River of Fallen Angels is the seventh in author Laura Joh Rowland's gripping Victorian series, well worth reading. In 1891 London is rife with crime, especially areas including Whitechapel. Crime photographer Sarah Bain Bennett is on the scene of a heinous discovery in the Thames, that of a female torso. She and her husband DS Thomas Bennett investigate with the help of Mick (was a street urchin in the past). The arrival of her sister Sally couldn't be better...in more ways than one. However, Inspector Reid is belligerent and stubbornly refuses their help as he is still resentful and bitter he did not solve the case of Jack the Ripper. He firmly believes the Thames Torso murderer is Jack the Ripper. In addition to these mysterious elements, the past is always hiding, ready to be revealed.

My favourite aspects include the well-written atmosphere and historical bits. Jack the Ripper references always catch my attention and the novelty of criminal profiling is fascinating. Some characters are likeable, others are not. In my view, Sarah's character is a bit washed out here. She doesn't seem as vibrant. However, it is probably circumstantial. Though not my favourite in the series I look forward to the next instalments.

If you seek a not so cozy Victorian Mystery series, you will probably really enjoy this. Life is portrayed in a gritty and realistic fashion without glossing over the class divisions and diversions of the time.

My sincere thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this fabulous book.

Laura Joh Rowland's Victorian Mystery Series is a delight for readers of historical mysteries. Like many such series it features an interesting mix of central characters, in this case a septet:

• Sarah Bain Barrett: abandoned by her criminal father as a child, she is now a photographer, crime reporter, and amateur detective and is married to—
• Thomas Barrett: a detective-sergeant and Sarah Bain Barrett's husband
• Lord Hugh Staunton: a nobleman rejected by his family and society after being caught in a raid on a gay club and now working as a crime reporter
• Fitzmorris: Lord Staunton's valet
• Mich O'Reilly: a former street urchin and assistant to Sarah and Lord Hugh
• Dr. Joshua Lewis: psychologist and friend of Lord Hugh
• Sally Albert: Sarah's half-sister—also abandoned by Sarah's father when he left the woman he'd left Sarah's mother for...

They all live in the same household except Sally and Joshua, who are newer to the group.

So what would my odds be of finding a group of this mix of individuals if I time-traveled to Victorian London? Slim to none, as they say. But fiction, including historical fiction, isn't time travel. It's a world based upon a particular moment in time that is shaped the the imagination of the authors and readers.

I quite like having women who are smart, who can take the lead, and who are considered equals to the men around them. I also quite like having a gay man who is discrete, but not at all ashamed of his identity. And, I also like having characters represent different class strata and areas of expertise.

This isn't my favorite book in the series. The introduction of Dr. Lewis has Sarah thinking in "psychology" a lot—which seems anachronistic and becomes irritating. She ponders things like "communication in marriage" in ways that seem that seem distractingly of the present moment.

The action here is fast and complex and involves our cast of characters working to solve a series of murders before their nemesis Inspector Reid can do so. Reid does all he can to intimidate and obstrutct. Our characters keep coming up with new ways to get around him.

If you like ahistorical-historical mysteries, you'll enjoy spending time with Laura Joh Rowland's unlikely cast of characters.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title; the opinions are my own.

Sarah Barrett is a crime photographer for the Daily World newspaper in Victorian London. Together with fellow journalists, Mick (a former street urchin) and Lord Hugh Staunton (making his own living after being disowned by his family) they have been successful before in solving several crimes and catching murderers, including one very notorious case that they can never talk about.

It's April 1891 and Sarah is photographing the rescue of a workman who fell off the construction of the Tower Bridge, when she spots the dismembered torso of a woman in the river. It’s the fifth such torso found in the Thames since 1887. Only one of the bodies has been identified, so nothing is known the murderer, nicknamed the Torso Murderer and how they choose their victims.

Sarah’s husband Thomas Barrett, a detective with the Metropolitan Police has been appointed to the Torso Murderer task force, headed by Inspector Edmund Reid who dislikes both Sarah and Thomas for their previous successes. To keep Thomas away from the investigation Reid assigns him to guarding the torso in the morgue and collecting names of those who come to view it. This only strengthens Thomas and Sarah’s resolve to conduct their own investigations along with Mick, Hugh and Sally, Sarah’s half-sister, also a junior journalist.

This is an interesting case with everyone having their own theories on the murderer. Reid is convinced that Jack the Ripper is responsible for the torso murders, even though the killings are quite different. Thomas has a list of suspects he is investigating and Sarah and Sally are following up ads placed in the newspaper by people searching for missing women. One such missing woman, leads them to a cultish church called the Haven of Love, presided over by the charismatic Reverend Patrick Eden-Smith. Sally’s instincts tell her something is not right with this man and his adoring female followers.

Although the pace is fairly steady, it does flag in the middle when the case stalls and everyone is following their own leads, but then picks up again as connections are revealed, reaching a surprisingly frenetic conclusion. Perhaps, because the series is well established, there wasn’t a strong sense of the place or era of Victorian London and it could almost have been a contemporary novel, especially given that the characters have quite liberated lifestyles for the period. However, that aside, it’s an intriguing mystery and a good addition to this series.

This was the first book I’ve read by this author and was pleased to see that even though it was the 7th book in the series that it worked well as a standalone. There were a few times I was left a bit confused when they referenced material from previous books, but that’s on me for just jumping into the series! I enjoyed the storyline and am planning on starting the series!

Thanks to Netgalley for my copy!

Another gritty, creepy installment of the Victorian mystery series. This was especially creepy, with dismemberment in murder and a cult-like religious leader. Also, we’ve increased the “family” with Anjali, Dr. Lewes, and a new reporter friend. A few relationships caused some concern, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

4 Stars
One Liner: Intriguing

London, April 1891
Sarah Bain Barrett (a crime reporter) and her gang are back in action. Sarah, Hugh, and Mick are at London Bridge when a mutilated torso washes to the shore. It resembles the bodies disposed of by the Thames Torso Murderer and creates a huge stir. Everyone wants to know if the killer is back.
The gang is up for the challenge to solve the case and boost the sales of the Daily News newspaper. Thomas Barrett, Sarah’s husband and detective sergeant, is also on the case though Inspector Reid wants him on the sidelines. Not to mention that Reid thinks Ripper is the Torso Murderer.
With little to no information available and random threads dangling around, can Sarah and Thomas find the killer before it’s too late? What happens when they have a difference of opinion? Does Dr. Lewes’ criminal profiling expertise help them?
The story comes from Sarah’s first-person POV.

What I Like:
As the seventh book in the series, it does work well as a standalone. However, knowing the characters will make it easier to follow their actions and thoughts.
Well, this book is better-paced than the previous one. (It dips in the middle but gains momentum in the last part). A lot happens and leads to a definite climax and ending.
Sally, Sarah’s younger sister, has an active role in the story, though her presence is still limited. She seems to be entering the main line, and I can’t wait to see her role in the next book.
The main plot is interesting and progresses well. We see an array of characters, each of them contributing something to the story.
Beloved Lamb as a polygamous religious cult leader, hit the mark. The setting of his ‘House of Love’ church, his multiple wives and their devotion to him, etc., are vivid and impactful.
Hugh is back in his previous avatar, which is great to read. Mick wavered, but I’m sure he’ll be his original self in the next one.

What Didn’t Work for Me:
Sarah and Thomas have disagreements again. While conflict is necessary to keep the story engaging, it is tiring to see them fight in almost every book after they’ve married (I started reading the series from book 5).
While Sarah’s voice is authentic to her character, it doesn’t feel as strong as before. Her personality isn’t forceful, even when she takes reckless risks. She feels more like a tired narrator than a determined woman (yeah, she is exhausted, but we can’t have it become a prominent part of her voice).
I’m not sure I like the shift in Barrett’s character. I hope it is temporary and limited to this book.

To summarize, River of Fallen Angels is an engaging Victorian mystery with people from the other side of London.
Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

This is the first book by this author that I have read. It was a long read but I enjoyed it. I thought the characters were well-written and the storyline flowed well. It took a bit for me to start to work out the murderer. There was a lot of reference to past books and I was disappointed that we were never told what happened. In most books where there is a reference to the past, we are told even briefly what happened. This left me wanting to go back and read the book before. I received this as an ARC from NetGalley and freely give my review.

Sarah Bain Barrett is photographing an incident at the London Bridge when she discovers a woman's torso floating in the Thames River. Other severed body parts are soon discovered nearby. This is not the first time that women's body parts have been found in the Thames, but Sarah is determined that these will be the last. As news of the Torso Murderer spread throughout London, many people believe that Jack the Ripper has returned. Sarah's nemesis, Inspector Reid, is determined to prove that the Ripper and Torso Murderer are the same person. Reid is also determined to find out what Sarah knows about the Ripper—and he has no problem attempting to destroy her life or the lives of the people she loves in his pursuit for the truth. Knowing that Reid is looking in the wrong direction, Sarah, her husband, her sister, and their friends place themselves continue their unofficial investigation and locate the killer before anyone else is killed.

Sarah and her crime-solving comrades are pulled in different directions as they search for the Torso Murderer, and their disagreements lead to discord. Sarah and her husband fight over the direction they think their unofficial case should take. Barrett wants to focus on some shady characters that he's known since his days as a policeman on the beat while Sarah wants to investigate leader of a religious cult that is into polygamy.

Overall, RIVER OF FALLEN ANGELS was a very compelling novel. The mystery was very interesting, and kept me intrigued. There are a number of suspects as well as clues and red herrings to keep the reader guessing. The middle section of the novel dragged a bit, but the plot picked up the farther they got into the investigation. My only real issue with the novel is the marital conflict between Sarah and her husband. In every novel, they are fighting about something involving the mystery they are investigating. After awhile, the disagreement gets old.

This seventh book in this excellent Sarah Bain historical mystery series is just as good as it’s previous entries, with an intriguing case and suspense that ties in with the king-running antagonist of the series.

A woman’s torso washes up from the Thames, and Inspector Reid, Sarah and Barrett’s long-standing nemesis suspects it’s tied to Jack the Ripper and he’s still trying to figure out what Sarah knows about Jack the Ripper. But when more bodies show up, Sarah and co. know there’s much more to this than meets the eye.

I do like these sort of gritty historical mysteries, it adds a level of realism because life in Victorian England wasn’t actually particularly pleasant. I like that these characters have flaws and there’s complex but real relationships and friendships between these characters. I like that we get a bit more of Sally in this one. This is definitely a series that you have to start with book one, because the relationships are more fleshed out and the long running story of what Sarah knows about Jack the Ripper and who it relates to future investigations is important.

Thank you so much netgalley for sending me this!! I appreciate it a lot but unfortunately it’s not my type of tea. This book is based off a true story if I’m not wrong. I felt like this book was boring, and incredibly a slow read. I’m a slow reader when it comes to mystery, thriller and this read was way too slow

Allow me to preface this review by stating that I am torn: there are some things I really liked about this story and others aspects I disliked a lot.

River of Fallen Angels tells the story of crime photographer Sarah Barret and the adventures she has with her husband, close friends Mick and Hugh, and her sister Sally. This story is set in London in the late 1800s which presents an interesting background to the story: historical elements such as carriages and horses but with a somewhat modern voice. This was contradiction one: at one point I read a character calling Sarah a 'b**ch' which kind of took me away from the old victorian times setting. I must admit that the modern voice of the author made this book an easy read so it compensates for that first contradiction.

Back to the story: it starts with the aftermath of the Ripper murder case resolution which is my second contradiction point. Throughout the book, that previous case is referenced multiple times without actually mentioning what happened. This was my first book in the series, so I am a late arrival to the party. However, I would still prefer either very few mentions of previous books; or if it is central to the story, to fully disclose what happened prior. I felt like I only read half of the story which is not necessary as I have read other similar books that managed this kind of situation differently. I am a strong believer that even books in a series should stand on their own, and in my personal opinion, River of Fallen Angels didn't.

Now what I really liked about the book: a female detective back in times when women were barely heard. Gay representation which is extremely important in any story. And a complicated but sweet sister relationship between Sarah and Sally. The book is easy to read and keeps you guessing what is next.

Some content warnings: explicit sex, murder, suicide, and child abuse. Additionally, might be worth mentioning that there is a lot of talk about religion, mostly in a negative light. Personally, I found this aspect accurate, but some religious people might find it offensive.

I think this book would be great for people that enjoy stories about cults, as this is a central topic in the storyline. Also, people who like a few explicit sex scenes (all consensual) and a bit of romance sparkled in a dark story.

While overall this book might not have been my cup of tea, I am sure a lot of people will find it enjoyable. Which side you fall on, is completely dependent on your taste.

Thank you NetGalley, Laura Joh Rowland, and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. River of Fallen Angels will be published in January 2023.

I loved it!

I am very happy that I came across this book and very thankful that NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an E-ARC of this wonderfully done novel. There was something about historical fiction x whodunit mystery books. Grappling at the straws thinking what's happening around the characters and throwing a relationship turmoil in was just chef's kiss for me.

Thank you once again to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Laura Joh Rowland’s River of Fallen Angels is a marvelous story. It takes place in the late 1800s in London, England following Jack the Ripper’s murder spree. A group of thirsty reporters working for a London paper get involved, taking you through the streets in hunt of another possible serial killer. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s a great read!

The next instalment in this victorian murder mystery series. Under cover of London's earie mist, our band of rebel investigators go all the way in uncovering the killer of the so called torso murders. A well written, fast paced, exciting story that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me an ARC.

"River of Fallen Angels" is a story based on the real unsolved Thames Torso Murders or Thames Mysteries. In April 1891, crime photographer Sarah Barrett and her friends were on the scene when an incident happened near the Thames River. In the midst of the chaos, she witnessed a severed torso washing up on the riverbank which led Sarah and her crew of friends to believe a serial killer from the past has struck again. Their eagerness to solve the cold case soon turned into an obsession.

Sarah's gut feeling told her the charismatic leader of a polygamous religious sect might have something to do with those grisly murders, while her husband, Detective Sergeant Thomas Barret, supposed it was one of the two shady characters that he's kept tabs on ever since the Jack the Ripper investigation. To make matters worse, Inspector Reid, who held a strong grudge against Sarah, was in charge of the police's hunt for the Torso Murderer. Having failed to solve the Ripper case, Reid obsessively wanted to believe the Ripper and the Torso Murderer were the same killer.

I found the story dragging, over-the-top, and contrived from time to time. The characters weren't very likable, even annoying at times. Sarah wasn't successfully portrayed as the main character; she was rather forgettable. The setting also didn't feel much like the Victorian era. All in all, I didn't like the book very much.

Its hard to come in one the middle of a relationship--or a series, but Rowland manages to handle it so that the new reader, like me, does not get lost in the tangle of who is with whom, they how and why of that while still being able to create a credible mystery set in the Victorian era. The interactions between the police and the others involved are credible (including one of them being married to a policeman) and the murders themselves, gruesome, yet handled with enough direction to give the reader an idea of how awful there are without grossing us out. The trail of clues is carefully laid, and the mystery ends with most strings tied up , but just enough room for another in the series. I've become a fan.

I found this story very slow for almost two third part that I read it in three instalments. A new reader might give up early on. I hope the author rectify it before publication.

A River of Fallen Angels is the sixth book in this Victorian mystery series. We pick up not too long after the previous book. In this one we are following the murder case of the Torso Murderer.

Sarah is back with our favorite familiar faces and even a new one that I'd love to see in the future. We really get a good look at Sarah and Barret's marriage up close and watch how the events of the past books have made an impact in both good and bad ways. It was so easy to connect with this couple in their 30s, it reminded me of my husband and myself.

I love that we got more interactions with her sister Sally and really hope we get more of her in the next book.

Has inspector Reid been on your naughty list for a while now ? He will most assuredly further upset you in this one, but things don't as planned for him and his fate hangs in the balance .

The first leg of this story was really great, the second leg lost my attention slightly, but once I made it to sixty percent things picked up and I couldn't put this book down.

There is LGBT representation in this, eerie bad religious people, young love, and an adorable dog.

I really look forward to the next book ! Thank you Netgalley for accepting my request.

Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent.

And there's plenty of seeds of guilt planted on the streets of the East End of London in April of 1891. The Whitechapel area still doesn't have the strength of a lead in the Ripper Murders. Ol' Jack has left his trademark killings of dead women to the horror of those who live there and beyond. But there may be a new murderer rising to the occasion.

We'll meet up with Sarah Barrett, a crime photographer who works for the Daily World newspaper headed by Sir Gerald Mariner. Sarah is surrounded by her crew. Mick was a former street urchin. Lord Hugh Staunton comes from money, but he's been turned away from his family because of his life choice. Sally Albert is Sarah's younger sister who works as a dedicated crime reporter. The group works together like a well-oiled machine.

But it is DS Thomas Barrett of the Metropolitan Police who has Sarah's heart. They've been newly married with not much time to honeymoon. Crime demands their time.

When a woman's torso is found in the Thames River, Sarah and her crew deliver photos and bits of a beginning story to Sir Gerald. Thomas has been assigned to cover the morgue when families come to identify this woman. Inspector Edmund Reid has been an evil nemesis for both Sarah and Thomas. Downgrading Thomas to the morgue is a bit of satisfaction to him.

When more bodies turn up, the group throws out different scenarios and unsettled leads at the moment. Laura Joh Rowland does a bang-up job of peeling away the known from the unknown. Rowland slips in a questionable mid-wife, Jack himself, a barber with razor talents, and a bizarre religious cult on the fringes. Rowland will make her readers unpack this one clue by clue. And what's better than an invitation to walk down the dark streets of the East End? Just heard my name. How 'bout you?

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to the talented Laura Joh Rowland for the opportunity.

Thank you to Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
This is the seventh story in this Victorian Mystery Series, and I have enjoyed all of them. This one involves Sarah Bain Barnett and her friends solving the Torso Murder Case. Lots of action and mystery along the way. Another good story in this series!