A twisty-turny tale of a serial killer set in Victorian London. Inspector Field first solves this case in Crimea where a madman targeted nurses and Florence Nightingale herself. So, case closed and we flash forward twelve years to London and Field no longer an Inspector but discovering yet another woman’s body with the long ago killer’s signature embroidered rose in her mouth. Was Field wrong or is there another gruesome killer on the loose? Plot twist after plot twist in this one with surprises all the way through. The killer is extremely creepy and the detailed scene setting with descriptions of everything from Victorian homes, hospitals, and even the sewers was very well done. I was drawn into the story and the historical aspects of it as the plot touches on the tension in London over the Voting Reform Act and how the characters are affected by it. Field has a family and they are part of the plot, interacting with the investigation and maybe even … the killer. 3 stars. I was given a copy, this is my own opinion.
2023-05-09