Lizzie Martin is newly arrived in London and is on her way to her post as lady’s companion to wealthy widow, Mrs. Parry when her carriage is waylaid by the commotion of the discovery of a corpse among the ruins of a demolished slum.
Thus opens the first of what promises to be an exciting mystery series set in Victorian England. Ann Granger known for her Mitchell and Markby series now takes readers to the slums and wealthy homes of Victorian London.
As Lizzie arrives at Mrs. Parry’s home and settles in she realizes that the corpse belonged to no other than the girl who’s place she’s about to take. Lizzie’s curiosity puts her right in the middle of the murder investigation of Madeline Wexham and also sets her up to be reacquainted with an old family friend, Inspector Benjamin Ross.
As she encounters friends of Mrs. Parry she learns more about her employer and begins to think that her outspoken nature will not be tolerated for long. Nor will she be able to stand Mrs. Parry either. With the help of a cabbie, who never forgets a face, and a sullen little girl, Lizzie is determined to find out the truth about Madeline’s murder.
I found myself not wanting this novel to end because I simply enjoyed the characters a lot. I think Ann Granger has done a good job of setting up the beginning of this series and I’ll be looking forward to what Lizzie Martin will do next.