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 . . .

"Ms. Walsh does a splendid job depicting Minnie's flea-bitten yet appealing theatrical world and Albert's monied yet treacherous milieu" - Wall Street Journal

"Walsh's diligent research pays off in spades here, and her rich and nuanced portrayal of the period will leave readers feeling like they're on the soggy streets of London... Un-put-downable" - Publisher's Weekly, Starred Review

"This atmospheric debut historical mystery captures the world of music halls and the danger to women in Victorian London" - Library Journal (Starred Review)

"Neatly weds historical detail and quiet wit" - Sunday Times