Elizabeth Black runs a school for middle class girls in Victorian England. She is also an author of silver fork novels, books that are genteel enough to be considered appropriate for a single woman of her position and class. Secretly, she also authors very popular penny dreadful stories, which aren’t acceptable for her occupation. As such, she writes those under the pseudonym Mr. King. Fletcher Walker is also a penny dreadful author. Prior to Mr. King’s rise, he was the bestseller. Fletcher, along with other penny dreadful authors, have a secret “gentlemen’s club” that rescues street urchins and other destitute children from violence, starvation, and unfair laws. This book is a tale of how all these moving parts collide as a new threat drops up, as the mystery of who Mr. King is looms large, and as Fletcher and Elizabeth’s feelings for another bloom into a sweet romance.

This is a fast and uncomplicated story, much like an actual penny dreadful. I disliked the interspersing of both Fletcher’s and King’s penny dreadful serials between chapters of Elizabeth and Fletcher’s plot. However, they could easily be skipped as they don’t really impact the overall plot. Overall, this is a perfect beach read for those who prefer historical mysteries with a touch of romance to the typical chick-lit.

Miss Elizabeth Black runs a proper school for middle class Victorian girls and writes proper novels approved by the proper sort in society. But what nobody knows is that she also moonlights as a penny dreadful author under the pseudonym Mr. King, writing breathtakingly melodramtic serials full of adventure and romance.

Fletcher Walker used to be the king of the penny dreadful columns until his popularity as a serial writer was surpassed by the mysterious Mr. King. Determined to discover the identity of this rival, Fletcher and his fellow members of the Dread Penny Society, scour the streets of London, hoping to invite the elusive Mr. King to donate his gains to their humanitarian club.

Using the proceeds from their writings, the Dread Penny Society attempts to save abused children from a life on the streets. When Fletcher discovers that Miss Elizabeth Black has the same humanitarian interests, he enlists her to help him discover the identity of Mr. King. But what they both discover is an attraction that crosses the lines of class and that threatens the respectability Elizabeth needs to maintain as head of girls school.

This novel was a delightfully farfetched look at Victorian society. The story is interwoven with sections of both Fletcher's and Elizabeth's latest penny dreadfuls, tales that parallel the main plot exceedingly well. Besides all their work uncovering (and concealing) the mystery of Mr. King's identity, Fletcher and Elizabeth must thwart kidnappers, stop arsonists, and care for the most vulnerable in Victorian society. Recommended for those who enjoy a clean adventure and old-fashioned romance.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Enjoyed reading this fun,different historical romance.about authors in the 1800-1900 time period.
Elizabeth who writes books, Penny Dreadfuls and what they call silver -fork novels meets an another author Fletcher who also write Penny Dreadfuls books.
Just some good drama,suspense,drama and romance.
Voluntarily reviewed.

The story was different than I would have expected. Loved the main characters and the different perspectives into those troubling times. I did enjoy the penny stories better than the main line but all were fine. The story was good but just not one I would reread

I found this to be a delightful read. Very fun and different kind of plot. It is a three for one as the two Penny Dreadful stories mirror what is happening in the author's lives. I particularly found the Highwayman story to be intriguing. So yeah, a fun read.

I liked both the main characters though I often cringed at Fletcher's grammar and I love the idea of a secret society out to right wrongs and do good in the world. I loved that Elizabeth craved adventure and despite being constrained by society's rules so she found a way to vent her adventurous spirit by creating a pen name. And then when faced with adventure she did not step down but stepped right into the intrigue because it was the right thing to do.

All three stories in the book have a mystery to be solved and there is romance too. I loved it.

Sex: No but sex slave trade being fought.
Language: No.
Violence: Some, not too graphic

A fun read. Great characters, fun story. A enjoyed the Penny Dreadful novels that were interspersed with the story.

Set in 19th century London, "The Lady and the Highwayman" follows Elizabeth Black, headmistress and well-known authoress of "Silver Fork Novels" and Fletcher Walker, a former street urchin and well-known writer of Penny Dreadfuls. When a mysterious Mr. King rises to the head of the Penny Dreadful sales charts, Fletcher and his compatriots scramble to find the identity of the elusive "Mr. King." When Fletcher enlists the assistance of Elizabeth Black, he discovers that all may not be what it appears.

I was initially intrigued by the cat and mouse romance of the book, but what really drew me in were the two Penny Dreadfuls mixed into the story.

I would recommend this book to readers who like Regency/Victorian romance and mystery. As well as those who love books about books!

I was given this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for a review.

The cover, description, and title intrigued me, but when I started it, I wasn't sure if I'd like it. After a chapter or two, my doubts were relieved, and I entered into the spirit of the book about two writers of penny dreadfuls in the form of a penny dreadful and had a great time!

Below are a couple of interesting sources on the topic of the Penny Dreadful.

In the 1830s, increasing literacy and improving technology saw a boom in cheap fiction for the working classes. ‘Penny bloods’ was the original name for the booklets that, in the 1860s, were renamed penny dreadfuls and told stories of adventure, initially of pirates and highwaymen, later concentrating on crime and detection. Issued weekly, each ‘number’, or episode, was eight (occasionally 16) pages, with a black-and-white illustration on the top half of the front page. Double columns of text filled the rest, breaking off at the bottom of the final page, even if it was the middle of a sentence.
(<a href="https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/penny-dreadfuls">source</a>)


Of note, many famous authors contributed to the serials, Bram Stoker and Wilkie Collins to name a couple, and it was in “The String of Pearls” that Sweeney Todd made his first appearance, 1846 to 1847, by J.M. Rymer and T.P. Prest. (<a href="http://www.katetattersall.com/kate-tattersall-adventures-an-e-penny-dreadful-style-series/">source</a>)

Elizabeth Black, prim and proper headmistress of a girls' school in 1830 London writes acceptable novels for the more staid Victorian audience, but secretly, she also writes romantic and adventurous penny dreadfuls. Since the writing she most enjoys could undermine her role as genteel and respectable headmistress, Elizabeth writes her penny dreadfuls under a pseudonym.

Fletcher Walker, former street urchin and one of the most popular writers of dreadfuls, finds that his role as the most successful author in the genre is threatened by a Mr. King, whose stories have recently become wildly fashionable. Fletcher is also a member of the Dreadful Penny Society, a group of men who write dreadfuls and are intent on saving street children and fighting for the rights of the poor. (I thought I knew the Dread Master, whose identity is kept secret, but maybe not.) At any rate, the society is concerned for social justice.

Written with many of the stylistic elements of the penny dreadfuls, including illustrations (which my ARC copy from NetGalley doesn't include), a little sweet romance, dangerous rescues of children, good and evil characters, and class distinctions of the period. There are also two short stories, one by each author that have connections to the larger narrative.

What fun! I ended up thoroughly enjoying Sarah M. Eden's The Lady and the Highwayman.

Read in May; blog review scheduled for August 12.

NetGalley/Shadow Mountain Publishing
Historical fiction/Romance. Sept. 3, 2019. Print length: 352 pages.

I was a little worried when I started this story. You quickly come to find out the two main characters are writers. You basically get 3 stories in one with this book:} I wasn't sure this was going to work but it did and very well. You learned a lot about Fletcher from his stories. The way she twines Elizabeth's story around their own story is awesome. I loved this one. It is probably one of my favorite Eden's It had a light feel and a good mystery and romance! So much fun to read!

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Fletcher Walker is a well-known author of penny dreadfuls, stories full of mystery and intrigue beloved by working-class men. Less known is Fletcher's work with the enigmatic Penny Dreadful Society. Fletcher and his society brothers are advocates for the working class man, and donate the majority of their earnings toward their cause. However, when the newest penny dreadful author, Mr. King, begins to steal Fletcher's readers, the brotherhood becomes concerned for their cause, and so begins the search for the elusive Mr. King.

Elizabeth Black is headmistress to a middle-class, all-girl's school called Thurloe's. In addition to this, however, Elizabeth is an author of silver fork novels, the upper-class woman's answer to penny dreadfuls. Much like Fletcher Walker, she also has a secret life. Elizabeth Black is the very author Fletcher and his men are searching for. When Fletcher comes to Elizabeth to ask for help in their search, Elizabeth is determined to keep her secret. However, the mutual attraction between the authors is palpable, and the two struggle to keep on their tasks.

The Lady and the Highwayman is one of my favorite type of stories. I love mysteries and romance, and the combo included in a historical setting is absolute perfection. Add to that compelling and likeable characters, you've got the makings of an amazing story. I was incredibly psyched to read this, and the final product was an incredibly fun book to read. I loved how Eden included excerpts from both Elizabeth and Fletcher's penny dreadfuls, and how well they tied into the main story. I'll admit I wish there were slightly fewer, as they began to feel too similar to the main story, but I still enjoyed them a lot. My favorite aspect to this story, however, was the romance. I love-love-loved the relationship between the protagonists. If the author has more novels with even slightly similar romance, I'm in.

Overall, this novel was a great, fun read. I would easily recommend this to any fans of romance, as well as fans of historical mysteries. I truly hope to read more from this author!

4/5

Thinking this book was going to be about the title - I think I had a little of a confusing time of it in the beginning. Lots of characters set in Victorian London, and 2 separate short stories being retold amongst it all, was not easy to lay out. However, once I figured out what the plot here was, I really began to enjoy it.

The plight of the children either sold by parents facing poverty or orphaned and living on the streets of London has been championed by Fletcher Walker and the secret group of authors of the Dread Penny Society - having come from the streets himself. The mysterious Mr King threatens the financial support they rely on for their cause, and Fletcher is determined to find King. Elizabeth Black is a successful author in her own right and runs a school for girls. She is hiding an identity in order to write for the Penny’s and she must keep it a secret at all costs.

To be honest my favourite part of this book was the short story about the actual Lady & the Highwayman, and I kind of hoped that had been a separate book in its own right! Would have been awesome!!!

Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC. This is my honest review.

NetGalley Review

It’s the 19th Century in London and Penny Dreadfuls are sweeping the nation. Tales of adventure, mystery, and romance, Penny Dreadfuls have amassed quite an audience. Anyone of any class can lose themselves in these tales for a short while. A former street urchin, Fletcher Walker, owns his entire life to these stories. Now, Fletcher is one of the most successfully Penny Dreadful writers. Through his literary success, Fletcher provides shelter and comfort to poor children on the streets. But a new up and coming Penny Dreadful writer, Mr. King seems to hold most of Fletcher’s attention these days.

Elizabeth Black has a secret. She writes Penny Dreadfuls under the pen name of Mr. King. As Headmistress of Thurloe Collegiate School, Elizabeth’s upper-class lifestyle is anything but dreadful. But when Fletcher requests her help in search of the elusive Mr. King, things get a little complicated.

I was pleasantly surprised that there isn’t one but two Penny Dreadfuls throughout this book. Not only do they add to the story, but they make you feel as if you are actually in 19th Century London. Eden’s attention to detail and carefully crafted sentences also solidifies the setting. I really enjoyed Fletcher’s and Elizabeth’s relationship, especially in its early stages. However, it feels a little convenient and perfect in some areas. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I loved the aspect of writers chasing writers. Plus, I could never turn down a historical fiction set in London.

Elizabeth Black is a respectable lady writing classy silver-fork novels while running a school for girls. She most certainly would not be caught enjoying or endorsing those lowbrow penny dreadfuls, or at least that's what the patrons of her school would expect. Little do they know, Elizabeth moonlights as Mr. King, a rising star in the penny dreadful publishing world. Her hidden success brings Fletcher Walker, another penny dreadful author, into her path as he searches for the whereabouts of the mysterious Mr. King. However, it's not just Elizabeth who has secrets to hide. Fletcher belongs to the secret Dread Penny Society--a group of like-minded authors who are fighting for justice in the poorest areas of London. With their secrets swirling around them, Elizabeth and Fletcher go toe-to-toe against each other in a battle of intellect and cleverness as they attempt to protect their own interests as well as the interests of those they love most.

I was initially intrigued by the premise of a cat and mouse game between two authors, and this book definitely delivered a clever plot. The story line isn't suspenseful or surprising, but it did keep me entertained throughout the whole book. It helps that Elizabeth and Fletcher are likable characters. Elizabeth is a confident female character, and Fletcher is strong without being intimidated by an independent lady. Both deeply care about the people who have been entrusted to their care, and they also share a deep sense of justice. In terms of the romantic aspect of the story, it felt too simple, especially in the conclusion. I would have liked to see more ups and downs in their story arc, but the cleverness of the premise definitely helped dampen that particular disappointment.

Another clever thing about this book is that there are two penny dreadfuls being told within the story. It was a lot of fun to see those stories progress in light of the events that were occurring throughout the book. I particularly enjoyed the penny dreadful which gives the book its name: the Lady and the Highwayman. It was an interesting way to add to the plot!

Overall, this is a charming read, perfect for anyone who enjoys stories and good-hearted storytellers. If you're looking for something light and not difficult to read, this is worth a try!

Thanks to Sarah M. Eden, Shadow Mountain Publishing, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!

This book was a fun read! It was well written and was an interesting twist on the traditional "romance novel." The story-within-a-story premise was well executed, and the characters were easy to root for. Their evolution from the beginning of the novel to the end was enjoyable. Excellent read!

In 19th Century London, Penny Dreadfuls were "low-literature serials" featuring captivating stories of adventure, damsels in distress, criminals and monsters. For a "penny", laborers, tradesmen and children could purchase the newest weekly installment. Fletcher Walker grew up living the hardscrabble life of a street urchin. Only through a stroke of luck was he able to escape the desperate life he was leading where a street urchin could be beaten for walking slower than his master. Fletcher was now a top selling writer of Penny Dreadfuls. He was the largest financial contributor to the Hoggs School, the only school London street children could attend. He crusaded to help feed poor families, rescue girls from houses of ill-repute, and stop masters from abusing their working children. The rise of the mysterious Mr. King, a new writer of Penny Dreadfuls "...was, slowly, but surely, claiming an ever-larger slice of the penny dreadful pie".

Elizabeth Black was Headmistress of Thurloe Collegiate School. Elizabeth was "the picture of respectability". She had written several "silver-fork" novels, novels for and about the upper class. Her well-ordered life included attending silver fork or political salons that helped generate school funding from the "elevated class"... but...Elizabeth had a secret! She wrote Penny Dreadfuls under the pen name of Mr. King. Her most profitable works included "Excesses of emotion. Dastardly villains. Daring escapes. Sword fights. They were exaggerations of the most delicious sort, exciting the senses, palpitating the heart, offering an escape from the doldrums of life"...but..."A lady in her position could be respected or she could be adventurous. What she could not be was both."

Fletcher Walker belonged to the Dreadful Penny Society, a clandestine society of Penny Dreadful writers who met in an undisclosed location."Being made known would keep them from helping and rescuing and doing the good that meant so much to them." The elusive Mr. King was upsetting the applecart. Who was he? Fletcher studies King's stories. "He don't write the same as the rest of us. He's got class, more sophistication." Fletcher enlists the help of Elizabeth Black, a silver fork novelist who hob-nobs with the upper crust of society.

"The Lady and the Highwayman" by Sarah M. Eden was a delightful historical romance. Interspersed within the novel are two Penny Dreadfuls. Such fun! I wonder if perhaps this tome should be marketed to the teen/YA audience.

Thank you Shadow Mountain Publishing and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "The Lady and the Highwayman".