WINNER OF THE HWA DEBUT CROWN AWARDSHORTLISTED 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 Times1876, 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 . . .