William Sutton

Campbell Lawless is given the assignment of taking a count and the histories of the prostitutes in London. Not and easy task or a safe one. Between bawdy houses, and houses that catered to the hourly trade it is a world that is kept under wraps. It is also a world with ties to the gentry.

It is Victorian England where manners, and class distinction are important in projecting the image of propriety. It is also a time where erotic literature, prostitution, human trafficking, and violence runs show more rampant behind the façade of propriety.

While taking this count, or survey, Lawless finds that there is a tie to something much bigger that is orchestrating the doings. It is elusive but has the hint of being run by someone who is at the top of society. The problem is that no one is willing to talk, or if they do it is the end of them.

Enlisting the help of a few of his 'friends' from the lower classes, Lawless keeps pushing to find the connections. Putting himself and some of his friends in jeopardy, he finds connections that put people he respects in a different light. Not a good light, either.

This was another read that kept me reading. At times it was erratic, but still captivating. There was a bit of eroticism that I didn't expect, but it helped paint the desperate and dreary world of the prostitutes and people who were part of it. I know I will read others in this series as I find them. show less

This book took a little for me to get into it. The writing style of dividing the text into periods throughout one - two years was helpful. The intrigue did hold my attention. Once into it, I was drawn forward from page to page wondering what will happen next, who was good, who was diabolical. I am interested in reading his other two works about Lawless written in 2016 & 2017.

While I enjoyed the character of Campbell Lawless and the introduction to Miss Villiers I found the book overly long and a bit tedious. The author, William Sutton, did an excellent job of describing the lives of the "lower class" during the Victorian period. Also describing the changes that were occurring during that period. The story itself would have been better, for me, if the book were at least 100 pages shorter. It isn't that I don't recommend this - it is that this book wasn't really show more for me. show less

I normally enjoy all Victorian England mysteries, but not this one. Campbell Lawless is a wanna be, he gets involved in all sorts of messes. I did manage to read the whole but it was a long read.
***I received this book in exchange for an honest review***