Title: The Hangman’s Secret by Laura Joh Rowland
Victorian Mystery Series Book Three
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Genre: Historical, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 304 pages
Book Rating: B
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
From award-winning author Laura Joh Rowland, a story about the darkness that lurks within and the deadly secrets that beg to be revealed.
Intrepid photographer Sarah Bain and her motley crew of friends are back to hunt criminals in the dark, seedy underbelly of Victorian London, but little do they know, the darkness may lurk closer than they first divined.
Photographer Sarah Bain and her friends Lord Hugh Staunton and sometime street urchin Mick O’Reilly are private detectives with a new gig—photographing crime scenes for London’s Daily World newspaper. The Daily World is the latest business venture of their sole client, Sir Gerald Mariner, a fabulously wealthy and powerful banker.
One cold, snowy January morning, Sarah, Hugh, and Mick are summoned to the goriest crime scene they’ve ever encountered. A pub owner named Harry Warbrick has been found hanged and decapitated amid evidence of foul play. His murder becomes a sensation because he was England’s top hangman and he’s met the same fate that he inflicted on hundreds of criminals.
Sir Gerald announces that the Daily World—meaning Sarah and her friends—will investigate and solve Harry Warbrick’s murder before the police do. The contest pits Sarah against the man she loves, Police Constable Barrett. She and her friends discover a connection between Harry Warbrick’s murder and the most notorious criminal he ever executed—Amelia Carlisle, the “Baby-Butcher,” who murdered hundreds of infants placed in her care.
Something happened at Amelia’s execution. The Official Secrets Act forbids the seven witnesses present to divulge any information about it. But Harry had a bad habit of leaking tips to the press. Sarah and her friends suspect that one of the other witnesses killed Harry to prevent him from revealing a secret related to the execution. What is the secret, and who hanged the hangman?
Review:
Set in London in 1890, The Hangman’s Secret by Laura Joh Rowland is a spellbinding historical mystery. Although this latest release is the third installment in the Victorian Mystery series it can be read as a standalone.
Photographer Sarah Bain lives and works with her friends, Lord Hugh Staunton and fourteen year old street urchin Mick O’Reilly. They now work for London’s Daily World, which has been recently purchased by Sir Gerald Mariner. Working as a crime scene photographer for the paper, Sarah, Hugh and Mick head to the pub where Harry Warbrick recently committed suicide by hanging himself. The scene is grisly and Sarah immediately picks up on things that point toward murder rather than suicide. Returning to the newspaper to process her photos and report to Sir Mariner, Sarah is dismayed when her boss instructs her and reporter Malcolm Cross to solve Warbrick’s murder before the police. Can Sarah investigate Warbrick’s murder without ruining her relationship with Police Constable Thomas Barrett? Will Sarah, Hugh and Mick solve the case before the police?
Certain findings at the scene of Warbrick’s death point Sarah in the direction of his most notorious hanging. Thanks to Sir Mariner’s connections, Sarah and Hugh head to Newgate Prison where they question the staff who had contact with murderess Amelia Carlisle. Although they do not uncover any new evidence, Sarah remains certain Warbrick’s murder is connected to Amelia’s hanging. But will she find the information she needs to solve the case?
In addition to the their investigation, Sarah, Hugh and Mick are also juggling a few personal issues. Young Mick’s crush on actress Catherine Price adds an unexpected complication to their efforts to identify Warbrick’s killer. Hugh’s secret relationship could lead to trouble with Sir Mariner. Sarah continues to be conflicted about her relationship with Barrett. He is ready to take their romance to the next level, but Sarah’s self-doubts and abandonment issues make her reluctant to make a commitment. She is also still searching for her father and when she antagonizes her nemesis Inspector Reid, he utilizes the police force to carry out his revenge.
The Hangman’s Secret is a baffling mystery that is full of unexpected twists and turns. The characters are well-rounded and easy to root for. The investigation into Warbrick’s death proves to be very dangerous for Sarah and Hugh as they find themselves in very precarious situations. Laura Joh Rowland brings the novel to a thrilling and dangerous conclusion that will satisfy readers. Another clever addition to the Victorian Mystery series that I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend to fans of the genre.
