This novel started strongly and enticed me with an interesting voice and a playful wording. I found it atmospheric and different enough to keep me interested. As the novel progressed however, I was searching for some form of connection with the characters, any character, and I just couldn't feel it. I did have problems with the dialogue feeling stiff to me, and I think that was a big contributor to me not connecting.
Eventually had to put it down partway.

I was astounded by this book. More than just an intelligent historical novel, it explores women's roles in a society where their financial circumstances are entirely controlled by men; it looks at bereavement, class, race.. but with such a lightness of touch that the reader's interest is with the two main characters - Angelica (high class courtesan), and (merchant) Jonah. The mermaid of the title is an interesting and rather wonderful presence - as likely (or as unlikely) as a kangaroo to someone from the late 18th Century. . Highly recommended.

It's so hard to explain why this book is so bizarre and yet so fantastic (in both senses of the word). It defies genre and delivers a wholly satisfying story that I couldn't wait to unravel.

It is 1785 and Jonah Hancock, a merchant in London, is living a narrow existence and waiting for news of his ships that are sailing across the world with the cargo that is his livelihood. One of the ship's captains returns with a strange offering, a mermaid, an event which marks the start of Jonah's change in fortune. As he rises in the world by feeding the public's desire to see the mermaid, he crosses paths with Angelica Neal, a beautiful courtesan, and his life changes forever.

The story moves between Jonah's view of events and Angelica's; both are utterly engrossing and introduce the reader to different levels of Georgian society and a whole host of fascinating characters. Although the novel is ostensibly historical fiction, there is also a slightly supernatural element which is interesting. It reminded me of some of Angela Carter's novels ('Nights at the Circus' being a firm favourite of mine) in that there is a grotesque element to some of the writing and the reader is sometimes unsure what is reality and what is illusion.

Overall, I loved this book and would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who loves historical novels (Georgian London is presented in absorbing detail), mystery and intrigue (is the mermaid real?), wonderful characters (Mrs Chappell is delightfully awful) or who just simply want to read a great story. Beautifully written and absolutely engaging.

I thought at first that this was just going to be a romp through the darker corners of late 18th century London - young girls plucked from obscurity and poverty to be trained in the arts of a courtesan, high jinks amongst the aristocracy - but though the early chapters concentrate on this, the novel paints a much more thoughtful and interesting picture than that alone. It gives us a real taste for the times - London on the up and up, expanding as never before, splendidly vital and with so many wonders being brought back from around the world by explorers and merchants. Furnishings, artistic curios, foreign foods, people with exotic hair and skin - who would not believe a mermaid could be found and brought home too? Certainly the Londoners of this novel did and clamoured to see one.

At the heart of the novel is a love story. Two hugely engaging characters, Angelica and Jonah both seek to escape their circumstances and to live the best lives they can. How they come together in a joint commercial and personal venture is a joy to follow, I was rooting for them both from the beginning.

Superbly well written, particularly the dialogue and descriptions. I was particularly struck by the bioluminiscent appearance later in the story - exactly as I imagine a mermaid to be. The author has a terrific way with words and this added so much to the atmosphere she created. Some lovely examples include: a woman’s ‘commodity’; a couple of expressions I shall be trying to fit into everyday use from now on, ‘nebbiting, yepping thingsnitch’ and ‘dandyprat’; and my favourite of all, ‘the blunder of the wind in … chimneys’.

One niggling omission for me - I’d love to know more about how one of the minor characters, Polly, fared, tantalising hints but far too little information there. Hard to say much more without spoiling things for others. I’d recommend this book highly.

This is an absolutely gorgeous read. Lyrical descriptions of a world that encompasses both glittering intrigue and muddy reality; complex, richly drawn characters that you fall in love with; finely and wittily observed social nuances, and all with a meaningful message at its heart that left me feeling genuinely uplifted when I turned the last page. Stunning.