Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Thanks to the publishers, author and Netgalley for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is an intricately woven historical gem centering around a young woman who witnesses the dumping of a corpse on the banks of the Thames and is caught in the hunt for the killer. She embarks on a journey to the Orkney Islands where legends of the Finfolk are part of the tapestry of life. Using her incredible intelligence ad special gift of sight she is able to untangle the threads of this murder, finding her own past history and life is more closely associated with this mystery than she could have imagined.
The harsh, arctic landscape of the Orkney Islands contrasts beautifully with the pungent reality of London in this beautifully told story. The author treats each character with respect and insight. This was a true delight to read and exciting until the very last page.

Moving between London and the Scottish island of Orkney, and opening with a dramatic prologue, The Canary Keeper cleverly incorporates real life events of the time, notably the disappearance of explorer Sir John Franklin, along with his two ships and their crew, while on his last expedition to the Arctic in 1845. The fate of the crew was the subject of much public speculation and debate at the time, including by notable figures of the day. In her author's note, Clare Carson also reveals that Orkney's history provided the inspiration for many of the female characters in the book such as wise woman, Morag, and Stromness shipping merchant, Margaret Skaill.

The crowded streets and dingy alleyways of foggy London - where the 'wealthy and powerful exist cheek by jowl with the rotten and squalid' - and the wild, stormy landscape of Orkney are equally vividly depicted. I liked the way the author gives the reader Birdie's perspective on the contrast between the two places. 'In London the weather feels man-made, the thick frogs dense with soot. Here the elements seem untamed and unpredictable. The air is alive with strange, sharp smells - seaweed and salt. And there is no clanking of cranes or pounding of factory hammers, instead she hears the haunting calls of curlews and the cries of the gulls.' On the other hand, there are sights on Orkney that evoke for her memories of romantic encounters in London.

There are gothic elements in the book such as ghostly apparitions and rumours of witchcraft and flesh-eating monsters. As Birdie observes, 'While Orkney folk tell tales of witches and Finmen, we Londoners entertain ourselves with tales of murderers like Spring Heeled Jack who has horns and blazing eyes and vaults across rooftops in pursuit of his victims.'

Not only does Birdie feel compelled to search for the person responsible for the murder in order to clear her own name but also because she feels some strange, almost otherworldly, link to the victim. It's as if "some inescapable pattern here, some force of fate [is] drawing her together with the murdered man". It certainly explains some of the coincidences that allow Birdie to confirm the victim's identity and come up with a theory as to a possible motive.

The tension builds as Birdie gets closer to finding out what has really been taking place on 'the dark side of the river' - corruption, cruelty and much worse. A shadowy figure emerges as the possible mastermind behind a conspiracy involving those with power and wealth. But is the culprit closer to home than Birdie imagines or has she been wrong all along about who she can trust? Finally, an unexpected revelation presents Birdie with a moral dilemma and a difficult personal choice. (Birdie, I think you made the right one!)

The Canary Keeper is an absorbing mystery with a great sense of period atmosphere and enough twists and turns to keep any historical crime fan satisfied.

A definite change of direction and style from one of my favourite authors, and despite not being a massive reader of historical crime fiction, I enjoyed this book very much indeed. The story traverses between 19th century London and Orkney, and opening with the discovery of a dead man on the fetid shore of the River Thames, Carson immediately places us firmly in the feel and atmosphere of this burgeoning city.

As with her previous series, Carson once again demonstrates her intuitive and precise approach to scene setting, and as we journey with Birdie to the remote reaches of Scotland, as she flees a trumped up murder charge, Carson cleverly draws comparisons between the claustrophobic intensity of le in a teeming city, and that of a small coastal community. Carson also expands the story significantly to draw on the story of the ill-fated journey of William Franklin to Canada and beyond, and having recently read Michael Palin’s book Erebus, about Franklin and his exploration, it was really satisfying to have an overlap in the realms of fiction and fact, demonstrating again Carson’s attention to detail and her skilful interweaving of the plain facts into incredibly readable fiction. Aside from the historical accuracy and sense of time and place, Carson creates in Birdie a truly empathetic and brave protagonist. From the familiar surroundings of her life in London, this determined and feisty girl embarks on a journey of discovery, not only to a completely alien community, but on her own mission to unmask a murderer and clear her name. Again, Carson adroitly mixes a commentary on the patriarchal nature of the time and how women’s lives are defined and shaped by their correlation to such an ardently male society, but cleverly pushes a subtext of how women can escape from, or manipulate this overarching definition of 19th century society. Indeed, the female characters within the book all demonstrate this inner will to defy and challenge the patriarchal norm, and exhibit a strength of character that is to be admired, despite the perilous situation that Birdie amongst others find themselves in.

There is always a slight flicker of tension, but also anticipation when an author you admire decides to travel a different path with their writing. However, my fears were quickly assuaged and Carson has only succeeded further in endearing myself to her writing, her superlative plotting, characterisation, and her innate ability to thoroughly immerse her reader in the world she presents. Highly recommended.

Clare Carson has previously written a trilogy of thrillers (the Sam Coyle trilogy) set in contemporary Orkney. I haven’t read those, but the title and cover of her new novel, The Canary Keeper, caught my attention and when I investigated I found that this one is a historical crime novel, still set in Orkney but during the Victorian period. I love a good Victorian mystery, so of course I had to give it a try.

The story begins in London in 1855, with the body of Tobias Skaill being found dumped in the Thames. Witnesses report seeing the body thrown from a canoe – surely the work of an Esquimaux! The suspect has disappeared without trace, but it seems he may have had an accomplice: Birdie Quinn, a young Irishwoman who was seen walking in the area at the time. We, the reader, know that Birdie is innocent; she had only met Tobias for the first time the day before when he had tried to give her a message. Her presence by the river that night was a coincidence and she has certainly never had any dealings with Esquimaux. But how can she prove her innocence?

Birdie knows that when the law catches up with her, she will hang, so she turns for help to Solomon, a policeman with whom she was recently in a relationship before they went their separate ways. Solomon advises her to get away from London for a while – and with evidence linking the dead man with the Orkney Islands off the north-east coast of Scotland, that is where Birdie decides to head. Can she uncover the truth surrounding Tobias Skaill’s death and identify his killer in time to clear her own name?

The Canary Keeper explores so many interesting ideas and topics. First, there is Orkney itself and the many traditions, myths and beliefs that are unique to those islands and their people. Then there is the famous Arctic expedition led by Captain John Franklin in search of the North-West Passage, ending in tragedy when both ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, are lost. The Franklin Expedition takes place just a few years before the events of The Canary Keeper and as Birdie begins to investigate she find several surprising links between the doomed expedition and the murder of Tobias Skaill. The fur trade also plays a part in the story and, in the London sections of the book, we learn about some of the trade guilds and livery companies of the period.

Clare Carson also creates some interesting characters, at least on the surface. I found Birdie quite a likeable heroine and I enjoyed her scenes with Solomon, hoping that they might decide to give each other a second chance. There’s also Morag, whose unconventional lifestyle leads to her being labelled a witch, and the widowed Margaret Skaill who is determined to keep her husband’s shipping business going despite her inability to read and write. And yet, none of these characters ever came fully to life for me; there was a disappointing flatness throughout the novel, which I blame on the fact that it is written in third person present tense, probably my least favourite way for a novel to be written. I often find that it puts a distance between the reader and the characters and makes it difficult to engage on an emotional level, although maybe that’s just me.

There’s also a paranormal aspect to the novel, with Birdie experiencing visions and flashbacks, but I didn’t feel that these scenes added anything to the story. This could have been a fascinating book – and at times it was – but it wasn’t really for me.

This is a superbly written historical mystery.
The story flows superbly and keep me captivated throughout
I loved it from start to finish and couldn’t put it down

The Canary keeper is a superbly written historical mystery, which shows just how the genre should be done.
Set in 2 very different locations, the alleys and docks surrounding the River Thames in Victorian London and a remote small fishing village in Orkney.
The main protagonist is Birdie, whose name gives a nod to her love of Canaries which her father used to keep. She is an accomplished bookkeeper who has fallen on rather hard times, widowed and alone she discovers a corpse on the bank of the Thames and inadvertently becomes implicated, finding herself the main suspect in a murder investigation.
Knowing she is unlikely to be able to clear her name without evidence she seeks the support of Solly, a policeman in the Met with whom she has had a budding relationship which she brought to an end yet still remains very fond of him.
Panicking she follows the only lead available which leads her to travel alone to Scotland where in a small village she secures employment whilst she tries to investigate the life of the murder victim.
There is a lot about shipping and the book has some really great strong female characters which I must admit is a big draw to me as a reader. There is Birdie herself, her new employer Margaret, also a determined woman making her way in a male-dominated world, there is also Morag with her eerie mystical qualities and the enigmatic old Feldam,
The story flows superbly and kept me gripped throughout.
I feel it will appeal to readers of The Essex Serpent as it has a similar feel despite being a very different story. I loved it from start to finish and couldn't put it down.

Thank you to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for providing me with a kindle version of this book!

Set in Victorian London, Birdie is wrongly implicated in the murder of a man found dumped on the shores of the Thames. To clear her name, Birdie must travel to Orkney in the far north and attempt to retrace the dead man's footsteps.

This is a very atmospheric book and really transports you to some dark, damp and cold places! I have been reading this during the southern hemisphere winter and can really picture the scenes in this book.

The storyline is interesting and moves along at a good pace, however I do admit to getting a little lost in the storyline at times, as there is a lot going on! Not too far that you can't figure it out though.

I loved the female characters in this - Birdie, Margaret and Morag. All three are strong characters in their own unique way and I enjoyed what each character brought to the story.

Overall this is a great ambient story that is perfect for winter reading.

This was a really entertaining book with a plot that made me turn the pages.
Carson's writing was approachable, smooth and structured. I liked how she built the characters, and aI rooted for them.

If you're looking for a summer book to hook you from the beginning to end, this is a very good option. Definitely
recommended.
Thanks a lot to the publisher and Netgalley for this copy, in exchange for an honest review.

An engaging and entertaining book. i loved this story, the well written and fleshed out cast of characters, and found the plot engrossing.
It's entertaining and well written, a book that keeps you hooked til the last page.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thank you to netgalley.co.uk for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have said this before, I know we are not supposed to 'judge the book by its cover', But this cover caught my attention and just made me want to read this novel. Long story short, I'm glad I did, this is an exciting storyline which sucked me in, and I could not stop reading this. There are a lot of Victorian mysteries out there, so many that I don't think I could read them all in my lifetime but this one really stood out for me. I strongly recommend this one.