
Member Reviews

This is the story of Sweeney Todd with a twist.In this story Sweeney Todd isn't our main character but instead his partner in crime Mrs Lovett is the focus of this story.
I loved this book from the very first page. I loved the set up of the story and the format of story love mixed media really adds to the story. That last revel I really hope we get a second book 😯 This was such an atmospheric and dark read and I would highly recommend it.
I would also highly recommend the audio book. Just brilliant .
Thank you to Netgalley, Titan Books and David Demchuck and Corinne Leigh Clark for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Set in Victorian London, an abandoned apartment of a missing woman contains a dossier of evidence that may point to the infamous Mrs Lovett, Sweeny Todd's accomplice.
A gothic horror that was both eerie and unforgettable.

This is more of a 3.75 for me. Dark, weird, and totally absorbing, with loads of eerie atmosphere. Mrs. Lovett’s fiercely original voice and the book's audacious reframing of the well-worn myth of Sweeney Todd makes it a satisfying, blood-soaked trip through the underbelly of 19ᵗʰ-century London. But the epistolary format is a bit dense and some subplots felt like they fizzled out instead of landing properly. Still, it’s a bold and bloody reimagining with a feminist edge that fans of historical horror will love. Thanks to NetGalley and Soho Press for the ARC!

The Butcher's Daughter by David Demchuck & Corinne Leigh Clark is a gothic horror with a chilly atmosphere and a growing tension. There’s the sense of dread and there’s the description of the extreme mystery and violence of that age.
Well done, not a light read.

The Butcher’s Daughter is an addictive gothic thriller that details the ‘untold’ story of Mrs Lovett. As someone who adored the Penny Dreadful I was so excited to start read this. Told in epistolary form this one really got me hooked, pun intended, from the start. It gives feelings of nineteenth century gothic tales while adding a fresh perspective. Both authors manage to create such a creeping atmosphere and really create a sense of unease in the read, more so since we are literally being ‘written to’ as it where.
If you are lover of the old Penny Dreadfuls then you are sure to enjoy this one.
As always thank you to Titan Books for the advanced copy to review, my reviews are always honest and freely given.

I have loved Sweeney Todd the musical for years so it was very interesting to explore the backstory of Mrs Lovett and the truth behind it.

The Butcher’s Daughter is a deliciously macabre reimagining of one of Victorian London’s most chilling legends: the tale of Mrs. Lovett, the woman behind the infamous meat pies made from the victims of Sweeney Todd. Co-authors David Demchuk and Corinne Leigh Clark serve up a richly atmospheric gothic thriller that is as much about the horror of survival as it is about the monstrous acts one commits to stay alive.
Told through a series of haunting correspondences between journalist Emily Gibson and a mysterious woman suspected to be Mrs. Lovett herself, the novel takes readers deep into the shadowy alleys of Whitechapel, through the blood-slick floors of Butcher’s Row, and into the dark heart of Fleet Street. The voice of the supposed Lovett is chillingly vivid, recounting a life steeped in brutality, resilience, and cunning. She is neither entirely victim nor wholly villain, and that complexity is where the novel truly shines.
The epistolary format lends an immediacy to the horror, pulling readers into the unfolding mystery with the intimacy of a secret whispered too late. As the narrative tightens, the psychological tension between Emily and her subject simmers to a breaking point, leading to revelations that blur the line between truth and legend.
Fans of Clare Whitfield’s People of Abandoned Character or Jess Kidd’s Things in Jars will revel in the grimy elegance of this Victorian nightmare. The inclusion of original Victorian pie recipes adds an unsettling touch of authenticity—turning your stomach even as it tempts your curiosity.
Demchuk and Clark have crafted a gothic gem: The Butcher’s Daughter is evocative, eerie, and ultimately unforgettable—a bloody ode to the women history forgot, and the monsters it remembers all too well.

Thank you Netgalley,Titan Books and David Demchuk & Corinne Leigh Clark for the eArc of The Butcher's Daughter.
I really enjoyed this slow burn insight to Mrs Lovett, the partner of the infamous Sweeney Todd, A Barber who liked to slash the throats of his victims. Then Mrs Lovett used the meat! Even though the story of Sweeney Todd started out as a Penny Dreadful back in the 19th century Victorian Era, It really does make you think whether these famous fictitious characters were based on real events!
The narrative is told from a women's POV in the form of letters and dossiers to Miss Emily Gibson, an inquisitive journalist who thinks she is Mrs Lovett. The storyline starts right back from when this unknown women was a Butcher's daughter who ran a shop down Butcher's Row. It's both intriguing and informative. It grabs you and pulls you right in! We also get snippets of the inspectors POV as he's gathering these letters and also some replies from Miss Gibson. The whole narrative gathers pace, building the background of this women who is said to be the infamous Mrs Lovett. The character building of both Mrs Lovett and the host of people she comes across within her lifetime are well built. I felt like I was actually living within these very hard times of these victorians and we often forget how deprived living conditions were for some people. the finale was well executed with a satisfactory ending.
4 stars

This is an incredibly engrossing, blood drenched tale in a deeply atmospheric Victorian setting. I have never been particularly squeamish when it comes to blood but even I found parts of this story stomach churning, in the most entertaining way of course. The events are so finely described that I found myself feeling hungry one minute and then terribly nauseous just a page or two later.
A wonderfully dark story with unforgettable characters and a terrific ending. Highly recommended.

I enjoyed this book, I had a really fun time with it but something was missing for me to make it more than 3 ⭐️.

I really enjoyed this and was so pleasantly surprised by it. I found Meg to be a fascinating protagonist and was thoroughly entranced by her various trials and tribulations. With some despicable characters and truly horrific moments throughout the narrative , I actually thought the part dealing with Mrs. Lovett was the least compelling and was sometimes taken out of the story a little by it's epistolary nature. Nevertheless, I had a great time with this and would highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I wanted to enjoy this book very much. A great hook for a story, told in an interesting manner - I was along for the ride!
I loved that the reader is essentially receiving letters from the narrator, telling her history while also trying to escape from her convent confines. The occasional 'outside' source showing what's happening in the world to allow this to continue was intriguing, and I did want to know more. Things inevitably begin to get darker, and we're faced with the question of whether the protagonist is inherently a bad person or just caught up in the inevitability of her situation.
Unfortunately, about a third of the way along, I found myself becoming increasingly frustrated. As someone who lived in London for years and knows the areas described well, so many things rang out as false. This isn't by any means a deal-breaker; more like a discordant note in an otherwise excellently-paced tale. But the notes became more and more frequent.
This ended up being a DNF for me as a result - a case of 'it's not you, it's me.' Those who don't spot the inaccuracies won't have a problem, but a little research might've polished this to a better finish. I may well return to see how the story goes (given that we know some of it just from who the characters are!), in which case I'll update my review in due course.

“𝘼𝙩 𝙈𝙧𝙨. 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙩𝙩’𝙨, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙥𝙞𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡.”
Well I loved this! I’m a big fan of Sweeney Todd, including the Tim Burton adaptation, so an origin story for Mrs. Lovett was an absolute must-read for me, this was a totally fresh take on the story I’ve come to know and love and it did not disappoint.
The Butcher’s Daughter is written in a retrospective epistolary format which I was worried about as unfortunately I haven’t enjoyed these sort of novels in the past however this was really well done in my opinion and I, at times, completely forgot that I was reading letters as I was so enamoured by the story.
Gritty, macabre and deliciously gothic, rounded off with a plot twist that made me want to stare at a wall for a while. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Titan Books for this eCopy to review
When I picked up The Butcher's Daughter, I was intrigued by its premise, which promised a fresh take on the infamous story of Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett. The novel is set in London, 1887, and follows the correspondence between Miss Emily Gibson, an inquisitive journalist, and a woman she believes to be Mrs. Lovett.
As I delved into the book, I was drawn into the harrowing account of Mrs. Lovett's life, from her upbringing on Butcher’s Row to her daring escape from a mad doctor. The story unfolds through a series of letters, revealing the intricate mystery behind Mrs. Lovett's notorious pie shop on Fleet Street. The correspondence is collected and sent to the Chief Inspector of the London Metropolitan Police, adding a layer of suspense and intrigue.
The Butcher's Daughter is a fascinating and chilling read that offers a new perspective on a classic tale.

I really enjoyed this book! I read it in about a day as I couldn't put it down! Which was a mistake when I was reading it over my dinner and it got suddenly very .... grim 🤣
This is written as a series of letters, with some newspaper articles thrown in, which is a style I adore. It is quite a dark book in places and has quite a bit of medical gore (which usually I avoid but chuck it in a Victorian setting and I'm all ears) but the plot is fast paced and the gore isn't constant.
I recommend this to anyone that likes Victorian drama, jack the ripper etc.

Title: The Butcher's Daughter - The hitherto untold story of Mrs Lovett
Author: David Demchuck & Corinne Leigh Clark
Pages: 432
Rating: 5/5
Spice/Romance level: 🩷🩷
#Arc eCopy ( #gifted ) - review left voluntarily
UK publish date - 20th May 2025
The book starts of a correspondence between a journalist and a person who she believes is Mrs Lovett. I really enjoy this writing style of letter writing, reports and updates to see how a story unfolds. It also makes me feel like I'm investigating too.
I was absolutely engrossed with the story and how the plot unfolds. It very nearly was a DNF due to the fact I was triggered with birth trauma. However, I am so glad I pushed through it because it was epic. I went through so many emotions, and the ending was unexpected.
The writing depicted the rich, the hopeless, the grim of the Victorian era. The mistreatment of women and their lack of rights. The pace is fast. The twists are unpredictable. The queer representation is on point. They packed a lot in this book and even though it's over 400 pages long I ate this up in a day!!!
This is character driven horror. It is not for the squeamish. It is intense. It is bloody brilliant!
You'll love this book if you like
- historical fiction
- Sweeney Todd
- Lots of Gore
- Sapphic love interests
- Horror

The story of Sweeney Todd, the demon barber of Fleet Street often focusses upon Todd himself in retellings, but here Demchuck and Leigh Clark choose instead to focus on Mrs Lovett, the pie maker who worked together with Todd to dispose of his victims. Set after her disappearance, this epistolary novel is composed of correspondence between a missing journalist and mysterious woman who may or may not be Mrs Lovett. As the letters become more and more unhinged, and evidence mounts up implying foul play is at work in our journalist's disappearance, the reader is forced to question whether or not the letter writer is a fantasist or the genuine article -- and is she truly a monster, or a product of a society that sees women only as wives or whores?
The initial mystery is intriguing, and the voices of each letter is strong, hinting at subplots beneath the main action and a story occurring just out of sight of the reader. This is lost slightly in the second half, when the "mystery" element takes a back seat to the more popular aspects of the Sweeney Todd tale, but by this point we are utterly invested in the rich and tangible world created by the authors. A last minute twist could be trite, but works in wonderfully melodramatic fashion, resulting in a fascinating and unusual novel with a unique voice that doesn't reinvent the pie, but serves it up with a delicious twist on a classic recipe.

Set in London in 1887, a dossier of evidence is discovered in an abandoned apartment.
The tenant is missing and what unfolds is is a mystery of horror
Sweeney Todd is infamous but what do we know of the people around him. Mrs Lovett is one of those people and the dossier contains letters and conversations between Miss Emily Gibson, an intrepid journalist, and a woman who may be the infamous Mrs. Lovett.
This is abrilliant and dark read. I absolutely loved it and Mrs Lovett was an intriguing character.

The Butcher’s Daughter is a dark, gripping, and utterly enthralling reimagining of one of literature’s most infamous tales. This novel breathes new life into the story of Mrs. Lovett, Sweeney Todd’s notorious partner in crime, offering a fresh perspective on the woman behind the pie shop on Fleet Street. With its richly detailed Victorian setting, intricate plotting, and chilling atmosphere, this book is a must-read for fans of historical fiction, gothic horror, and literary thrillers.
The story unfolds through a series of letters and documents, creating a sense of immediacy and intimacy that draws readers into the heart of the mystery. Set in London in 1887, the narrative begins with the discovery of a dossier of evidence in the abandoned apartment of a missing young woman. The dossier contains a chilling correspondence between Miss Emily Gibson, an intrepid journalist, and a woman who may be the infamous Mrs. Lovett. As the woman recounts her life story—from her tumultuous upbringing on Butcher’s Row to her harrowing escape from a mad doctor—the layers of her past are peeled back, revealing a tale of survival, betrayal, and vengeance.
One of the standout features of The Butcher’s Daughter is its masterful use of the epistolary format. The letters between Miss Gibson and the mysterious woman are filled with tension and intrigue, creating a sense of unease that builds with each page. The author’s attention to historical detail is impeccable, bringing Victorian London to life with vivid descriptions of its bustling streets, shadowy alleys, and the grim realities of life in the 19th century.
The character of Mrs. Lovett is reimagined with depth and complexity, transforming her from a one-dimensional villain into a fully realized figure. Her voice is compelling and haunting, as she recounts the events that shaped her life and led her down a path of darkness. Miss Gibson, too, is a fascinating character, whose determination to uncover the truth drives the narrative forward. The dynamic between the two women is electric, filled with tension and mutual fascination.
Thematically, The Butcher’s Daughter explores issues of power, survival, and the lengths to which people will go to protect themselves and those they love. The novel also delves into the societal constraints placed on women in Victorian England, offering a poignant commentary on gender and class. These themes are woven seamlessly into the narrative, adding depth and resonance to the story.
The pacing is excellent, with the tension building steadily as the mystery unfolds. The twists and turns keep readers guessing until the very end, and the final revelation is both shocking and satisfying. The blend of historical detail, gothic horror, and psychological intrigue makes this a novel that is hard to put down.
If there is a minor critique, it is that some readers may find the epistolary format challenging at first as though we are learning the story by snooping through someone's letters. However, this is a small quibble in an otherwise masterfully crafted novel.
The Butcher’s Daughter is a standout addition to the expansive canon of Sweeney Todd-inspired works, offering a fresh and compelling perspective on a classic tale. It is a novel that will appeal to fans of Sarah Waters, Gregory Maguire, and anyone who enjoys a richly detailed and atmospheric historical thriller.
A chilling and immersive reimagining of a classic tale, The Butcher’s Daughter is a must-read for fans of gothic horror and literary thrillers.

I really enjoyed this book. The story is told through letters between Margery and a journalist who is trying to find out if Margery - a current resident in a convent - is the infamous Mrs Lovett. The story tells the incredibly tough life that Margery led. I found the story engaging throughout and well paced.