There is something fascinating about the Victorian Age and mysteries set in that time period. The values and accepted behavior are so different from today. I love the fact that Sarah Bain is a photographer during a time when women are beginning to have more freedom. The two males are as interesting as Sarah. Lord Hugh Staunton is gay in a time when it is a crime and Mick is a street kid who they have taken under their wing. Add in Sarah's love interest Barrett, a police man and you have a great mix of characters to carry the story. The plot here has multiple paths and watching how it plays out made it hard to put down. This is book three and can stand alone but I did wish I had read the first two so I would know exactly what happened when those past cases are mentioned.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

There was a time when Laura Joh Rowland was known for her books set in seventeenth-century Japan with Sano Ichiro as the hero. The Ichiro books were great, and I looked forward to each new one which she published. Lately, however she has turned her attention to late Victorian England, and we readers are lucky for it. Rowland is a master, and she has written a corker of a book.

Photographer Sarah Bain and her friends Lord Hugh Staunton and Mick Reilly, who was formerly a street urchin, have formed a private detective agency and also work for the proprietor of a newspaper. At the beginning of the book they are called out to photograph a suicide by hanging, and if that weren’t gruesome enough, the corpse is decapitated. I don’t like spoilers, so I am not going to give any, but trust me, the book takes off from there. I couldn’t put it down.

This is a wonderful, clever mystery; very atmospheric and full of interesting characters. Do yourself a favor and pick it up, I cannot imagine anyone being disappointed.

The Hangman's secret is the third book in the Victorian Mystery series and, despite this, it is readable and easy to understand in the connections between the characters and in the situations faced by them. The protagonist is a woman, a journalist and photographer who works for a newspaper interested in the scoops in the same London of Jack the Ripper. Actually, the first case faced by our protagonist was precisely that of Jack the Ripper. I was happy to learn that the author has not included such prominent spoilers about the first two precedent in this book, giving the readers the opportunity to read and taste the first and second installment in the series as if it was the first time they met the main character and her friends.

Apparently in these days Jack the Ripper and Victorian Mysteries are really trendy and hyped, and I'm a fan of victorian stories. I don't know why, perhaps it attracts me the humid and hazy atmosphere described in this type of books, or the fashion of the time, with long-skirt dresses, hats and canes. Maybe it all comes from a problem that I have with History in general: when I am fascinated by an historical period I want to read and read and read about it, to understand the mentality of the people who lived in that period, their customs and their ideas.

About the book, I can say that I have found a good reading, pleasant and entertaining, which also includes several current topics, such as the role of women in society or the vision of homosexuality. The theme of press freedom is also important, as is the idea of the power that the words written in the newspaper have on public opinion. Remember that words always have a weight, whether they are written on the internet or written on a national, if not international, spreadsheet.
The protagonist then clashes with the dangers that a journalist photographer can have while working: unpleasant attacks, false news, misunderstandings.
I loved the relationship of the main character with her house mates, I liked their camaraderie and their trust in each other. The mystery itself was a bit slow at first, but then, after a particular fact, everything goes smoothly up to the very tight and powerful final scenes.

I was pleasantly surprised by the lightness of writing and the fluidity of the words, as well as the personality drawn by the protagonist. Of course, I did not always agree with her, and I did not always understand her, but at least she is not as stupid as other characters who try to investigate and get into troubles. Well, actually, she get in troubles in this book...
In conclusion I can say I'm satisfied with the reading: the plot intrigues, the story is interesting, the case develops well, even if you could do and say many more things, the second part of the text is very good. I recommend it for a reading that entertains, it can also thrill and amuse.

I would love to read the two previous books now!

This book just wasn't for me. I had a hard time getting through it because I was getting bored. I know some would love it but it just didn't keep me interested.

I haven't read thriller/mystery book in a while and The Hangman's Secret made me want to read more! I really enjoyed the story and I loved the characters. I loved how strong Sarah Bain is, especially for a woman of her time. This book makes me want to read more of Laura Joh Rowland's books as well! x

A fun read, but not very 'Victorian'. I enjoyed reading it, but was a little taken aback by the descriptions of Victorian London, Ely and Leeds, and the people. Also in Britain we open a box of chocolates and eat a chocolate - not a candy, that's an Americanism. If you know very little about Britain - and/or the Victorian era then it will be just a ripping yarn, but don't look to it for historical accuracy.

This was a decent cozy mystery set in Victorian London. I liked the characters and the book was a quick read. One plus is that you don't necessarily need to read the other 2 novels in the series to understand the what was happening in this book.

This is the first book i read in this series and it was a happy discovery.
I liked the relatable cast of characters and the well researched historical background.
The plot was engaging and keeps you guessing till the end.
Even I didn't read the other books in this series I had no problems in understanding the plot and the characters.
I look forward to reading the next instalment.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for this ARC

I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review. The Hangman's Secret is the third title in the series and may work as a stand-alone, but there are multiple references throughout the book to the first two titles. The Hangman's secret finds Sarah Bain, Mick, and Lord Hugh working for Sir Gerald at the Daily World; Sarah takes crime scene photographs. Called to a crime scene, the three are shocked by the gruesome site of the decapitated victim. It quickly comes to light that the victim (Warbrick) was one of a handful of men authorized to work as hangman responsible for presiding at hangings for criminals condemned to death. Warbrick was hanged and the event resulted in his decapitation; at first thought to be suicide, Sarah, Mick, and Hugh have a hard time believing that a hangman would so thoroughly botch his own hanging.

It appears that Warbrick's murder is somehow related to a recent hanging of a notorious baby farmer, but all the witnesses at the execution are bound from talking by the Official Secrets Act. Sir Gerald uses his pull to get the trio interviews with the witnesses at Newgate Prision. Although insistent that nothing happened, Sarah knows they must be on the right track when someone attempts to harm her and Hugh.

After Sir Gerald insists on publishing a story that Sarah doesn't think is ready to publish, when it turns out to be false, Sarah becomes a scapegoat and the trio is fired by Sir Gerald. Unable to let the murder remain unsolved, Sarah, Hugh, and Mick continue to investigate with some help from Sarah's beau Barret who is a member of the London police force. As they draw closer to the reason for the murder and the murder's identity, the danger continues to grow. Will the three all survive this investigation?

There is also a lot of progress made on the mystery surrounding Sarah's father who she believed to be dead, but is in fact alive. After being accused of the rape and murder of a neighborhood girl, her father disappeared and she was eventually told by her mother he had died. Sarah learns some very unexpected information on both her mother and her father that casts the allegations against him in a whole new light.

I really enjoyed this title and love the characters and the support they provide each other. The mystery was well done and kept me guessing until the final reveal. This book is perfect for finds of historical mysteries that enjoy series that allow the reader to follow the same characters as they continue to grow and develop. I'm looking forward to the next title in this series.

I enjoyed Laura Joh Rowland’s mystery series set in 17th century Japan featuring samurai detective Sano Ichiro, so I was certain I’d enjoy this story as well.

This is the third in her Victorian mystery series with photographer Sarah Bain, her gay friend Sir Hugh, and a street urchin, Mick. Ostensibly they work for the London’s Daily World newspaper which is headed by Sir Gerald Mariner, a wealthy former mariner and banker, but on the side they solve murders.

A criminal named Amelia Carlisle, given the sobriquet of the “Baby Butcher” for taking in infants for adoption, then killing them, was hanged by Harry Warbrick, who was later murdered—ineptly hanged. Sarah and her friends discover a tie between those two and the actor/nobleman who wishes to become the next Sheriff.

The relationship between the three (Sarah, Hugh, and Mick) is touching. They have disparate lives but form a family with ties strong enough that when Sarah must choose between them and her boyfriend, Barrett, a cop, she has a hard time deciding.

Their struggle to solve the mystery endangers all of them, their occupations, and Sarah’s love for Barrett.

Rowland, as always, does a superb job in capturing the time and place of her stories. The seedy underbelly of London comes to life in her capable hands, and her descriptions of the crime-scene photographs that Sarah makes are realistic.

Rowland continues her “Victorian Mystery” series with “The Hangman’s Secret.” We get to continue the story of Hugh, Mick, Sarah as they investigate a crime that seems to have links to Sarah’s lost father. The atmosphere and plot of this story are engaging, and I particularly enjoyed getting to watch the three individuals’ stories develop.

This book was so, so good. I looked forward to going back and reading more of Laura Joh Rowlands stories. I am going to rate this 5 stars on goodreads.

Sarah Bain is a photographer who is hired by a newspaper to photograph crime scenes. Her friends, Lord Hugh Staunton, once a highly respected member of society, and Mick O’Reilly, a fourteen-old street urchin who wants to be a grown up now, join her in her latest assignment. The three of them are disliked by most of the people who meet them, Sarah because she’s a woman working in a man’s world, Hugh because he’s a disgraced and disowned homosexual, and Mick because he’s uncouth. This unlikely trio get caught up in another murder investigation for which Sarah took the photographs. In this book, they’ve been pitted against the police by the owner of the newspaper who pays them. He wants them to solve the murder of the retired hangman who was, himself, decapitated in a botched hanging. So who killed him and why?

This is a well-written mystery featuring three likable characters and a well-plotted mystery. Rowland takes her time setting up the investigation and her characters investigate the crime one clue at a time. An interesting byline is the fact that Sarah is seeing the detective who is investigating the crime and he’s not happy with either Sarah involving herself in his investigation or the contest they’re both involved in.

This is the third book in the Victorian mystery series. Not to worry though, this book reads like a stand-alone with the author giving just enough information about the characters so as not to bog down this book with information from the previous two books.

This is the third installment in the Victorian Mystery series.

The trio of house-mates, Sarah, Hugh and Mick, need to solve the murder of the hangman who was hanged in his own pub. The story leads them around London and England, and into Newgate Prison. They make enemies and friends and eventually solve the murder, of course.

I liked that the main characters are a motley crew, a female photographer, a homosexual lord, and a schoolboy in love with a much older actress.

What I didn't like about the story, how the three friends came together is never really explained. It is hinted at and will certainly make sense if you have read the first two books. Since I didn't read the first two books in this series, I would have liked a little more background information.

I was skeptical at first - it's the third book in a series, about Victorian London, and about a female protagonist, which are three things that are out of my normal reading comfort zone. However, I gave it a try and I am glad I did! It was a very intriguing mystery with plenty of twists, turns, and action. All the characters were well-developed and I honestly did not feel like I was at a deficit for not reading the rest of the series. Even though the book took place about 200 years ago, I did not feel like it was super "old timey." I recommend this book to any fan of mysteries.

A well written addition to Rowland's Victorian mystery series. I would not recommend coming to this title without reading the first two books in the series. The characters background is quite established by this point, and small details would be missed if you have read the rest of the series. A dark and complicated mystery that holds your interest until the last page. I came to this book without the benefit of the other books in the series, and now I must read them.

Sarah, Hugh and Mick get their next case when they are called to a gory crime scene. A man - Harry Warbrick - is found who was decapitated after hanging. Sarah, Hugh, and Mick are quick to see that it was a murder. Their boss Sir Gerald tasks them with solving the crime which puts a new, hot-shot reporter's nose out of joint and doesn't endear them to the police department either. It especially causes trouble with Sarah's boyfriend PC Barrett and his boss Inspector Reid who already carries a grudge against them.

The case gets complicated when they learn that the victim was the hangman who executed Amelia Carlisle, the baby-butcher, who murdered hundreds of infants left in her care. The gang is sure that Warbrick's death had something to do with that hanging but happenings at hangings are covered under the Official Secrets act and they can't get anyone to talk.

This story was filled with twists and turns. All of the lead characters' romances were under pressure. Sarah and her police officer boyfriend are stressed because they are working as rivals on solving the crime. Hugh's relationship with Sir Gerald's son is not only stressful but also illegal according to English law. Mick's crush on an older actress is tested when she becomes the lover of one of the prime suspects in their case.

Sarah is also busy trying to find the father who abandoned her mother and her 20 years earlier when he was accused of raping and killing a young neighbor girl. Inspector Reid is determined to bring the whole case back into prominence to get his revenge on Sarah because she's a better detective than he is. In Sarah's quest to find her father, she learns some things about her parents' past which explains why her mother treated her the way she did.

This was an engaging mystery with a great setting and strong characters.

While working for the Daily World, photographer Sarah Bain with her two friends and co-workers, Lord Hugh Staunton and Mick O’Reilly, are called out to a crime scene. That of the hangman, Harry Warbrick. But is it suicide or murder. And if murder why? While working to find the guilty partner Sarah is still trying to find her father and so disapprove that he may be guilty of murder some years previously.
Throughout the book some of the dialogue seems a bit too far-fetched. While some of the relationships between the characters seemed somewhat forced. Overall a satisfying mystery even though I didn't take to any of the main characters.

I arrived late to the party for this series. The Hangman’s Secret is the third book in Laura Joh Roland’s Victorian Mysteries series. Fortunately, there are enough callbacks and exposition for me to feel like I wasn’t missing too much to understand the characters in this fair to middling mystery. There are problems with the writing in this book that almost put me off (discussed below), but the mystery itself was interesting enough that I just had to keep reading.

Protagonist Sarah Bain, with her partners Lord Hugh Staunton and the very-much-ragtag Mick O’Reilly have become semi-official investigators by The Hangman’s Secret. Sarah has been hired to provide crime scene photos for the ambitious owner of a London newspaper, Sir Gerald. Hugh helps as bodyguard and investigative partner, while Mick keeps his ear to the street to sniff out gristly murders and useful information. Neither Sarah nor Hugh is very happy with this arrangement, but it does pay the bills. As The Hangman’s Secret kicks off, Sarah and Hugh have been summoned to the particularly messy death of a local pub owner and hangman. It might look like the man hanged himself if not for the fact that everyone knows that he was a consummate professional who would never have botched his own hanging. (The details of the botching are definitely not for the squeamish.)

Sarah et al. are not allowed to treat the hangman’s death as just another job. Sir Gerald, in a fit of inspiration, declares that Sarah’s team and his new hire, a sexist reporter, will solve the mystery before the Metropolitan police. Sarah doesn’t want to be a detective. Her policeman lover definitely doesn’t want her to be a detective, either. But when the man with the purse strings gives an order, it has to be obeyed. Fortunately for Sarah and her partners, the people she interviews are generally willing to cough up all kinds of useful information. The ones who don’t go straight to the top of the list of suspects.

The way witnesses repeatedly give up information so easily was one of the things that bothered me about this book. It didn’t seem realistic to me the way that characters in late 1880s London would trust Sarah or that they all had such good memories. I was also bothered by Rowland’s missteps in the dialogue. There are a lot of too-modern phrases and sentences that a British English speaker would not say. The wrong notes irritated me. I stuck around because I had my own theories about what happened that I wanted to see confirmed. If nothing else, after reading the complicated Vita Nostra, The Hangman’s Secret was a chance for my brain to cool off.

I’m not interested enough to go back and read the first two books in the series and I doubt I will be keeping an eye out for future entries. I feel let down by The Hangman’s Secret because I know Rowland is a better writer and researcher than this. I really enjoyed her Sano Ichiro series, which is set in Shogunate Japan.

Set in 1890 London this novel features Photographer Sarah Bain, a photographer for “Daily World” newspaper though she usually ends up like a detective solving crimes even before the police do. She do this with her friends Lord Hugh Staunton and Mick O’Reilly. The books opens with Sarah called to a gory crime scene. A hangman named Harry Warbrick somehow died hanged and decapitated. The police, which includes Sarah’s boyfriend Barett, believes it’s a suicide but they can’t ignore the clues. Someone has hanged the hangman. And

Sir Gerald Mariner, owner of the Daily World, wants Sarah and her crew to find out what really happened. But suddenly, a name Amelia Carlisle, a “Baby-Butcher” showed up in their investigation and Sarah, Hugh and Mick never thought that they might be solving the most dangerous crime they ever encountered so far.

First, when I requested this book on Netgalley, I wasn’t aware that this is third in a series. But it didn’t affect my reading and comprehension at all. In fact, the author did an amazing job on inserting past information to give the reader more understanding.

Second, I was fascinated by the concept of this book. A hangman murdered by hanging and I haven’t really read anything with a hangman before. And then as the story goes on, I realized, I got more than I bargained for. There are plenty of twists and turns I didn’t see coming. I love how layered the mystery is. And it was well done. Even more complex because of Sarah’s personal problems in the way. The pacing is good and I’m usually entertained.

Third, the characters are unique and diverse with their various backstories. I love the friendship between Sarah, Hugh and Mick. It’s fascinating how much they love their job. 🙂 I also enjoyed the character of Barett. The romance between him and Sarah is shadowed by the mystery and crime aspect of the book and I think the author did a good job for doing so.

Now why I rated this a star short? There’s one character that I don’t understand the purpose except for antagonizing Sarah and her crew. The writing though overall is okay, it took me a while before I get into it. And for me, this book needs a serious editing. Just the first paragraph almost threw me off. I read the word ‘Window’ three times. That can be changed. There are also paragraphs where most of the sentences starts with the same pronoun. If I read it aloud, it won’t be good to my ears. BUT I AM READING AN ADVANCE READER’S COPY so I’m sure it’ll be fixed on the final copy.

Overall, I enjoy this book and this won’t be the last book I’m gonna read from this author.