Scan barcode
louismunozjr's review against another edition
3.0
Rating this as a 3, but closer to a 3.5. The author deserves thanks and praise for researching and presenting this fascinating case. A few strikes, though; there were some mistakes that could have been easily caught, such as a scandal that took place in the 1890s that several times is mentioned as having happened in the 1870s. In addition, one of the most obvious questions is never even touched on, that of genetic testing. While it doesn’t prove everything, it’s strange that the possibility of DNA research is not at play, even if just to say that so-and-so have been asked but have refused. HAVE they been asked? HAVE they refused? Thus, a story that is bound to still leave some questions unresolved is made more opaque than necessary, in my opinion. Having said that, I did not feel my time wasted.
indianajane's review against another edition
1.0
I read just enough of this book that I consider it read instead of set aside. But it was just so badly written. Was an interesting premise, But the book did not deliver.
hananhn's review against another edition
1.0
Well, I really enjoyed the Black Dahlia by the author, but not this book.
plaidpladd's review against another edition
4.0
This was very interesting and well-researched. I kind of wish it hadn't been written like such a true crime narrative with cliffhanger endings on every chapter, though. The story was compelling enough on its own without gimmicks.
froydis's review against another edition
5.0
Thanks to Edelweiss and Liveright for early access to this title.
What a completely fascinating book! The writing style is good - for most of the book it reads like a novel. But any novel with this plot would be dismissed as "too unrealistic!" The twists and turns of this strange story are beyond prediction, and very interesting. Very much in the style of [b:Black Diamonds: The Rise and Fall of an English Dynasty|2155023|Black Diamonds The Rise and Fall of an English Dynasty|Catherine Bailey|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348990431s/2155023.jpg|2160528], its a compelling look at both the people and mores of the Victorian era. If you enjoy true historical crime / mystery stories, you'll love this book. A Must Read!
What a completely fascinating book! The writing style is good - for most of the book it reads like a novel. But any novel with this plot would be dismissed as "too unrealistic!" The twists and turns of this strange story are beyond prediction, and very interesting. Very much in the style of [b:Black Diamonds: The Rise and Fall of an English Dynasty|2155023|Black Diamonds The Rise and Fall of an English Dynasty|Catherine Bailey|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348990431s/2155023.jpg|2160528], its a compelling look at both the people and mores of the Victorian era. If you enjoy true historical crime / mystery stories, you'll love this book. A Must Read!
jobatkin's review against another edition
3.0
There was a lot to like about this book, especially in the first half. I am usually a lot more interested in fiction than non-fiction, but the extraordinary events and people in this book would have been more at home in a fictional story. That and the excellent writing made it quite a good read. The second half of the story did drag on a bit though I thought, and I found myself wanting the book to just finish already. The author does do a great job of bringing to life the many and varied characters in the book and is an excellent window into Victorian era life in London.
slireads's review against another edition
3.0
The subject matter was really interesting. I didn't know anything about Victorian society going in, but it was explained nicely. I guess I'm a firm "meh" after finishing. There are other historical books I've enjoyed much more, and I think the difference is that the writing in this one wasn't very gripping. Not a bad read, but I wouldn't pound the table to convince someone to pick it up.