Welcome to Litsy!

I impulse bought this from Daedalus (why are the books so cheap?) because it was less than $5. This paperback edition has a handful of copy errors but those don‘t distract from the grisly tale of Victorian era murder. It‘s an unbelievable true gothic mystery: a lady‘s decomposed body is found in a family cellar. The author nicely contextualizes the rapid social, technological, political and economic changes of late 19th century England. 🦴

There should definitely have been another round of editing on this book as there were quite a few spelling and grammar issues, but the book itself was very good.

I enjoyed the way that it focused not only on the murder and the trial, but of the lives of all those who were involved and effected by it.

A day late posting, but this wraps up my #WinterSolstice reads, and just takes me over my page count 😁 #DashingDecember

60 pages down so far of this book 🖤 Not bad considering it was quite a busy night shift tonight 😎

A good read so far... very interesting and the writing is very engaging, but it seems to be jumping around a little bit. I'm enjoying it though, so we'll see how it pans out

Think I'm going to relax for an hour now with my current #AudioBook The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke before bed.

#DashingDecember #WinterSolstice

Victorian Britain is one of my favourite eras to read about & this book was not a disappointment. I thoroughly enjoyed this reconstruction of a true event.

The level of research by the author was evident in the detail, but it never became dry to read. The only quibble is that the conclusion seemed a little rushed to me. Rating: 4.5 🌟

Thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Quarto Publishing Group, for the opportunity to review an ARC.

This is the perfect example of well executed true crime. McKay paced this story expertly. There was a surprise around every corner.

Matilda Hacker is found dead in the coal chute of 4 Euston Square. An older tenant, she had not been missed until her body was discovered a few years later. Was the killer accused maid Hannah Dobbs? Or perhaps Severin Bastendorff, the homeowner and Dobbs‘s alleged lover? #netgalley

Call me crazy, but I had no idea that this facial phenomenon had a name—Piccadilly Weepers. 😆😆 I think it‘s time to bring it back.

The things you can learn from a book!

McKay wrote a descriptive narrative that mixes true crime and Victorian social norms with the emergence of a middle class. A decomposed body is found in the basement of a boarding house. The owner and his family are soon questioned as well as a former maid. McKay goes on to explain how an investigation, trial and prison sentences were carried out in England during the 19th century. #arc #netgalley

I picked some spooky reads from #NetGalley now that it‘s my favorite time of year - Halloween!! 🎃 👻 💀 🔪