The Coven

Be warned: this is not for the faint hearted! I liked the first book and was pleased to receive an advance copy of the next installment. It didn't disappoint. The plot sucks you in from the very beginning, though it is not what you may think it's about. The "coven" from the title is nothing but a ploy to distract Beatrice's attention away from what is really going on. The book is rich in authentic period detail and gives the reader a taste of what the life of poor Londoners would have been like in those days. Dire conditions, especially for women. Clever plot, good writing, maybe a bit too much violence for some, but if you like the genre, this is good stuff.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.

Not the first Graham Masterton book I've read, I was a big fan of his horror when I was younger. This one wasn't a disappointment either for all it's a completely different genre. Will definitely look out for more of the same.

I liked the main character, Beatrice, for the most part. Although why you'd sit and have a cup of tea when you feel you're in terrible danger I don't know. I know we Brits supposedly think a cup of tea will fix everything but that's going a bit far. And her daughter! This is not a normal 18 month old child. Speaking in complete sentences, totally rational, never having tantrums, never being told “please don't lick the dog” or “can you not put your feet in your porridge please” or any of the other things normal toddlers do. If in a moment of great stress I'd asked my 2 year old to pass me something I can pretty much guarantee he'd pretend to be a caterpillar or a spider or something rather than comply and not give up when he couldn't instantly do it.

I thought the overall plot was good though. A bit predictable but I find that about a lot of books to be honest and it was still a very enjoyable read. I found the language a bit difficult at times. It's set in London in the 1700s and presumably some of the words used are from that sort of time. Wasn't too hard to figure most of them out though. Or at least I didn't think so. It was more the sudden pause I got when I came across a word I've not seen before.

No idea whether everything was accurate for the time the book was set in and I can't say I'm overly bothered either, it's fiction and I enjoyed it whether it's accurate or not.

As a fan of this authors Katie Maguire series I looked forward to the Widow Scarlett series. These stories are historical fiction based and are an entertaining read but I don't find them as being on the same level as the Maguire series. Still for anyone new to this author they act as a good spur to try some of his earlier work.

I'm already a fan of Graham. I love his quality writing. I really enjoyed this book. I couldn't put it down. Great work.

Graham Masterson at his very best he pulls his audience in and keeps them on the edge of their seats to the very end.
Beatrice Scarlet returns to London with her young daughter florence following the death of her husband and the disappearance of her son Noah.. She is employed in a refuge for young girls who have been offered a moral way of life rather than facing prison or death for prostitution or stealing.
Seven of the prettiest girls chosen by the homes main benefactor, Hazard, are taken to supposedly start work in his tobacco factory and then they all disappear and Beatrice finds the explanation of their disappearance to be inconsistent with the evidence left behind. Who can she trust, is her life in danger, who is trying to frighten her off and why ?
A 5 star read excellent book.