Set in the 1860’s this is a very different genre for this talented author but one which magically brought to life the strength of a woman fighting for truth. Our protagonist, Nelly, an aspiring journalist is the sole woman at the paper where she has been given a job writing a dedicated column for women. She has a very troubled past which she is hiding from people and a fierce desire to tell the truth. When she meets seamstress Eliza and hears a tale of the murder of a woman and her infant child Nelly is faced with the question of how does she prove this and what has happened to poor Eliza.

Hauntingly told and the descriptions of the Bristol area at the time and of the huge cast of characters is wonderfully written. The sinister character of the watcher and the evil men who seem to hide behind their wealth are so easy to imagine. As a protagonist Nelly is a huge part of the success of the book and one which invites the reader to hope for her to succeed both personally and professionally. I hope we will see more of her story in a future book.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Dark and broody atmospheric setting in 1860's Bristol. Full of fog, rain and the dark waters of the port. A great thriller featuring the plucky Nelly. Several twists and unexpected turns to keep the reader engrossed. Another great novel by the author.

The seamstress is found in the darkened docks, floating, silenced. Those who found her are sure it must be a tragic accident, probably the result of too many drinks in a nearby public house. But journalist Nelly Brooks recognises the dead woman immediately – Nelly has her emerald shawl in her bag. Very exciting, gripping from the start, historical fiction at its best. The author never ever disappoints me, this a story of 1800s, how much support Nelly gets being a lady journalist in the world ruled by men. Definitely, recommending this beautiful book to everyone for the love of historical fiction.

This was a good mystery full of surprises. I liked Nelly and her determination to get to the bottom of things. The story did seem to be a little too long and dragged at times. I did still enjoy the story and want to know what happens to Nelly and her life.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I loved reading this book.

We meet Nelly, she is a journalist, there is not much women can do as a profession or in their lives during this time.

She’s visited by a seamstress and informs her about a wife and baby who were killed by her husband who had lots of money.

Soon after the seamstress’s body is discovered. Nelly realises that there is a story here worth investigating, but will she be able to do that? Her duty on reporting stories is brought down to writing about the things related to women.

Why isn’t Nelly alllowed to look into the death of the seamstress or why the mother and child were killed?

I liked the that the story kept you engrossed in the plot, the the mystery of both the seamstress and the death of the wealthy man's wife and child.

I highly recommend this book.

I romped through this book so quickly, I couldn't put it down. I loved the characters, I loved the era it was set in and I think the author evoked that perfectly. A really enjoyable read

Historical drama featuring a female news reporter who is given women's features but longs to do more. She stumbles on a story it struggles to get anywhere and her personal history intrudes.

Sign me up to anything with a female journalist (it’s what I went to uni for)

And I’m glad I did as this was an intriguing mystery that hit all the right beats for me.

Things I loved:
1. I loved the Victorian era setting
2. Interesting mystery with a great payoff
3. Great fmc
4. Explores tougher topic of women’s rights or lack thereof


This book had me hooked from the first page and I loved Douglas writing! I don’t want to spoil anything but I highly recommend

Thank you Netgally and Boldwood Books for the ARC

I'm not normally a historical fiction fan but this held my interest due to the excellent writing from Louise Douglas. Her Sea House book is worth a read too.

This is the first book I have read by Louise Douglas. It was very exciting, a real page turner. Nellie Brookes had an unfortunate history in her early life and had to endure 10 years at an asylum, installed there by her parents. For them it was less humiliating than admitting the fact that Nellie had given birth to an illegitimate child at the age of 15. Nellie’s Aunt rescues her from the asylum and Nellie gets a job on the local paper to write a ladies’ column. Nellie discovers some worrying facts about a possible murder. She is desperate to put things right and the story enfolds about the threatening and frightening events that happen to her. I recommend you read this story for yourself, you won’t regret it. My thanks go to NetGalley, Louise Douglas and the publishers, Boldwood Books.

Historical novels aren’t really my thing , strange really you’d think given that genealogy is my passion, however, Louise Douglas is currently one of my favourite authors, loved the Sea House series , but I digress, I absolutely fell in love with Nelly and her determined spirit . Great cast of characters, beautifully written and with a wonderful sense of place . I’ve never been to Bristol , not in person, only in a virtual way with my genealogical research , but that mattered not as I could feel it , the Christmas Steps, the alleyways where dark shadows lingered , all fabulously described. Absolutely highly recommended to anyone who enjoys this genre….and those , like me, who normally don’t!

If you found a body of a friend, would you wonder how and why she died. This is exactly what happened to Nelly. As a journalist she knew something strange was taking place and she uses all her investigative skills to uncover the truth. A woman in what was traditionally a man’s world, and with her own secrets, Nelly follows her head and heart even though she puts herself and her family at risk. An enjoyable read from a master writer.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
This book was so good! It grabbed my attention right from the beginning. I liked the time period (1864) and all the descriptions. This is about Nelly Brooks, who is a budding journalist. It is hard for her to report on the big stories because she is a woman. She becomes involved in two mysteries-the drowning death of a seamstress and the possible murder of a young lady and her baby. Louise Douglas is an excellent author! The story is intriguing, and the characters are very well written. Highly recommend this book if you like mysteries with a gothic feel!

Louise Douglas writes books. books of brilliance. can this author do wrong. nope. she is a stunning and most excellent writer. her books bring me in and take over my life in ways i have no regrets from. i love her books!
this was another beautiful read from start to finish. she is a masterclass in writing the genre she does. i dont know how these novels come to her. magic? must be...
there were no tick boxes could be ticked for this novel. it was just one hugggge tick.
we are in the Victorian era this time. and our mystery takes us to a reporter who needs answers. but how we come to care for her and then see her being at risk truly shows how i was absorbed into this story. Nelly is a brave heroine thats for sure. she is approached by a woman who claims the death of someone they all know of wasn't what it seemed. however after this conversation the very woman who came to her is found dead. Nelly knows she needs to dig further into this now. but as of the time there is far more standing in her way than the risk. does this get in her way. haha no it does not! and so we are taken along for the ride and all the tension that brings. because there is more at stake here than just these dead woman's stories. and this is so very close to home for our Nelly.
another stunning book from a stunning author. just wow. brilliant.

Nelly Brooks is a journalist in a time when women are limited in not just professions but life. When a local seamstress comes to Nelly to report a story about a wealthy man's wife who was murdered along with her baby. When the seamstress is found dead the next day, Nelly knows she is onto a story but will she be able to investigate it as she is relegated to reporting on women's issues only. What is the truth behind the woman's death, did she die while giving birth or is there more to the story?

This was an interesting read, I liked the plot, the mystery that was involved in both the seamstress death and the death of the wealthy man's wife was well conceived. I cannot imagine the brutality of the times especially for women. The author does a great job of portraying the times and characters.

The late 1800’s in England. A well written story, great characters about the woman in the green shawl. It’s a must read, I loved it!

"The Emerald Shawl" is essentially a "who done it" set in Bristol in 1864. It is also much more than that as it highlights the inequalities of women of the time, having to bend to the pressures of society, parents and partners. Our heroine Nelly Brooks was incarcerated in an asylum for 10 years at the command of her parents, basically to save them embarrassment. Jobs for women were mostly menial and degrading, making the life of the single girl, particularly one hiding from or disowned by her parents, generally difficult.

Louise Douglas has given us another atmospheric and interesting novel. Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

An enjoyable historical novel from Louise Douglas. One with a difference in that the main female character Nelly is a newspaper reporter. Very unusual in the mid 19th century especially as she seems unable to keep out of trouble and insists on investigating more interesting things than women's fashion and house keeping! Although the story was obviously very well researched I did find it dragged a little in the middle and I did guess the ending well before the book actually got there. On the whole the book represented conditions for women and the poor in the late 19th century very well and Nelly's position showed how hard it was for women to succeed. I did find myself cheering her on even if she was a little bit unbelievable. Definitely worth a read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Strongly researched and very cleverly depicted ..I was really and truly transported to 1864 with the smells and sights, injustices, powerful men and higher class authority. There was actually so much going on without being overwhelming or feeling like loose ends were left untied. I really loved this.

Nelly is the type of woman I absolutely love. She has a vulnerability and compassion about her that doesn't stop her strength in truth finding and moral pushing. There were some great characters throughout, I absolutely recommend this.

Quite a different book. A historial novel full of intrigue and mystery. Very different in that a female reporter was the lead character, an unusual profession for a woman of that time. The story draws you in and holds you to the end.