Mrs. Lovett is best known as the partner in crime to the demon barber Sweeney Todd, but where did she come from and how did she end up baking human meat pies on Fleet Street? In The Butcher's Daughter we learn about her harrowing life from living on Butcher's Row to escaping a mad doctor and leading to becoming Mrs. Lovett. Following a reporter gathering the story from Mrs. Lovett herself, we get the grisly details of her life.

This book took me a while to get through, but I did like it. While most of the books I do are audio, this is one I think I would have done better with reading a physical copy. The audiobook is a little hard to follow the different narrations and keep straight the reporter vs Mrs. Lovett. But it does a great job of taking you to the dark and dirty streets of Victorian London, giving all the gothic vibes. I liked the little ties to Sweeney Todd throughout. It was just a very slow burn, and I kept stepping away from it for a bit before listening more, but in the end, it was a good gothic, horror read.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the audiobook for review.

An interesting but ultimately unfulfilling take on the notorious Mrs Lovett. I think this could be a case of wrong reader for what this book was trying to do, as I adore the original story of Sweeny Todd and Mrs Lovett I was instantly hooked, but giving fictional characters a back story has always kind of rubbed me up the wrong way. It feels like the Lovett connection is being used to sell the story, but had it stood on its own two feet I think I'd have had a better time with it. It's a decent story, and the audiobook is great. I do think this has an audience, I just don't think I was the right fit sadly.

*3.5 stars
based on the original Victorian penny dreadful, with intention of staying true to the original source, we are given a dark, gorey and overall devastating look into the person who was suspected to be Mrs. Lovett
emily writes of her life living on the streets of london, to working under a horrifying doctor, escaping and to how she came to own the infamous Meat Pie Shop
we spend most of the time learning about her time with the doctor, the end was extremely quick and didnt really match the mrs. lovett we were all scared of, this the tale of a scared woman who felt coerced, abandoned and gave more innocent then a vengeful woman

The audio for this book was great. I will say having a full cast made this so easy to listen to.
I thought this was an interesting way to go about the retelling of Sweeny Todd, and while I didn't hate it, I didn't love it either. I feel like I didn't REALLY get into the story until about 70% in and even then I was just kind of along for the ride. The way everything wrapped up was well done, but I think the overall vibe for the story was a miss for me. I greatly appreciate given the opportunity to listen!

This audiobook wasn’t for me. I think I may have liked it more as a regular book. The narrators just weren’t my cup of tea personally and I was honestly expecting something different when I requested this title but I think it will definitely appeal to a different audience! I will still recommend that others give it a try in the future.

Thank you RB Media and NetGalley for the ALC copy in exchange for my honest review. This book is a dark, twisty retelling of Sweeney Todd…. but from Mrs. Lovett’s point of view and wow, does she have a story to tell. It’s a feminist, rage filled tale told through letters between a journalist and a woman who might just be the infamous pie maker herself. It’s definitely a slow burn (like, really slow lol), but the character depth and backstory are phenomenal. The narrators totally nailed the eerie vibe and made everything feel way more immersive. If you like dark historical fiction and stories about unhinged women reclaiming power this one might be for you.

I have loved David Demchuk's previous novels so I am so disappointed to find that I don't want to finish this one. I struggled with the subject matter since historical horror is rarely my preference. This felt like such a safe familiar narrative which is not what I expect or wanted from Demchuk. His other books felt so fresh but this one fell flat.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

This is not your regular Sweeney Todd retelling!

Told him bits and pieces in an investigator of styling, the reader gets to hear the story of the elusive, Mrs. Lovett, the wicked woman who baked men into the pies and sold them - through her own accounting and investigative journalism of Miss Gibson.

This is a dark and dingy story filled with poverty and lack of choices. The infamous, Mrs. Lovett becomes a lot more sympathetic as the story of her life unfolds one tragedy after another.

This book starts off so removed from the Sweeney Todd narrative that I had forgotten until we reach her time with Mr. Todd, that it truly was her story. Full of great detail and interesting characters. This story kept me on the edge of my seat.

Narrated by a three person cast, Jill Tanner, Steven Crossley, Amy Scanlon, the audiobook is full of dimension! With different voice actors working different elements of the story and or characters, mystery of not only brings this book to life, but fully defines all the different aspects from the journalism, to the first person storytelling. This was a great cast the compliments each each other well.

5/5 Stars! Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for this audiobook of The Butcher's Daughter by David Demchuk and Corinne Leigh Clark, narrated by Jill Tanner, Steven Crossley, and Amy Scanlon.

WOW...where to even start. I saw this when it was available for a short period on the Read Now option and I am so glad I was able to snag this to listen. It had been on my shelf for a little bit longer than I can admit but was finally able to give it the full attention it deserves!

The narrators....FANTASTIC - the cast selection was perfect for this and Jill Tanner did an amazing job keeping my interest.

At first, it was a slow drag - ONLY because it's the beginning and you need to build up the characters of who they are and their background. Then it picked up pretty easily after that and the build up was VERY well done. The characters was built up in a way that you could emotionally connect with them. I did not expect this to be a story intertwine with Sweedney Todd when I got this book, the title and cover peaked my interest.

The plot build up and the ending was...beautifully done. I honestly could not have imagined any other ending. This is my first book by these authors and I'm def a fan now! I can't wait to see Ms. Clark's future novels! Thank you!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Butcher’s Daughter by David Demchuk and Corinne Leigh Clark is a gorgeously grim tale that reimagines the legend of Mrs. Lovett with gothic flair and aching humanity. Told through letters and fragmented documents, the narrative unfolds like a puzzle soaked in blood, grief, and survival.

Margaret Evans, once a butcher’s daughter, now something far more dangerous, is a haunting protagonist. The authors give her a voice that’s both brutal and tender, and the horror elements are rooted in something deeply emotional: the cost of being a woman in a world built to consume you.

It loses a star only for occasional pacing issues and stylistic fragmentation, but overall, this is an elegant, feral, and unforgettable story. Not just horror, this is a reclamation.

This was a wonderful read!! I love Sweeney Todd, so this was a great adaptation of a classic horror!!

I went into The Butcher’s Daughter with curiosity more than anything else. I’ve never been a huge fan of Sweeney Todd—I only saw the Johnny Depp version and found it a little uncomfortable. I enjoy darker themes, but that one felt like it teetered on the edge for me. That said, this book had a different kind of darkness. It felt more grounded and human in a way that made it both unsettling and surprisingly emotional.

What stood out to me was how the story shifts the focus entirely. Instead of watching everything from Sweeney Todd’s perspective, we’re pulled into the life of the woman behind the infamous pie shop. This felt like an answer to so many questions the original story never had time for. It fills in the gaps with care and gives depth to characters who usually stay in the shadows.

The structure of the book worked really well for me. The correspondence format added tension and intimacy. It made me feel like I was piecing together something dangerous and important. There were definitely parts that made me uncomfortable, but it wasn’t gratuitous. It felt like the discomfort served the story, which I appreciated.

I would recommend this to anyone who liked the world of Sweeney Todd but always wanted a little more from the characters. This is for readers who are not tied to the original and are open to seeing familiar names shaped in new and unexpected ways.

Thank you to the author and to NetGalley and RBmedia for the ALC!

The Butcher’s Daughter is a haunting tale with many layers. Told through multiple POVs, letters, and article clippings, creating an immersive feel.

What really stands out is how the book centers voices that are so often erased: queer people, disabled people, outcasts, and those deemed monstrous by society. These aren’t just side characters-they are the heart of the story. Their pain, strength, and resistance ripple across generations. The authors don’t shy away from the horrors the characters face, but they also don’t reduce them to just their suffering. There’s rage, tenderness, love, and power in their stories.

If you’re into books that blend horror, folklore, and emotion with experimental storytelling, this one lingers long after the last page.

Full transparency: I received an audio arc of this from Netgalley and didn't download correctly and waited until it was available via my library. I LOVED this! I'm a big fan of the musical/movie and was so excited to listen to this and it checked ALL of my boxes. I really enjoyed the narrator and the way the story was written with the various letters/evidence/correspondence. I've always liked stories told from the side characters in novels/movies. I highly recommend and daresay i'd recommend the audiobook solely due to how wonderfully the narrator portrayed mrs. lovett.

I ended up loving this, despite going in with deep reservations. There’s a trend lately of telling every story from a female perspective which often involves nice washing the female protagonist and making any male characters the devil. This was different. The MC – eventually to become the Mrs Lovett who baked pies from Sweeney Todd’s victims in the 19th C penny dreadful – is well rounded, practical, possibly existing on the antisocial behavioural spectrum in the psychopath range. This does not make her a bad person, but her experiences as a young woman shape her future path and bring her ruthless streak to the fore. This was compellingly written with great voice and historical detail. Todd is genuinely creepy, and the cast of characters are colourful enough to give Dickens a run for his money. I am not always a fan of the epistolary format, but it worked well here. This was wickedly good fun.

What a wickedly satisfying take on Mrs. Lovett’s story! Just what I hoped for from a Sweeney Todd spin — dark, twisted, and utterly captivating. The start was a bit slow to get going, but once it hit its stride, it was a wild ride from there. This book really dives into why Mrs. Lovett is the way she is, making it a fantastic addition to the Sweeney Todd universe. Buckle up!

A series of letters to a reporter detail the tragic and danger-filled life of a young girl on the street and how she evolves into a monstrous character in the infamous shop district of Fleet Street. Is she truly a monster or is she a brilliant survivor using her wits to get by? Dark and gothic, fans of creepy London fog-y quiet horror will eat this one up, however be warned; this book is very slow and frustratingly tedious. While an intriguing concept, this book misses its potential with slow writing, concentrating far too much on setting with long, drawn out descriptions and simply not enough on action. The audio books's narrator does a decent enough performance, but simply cannot overcome long meandering passages.

I need someone to please contact Tim Burton ASP so he can adapt this novel in to a movie.
The way the story was tight up to this other story at the end had me gathering my brains from around the room.
You'll love this book if you like
- Horror
- Lots of Gore
- Sweeney Todd
- Historical Fiction
- Sapphic love interests
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia | Recorded Books for this Audio Copy

What a delicious (no pun intended) story about Mrs. Lovett! This is exactly what I would expect from a story relating to Sweeney Todd. The beginning was a bit slow, but once it picks up buckle up and hang on!! This story made you understand why Mrs. Lovett is the way she is and is a great addition to the Sweeney Todd story.

I think this is going to be a divisive book just because of how it's written and the style of book. I think for me it's just a bit too dry and the epistolary style of the book isn't working as much as I hoped. I'm definitely going to recommend this to big fans of this style of book since it's hard to find books written this way. The writing is also really good and puts you directly in the time period that this book is taking place in. It's like you really are there reading these letters.

Basically this book is really well done, but it's just not my style of book so I'll be recommending it really specifically.