A fantastic debut novel set in bustling Victorian Birmingham. Dark and tumultuous but thoroughly gripping throughout with an evocative narrative and a challenging plot.

The Conviction of Cora Burns by Carolyn Kirby is a stunning debut set in 1880's Birmingham. This historical fiction has some very dark moments but kept me glued throughout.

Thankyou to NetGalley, the publishers and the author, Carolyn Kirby, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of The Conviction of Coral Burns in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Unfortunately, I really struggled with this book.
I found it hard to follow and it didn't hold my interest.
Sorry, not a book for me.

Okay, I admit it, I requested this book because it's set in my home city. I really liked that it highlighted women in the Victorian era and how their strength was seen in a negative way and I really liked the contrast through the book of Cora and Violet as well as Cora and Cook.

However, there were bits that I skimmed, mainly because they were really boring and sometimes the flashbacks were quite confusing and I was left wondering what does this even have to do with the plot? The plot itself was relatively obvious from the first quarter of the book and I found that the ending felt too perfect. Cora does terrible things during the book, and yet she is perfect by the end. In a book like this, basic psychology is a must.

One of the major downsides is that maybe the author should have set the novel in a different town, as there were little bits here and there that showed that she wasn't entirely familiar with Birmingham in the era, which pulled me out of the story a bit.

The question of nature versus nurture lies at the heart of Carolyn Kirby’s dark and fascinating debut novel, The Conviction of Cora Burns. Are people born good or bad or is it their upbringing that determines their behaviour? Is it inevitable that some people will commit acts of evil or does this depend on their early influences and the way they have experienced the world? These ideas are explored through the fictional story of Cora Burns.

Born in a prison cell, Cora is raised in Birmingham’s Union Workhouse before going on to work as a laundry maid in the Borough Lunatic Asylum. It’s not the best of starts in life and by the time Cora is twenty she has served a prison sentence herself. At the beginning of the novel, in 1885, she has just been released and is about to take up a new position as ‘between maid’ in the household of the scientist Thomas Jerwood – not her ideal job, but she quickly finds that other opportunities for women in her circumstances are very limited.

A fragment of a bronze medal engraved with the words ‘Imaginem Salt’ – a reminder of her childhood friend, Alice Salt – and vague memories of a crime so terrible she has blotted out the details from her mind are all she has left of her earlier life and she is determined to make a fresh start. As she settles into her new home, Cora begins to befriend Violet, a young girl who appears to be the subject of Mr Jerwood’s experiments. But is Cora being experimented on herself – and if so, what will be discovered? Meanwhile, she decides to track down Alice Salt, the friend she hasn’t seen for years but who she believes holds the key to that terrible incident in her past.

As well as the nature or nuture debate that I’ve already mentioned, the novel incorporates many other interesting issues and themes, such as the effects of poverty, the treatment of prisoners and the mentally ill in Victorian Britain, and advances in science, psychology and technology (particularly photography). All of these things have an impact on Cora’s story, which is told in non-linear form, moving backwards and forwards between her present situation in Thomas Jerwood’s household and her childhood in the workhouse. Interspersed with these narratives are Jerwood’s reports to a scientific journal describing his latest research and theories and occasional updates from another doctor whose work may also shed some light on Cora’s past.

This is not an ‘easy’ read – you do need to concentrate to keep the various strands of the plot straight and you also need some patience as it takes a while for the different pieces of the story to fall into place, but it’s definitely worth it in the end. I should also warn you that the crime in which Cora was involved is a particularly chilling one and is described in detail, but I think this was necessary in order to illustrate the worst of Cora’s nature. Despite this, though, I could also see that Cora had plenty of good qualities and I hoped that she would eventually be able to move on from her past and find some happiness. Whether this does happen or not I will leave you to find out for yourself.

Finally, I loved the decision to set the story in Victorian Birmingham! It made a nice change from the many books set in Victorian London. This was an impressive first novel and I will be looking out for more from Carolyn Kirby.

Cora Burns has a burning violence within her that she struggles to control. Was she born with this emotion or has it developed from her environment? Born in a gaol and raised in a Union workhouse, Cora’s beginning is cold and unloving though she has her friend Alice who she is as close to as sisters are to one another. One day Cora and Alice commit a horrendous crime that lands Cora in confinement away from Alice, never to see her again. Fast forward around eighteen years we find Cora in a between maid situation in the house of a scientist whilst befriending a young girl, Violet. Violet appears to be a living case study within the household but as Cora gets to know the girl better, it rekindles memories that were so well hidden in Cora’s mind. Memories too terrible to remember.

I looked forward to reading this as I love history and I love a good historical fiction book and it didn’t disappoint. The story unfolded gradually in a softly, softly manner but it didn’t feel slow or chore like. Surprisingly I liked Cora Burns very much though I can’t say that I liked many of her actions. The descriptions of the gaol, asylum and workhouse were very believable and at times I felt like I was a fly on the wall.

Many thanks go to No Exit Press and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion.

Cora Burns, born to a criminal, a criminal herself finds herself working in the house of Thomas Jerwood who studies the effects of nature versus nurture on people especially a young girl in his care, Violet. Cora carries with her a half medallion which is a mystery. How did she come by it? What does the inscription on it mean?
Set in the late Victorian era this is a novel of intrigue and mystery surrounding Cora's life and origins. Although I found the story slightly difficult to follow due to the convoluted nature of the relationships between all the characters, I still found it an engrossing read. Suitable for readers of Sarah Waters and Laura Purcell, this is a gothic novel with a realistic feel to it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book as I have a strange interest in quack medicine. I have previously read The Observations, The Nature of Monsters and Octavian Nothing, which all share similarities with this novel (I'm trying to avoid spoilers here!) The asylum and prison settings are also similar to Affinity, Alias Grace, and The Corset, and I was often reminded of the tv series The Mill, which follows an orphan raised in an Industrial Revolution-era factory. There isn't much I can discuss here without spoilering the plot, which features lots of twists and red herrings. I was left feeling uneasy at the end of the novel, as the author leaves it to the reader to decide whether the protagonist's past deeds have been redeemed by her subsequent sacrifices. There are a number of characters I would have liked to have learned more about, including the doctor whose journal entries are scattered throughout the book, and the 'missus', who spends most of the book drugged and confined to her room. I would have also liked to have learned more about Cook's history (hinted at during her conversations with Cora) and perhaps the other children and staff who knew Cora and her 'best friend' Alice. I don't usually like ambiguous novels that fail to resolve all the 'loose threads' (which I why I usually avoid reading mysteries!) but I liked this novel's almost supernatural tone.and historical setting. I would like to read more books by this author in the future.

I was drawn to this due to the Birmingham historical setting and the intriguing subject matter. The age old nature/nurture debate is drawn in a different way through the story of Cora and those close to her. The book is dark and creepy in places with a real sense of place. However I did feel the ending was a little rushed.

There are some interesting topics going on in this book. Though it is historical and we know now how things happened back then it still gives some food for thought. Pregnant inmates and how to deal with their kids? The heredity of criminal behaviour and if facial characteristics stand for a type of criminal. It is something that sounds scary with the current knowledge on these topics but it did make me think about things.
It is difficult to get a hold on Cora. It is clear there are a lot of things going on that she is trying to get a grip on but her train of thought is not always easy to follow. Partly understandable due to her past but there are some things lingering too that are never revealed which left me a bit unsatisfied.
The build up of the story does not work help with this either. There is Cora her story, told in current time and flashbacks but if you do not read the chapter headings carefully it is not always clear if it is a now or than part. The journal entries by some other players in the story do not always seem to fit in the timeline that Cora her story seems to be in. In the end the different story lines do come together.

After her release from Birmingham Gaol, Cora Burns has nothing except the promise of a job working as a maid in a country house. Cora has been institutionalised for her entire life, living in the workhouse, working in the asylum and then jailed, Cora blames her friend Alice for the crimes she has apparently committed. At The Larches she discovers that the master is a scientist who can be very manipulative, the mistress is a deranged woman and that, actually, Cora is a good worker. However when she discovers something about the master's research she also discovers something about her past and suddenly Cora has a chance for a future.
As a debut novel this is very impressive. I found Cora an interesting character and liked the links with photography and amateur psychology. Less well-developed was the idea of Cora as a schizophrenic, all the signs were there but this part of the story didn't seem to go anywhere. As a novel about the poor in the Midlands of mid-Victorian Britain the tale is well-researched and different. A strong debut novel from a writer to watch.

What an utter delight! One of the few books I’ve steam-powered through only to start again at the beginning. This to relish all the twists, turns, red herrings and cliff hangers interspersed with the delicious and teasing resolution of various enigmas. If you enjoy a Victorian yarn involving a poorhouse, a mental asylum and a gaol, you will love this.
Cora Burns spent time in all three of them before she is employed as a “between maid” in the household of Thomas Jerwood on the outskirts of Birmingham. His research is about the then popular theories of “nature versus nurture” in the upbringing of children. But has his desire for research or fame made him go into ethically dubious territory?
Extraordinary talent, cannot wait for the next Kirby. Thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyable!

This book started off innocently enough but not all was it seemed with flashbacks to previous years to help put pieces of the jigsaw together. There were some happy moments but also some very sad and dark ones, with some shocking ones thrown in to make the reader wonder did they read it right.
The ending was predictable enough but an enjoyable read.
I kindly received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an impartial review.
#CoraBurns #NetGalley

I recently read a nonfiction book which gave an account of mental asylums in the 19th century and, by chance, The Conviction of Cora Burns was a fascinating tale which sits well with the whole sad story of Victorian prisons, workhouses and asylums.

I didn’t warm to the central character, but nevertheless found her story totally compelling. It works as a story, but explores numerous themes particularly around nature or nurture being the strongest influence. Carolyn Kirby has depicted the time really well; there’s a strong sense of social divide and whole sectors of the community marginalised by circumstances. I was amazed to find this is a debut. Although a work of fiction, it feels very real and clearly reflects significant research. I would say Carolyn is a born storyteller and really look forward to future work from this new talent.

My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.

An interesting tale that explores the deep seated need for family in us all and the consequences of searching for those connections. I really wanted to like this story as I have family connections to the area and, like Cora, am always searching to better understand my past. The story is quite entertaining but is ultimately quite superficial with lots of convenient coincidences. I would have liked more description of the scenes and characters to be able to feel more connected to the events and the people experiencing them. I did like the fact that it makes one realise how easy it is for ignorance and neglect to shape the lives of all of us. I think this is still an important lesson today, let alone for those poor women who were seen as usable and expendable by society in Victorian times.

The Conviction of Cora Burns really came into it's own in the second half of the novel. Some parts of the book were extremely hard reading for me as a mother to a young boy. Borderline distressing. I can't say I felt all that connected to Cora as a character. However it was a decent read and an interesting take on how nature/nurture can play a part on behaviours and character.

From the moment of her birth in the opening pages, Cora’s narrative voice is both distinctive and compelling. A compulsively readable, Gothic-infused Victorian novel which gripped me from start to finish.

I really enjoyed this book and especially the parallel stories of the present and the past for the lead character, Cora.

I loved the way that she came to work and the colleagues she worked with and the relationships they have.

Violet has to be one of my favourite character and the eventual family history we found out about was fascinating.

I read this really fast and found the history we were given really interesting.

BOOK REVIEW (SPOILERS)
5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Conviction of Cora Burns is a fascinating & original story based on the age old concept of 'nature' vs 'nurture'. Set in Victorian Birmingham, Cora's story begins with her leaving prison & making her way to her new position as an 'inbetween maid' in the household of Thomas Jerwood, a scientist with a penchant for photography. Whilst there she makes many discoveries, about both herself & the others around her. It's a fantastic story that kept me hooked from start to finish, with several clever twists & great characterisation. As you can see from my pic, it was so good I multitasked to finish it quicker!

The narrative flits between Cora's experiences as a maid in the present & her past memories, from the workhouse, to the asylum, to the gaol. This is interspersed with entries from the diary of Dr. Farley, a psychiatrist working at the asylum treating a patient know as 'Mary B', & extracts from a scientific journal written by Jerwood detailing his experiments. I really enjoyed this structure & found it added much more to the story than if it had just been told by Cora. It was a welcome change from the multiple narrators so frequently employed in others novels too & enhanced the sense of historical context.

Cora's character is an interesting one & a great study for the whole nature vs nurture debate; I actually quite liked her & felt that most of her actions were justified. It's difficult to say what you'd do until you're actually in a situation yourself so it's hard to judge her. I was worried when I read some of the other reviews that mentioned the murder of the toddler that there might be too much gratuitous violence but I needn't have as this was dealt with sensitively. I thought her life was fascinating & really personified the awful experience of the poor in Victorian Britain.

Overall, despite my intial concerns that I might not want to carry on with this one, I'm really glad I read this. It's a very well crafted story, with lots of interesting characters. I particularly liked the ending & found it be satisfying on most counts. I look forward to Kirby's next offering & highly recommend this!

I was sent a copy of The Conviction of Cora Burns by Carolyn Kirby to read and review by NetGalley.
Set in the late 1800s this story is a carefully woven study into the relationship between nature and nurture and how this can affect the human psyche in particular. The main protagonist is Cora Burns who was born in gaol and spent her formative years in the workhouse and we follow her story from both her adult and child perspectives. An evocative and interesting story The Conviction of Cora Burns is well written and quite engrossing. I definitely recommend it to those who like a good historical novel with a hint of mystery