victorian series, well worth reading. In 1891 London is rife with crime, especially areas including Whitechapel. Crime photographer Sarah Bain Bennett is on the scene of a heinous discovery in the Thames, that of a female torso. She and her husband DS Thomas Bennett investigate with the help of Mick (was a street urchin in the past). The arrival of her sister Sally couldn't be better...in more ways than one. However, Inspector Reid is belligerent and stubbornly refuses their help as he is still resentful and bitter he did not solve the case of Jack the Ripper. He firmly believes the Thames Torso murderer is Jack the Ripper. In addition to these mysterious elements, the past is always hiding, ready to be revealed.
My favourite aspects include the well-written atmosphere and historical bits. Jack the Ripper references always catch my attention and the novelty of criminal profiling is fascinating. Some characters are likeable, others are not. In my view, Sarah's character is a bit washed out here. She doesn't seem as vibrant. However, it is probably circumstantial. Though not my favourite in the series I look forward to the next instalments.
If you seek a not so cozy Victorian Mystery series, you will probably really enjoy this. Life is portrayed in a gritty and realistic fashion without glossing over the class divisions and diversions of the time.
My sincere thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this fabulous book.
My favourite aspects include the well-written atmosphere and historical bits. Jack the Ripper references always catch my attention and the novelty of criminal profiling is fascinating. Some characters are likeable, others are not. In my view, Sarah's character is a bit washed out here. She doesn't seem as vibrant. However, it is probably circumstantial. Though not my favourite in the series I look forward to the next instalments.
If you seek a not so cozy Victorian Mystery series, you will probably really enjoy this. Life is portrayed in a gritty and realistic fashion without glossing over the class divisions and diversions of the time.
My sincere thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this fabulous book.
January 9, 2023
Is Jack back? When the severed torso of a woman is fished out of the Thames London is abuzz with rumors that the evil Jack the Ripper has returned. Sarah Bain Barrett, a crime photographer, along with her team of Hugh and Mick, and her sister, Sally are on the case. They are also at odds with not only the detective in charge, Reid (their nemesis) but Sarah and her husband, Det. Sgt. Thomas Barrett, are not in agreement on the direction of their investigations. Reid is convinced that Jack the Ripper up to his old crimes but Sarah is looking in another direction. There is no time for fighting over it as it will cost the case valuable time. there will be more murders to come. If that isn't enough tension, there is information about Sarah and her team that must never be revealed and Reid wants it.
This is book #7 in the series but can work as a standalone. If you enjoy well written historical mysteries set in Victorian London and the addition of the Jack the Ripper thread along with a strong cast of recurring characters, this is a series not to be missed.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
This is book #7 in the series but can work as a standalone. If you enjoy well written historical mysteries set in Victorian London and the addition of the Jack the Ripper thread along with a strong cast of recurring characters, this is a series not to be missed.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 14, 2023
This is book 7 in the Sarah Bain series. When parts of women’s bodies start turning up in the Thames River, the police and public label the murder the Torso Murderer. Thomas, Sarah’s husband is set to investigate but his nemesis, Inspector Reid, demotes him. Despite the demotion Thomas picks up some clues and along with Sarah, Mick, Lord Hugh, and Sally. Their clues lead Sarah to to theChurch called the Haven of Love led by the Reverend Eden-Smith. The Reverend is charismatic and attracts women especially women he wealthy. Thomas does not believe that Sarah has found the Torso Murderer. Inspector Reid is up to no good and tries to stop them. He believes that the Torso Murderer is also Jack the Ripper. Sarah’s sister, Sally also believes that they are both the same murder and she is determined to find out more about the Jack the Ripper murders. The story line moves quickly with twists and turns. Looking forward to the next book.
October 17, 2024
story - London - April 1891
focus - Jack the Ripper murders & the Torso Murders
Sarah, her husband Barrett, Sally (Sarah's half sister), Hugh, & Mick
->Sarah, Hugh & Mick work as journalists at The Daily News - they also all live together...
->they, along with Sally are investigating the Torso Murders
->bodies are turning up - that are mutilated with the inability to identify them
->in the end they find out that at least 2 of the victims were killed by a local reverend who had been recruiting women who have money to give to the parish. He had gotten several women pregnant and when he found out they were pregnant he killed them.
->Barrett is a police officer working on the case - where his supervisor, Reid gave him a menial job on the case.
->Reid, Barrett & Sarah do not get along.
->When Sarah, Barrett, Hugh & Mick confront the reverend he confesses. When they are about to take him in, he is shot - by Reid who followed the group.
---->the Reverend Eden-Smith had moved to this town following a scandal from his old parish where he got a woman pregnant. He couldn't afford another scandal so when he got a woman pregnant (one of the Torso Murdered victims), he killed her. His wife, who was a physician, dismembered the body. His daughters dumped the parts in the river - where they had washed ashore.
---->this priest also killed another woman who had been in an asylum. The 4 journalists had gone to see her and she led them to Reverend Eden-Smith. She loved him and wanted to marry him. She knew too much - so the Reverend had to kill her too. The Reverend was not directly connected to any of the other Murder Victims.
->Sarah tells Reid they will not tell that he shot the priest, under certain conditions. Now they have Reid owing to them.....
->Sarah and Barrett had been at odds with each other during the whole ordeal. In the end they make up.....
focus - Jack the Ripper murders & the Torso Murders
Sarah, her husband Barrett, Sally (Sarah's half sister), Hugh, & Mick
->Sarah, Hugh & Mick work as journalists at The Daily News - they also all live together...
->they, along with Sally are investigating the Torso Murders
->bodies are turning up - that are mutilated with the inability to identify them
->in the end they find out that at least 2 of the victims were killed by a local reverend who had been recruiting women who have money to give to the parish. He had gotten several women pregnant and when he found out they were pregnant he killed them.
->Barrett is a police officer working on the case - where his supervisor, Reid gave him a menial job on the case.
->Reid, Barrett & Sarah do not get along.
->When Sarah, Barrett, Hugh & Mick confront the reverend he confesses. When they are about to take him in, he is shot - by Reid who followed the group.
---->the Reverend Eden-Smith had moved to this town following a scandal from his old parish where he got a woman pregnant. He couldn't afford another scandal so when he got a woman pregnant (one of the Torso Murdered victims), he killed her. His wife, who was a physician, dismembered the body. His daughters dumped the parts in the river - where they had washed ashore.
---->this priest also killed another woman who had been in an asylum. The 4 journalists had gone to see her and she led them to Reverend Eden-Smith. She loved him and wanted to marry him. She knew too much - so the Reverend had to kill her too. The Reverend was not directly connected to any of the other Murder Victims.
->Sarah tells Reid they will not tell that he shot the priest, under certain conditions. Now they have Reid owing to them.....
->Sarah and Barrett had been at odds with each other during the whole ordeal. In the end they make up.....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2023
I always hate to to give bad reviews as I know how difficult it is to write a novel. However, I was somewhat enjoying this book till, unexpectedly, there was a graphic sex scene between the protagonist and her husband. I didn’t expect it due, not only to the time period, there was no graphic violence or bad swearing to alert me. I don’t know why this has become acceptable in modern novels. It’s one reason I won’t read another book by this author.
Additionally, I wasn’t sure what to think about the protagonist. She seemed strong and independent, yet had a fiery temper that she had difficulty controlling and seemed to think her marriage was on tenuous ground, yet didn’t interact sensibly many times with her husband. I found her both interesting and irritating.
Additionally, I wasn’t sure what to think about the protagonist. She seemed strong and independent, yet had a fiery temper that she had difficulty controlling and seemed to think her marriage was on tenuous ground, yet didn’t interact sensibly many times with her husband. I found her both interesting and irritating.
July 19, 2023
Good mystery but the most current in a series. Because of references to an earlier case and character relationships I suggest you begin at the beginning. I am now going back to #1, The Ripper's Shadow.
April 27, 2023
Don't be put off by the term "Victorian" mystery. This is another page-turner kind of book that will keep you enthralled till the end.
July 8, 2025
3.5 stars. I generally liked it, but there was a lot of angst. I'm guessing this is the last book in the series, and if so, I was hoping for a little more from the ending.
January 8, 2023
🕊️ River of Fallen Angels 🛐
A Victorian Mystery Book 7
✒️ Laura Joh Rowland
https://www.facebook.com/laurajohrowl...
Release Date 01/10/2023
Publisher Crooked Lane Books
➪ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XM4XZMG?...
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
Award-winning author Laura Joh Rowland is back with the seventh in her critically acclaimed Victorian mystery series in which Sarah Bain Barrett is pitted against a true-crime serial killer who may have ties to Jack the Ripper.
London, April 1891. When the severed torso of a woman washes up on the bank of the river Thames, London believes a serial killer from the past has struck again. Crime photographer and investigator Sarah Bain Barrett is on the scene with her friends Mick O’Reilly and Lord Hugh Staunton. This is their chance to solve a grisly cold case and deliver a monster to belated justice, with help from Sarah’s husband Detective Sergeant Thomas Barrett; her sister Sally Albert, an intrepid newspaper reporter; and Hugh’s psychologist, Dr. Joshua Lewes, who’s a pioneer in the new science of criminal profiling. But the opportunity brings troubles galore: Sarah and her husband can’t agree on what direction their inquiries should take. Barrett favors concentrating on two shady characters he knows from his days a a patrol constable in Whitechapel, while Sarah suspects the charismatic leader of a polygamous religious sect from which at least one woman has gone missing. Their discord threatens not only the investigation but their marriage.
To complicate matters, Sarah’s bitter enemy, Inspector Reid, is leading the police’s hunt for the killer they’re calling the Torso Murderer. Obsessed with the Ripper case and his own failure to solve it, he thinks the Ripper and the Torso Murderer are one and the same person—a notion that could steer the police investigation disastrously off course. Hot in pursuit of the killer, Reid is also hell-bent on discovering what Sarah and company have been hiding about the Ripper.
The Torso Murder case threatens to expose a dangerous truth, tear apart Sarah’s close-knit band of comrades, and send them to the gallows before they can put the killer out of action.
𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
I thought after the last book that Sarah’s struggles would be in part behind. But I forgot Inspector Reid was still in the shadows, longing to see them take the downfall he believes they all deserve.
So here they are once more crossing path, playing cats and dogs, but also endangering Sarah and her husband’s relationship as they both want to follow a different path.
So here they are Mike the rescued street urchin, Hugh the disowned lord, Sally, Sarah’s younger sister, all working for a newspaper as photographer for Sarah and reporter for Sally.
Plus Thomas, Sarah’s detective husband.
Sarah is known to be like a dog with a bone, she never lets it go without a fight, even when it threatens her own safety and happiness. With this new affair of the Torso Murders, she will risk her marriage’s equilibrium.
So as clues, secrets and facts pill up, they have to compromise, make choices and in the end, they won’t come out unscathed but with a truth they might not have wanted to witness.
On a happy note, it was good to see Hugh coming back to his usual self and Mike rekindling his relationship with his love interest.
Plus their group is growing with these intriguing new characters.
I loved revisiting the era and area, following Sarah’s footsteps along Whitechapel streets, the docks and the Thames. Everything to give you the thrill of the chase and goosebumps when the truth comes out.
4.5 stars
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen lovemaking scene
I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
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A Victorian Mystery Book 7
✒️ Laura Joh Rowland
https://www.facebook.com/laurajohrowl...
Release Date 01/10/2023
Publisher Crooked Lane Books
➪ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XM4XZMG?...
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
Award-winning author Laura Joh Rowland is back with the seventh in her critically acclaimed Victorian mystery series in which Sarah Bain Barrett is pitted against a true-crime serial killer who may have ties to Jack the Ripper.
London, April 1891. When the severed torso of a woman washes up on the bank of the river Thames, London believes a serial killer from the past has struck again. Crime photographer and investigator Sarah Bain Barrett is on the scene with her friends Mick O’Reilly and Lord Hugh Staunton. This is their chance to solve a grisly cold case and deliver a monster to belated justice, with help from Sarah’s husband Detective Sergeant Thomas Barrett; her sister Sally Albert, an intrepid newspaper reporter; and Hugh’s psychologist, Dr. Joshua Lewes, who’s a pioneer in the new science of criminal profiling. But the opportunity brings troubles galore: Sarah and her husband can’t agree on what direction their inquiries should take. Barrett favors concentrating on two shady characters he knows from his days a a patrol constable in Whitechapel, while Sarah suspects the charismatic leader of a polygamous religious sect from which at least one woman has gone missing. Their discord threatens not only the investigation but their marriage.
To complicate matters, Sarah’s bitter enemy, Inspector Reid, is leading the police’s hunt for the killer they’re calling the Torso Murderer. Obsessed with the Ripper case and his own failure to solve it, he thinks the Ripper and the Torso Murderer are one and the same person—a notion that could steer the police investigation disastrously off course. Hot in pursuit of the killer, Reid is also hell-bent on discovering what Sarah and company have been hiding about the Ripper.
The Torso Murder case threatens to expose a dangerous truth, tear apart Sarah’s close-knit band of comrades, and send them to the gallows before they can put the killer out of action.
𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
I thought after the last book that Sarah’s struggles would be in part behind. But I forgot Inspector Reid was still in the shadows, longing to see them take the downfall he believes they all deserve.
So here they are once more crossing path, playing cats and dogs, but also endangering Sarah and her husband’s relationship as they both want to follow a different path.
So here they are Mike the rescued street urchin, Hugh the disowned lord, Sally, Sarah’s younger sister, all working for a newspaper as photographer for Sarah and reporter for Sally.
Plus Thomas, Sarah’s detective husband.
Sarah is known to be like a dog with a bone, she never lets it go without a fight, even when it threatens her own safety and happiness. With this new affair of the Torso Murders, she will risk her marriage’s equilibrium.
So as clues, secrets and facts pill up, they have to compromise, make choices and in the end, they won’t come out unscathed but with a truth they might not have wanted to witness.
On a happy note, it was good to see Hugh coming back to his usual self and Mike rekindling his relationship with his love interest.
Plus their group is growing with these intriguing new characters.
I loved revisiting the era and area, following Sarah’s footsteps along Whitechapel streets, the docks and the Thames. Everything to give you the thrill of the chase and goosebumps when the truth comes out.
4.5 stars
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen lovemaking scene
I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CnJsvM...
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#bookstagram #historicalromance #romance #romancebookblog #romancebookblogger #bookblog #romanceauthor #bookblogger #2022read #bookstagrammer #bookreview #romancebookreviewer #arcreader #laurajohrowland #romancestagram #readersofinstagram
February 8, 2023
Sarah Barrett, Lord Hugh Staunton and Mick O’Reilly are crime photographers and reporters but due to a lack of crime they have been assigned other areas such as accidents and there happens to be one where the new London Tower Bridge being built. A worker is dangling from a rope off the side of the bridge. But once the man is saved they notice a body of a woman’s torso (missing legs, head and arms) floating in the river. This reminds them of 1887 where there were several torsos floating in the river over a span of time, and the killer “The Torso Murderer” was never caught. Also Jack the Ripper occurred in 1888 which was a close case for Sarah because she happened to realize the similarities in victims and knew some of them personally and they know the secret reason why he was never caught.
Sarah is married to a cop named Barrett, and in the book is also her half sister Sally she just found out existed about 2 years ago (through her father) that also works with them at Daily World as a junior reporter. Together they all work to find the killer and determine if it’s a new killer or the same. Along the way Sarah and Sally have arguments due to old family troubles but try to keep their relationship afloat. They all work together to try to find the torso murderer, finding red herrings along the way. They come in contact with lots of shady people- a shady barber, a midwife with the know how to commit the murders, and a cult leader and his followers. All the while dealing with their enemy from a rival paper.
This author has written several books and they all seem to be interconnected. Luckily she does a great job interspersing background stories into the book so we aren’t completely lost with the characters but I do feel like I should read the past books to get a better understanding of some of the one off things mentioned about various past cases. I did get a bit bored with this book and found myself skimming halfway through. It may have been because I didn’t read the prior books and hadn’t formed a good connection with the main characters as well as I am not sure their secret about Jack the Ripper.
Sarah is married to a cop named Barrett, and in the book is also her half sister Sally she just found out existed about 2 years ago (through her father) that also works with them at Daily World as a junior reporter. Together they all work to find the killer and determine if it’s a new killer or the same. Along the way Sarah and Sally have arguments due to old family troubles but try to keep their relationship afloat. They all work together to try to find the torso murderer, finding red herrings along the way. They come in contact with lots of shady people- a shady barber, a midwife with the know how to commit the murders, and a cult leader and his followers. All the while dealing with their enemy from a rival paper.
This author has written several books and they all seem to be interconnected. Luckily she does a great job interspersing background stories into the book so we aren’t completely lost with the characters but I do feel like I should read the past books to get a better understanding of some of the one off things mentioned about various past cases. I did get a bit bored with this book and found myself skimming halfway through. It may have been because I didn’t read the prior books and hadn’t formed a good connection with the main characters as well as I am not sure their secret about Jack the Ripper.
January 26, 2023
In Laura Joh Rowland's "River of Fallen Angels," Sarah Bain, crime scene photographer, reporter, and amateur sleuth, is married to DS Thomas Barrett of the Metropolitan Police in London. Sarah has been scarred by traumatic experiences involving her family, job, and love life. In addition, she has nearly been killed more than once while recklessly chasing down violent criminals. The year is 1891. The police are looking for someone who committed a series of ghastly slayings known as the Torso Murders. The perpetrator took the lives of women and mutilated them before discarding their body parts in the Thames.
Sarah is a highly-strung woman who loves to take risks, and later feels guilty when her impetuousness gets her into trouble and jeopardizes those closest to her. Adding to the tension, Barrett and Sarah have conflicting views about the Torso Murder case, and they quarrel bitterly. Meanwhile, Inspector Edmund Reid, Thomas's vindictive superior, will do whatever it takes to demean and punish Thomas and Sarah. Along with Sarah's half-sister, Sally Albert, and their friends, Hugh Staunton and fifteen-year-old Mick O'Reilly, the Barretts look for clues that will help them identify the elusive and wily Torso Murderer. If they succeed, Thomas will have the satisfaction of outwitting Reid, and the others will score points with their boss, Sir Gerald Mariner, publisher of The Daily World.
Having enjoyed Rowland's work in the past, I was a bit disappointed with her latest effort, the seventh in the series. Although the author effectively portrays Victorian London's sights and sounds, the plot of "River of Fallen Angels" is cluttered, histrionic and, at times, grotesque. The book hammers home the plight of beleaguered women, both in the lower and upper classes, who are exploited by abusive men. In addition, passages of florid prose and stilted dialogue weaken the story's impact. However, to Rowland's credit, the tale finishes strongly, culminating in a violent and shocking conclusion that is action-packed and thought-provoking.
Sarah is a highly-strung woman who loves to take risks, and later feels guilty when her impetuousness gets her into trouble and jeopardizes those closest to her. Adding to the tension, Barrett and Sarah have conflicting views about the Torso Murder case, and they quarrel bitterly. Meanwhile, Inspector Edmund Reid, Thomas's vindictive superior, will do whatever it takes to demean and punish Thomas and Sarah. Along with Sarah's half-sister, Sally Albert, and their friends, Hugh Staunton and fifteen-year-old Mick O'Reilly, the Barretts look for clues that will help them identify the elusive and wily Torso Murderer. If they succeed, Thomas will have the satisfaction of outwitting Reid, and the others will score points with their boss, Sir Gerald Mariner, publisher of The Daily World.
Having enjoyed Rowland's work in the past, I was a bit disappointed with her latest effort, the seventh in the series. Although the author effectively portrays Victorian London's sights and sounds, the plot of "River of Fallen Angels" is cluttered, histrionic and, at times, grotesque. The book hammers home the plight of beleaguered women, both in the lower and upper classes, who are exploited by abusive men. In addition, passages of florid prose and stilted dialogue weaken the story's impact. However, to Rowland's credit, the tale finishes strongly, culminating in a violent and shocking conclusion that is action-packed and thought-provoking.
January 11, 2023
I have come to the conclusion that Laura Joh Rowland is incapable of writing a bad book. Most authors of series eventually write a dud or two; over two series Rowland has written I think twenty-five books, all of them excellent. Her new work, "River of Fallen Angels," among them
As the book opens, Sarah, Hugh and Mick are at Tower bridge in 1891 as it is being built. A workman is dangling from the bridge as people try to rescue him. Sarah is taking pictures for her newspaper. Then, a dismembered woman's torso washes up from the Thames. I don't like spoilers so I am not going to say anymore. I will say that all of the principal players appear in this book and new readers will have no problem following who is whom.
My only problem with this book, with the series in fact, is that I worry when Sarah and her police officer husband quarrel over professional things. She wants to do things one way, and he another. Some of their disagreements are very heated, and I worry about their marriage; I don't want them to split up.
In conclusion; you cannot go wrong in picking up a book by Laura Joh Rowland. This recent Victorian series is absolutely excellent. The characters are true-to-life, the plots clever and convoluted. Treat yourself to a really good book and read "River of Fallen Angels."
As the book opens, Sarah, Hugh and Mick are at Tower bridge in 1891 as it is being built. A workman is dangling from the bridge as people try to rescue him. Sarah is taking pictures for her newspaper. Then, a dismembered woman's torso washes up from the Thames. I don't like spoilers so I am not going to say anymore. I will say that all of the principal players appear in this book and new readers will have no problem following who is whom.
My only problem with this book, with the series in fact, is that I worry when Sarah and her police officer husband quarrel over professional things. She wants to do things one way, and he another. Some of their disagreements are very heated, and I worry about their marriage; I don't want them to split up.
In conclusion; you cannot go wrong in picking up a book by Laura Joh Rowland. This recent Victorian series is absolutely excellent. The characters are true-to-life, the plots clever and convoluted. Treat yourself to a really good book and read "River of Fallen Angels."
August 2, 2022
A River of Fallen Angels is the sixth book in this Victorian mystery series. We pick up not too long after the previous book. In this one we are following the murder case of the Torso Murderer.
Sarah is back with our favorite familiar faces and even a new one that I'd love to see in the future. We really get a good look at Sarah and Barret's marriage up close and watch how the events of the past books have made an impact in both good and bad ways. It was so easy to connect with this couple in their 30s, it reminded me of my husband and myself.
I love that we got more interactions with her sister Sally and really hope we get more of her in the next book.
Has inspector Reid been on your naughty list for a while now ? He will most assuredly further upset you in this one, but things don't as planned for him and his fate hangs in the balance .
The first leg of this story was really great, the second leg lost my attention slightly, but once I made it to sixty percent things picked up and I couldn't put this book down.
There is LGBT representation in this, eerie bad religious people, young love, and an adorable dog.
I really look forward to the next book !
Sarah is back with our favorite familiar faces and even a new one that I'd love to see in the future. We really get a good look at Sarah and Barret's marriage up close and watch how the events of the past books have made an impact in both good and bad ways. It was so easy to connect with this couple in their 30s, it reminded me of my husband and myself.
I love that we got more interactions with her sister Sally and really hope we get more of her in the next book.
Has inspector Reid been on your naughty list for a while now ? He will most assuredly further upset you in this one, but things don't as planned for him and his fate hangs in the balance .
The first leg of this story was really great, the second leg lost my attention slightly, but once I made it to sixty percent things picked up and I couldn't put this book down.
There is LGBT representation in this, eerie bad religious people, young love, and an adorable dog.
I really look forward to the next book !
September 17, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me an ARC.
"River of Fallen Angels" is a story based on the real unsolved Thames Torso Murders or Thames Mysteries. In April 1891, crime photographer Sarah Barrett and her friends were on the scene when an incident happened near the Thames River. In the midst of the chaos, she witnessed a severed torso washing up on the riverbank which led Sarah and her crew of friends to believe a serial killer from the past has struck again. Their eagerness to solve the cold case soon turned into an obsession.
Sarah's gut feeling told her the charismatic leader of a polygamous religious sect might have something to do with those grisly murders, while her husband, Detective Sergeant Thomas Barret, supposed it was one of the two shady characters that he's kept tabs on ever since the Jack the Ripper investigation. To make matters worse, Inspector Reid, who held a strong grudge against Sarah, was in charge of the police's hunt for the Torso Murderer. Having failed to solve the Ripper case, Reid obsessively wanted to believe the Ripper and the Torso Murderer were the same killer.
I found the story dragging, over-the-top, and contrived from time to time. The characters weren't very likable, even annoying at times. Sarah wasn't successfully portrayed as the main character; she was rather forgettable. The setting also didn't feel much like the Victorian era. All in all, I didn't like the book very much.
"River of Fallen Angels" is a story based on the real unsolved Thames Torso Murders or Thames Mysteries. In April 1891, crime photographer Sarah Barrett and her friends were on the scene when an incident happened near the Thames River. In the midst of the chaos, she witnessed a severed torso washing up on the riverbank which led Sarah and her crew of friends to believe a serial killer from the past has struck again. Their eagerness to solve the cold case soon turned into an obsession.
Sarah's gut feeling told her the charismatic leader of a polygamous religious sect might have something to do with those grisly murders, while her husband, Detective Sergeant Thomas Barret, supposed it was one of the two shady characters that he's kept tabs on ever since the Jack the Ripper investigation. To make matters worse, Inspector Reid, who held a strong grudge against Sarah, was in charge of the police's hunt for the Torso Murderer. Having failed to solve the Ripper case, Reid obsessively wanted to believe the Ripper and the Torso Murderer were the same killer.
I found the story dragging, over-the-top, and contrived from time to time. The characters weren't very likable, even annoying at times. Sarah wasn't successfully portrayed as the main character; she was rather forgettable. The setting also didn't feel much like the Victorian era. All in all, I didn't like the book very much.
February 6, 2023
The seventh in the Victorian Mystery series starts with another murder on the river Thames, where we find Sarah Bain, Lord Hugh, Mick taking pictures of the latest victim of what is known as the Torso Murders. Of course Sarah's husband Detective Sergeant Thomas Bain is there along with Inspector Reid ( who hates the above names for the Ripper murders years before.
Reid now claims that the Torso and Ripper murders are done by the same person, which is impossible (For that mystery if you haven't read the first in the series- The Ripper Murders, you should.
Various theories abound, but the one that keeps cropping up is the skill of which the Torso murders are committed, unlike the Ripper who just ripped the bodies up. Not only that but eventually this surrounds a very strange religious sect and the Haven of Love church.
Reid wants Sarah to spill the beans on Jack the Ripper and will do anything to make her life miserable especially when it comes to her husband and friends.
Murders mount up to a wild conclusion and a bit of a cliffhanger for the eight book.
Always highly recommended.
Reid now claims that the Torso and Ripper murders are done by the same person, which is impossible (For that mystery if you haven't read the first in the series- The Ripper Murders, you should.
Various theories abound, but the one that keeps cropping up is the skill of which the Torso murders are committed, unlike the Ripper who just ripped the bodies up. Not only that but eventually this surrounds a very strange religious sect and the Haven of Love church.
Reid wants Sarah to spill the beans on Jack the Ripper and will do anything to make her life miserable especially when it comes to her husband and friends.
Murders mount up to a wild conclusion and a bit of a cliffhanger for the eight book.
Always highly recommended.
January 10, 2026
Hidden Truths
Hiding her involvement in the Ripper case, Sarah has to evade her sister Sally's questions. Sally is now a junior reporter and she wants to advance. A number of dismembered limbs have been found in the Thames as some think they are the results of another Ripper spree. Hugh, Mick and Sarah's detective husband Detective Sergeant Thomas Barrett were sworn to secrecy under pain of death if the identity of the true Ripper becomes known. Inspector Reid suspects they know something and is determined to discover their secret through intimidation -- especially of Sarah. With these new murders, Thomas is on the task force, but is sidelined by Inspector Reid into taking statements at the morgue. On his own time , the Detective Sergeant investigates two of his former suspects for the Ripper cases. Sarah, on the other hand, prompted by her sister's investigation into missing women, starts investigating a cult-like church. Neither Thomas or Sarah believe each other's suspicions, which leads to marital strife. In the end, both Sarah and Thomas are proven true to a certain extent. This mystery illuminates how secrets can fester and how hidden truths can damage.
Hiding her involvement in the Ripper case, Sarah has to evade her sister Sally's questions. Sally is now a junior reporter and she wants to advance. A number of dismembered limbs have been found in the Thames as some think they are the results of another Ripper spree. Hugh, Mick and Sarah's detective husband Detective Sergeant Thomas Barrett were sworn to secrecy under pain of death if the identity of the true Ripper becomes known. Inspector Reid suspects they know something and is determined to discover their secret through intimidation -- especially of Sarah. With these new murders, Thomas is on the task force, but is sidelined by Inspector Reid into taking statements at the morgue. On his own time , the Detective Sergeant investigates two of his former suspects for the Ripper cases. Sarah, on the other hand, prompted by her sister's investigation into missing women, starts investigating a cult-like church. Neither Thomas or Sarah believe each other's suspicions, which leads to marital strife. In the end, both Sarah and Thomas are proven true to a certain extent. This mystery illuminates how secrets can fester and how hidden truths can damage.
Read
February 2, 2023I very much liked Ms. Rowland's Ichiro Sano series, so when she started this series I was eager to jump right in, and early on I liked this series as well. Now, not so much. The last two entries seemed a bit enervated.
In this installment, a Charismatic minister and his church are the focal point of the story. All his parishioners are women, and it is this angle I find most interesting. Sarah, the lead character, is what we would call a liberated woman, though she isn't so entirely by choice. In the course of the investigation, she encounters the churchwomen, and she considers what it is that makes these women willingly give up everything for the minister's sake. In the late 19th century, an era that is only just at the beginning of women's rights, you can't help but think any choice at all other than what was rigidly enforced must have had its attractions.
Lastly, by the end of this book, the series throughline has reached something of a crossroads. I'm hopeful the new aspects will invigorate the future episodes.
In this installment, a Charismatic minister and his church are the focal point of the story. All his parishioners are women, and it is this angle I find most interesting. Sarah, the lead character, is what we would call a liberated woman, though she isn't so entirely by choice. In the course of the investigation, she encounters the churchwomen, and she considers what it is that makes these women willingly give up everything for the minister's sake. In the late 19th century, an era that is only just at the beginning of women's rights, you can't help but think any choice at all other than what was rigidly enforced must have had its attractions.
Lastly, by the end of this book, the series throughline has reached something of a crossroads. I'm hopeful the new aspects will invigorate the future episodes.
March 3, 2023
This is Rowland's seventh installment following Victorian photographer Sarah Bain and her gaggle of colleagues. This time, amputated body parts of various females are turning up in the Thames River. Because there are only body parts, identification of the victims is almost impossible. Sarah, Mick, and Hugh's boss has given the group the go-ahead to solve the murders. Of course, Reid is continuing to make problems for Sarah and her husband. That said, I found the solution to the crime rather unique. As usual, Rowland is unmatched in her descriptions of the people, places, and behaviors of the time. What I detested was Inspector Reid's single-minded pursuit to ruin/hurt Sarah and the others, all due to jealousy. While this issue is finally resolved-somewhat- it tainted the mystery. The other unlikeable part is the constant discord between Sarah and Barrett. You would think what had brought them together- their curiosity and love of crime-solving- would allow them to get beyond the roadblocks set in their way.
March 27, 2023
𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐄: 𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐋𝐒
𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑: 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚 𝐉𝐨𝐡 𝐑𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝
𝐏𝐔𝐁 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 𝟎𝟏.𝟏𝟎.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞
So happy to be back in this Victorian mystery series in which Sarah Bain Barrett is pitted against a true-crime serial killer who may have ties to Jack the Ripper. Even though it’s the seventh installment, it can be read as standalone book.
Rowland excellent portrayal of the dark underworld of London’s gritty side is brought vividly to life. Through the authors meticulously details readers will experience the
sights and sounds of the fast paced historical murder mystery!
Thank you @laurajohrowland @crookedlanebooks and @tlcbooktours for the gifted book
h a s h t a g s :
#RiverofFallenAngels #AVictorianMystery #historicalmystery #VictorianLondon #murdermystery #mysteryreads #gothicfiction #peacefulmindpeacefullife #peaceful #morningslikethese #calmandquiet #seekthesimplicity #cozyhome #cozyvibes #weeklyfluff #bibliophile #readersofinstagram #candlelover #candleaddict #toeachtheirpath #everysquareastory #postitfortheaesthetic #aesthetic #ａｅｓｔｈｅｔｉｃ
𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑: 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚 𝐉𝐨𝐡 𝐑𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝
𝐏𝐔𝐁 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 𝟎𝟏.𝟏𝟎.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞
So happy to be back in this Victorian mystery series in which Sarah Bain Barrett is pitted against a true-crime serial killer who may have ties to Jack the Ripper. Even though it’s the seventh installment, it can be read as standalone book.
Rowland excellent portrayal of the dark underworld of London’s gritty side is brought vividly to life. Through the authors meticulously details readers will experience the
sights and sounds of the fast paced historical murder mystery!
Thank you @laurajohrowland @crookedlanebooks and @tlcbooktours for the gifted book
h a s h t a g s :
#RiverofFallenAngels #AVictorianMystery #historicalmystery #VictorianLondon #murdermystery #mysteryreads #gothicfiction #peacefulmindpeacefullife #peaceful #morningslikethese #calmandquiet #seekthesimplicity #cozyhome #cozyvibes #weeklyfluff #bibliophile #readersofinstagram #candlelover #candleaddict #toeachtheirpath #everysquareastory #postitfortheaesthetic #aesthetic #ａｅｓｔｈｅｔｉｃ
December 29, 2022
No one can agree on who killed the woman whose torso has washed up on the banks of the Thames-not Sarah not her husband DS Thomas Barrett not their group of friends and certainly not the awful DI Edward Reid. Everyone has an opinion and, in the Victorian era, there's no forensics to answer easy questions, although Rowland has introduced the idea of profiling. Is the woman yet another victim of the Ripper- as Reid would have it? Read this as much for the characters, for the tight band of diverse people who have made a family at Sarah and Thomas's house (and, grudgingly, for Reid) as for the mystery, which is less engaging than it could be. That said, this latest in the series would be easily and happily read as a standalone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.
January 22, 2023
I was pleased to see a seventh book in this installment and hope there's an eight, I've read them all and in order.
This actually might be one of my favorites, but still not quite at a five star level for me.
Sarah, Barrett, Mick, Hugh and Sally all are on a case together. Of course Reid is back and creating his own havoc that a killer can't do. When they each have their own idea and they aren't working together the way they used to, tensions run high and friction is running rampant in the house.
Following clues and using their own skills and contacts, little pieces of information come to light.
Who's hunch will be the right one? Can they work together as a team again to solve the torso murder?
Read in less than 24 hours, I cannot wait for #8
This actually might be one of my favorites, but still not quite at a five star level for me.
Sarah, Barrett, Mick, Hugh and Sally all are on a case together. Of course Reid is back and creating his own havoc that a killer can't do. When they each have their own idea and they aren't working together the way they used to, tensions run high and friction is running rampant in the house.
Following clues and using their own skills and contacts, little pieces of information come to light.
Who's hunch will be the right one? Can they work together as a team again to solve the torso murder?
Read in less than 24 hours, I cannot wait for #8
January 7, 2023
A fast paced and exciting story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. While as well written as the other's I have read in this series this isn't my favourite book. While the author writes gritty and realistic and atmospheric mysteries rather than cozy type mysteries I didn't enjoy the issues between Sarah and Thomas while perhaps realistic it did cast a pall over the extended family and didn't make them seem as intriguing as before. I would recommend reading this books in order otherwise you might miss some of the nuances. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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