This new historical mystery – Laura Shepherd-Robinson’s first novel – deals with one of the darkest subjects in our history. Set in 1781, it follows the investigations of former army officer Captain Harry Corsham into the disappearance of his friend, the lawyer and abolitionist Tad Archer. It seems that Tad had been about to uncover a secret that, once exposed, could damage the reputations of those involved in the British slave trade. Could someone have killed Tad to prevent him from telling what he knows?

Captain Corsham is determined to find out what has happened to his friend, but to do so he will need to continue Tad’s enquiries into a shocking incident which took place onboard a ship carrying slaves across the Atlantic. This brings him into conflict with some very powerful men who could destroy his hopes of a political career. But Harry Corsham is a man with principles and even when he, like Tad before him, begins to receive threatening letters and warnings, he refuses to walk away until he has discovered the truth.

There are many things I liked about Blood & Sugar. The setting and atmosphere are wonderful; with the action taking place partly in London, where Harry Corsham lives with his wife, Caro, and their young son, and partly in the nearby slaving port of Deptford, we see Harry move between both locations in search of answers to his questions. I loved the contrasting descriptions of Deptford, from the elegant homes of the wealthy slave merchants to the notorious dockside alleys with their brothels and opium dens.

We also meet a wide range of characters from very different backgrounds, including magistrates, politicians, mayors and surgeons, prostitutes, innkeepers, sailors and servants. Many of the latter group are black, which is interesting because I think we tend to forget (or are not aware of) how many black people there were living in eighteenth century Britain. It is estimated that there were more than twenty thousand in London alone, yet they rarely appear in fiction set during that period. As for the slavery aspect of the story, there are parts that are not easy to read, as you can probably imagine – particularly when we hear about what happened on the ship, something which is based on a real incident. But unpleasant as it is, we can’t ignore the fact that slavery did happen and I think it’s important that we remember and learn from it.

I was very impressed with this book at the beginning. I liked Laura Shepherd-Robinson’s writing, the mystery seemed intriguing and I was starting to draw comparisons with one of my favourite historical crime authors, Andrew Taylor. However, as the plot continued to develop, I thought it became far too complicated and I struggled to remember who had said what to whom and what the various motives of the characters were. Towards the end, there were so many threads to tie up that everything seemed to take forever to be resolved (and there were one or two revelations which added very little to the overall story and weren’t really necessary, in my opinion). I also felt that as there were so many characters to keep track of, they really needed to be better defined – instead, I thought they were thinly drawn and not very memorable.

I’m disappointed that I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I thought I would at first, but I still think there were more positives than negatives and as this is the author’s first novel I would be happy to read more.

Hi Karen,
My Next review is:-

“Blood And Sugar”, written by Laura Shepherd-Robinson and published in Hard Cover by Mantle; Main Market edition (24 Jan. 2019). 448 pages ISBN-13: 978-1509880775

It is 21st June 1781 and Captain Harry Corsham, the war hero of the America campaign and who hopes to become a member of parliament, is horrified to learn that Thaddeus Archer a barrister and abolitionist against slavery and Harry’s oldest friend appears to have disappeared in Deptford. Deptford at that time was a slavery centre and Archer appears to have gone there for research. He is four days over due in returning to Mayfair, London and his sister Amelia has asked Captain Corsham to investigate what has happened.

This very slow burning historical thriller works its way into your psyche very slowly being told in the first person by Captain Corsham. Captain Corsham directs his carriage to Deptford which takes about an hour. He contacts the local Mayor, Peregrine Child and explains that he is searching for his friend and when he describes his physical appearance Child confirms that he knows of him but under a different name. It appears Archer was using the false name of ‘Thomas Valentine’ in his enquiries about slavery.

Child took Captain Corsham to the apartment of a surgeon named James Brabazon where they had the body of Thaddeus Archer. Brabazon explained that Archer died when his throat was cut by persons unknown. Captain Corsham was absolutely horrified that his lifelong friend, whom he met at Oxford University ten years previously, but whom he hadn’t seen for about three years was dead.

He swore to himself that he would find his killer and he booked a room at a local inn and began his investigation. Harry began his quest by searching for all the people that his friend came in contact and he encountered quite a lot of opposition to his inquiry, some of it physically brutal and the author did not shy away from showing the appalling violence that was ever present in the eighteenth century.

Our protagonist Harry has a lot of very difficult encounters with slave owners and slaves in this richly researched, very moving story. The book was an absolute delight to read and very impressive for a first book from a new historical mystery novelist. The sense of period detail is beautifully evocative and the authors research around the history of the slave trade in England using contemporary documents and other sources was absolutely fascinating and made the book absolutely impossible to put down until the final exciting and moving page.

The author has written one of the most atmospheric historical thrillers that I have read this year and I can’t wait to see what she next writes and I look forward to reading her next book. I very strongly recommend this book as one of the best that I have ever read.

Best wishes,

Terry
(To be published by eurocrime.co.uk)

A fascinating read. While weaving a vivid tapestry of life in and around London at the end of the seventeenth century, the author gives the reader both a satisfying "who-dunnit" and an insight into English involvement in the slave trade and its ultimate abolition. I gained a much better appreciation of the vested interests of the English establishment and wider communities involved in the slave trade. A great read in the context of Black History month or for anyone wanting a way into the history of this dark period of our history. This would be a great way into the subject for young adults studying British history.

This is a really well-written and well crafted historical thriller which opens the lid on the slave trade in the late 18th century. It is told through the eyes of a gentleman investigating the gruesome murder of a friend in a poorer part of London. There are some great characters and the pace is kept up until the end.

Highly recommended.

Injured war hero Capt Harry Corsham is visited in 1781 by the sister of an old friend of Harry’s, Tad Archer, an anti-slavery activist, worried that her brother has disappeared and fearing for his life as he had said he was planning to expose a secret that could severely damage the slaving industry. Harry feels he must find out what has happened to Tad. In so doing, he discovers wickedness beyond imagination, not only concerning his friend Tad but the story of the slaves themselves and the murky waters surrounding those in power.

Late 18th century London, particularly the slave port of Deptford, is brought alive vividly by the author with expertly researched detail conjuring up the sounds and smells all too realistically. This does not make easy reading, and rightly so, this era being one of the worst blots on our history.

This is not a simple whodunit, however, and I must say the one down-side for me was that I felt the plot was too complex … too many characters involved all with parts to play but the many side-stories obfuscated rather than threw light on the main thread. I’m not unintelligent but I have to admit that once the book was drawing to a close, there were so many threads to pull together that I really did lose the plot – quite literally – struggling to understand who had done what and why. It was a shame, as the overcomplicated plot line spoiled it for me so that I was left feeling very impressed by the research and duly horrified by what I read about the slave trade, but not actually ‘getting’ the main plot at all.

So, not an easy book with its very complex plot line, but well researched and I’m sure will be greatly appreciated by lovers of high-quality historical fiction as much for its paining of London and the slave trade as for the plot itself.

As a fan of historical fiction, I was looking forward to reading this book....... but I had no idea just how good it would be! Utterly atmospheric, descriptive and immersive, this tale of murder in 1780’s London totally gripped me, with a plot filled with lies, corruption, slavery, social injustice, violence, poverty, politics, love and death.

A stunning, well researched debut that would translate well to screen. 5/5.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and The Publisher's for this eARC.

Blood & Sugar is a historical crime thriller set in 1781, in London, at the height of Britain's involvement in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Tad, a passionate abolitionist is brutally murdered and branded with a Slaver's mark. His sister, worried about his disappearance calls on his old friend to Harry to try to find him. It turns out that Tad had been in possession of a secret that he believed would bring about the end of Slavery. And for Harry to find his killer he must also discover what this secret is.

To be honest, the premise of the book somewhat grated on me as Slavery is not a trivial issue to be used for entertainment. However, there was so much buzz around this book that my curiosity got the better of me and I just had to read it. And I'm so glad I did!

The twists and turns that we go through to find out who the murderer is are wonderful. While obviously rooting for Harry, you're also find yourself tearing your hair out at some of situations he finds himself in. I like that what seem like detours and red herrings are necessary to the story and don't make it convoluted.

The issue of Slavery was not trivialised in anyway and multiple view points were provided. All characters, which ever side of the fence they stood on seemed real and no one side seemed to be given more importance or sympathy or evilness. There was an evenness and balance which I think worked very well. Don't get me wrong the horrors of slavery were very apparent, but they weren't at the heart of the book, the murder mystery was but that was a good thing.

A lot of people don't realise that Black people have been in Britain for so long, so it was great having an array of Black Character living in London during this time period. I feel like a lot of good research went into this book. This was also highlighted by how the author described all the different locations, London, Deptford, different dwellings. So vivid, I could picture it all clearly in my mind.

Well done to the author. I would recommend this book.

I am a big fan of historical fiction and historical crime novels, so I was naturally excited to read "Blood & Sugar", Depford, in 1781, at the height of British slave trade, a murdered abolitionist and his friend are looking for answers - I loved the plot premise, thick with political and social nuances, I thought that the language was vivid and atmospheric., characters were not black or white but complex and convincing.
However, I was not keen on the ending. of the book. Firstly, there were so many subplots that it took ages to end the story and come to all the conclusions, and it somehow diluted it all. Secondly, some of the subplots were somehow redundant in my opinion. And lastly, I was disappointed to discover who the murderer was and what were their motives. I did not find it particularly pleasing or even plausible. I think the author should be applauded for tackling a very difficult subject, but I would love to hear more reviews tackling this part of the book, to perhaps confirm my feelings.

Blood & Sugar is a riveting historical thriller set against the backdrop of the British Slave Trade in the late 18th century. Through the first person narration of privileged war hero Captain Harry Corsham, the reader is drawn into a vivid, sordid world of greed and ignorance.

The torture and murder of his estranged abolitionist friend Tad leads Corsham to search for the truth about a slave ship Tad was investigating before his murder. The authorities are reluctant to put much effort into finding Tad’s murderer, leading Corsham to believe that there are secrets to be uncovered. Each layer to the mystery that is revealed is more terrible than the last.

Corsham is a sympathetic narrator, and it’s easy to feel for a man who is torn between upholding his name for the sake of his family, and continuing his search for truth and justice on behalf of others.

The pacing is excellent, with some very gripping, heart-pounding scenes. The setting of Deptford is described in rich detail, evoking multiple senses, and left me feeling a little bit grimy.

There is an interesting set of characters tangled in the events of the story. There are ex-slaves with terrible pasts, and slavers and townspeople who turn a blind-eye to the blood of the Africans supporting their town and livelihoods. Most of the characters are shady and difficult to fathom; their motivations and histories entwining with each other’s.

Inspired by historical events and circumstances, this is a dark, harrowing story. It is also an enthralling tale with an incredibly well-woven plot. And while there is satisfaction when the mysteries are solved, this book left me with a heavy feeling; the weight of a history which we must never forget.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan, Mantle and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Blood & Sugar is an absolutely stunning piece of historical fiction. I knew from the first few pages that I would enjoy this book and I was not disappointed.

The historical setting of 18th Century London and Deptford was brought vividly to life with the reader feeling they are actually there experiencing everything first hand alongside Captain Corsham. The dark period of the slave trade is obviously a very sad part of British history and the author doesn’t hold back any of the heart breaking details which made me cry at times. How anyone thought that it was ok to treat people like that is beyond me. The seedy underbelly of Deptford life was also brilliantly described and helps add to some of the tension in the book as the dark, narrow streets makes the reader wonder what they will encounter next. It is a world that I am grateful that I don’t inhabit!

I loved the main character Captain Corsham who comes across as a very considerate, loyal person who just wants justice for his friend and goes above and beyond to get it. He’s a very brave man as his investigation takes him to some very dodgy areas and it was touching to see how much he obvious cared for his friend that he’s willing to put himself in such danger. He is deeply affected by the horror of the slave trade that he undercovers and I thought it showed him to be a lovely guy that he wouldn’t even entertain the idea of getting involved himself.

This book is incredibly gripping and I was instantly absorbed into the story. There is always something happening or a discovery being made which makes the story hard to put down. The investigation into what happened to Tad soon gets very murky and incredibly intriguing. I didn’t have much of an idea about what was happening but loved going along for the ride and watching the story unfold. The story of the slaves was quite an emotional one and the descriptions of their horrific treatment made me anxious that the people involved would get their just deserts. I wanted to keep reading to see how everything would tie together.

This unbelievably is the author’s debut novel and I’m very excited to see what she comes up with next. If you like gripping, atmospheric historical fiction then you’ll love this book.

Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton and Rosie Wilson for my copy of this fabulous book!

June, 1781. An unidentified body hangs upon a hook at Deptford Dock – horribly tortured and branded with a slaver’s mark.

Some days later, Captain Harry Corsham – a war hero embarking upon a promising parliamentary career – is visited by the sister of an old friend. Her brother, passionate abolitionist Tad Archer, had been about to expose a secret that he believed could cause irreparable damage to the British slaving industry. He’d said people were trying to kill him, and now he is missing . . .

To discover what happened to Tad, Harry is forced to pick up the threads of his friend’s investigation, delving into the heart of the conspiracy Tad had unearthed. His investigation will threaten his political prospects, his family’s happiness, and force a reckoning with his past, risking the revelation of secrets that have the power to destroy him.

And that is only if he can survive the mortal dangers awaiting him in Deptford…

Over the last few years I have been reading more and more crime fiction. I particularly enjoy when the book in question has a historic setting. One such book is Blood and Sugar, a new novel from Laura Shepherd-Robinson set in the dark underbelly of 18th century London.

There is a conflict within our protagonist, Harry Horsham, which makes him a little bit more intriguing than your average detective. He is the toast of London society, seemingly on the fast track to a high-profile political career, but he suffers from a fatal flaw; he has principles. Corsham won’t be bribed, and he refuses to look the other way. He is repeatedly told to just walk away from investigating his friend’s murder but exhibits a dogged tenacity, refusing to quit. Even if it means he might suffer from the potential fallout of his findings he keeps moving forward. The last meeting between Corsham and the victim, Tad Archer, ended badly and Corsham is driven by guilt. Uncovering the who, what and why of his friend’s murder is the only way the good captain knows how to try and make amends.

I tend to find my favourite crime novels are the ones with a slightly broken main character.

Corsham is a soldier and a gentleman, bound by the restrictions of the time period. He is a staunch abolitionist, believing quite rightly that every person has the right to be treated equally. The only problem is that the entire system is against him. The authorities are not interested in the killing of a rabble rouser or the plight of slaves. Corsham has to deal with imperialism and the ignorant at every turn. Setting the novel at this point in history gives the author the chance to explore a whole host of ideas; the politics of the age, attitudes towards sexuality, gender and class differences are all touched upon.

Blood and Sugar is set during a time known as the Age of Enlightenment, which I think in some ways makes the story that much more harrowing. While philosophy, economics and science were moving forward in leaps and bounds, indigenous people were continuing to be treated abhorrently. Companies in the United Kingdom were making money by treating other races as little more than beasts of burden. Kudos to the author for her approach to dealing with this shameful period of British history, nothing is sugar coated or shied away from. I’m a firm believer that the best fiction should always educate and inform the reader, especially when it comes to the subjects that we need to learn from.

One of the things I really liked about Blood and Sugar was Shepherd-Robinson’s evocative descriptions of London and the surrounding areas. During the course of his investigation Horsham moves from well-tended avenues and elegant townhouses to shabby dockyards, disused warehouses and back alley brothels. In some places there is a thin veneer of civility but lurking just underneath that the capital is a grubby, violent place. Slaves and ex-slaves are treated with little or no respect and the vast majority of the upper-classes are, often as not, hypocrites. Trying to uncover a murder, and the conspiracy that sits behind it, is not easy when everything conspires against you.

I’d recommend this novel to those who enjoy their crime fiction suitably dark and atmospheric. Fans of the novels Mayhem, and Murder by Sarah Pinborough, will likely find lots to appreciate in the pages of Blood and Sugar. Blending together the best elements from historical and crime genres it was easy to get drawn into the compelling narrative.

My musical recommendation to accompany Blood and Sugar is the tense and often sinister soundtrack to the BBC drama Taboo by Max Richter. It captures the same tone as the novel and makes for a perfect match. In a nice bit of cosmic synchronicity Taboo, and Blood and Sugar are set at roughly the same time period. That probably explains why they complement one another so well.

Blood and Sugar is published by Pan Macmillan and available from 24th January. This is an impressive debut* that I can highly recommend. If you enjoy historic crime fiction I would advise you give this a go.

*I had to keep reminding myself this was a debut. The plot whips along with such confident flair.

Blood & Sugar is the thrilling debut historical crime novel from Laura Shepherd-Robinson, and boy is this a cracking debut! It highlights, as a fictional story, the horrifying ubiquity of slave ownership and trade in eighteenth-century Britain, and the exploration of this topic within the context of the story is what pushed this from a four-star cracker to a five-star must-read. This subtly nuanced and intricately plotted tale keeps you very much on your toes but is more profound than a lot of historical crime fiction I have gorged on previously and that was most welcome and refreshing. This is raw, powerful, heart-on-your-sleeve drama with a great wadge of suspense and is thought-provoking and profound in parts too.

Everything just gelled together superbly, and I can't wait to read more of this young and talented writers work when it's released. There is something here for everyone: conspiracy, injustice, poverty, identity, racism, criminality, love, and loss; by all means, it's quite didactic. I can say with a high level of certainty, a rarity this early on in the reading year, that this will definitely feature in my best fiction of 2019. Yes, indeed it is that astonishing. Beautifully written with some of the finest descriptions I've come across in years; Ms Shepherd-Robinson is one to watch. Her prose really is vivid; I could smell the scents, hear the sounds and see the sights throughout the entirety of the story and brings a transformational richness which never ran out of steam.

When I properly consider it, the atmosphere created by the author beggars belief for a first novel: it's intense, suspenseful and darkly claustrophobic. Thoroughly recommended.

Many thanks to Mantle for an ARC.

An adventure with a dark heart

Blood and Sugar drew me in slowly but surely to the murky world of 18th Century London and the slave trade. It was refreshing (although deeply disturbing) to see its effects in this country.

War hero Harry Corsham is compelled to leave the luxury of society London to find his friend Tad who was last seen ruffling feathers among the slave traders of Deptford, painted well as a seedy grimy place, Greenwich’s poor relation. London was growing but places such as Marylebone were still separate villages. We’re given a glimpse of the new and grand developments starting to spring up and join the dots.

Harry is drawn in to a tangled story of politics, money and lies. There are plenty of well-drawn characters, both male and female. They were complex enough so that nobody’s story was quite straightforward. The whodunnit was tricksy enough to keep the suspense until the end. I could definitely see this story adapted for the screen. Now who to cast as Harry…

Blood Sugar is an exceptional debut in every way. It’s complex, dark, thrilling and bursting with the life, smells and colours of the time. In addition to being a gripping murder mystery, it tackles a difficult subject, the slave trade, with honesty. Many will be unaware of the extent to which British commerce thrived on business associated both directly and indirectly with the slave trade and the way in which black people were used by the white British wealthy. Their treatment was often brutal and this aspect is touched upon. The plotting is superb, woven around real events, places and people and utterly convincing.

The characters are as rich as a those in a Dickens story. Diverse, quirky and again, totally believable. There’s tension, intrigue and violence along the way and I found this complex tale very difficult to put down. A brilliantly enjoyable read and my thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a review copy.

This was a fabulous read!! Laura Shepherd - Robison has skillfully produce a intense, and intriguing story centred around Captain Henry Corsham, and his investigation into the death of his friend Thaddeus Archer. Along the way he deals with some unscrupulous individuals, and uncovers atrocities.
This is a page turning read, very difficult to put down!! Would highly recommend, I could easily see this story translating to screen.

1781 on Deptford Dock a body is found brutally murdered.
Captain Harry Corsham has been asked by a friend to look into not just the murder but of a missing person Tad Archer a abolitionist and outspoken gentlemen who is about to expose the British slave industry before he went missing.
This is a gripping and harrowing look at the slave industry in and around Deptford. Harry has to have all his wits about him if he wants to live.

An impressive debut , Blood and Sugar by Laura Shepherd- Robinson takes the reader back to a dark time in British history. It is 1781 and at Deptford dock a man's body is discovered hanging from a hook. It is clear that he has been tortured and brutally murdered, and it seems that it could be a warning. When military man Harry Corsham is visited by the sister of an old friend, and learns that he has disappeared it seems clear that the two strands of the story are linked. Sure enough the unfortunate victim is his old friend, and before long Corsham is convinced that the authorities in Deptford know more than they are saying. As a slaving port, his friend's abolitionist views would have made him no friends, but with a little digging Corsham learns that his friend was on the verge of laying bare a horrifying secret that could have been a devastating blow to the slave trade, not just in Deptford but in Britain as a whole. As layer upon layer of conspiracy unfolds, the true depravity of the secret and the lengths that the conspirators will go to keep it hidden makes for gripping reading.
This is not a book for the faint of heart, while the violence is never gratuitous, it is there, and often in very stark, almost graphic terms, and this can make for upsetting reading at times. The book is loosely inspired by real events, and that makes it all the more disturbing, but an important look at a dark period. I also found it really interesting to read about the slave trade from the British perspective, so often it is regarded as an American issue or problem, it is easy to forget that it happened far closer to home too. The book is a dense read, though I mean that in a positive way, the plot twists and turns and there is a wealth of fascinating characters to get to grips with.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

My thanks to Pan Macmillan/Mantle for an eARC via NetGalley of this debut historical novel by Laura Shepherd-Robinson.

Blood & Sugar is set in 1781. Its narrator, Captain Henry (Harry) Corsham, has returned to London after being injured while serving in the Colonies. He now works at the War Office and has ambitions to enter Parliament in the near future.

When Amelia Bradstreet, the sister of his oldest friend, comes to him with news of Thaddeus (Tad) Archer’s disappearance he agrees to help to find him. Tad is a lawyer and a passionate abolitionist. Amelia says that Tad was seeking to expose a secret that he believed would do irreparable damage to the British slave industry. Tad also told her that he believed his life was in danger.

Corsham picks up the threads of Tad’s investigation in Deptford, encountering there a complex web of lies and corruption. To uncover the conspiracy he risks his career, his family, and his life.

My policy with mysteries and thrillers is to not give too much plot information to avoid spoilers. Be assured though that the plot, characters, and attention to period detail here are outstanding.

I am grateful to Laura Shepherd-Robinson for writing a novel set during this period of history as it went beyond being a highly engaging mystery to highlighting many disturbing details about the British slave industry.

I had little awareness of the political and economic pressures levied during this time against the growing calls for abolition. This novel opened my eyes about this and the horrors of the slave trade as much as other works that I have read set in the Caribbean and USA.

The author has Harry note early on that the legal case in 1772 brought by the slave James Somerset did not mean that slavery was abolished in England: “English liberties might have prevailed upon English shores, but Magna Carta made no prescription against hypocrisy. The judge’s ruling did not apply to our Caribbean colonies, where the plantations were dependent upon slave labour.”

Harry is a complex and highly principled man, willing to risk his reputation and even his life to seek justice. He proved a very likeable narrator and I felt throughout as though I was intimately part of his journey. I admit that I fell a wee bit in love with him.

The novel took me a little while to get into. However, I soon was totally immersed. The plot is complex with a great many twists and multiple levels.

I would warn that some scenes and accounts provided by characters are distressing to read and rightly so. The author includes end notes that outline the events leading to the abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire in the early 19th Century, some sources and suggestions for further reading as well as questions for discussion. Also, there are maps and a very handy character list at the beginning.

‘Blood & Sugar’ is not only extensively researched but she brings the period to life very vividly. It is just brilliant in every aspect.

I have already written to the County Librarian in charge of adding new titles to the Reading Group Collection suggesting she consider it for inclusion. I also look forward to future works by Laura Shepherd-Robinson.

Certainly hoping that this novel will be considered for the 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction.

What a debut! Fantastic book, riveting from the start. Lag turned that leaves you guessing and wanting more. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. Will be recommending.

The Eighteenth century isn't a period that I would normally choose to read about, but the synopsis of this book attracted me. Now, I'll confess to disliking history as a child, almost as much as I'm now fascinated by it. I think this was due to the fact that great chunks of raw facts were missed out in those pre- Horrible History days to spare our young minds! Consequently, I'm ashamed to say that I knew very little about the reality of the slave trade in this country, so I came to this story with a very open mind.
Several others have mentioned the amount of research that the author must have done to be able to bring the Deptford area to life so vividly. I would totally agree with this, we could almost smell the brackish water, the stench of the hovels and see the stains on Jamaica Mary's shift.
I did feel that it tired a little in the middle where Captain Corsham seems to spend a lot of time travelling in futility from one red herring to another, but it did pick up again towards the end. I wasn't entirely convinced about the explanations of the murders and felt that this was less of an unmasking than a convenient way to close the story.
I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in the period or subject matter purely because of the immersive atmosphere that it creates. Thank you to the publisher for this ARC.