What can I say about Daughters of Night that hasn't already been said? It's immersive, beautifully written, funny, serious, shocking, satisfying and has one of the most engaging lead characters in Caro Horsham that I've come across in a long time.

Georgian London in all its glittering hypocrisy and degrading squalor is spread out for us all to dive into. Laura Shepherd-Robinson knows her period inside-out and is one of the best new writers of recent years. Buy it, read it, love it. It's gorgeous.

Unfortunately this book wasn't for me, it was a clash of writing style and historical fantasy which can always be hit or miss for me. So it's definitely more me than the book, but thank you to the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this one.

I don't do history but I did this and wow did I love it - think I've found a new author.
Well written, great story, good characters, amazing book.

This historical mystery is set in an atmospheric Georgian London, as the intrepid – if unlikely – pairing of respectable society wife, Mrs Caroline Corsham with thieftaker, Peregrine Child.

Caro and Child take on equal roles in the investigation of the murder of Lady Lucia, an Italian Countess and friend of Caro’s, as the police lose interest in the case as soon as they discover Lucia may not quite be all she seemed.

Laura Shepherd-Robinson spins a complex web of blackmail, rape and murder, in which motives and suspects abound, and the condemnation of the court of public opinion forces people into secrets and shame. We peek into a world of prostitution in many different forms, and see the roles power and privilege play in exploitation. And alert readers will spot the parallels between Greek mythology in the characters and events.

Daughters of Night is a clever and gripping mystery that makes me want more from Caro Corsham and co.


Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

London 1782

Caroline Corsham finds a woman dying from stab wounds in the bowers of Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens and screams for help. She recognises her as an acquaintance named Lucia but before Caro can ask who has done this to her Lucia holds her fingers and whispers ‘He knows’ then takes her last breath. Though very shaken by the event, Caro is determined to get justice for Lucia but once the Bow Street Runners find out Lucia’s true identity they drop all interest in finding out who her killer is. Having been left with no alternative Caro turns to thief taker Peregrine Child to help her investigate the murder but the deeper they dig, the more sordid and dangerous uncovering the truth becomes and it begins to look like their own lives are on the line.

This is the first book I’ve read by Laura Shepherd-Robinson though it is the second involving Caro Corsham. I will absolutely read her first offering as I enjoyed this very much. Laura has a talent for bringing the past to life and I swear that I could smell some of the settings and taste some of the food described in the book. Whilst Caro is an absorbing protagonist, my favourite character was Pamela. She was feisty, bold and sassy but her soft, naive and childlike nature shined through from time to time. I’m rating this a four and a half rounded up to five.

Many thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for providing an ebook copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

Absolutely loved this book, five stars, it was not what I was expecting but it was a refreshing change of pace.

I loved Blood & Sugar by this author, so knew I had to read this book. An absolutely brilliantly written multi layered historical murder mystery with a few familiar characters the story is set in 1782 London, Georgian era. Caroline is the wife of Captain Harry Horsham who is currently in France after his investigation of the horrors of the slave trade along with the brutal murder of a slave. Caroline finds herself in quite a predicament and could really do with Harry by her side. It’s whilst she is at Victoria Pleasure Gardens that she hears the last whispered words of Lady Lucia an Italian lady who has been murdered at first it is Bow Street that is dealing with the investigation, that is until it is discovered that Lady Lucia is actually a high class prostitute who uses the name Lucy Loveless.

Caroline decides to instigate an investigation, but what she doesn’t realise is the impact this will have, bringing threats on her life, as well as obstacles. The men who knew Lucy refuse to disclose information. But despite all this Caro is determined to continue with the help of thief taker Peregrine Child, who is a man who has his own demons he is struggling with.

The story leads you into the higher class society of London as well as the lower classes, highlighting the inequalities between the two. With women having no choice but to become prostitutes, where young girls and women are sold on like any other commodity. Set in a time when women had no rights at all, men rule everything, women have no control of there finances, if they are seen in the wrong part of town they are likely to be judged and ostracised, whereas men can come and go as they please, and they do.

This is a well researched, brilliantly crafted read. The characters are three dimensional, believable. You can picture how things were people who lived in this era, the atmosphere the unfairness whether that be social, economic, or political. To be a woman in these times was harsh, but the characters are strong.

If you like historical mystery thrillers then this is a book I would highly recommend, full of mystery, suspense, tension, with some very unexpected twists that will keep the reader engrossed.

I for one look forward to what the author comes up with next, a very well deserved 5 star read.

I would like to thank #netgalley and #PanMacmillan for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.

I greatly enjoyed this novel, as a relatively new fan of historical fiction, I was gripped and keen to play along with the whodunnit? mystery.

I loved the picture painted of 1700s London and its colourful characters, especially the wonderful girls.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to access an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I found the historical aspects of this story, learning about how working girls were treated at the time. A slow start but picked up towards the end.

Thank you to Netgalley, Pan Macmillan and the author for an advanced reader's copy of this book! I didn't expect to enjoy it so much.

I'm a huge fan of historical fiction, so I was so excited to pick this up! Set in 18th century London, the author really paints a wonderful picture of nightlife and the mysterious dangers that await her characters. Her depiction of Georgian London was one I really enjoyed, as it was so vivid and well-painted. Her characters made me so invested in the plot and no spoilers, but I was strung along for the ride and couldn't stop reading!!

Highly recommend and will be posting more on my blog shortly!!

London 1782. Caro Corsham's friend was a prostitute that has been murdered.
Caro hires a PI to help her discover what happened to her friend, and other prostitutes who have been murdered.

Giving us a view into all classes of society, I enjoyed this book more than i expected to.
Twisty and turny, plenty of characters who are likeable.

Told from the POV of both Caro and her PI, this author has done well to bring history to lift.

A dramatic story that humanises the victims. At a time where violence towards women is being discussed more, this is a timely read.

Daughters of Night is a historical fiction based in the late 1700s and which follows Caro, a City woman of means, and a thief-taker, Peregrine Child, as they try to uncover the sordid murder of an Italian woman who turns out to be a local sex worker.

It intertwines viewpoints that bring us along into the bowers of London as well as high-class society. It delves into the political, economical and societal expectations and restrictions of the era. Daughters of Night is well structured (although at times convoluted) despite the many different plot lines involved. There are a lot of characters to keep track of at the beginning but it's fantastic when it starts to all come together.

Big recommend from me, especially if you enjoy historical fiction, a little bit of crime fiction, and strong female characters.

An intriguing murder mystery set against the back drop of the seedy underbelly of Georgian London England.

A girl of questionable morals is found murdered by her friend who also holds a secret, As she strives to find out who murdered her friend we delve into the history of London and so of its dark past.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher's for a free copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.

A brilliant sequel (ish) to Blood and Sugar but you don’t need to read both.
A really good murder thriller but made better because it is the story of women in Georgian England

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. At first I thought it was just another murder mystery set in the 18th century, but it actually contains a surprisingly relevant commentary on various cultural beliefs at the time. The books presentation of women is refreshing - the main female characters are all well-rounded and multi-dimensional. I also really enjoyed how the book depicts prostitutes without any tone of pity or shame. It celebrates these women for their independence, their sexual freedom, and the control they have over their own lives. I also enjoy how the book exposes the hypocritical power structure that is inherent in such a patriarchal society - men (and by extension the beau monde) condemn prostitution publicly, but are personally responsible for its longevity. They then further despise prostitutes who have no shame or regret surrounding their lifestyle choices, since these women represent everything the patriarchy fears - women in control of their own sexuality. I enjoy the way the book celebrates these women, and binds them together rather than pitting them against each other.
I also enjoyed the classical allusions, with the main plot seemingly taking inspiration from Aeschylus' Oresteia. Clytaemnestra is a personal hero of mine and it was thoroughly appreciated to see her championed and idolised through such a feminine lens.
Definitely a fun, yet poignant, summer read!

On the way to Vauxhall Gardens, the main character in this book, Caroline Corsham witnesses the death of another woman. Initially, the Bow-street runners begin an investigation but when they learn that Lucy Lovelace was a courtesan, they soon lose interest. This is when Caroline (Caro) takes matters into her own hands. She hires a thief-taker and they begin an investigation. Plunging deep into the lives and secrets of some of the people involved. They learn more than they originally bargained for.

This is a really deep book, depicting the value of the woman in the late 18th century and the way it is viewed by men.

#LauraSheprerdRobisnon has done a marvellous job in crafting this masterpiece full of intrigue and challenging moments.

Thank you #netgalley and publishers for the advanced copy of this book.

I loved Blood and Sugar by Laura Shepherd-Robinson last year and so I was eager to read Daughters of Night, and having read both I think that Daughters of Night is even better. I was totally immersed in the vividly drawn depiction of Georgian London, and the intersection between the fascinating worlds of secret societies and of 18th century prostitution - I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the tv series Harlots (and both of these things draw inspiration from Hallie Rubenhold’s book about The Covent Garden Ladies). More broadly, this feels like an examination of the lives and choices available to women in 1700s England, in the same way that Blood and Sugar looked at slavery and race. That said, in addition to the historical context, it has the pace and plot twists of a great thriller, and certainly I would recommend this to any fans of C J Sansom and Andrew Taylor. I enjoyed returning to revisit familiar characters from a new angle, and the way that Caro comes to the fore in this book, though I believe it would happily stand alone if you haven’t first read Blood and Sugar. A fabulous book that I really loved.

-- BOOK REVIEW DOUBLE FEATURE --
Blood & Sugar AND Daughters of Night by Laura Shepherd-Robinson

Ok, so shame on me for waiting so long to start this series. A lovely friend kindly sent me a copy of Blood & Sugar many moons ago, and it has sat on the top of my tbr pile for months, but never quite being picked up... until the wonderful folk over at Pan Macmillan sent me a gorgeous copy of Daughters of Night to review.

I had fully intended to just read them out of order, picking up the new one first, and then going back to 'fill in the blanks' so to speak... but when it came to it, I just couldn't do it. I am so glad I read Blood & Sugar first as it sets up the second book perfectly (although I don't think it’s at all necessary to read them in order as the mysteries are entirely separate, there are just some recurring characters)

These are both Historical Mysteries set in the 1780s, the first centres the slave trade, and the second set a year later focuses on a brothel. In both books the author does not shy away from the more gruesome details, and both stories include particularly brutal violence, so just be warned if that's a trigger for you, but it is always appropriate to the story, and handled sympathetically. The settings are tangible and real, and the characters are complex and have wonderful depth and development. The mysteries were equally enthralling and kept me guessing in both books and I hadn't figured either out until the 'big reveal'.

I was completely engrossed by both stories and I couldn't put either book down. These are a fantastic little duo and I really hope there are more to come in this series. These will both be in my 'best of the year' list for sure!

If you are looking for Historical Fiction with a heavy dose of Mystery then these books are for you!

5 outstanding stars.

As a keen lover of historical fiction, especially featuring strong female leads, I thoroughly enjoyed Daughters of Night, even if it took me a while to finish. This wasn’t due to the length, but instead my life outside of reading. However, as someone who can lose interest when distracted away from a book (please see my pile of unfinished TBRs), Daughters of Night succeeded where others failed, drawing me back time and time again to follow our protagonist Lady Caroline ‘Caro’ Corsham, looking to investigate the murder of her Italian countess friend Lady Lucia. However as Lucia is revealed to be high class prostitute known as Lucy Loveless, Shepherd-Robinson effortlessly immerses the reader in Georgian London through the eyes of Caro as she engages private thief-taker Peregrine Child to find her friend’s killer.

Previously I have found changing narrative perspectives (such as the ones between Caro and Child) to be distracting and difficult to follow. However, Shepherd-Robinson manages this exceptionally well, and her evident knowledge of the time period has led to some excellent worldbuilding. What I appreciated the most was that the contexts were not forced. Discussions of ‘taboo’ (but prevalent) subjects, from political treachery and corruption to the sex trade and prostitution are key elements of the rich narrative, but these were never sensationalised – it was part of Georgian London’s life and living. With prostitution classed as the world’s ‘oldest profession,’ it was refreshing to have these characters weaved into the plot just as successfully as others rather than glorifying or debasing their actions.

As if the brilliantly evoking and well-researched setting was not enough, the murder mystery was also exceptionally well-performed, leaving the reader guessing at each turn. However, even if I had a corkboard, a map and some red thread, I likely wouldn’t have used it as Shepherd-Robinson builds a vivid picture through the variety of complex and comprehensive characters, headed by the extremely likeable Caro.

Daughters of Night is a must read for 2021; perhaps bring a notepad or a mini-murderboard to keep track if you can’t read it in one sitting – this book is captivating from the first page to the last.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and the author Laura Shepherd-Robinson for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.