Prepare to be transported to 18th Century, Georgian London in this amazingly atmospheric novel.

Following some of the characters from Laura Shepherd-Robinson’s first novel Blood & Sugar, Daughters of Night mixes Crime with Historical Fiction beautifully. The descriptive narrative is outstanding and I found myself fully immersed from the first page.

Caro finds her friend Lucia dying, and outraged that the murderer might go unpunished, she hires a disgraced magistrate turned thief taker to investigate on her behalf. Strong female characters, secret societies, political machinations and a vivid depiction of Georgian society at all levels, this is a complex and twisty historical murder mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will now look for the previous novel!

Set in 1782 in London, Caroline Corsham sets herself the task of finding the murderer responsible for the person she thought of as a friend but who was in fact a prostitute. She enlists the help of Peregrine Child, a former magistrate now working as a thief-taker.
Laura Shepherd-Robinson has created a fabulous, atmospheric mystery that I found thoroughly engrossing. The attention to historical detail is excellent and well-researched. The plot twists and turns and we are presented with a whole series of baddies. Caroline, herself is a strong, stubborn and courageous character, whilst Child is the flawed but likeable support. It is a well-written book with an excellent pace. There are lots of interwoven plots that keep the reader guessing until the end.
Highly recommended.

I finished this book a couple of days ago and have given it a bit of time to breath, but my feelings haven’t changed. I did enjoy the storyline but just never felt that enthusiastic about it. It wasn’t until very close to the end that I started to want to pick the book up and read more. It just all felt a bit long and slow. For me it was fine, but no more than that, but I can imagine other people may enjoy it. Sorry, I wish I could be more positive.

Unaware that this was the second novel based on the main character I read this historical murder mystery with enjoyment and interest. Based in 18th century Georgian London it interweaves the rich and powerful with the lower end of society in a story of murder, vice and corruption and stands on its own two feet.
A tad too long maybe with a slight dip in the middle but a strong and powerful novel none the less. Torn between 4 and 5 stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Pan MacMilan for this advance copy in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

There are not enough superlatives to describe this book. I have not been this captivated by a novel in years, staying up until I fell asleep holding my Kindle and then waking in the morning and spending the next 4 hours straight, in bed reading. Literally unputdownable.
At first the cast of characters at the front of the book made me worried that it was going to be one of those novels where you have to keep flipping back and forth to remind yourself who is who and who they are linked to in the story.. no easy task on a Kindle but I needn’t have worried. The author’s skills in characterisation are so good that as soon as you meet them, you know them and can’t possibly forget who they are. Caro our brave protagonist and Child her dogged hired thief taker are wonderfully 3 dimensional characters. In their turn repulsive, brave, naive, immoral, kind.
The author has clearly done her research and I love that at the end of the novel she doesn’t just list a bibliography but explains which book she used for which scene, place or character. I was pleased to find out that one book she recommended is one in my ‘to read’ pile. The 18th century is the setting of a few books I’ve read recently but this is the first one to really bring the foetid smells to life. There were times when I actually gagged at some descriptions.
The mystery element of the novel was incredibly well thought out. I love to be an armchair detective and try and beat the characters in figuring out ‘whodunnit’ but I didn’t have a chance with this novel. Just as I was convinced of one characters guilt or innocence she pulled the rug from under my feet and left me scrambling to read on while trying to organise my thoughts. I was most pleased to see that the story seemed to leave the door to Caro and Harry Horsham’s house ajar... another novel to come?

Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an advanced copy to review.
Well Georgette Heyer was never like this when in my romantis teens' I read her Georgian novels. At the time I think with foresight I would have said "Mores the pity".
A well researched earthy look at Britain's social history at a time when not even a circus had a safety net let alone the lower orders of society or those that had fallen from the senior classes.
Laura Shepherd-Robinson, has written a cracking novel with a huge cast (there's even a brief introduction to the main ones at the start of the book. It is a long journey not all of it comfortable and the centre section could do with trimming and maybe some re-writing to keep it fresh but this is a small price for the enjoyment of the rest of this perilous journey.
If you have no knowledge of the period by the end you will you may even feel a little bit itchy :-)
Five stars all the way - I am looking forward to the inv=evitable television serial - I hpoe they don't mess it about too much.

This is as good as it gets in the realms of historical fiction. Blood & Sugar, the debut novel was incredibly accomplished and I was thrilled to receive an arc of this book. Let me tell you, this was just as good. Laura Shepherd-Robinson is one to watch out for: a new tour de force in the historical mystery genre. I learned lots of new facts : pineapples! Mice eyebrows! New favourite author!Put down what youre doing and go and check this author out!

The contours of this novel are meticulous, and the atmosphere produced by Shepherd-Robinson's narrative pulls the reader into the past. I loved the history that this novel uses as its visual background and plot, the sex trade of this period is fascinating and drives the story of a brutal murder in Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens.
This book features characters from the writer's debut novel 'Blood & Sugar' (highly recommended read), and in particular, Caroline Corsham who finds herself embroiled in a terrible crime.
What I love about this book is the depth to the story, which is, at its core a murder mystery, but it's so well researched with themes of: the female in Georgian London , art, representation, poverty, moneylenders, politics, sex and desire and power; it's a great dip into the society of this period, matched with a riveting and meticulously planned investigation.
A feast of flawed characters, hypocrisy. morality and sins. Loved it!

This is the second book by Laura Shepherd - Robinson. The first is called Blood & Sugar which I loved, so jumped at the chance to read this one.
In this book we follow Caroline Corsham - the wife of Harry Corsham (Blood & Sugar) as she discovers the body of a friend Lucia, who has been stabbed multiple times.
The authorities don't seem to be interested in investigating the murder, so Caro hires Peregrin Child - Thief Taker (also Blood & Sugar) to bring the murderer to justice.
As they start to investigate, Caro finds that Lucia was not who she said she was and uncovers more lies and secrets. As as they dig deeper, Caro and Child receive threats.... abandon the investigation or suffer the dire consequences.
Set in hedonistic Georgian London, this book is evocative of the time period.
with intricate plots and complex characters this is a real page turner that will have you glued to your seat.
Thank you Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC.

WOW! I’ve had great pleasure relishing ‘Daughters of Night’. Living within the geographic orbit, I found myself grounded into the intricacies. Weary on behalf of Caro, who is with child - demonstrates an extraordinaire persona, hellbent on defying male dominance in pursuit of justice for Lucy Loveless and Pamela. The wit of a cheetah, she doesn’t rest despite the threats to her life and that of her son. Her once adoration of her brother, Ambrose, sadly forfeits - the terrible truth behind Mr Stones Masquerades. A beautiful novel and absolutely loved (virtually) meeting Caro. I look forward to reading more novels by Laura Shepherd-Robinson.

My thoughts about this brilliant powerful historical crime thriller was brilliant outstanding characters and brilliant story

I really enjoyed this book and it was a pleasure to read. I did not realise that this is the second book in the series that features the main protagonist Caro until I had finished it. It honestly made no difference that I hadn't read the first book. I loved the descriptive prose used in this story and I actually felt that I was walking along with the characters. It is a long book so those that prefer shorter reads made struggle but don't let this put you off as you won't be able to put it down!

The tale begins in 1782 in the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, when Mrs Caroline Corsham the respected wife of politician Harry, discovers Lucia a lady she knows fatally injured. Lucia’s last words “He knows” worries Caroline as she is afraid her secret may be revealed.

Caroline is surprised to hear that her friend Lucia was actually a high class prostitute and that the police are not going to investigate her murder. Caroline hires thief taker Peregrine Child to investigate the poor girls murder, she is lead into the underworld of London whilst trying to catch the murderer.

This is a fascinating, fast paced thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. It really bought Georgian London to life, we saw both sides of life, the living in poverty and doing whatever it takes to survive and the privileged side where money speaks for itself.

If like me you love a mystery, with an historical theme added then this is the book for you.

There are plenty of twists along the way and remember everything is not how it first appears to be!!!

I haven’t read her other book “Blood And Sugar” but will definitely look for it now!!

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

Second book from this author and again a compelling and well researched tale of deception, deceit and intrigue. The plot is well made, however I personally felt it meandered a little at the mid-way point. Keep going though as it picks up again and the ending is well worth the wait. To me it seemed the book was written with a serialisation in mind... hence the mid-part meandering. But this is only a personal comment.

Once again I have finished a book that falls between 4 and 5 stars. I am sticking with 4 stars only because it was slightly overlong and over-complicated. Don't get me wrong, the story was excellently executed and intricately plotted but at times I wondered if I needed a spreadsheet to keep track of all the characters and the threads.

When Mrs Caroline Corsham, the wife of Harry Corsham (her politician husband who is currently away on business in France) discovers a murdered prostitute in Vauxhall Gardens, she begins an investigation of her own. Hiring the thief-taker Peregrine Child to help her, she is led into a world of prostitution, fraud, money-lending, rape, murder and all sorts, while together they attempt to uncover the truth. The descriptions of the goings-on in the underbelly of Georgian London are so well written that we are transported to the filth, excrement and degradation that lie therein. I knew about cock-fighting and bear-baiting but I have now learnt that women skinned dead mice in order to sell their pelts as false eyebrows while 'entertainers' juggled with live mice in Covent Garden. Who would have thought...

But enough about the poor mice (they always get a bad rap) and back to the prostitutes. Lucy Loveless (the murdered girl) and Kitty Carefree have been on the game for years, while Pamela - only 15 years old but as cunning as a barrel load of monkeys - is about to be sold as a virgin at auction. Yes this really did happen. She would be sold to the highest bidder who would have to be a gentleman of some wealth and standing and often married to boot. This is where we meet The Priapus Club, a group of libertine thrill-seekers (I'm being polite here), based loosely on the Hell-Fire Club of the time. At its head is Jonathan Stone, a money-lender who lends above the legal limit of 5% and thereby is the owner of numerous stately homes, antiquaries and a large fortune. Without any care for morality or outcome The Priapus Club 'worshipped' all things supposedly Greco-Roman, but more particularly drunken whoring dressed up as free thinking.

This is a fascinating look at the 'beau monde' of the time, the hypocrisy and double standards, and also at the dreadful lives of the poor and the things many of them had to do in order to survive. Caroline 'Caro' herself has to take unbelievable risks in her pursuit of the truth and she is not about to give up until she finds it. It is at times a tad unbelievable, but always exciting, and heart-stopping when we get near the end. If you love Historical fiction then don't miss this fabulous book, but be warned that the language can be very colourful - Georgette Heyer this ain't.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Having read Blood and Sugar and enjoyed the exploits of Peregrine Child and Harry Corsham I was interested to read Laura Shepherd-Robinson’s follow up. Equally tantalising and full of fascinating characters it kept me enthralled to the end although the continuing story was not easy to follow. We never discovered what had happened between Harry and his wife, sometimes referred to as Caro and other times Mrs Corsham and why someone of her intellect and stoicism should have been attracted to such a man as Lord March! That puzzled me! However, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey and look forward to the next!

I was delighted to be given the opportunity to read and review Daughters of Night by Laura Shepherd-Robinson. It was an absolute pleasure - thank you to #Netgalley, the author and the publishers.
Set in London in the late 18th century, the novel shows the extent of the authors research and historical knowledge without it reading like an academic exercise (as can often be the case in my experience.) The descriptions enabled me to lose myself in the time and place. Nothing was held back - filth and debauchery included. The position of women of all classes was powerfully portrayed, and it left me very thankful to be alive in the 21st century.
I can't fault the plot, the characterisation or the pacing of the book. It was excellent and I will be recommending it to everyone. I didn't want it to end - I felt like returning to the start and beginning the book all over again.
A very clear five stars from me and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
#DaughtersofNight

1782 and two sides of London brought together by murder most foul. A mortally stabbed girl found in Vauxhall Gardens by heroine Caro Corsham turns out to be a high society prostitute, and Caro's friend (although Caro didn't apparently realise her 'trade'). Caro sets out to find the murderer with the help of a thief-taker, Mr Child. They both have a past that they would prefer left in the past and Caro, although a high society lady, still has time for an affair and unwanted pregnancy, husband apparently being off in France or so she believes. Together Caro and Child delve into the seedy side of Regency London with the appalling sex clubs for rich men and penniless girls, accent on the girls at times, the poverty, gambling, gin, generally excesses of all kinds. Well written and well described, both the characters and the locations. There are plenty of twists and turns. It loses a star for me because Caro seems surprisingly naive at one level for who and where she is and there is a certain amount of repetition that's aggravating at times. Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I have just emerged from the world created in Daughters of Night and I am missing it already! Everything I want from historical crime is here in spades - tight plotting, great characters, historical authenticity, twists and turns - and I loved it. To be honest, Georgian England and it's prostitutes and pickpockets, Lords and lechers, is always a favourite period of history for me and although I found the cast list at the beginning a bit daunting, this is a tale well-told. I enjoyed the dual narrative and how we are kept kept in the dark about events until Caro and Child make discoveries. Murder and cruelty abounds but there is also humanity. This is a long book but instead of wishing that some judicious editing had taken place as I often do, I was hooked throughout, page-turning with avengance and shocked or surprised by each twist in the tale. Although the men seem to call all the shots and manipulate and use the women, it is the women who are the stronger characters in the end. Great stuff.