"In the wrong hands, a secret is a weapon."

Atmospheric and absorbing, this riveting historical crime story opens on a dark night in Georgian London when Caroline ‘Caro’ Corsham finds the bloodied and mortally wounded body of a woman she knows as Lucia, an Italian Contessa. Lucia’s fingers find Caro’s, she gazes into her eyes, and with her last breath she whispers, ‘He knows’. The police are initially quick to investigate but drop the case when they discover that Lucia is in fact Lucy Loveless, a highly paid prostitute. Caro is incensed. So, with the help of thieftaker Peregrine Child, she sets out to solve the crime. Their investigation leads them into the darkest corners of Georgian society and gentlemen who refuse to talk for fear of sullying their reputation. Can Caro and Perry find the killer before they too are silenced?

Daughters of Night has been sitting on my shelf ever since I received the proof in early 2021 and I am so glad I finally got around to reading it. Laura Shepherd-Robinson is an exquisite storyteller, bringing Georgian London and its dark, shadowy underbelly to life in vivid detail. Her research is evident in the authenticity that runs throughout the book, making me feel like I’d been transported back in time. Exploring topics such as shame, lack of female agency, and the unrelenting exploitation and abuse of women, Shepherd-Robinson writes with compassion, but there is also a brutal honesty, and some of the scenes in this book are not for the faint hearted.

The huge cast of characters felt reminiscent of Dickens which added to the authentic historic feel. The richly drawn and varied cast of characters leaped from the pages and I connected quickly with Caro and young Pamela, the latter breaking my heart in every scene. Evocatively narrated, I lost myself in the elaborate and intricate plot, my heart pounding as the mystery deepened and the many threads began to weave together to finally reveal the full shocking picture.

A tense, gripping and intriguing historical mystery that is a must-read for anyone who enjoys this genre.

This was a well written novel set in the Georgian period
The characters were well developed
There was a pacing issue and the ending was rushed.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Daughter's of Night is the sequel to Blood and Sugar, set in Georgian England in 1782, and wonderfully written. When reading this book I felt transported back to this time and the vivid descriptions of the way of life and the details of the streets in the city really opens up your imagination to feel as though you are a fly on the wall to this story as it happens. The protagonist of this story is Caroline, or Caro, who sets out to find the killer of her friend and hires a private investigator to help her.

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and felt compelled to read it all in one sitting!

Vividly detailed and evocative of the grime and unpleasantness of the time, but with well drawn characters and interesting story Shepherd-Robinson has found the perfect balance in historical fiction.

"Daughters of Night" by Laura Shepherd-Robinson is an absolute page-turner! Set in 1780s London, it's a gripping historical mystery that kept me hooked from start to finish. Shepherd-Robinson's writing is vivid, and her characters are so well-drawn that you feel like you're walking the gritty streets of London alongside them. This book is a thrilling combination of crime, intrigue, and a dash of romance – perfect for anyone who loves a good mystery with a historical twist. I couldn't put it down, and I can't wait for more from this author!

When Caroline Corsham stumbles across her friend Lucia dying in the grounds of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens she soon finds herself in the middle of an investigation that will threaten not only her life but what she believed about those closest to her. Employing the skills of thieftaker Peregrine Childs she is determined to find out just what happened as no one else seems to care.
Caroline “Caro” Corsham is quite headstrong, and she refuses to let anyone stand in her way in getting to the truth. Even as she learns the truth about her friend’s identity Caro believes that she should still have justice with her killer found. Her unlikely alliance with the thieftaker sees them slowly learn to trust and respect each other. They both have secrets that could ruin them they want to remain hidden, but this does not stop them challenging those trying to stop the truth from getting out. What starts out as an investigation into one murder ends up as an investigation into two as it turns out that “Lucia” or Lucy as she was really called had been looking into the disappearance of a young girl.
This book really had me hooked despite it shining a light on the seedy world of brothels, sex workers and the selling of young girls. Highlighting the true inequalities between men and women in that period of time you catch a glimpse of what life was truly like no matter which side of the divide you came from. There are some colourful characters that you can never quite sure you can trust and as the book progresses there is more than one twist that will turn what you think you know on its head. Throughout the book you get to learn more about the life of the young girl Pamela that Lucy was searching for through her own words. It is heartbreaking at times to see how she views her own life, thinking that she will ultimately find a way out but at the same time embracing where she is right now.
You know from the start that this is a well-researched book with an attention to detail that is not overwhelming but enhances the reader’s experience. If like me you are a lover of historical fiction then this is one you should definitely put on your reading list.

I read the previous book in this series and loved it so I was excited to read this one. Unfortunately, I just could not get into it. I got to about 40% to give it the best shot possible because I enjoyed the previous book. I can see from other reviews that many have loved this book, so I guess it just was not a great fit for me and I ended up DNFing. I may pick it up again one day just in case it was a mood thing, but for now it's a no. Thank you.

Historical fiction at its finest. Laura makes me so happy. You can feel the painstakingly important research that goes into her writing and it is truly reflected in the characters and storyline. I can’t wait to see what she has in store next for us…

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this review copy. A brilliant sequel to Blood and Sugar, that builds on characters introduced in that novel. While Blood and Sugar was good, Daughters of Night is superb.

Thanks very much to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. Many thanks, Dave

I found this book hard to get into. It's beautifully written and I can visualise the characters perfectly as if they are standing in front of me but I've found it difficult to find the drive to pick it up. It might be that it's just a slow burner to get into or it just might not be my cup of tea. As I said beautifully written so I will definitely try something by this author again about a different subject.

Received an arc from Netgalley

Felt it was a bit overlong and dragged in some places but overall a well researched and interesting read.

Such a dreamy novel. Evocative writing, excellent writing, intriguing plot. Everything was perfectly placed

A murder mystery set in Georgian England. I tried twice to get into the story but failed, in part because I am not interested in that period of history and not due to the talents of the author.

This Georgian murder mystery was gripping and engaging. The descriptions were very immersive and the story is well paced.

Historical fiction isn’t a genre I normally read, however I enjoyed this much more than I expected - a murder mystery in historic London? Yes!

I’d absolutely consider reading more of the authors books, and I’d recommend giving this one a go.

This combines all the twists and turns of a really clever murder mystery with meticulous research, and a fabulously written main character – mystery, history and a female lead that you really care about.

Lady Caroline Corsham (Caro) discovers her friend, who she believes to be an Italian countess, dying in a bower in the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. Caro is shocked to discover that ‘Lucia’ is actually Lucy Loveless, a high-class prostitute. When the police don’t seem to care about Lucy’s murder, Caro, determined to get to the truth and to secure justice for Lucy, begins an investigation herself. Along with theiftaker Peregrine Child, she begins an investigation that brings to light some very dangerous goings-on in Georgian society – some of which are rather close to home.


This is a very long book – almost six hundred pages in paperback format. It does manage to hold your interest for the most part – but I did feel it could have been cut back a little. There were times when I just wanted to get on with the story. That said, the historical detail has been meticulously researched and the narrative is full to the brim with little details that immerse the reader in late eighteenth century London.

Clever, exciting, beautifully written, just a little bit too long – but that won’t stop me reading more by this author.

This was the first of Laura’s books I read, and it’s an excellent dive into 18th century London. Well fleshed out characters, an intricate plot (any minor confusing I had are probably post-Covid brain fog), and clearly well researched history. It took me a little time to settle into the story only because it’s not a period I read a lot of, so it took some time to become familiar. But once it did, it was easy to slip into the pages and immerse myself in the late 1700s. Definitely recommended.

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review. Apologies for the delay, it was meant to be in time for the hardback, but I’ve timed it just right for the new paperback version!

Fantastic historical detail and a compelling story with lots of mystery. Recommended for historical fiction fans.

Fabulous book, I loved it so much I went out to buy the paperback just to have it on the bookshelf. A definite must read!