WINNER OF THE HWA DEBUT CROWN AWARD

SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA JOHN CREASEY DAGGER AWARD

'Delicious dark and compelling' Essie Fox, author of The Fascination

'A wry, warm and proper rib-tickling slice of dirty Victorian gothic' Julia Crouch, author of The Daughters

'Neatly weds historical detail and quiet wit' Sunday Times

1876, Victorian London.

The feisty Minnie Ward is scraping a living as a scriptwriter for the Variety Palace Music Hall when the body of her best friend is found in a dingy riverside archway. Minnie is convinced she was murdered and teams up with dashing private detective Albert Easterbrook to find justice.

Together they navigate the streets of London, from high-class gentlemen's clubs to shady drinking dens. But as the bodies pile up, they must rely on one another if they're going to track down the killer-and make it out alive .