I really enjoyed this audio book and the narration was brilliant. I felt like I was watching a film in my own mind at some points.
The story was clever written with the different sub-plots being perfectly interwoven together.
Set in the late 1700s this novel centered on Caroline Corsham and her quest to get justice for the murder of her friend, who she later learns was a high class prostitute. This novel explores classism and cultural attitudes of the time, specifically on a woman's place in society. There were many moments when I had my mouth open in shock but had to keep listening so I could find the answers for myself.
A very well thought out plot centering around intricate, character development of the interesting members of London society.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audiobook over the last couple of weeks. The narrator is engaging and the prose conveyed a true and authentic English, Georgian period of time. The descriptions made the setting so incredibly atmospheric and I thought the plot was a decent slow burn that kept the listener wanting more.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan UK Audio for this audiobook.

I usually love a long audiobook ways thing you get good value for money (even though this was an ARC and free) but wow it felt long.

I think it felt longer because it wasn't particularly gripping.

Basically a woman has a new best friend. New best friend is murdered but it turns out she wasn't what she said and was actually a prostitute based on olde London so their friendship is frowned upon.

She then investigates the murder herself with a fair few surprises along the way. Although its isnt a complicated story. There are a lot of characters, each with their own secret, even so its a slow read.

Really disappointed I couldn't get into it they way I hoped.

I really enjoyed this book right from the start. I am very picky with historical fiction, but this did not disappoint.

The characters were rich and relatable despite time and class differences, and London in the late 1700s was really brought to life in my head. I was deeply invested in the characters and the storyline, and enough secrets were kept back for the ending to be greatly enjoyable too. Start to finish this was a pleasure. The narration by Lucy Scott was great and it was very easy to differentiate and imagine all of the characters.

I was fortunate enough to receive a free audiobook version of this from McMillan UK Audio via NetGalley in return for an honest review, and I'm SO glad I did!

This is my first Laura-Shepherd-Robinson novel and I have become a fan for life.

Caroline Corsham finds her friend Lucia dying from multiple stab wounds, as she tries to stem the flow of blood her Lucia whispers her final words "He Knows..." .

Caroline is unhappy at the police's disinterest in solving her friends murder and decides to hire a local thief taker called Perigan Child. Perigan is down on his luck and dodging a dubious money lender whom he owes a considerable debt too, this job comes at just the right time for him.
The pair form a partnership in their quest to solve the murder of Lucia and along the way we see an intricate plot full of twists and turns as they travel across the class divides of georgian London uncovering secrets and exposing lies others wish to remain hidden.

Daughters of Night is rich in historical detail and highlights the stark and appalling differences between the rich and the poor of this period, we witness the appalling way women are treated and traded as if they were pieces of meat and not human beings. Its obvious that Laura has carried out a great deal of research to write this novel which complements the amazingly complex characters that she has created for this story.

I absolutely loved this book and would not hesitate to recommend it to everyone, but be warned do not sit down to read it with a packet of tim tams by your side because as you get lost in every wonderfully addictive page of this novel the biscuits to will disappear before you realize it.

‘Daughters of Night’ is the second historical fiction book I’ve read this month. The wonderful thing about historical fiction is that there are so many different periods, genres, tropes and topics to choose from. This is an 18th century crime novel, set in Georgian London….

Caroline ‘Caro’ Corsham arranges to meet an acquaintance in the bowers at Vauxhall Gardens. On her arrival she finds her friend mortally wounded, her last words ‘he knows….’. The police investigation peters out as they discover that Caro’s acquaintance isn’t the lady Caro thought she was but a highly paid prostitute. Undeterred and seeking justice just the same, Caro sets out to unravel the mystery and discover the murderer. She enlists the help of thieftaker Peregrine Childs but as the pair delve deeper into both the seedy under belly of the London’s lower classes and the wall of silence from the men of the upper echelons, things become ever more dangerous. Both also have secrets of their own to hide that could threaten to derail not only the investigation but also their lives.

This book was great! It was on the longer side but the writing and story flowed so well it didn’t feel like hard work at any point. The characters were all thoroughly well rounded and believable and the sights and smells of the time came through incredibly clearly. What I did like about our protagonists was that they were both deeply flawed themselves but that didn’t make them any less likeable. The plot was twisty and well thought out, with a couple of ‘no way’ moments thrown in for good measure. The language used and the situations that happened made for a completely authentic and immersive story.

I had already read the ARC of this book when I listened to this audiobook and it did not disappoint on a second read ! I adored Shepherd Robinson's debut Blood and Sugar and was thrilled to have the opportunity to read and listen to her second novel. It is set in London in 1782 and follows Caro Corsham's search for the murderer of a woman , who she discovers is a prostitute and whose body she discovered in the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. This is a London where women are treated as commodities and the authorities will do anything to stop Caro discovering the perpetrator.
Like Blood and Sugar this novel is atmospheric and richly steeped in period detail. The 1780s are not a period of history I know much about but Shepherd Robinson's research and writing brings the period to life. The story is enhanced by the outstanding narration of Lucy Scott. I feel that she differentiates between the characters so well and really made me feel a part of the era and the narrative. One of the best audiobooks I've listened to.
Highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital audiobook.

My thanks to Macmillan U.K. Audio for a review copy via NetGalley of the unabridged audiobook edition of ‘Daughters of Night’ by Laura Shepherd-Robinson. It was narrated by Lucy Scott and has a running time of 15 hours, 29 minutes at 1x speed.

This historical mystery is set in 1782. Its main character is Caroline (Caro) Corsham, wife of Captain Henry (Harry) Corsham, who was the protagonist of Shepherd-Robinson’s 2019 debut, ‘Blood & Sugar’. Caro was a supporting character in it though it was clear that the marriage was rocky with Caro constantly courting scandal. Now in 1782, Harry has been in France on a diplomatic mission for the last few months, leaving Caro to her own devices.

At the opening of ‘Daughters of Night’ Caro is on her way to an assignation at the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. In the bowers she discovers a well-dressed woman, who has been mortally wounded. The Bow Street constables are initially swift to investigate - until they discover that the woman is a highly paid lady of the night. Yet Caro wants justice for her and so hires thief-taker, Peregrine Child to discover the identity of the murderer. In the course of the investigation other mysteries come to light. Yet the situation quickly becomes dangerous.

I won’t say more in order to avoid spoilers and what follows is an intricately woven murder mystery that also explores the various roles of women in Georgian society.

I wasn’t a great fan of Caro in ‘Blood & Sugar’ given her selfish behaviour and treatment of Harry. Yet over the course of this novel I came to appreciate her and yes love her for despite her flaws she emerged as a complex, compelling woman.

Clearly a great deal of research has gone into the creation of both novels and they serve as companions to one another. The historical details are very impressive with the result that I felt completely immersed in the narrative.

I appreciated the ‘In Attendance’ list that was placed before the main text. The Historical Note was also very informative, providing background on the period including the real life members of Georgian society that served as inspiration for her characters.

In terms of the audiobook, Lucy Scott has served as narrator on a wide variety of audiobooks. Her voice is beautiful and I adored her narration of this novel. She was an excellent choice for narrator and brought those in attendance vividly to life.

On a side note, the designers at Mantle Books have created an exquisitely presented hardback edition.

Very highly recommended.

I was glued to this audiobook for days and even now I am still thinking about it! The story is expertly narrated and I found myself immersed in the novel very quickly.
Caro is a fabulous character. I can't help but wonder what happens to her next. Will her story continue in another book? I really hope so.

There are plenty of characters in this novel. They are all flawed to some degree which makes them very human and realistic. The story gives a good insight into the kinds of dangers faced by young girls at the time and particularly those working in prostitution. I felt apprehensive for certain characters all the way through the book.
There are a good few twists and turns as the investigation unfolds and I was shocked by events on more than one occasion. Learning what happened to Pamela on that fateful night was quite horrifying but it wasn't until the end of the novel did I learn for sure what happened to her.
I was surprised by the dramatic turn of events in the final chapters. Just when I thought everything had been solved, another piece of the puzzle emerged. Thrilling and exciting reading.

This novel is a mix of historical fiction and crime murder. As usual I will not write a resume of the book as others can do this so much better. However just to set the scene from which to comment further; it is set in London in 1782, during the time of the American Civil war. It brings up the uncomfortable subject of prostitution being offered as a means for women to survive. And that’s it they didn’t always survive in a society where men reigned supreme and women were though of as something to be owned. Thankfully as this is a novel, there is a woman who cares, who stands up to be counted for others of her sex and won’t let matters rest.

The narrator handles the script brilliantly with skill and great acting talent so that you are aware of which character is speaking. This is not my favourite genre but it has been handled well and gives an exciting and lively reading/listening experience.

Wow this was a superb audiobook. I felt transported to Georgian England with this fantastic tale full of murder, prostitution, lies and so much more!
I really liked Caro Corsham and thought she was a brilliant character, an intelligent woman who wanted justice for the murdered woman. Peregrine Child the thief-taker she hires was an interesting character who was trying to keep out of the way of a certain man whilst he made enquiries for Caro. They made a great team as they get caught up in all sorts of unsavoury situations, as the plot twisted and turned through the back streets and grand houses of London.
The narration by Lucy Scott was incredible, a new-to-me narrator who I’ll definitely be on the look out for in the future. She brought Caro, Peregrine Child and all the other characters to life so expertly, it was a wonderful listening experience.
This is definitely my one of favourite listens this year, and it’s given me a book hangover! I haven’t read many books set in this time period, and this book definitely makes me want to read more! I highly recommend this on audio if you enjoy historical fiction.

Great book with engaging characters and plot. Also, loved the narrator, it made listening of the book so much better.

A gripping historical whodunit with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. A far-reaching investigation instigated and led by the indomitable socialite Caroline Corsham. Following her supporting role in the author’s previous novel, Blood & Sugar, this time Caro is in the driving seat. Determined to solve the murder of an acquaintance and well-known prostitute, Caro employs the thief taker Peregrine Child to help her find the killer leaving no stone unturned or member of the aristocracy scrutinised. Another talented author added to the must-read list.

London 1782, Caroline ‘Caro' Corsham is anxiously waiting for husband to return from abroad when she finds a well-dressed woman dying in the bowers of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, her last words are ‘He knows'.

The police have no interest in solving her murder when they find out she is a high-paid prostitute. But Caro wants to seek justice for this woman who she thought was a friend and enlists the help of thieftaker, Peregrine Child. Together they traverse the streets of London looking for answers, though many gentlemen refuse to speak about the dead woman. Despite the dangers Caro faces she refuses to give up.

This was so much more than I expected and it really immerses you in Georgian London, where you experience the highs and lows of life there, from the lives of the upper class to the prostitutes who ‘service' these gentlemen. There was plenty of drama and I was kept guessing until the end. It was refreshing to have such strong female characters, especially in a time when women were second class citizens. Caro had such determination and would not give up on her quest for justice.

I listened to the audiobook and Lucy Scott did a fantastic job at narrating.

I would highly recommend this - it's a perfect example of how historical fiction should be written. I now need to go and read Blood & Sugar!

How I loved this book! Historical fiction only rocks my world when it's done really, really well and the universe was definitely shaking to Daughters of Night. I must applaud Lucy Scott for her excellent narration. There were a lot of players in the book and every one was distinct and different. The story gives such a fascinating insight into 18C London. I loved the idea of Muswell Hill being considered the country. The thought of the amount of research Ms Shepherd-Robinson must have done is mind boggling as this book is peppered with interesting facts and foibles prevalent at the time. It seemed to me, and I hope I'm correct, as if this might be the start of a series, so I'm crossing my fingers and praying to all my gods that there will be another book. Highly recommended.

The audiobook of Daughters of Night by Laura Shepherd-Robinson

Absolutely fantastic! Blood & Sugar looked at slavery while Daughters of Night portrays the place of women - wives, sisters, prostitutes - in the society of Georgian London, with its (male) predilection for classical culture, for collecting women and for controlling them, even owning them. It's wonderfully done and is so immersive. I listened to the audiobook, which is brilliantly read by Lucy Scott (well known for her depiction of Charlotte Lucas in the BBC production of Pride and Prejudice). A full review will follow shortly on For Winter Nights and on the kindle NetGalley record but in the meantime I can certainly recommend the audiobook!

You absolutely do not have to have read Laura Shepherd Robinson’s previous book, Blood and Sugar, but you will love it if you choose to do so. I liked it so much I read it then bought the audiobook to listen to it again such is the pleasure it offers.

So I was very keen to read Daughters of Night; so much so that this time I went straight to the audiobook. And I was utterly thrilled by it. Captain Harry Corsham was the central protagonist in Blood and Sugar. Now he is away in France on Government business and it is his wife, Caroline Corsham who takes centre stage in this rich and fabulous book.

It’s tiring for Caro being left alone in London with no-one to squire her around all the pleasures that London society has to offer. Set in 1782, when the American Civil war was raging, Daughters of Night is a beautifully rich tale of two societies and a fascinating exposition of how women were viewed at the time. Shepherd-Robinson’s prose is an absolute delight. Her storytelling is rich and sumptuous and she writes in such a descriptive way that you can picture everything as if you were there and sometimes even experience the deeply pungent smells of the streets.

As the book opens, Caro is in Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens at night in search of her friend the Italian Countess, Lady Lucia whom she has met through her brother, Ambrose. Caro has arranged to meet Lucia because Lucia has promised to assist her with a problem that Caro cannot manage herself.

But when Caro reached the bower that is their pre-arranged meeting place, she finds Lucia dying, bleeding from numerous from stab wounds. Her dying words are “He knows…”

Utterly distraught, Caro presses the Bow Street Constables to pursue Lucia’s murderer, but when it is revealed that Lucia is not an Italian Countess, but a prostitute named Lucy Loveless, their concern to identify the perpetrator disappears like snow off a dyke.

But Caro is not so easily dismissed. Whether Lucy or Lucia, the woman was a friend and Caro is determined to see justice done. And so begins an investigation into the morals and mores of Georgian Society and the London ton with its political secrets and influences, the secret clubs, the scandals and above all the rank hypocrisy of the monied and titled classes.

Caro has to find her way through the beau monde of Georgian Society at the same time as she is learning about how the poorest women end up in prostitution. To help her navigate the yawning class divide she employs the services of a thief taker, Peregrine Child (who also appears in Blood and Sugar) to help her investigations.

This is such a rich and layered story it is hard to do it justice. An absolutely compelling historical novel, with a fascinating and deeply twisty and surprising murder mystery at its heart, it is also a beautifully explored exposé of the treatment of women and especially of the sex trade; of the double standards employed by men and of how they subjugated women at every turn and of the yawning gulf between the classes. (Some things never change). Laura Shepherd Robinson’s use of language is robust and rings out loud and clear with verisimilitude, endowing her prose with another layer of sumptuous authenticity.

The characters here very much become people you care about, so much so that when one of them lets Caro down badly, you feel both their pain and so hurt that Caro puts her trust in someone who is not in the end worthy.

Exposing the vile and corrupted sex trade she also shows the resourcefulness of women and the strength they show in the face of adversity. Caro is one such woman and when all the chips are down she will take a courageous stand on behalf of all women, regardless of the personal cost. She is an early feminist in an age where such a thing is unthinkable.

A word here for the truly stunning narration by Lucy Scott. A narrator can make or break an audiobook and Lucy Scott’s narration is pitch perfect, her silken voice marching the pace and tone of the book perfectly.

Verdict: I adored this book. It’s rich, warm, layered and utterly fascinating. I have absolutely no hesitation in shouting about it from the rooftops. This is how historical fiction should be, drawing you in and making you feel part of that world; caring what happens to the people in it. Bravo!

I enjoyed the book of this title and the audiobook just as much. Wonderfully read the rich world created by the author really seemed to come alive.

This is a rich and rewarding historical mystery filled with corruption, political intrigue, evocative descriptions of Georgian London and a detailed look at the sex trade and the hypocrisy surrounding it. This is not a book simply about discovering who killed Lucy Lawless, it is a story that takes in the power dynamics that underpin the criminal justice system and Georgian London society. The vibrant characters are all complex and expertly brought to life. Caro, Child and Pamela are the books main focus; each displays their own particular foibles, strengths and weaknesses and the book is so much more vivid as a result.

Lucy Scott is a fabulous narrator and I spent a few evenings wonderfully engaged as she brought Laura Shepherd-Robinson's wonderful puzzle of a story to life.

I would like to thank the publishers and Net Galley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

This book has such a compelling theme. The murder of a lady of the oldest profession, first investigated and then nearly hushed up. Well it would have been, if the main female lead would let it. But she won’t. The whole story sets the scene of the past, masculine to the end, women used and abused. Brothels and parties, men who behave badly. It’s all going on, whilst all the time The main character is desperate to find the real murderer. Against all the odds she triumphs in this masculine world. The story gets deeper and darker as she investigates and a few people help her on the way. Well developed plot, right up to the end. I listened to this as an audio book- it really was well presented and added to the feel of the story.