This dark Victorian tale that vividly creates the underbelly of life of the times in a similar style to Sarah Waters’ early books covering the same period.
The year is 1831 as The Wicked Cometh opens and we are treated to an alarming newspaper cutting:
‘This newspaper has taken note that the past month has been remarkable for the prevalence of cases where men, women and children are declared missing. Scarcely a week passes without the occurrence of an incident of this type’
Down the dark alleys we go, through the putrid mud, into a room with damp walls, a mud floor and precious little to eat although the master of the house always manages to find a shilling for his sup of gin and we meet Hester White who lives with the occupants Jacob and Meg and their twin children having lost her parents in her native Lincolnshire and been taken in by the pair and moved to London. The family is now down on their luck and Hester is desperate to find a way out.
With the sights, sounds and smells excellently depicted there is no doubting that this is an atmospheric read and Hester is a likeable and lively protagonist to lead us on the dreadful journey and one that has us meeting all sorts of likeable and frankly revolting characters along the way whether the mode of transport is by carriage or shank’s pony.
The first half of the book really sets the scene and at times this seems a bit too meandering for my tastes with those like Hester who are left to live by their wits being compared to the well-heeled who quaff wine and dress in exotic clothes whilst carrying out good deeds in their spare time. So we meet the Brock family, the surgeon son, his spinster sister Rebekah and the old gentleman Septimus, the one who holds the purse-strings and therefore gets to make the rules. And Septimus wants Rebekah married but it doesn’t take a genius to work out why this scholarly woman is not really cut out for the life of a lady who wafts around. By coincidence some of the missing have links with the Brock household and Rebekah is trying to work out where they have gone.
There are plenty of characters and at times I confess got a little confused as they blended into one sorry tale after another, never really quite being distinct enough to merit a full role in the drama.
The pace really picks up in the second half of the book with the investigation into the ever-growing number of missing, those who are invisible except to those who read the increasingly long list of names pinned to a hoarding in the hopes that someone will know where they are. There is action and danger, a need to win trust to prise the secrets out and to know who to divulge the snippets to, how trustworthy are the new Bow Street Runners and will they do something to help?
There is a lot to enjoy in this terrible tale, one where the gloom is never far away in those dank and dreary times told with pleasingly consistent prose.
I’d like to thank the publishers Hodder & Stoughton for allowing me to read an advance copy of The Wicked Cometh; this review is my thanks to them.
First Published UK: 1 February 2018
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
No of Pages: 352
Genre: Historical Crime Fiction
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Actually, the early part of the 19th century is not my favorite time period. I greatly prefer the late 19th – Jack the Ripper time, you know. However, this one sounds good-ish for me. I’ll keep it in mind.
LikeLike
I do like all things Victorian so the time period was good for me and it was definitely atmospheric, just a wee bit slow in places.
LikeLike
This one sounds as if the idea was better than the execution – I’ve seen a few slightly disappointed sounding reviews of it. A pity, because it has one of my favourite covers of the year so far.
LikeLike
I did have high hopes but you’re right the idea was there but the execution was lacking… it is one beautiful cover.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This sounds very atmospheric and creepy, Cleo. I do like it when an author is able to create a strong sense of atmosphere like that. As you know, I like historical fiction, too. I’m glad you found a lot to like about this one.
LikeLike
Oh yes the author certainly set the scene well – there were plenty of good bits although it was a bit weaker than I’d like in others.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you liked it more than I did. I liked the settings and character depiction and agree that some of them are convincingly revolting.
LikeLike
I was disappointed because this had all the makings of something terrific but fell a little bit flat in the end.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, this book really sounds so intriguing, full of character of days gone by. Will add this to my list. Thank you Cleo for a great review.
LikeLike
Haha I wondered who this new commentator was – you are most welcome bikertravels 😉
LikeLike
Tempting…although I don’t read a lot of books from this period. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLike
Thanks for taking a look – not every book is for everyone!
LikeLike
I have a really beautiful edition of this book, with a velvet cover – looks like you might have the same copy? I haven’t read it yet.
LikeLike
I had it in eBook but the cover is very beautiful indeed! I hope you enjoy it if you get around to it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, I will definitely read but there’s a lot of books ahead of it!
LikeLike
Aren’t there always 🙂
LikeLike
I’m glad that the pace picked up towards the second half! 🙂 Lovely review.
LikeLike
Sounds like a lovely, wicked little tale! Very atmospheric…
LikeLike
This was high on my list of most-anticipated 2018 releases, but has fallen a bit after I’ve read quite a few disappointed reviews. I’ll probably still read it at some point, but I will no longer be rushing out to buy it. The premise sounds so perfect though!
LikeLike
Great review! Looks interesting. I love that historical era.
LikeLike