I can’t save I ever wondered about Mrs. Lovett, but I was delighted to read this version of her life. I listened to the audiobook and I thought the narrators did a great job bringing the characters to life. I struggled a little in the beginning to get into it with the letters or articles to and from different people and keep all of that straight. As I got into the story it became easier to follow. This book is mostly told in correspondence as Mrs. Lovett tells a woman who is also a reporter her life story, starting as a child who lost her father to the present and how she came to be in the convent without being a nun. I knew the basics of the Sweeney Todd story, but this added such a wonderful layer in given color the Mrs. Lovett who baked the pies. I will have to keep an eye out for this author because this was a unique and fun book.

I received an audio arc of this story. I will be purchasing a physical copy for my collection. The story is told in a series of letters. It was easy to follow with an audiobook but I think it would be cool to see how the physical copy is presented.

The narrators did a great job. Very clear and easy to follow even at an increased speed. 1.75 to 2 in my case.

I've watched the Sweeny Todd movie so I was aware of some of the lore but this was a really cool take on the Mrs. Lovett story. It's kind of a long book (14 hour audio) but the descriptions were so detailed and the story was so well written that it kept me interested the entire time. I could very clearly picture everything that was happening.

Honestly a must read, it was that good.

4.5 stars
Book- The Butcher’s Daughter
Author- Corinne Leigh Clark and David Demchuk
Release Date- May 6th, 2026!

Wow, this is my second ARC, and I’ve been lucky to have another high rated book! This ARC I got as an audio book, so I’m going to start with rating the narrators and then tie into the book.

The narrators of the audio book have done a great job. I always find Audio books with multiple narrators to be way more interesting. I find it easier to follow when they switch up the voices for the proper roles. Sometimes I find accents are hard to fall because I miss things but the narrator for Mrs.Lovett sounded exactly as I pictured her, I was very impressed!

Now, onto the book! When I was just about 50% through, I was finding it a bit slow. (The reason I gave it 4.5 stars instead of 5). I feel like there had been a lot of significant stuff that had happened but also didn’t quite get me that engaged. There had been multiple traumatic experiences that she had gone through and I kept wondering where the story was going to go. Then when we got to the action…. wow I did not expect it to go that way. I read a few reviews where it said it was gory and was wondering if we were reading the same book but it definitely amps up. I can absolutely say that I wasn’t expecting the plot twist (which I find thrillers/horror books can be quite predictable) but I didn’t expect multiple plot twists in this book, which is the BEST. I love being genuinely shocked that my mouth opens from reading it.

I’ve never seen the musical or the movie for Sweeney Todd so it was all a surprise to me, and can absolutely say that you can read this book without knowing about Sweeney Todd (it’s actually more fun for me not knowing what was going to happen so I could have that shock value).

I normally don’t like the audiobook as much as the regular book but this one had me wanting more once the action started. I was listening to it every chance I got! I can’t wait for it to come out so I can read the book as well! I highly recommend this book if you like horror books. If you have a queasy stomach then this book is not for you. If you like all of that? It’s a MUST ADD to your TBR!

This audiobook is one of the best I've listened to. There were some dips in quality that will probably be ironed out in post but the reading was perfect and it was very easy to understand the dips in tone.

The novel was engaging and interesting.

Thank you so much for letting me have the ARC to this audiobook because it is one of the best I've ever heard to a story that is very near and dear to me.

This was a fascinating blend of historical fiction and horror, set in the gritty, haunting streets of Victorian London. The authors do an exceptional job of weaving together the lives of people from various social classes, offering a layered and realistic portrayal of the time period. It’s clear this book was thoroughly researched—the setting felt immersive, vivid, and authentic.

While the historical detail was a major highlight, the story itself took a while to find its footing. The beginning felt a bit slow and certain parts dragged more than I would’ve liked, but once the pacing picked up, I was drawn into the eerie and atmospheric narrative.

I listened to the audiobook and thought the performances were well done. The narrators brought distinct voices to the characters and really helped bring the mood of the story to life.

If you're a fan of gothic horror or dark, atmospheric historical fiction, The Butcher’s Daughter is definitely worth checking out—just be patient with the slower start.

I really enjoyed this retelling of the classic Sweeney Todd tale. Mrs. Lovett is such a fantastically wild character in the source material, so it was fun to see her humanized a little more. The epistolary form of the novel really lent it an air of mystery and unreliability, which I enjoyed. I never quite knew what the truth was because most of the story is coming directly from the woman herself. The backstory that Demchuk and Clark have created for Mrs. Lovett is truly fascinating and well written. It tells of a sad life full of trauma and tragedy, but then you're always wondering how much of it is true. This was a very fun read. If you are a fan of musical theater and Sweeney Todd, then this is a solid hit!

I was sucked into this right from the synopsis being a fan of Sweeney Todd. While it does take some build up, my interests were already victim to its clutches from the beginning. Definitely watch the movie before reading this for maximum enjoyment!! This take on Mrs. Lovett’s side of the story was such a journey of pain, grief, & feminine rage- And rightfully so!! *Although, this version of her was definitely less crazy? I mean, baking human pies is pretty insane, but I guess the love interest (delulu) was different.
In a world so cruel… Yet another reason to support Women's Wrongs... For how much men have wronged women!! Overall, this was such a unique take on the story, lowkey craving a pie now lmfao.
The narrators Jill Tanner, Steven Crossley, & Amy
Scanlon def captivated me w/ their performance!!

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.

The Butcher's Daughter: The Hitherto Untold Story of Mrs. Lovett is a captivating read told through engaging correspondence. The writing is wonderfully descriptive, and I loved gaining deeper insight into Mrs. Lovett: her motivations, her backstory, and her complex relationship with Sweeney Todd. A fresh and fascinating take on a familiar tale.

Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for the chance to listen to this title in exchange for my opinion.

The narrators of this book were excellent and brought the story to life. I would strongly recommend listening to this as they gave each character dimension. It is a dark tale, which incorporates much character development, that is a bit slow because of the detail. I did enjoy the epistolary format, but physically reading that may have been better. This is a dark atmospheric read which I really enjoyed and would someday like to reread physically. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen
3.5 stars

3.5 stars

I loved that they gave mrs lovett a back story
The story itself was imagintive, and i enjoyed the audio voices alot. However some of the storyline such as the reporter fell very flat for me.

This is an imaginative tale about Mrs Lovett that centers on her unfortunate background with a bit at the end about her time with Sweeney Todd. The voice performances by the three narrators are expressive and help to distinguish between the many characters. I rounded up my rating to 3.5 stars for the audio quality and excellent vocal performances. I greatly enjoyed hearing the Butcher's Daughter in their accents.
I strongly recommend the audio version for this book. Mrs Lovett's history is told in letters and other documents decades after the events, undermining its potential suspense. The performances add life to the epistolary narrative.

She's a complex character and there are lots of loathsome men. This will be fun for readers who enjoy a ‘good for her’ book. Unfortunately, the many coincidences near the end didn’t work for me, and the Sapphic interludes felt contrived. Overall, the gothic vibes, aspects of the historical settings, and the handling of the restrictions on women shine. The funeral details are outstanding. The writing is smooth. The authors wove in a few of the worst kinds of crimes of this time and place.

With greater immediacy, the book could have been a high-impact, immersive experience. To me, it felt distant, and I never became engaged with the reporter storyline. Many other readers are thrilled by it, and it's a wonderful project. I appreciate the research and all the work put into highlighting the status of women during this era. The Butcher's Daughter might be your next favorite book.

Recommended for non-squeamish readers who enjoy historical novels told in letters and those interested in gritty women's history or crime novels. My thanks to RBMedia for the ALC via NetGalley for consideration.

I love an alternate history and this one is fantastic. There is so much imagination here and the deepness of the characters is just fantastic. It really gives you a fantastic look at the circumstances that can lead to someone doing or allowing unspeakable things. And the ending is one that will stick with me for a long time.

Life for a woman in 20th Century London is not for the weak! Especially with what it takes to survive and not end up a prostitute or street beggar.
In this book you will discover the origin story to who we know as Sweeney Todd’s wife. Told from a series of inquiry letters and other media to piece events together.
First half is a lot of character development and a tad bit slow. With that said, it is not lacking in ability to intrigue the reader. You are in fact routing for her.
It is dark, twisty, and thought provoking … as it should be!