Who doesn’t want to know more about Mrs. Lovett?! This Fleet Street monster has stolen my affection since Helen Bingham Carter played her so lavishley in the screen musical and I’ve never quite gotten her out of my head. Is she a villain? Sure, she bakes men into pies! How far back does her obsession go though with Mr. Todd? How much hand did she have exactly in the unfortunate situation with his wife and daughter? Was she always this blood thirsty schemer who would commit atrocities to turn a dime on a meat pie? Was her accomplice work with Sweeney the begging of her murderous ways or merely the climax of it? I’m not sure everything was answered to the depth I hoped but still, so enjoyable, from what is perhaps one of the least sane nor reliable of narrators. A bloody and vicious delight.

Thoroughly enjoyed the book. The novel is written in epistolary form, which is not a style I’m that familiar with, but it was perfect for this story. The characters are particularly well written & developed, and keep you engaged from start to finish.

I've always been a fan of the Sweeney Todd story, so was thrilled to read a book that gave more agency to the mysterious Mrs. Lovett.

Told in an epistolary style, we meet the Mrs. Lovett as she recounts the events that lead to her infamous crimes. From her days toiling at her father's butcher shop, to the hardships that lead to her opportunistic pie business.

While I've seen people complain about he pacing, I found the mix of letters and news articles kept the story moving quite fluidly. It doesn't feel like a 400 page novel. I appreciated the humanity that was given to Lovett as well. She's a fully flushed out character that you can sympathize with, even in moments of abject horror.

I would've liked a little bit more time spent on the time at the bake shop, as that's where we know this character from. We don't get a lot of time with the butcher of fleet street, even though this isn't about him! The rest of the story is so floridly filled out that this just feels rushed at the end.

If you're a fan of historical fiction I definitely recommend checking this one out.

Thank you to Hell's Hundred and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.

The premise along with the cover of this book were intriguing and drew me in- however I found the story to be quite dragged out in parts leading up to the three quarter mark.
The incorporation of communication through letters between the nuns in the convent along with the main character and other characters was cleverly done along with the incorporation of newspaper articles in the local gazette and added to the noir and the time period of the 1800's- however the plot regarding Margaret's time at the boudoir took up too much of the story leading up to the character ARC which, in turn, felt rushed and somewhat predictable.
In terms of the horror aspect, it was well executed and flowed in the story and the twist was cleverly done at the end of the book.
Finally, if there was more emphasis on the characters back story as opposed to other aspects (the brothel and its ins and outs), then it would have pushed my rating up to a three star.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Soho Press for the early E-ARC of this book.

In The Butcher's Daughter by David Demchuk, the narrative unfolds with haunting vividness, immersing the reader in a world saturated with striking imagery and macabre elegance. The story's unique perspective—told through the eyes of Mrs. Lovett—offers an intriguingly fresh lens, blending dark humor with chilling insight into her complex psyche. Demchuk masterfully paints scenes dripping with sensory detail, from the metallic tang of blood to the flickering shadows of dimly lit alleys, crafting an atmosphere both grotesque and mesmerizing. The epistolary nature of the work, paired with the narrator’s voice, layered with wit and a cold, calculating charm, pulls readers into a twisted yet captivating tale that lingers long after the final page.

This should have been a book I really enjoyed but the pace went weird and choppy (no pun intended). Just wasn't for me.

A book giving a fictionalized account of what could have possibly been Mrs. Lovett from Sweeny Todd's backstory drew me in. And it was indeed a quick read because I had to know what was going to happen. I didn't see the twist coming. But I will say this the ending was indeed interesting.


I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Mrs. Lovett like you've never seen her before! As someone who loves musical, I'm familiar with Sweeney Todd. This novel completely turns that story on its head in the best way possible, though. Before she met the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, there was just a girl, a girl who was a butcher's daughter up until her father died, then a maid of all work until she was forced to flee from her employers horrific abuse, then a lady's maid at a high end brother, and finally, the proprietress of a certain pie shop. Through a series of letters sent to a journalist named Miss Emily Gibson, the woman Gibson believes to be Mrs. Lovett shares her tale from the confines of a convent. But Gibson is missing. All these letters were found by the police in her empty apartment. And as we trace the past into the present, it becomes clear that Mrs. Lovett's story is far from over, even now.

What a wonderfully dark and gothic read! It's macabre in the extreme--as is only right for the story of a woman who infamously baked people into pies. There were twists and turns galore, and I loved how Demchuk and Clark reimagined certain elements of the story, from how the butcher's daughter came to be "Mrs. Lovett" and the owner of a pie shop to Toby's true identity. They also managed to craft Lovett as a sympathetic character who has been through true horrors without defanging her, allowing her to remain a villain through and through. It's a great read, whether you're a fan of horror, historical fiction, or Sweeney Todd.

TWs for truly just about everything, but to name a few: abortion, medical torture, forced pregnancy, kidnapping, murder, cannibalism, etc.

It took me a while to get into, i struggled with that sort of epistolary style and took more than half of the book for her to become mrs. lovett and at that point i was bored, it was very disjointed some scenes i still cannot connect with anything and only left me confused and sweeney todd wasn't very compelling as a villain, killing for the love of the game without giving a real reason in the book

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are my own.
I so wanted to love this book, the plot seemed interesting and I really liked the idea of it being told through letters and documents and nothing else. However, I DNF at 50%, the story wasn’t going anywhere for me, I wasn’t as interested as I thought I would be, it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

The Butcher's Daughter was unlike any horror I've read recently!

This was the tragic backstory of Mrs. Lovett from Sweeney Todd. I really enjoyed that it was from her perspective, along with insight from letters, newspaper articles and police reports. I have to say that, as someone who hasn't consumed the story of Sweeney Todd, I actually really enjoyed this side character story. It was a little slow for me to get into, but once the doctor came into the scene, I couldn't stop reading. I was amazed with how full circle every little detail came back. The horrors of this book were crawling under my skin. The descriptions of scenes and smells were gruesome, but necessary.

Thank you to Netgalley and Soho for a review copy of this book.

A banger of a retelling from a perspective that gets surprisingly left out from the original narrative. As a long time fan of Sweeney Todd, this book is absolutely delicious.

This wasn’t what I expected, but it was so much better. I thought this was going to have the same vibes as Sweeney Todd, and it does but it goes so much deeper. I loved the way the characters developed.

Margaret Evans, a young girl who helps out her father in his butcher shop, has a natural ability to wield the knife and no repulsion to blood. When her father passed away, her mother ended up abandoning her to a doctor, who had previously expressed interest in her personality and abilities, as he needed an assistant. Margaret goes to live with the doctor, assisting as a housemaid and with whatever else the doctor needs, such as attending procedures with him. Things are not as they seem at the doctor's house.

I don't want to get into too much of the synopsis as it takes away from the whole meat of the book. The point of this book is the backstory of Ms. Lovett, who is in Sweeney Todd, and yes, Mr. Todd is present in the book. I love Sweeney Todd - the musical on Broadway and the book. Despite my love for the subject matter, I sometimes found myself bored initially. I didn't enjoy the tidbits about the reporter - it was annoying at times because it was like a jerking stop at times throughout the book - to me, it took away from the book

I enjoyed the main character as she was created extremely well showing how a woman despite her birth, gender, circumstances - she makes choices and sacrifices with clear motivation and reasoning. Of course, I was here for the blood and guts - the story with the doctor and the society was really enjoyable and added such a new depth to Ms. Lovett's story since we don't know much about her from the show.

Overall 3 stars - maybe 3.5 since I love the subject material lol

As a longtime Sweeney Todd girlie, a queer epistolary take on Mrs. Lovett's story was an instant read for me, and it exceeded my expectations. The medical house of horrors and the queer brothel were my favorite sections (and introduced me to the concept of an Anatomical Venus! Yikes!) but the author did a great job of linking all of the chapters of the protagonist's life together, as well as weaving in the source material.

“She has lived many lives to survive just one.”

Great for Sweeney Todd fans, but totally accessible for any horror and Victorian era reader. This is such a gory book, but I could not look away. It was such an interesting and well-written tale that paints Mrs. Lovett in a whole new light—it really made me feel for her and her struggles.

This book was full of surprises and was terrifying in unexpected ways. There is a lot of violence, hatred, and indifference displayed in these pages, but there are also small glimpses of love in dark times.

Without saying much, I think the end was trying a little too hard. There were also a few points that weren’t cleared up, but I was so enthralled with the rest of the story that it can be forgiven.

I want to thank David Demchuk, Corinne Leigh Clark, Hell’s Hundred and NetGalley for the eARC.
Here my honest opinion.

Historical fiction - Crime fiction- Thriller - Horror - Gothic

The book is about Mrs. Lovett, Sweeney Todd’s infamous accomplice, the one who baked men into pies and sold them in her pie shop on Fleet Street.
We have a fictitious correspondance between the supposed Mrs. Lovett and a journalist, Emily Gibson.
There are also diary entries and other documents to give the reader the impression of dealing with real historical finds.

We can consider The Butcher’s daughter a sort of feministic retelling of Sweeney Todd that dives deep in a dark gothic atmosphere.

So, if these vibes and the victorian setting are your cup of tea, that’s the book for you!
Choose the kind of pie to accompany it.

Full review: https://fanfiaddict.com/review-the-butchers-daughter-the-hitherto-untold-story-of-mrs-lovett-by-david-demchuk-and-corrine-leigh-clark/

Drawing both from both the 1864 novel “A String of Pearls,” by James Malcom Rymer and Thomas Peckett Prest, and the banging musical that is “Sweeney Todd,” David Demchuk’s and Corrine Leigh Clark’s “The Butcher’s Daughter,” is a grimy historical horror novel. Dripping with as much dread as it is lard, and as shrouded in mystery as it is covered in soot, “The Hitherto Untold Story of Mrs Lovett,” is told through a series of letters to a journalist in evidence. A novel all about identity and how that can change with mistreatment and abuse, immerse yourself in the squalor and filth, manipulation and exploitation, and deceit and scandal of Victorian London, and, disturbed by what you find, perhaps seek respite in Mrs Lovett’s pie shop, and treat yourself to a meat pie. A 400 page novel that frankly slipped through my fingers, you can rifle through Emily Gibson’s correspondence for yourself from May 20th - it’s available already in the US. Thank you kindly to Titan Books for sending this one over! 

It’s 1887, and after her mysterious disappearance, the correspondence between journalist, Emily Gibson, and the woman she seems convinced is Sweeney Todd’s infamous accomplice, end up in a dossier of evidence for her on-going case. Gibson writes inquiring as to whether the recipient has any knowledge of where -or who- Mrs. Lovett may be, having avoided the gallows and seemingly having vanished off of the face of the earth. The letters she receives back are not from the infamous pie-maker herself, but a Ms Margaret Evans, who is contained at St. Anne’s priory. The priory itself, following the loss of the reverend mother Mary Angelica, and under the new, cold stewardship of Sister Augustine, seems to be going through a turbulent time, but a more shocking and bumpy story still is Margaret’s recount of her own life, which she seems intent on telling the world. From her time in a butcher’s shop, to her employ as a maid, the priory’s visitant undeniably has a story to tell.

The full cast narration of the audiobook was exceptional, bringing the characters to life in a way that truly enhanced the storytelling experience. Each voice added depth and emotion, making it easy to immerse in the narrative. I found the epistolary format particularly compelling; letters and journal entries provided an intimate glimpse into the characters’ thoughts and experiences, creating a rich and engaging storyline.

I highly recommend the audiobook for its captivating performances, but I also want to highlight how much I enjoyed the physical book. The writing was beautifully crafted and drew me in, allowing me to savor the nuances of the prose. Whether listening or reading, I was thoroughly captivated by this story from start to finish.

A compelling story, but a disappointing ending. throughout the book, a relationship is built that is let down at the end. Though the final twist is clever, it doesn't satisfy. The story is compelling enough, but left me wanting more.