This was a slightly unexpected and thrilling read! The main character of Cage was interesting and he was a well developed and interesting main character. The crime and action was thrilling and it kept me hooked all the way through. The final section was misleading me for as the tone changed slightly and I felt despondent of what the outcome was going to be. The reveal and actual plot was explored really well and this is was supported by the fact of Evan's clear and precise writing.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown UK for this advanced reader's copy in return for my honest review. I loved Claire Evans’ debut novel The Fourteenth Letter so I had high hopes for this one and it didn’t disappoint! Plenty of twists and turns to keep me engaged. Perfect Bank Holiday reading.

Oh what a tangled life we lead and this is a perfect fictional Victorian example of this. A very atmospheric tale filled to bursting with very believable people who, themselves, suffer from so many real human frailties that are as applicable today as they were 150 years ago. This is a real page turner and it kept me enthralled to the very last page. Well worth your investment.

Lots of twists and red herrings in this clever story. It was a rather grim, the darkness unrelenting and it’s times it felt like a hard slog reading it.

Thank you to Publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.

This was not what I expected. A rogue lawyer in the pocket of a criminal mastermind, paired with Victorian homosexual murder scenario. Although I could never really picture Cage Lackman, I followed him willingly through this complicated plot of villains, murderers, police and brothels. Although I found the descriptions of London scenery not as convincing as in other books about that era, I crept along the dark alleys. Although the plot twists became frantic and hard to keep up with, I ran with them. So there must have been something to lure me in and keep me there, a helpless fly in the spider’s web.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this review copy. An intriguing historical crime novel with lots of twists and turns. I was convinced I had it all figured out but I was wrong. I need to go back now and read Claire Evan’s previous novel as she is a highly talented writer.

transporting us back into London during the 1880s, the setting is excellent. 

Cage Lackmann, our main character, is a lawyer used to representing some of the shadier members of society and despite this is the most likeable character throughout the whole book. I really enjoyed the insight we got into his life. 

The plot was brilliant, the twists and turns throughout the book were unexpected and took me by surprise. However, I did feel it was incredibly slow to get going and at points, I felt like it was dragging too much without anything happening. 

On the whole, I really enjoyed this book but I wish it got to the point of the book a little bit quicker as I did get a bit fed up at points.

I loved Claire Evans’ debut novel The Fourteenth Letter so I had high hopes for this one and it didn’t disappoint! It was even better. It was very hard to put down and I found myself reading way more chapters in one sitting than I intended to.

I was really pleased that the twisty plot that had thrilled me in her debut was repeated here. Evans takes time to set the scene and this benefits the reading experience as does the complicated character of Cage Lackmann as he tries to save his reputation.

The descriptions of late 19th century Victorian London are very atmospheric, you can imagine yourself on the grim streets with the dodgy characters.

The full 5 stars for me. A perfect book for anyone who enjoys historical crime or would like some sheer thrilling escapism!

Thanks to the publishers and #netgalley for an arc of this book.

This story follows infamous lawyer, Cage Lackmann aka The Poet of Whitechapel, as he attempts to save his reputation. Known for defending the innocent (even when they’re not), his world is thrown apart when it appears a man he genuinely believed to have been set up appears to have killed again.

It’s almost impossible to say much about what follows without spoilers, so I will have to keep it brief, and urge you instead to read it for yourself.

Whilst this is a bit of a slow burner of a book, I definitely feel it’s worth your time and patience as a reader. Evans does a wonderful job of transporting you to 1880’s London, and as a result it’s a brilliantly atmospheric read. I could feel the fog enveloping me, and hear the clatter of horses’ hooves as Cage ran around Whitechapel piecing together the clues.

There is more than a hint of Sherlock Holmes about Cage: a tortured soul, battling his own demons, who is simply trying to find the truth. It is exceptionally well written, and plotted out, with many twists and turns which all took me by surprise.

I will definitely be reading more by this author!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Stars
A very rare 5 stars from me!

Set in Whitechapel, London in 1882, Cage Lackmann is a corrupt lawyer who has defended some shady characters in his career. But he also defends those who are innocent. Five years ago, he successfully defended Moses Pickering against a charge of murder. Now present day a body has been found with the same characteristics as the previous murder and Moses Pickering is missing. Did he really commit murder and now he is on the rampage again.
Lackmann life is tatters not only regarding Pickering but he has also been implicated in a murder. The police are after him and there is a race against time while he searches for him, he meets the love of his life, Emma who is married to another man. The story turns back in time when this all started in time of the murder to present day. He searches for Pickering in the bleakest parts of London visiting Whore houses etc to no avail meeting some shady characters along the way.
Thank you Little brown and NetGalley for a copy of this book. I really enjoyed this dark, gritty, atmospheric crime novel by Claire Evans. This is a slow burner of a book but it as you read on with its twists and turns everything starts to come clear. If you are into Victorian crime this is the book for you.

Cage Lackmann is a a man struggling to free himself from many people and many situations. His past loves, his boss, his mother, his own actions.
This is a dark and twisty romp through the streets of historic Whitechapel and beyond, always one step ahead of the reader (and of Lackmann too). Full of fully-drawn and developed characters without ever overwriting it kept me gripped for several evenings, unwilling to put it down until a non-cliffhanger chapter end - which are few and far between. The author shows a deft turn of phrase and a talent for describing places.
Thoroughly enjoyed it, thank you for the opportunity to read this proof copy. I will review on Amazon and in a Facebook book group I am a member of.

Lawyer Cage Lackmann is used to defending some of London's shadier characters, it's what he's good at. So when a body is found bearing all the disturbing hallmarks of a previous murder case - a case that Lackmann helped the accused walk free - he wonders if he has made a grave mistake. With his reputation on the line, he starts to investigate to clear the accused man's name, but first he must find him.
Set in Whitechapel London 1882, where crime and poverty were rife.
A dark gripping story full of plot twists and turns, that will keep you guessing right to the end.
I really enjoyed this book. Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for the ARC.

I really liked Claire Evans' debut novel, 'The Fourteenth Letter', but I think this one is even stronger. It's a twisty and tense murder mystery set on the streets of Victorian Whitechapel - what's not to love?!

It's 1882 and Cage Lackmann is a corrupt lawyer. Although he does some work to defend the innocent, he also fights legal cases to acquit gang members as he is in the pay of a powerful man. When one of his 'innocent' defendants is accused of committing a second murder, Cage is in trouble. The police want to frame him, his customers are abandoning him and he is in a race against time to get the evidence he needs. Everyone has secrets and Cage has to work out who he can trust with his own.

I loved everything about this book! I kept thinking I'd figured it all out, only for the rug to be pulled from under my feet the next second. The depiction of gritty, grimy, seedy Whitechapel is great - this is a place where loyalties can be bought and sold, everyone has a price and violence is rife. That said, this isn't a depressing book - it's clever and engaging and fast-paced. I read this in a day and would recommend that any lovers of historical crime do the same - clear some time in the diary and settle down for an absolute treat.