ChrisandSarah Cox
incredible, sweeping layered mysteries in undoubtedly the best Victorian British police procedural mystery ever written. The characters are refreshingly original, complex, and resonant. Victorian-era Whitechapel is a horrific time and place, yet the fullness of the experience of being one of the detectives stalking its streets to one of the many women seeking happiness from their homes, their dreams, or even a one time chance to place chess at a pub -- the descriptions and actions, as well as tge mysterues, pull you into an immersive embrace. The book is flawlessly written in terms of both prose and editing. The stories were so embracing, I must read the book agaib and pray for the next book!
Sylvia Cook
A masterpiece that could have been written just for me I’ve just finished this mammoth book in 5 sittings, but calling it a book is an understatement-it's a second life with its details & sideplots. Michael Averon has done his homework and you can tell he poured his heart into making the sights, sounds and smells of Victorian London return to life. The atmosphere is so thick, coal dust practically pours off the (electronic) page And then there’s the story. There are so many strands that branch off like a giant web, I was convinced the plot would fall apart by the halfway point. But Michael Averon pulls all those strands together at crucial moments, and we’re swept up in the action. There is so much effort that goes into setting-up the twists, this book could easily be adapted into a ten part Netflix drama series. Truly this deserves nothing less than a *Chef’s Kiss* from me In fact, some scenes are so perfect, I found myself laughing along with the characters at times, while at others I was surprised to find tears in my eyes and had to leave my tablet for a while - they were that upsetting. Because where this book really shines is in its characters. In my mind, some of them are more real than actual people that exist. They’re so well-rounded, you really get to care about them, and Averon’s genius is in giving them time on the page to breathe and grow organically (before making them suffer). Seriously, in some parts, it feels like Averon is walking you down a nice ornamental garden before dragging you into an alley to beat you up, rob you of everything you have, then leave you lying in the gutter. Whether it’s John Tanner’s quietly tortured soul, the brash confidence of Lofthouse and his suffering wife, or the heartbreakingly tragic backstory of the Murphy family, you’ll find characters to fall in love with, which only makes the events in the story so upsetting at times. This book is definitely NOT for those going through a rough time – please be warned. That said, I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending this. At around half a million words (I downloaded the pdf to check), it’s an investment, but well worth your time. If you like deep, meaningful stories that leave you feeling hollow at the last page, get this. If you like an expertly-crafted murder mystery that is genuinely captivating, get this. Hell, if you like the Gothic genre with sprinkles of tragic romance and the faintest touch of the supernatural, get this. Because in the gifted hands of Michael Averon, Victorian London still lives, and it's as menacing as ever
