'We have no need to protect ourselves from the bad sort because WE are the bad sort . . .'

'Beguiling' Stylist

The year is 1831. Down murky alleyways, acts of unspeakable wickedness are taking place and London's vulnerable poor are disappearing from the streets. Out of these shadows comes Hester White, a bright young woman who is desperate to escape these slums by any means possible.

When a chance encounter thrusts Hester into the beguiling world of the aristocratic Brock family, she leaps at the chance to improve her station in life. But whispers from her past slowly begin to poison her new existence, and lure her into the most sinister of investigations. As she finds herself dragged into the blackest heart of the city, little does she know that something more depraved than she could ever imagine is lurking. . .

'Carlin can tell a good story' Observer

'Contains lovely, lyrical writing . . . and a heady romance at its heart' Sunday Express

'A deliciously dark confection of a novel' Ruth Hogan

"Contains lovely lyrical writing . . . and a heady romance at its heart" - Sunday Express

"Carlin's great at conjuring up an image of darkest 1800s London, while her female characters are both of their time, while also being witty and modern" - Stylist

"Satisfying" - The Times

"Splendidly diverting . . . Spirited and highly readable" - Irish Times

"The darkest corners of Georgian London are gleefully drawn in this brilliant story" - Emerald Street

"Laura Carlin earns every single comparison to Sarah Waters she's going to get. It's a sterling, historical, dark, twisty novel" - Radio 4 Open Book

"A captivating debut that brings the squalid and sinister Georgian London to life . . . will appeal to fans of vintage gothic à la Wilkie Collins and Sarah Waters" - BookRiot

"Charming and a delight to read. An added bonus is that the cover of this book is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen." - Yorkshire Post

"Historical fiction with a lesbian slant usually begs comparison with Sarah Waters, but Carlin is more than up to the task as she carefully weaves an eerie, evocative tale where no one can be trusted and everyone - even Hester herself - has secrets" - DIVA Magazine

"Richly detailed with well-drawn characters and evocative language, THE WICKED COMETH is an entertaining piece of Victoriana-style literature that's sure to label Carlin as one to watch" - Culture Fly

"You can almost taste the gin and the soot . . . but we reckon you'll be enjoying it too much to care" - Metro