If I could separately rate the first part of "Smoke and Silk" by Fiona Keating to the second half, I would. The first half deserves 4 stars - full of atmosphere: pubs by the Thames where dockers and sailors frequent, murky London, opium dens and a murder on the Thames foreshore. However the second half really changed in tone and as Mei and Pearl's relationship developed, my enthusiasm for the book and plot waned. Sorry this one is not for me.

This one just didn't work for me. I feel I rolled my eyes too many times with this book.
I found the characters to have no depth.
They'd act , or speak in ways I couldn't imagine anyone ever doing.
No surprise on who the villain was, but I read right through to the end to make sure .