"The Hangman's Secret" by Laura is the latest Victorian Mystery novel in a series which already has two published works. It is based in 19th century England.

I love whodunits. and this is one of the good ones. Even though the lead protagonist, Sarah Bain, is a figment of the author's imagination, she is portrayed as being close to reality. Not only are her positives conveyed in the most part, her negatives are given equal importance. I'd like to think that the author wants to convey the message that to be a hero, one need not be perfect. Our choices decide who we are as a person, and our jealous, angry, or expectant nature doesn't make us any less than others. And to balance the equation, we need someone with opposite traits, and the secondary protagonist, PC Barrett, clearly fits the role.

A thrilling story, vivid details, and able-yet-accepting characters make this novel a good read.

There are quite a few silly editorial mistakes in the book. Since, the book is yet to be published, I hope it will go through another round of proofreading.

If it were up to me, I would have titled it "2 minutes and 50 seconds". Why? Better read the book to find out. I am not the one to give away spoilers!

Lastly, thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.

Verdict: Recommended.

A murder within a murder, a conspiracy within a conspiracy.

Set in 1890 London, this Victorian mystery begins with the death of the hangman, Harry Warbrick. His body is found in his own pub, The Ropemaker's Daughter, with his head decapitated. When Sir Gerald Mariner, the owner of Daily World newspaper dispatched crime scene photographer, Sarah Bain and her friends of detectives to the crime scene, they unanimously agreed that Warbrick is murdered. His death may be connected to the execution of Amelia Carlisle, "The Baby Butcher". As they are getting closer to the truth, so does the danger Sarah is putting her life into. Her past which she wants it to stay buried, is at the risk of being exposed too. Can Sarah and her team unravel this murder mystery before it's too late?

Firstly, I was not aware that The Hangman's Secret is book 3 in this Victorian Mystery series. I am glad that this was not an issue at all as this book can be read as a standalone. I did not miss out anything as Rowland gives a brief recap when she made references to the past events from book 1 and 2. This did not disrupt the flow of the story but rather added more substance and flow to the storytelling. I really appreciate it when an author does this in the book. I didn't feel that I miss out anything! Instead, it enticed me to read the previous books!

Solid plot all the way through. It is focused and consistent albeit the multi layered mysteries and conspiracies. The plot intrigues me as I have not read anything about hangman story during the Victorian era. I learnt quite a bit about the hangman's job and how execution was done by reading this book. It is certainly refreshing for me. The setting of this story also showcases the dark and rough side of Victorian London - the grim realities of life in the poorer part of London.

Characters are diverse with their unique backstories which were delineated slowly throughout the book:

- Sarah Bain - a crime scene photographer who owns S. Bain Photographer & Co, and works for Daily World newspaper. She is dating PC Thomas Barrett. The dynamics of their relationship is interesting and there are always conflicts between them due to their professions;
- Lord Hugh Staunton - a disgraced man after a scandal was unleashed exposing him as a homosexual;
- Mike O' Reilly - the youngest in the team and is a former street urchin;
- Fitzmorris - a butler who possesses indisputable loyalty to the team especially to Hugh;
- Sir Gerald Mariner - Sarah's employer and the owner of Daily World Newspaper;
- Inspector Reid - Sarah and Barrett's enemy

This is the first book I've read from Rowland and it will not be my last! Although it does reminds me of Anne Perry's Pitt series, but I still enjoyed the suspenseful plot, mellifluous storytelling and engaging writing. Overall, this is a mystery story that will keep readers turning the pages till the end. Do not miss out!



***I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All views expressed in this review are my own and was not influenced by the author, publisher or any third party.***

I enjoyed this book. It was sort of a soul soothing plot line that kept me reading constantly. The Victorian England setting/history given throughout the book was warming. I am excited to explore more books by this author!

First I want to say thanks to netgalley as well as the author/publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This is a very well written story that the author has obviously done her research in order to make it so accurate as to the living conditions, as well as dialect in the Victorian times in London. The story is about a photographer, Sarah Bain, who is asked to photograph the murder scene of one Harry Warwick. Mr. Warwick is the towns hangman and he has hung his last criminal. The story moves as someone has called for a contest to hopefully get the crime solved between the newspaper and the police. Sarah must now do some detective work of her own. She needs to look into the background of a woman, Amelia Carlisle, who was hung by Warwick for killing infants who were in her care.
She also must deal with personal issues as well that actually enhance the story and allows the reader to learn more about the main protagonist. I love the way this was written and I must say that I did read some of the reviews before I read it. That being said, I really think that the writer had made a few mistakes and did go back to reference another book, which I had not read, but I do not think it hinders the book in any way. It just made me want to read it.
Overall, I give this one a 4 out of 5 only because there were a few times that things went on a little further than it should and that was a distraction for me.

The Hangman's Secret is full of action and suspense. Its characters are loyal to each other, but I found them to be a bit cookie-cutter. I enjoyed the unique friendship between Sarah, Lord Hugh, and Mick, but the three of them had so many antagonists - perhaps a few too many for my taste. 

However, the pacing was good and the setting of the mystery was enough to keep me entertained. There were also enough suspects and distractions to delay the actual culprit-reveal in a satisfying way. I do wish that Sarah was a bit more assertive. Maybe then she wouldn't get pushed around (literally and figuratively) as much as she does.

Four stars for this Victorian historical mystery!

I love Victorian Literature, books about Victorian history and society, books based in Victorian times, basically anything remotely 'Victoriana'! So I was looking forward to reading The Hangman's Secret, part of a series of books by Laura Joh Rowland about Sarah Bain, an intrepid photographer and her band of friends.

However, I have to admit that I didn't like this novel. I was put off on page one by the first of many anachronisms that grated on me throughout the novel and made it difficult to settle into the rhythm of the story. I enjoyed the plotting and some of the characterisations but having a woman born and bred in London in the 19th century refer to sweets as 'candy' and the time as '635' is just unnecessary.

I am sure that others will enjoy these exciting stories, and Sarah Bain is a woman to admire, but I won't be reading any more of this series.

I favor historical fiction and this story was engaging from the start. Enjoyed the period details and the well developed characters. It was easy to picture the streets, buildings and towns people milling about, so yes, I would read other books by this author!

Definitely Victorian atmosphere adds so much to the delight of the reader! The characters are quite relatable and believable and the situations they get in really add to the suspense of the wtory. Amazing details of that era certainly added to the enjoyment of the book!

I really like this series! Laura Joh Rowland is one of my favorite authors of Victorian mysteries! I have read the other books in this series and it just keeps getting better. In this book Sarah, Hugh and Mick are called on to investigate the death of Harry Warbrick, a local pub owner. He is also the top hangmen. Their investigation leads them to a very gloomy prison and the secrets involved in the hanging of a baby killer. Many twists and turns as the truth comes to light. Highly recommend! Can't wait for the next installment!

When Sarah Bain and Hugh Staunton’s fledgelin detective agency solves the kidnapping of Sir Gerald’s son, he offered them positions on his newspaper. Sarah is the official photographer and they received a summons to the scene of Harry Warwick’s murder to document the crime scene. Harry was the official hangman in London and has now met his end, having been hung in his pub. Sir Gerald announces a contest between the newspaper and the police to solve the crime, pitting Sarah against police constable Barrett, her current suitor.

Sarah discovers that there was an irregularity at one of Harry’s recent executions. Amelia Carlisle was hung for the murder of a number of infants placed in her care, but the officials in attendance are prohibited from talking about it by the Official Secrets Act. That did not stop Harry from talking, but was this the reason for his murder? When his assistant hangman is also killed, Sarah must look into Carlisle’s background to discover a reason for the murder and any ties to those in attendance at her hanging.

As Sarah searches for answers, she also has a personal mystery to solve. Years earlier, her father deserted his family after being accused of murder. In searching for her father, Sarah discovered a half-sister who has now reported seeing him. Sarah’s search leads her to disturbing revelations about her own family and sheds new light on her father’s case, but brings her no closer to finding him.

In Laura Joh Rowland’s third entry in her Victorian series she offers a look at London’s prison that is gritty and disturbing, almost becoming a character in its’ own right. She also explores the relationships that Sarah and Hugh have in their personal lives as well. They both face obstacles that seem insurmountable, but ultimately receive the support of their loved ones.

From the opening pages to the final solution The Hangman’s Secret was a true page turner. I would like to thank Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

A very fast paced mystery! I enjoyed the story and will have to go back and read the first two in the series.if you like Victorian mysteries with romance, this one for you!

First, I have to say that I love the way Ms. Rowland develops her characters. There is such detail of their lives. I loved the storyline but also the telling of others aspects, such as Sarah’s ongoing search for her father. The mystery kept me engaged until the end. Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this book and enjoyed the characters, it did frustrate me in places in how the main character was quite self blaming but overall really liked it

A mixed group of Victorian era amateur sleuths investigate the murder of a prominent hangman.
The plot was a bit plodding and the author seemed to force interactions and roll out clues in a blunt fashion rather than build expectations. The main female character, Sarah, wasn't particularly interesting and struggled between being a strong female and a shrinking violet.
The author also threw in gratuitous sexual encounters that did not forward the plot. That might prevent me from recommending it to some mystery fans.

Thank you, Netgalley, for this arc. I am loving these books and I can't wait to read the next one! I love Laura Joh Rowland's writing style and the mystery and the characters kept me engaged.

This book was not as good as it could have been. The premise of the book , with a photographer protagonist was intriguing. I felt the book lacked depth in character development. I think a certain reader would enjoy this book.

A Victorian murder mystery, fully evoking the suspense and secrecy of the period and presenting an intriguing plot and characters, 'The Hangman's Secret' is the third in the series by Laura Joh Rowland. There are many good qualities to the text, including a sincere attempt to embody the language and culture of the era and present a Victorian London that will be familiar to many who have read books set in the time. There are slippages that remind us that this is a modern writer and some Americanisms that reveal themselves on occasion, but this does not detract from a well-written and engaging story on the whole. The protagonists are all endearing and hold a charm that cannot fail to catch the interest of the readers - Sarah Bain, a crime-scene photographer/wannabe sleuth and her trusty sidekicks, Lord Hugh Staunton and Mick O'Reilly, are a strange mix, but somehow work together and their undying loyalty to each other is credible and heartwarming. The plot, although a little protracted in parts, does work, and after a somewhat slow start, builds well and ensures the reader's attention is held to the climax, with twists and turns provided en-route.
The mystery itself, that of who killed the hangman responsible for ending the lives of criminals in Newgate Prison, provides the whole plot, as Sarah and her crew pit themselves against the police and other reporters, whilst avoiding a whole host of dangers from seemingly everyone around in one of the most notorious parts of Victorian London. The big question is, will they find the killer (or killers) before the police and, as a sub-plot, will Sarah learn more of her own family history and save her potential future into the bargain. The novel is definitely worth a read and will be sure to entertain.

An enjoyable book with plenty of intrigue. Readers that are starting midway through the series are given more than enough backstory to enjoy the plot. A little heavy on the romance, this Victorian mystery gives an interesting look into London.

This mystery was better than the previous novel. It kept me guessing till the end. This time, the novel was not anywhere near predictable. Sarah has really grown as a character. She is more mature. I look forward to reading what is next for Sarah and her gang! In the meantime, I have yet to read the first book in the series! I plan on reading it soon!

Being the third book in the series of adventures of photographer Sarah Bain and her friends, The Hangman's Secret was very easy to catch up with. It was easy to catch up with the story so far and the story got my attention. I'd love to read all of the books in order now.

A very unusual bunch of characters: gay disowned lord, street urchin and an unmarried young woman with a very murky past. But I guess it takes a team of people with nothing to lose and nothing to constrain them to get to the bottom of the matter. And the matter is very grisly and wrapped in may layers of time, lies, secrets and evil deeds.

The main London Hangman ends up dead just the way he worked - by hanging. As it turns out, it is a murder. And every murder needs a motive. And every murder needs... to be solved.

Who solves it first: police or the team of colourful misfits who work for rigid, tough and cruel business magnate? Will the murderer end up in jail or on the pages of metro newspaper?

I enjoyed this book. I loved the atmosphere, the colours, the language. The story is populated by characeters that are easy to like or to hate. I got cold and scared or hot and embarrassed, furious and bashful together with characters. I'd love to see how their adventures unfold.

Will there be a happy ending all around? I doubt it very much. The times the characters live in, the society, the choices they make - happiness would be very short-lived. But their cases... that's another story.