The year is 1890 and Sarah Bain, crime photographer for the Daily World, has been summoned to the scene of a grizzy death. With her associates Lord Hugh Staunton and street-wise Mick O’Reilly, she goes to the Ropemaker’s Daughter, a pub in Whitechapel owned by the official hangman for the British government. There they find the hangman Harry Warbrick dead. The initial response is that Warbrick committed suicide, but an examination of the scene quickly proves otherwise. Warbrick’s head, still in the noose, was actually severed from his body which had dropped to the pub floor. No reputable hangman, and Warbrick was the best, would botch an execution this badly.

Someone murdered the hangman and tried to cover it up. The suspect list is soon narrowed to the seven witnesses to Warbrick’s last execution of the notorious baby murderer Amelia Carlisle. Sometime happened in the hanging shed but the witnesses are bound by the Official Secret’s Act and cannot reveal anything. Sir Gerald Mariner, owner of the Daily World, challenges the police to a contest; his paper will uncover the killer before the police do and he gives the task to Sarah and her friends. So begins an intense and terrible examination of Newgate Prison and the corruption within the penal system and the police department before the murderer is revealed.

A second plot, carried over from the first two books. concerns Sarah’s search for her fugitive father who disappeared twenty years earlier after being accused of the rape and murder of a child

I had not read the previous books in the series, but I had no trouble with the considerable backstory. I was soon immersed in Sarah’s London, with its polluted air, gas-lit streets, and colorful inhabitants. This is a fast-paced mystery with strong characters. Everyone has secrets and flaws. Highly recommended.

Sarah Bain and her two friends Hugh and Mick are called by their journalist boss to a gruesome murder. A hangman that has been beheaded! Although the three are despearate to solve another mystery, their actions are seen as meddling by the local police. Add to the mix both Sarah and Hugh's personal relationship problems with the men they love and Sarah and her half-sister, Sally, searching for their father- a wanted man, and you have an action packed story!

Although I had not read the two previous stories The Ripper's Shadowand A Mortal Likeness, there are plenty of illusions to Sarah and other characters past relationships that it could be treated as a stand alone. However, there were parts of the novel that seemed a bit drawn out and repetitive. Also, I didn't really buy into Sarah and Barrett's relationship especially after they meet with his parents in the book. Because of this fact I could not go any higher than a 3 in my rating.

As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Sarah Bain wakes to the pounding on her door just before daybreak. The rude awakenings are part of her lifestyle. Sarah lives above her photography studio and has a sideline for photographing crime/murder scenes in the Whitechapel High Street neighborhood. She and her two partners, Mick and Hugh, have been employed by Sir Gerald Mariner who runs The Daily World newspaper. What awaits her a few streets over may not be fit to print.

The body of bar owner, Harry Warbrick, has been found on the floor of his establishment in a bloody mess. Harry is a victim of his own trade. He moonlights as a hangman to bring in extra cash. It appears that ol' Harry got tripped up on his own rope tightly tied around his neck from the upper floor. Harry ended up at the wrong end of his rope. Murder? But his former "customers" never hung around to retaliate. Then who?

Sarah delivers the plates to Sir Gerald who wishes to get a leg up on the police investigation. He challenges Sarah to take the lead in finding out what happened to Harry Warbrick. She and her partners had a private inquiry service before hooking up with the newspaper. This will play havoc with her love interest PC Thomas Barrett. Is it possible to refrain from telling Barrett all that she knows about the crime?

The Hangman's Secret is the third offering in the Victorian Mystery Series by Laura Joh Rowland. It definitely
reads as a standalone. Rowland nicely fills in the backstories when needed. Rowland swirls the scenery with the sights and sounds of London in 1890 with its factories puffing horrendous chemical fumes and rivers appearing thick in their flow.

Rowland's choice of characters are wide and varied. Even Sarah has some painful experiences from childhood surrounding her father who may or may not be guilty of a serious crime. She still continues to search for him. Rowland slides the true crime character of Amelia Carlisle who actually ran a baby farm during this time period. This tough investigation may have a connection to Amelia as well. Rowland will keep you on your toes with quite the action. The ending will escalate to lives being in mighty danger.

I received a copy of The Hangman's Secret through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to Laura Joh Rowland for the opportunity.

This was an easy and enjoyable read, especially if you like murder mysteries set in Victorian Britain.
The story-line did twist a little and deepen further into the book although it was not too difficult for the reader to ascertain where the plot was headed. Sometimes I felt the main character was a bit naive with regard to her own safety and that of her friends so that made the detecting a little unrealistic. Otherwise, though, the description was evocative of that era and I would be happy to read the other books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this copy in exchange for an honest review..

When I requested this book I hadn't realised it was set in Victorian times. If I had noticed I wouldn't have gone for it. How blinkered was I, I was drawn in and hooked after the first couple of pages and then couldn't put it down. I will certainly read more by Laura Joh Rowland even if they are set in Victorian London.

Love the female lead! The story was a fast paced, great mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed it! I will be looking for other books by this author.

This is the third book in the Victorian Mysteries series,yet the story was very easy to read,despite frequent references to the two previous books,which I haven't read.
I found this story to be very atmospheric and evocative of London circa 1890. There is a strong female character, Sarah Bain,who is employed by The Daily World newspaper to take crime photos. This seems to be at the cutting edge of female occupations at this time. I also loved Lord Hugh Stanton,disowned by his family for the grave sin and illegality of being homosexual.
I was also delighted to meet the famous Inspector Edmund Reid,of the Ripper murders fame, the two names are synonymous at this period of time. Due to the hints about how the Ripper met his demise,I am now going to have to read the first two books in this series,who doesn't love a good murder,and Jack the Ripper still exerts such a fascination today.
The initial murder in this book refers to Harry Warbrick,found hanged and decapitated. Thought at first to be a suicide ,doubts were raised, as such a notorious state hangman, would have known the weight and pressures of a body needed to hang without the head being removed. This murder also has a link to Sarah's long disappeared father and half brother,with shameful family secrets being revealed.
Starting slowly and building up to a thrilling finale, there is a marvellous wealth of details and good research in this book. Pleading your belly and being incarcerated in an Asylum is spot on,whereas Baby farming seems so modern. There was good detective work in Leeds,when,following the ramblings of a lunatic,a murderer is revealed hiding behind a false persona .
I greatly enjoyed this book,I could almost smell and taste the sights of Olde London,and some were extremely gruesome!!
I have posted a copy of this review to Goodreads today.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Laura Joh Rowland, and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Laura Joh Rowland takes readers back to Victorian England to continue this mystery series that proves addictive from the opening pages. Sarah Bain and Lord Hugh Staunton have worked well together in the past and, after some results in a recent kidnapping case, have been hired by Sir Gerald Mariner to work at a recently acquired newspaper. Sarah’s skill at photography is sure to help sell copies, alongside the passion she and Hugh have for solving crimes. When they are sent to a murder scene on a tip, Sarah and Hugh discover a decapitated man. He is soon identified as one of the hangmen used across England to execute those deemed worthy of death. During an encounter with the local police, a competition ensues to see who will find the killer first. Sarah and Hugh begin poking around and learn of the hangman’s ties to a ruthless killer, one Amelia Carlisle, who ran a baby farm and was found to have murdered many of the little ones in her care. Working undercover of sorts, Sarah and Hugh make their way to the prison to learn a little more about Carlisle, where they meet the select group who witnessed the hanging. Between learning about this, Sarah’s half-sister comes to call, where she admits that she may have seen their father. Benjamin Bain was thought to have died over two decades before, having disappeared after a clash with the police. However, Sarah came to discover that he had a second family, using a pseudonym. She also discovers that he is wanted as a person of interest in the rape and murder of a young girl, around the time of his disappearance from the Bain household. With new information, Sarah his determined not only to find her father, but clear his name of this heinous crime. When new revelations surrounding the Carlisle execution leaks to the press, Sarah’s job is in jeopardy, though she has other matters on her mind. A killer is on the loose, targeting those who know all about the execution, but Sarah is also keenly aware that there are secrets in her own family that must be revealed before she can learn the truth for her own peace of mind. Rowland has penned another winner, full of great plots and interesting characters. Recommended for those who love mysteries set in Victorian England that have unique twists.

I chose to read the first two novels in the series before jumping into this one, as I felt that it would help enrich the experience. I am pleased that I did so, as Rowland effectively lays the groundwork for this book and develops her characters well in the first two pieces. This novel is just as exciting, set another year or so after the Mariner kidnapping and two years after the Ripper scare made headlines. Sarah Bain remains an interesting character, sure to interest most readers for her relatability and constant curiosity. A photographer by trade, Sarah uses her amateur sleuthing capabilities again in this novel, accentuated by grit and determination to get to the answer. Rowland did well to develop her into a quasi-investigative reporter, utilising all her skills. Lord Hugh Staunton remains her effective sidekick, though it is his interest in keeping things secretive about his true identify that acts as the form of development the reader must accept in this piece. Hugh has been disowned by his family for his homosexuality and his recent relationship could cost everyone a great deal, if it becomes public. Some of the secondary characters shape the story effectively, particularly Police Constable Thomas Barrett. PC Barrett struggles with his love for Sarah and his dedication to the job. His superiors have made it known that Sarah is not welcome to poke around, leading to some interesting secret keeping and revelations between Barrett and Sarah throughout. Overall, the story worked well and kept my attention through to the final sentence. Wonderfully developed in the middle of Victorian England’s most crime-filled years, Rowland captures the feeling of those dark and troubled streets in London’s less savoury neighbourhoods. Rowland has created an interesting series that mixes history with key elements of a decent mystery. I will keep her on my radar and hope that she continues this wonderful series that is both highly entertaining and easy to read.
Kudos, Madam Rowland, for keeping the series fresh with new ideas and established storylines. Victorian England comes alive in your descriptions and I hope the series will continue in the years to come.

I received this from Netgalley

I fell in love with the cover and I really enjoyed this book. Now, when I read this I was not aware that it was book 3 in a series, so I was a bit lost but that I my fault for not researching more into this before I grabbed the book.

Will I go back and read the others, probably not since I read this one because I more and likely ruined the other books for myself. But I still enjoyed the book.

Well researched Victorian era mystery with plenty of action and a collection of interesting characters. This 3rd episode stands well alone, despite a long running story arc. Those who have followed this series in order will have additional insights, but I started here and found it a satisfying read.

This is the third installment in the Victorian mystery series. Sara, Hugh and Mick have been hired to photograph corpses at crime scenes.. One particular corpse they photograph is a hangman. Who would want to kill the hangman? The chase is on between the police and our threesome to determine the killer. Twists and turns abound, and Sara takes a serious hit to her credibility to solve the murder. But she persists, in spite of Inspector Reid trying to trip her up, losing her job, and in spite of Barrett's pleas for her to leave it alone.
Sara and Barrett's relationship is becoming clearer, and Sara's distrust of him is crumbling. Sara also continues her quest to find her father, and she learns some surprises along the way.
I like this book more than #2. The pacing was tighter, and the characters are growing in depth and feeling. The series continues to grow as well, and the plots are tricky and well thought out. I look forward to the next installment.
I received this book in return for an unbiased review from Net Galley.

This is my first Laura Joh Rowland book and the third in the series. I did not find it necessary to have read the other two books. Victorian mystery is not the genre of book that I would usually read but the book description appealed to me and I’m glad I did. I liked her main characters - Sarah Bain and her friends Hugh Staunton and Mick O’Reilly. Crime Photographer Sarah has been sent by the Daily World newspaper to take pictures of the crime scene. Then she’s told by Sir Gerald, the owner of the paper, that she is to investigate the murder in a sort of contest with the police. And winning the contest is everything to Sir Gerald because he still holds a grudge against the police at how they handled his son’s kidnapping. Also, they can run a series of follow-ups in the paper which will generate sales. There’s lots going on in this book - from personal relationships to gruesome murders. Ms Rowland’s characters are well developed and likeable - I enjoyed her description of 19th century London. An enjoyable read.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

London in the 1890s is damp, dark and smoky. The perfect setting for a villainous mystery. Sarah Bain is a photographer, quite an unusual occupation not only in that time, but especially for a woman. Sarah works for the local paper, the Daily World, and is at the beck and call of its editor, Sir Gerald Mariner. Sir Gerald likes to publish stories that sell, or the early edition of today’s tabloids. Sarah is often sent to grisly scenes of murder that would cause even the strongest of men to cringe. Yet Sarah is one plucky woman. She isn’t daunted by much.

Sarah lives in a house with Mick O’Reilly, a fourteen year old former street urchin; Lord Hugh Staunton, one dashing gentleman; and Fitzmorris, Lord Hugh’s valet who also stands in as cook, housekeeper and anything else needed. Mick is supposed to be going to school, but he prefers to hang out with Sarah and Lord Hugh carrying equipment and solving crimes.

In this book, Sarah is awakened by someone calling her to a crime scene of one Harry Warbrick, a hangman who is hanged by his own rope. Harry also runs a local pub below his residence. Sarah records the scene of the crime, but is not convinced of the guilt of the man they arrest. Sarah decides to investigate her own leads, along with Hugh & Mick. With this they are off on a dangerous mission to unearth the truth.

This is the third book of the Victorian Mystery series by Laura Joh Rowland. I had not read the previous two books, and this book can definitely stand on its own. Once you’ve enjoyed one of the series, my bet is that you would probably enjoy the others. I am looking forward to catching up with Sarah, Lord Hugh and Mick in the other books.

I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. First off - I didn't realize that this book was part of a series but this didn't seem to hinder my enjoyment of the book. I felt the book started off just a bit slow but then it picked up and I enjoyed it. I liked the characters - i found that they were interesting and intriguing. This book was a good murder mystery.set in the late 1890's. and I liked its storyline. I haven't read this author before but I would certainly be inclined to read her other works.

This is my first experience with Sarah Bain and her friends Lord Hugh and Mick. They are working for Sir Gerald of the Daily World newspaper. They are called to photograph the murder of The Hangman Harry Warbrick’s body, himself hanged and decapitated. The newspaper introduces a contest to find the murderer but they have competition in ruthless reporter Malcolm Cross. They are lead on a chase of many red herrings but it always comes back to the haunting place of Newgate Prison and the secrets it keeps. This is a fast paced thrilling mystery with even some of the horror of places in Victorian Britain brought to life. It will be well worth following the life of our three musketeers.
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am enjoying this series and look forward to more. This is the second I've read and after reading it I went out and got the one I hadn't read. I like the 3 main characters, as well as Sarah's boyfriend. I also like the Victorian England setting. They mystery is well done. Sarah and friends believe the hangman's death is tied to a hanging he had done earlier and so they investigate that as well. While I don't think you need to read the other books in the series to enjoy this one, I think you'll get more out of it.

I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. - A good read.

I didn't realize when I started this book that it was third in a series. Consequently, some of the backstory was missing for me, but I think it can be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone.

The book begins when a hangman is found murdered. Daily World reporters race the London's police force to see who can capture the killer first.

I like the author's writing style and I'm interested in reading the first two books in the series! This will be great for readers who enjoy historic mysteries!

Fabulous book. I couldn’t wait to pick it back up and carry on reading. I loved the characters and became completely immersed in the story. The story line was was interesting and very well written. It was easy to visualise the scenes and characters without being over the top. I don’t want to spoil anything but based on the ending of this book I hope there will be another book to follow on from this. Would absolutely recommend this book to everyone

LOVED! This book was well thought out! The plot and characters are imaginative and drove the story along well. A definite one click read

When I first read the blurb for The Hangman’s Secret, I was undecided if I wanted to read this book or not. While I like mysteries, I have to be in the right mood to read them. But, seeing that the book was set in one of my favorite time periods (The Victorian Era), I decided to take a chance on reading it. While I am glad I took the chance on reading it, I was unimpressed with the book. It didn’t surprise me or astonish me. I was a little disappointed in it.

The plot for The Hangman’s Secret was a good one. Sarah and her friends are dispatched to a crime scene by the paper’s owner, Sir Gerald Mariner. There has been a gruesome murder. Sarah, a crime scene photographer, arrives on the scene to find out that the victim was a hangman. Pushed into solving this murder before the police, Sarah finds out that the victim was the hangman for a notorious baby murderer. She also finds out that something happened at that hanging. Whatever that was, someone was willing to kill the people who were at the hanging to keep them quiet. Can she solve it? Or will her reputation, her relationship, and friendships be ruined? Also, will she be able to finally track down her father? Or will she discover something about her past?

While I enjoyed reading The Hangman’s Secret, I felt that it dragged in spots. Mainly in the middle. I was mentally urging the characters to do something to bring the plot out of its lag. Which happened but I almost DNF’d the book before it happened. Also, the beginning was slow. There was too much time discussing the characters backgrounds and storylines from the earlier books. I am here to read this book, not to read about Sarah, Mick and Hugh’s adventures with Jack the Ripper and kidnappers. If that could be cut back a bit, the beginning wouldn’t be so slow.

Sarah bothered me. Because this is Victorian England, I get that she should have been a little reserved. But she wasn’t. She was determined to be an independent woman. Which was unheard of in those days. She was the one that Sir Gerald talked to when he wanted something done. She was the one that took on the job of finding her father. She called the shots in her relationship. It was unheard of in those days for a woman to have as much power as she did. I hate to say this (because I am all about girl power) but I wished she was more like women of that era. Because it was not realistic the way she was.

I liked the mystery angle of the book. The author did a great job at keeping the identity of the killer hidden until the end of the book. I did think it was going to be one person and I was surprised at who it was. I did feel that all the red herrings and false leads weren’t needed. The whole Cross angle of the mystery didn’t do it for me. It actually made me aggravated that one person could be so nasty. As for the mystery of Sarah’s father, it was well done. But there were more questions than answers.

The romance between Bennett and Sarah screamed of dysfunction and took away from the story. While I appreciated that Sarah had someone to love her, I didn’t like that it became a focal point in the plotline towards the end. I also didn’t like how Sarah was judged on her looks. It wasn’t even other people, she put herself down.

The author tied the storylines up nicely at the end of the book. I thought that the ending went on a little longer than I thought. There was no big twist. I also had questions about DCI Reid. Where did he go? There was no mention about him at the end of the book. Seeing that he was Bennett and Sarah’s nemesis, I would have thought there would have been a mention about it. I did like that the author left enough room for another book.

What I liked about The Hangman’s Secret:

The plotline. I enjoyed it
Being set in Victorian England
The end of the book
What I disliked about The Hangman’s Secret:

It dragged in spots and was slow to start
Sarah. She didn’t match the stereotype of women of that era
Sarah and Bennett’s romance
I gave The Hangman’s Secret a 3-star rating. The plotline and the mystery angle of the book was enjoyable to read. I also liked how the book was ended. But, the story was slow to start and the plotline lagged in spots. Also, I didn’t think that Sarah fit the stereotype of women of that era. I also thought that Sarah and Bennett’s romance was dysfunctional and brought no added depth to the story.

I would give The Hangman’s Secret an Adult rating. There is sex but it is not graphic. There is violence, sometimes graphic. There is no language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I am on the fence if I would reread The Hangman’s Secret. I am also on the fence if I would recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Hangman’s Secret.

All opinions stated in the review of The Hangman’s Secret are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**