All mothers have the "Momma Bear" attitude when it comes to their children, to protect at all costs, good or naught. Interesting read, many complex twists and turns, with taboo interactions of the time. What would a mother do to keep her only child safe and for that child to have a better life. Motherly love beats all, even blinded by that love, protection and basic common sense.

Still relatively new to historical fiction but I rather enjoyed the setting of this book. The horse drawn carriages, the foggy city, the pomp of upper class society vs the poverty and desolate living conditions of the lower class.

I was carried along the twists and turns in the story, gasped when horrible characters reappeared and thought hard about the lengths a mother will go to in order to provide a good life for their child. I wasn't expecting the extent of violence in the book but it did not detract from my enjoyment of it.

Thank you for allowing me to preview this title. I, unfortunately, could not finish the book. I just couldn't connect to the story and just did not like Angelica. When I get to 25% and just really don't care about the story or the characters there really is no point in going any further. Best wishes.

Synopsis:
In the London of 1880, twenty-two-year-old Angelica Chastain drags her five-year-old son - William - along with her. She's watching out for the man pursuing her as she makes her way towards the bridge so that she can jump into the Thames.

In Winson Green, Birmingham of 1896, the narrator is the one revealing the story about Angelica, about the relationship they share, and how all that she did was only for William.

Review:
Spanning some sixteen years, this is a twisted and cruel tale. This is the first book I'm reading by Steve Robinson. I wasn't aware that he is a London-based crime writer. Yep. I went in blind in this book, picked it based on the blurb only. And what a story it turned out to be!

It starts with a prologue in the London of 1880 while the story starts some sixteen years later in the first person, as narrated by the mysterious narrator. The narrator remains an unknown entity until about half the book, which adds to the mystery. And from there it proceeds in the third person as the narrator unveils the past.

"...sometimes one has to die to be born again..."

Angelica Wren neè Chastain, of French descent, is afraid of telling her son what happened that they had to run, wondering what he will think of her if she did. She just manages to tell him that his daddy's dead and that he need not be afraid any longer. But that man still finds her. He is a meanie, this Tom Blanchard. He knows what she did and blackmails her by pimping her out. He takes her money, rapes her, but Angelica finds a way out again, even though their first week in Birmingham is spent in squalor. They spent a few days on the streets before a certain Mr Featherstone took pity on them, brought them to the almshouses, and ensured they were provided for, along with some money. It was good to know about the philanthropy though because Dickens indicts? in Bleak House the Victorian society of the 1830s in the adjoining counties of London 'for its irresponsibility towards the less fortunate'. Though it's something when I say that in certain instances Victorian England's filthiness shines in all its glory.

Some of the chapters start with the narrator relaying events fromt the past, followed by the actual happenings in the past. From when the narrator met Angelica for the first time, how they came to be acquainted.

"What good was making the acquaintance of a mistress’s nanny when it was the mistress herself that Angelica aspired to be?"

Angelica appears to be devious, but I won't fault her after the kind of life she has run from. But her true nature, whether good or bad is for you to find out, is left a mystery till the very end. There are indications though, throughout the text, which I must admit I didn't want to believe. How she makes, the way she makes, life for herself and her son William with Stanley Hampton is a mind-blowing concept that the author came up with. And that too way back in the 1800s. Maybe that is how crime fiction works but it still awed me. Stanley is the co-owner of Hampton and Moore, along with Alfred Moore. They're penmakers and the latter has only a daughter, Louisa.

While Georgina Hampton's (Stanley's wife) friends gradually become Angelica's too, Effie and Violet, there's always pleasantness which as a reader doesn't make you aware of what is to come next. It is a sense of security before the author throws you into the deep end, and that is what had me so damn impressed!

"It seemed that her past was not yet ready to let her go on with the happy life she was building for herself and William, and something had to be done about that."

The story engaged me like nothing else. Everything is gradually revealed and it kept me hooked, wanting to know why everything that happened, happened. Wanting to understand the motivation behind it. Who's the actual protagonist? Is the story about the protagonist or is it about an antagonist? There are twists and turns till the very end which will keep you guessing.

If you love crime fiction in the domestic sphere in a historical setup, you will love reading this one.

P.S. I read somewhere that "a dramatized first-person narration is an established tradition in the European novel" and this book proves it.

Thank you to the author, Thomas & Mercer (an imprint of Amazon Publishing), and NetGalley for an e-ARC of the book.

I will soon post this review on my blog, Amazon and Goodreads and share it on other social media platforms too.

Is it wrong to admit the blood tipped pen on the cover of Steve Robinson’s The Penmaker’s Wife prompted my reading the book? Does that make me an odd duck? Do I really care if it does?

Set in the late nineteenth century, The Penmaker’s Wife represents a much-needed respite from the glut of twentieth-century fiction currently dominating the market. I mean no offense to those writing or reading the latter, I love such stories, but I needed a change of pace and was happy to lose myself in the streets and shops of Birmingham circa 1880.

Robinson offers an edgy and intense intro, but the story settles into a slower pace as it progresses. The sedate nature of the narrative, however, should not be underestimated as the material grows steadily darker with each twist and turn. Robinson’s characters aren’t always likable, but they aren’t meant to be. This is story is one of desperate and ruthless ambition, of false impressions, falsehood, and cold-blooded murder.

Having said this, I admit I am hesitant to compare The Penmaker’s Wife to Alias Grace or Peaky Blinders. I understand the pitch, but I felt the story more in line with that of Martin Connolly’s Dark Angel or Peter Ackroyd’s The Limehouse Golem and would have no trouble recommending the novel to fans of dark mysteries.

This book was just ok. I had higher expectations for the book given I love period pieces. I guess it did not grab me as others have done, and, admittedly, my most favorite periods are eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. However, I am open to later periods if a good book. Good premise, though.

The setting is Victorian England, 1880, and Angelica Chastain, and her young son William are running from what she describes as a miserable existence. She has no particular destination in mind, just to fulfill a promise she made to herself to give her son a better life, no matter the cost. As they jump into the Thames, she hopes that for all extent and purposes, the'd be considered good for dead, and thus they will be free to start a new life. Her new life takes her to Birmingham, where, in the park, William befriends Alexander, the only son of Georgina and Stanley Hampton. Georgina is immediately smitten by Alexander's friend, she offers to Angelica a job as governess to the boys, and invites them to live in her home, "Priory House". Stanley Hampton, is a partner in the pen manufacturing company, Hampton and Moore, a fairly successful venture. Angelica has an uncanny ability to charm most people, (especially Stanley), but not everyone, and some in the town gradually begin to question Angelica's backstory. As well, she did leave a trail behind her in London, that constantly gnaws at Angelica, such that she never quite feels secure in her new life, no matter what she does. To what extremes will Angelica go to to give her son the life she hoped to give him?

This is my first time reading a book by Steve Robinson, I'm glad I stumbled upon it browsing #netgalley. I was completely hooked right from the beginning, and this story becomes more and more "shocking" and surprising, , the deeper you get into it. Thank you #netgalley for the advanced readers copy in return for my honest review. 5 stars!

Interesting subject, insights into manufacture of fountain pens. Enjoyed the descriptions of Birmingham and its industrial past.
Angelica is a hard manipulating woman who cares only for the future of herself and her son, to better them socially and financially she takes great risks and sacrifices one person who truly loves her.
I found the characters interestingly but not always convincing. Story is written from different points of view.

An interesting historical Novel set in Victorian England. It captured my attention from the very beginning when Angelica jumps into the River Thames with her young son and flees to Birmingham, in search of a better and safer life for them both.. Angelica's dark side is slowly revealed as she makes her way out of the gutter into society with little to no regard for anyone other than her son. As the story progresses it becomes more difficult to put down.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the early reader copy and to Steve Robinson for his great story telling.

Victorian England + Femme Fatale =success.

I can’t imagine this being for everyone but I enjoyed this fast paced story very much. I was hooked from the very first chapter and the author kept my interest until the very end.

I highly recommend to those who enjoy a murderous novel set in the late 1880s.

I received a free copy from the publisher for review but trust me when I tell you this is my honest opinion

This was an ok read, not great, but ok. The writing was good and it seemed historically accurate, but something felt like it was missing as I read.

A quick, fast-paced, read. I would have liked to have gotten closer to the female characters Point of View. Would recommend to those that enjoy thrillers.

Quick read, maybe a little simplistic writing style and not much depth to the characters, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Thank you netgalley and publisher for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley for this advanced reader's copy. This was a compelling book that grabbed my interest within the first 10 pages and left me wanting more when I finished the last word. I enjoyed reading the story unfold.

Thank you to Net Galley for sending me a copy in exchange for a honest review.

This was a very strange book - the situations the main character Angelica finds herself in seemed to get solved incredibly quickly and conveniently which felt very forced to me.
However, the character herself was very interesting. She felt almost like a sociopath to me, not very empathetic or emotive at all. She seemed to just accept the bad things she had to do in order to get a better life for herself and her young son.

Although it was interesting, I did find my attention wandering at times which I think is probably because I didn’t find a connection with any of the characters.

There was some LGBTQ+ representation, though not very well defined for me.

Trigger warnings for rape, sexual slavery, attempted suicide, blood and gore.

I love period pieces. But the synopsis and the descriptions of the time period were the best parts of this book.
The "heroine" was manipulative and vapid and i couldn't root for her.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I probably would have found it easier to become invested in the story if I'd been able to understand the main character better. I didn't need to like her, but knowing more about her background, if she had always been that way, etc. might have helped.

The story moved along at a reasonable pace. I really only expected one type of behavior from the main character, so nothing she did was all that surprising. The settings were good, though there might have been a few too many historical details. They made it difficult to forget that I was reading historical fiction rather than a story that could have actually been written in the past. The ending made sense for the story.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. The Penmaker’s Wife by Steve Robinson is novel of historical fiction about a serial murderer set in Victorian England. Angelica Chastain believes her actions are just motherly love that she is doing her best to provide for her son all while the bodies pile up. This intriguing story is told from the point of view of one of Angela’s lovers and it’s twists and turns will keep you reading way past your bedtime.
Publishing Date December 1, 2019. #NetGalley #ThePenmakersWife #AmazonPublishingUK #MysteryandThriller #VictorianEngland #HistoricalFiction #SteveRobinson #bookstagram

"In Victorian England, a mother is on the run from her past - and the truth about what she did.

Birmingham, 1880. Angelica Chastain has fled from London with her young son, William. She promises him a better life, far away from the terrors they left behind.

Securing a job as a governess, Angelica captures the attention of wealthy widower Stanley Hampton. Soon they marry and the successful future Angelica envisaged for William starts to fall into place.

But the past will not let Angelica go. As the people in her husband’s circle, once captivated by her charm, begin to question her motives, it becomes clear that forgetting where she came from - and who she ran from - is impossible.

When tragedy threatens to expose her and destroy everything she’s built for herself and William, how far will she go to keep her secrets safe? And when does the love for one’s child tip over into dangerous obsession?

Alias Grace meets Peaky Blinders in this tale of obsession, ambition and murder in Victorian England."

Was this description written just for me with the Alias Grace meets Peaky Blinders mashup?

Angelica will do anything to protect her son, William. All she wanted was the best for her son. But nothing was ever going to be easy. She manages to secure a job as a Governess. She eventually marries the wealthy penmaker and has a very close relationship with her new friend, Effie. But will Angelica escape her past?

The narr5is told from the third person. A helical is trying to make better lives for herself and her son but at the same time she also trying to avoid her past. The descriptions of the era make you glad you weren't around then. The history behind the pen making was interesting. I never saw the final twist coming. The book is well written and its plotline gripping. The characters were complex. I read this book in one sitting. My first read by the author ut I will be looking g out for him in the future.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the author Steve Robinson for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.