This wasn’t a story that takes place in ballrooms but in dark areas of Vauxhall and seedier streets in London. I did like the character of Caroline, she was very determined to find the culprit. She was also a believer in freedom for women and she also has a problem of her own. Caroline’s family are affluent bankers and they know people in high places. Peregrine Child, a thief taker is employed by Caroline to discover the murderer. Although Caroline is taking an active part herself. Child is quite a character and has a number of secrets himself. This was a story that will keep you reading to discover the murderer, I did feel it was just too drawn out and although the culprit was discovered, Caroline’s problem wasn’t solved so I’m assuming that there will be more to come. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In my review of Laura Shepherd-Robinson’s first book, Blood & Sugar, I recall mentioning how good it would have been for Caroline, wife of the novel’s protagonist Harry Corsham, to have had a bigger role. And do you know what, in Daughters of Night I got my wish!

Teaming up with thief-taker, Peregrine Child, Caroline – known as ‘Caro’ – sets out to investigate the death of the woman she believed to be an Italian Countess but whose real identity was somewhat different. They make a great partnership with Peregrine especially admiring of Caro’s questioning skills, likening it to ‘having Torquemada on your team’. What their enquiries reveal is that firstly, no-one in authority particularly cares about solving the murder and secondly, there are those who definitely do not want any light shone on their activities. Despite the risks to their reputations (such as remain), to their lives and those of their loved ones, Peregrine and Caro press on with their investigation, uncovering some very sordid secrets in the process. Despite pressure from her family, Caro remains defiant to the end, managing to bring about her revenge on the culprits in her own way.

Daughters of Night positively oozes period atmosphere, transporting the reader from the bowers and pathways of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens to the taverns, coffee-houses and “fleshpots” of Covent Garden. It was fascinating to discover the existence of things such as ‘Puss and Mew’ shops (illegal gin shops) and mixed doubles boxing matches. Equally fascinating, but rather more distasteful, was learning about the varieties of brothels that existed in Georgian London including ‘posture houses’ where girls posed naked and ‘tableaux houses’ where young girls acted out classical scenes before audiences of men, often in order to solicit bids for their virginity. The book reveals there existed a hierarchy of prostitutes with those at the top of their ‘profession’ becoming celebrities of their day.

Daughters of Night is another hugely impressive historical crime novel from the pen of Laura Shepherd-Robinson. Its intricate plot, with its twists and turns, kept me glued to the book until the final page. And was it my imagination or were Caro’s closing thoughts a nod to those of another famous literary heroine, Scarlett O’Hara? “There will be a plan, she told herself. I just haven’t thought of it yet. Let tomorrow bring what it will bring.” I’m sure I’m not the only reader keen to find out what tomorrow does bring for Caro. Although Laura has revealed her next novel will be a standalone historical mystery, she also hasn’t ruled out a return for Harry and Caro at some point. Fingers crossed from this reader

Absolutely loved this! With grateful thanks to pan Macmillan and Netgalley for a pre publication digital copy in return for an honest review. Although Shepherd- Robinson has achieved great success with Blood and Sugar I was unfamiliar with her writing and had missed Peregrine Child’s first outing. However, this did not affect my reading of Daughters of the Night. I was instantly transported back to the late 1700s, and immersed In a plot centred around the murder of a young woman. The novel is rich in historical observation and detail and I found this absolutely fascinating and clearly well researched. The story is carefully paced and anticipation deftly established and sustained throughout. In part this is achieved by switching the narrative between Caro and Peregrine Child as they follow separate leads which are paused as the story passes ftom one to the other. I loved the character of Peregrine Child - deeply human and greatly flawed, stumbling around trying to fulfil the task he has been set for his own self preservation. Employed by Caro to investigate the murder, Child does not always inspire the confidence he is due according to Caro’s husband. However, we learn more about the demons that beset him and the evil forces which thwart his good intentions. On one level this is an 18th century detective story with detective and sidekick, but it’s also a social study of historical, physical, emotional and economic abuse of women. I was gripped from the start and thoroughly enjoyed the read. Every so often you encounter a character who jumps out of the novel you are reading and lingers outside its pages - Peregrine Child was one such character and I hope he will return.

Daughters of Night takes us right into the hidden and, it must be said, rather unpleasant underbelly of Georgian society, for this is not the world of polite soirées and decorous salons, but rather its focus is more in the shadowy places of London where link-boys light your way to places where five guinea whores ply their trade under cover of darkness.

For Caro Corsham, the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens holds no interest for on this night in August 1782 she is meeting someone who she hopes will have a solution to a dilemma, however, Caro is little prepared for what awaits her in the discreet bower normally reserved for those clandestine meetings of a more intimate nature. Instead of the answer she seeks, Caro finds instead a fatally wounded young woman, and it is this macabre discovery which opens up a scandalous mystery and which leads Caro into a dark and dangerous world filled with treachery, duplicity and deceit.

Taking us firmly by the hand, Daughters of Night strides forcefully through the mean and moody streets of Georgian London and with gritty authenticity throws us headlong into the shady world of Peregrine Child, the thief-taker who, employed by Caro, seeks solutions to questions no-one wants to answer, and in the process opens up the secretive world of female sexploitation.

Totalling authentic and gloriously described, Daughters of Night has all the necessary elements for a clever murder/mystery, and yet it is so much more than a simple whodunit. It’s more of a thrilling ride through the hotchpotch of Georgian society, from the violent underclass of prostitution, to the intriguing world of art and politics, from shady money-lenders, to the raucous cries of the prostitutes who frequent the Whore's Club, there is never a moment when the story doesn't draw you into its vast and murky depths.

Those who have read this author's debut book, Blood & Sugar, will already be aware of just how good she is at recreating the dark side of Georgian England. Daughters of Night continues this theme in a highly entertaining, meticulously researched, historical thriller by an author who is absolutely at the top of her game.

Daughters of Night by Laura Shepherd-Robinson

It is 1782 in London and Caroline (Caro) Corsham desperately waits for her husband Captain Harry Corsham to return from France where he has been for too many weeks. Caro amuses herself in the meantime by visits to Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens and it is there that she horrifyingly comes across a friend, Lady Lucia, an Italian aristocrat, who has been attacked and dies in Caro’s arms. There are more shocks to come. Caro discovers that Lucia wasn’t Italian or an aristocrat, she was a prostitute known as Lucy Loveless. The police have no interest in hunting for the killer of such a woman and so Caro takes it upon herself to avenge this young woman, hiring thief taker Peregrine Child to lead the investigation. But what a world it is that Caro and Child discover as they become immersed in a London society that values paintings and classical sculptures far more than it does the women it craves.

Daughters of Night is one of my most anticipated novels on 2021 and how could it not be when it follows the superb debut Blood & Sugar? My impatience hasn’t been helped by the repeated delays in publication date due to You Know What. But now it is here and it is every bit as marvellous, and as clever, as its predecessor. There is a link – Caro is the wife of our previous main character Harry (who is largely in the wings for this novel) – but otherwise Daughters of Night stands alone very well. But I also think that the two novels complement each other brilliantly.

In Blood & Sugar Laura Shepherd-Robinson tackled the monster that is Slavery, focusing on the men and women, free and enslaved, of Deptford. In Daughters of Night, the author turns to the place of women in a Georgian society that believes itself cultured, refined and well-educated, largely thanks to its immersion in the classical past and its looted works of art. Caro is an unusual woman (you’ll have to read the novel to find out exactly why) and is largely at the mercy of her brothers while her husband is absent. She seems independent but we see how untrue that is as the novel continues. But while Caro is the main character she isn’t the only woman who matters very much in Daughters of Night. We follow the story of Pamela, a young girl who falls into prostitution and has her real name taken from her. Pamela’s very interesting. She regards prostitution as an escape from her previous life and she grabs what chances she can. She’s not always likable, far from it, but we care for her. And then there’s the powerful story of Lucy Loveless. We also meet wives and daughters and lovers of other men. There are so many secrets, so many lies and, for some, so little love.

Daughters of Night is a complex novel in some ways, while being always accessible and engrossing. It has many layers and it’s Caro and Child who unravel them. I loved the role of art in the book, how a famous artist would use a prostitute as his model for a goddess. These women are both muse and prey. There is so much artifice and hypocrisy. We see the men in the studio, in their clubs, in brothels, in their drawing rooms, with their creditors and in their hunting fields. It is through the character of Child that we’re given deeper access into this world.

It’s an involving story with a wealth of characters moving through the pages. I listened to the audiobook, which is marvellously narrated by Lucy Scott (well known for her depiction of Charlotte Lucas in the BBC production of Pride and Prejudice) who brings these people to life, both female and male. But, whatever the format you choose (and it is a gorgeous hardback!), it’s engrossing and full of historical details that place the reader firmly in Georgian London, a place both gorgeous and squalid, with its (male) predilection for classical culture, for collecting women and for controlling them, even owning them.

Laura Shepherd-Robinson writes so beautifully and her characters are astonishingly varied and real. It’s a long book and I’m glad of it. I can’t wait for more. An early contender for my top book of 2021.

Other review
Blood & Sugar

I don’t often pick up historical mysteries so I was nervous going into this one, but wow was it intriguing! I was so captivated from the very start and I fell further and further into the plot with every twist and turn. I thought the pacing was so beautifully done - everything was revealed at the perfect time and kept me on the edge of my seat.

The plot itself was very detailed and intriguing, with the atmosphere Shepherd-Robinson created being such a poignant part of the novel. I really felt that I was in that time period and I loved every second of it. I also connected a lot to the characters, which to me is a big plus within a novel and I enjoyed my time with them. However, there were quite a lot of them and I kept getting confused -- I think that was definitely more of a me issue though! Overall, it was such a fun, intriguing, and fast read that held my attention from start to finish. I would highly recommend picking it up!

As per most of the books I read, I was attracted to this one because of the gorgeous cover and intriguing title. I also love reading historical fiction, particularly stories set in Georgian times.

London, 1782. Desperate for her politician husband to return home from France, Caroline 'Caro' Corsham finds a well-dressed woman mortally wounded in the bowers of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. Her last words are "He knows". The Bow Street constables are swift to act, until they discover that the deceased woman was a highly-paid prostitute, but Caro has motives of her own for wanting to see justice done, and so sets out to solve the crime herself.

Before I started reading Daughters of Night, I discovered that the author had written a 'companion' book called Blood and Sugar, about the slave trade, so I read that first. The two books are not part of a series, but they feature some of the same characters. Blood and Sugar features Caro's husband, Captain Harry Corsham as the main character. In this story, it is Caro who takes centre stage.

Daughters of Night works on two levels: s an incredibly detailed look at the double-standards of the Georgian aristocracy - basically, do what you like provided you don't get caught - and also a deliciously twisty murder mystery. I thought I had worked everything out but the identity of the murderer took me completely by surprise. Another theme is the lack of power that women had in those days. Their wealth and property became their husbands as soon as they married. This is brought home to Caro when her brother cuts off her funding after she fails to do as she's told. She even begins to wonder if prostitutes, despite the obvious drawbacks to their lives, are far more free than she will ever be.

I can thoroughly recommended both books to anyone who enjoys a cracking good mystery, and for fans of authors such as Andrew Taylor and Antonia Hodgson.



Thank you to Laura Shepherd-Robinson and Mantle (Pan Macmillan) for my copy of this book, which I requested via NetGalley and reviewed voluntarily.

Circumstances have meant it had taken me longer to get to this book than I expected, but once I have read it I will add my review to Instagram, goodreads and Amazon.

Daughters of Night is Shepherd-Robinson’s sophomore work of historical crime, and although not strictly part of a series it does feature some old friends and figures from Blood & Sugar. It is an exquisitely plotted and penned murder mystery set against the rich and deceptively prim and proper facade that soon gives way to the seedy backdrop of Georgian England. It's 1782 in Georgian London and Caroline ”Caro” Corsham, esteemed wife of Captain Henry ”Harry” Corsham, a former war hero who is now a renowned parliamentarian, is the lone parent caring for their infant son, Gabriel. This is due to Harry being presently abroad in France serving on Mr Hartley’s diplomatic mission to Versailles. Caro tries to keep herself out of the path of trouble but unfortunately, it seems to enjoy her company resulting in the unexpected kerfuffle and predicament she is about to find herself in. She attends the opening night of Jacobus Agnetti’s exhibition of classical scenes at the Rotunda, and half of London society had turned out. Distractedly, Caro greets people she knew: allies of her husband in the House of Commons; clients of the Craven bank; rival beauties, solicitous matrons, admiring gentlemen. The location is The Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, one of the leading venues for public entertainment in London from the mid-17th century, and where she hears the whispered last words of friend Italian Lady Lucia having stumbled upon her brutalised body in the bowers of the building. Why would she utter the words ”he knows” right before she expires unless it somehow pointed to the guilty party?

Initially, the case is taken on by Bow Street constables under the mistaken belief, alongside Caro’s, that the victim was a noblewoman like herself. But when, much to the surprise of all involved, it is discovered that she was in fact a high-class prostitute known by the pseudonym Lucy Loveless, the police become completely disinterested and drop the case faster than you can say ”discrimination”. Caro, however, refuses to let this stand and decides to try to right this huge injustice by beginning her own investigation, however, she doesn't bargain for the targeted harassment and outrage she receives from both the men who hired Lucy’s services in the past and the wider public. Despite these instances making her job tougher and with some in society hurling insults and threats as a method to get her to drop the inquiry, can Caro stick to her guns and claim justice for the slaying of her friend? This is a riveting, richly-imagined and captivating historical epic with a complex, exquisitely conceived and accurately-researched plot set against the sights, sounds and smells of centuries-old inner-city London. It's a cerebral and scintillating read that is not only an enthralling murder mystery but that is also deftly woven through with some of the most prominent social, economic and political issues of the time, including the class system distinctions, poverty, a vast criminal underworld, prostitution, prejudice and corruption, with the sex trade being big business where women are treated as less than human. An immersive, intelligent and deeply atmospheric read full of suspense and tension in which the cast, time and place come vibrantly alive before your eyes. Historical crime doesn't come any finer than this. Highly recommended.

Daughters of Night is the latest historical murder mystery novel from Laura Shepherd-Robinson, and is a loose sequel to her first book, Blood and Sugar.

Set in London in 1782, the story follows Caroline (Caro) Corsham, the wife of the lead character in the previous book, who is given centre stage here. With her husband Henry away on important business Caroline finds herself in a web of danger when she discovers a woman dying in the bowers of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. Caroline is there to comfort the woman in hr dying moment, as she bleeds to death from several wounds, and hears her last words 'he knows'. Caroline believed the woman to be a wealthy Italian countess she had met a few times years before, but when it is revealed to her that she was actually a sex worker named Lucy Loveless, and that because of who she is no investigation will be made, Caroline sets out to find the killer herself.

She employs the help of a thief-taker called Peregrine Child, who her husband spoke highly of. Together, the two of them begin investigating into Lucy's murder, an investigation that will lead them to the brothels of London, a secret society, a master artist, and a conspiracy that could topple the entire country. With Caroline facing threats on all sides, and discovering that her recent affair has led to her becoming pregnant, she has to decide how far she wants to take this investigation, even if it means that she could lose everything.

I've read a few historical mystery books in my time, but this is one of the few that I've read that takes place within Georgian London, an era that seems to get overlooked. Despite being unfamiliar with this era beyond the basic knowledge of the style of dress and the gin craze Laura Shepherd-Robinson manages to evoke such a clear sense of this world that I never felt like I was lacking in information. She builds the atmosphere perfectly, providing enough information without overwhelming that you feel like you have a strong picture of what this old version of London looks like, as well as the people who inhabit it.

That being said, the people are where the book really excels, and Shephard-Robinson manages to create a wonderfully varied, and expansive cast of characters. Whether it's people we spend a lot of time with like Caro and Child, those we begin to suspect of the murder, or people we see only the once over the course of the investigation, these people feel very real and well crafted. It would be easy to make caricatures of some of these people, they're from a very different time to ours, with very different societal norms, and it would be easy to paint all the sex workers as the same, or as one dimensional; instead, they get personalities, motivations, and dynamics that vary. They get treated like real people who you can empathise with and whose motivations you understand. Considering some writers fail to see any kind of sex workers as real people the fact that the author breathes so much life and personality in to so many here, and ones from hundreds of years ago, is a truly pleasant surprise.

We also get some good insight into the inner workings of 'higher' society of the era too, and get to see that despite some people being assumed to be 'betters' simply because they have wealth and a title they can be worse than those who have nothing. The book plays with expectations on class and station in ways that I wasn't expecting. Even those who aren't connected to the crimes who hold high positions are shown to be flawed, greedy, and ruthless, whilst those who have to live in squalor, who are looked down on by 'good' society have compassion and caring, and choose to do the right thing. Much like with the portrayal of the sex workers, it would have been easy to fall into easy stereotypes here, yet the author instead chooses to paint a much more balanced and truthful depiction of society.

The central mystery is what really sells the book though, and it has some wonderful twists and turns to it. There was more than once that I thought I'd come across the right answer, or had figured out an important part of the mystery, only to find out that I was wrong. Even right until the end when I thought everything had been revealed Shepherd-Robinson managed to throw some final revelations and unexpected moments in that I never felt like I could let my guard down. It tested my deductive powers in a lot of fun ways, and that's something not every mystery novel can say with confidence.

Whether you're a fan of historical mystery or not, and whether you've much experience in this setting Daughters of Night is a book that will hook you quickly, take you on a journey with unexpected twists and turns, and provide you with a compelling group of characters. An absolutely wonderful experience to read.

Thank you to Netgalley, Pan Macmillan and Laura Shepherd-Robinson for my arc of Daughters of Night in exchange for an honest review.
Published: 18th February 2021

Daughters of Night is the second novel by the wonderful Laura Shepherd-Robinson and a loose sequel of her first novel Blood & Sugar. Daughters of Night follows the story of Caro wife of Harry Corsham from the first book and her own historical murder investigation.
Caro is desperate for Harry to return home from a political stay in France, anxiety High already, when she finds the body of a noblewoman in the pleasure gardens at Vauxhall, the police act fast to find her killer, until they discover she is a prostitute and stop caring. Caro thought the woman a friend and determined to seek justice for her, embarks on her own investigation enlisting the help of a thief taker named Peregrine Child who readers of Blood & Sugar will remember from Deptford. But finding the killer in a society held together by secrets, lies and debauchery their investigation leads only to danger....

I really enjoyed the first book last year when I listened to it on audio and I really enjoyed this one too. Caro was a difficult character to like in the first book from Harry's perspective but Daughters of Night allowed her to come into her own giving the readers an insight into what life is like for her and her perspective on her marriage to Harry.
The investigation was the perfect blend of twists and turns, secrets and lies and a wonderful insight into the underbelly of Georgian society, I even found out some fun facts about pineapples!
If you're a fan of historical fiction and particularly historical mystery then I would definitely recommend this book. Shepherd-Robinson's writing is beautiful, descriptive and clearly very well researched. Fantastic, I'm really glad the book was left open ended enough to suggest a third, I can't wait!

"Daughters of Night" by Laura Shepherd-Robinson is a historical thriller set in the Georgian era, in which Mrs Caro Corsham, known to the observant reader from the previous novel “Blood & Sugar”, seeks to discover the murderer of the prostitute who died in her arms. The officials are not interested in meting out justice, but Caro is determined, stubborn and affluent enough to pursue the killer. But she is also a woman, and her actions will be looked up, judged and condemned if she is not careful. And she is hiding a secret that could ruin her. With the help of a hired thief taker, Peregrine Child, Caro searches for clues and answers, which could endanger herself and others around her.
From the very first page the author transports us to beautifully researched and described Georgian London, full of smells, colours and sounds, where some live in luxury, whereas others tread a fine line between a modest living and destitution. The main character of the novel is a woman – and it is a voice of women that is heard through the book, instead of the usual male characters. We meet ladies of the ton and prostitutes crowding the streets, brothels and pleasure gardens of Vauxhall. We get to see their lives, choices they make, and the fate they face if they do not comply to the expectations of society.
In the heart of the story there is a murder, neatly constructed and delivered, full of twists and surprises. Towards the end of the book there is perhaps a bit too much going on, as the author is trying to tie together all the loose ends, but I really enjoyed the book and its conclusion.

A dark, mysterious and sinister historical fiction thriller...the novel begins with a whispered cryptic secret... ‘he knows’,

When Caro, a lady of Georgian society, discovers a murdered body and being secretly indebted to the victim, whilst the authorities turn a blind eye, she decides to investigate the murder herself utilising the services of an ex magistrate, Peregrine Child.

I didn’t feel particularly endeared towards either of the central protagonists, and felt that at the start of the novel I was distracted by the few too many characters to truly follow or engage with.

There are many twists and turns, and Shepherd-Robinson is ambitious with her original and engaging plot. I think it had a lot of potential...but honestly, I couldn’t help but feel that she took a little too much on for just one novel...and at times felt frustrated with the sub-plots within sub-plots that meant that everything was lacking in impact or shock.

The novel isn’t short, and felt like a commitment as too much to read in one sitting...but with the number of twists and characters to follow, it also isn’t easy to pick up again after a break. I think the first half could’ve been at least halved in length to make for a more engaging, page-turning and impactful read.

It should be of no surprise given the victim was discovered to be a lady of the night, that brothels, and sexual desire play a big part in this novel...but again, I did think it was a little stereotyped and overplayed, and found the constant referencing tedious.

I will add trigger warnings for sexual assault (including that of children), mental and physical abuse, abortion and suicidal thoughts and actions.

I did appreciate the originality of plot, and would recommend it for fans of historical fiction and thrillers...but just feel the thriller and mystery elements of the book could have been strengthened with fewer pages, characters and plot lines. With a few adjustments, I could see this novel having huge potential to be worked into an incredible screenplay.

I would like to thank Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for an eARC of this novel.

Having loved Blood & Sugar I was happy to meet up again with plucky Caro Corsham. Captain Corsham is away on Government business in France and Caro is missing him badly. She meets a new friend Lucia, through her brother and she's bright and engaging. They arrange to meet up and Caro find her dying in the bowers of Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens and as she dies says to her "he knows". It turns out Lucia was not the lady she made out herself to be and the Constables wash their hands of their search for the murderer pretty quickly.

Caro can't let it go and employs a Thief Taker, Mr Child to help her investigate the case. What follows is a twisty and dangerous chase which puts Caro and Child in danger. The Men's Club close their ranks and The Whores Club seemingly disinterested in helping with any enquiries.

Caro puts herself in danger several times, finds out who she can trust and realises personally things cannot stay the same. I found I was totally engrossed in not only the story but totally in the time and place. The story is so richly drawn and meticulously researched. I absolutely loved it. Go Caro!

I haven't read the authors previous book, but this stood alone quite happily. It is an historical, murderous tale that will have you rooting for the lady detective. It was a little overlong but the
characters are brilliant.

My rating for this book falls between 3 and 4 stars but is easily rounded up to 4. The plot follows Caro Corsham, a member of Georgian London Society as she tries to find the murderer of a prostitute with the help of a thief-taker named Child. From this, a tangled web of secrets emerges that even Caro herself is caught in and her search for the murderer leads her into danger.

The writing and the rich detail this book contains is honestly amazing, I could envision each scene with ease and felt fully engaged with the dialogue and setting. I also felt the characters were all very fleshed out and all had their own personalities and you ended up feeling very involved with their lives and stories. However, this did mean I ended up reading 40 pages and feeling like I'd read 140 and it did leave me feeling rather drained. It's definitely not a book to enter into for a light read, it becomes very consuming.

As I write spoiler-free reviews, I'm not going to go into too much detail regarding the plot but I will say the ending felt like a let down for me, the story had so many possibilities but I felt the ending was somewhat obvious. The last few pages for me were even worse, though this was less to do with the main plot and more to do with Caro. It all left me feeling exhausted and a bit angry at the very end.

Obviously, my dislike of the ending is a personal thing and overall I do recommend this book. Shepherd-Robinson is a hugely talented writer and I fully admire the level of research that has gone into the background and plot.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in return for a review.
I thoroughly enjoyed Laura Shepherd-Robinson's first novel Blood and Sugar so I was excited to receive an ARC of her second novel Daughters of the Night. If possible I enjoyed this novel even more than the first one.
The main character is Caroline "Caro" Corsham, the wife of Harry Corsham who featured so prominently in Blood & Sugar. Caro is to meet her new friend Italian noblewoman Lucia in the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens but instead finds her bleeding to death in one of the private bowers. Her last words to Caro are "he knows" but who is he and what does he know? The Bow Street constables are anxious to solve the murder until they discover that the victim is actually a highly paid prostitute. Desperate to find the murderer Caro employs the irascible Peregrine Child to help.
Daughters of the Night is fastpaced from the beginning but is no ordinary historical murder/mystery.. It is a layered and immaculately researched book that explores the hyprocisy of society towards women regardless of whether they are born aristocrats or poor. Caro's search for a murderer leads her into danger and the discovery of a secret that maybe she wishes she had not uncovered.
The depiction of the Whore's Club and the list of the most sought after whores in London was fascinating to learn about. Also the fact that in late 18th century London 1 in 5 women earned their living through prostitution. Women may have not had much autonomy or power but they learned to use what they did have to their advantage.
The plot of the novel is dense with twists and blind alleys and keeps you reading long after sleep calls. As a character Caro Corsham should be unlikeable but we are shown her character by the author and while we may not approve of some of her actions her persistence in tracking down a vicious murderer and a men's club who think they are above criticism is admirable. Not all heroines wear capes except in this setting they do!
I highly recommend Daughters of the Night.

You absolutely do not have to have read Laura Shepherd Robinson’s previous book, Blood and Sugar, but you will love it if you choose to do so. I liked it so much I read it then bought the audiobook to listen to it again such is the pleasure it offers.

So I was very keen to read Daughters of Night; so much so that this time I went straight to the audiobook. And I was utterly thrilled by it. Captain Harry Corsham was the central protagonist in Blood and Sugar. Now he is away in France on Government business and it is his wife, Caroline Corsham who takes centre stage in this rich and fabulous book.

It’s tiring for Caro being left alone in London with no-one to squire her around all the pleasures that London society has to offer. Set in 1782, when the American Civil war was raging, Daughters of Night is a beautifully rich tale of two societies and a fascinating exposition of how women were viewed at the time. Shepherd-Robinson’s prose is an absolute delight. Her storytelling is rich and sumptuous and she writes in such a descriptive way that you can picture everything as if you were there and sometimes even experience the deeply pungent smells of the streets.

As the book opens, Caro is in Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens at night in search of her friend the Italian Countess, Lady Lucia whom she has met through her brother, Ambrose. Caro has arranged to meet Lucia because Lucia has promised to assist her with a problem that Caro cannot manage herself.

But when Caro reached the bower that is their pre-arranged meeting place, she finds Lucia dying, bleeding from numerous from stab wounds. Her dying words are “He knows…”

Utterly distraught, Caro presses the Bow Street Constables to pursue Lucia’s murderer, but when it is revealed that Lucia is not an Italian Countess, but a prostitute named Lucy Loveless, their concern to identify the perpetrator disappears like snow off a dyke.

But Caro is not so easily dismissed. Whether Lucy or Lucia, the woman was a friend and Caro is determined to see justice done. And so begins an investigation into the morals and mores of Georgian Society and the London ton with its political secrets and influences, the secret clubs, the scandals and above all the rank hypocrisy of the monied and titled classes.

Caro has to find her way through the beau monde of Georgian Society at the same time as she is learning about how the poorest women end up in prostitution. To help her navigate the yawning class divide she employs the services of a thief taker, Peregrine Child (who also appears in Blood and Sugar) to help her investigations.

This is such a rich and layered story it is hard to do it justice. An absolutely compelling historical novel, with a fascinating and deeply twisty and surprising murder mystery at its heart, it is also a beautifully explored exposé of the treatment of women and especially of the sex trade; of the double standards employed by men and of how they subjugated women at every turn and of the yawning gulf between the classes. (Some things never change). Laura Shepherd Robinson’s use of language is robust and rings out loud and clear with verisimilitude, endowing her prose with another layer of sumptuous authenticity.

The characters here very much become people you care about, so much so that when one of them lets Caro down badly, you feel both their pain and so hurt that Caro puts her trust in someone who is not in the end worthy.

Exposing the vile and corrupted sex trade she also shows the resourcefulness of women and the strength they show in the face of adversity. Caro is one such woman and when all the chips are down she will take a courageous stand on behalf of all women, regardless of the personal cost. She is an early feminist in an age where such a thing is unthinkable.

A word here for the truly stunning narration by Lucy Scott. A narrator can make or break an audiobook and Lucy Scott’s narration is pitch perfect, her silken voice marching the pace and tone of the book perfectly.

Verdict: I adored this book. It’s rich, warm, layered and utterly fascinating. I have absolutely no hesitation in shouting about it from the rooftops. This is how historical fiction should be, drawing you in and making you feel part of that world; caring what happens to the people in it. Bravo!

London, 1782. Desperate for her politician husband to return home from France, Caroline ‘Caro’ Corsham is already in a state of anxiety when she finds a well-dressed woman mortally wounded in the bowers of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. The Bow Street constables are swift to act, until they discover that the deceased woman was a highly paid prostitute, at which point they cease to care entirely. But Caro has motives of her own for wanting to see justice done, and so sets out to solve the crime herself. Enlisting the help of thieftaker Peregrine Child, their inquiry delves into the hidden corners of Georgian society, a world of artifice, deception and secret lives.
This is the first book I’ve read by the author & it certainly won’t be the last. A very well written page turning read. Strong characters & a fast paced story kept me glued to my kindle. There were plenty of red herrings & twists & turns. Not everything is as it seems & I was kept guessing. If you like historical mysteries then I’d recommend giving this a try
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

An engaging tale of murder. Set in Georgian England the story follows Caro as she tries to solve the murder of her friend, even though she is not who she said she was.

This book is quite long winded in parts although the writing is atmospheric and the historical element appears well researched and is certainly interesting.

It did not keep me riveted but an interesting read.