Book Review: The Hangman's Secret

Expected Publication: January 18, 2019

                                                                    👠👠👠👠

I enjoyed this book in the way that one enjoys comfort food- it soothes the soul and places one into an (action packed) coma, as it can be devoured whole. 

The Hangman's Secret is actually the third book of a Victorian Mystery series. There are several nods to their past adventures, but it strikes a balance - giving you enough information to deduce what you need to know; and not quite enough that it makes you curious on the details of the previous books. 

Sarah, Hugh, and Mick are basically a bunch of misfits, especially in Victorian London. They go around London photographing crime scenes for the newspaper The Daily World, while moonlighting as private detectives. In The Hangman's Secret, the top hangman in England is found hanged and foul play is suspected. There may also be a connection with his alleged murder and the execution of Amelia Carlisle, the "Baby-Butcher". It is a classic case of whodunnit. 

I think you have to choose this book knowing what to expect of it. It is definitely, in my opinion, a fast paced mystery/thriller that is rich in plot and characterization; but also a light read. I really ended up falling for this trio, and became invested in their personal and professional lives. 

It should be noted that the setting in Victorian London is used extremely loosely in some ways, but I'm not exactly complaining. There are some elements done quite well. For example, the regular role of the "pea-soupers" on the streets of London, the art of hanging (so interesting!), and the prisons and asylums. Also, the getting stuck in carriage traffic, haha, I wonder what that was like. On the other hand, the manner in which the characters spoke felt inauthentic for the era. For example, "She must have thought you were an idiot to fall for such a load of crap". I just don't know if that would have been said. I wouldn't pick it up if you are looking for historical accuracy, because I don't actually think this was the authors intention. This is simply a work of fiction, and it worked for me; but I think you need to be prepared for it. Perhaps having read the first two books would have provided that base. 

Lastly, there were a few writing techniques that grated me a bit, but, with that being said it was minor  and didn't distract me overall. For example, there was a part where they were looking at a picture of indistinct faces but also had other identifying features. The next excerpt said who those people represented. There are a couple examples like this through out the book where explanations simply weren't needed. 

Overall, I quite enjoyed this book and will definitely be putting the first two books on my TBR list. With an expected publication date a little far in the distance, it's the perfect time to get acquainted with this "motley crew"! 

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my ARC.