A brilliant historical novel set in Victorian London combining a heady mixture of sex, deceit, money and law.
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‘A triumph … Starling has created a witty and sympathetic heroine whose modern pluck enhances her charm' - Observer

‘A sinister tale that Sarah Waters' fans will love' - In Style
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London, 1859.

By the time Dora Damage discovers that her husband Peter has arthritis in his hands, it is too late - their book-binding business is in huge debt and the family is on the brink of entering the poorhouse. But Dora proves that she is more than just a housewife and mother. She resolves to rescue her family at any price and finds herself irrevocably entangled in a web of sex, money, deceit and the law.
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‘A scrupulously researched, racy tale … a worthy addition to the ranks of historical fiction' - Guardian

‘A writer of real accomplishment … Starling had that most important gift for a historical novelist: the ability to wear her research lightly and to integrate every fact into a well-stitched tapestry of plot, symbol and character' - Independent