In 1890, London-based Sarah Bain is a reporter and photographer for the Daily World, owned and operated by Sir Gerald Mariner. He is a domineering boss who orders his employees to chase down sensational stories that will pique the public's interest. Sarah, along with her partners, fourteen-year-old Mick O'Reilly and Sir Hugh Staunton (an aristocrat and gay man whose family wants nothing more to do with him), also conduct private investigations. Meanwhile, Bain's fiancé, Detective Sergeant Thomas Barrett, is alarmed by his future wife's habit of rushing into hazardous situations. Sarah admits, "I'm as much attracted to danger as frightened by it."

In Laura Joh Rowland's "The Woman in the Veil," someone discovers the body of an unclothed female whose attacker slashed and strangled her. Sarah, who is at the scene, calls for medical help when she notices that the woman is breathing. While the victim lies unconscious in the hospital, Sir Gerald publicizes her plight, and even gives her a nickname,” Sleeping Beauty." Sara, Hugh, and Mick are eager to keep Sir Gerald happy by providing him with dramatic human-interest stories. However, they have a loftier agenda--to help this unfortunate woman, whose scars may fade but will never completely disappear.

The most impressive aspect of this book are its vivid atmosphere and appealing protagonists. Rowland evocatively describes the stench of the filthy city streets and the desperation of those who have no one to protect them. As the tale progresses, Sleeping Beauty awakens but cannot remember who she is or how she sustained her brutal injuries. Eventually, various individuals come forward claiming to know her, but who is telling the truth? Furthermore, is Sleeping Beauty still at risk from her assailant? Although the novel holds our interest, it is weakened by its cluttered and contrived plot, cartoonish villains, and histrionic conclusion. These flaws notwithstanding, this work of historical fiction might appeal to fans of Victorian whodunits in which the central characters are compassionate, courageous, and willing to risk their lives to see that justice is done.

An encompassing Victorian murder mystery!

Rowland has that special gift of placing the reader steadfastly not only in the times and location of the story but firmly in the mind of the major character.
Sarah Bain, daughter of a wanted child killer and a gifted photographer is now herself a photographer, who along with her friends, street urchin Mick O'Reilly and Lord Hugh Staunton, is working for the Daily World newspaper.
Always there's a delicate balance between finding the story that will satisfy Sir Gerald Mariner and his paper's readers, and having to scrape a living.
It's 1890 and Sarah is called to the scene of a dead naked woman sprawled on the banks of the Thames River, surrounded by raucous witnesses. "The river laps at her, covering her legs up to her knees with foam. She looks like a mermaid that has washed ashore—a wounded mermaid." Startlingly, Sarah discovers she is barely alive! The injured victim remains in a coma. The story is broken under the heading Sleeping Beauty.
And this is the beginning of not only a tortured search for the woman's identity, but the pursuit of Sarah by the dreadfully vindictive Inspector Reid who has a deep and abiding hatred and grudge against her. Fueled by the promotion of Sarah's fiancé Detective Sergeant Thomas Barrett over himself, Reid does all he can to bring Barrett down and implicate Sarah as a murderer.
Whilst uncovering Sleeping Beauty's secrets, Sara discovers more about her own family--all disturbing!
I do admire the way Rowland leads us along, revealing more information about Sarah and her birth family, and about the disparate people she has now made her own family. Brick by brick, a more complete picture of Sarah's background is emerging. As surprising to Sarah as it is to us.
Rowland so excels at this type of complex storytelling, that revels in wicked reversals and charged situations. A first rate twisty, dark Victorian murder mystery that kept me breathless.

A Crooked Lane ARC via NetGalley

I received a free electronic copy of this excellent historical novel from Netgalley, Laura Joh Rowland, and Crooked Lane Books. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to recommend Laura Joh Rowland to friends and family. She writes an excellent mystery with authentic Victorian England details and background, in a story that is hard to put down.

We spend our time in Londons East End in 1890. The novels preceding this one - Victorian Mystery 1-2-3, involve some of these same protagonists and the Ripper, and there are a couple of other series Rowland has covered well. She is going on my authors to watch for list. I love finding someone I newly appreciate with a long backlist of stories to tell.

Venetia is a young lass who robs the scenes from the adults in this tale. She's a girl after your heart. Most of the protagonists are working on the side of right. There are a couple of bad cops, and a landlord or two who need a talking to, a couple of really bad people to sort out, but for the most part you will enjoy everyone in this story. The Gang who do backup for our intrepid photographer are a good crew who work well together and try to cover all the angles. As with most people, each has its own little peccadillos to muddle through, making them more approachable. Altogether, a good, fast read. And if you had any doubts about the benefits of modern sanitation, this story will open your eyes...

The Woman in the Veil is an interesting tale of a newspaper photographer and her team that investigate the almost murder of an amnesiac. Named “Sleeping Beauty” by the press, she cannot remember how she came to be at the crime scene.

Sarah Bain takes an immediate personal interest in the woman and vows to help her. Sarah’s fiancé, Detective Barrett, is the official assigned to the case despite his work overload. Barret’s boss, Reid, is the slave driver who does not like Barrett or Sarah or her friends Hugh and Mick.

Sarah and Barrett will be at odds during the case. As the case develops (a murder occurs) the conflict both increases and brings them together. These two do not seem to be a couple that belong together. Going their own ways in the investigation, they don’t talk to each other.

In the meantime, Reid, the bastard, messes with the case. The may be a bit of a spoiler, but his personality is clearly defined up front, so I think it is okay to say, since I’m not mentioning how he messes with the case.

While the mystery was interesting and engaged me, I had a few problems with the telling of it. First, I felt the main character’s investigative skills are seriously lacking. There was not enough follow up or checking of stories. Facts seemed to come out long after they should have been discovered. Sarah and Barrett immediately made decisions based on unsubstantiated testimony. This is not me thinking this after I finished the book. This is me shouting at the protagonists as the story developed.

Also, there were quite a few too vague references to the past. I have not read books 1-3, so I needed details, especially concerning the 1888 Ripper case and Reid.

3.5 stars which will be rounded to 4 stars for review sites. The Woman in the Veil is a great mystery, and I think these characters have potential, but the solving of the mystery lacked credibility for me.

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of The Woman in the Veil (#Victorian Mystery No.4) by Laura Joh Rowland from NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books in order to read and give an honest review.

The Woman In The Veil is a new entry in Laura Joh Rowland’s Victorian Mystery series featuring crime-scene photographer and reporter Sarah Bain. I consider Rowland to be a master at writing fast-paced, suspenseful whodunits that keep readers on the edge of their seats. I have been fortunate enough to read and review her first three books in the series, the first The Ripper’s Shadow, the second, A Mortal Likeness, the third The Hangman’s Secret and her newest book, The Woman in the Veil, like her previous books, does not disappoint.

Set in 1890 London, the adventure begins when Sarah, Mick, and Lord Staunton are called to photograph a disfigured, naked female body that has washed up on the banks of the Thames. While the police prepare the crime scene, Sara notices not all is as it seems, something is not right about the victim….the poor thing is actually alive. When the unidentifiable victim is in the hospital in a coma, Sara feels responsible to help get to the bottom of this. She convinces her boss, Sir Gerald Mariner, owner of the Daily World newspaper to allow her to stay on the story. Mariner gives the victim the name Sleeping Beauty until she is identified. Sarah, Hugh, Mick and along with Sarah’s fiance, Constable Barrett, are determined to get to the truth about who Sleeping Beauty really is and who tried to kill her. The investigation heats up when three different parties show up, all claiming that they are the loved ones of Sleeping Beauty. When sleeping beauty wakes up from her coma with amnesia, things become more desperate, they must get to the bottom of things before the killer decides to finish the job. When one of the parties claiming to know her is murdered, Sarah becomes a suspect and Inspector Reid, is back, with his usual animosity and Sarah’s life and reputation are at stake. Sarah true to form puts her life and reputation in jeopardy to get to the bottom and save the woman she’s become incredibly fond of.

If you are looking for a clever, fast-paced, Victorian mystery this is definitely a must-read.

3.5 stars

You can read all of my reviews at https://www.NerdGirlLovesBooks.com.

This is the second book I've read in this book series. (I read the second book, and now the fourth book). Even though the books center on mostly the same characters and certain story arcs carry through to each new book, as with the second book, the main story of each book is one complete story. So, you can pick this book up and read it as a stand alone and enjoy it without having to go back to the first book and start there.

I enjoyed this book. I like the main characters, Sarah Bain and her friends Lord Hugh Staunton and Mick O'Reilly, who are crime scene photographers for the Daily World newspaper. They have a knack for solving crimes, much to the chagrin of the police department. Sometimes, officers treat Sarah and her friends severely when they feel they've been embarrassed. This is one sticking point I have about the books. I think the author's handling of the police officers that don't like the trio, and their tactics against them, are too extreme and ridiculous and detract from the books. Sometimes a quieter and more cunning form of revenge is more devastating (and compelling) than a theoretical bludgeon to the head.

In this book, the trio are called to photograph a crime scene on the bank of the Thames. The unidentified woman is naked and her face is severely slashed. As Sara begins to photograph the victim and scene, she discovers that the woman is alive. When the woman finally awakens in the hospital, she has amnesia and doesn't know her name. After publicizing her story, Sarah helps the police cull through throngs of people hoping that the woman is their missing loved one. The woman eventually recognizes someone that comes to claim her, and happily reunites with her family. But when a person close to the investigation is murdered, Sarah and her friends find themselves accused of the murder.

This story was interesting and had a few good twists, but I thought the author included a few too many twists. I can't go into too many specifics without spoiling the book, but just like accessorizing an outfit, less is more. Better editing to eliminate at least one or two twists would have kept the story clean and precise. This, in turn, would have made the story less cluttered and distracting. But, I'm nitpicking. The book is a fun, quick, easy read that I enjoyed and recommend you read.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The genre of historical mysteries is one of my favorites and the Victorian series written by Laura Joh Rowland is at the top of my list. If you are new to this series, no worries, it works fine as a stand alone. This is the fourth in the series and the latest puzzle for Sarah Bain, Mick and Lord Hugh Staunton. The body of a woman has been found on the banks of the Themes, below a pub. When they arrive, people from the pub are milling around, gawking at her naked body as the tide starts to rise. Sarah sets up her camera knowing that time is of the essence - soon the river will wash away what little evidence the onlookers haven't messed up. The woman will be almost impossible to identify as her face has been disfigured by a severe beating. Just as the body is about to be removed to the morgue, Sarah, while taking detailed photos, discovers that the poor woman is still alive. When they arrive at the hospital and the doctor has assessed her injuries, he says she won't last long and Sarah decides to stay by her side, holding her hand. Surprisingly, the woman responds to Sarah by squeezing her hand and Sarah is even more determined to identify her and find out who wanted her dead.
As they investigate on their own, Sarah's fiance, Det. Sgt. Thomas Barrett is given the case. The powers that be on the police force want him to fail and his case load is enough to drown any other policeman. He only has one assistant and needs all the help he can get. Sarah, Mick and Hugh share more than living quarters, they share a talent for tracking down killers. When the newspaper they work for prints the details of the Jane Doe in hopes of identifying her, three possibilities emerge. When Jane Doe is able, she claims one of the identities but the three parties disagree and it remains a puzzle for them to solve.
I enjoy the character of Sarah, a woman who lives outside the social norms. She is very strong and very intelligent, making her way through life as a very talented photographer. Her partners, fourteen year old Mick, a former street urchin and Hugh, a disgraced Lord, turfed out by his family for being homosexual, share a home and shock society no end. Each one of them is making their own way, society be darned. I really like that in a character. The Victorian setting is my favorite of the genre and when it's a part of a very well written mystery with multiple threads going and well developed characters, it isn't hard for me to bestow five stars on it.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Woman in the Veil is the 4th book in Laura Joh Rowland's Victorian mystery series featuring an ensemble cast of crime scene photographer Sarah Bain and her associates. Due out 7th Jan 2020 from crime imprint Crooked Lane Books, it's 352 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

Set in London in 1890, Sarah is called out to photograph a crime scene and finds a horribly mutilated nude woman who isn't actually dead. Dubbed 'Sleeping Beauty' by the press, they struggle to identify the woman as well as tie up other crimes simultaneously with their complicated private lives.

This is a well written book with appealing and (mostly) believable characters. It's a historical procedural cozy and as such, there are quite a number of secondary characters who are a bit two dimensional and feel ever so slightly like window dressing inserted to move the plot along. There is a strong romance element and some secondary drama from those plot elements (Lord Hugh and his on/off lover Tristan as well as clandestine groping between Sarah herself and her fiance, policeman Thomas Barrett). The language is relatively clean, with an occasional mild curse, there is also some consensual sexual content.

The climax and denouement were the weak points for me. The mystery of the injured woman's true identity develops well, with three possible identities each of which is problematic for one reason or another. The final chapter and epilogue were completely over the top and somewhat unrealistic. It didn't ruin the book for me or anything, this is a well written and entertaining read, but especially the actual climax was very choppy and awkwardly written. It felt as though the end could have benefited from a ruthless edit and rewrite.

Three and a half stars.

Who is Sleeping Beauty? Sarah has a special interest in knowing the identity of the disfigured woman who was fished out of the Thames and who claims not to know who she is. Sarah's the one who realized she was alive. She was out there, with her friends Lord Hugh and Mick taking photos for Daily World newspaper and now she's following the trail as three different families attempt to claim her for their own. Sarah knows, however, there's more to the story. Someone tried to murder and now someone's murdering other people related to the case. No Spoilers! Know, however, that Sara and her fiancé DS Barrett will figure things out. Although this is set in 1890s London (and is quite atmospheric), it feels very much of the present, partly because of the press angle and partly because of the way the characters interact with one another. Thanks to net galley for the ARC. It might be the fourth in the series but it's fine as a standalone and a very good read.

A victorian mystery in which a woman is found beated up with so many wounds and blood in her face that is impossible to recognise her. She has been found nakes next to a river and as the journalists approach to take pictures of the crime scene, our main character Sarah realises that the woman is actually still alive.

The victim is hurried to the hospital where she willo be treated. Unfortunately all the trauma have left this woman disoriented and she does not remember who she is. With a victim of a brutal attack and an unidentified woman the police and juornalists try to discover all the secrets that surround this case.

The book had a great thorough investigation and you were invited to see how all the events unfold. I really appretiated the different array of characters and personalities and all the small mysteries that we started to uncover.

Another solid entry in this series. This title was a bit more tightly plotted than previous offerings. The subplot of Sarah's father feels forced and tedious, though it does continue to move forward. I'd like to see more character development of of the supporting players.

Even though I hadn't read any of the previous novels in this series, the opening chapters gave enough backstory to have me fully caught up to speed without overwhelming me with details. From the get-go I was instantly taken away to 19th century London, feeling as if I was actually walking the streets of the gritty East End alongside our characters.

I adored the motley group I was introduced to, a headstrong female photographer with a checkered past, a street-smart young boy, and a disgraced gentleman all trying to make a name for themselves in the sensational newspapers of the time. Trying to get their next meal ticket, the trio arrive on the scene of what appears to be a grisly murder, but soon they learn that the woman they didn't think could possibly have survived her gruesome injuries was actually still breathing.

What a start!

I have a soft spot for everything related to the Jack the Ripper era of London so this book was definitely right up my alley. I was so upset with myself for starting this book before bed because if it weren't for my day job, I would have stayed up all night reading it. From its first page to its last, I was seriously hooked. It was a very atmospheric and gritty tale with a lot of twists and turns, plus it had several likable characters filling its pages. Sometimes the dialogue and characterizations were a little cheesy and stereotypical, but for the most part that didn't detract me from enjoying what I was reading. I'm absolutely going to be reading the previous books as well as keeping an eye out for any further ones.

Full review to come nearer publication on my blog.

Sarah Bain and her companions Lord Hugh Stanton and fourteen year old former street urchin Mick O'Reilly are employed as crime scene journalists and photographers for the Daily World newspaper in
Victorian London. When they come across an unconscious, near dead naked woman lying in the water at the edge of the Thames, the newspaper's owner christens her 'Sleeping Beauty' and calls for information from the public as to who she might be. Her face has been horribly mutilated so identification from photos is not possible. Inundated with reports of missing women, the police settle on three likely possible women - a missing step sister from an abusive family, a missing wife of an artist who seems obsessed with having her returned to him and a missing mother of a small girl. When the woman regains consciousness she professes to be one of these women but both of the other families believe she is lying.

This is a very twisted tale with nearly everyone covering up lies and crimes. Through their sleuthing, Sarah, Hugh and Mick uncover the truth but not without exposing themselves to considerable danger first. Although I enjoyed the mystery and especially the ending, it just didn't feel like it was set in Victorian England. This could easily have been a modern day tale with the use of photography and investigative techniques, not to mention the modern day language. There wasn't a tangible Victorian atmosphere about the streets or behaviour of the characters. I was also puzzled that they all shared a house. For a young unmarried woman of good character to share a house in 1890 with an unmarried Lord (albeit one who has been disowned by the aristocracy due to his arrest in a homosexual club) and a street urchin would have been scandalous and somewhat inexplicable. Apart from those niggling details, it was a ripping good yarn.

Laura Joh Rowland has had a successful writing career, and she deserves every bit of it. Her first series, which was set in medieval Japan was wonderful, and her new series, of which “The Woman in the Veil” is the fourth installment, is just superb. This series is set in nineteenth-century Britain, with this book taking place in 1890. The protagonist is Sarah Bain, a photographer who works for a newspaper. Her friends and co-workers are Lord Hugh Staunton, Mick O’Reilly, and her fiancé Detective Sergeant Barratt.

I don’t like spoilers so I am going to be very careful in what I say. Although part of a series, this book can be read as a standalone as Rowland makes sure to explain the references to earlier books. Sarah and her friends are taking pictures of a dead woman who had suffered horrific injuries before washing up on the bank of the Thames. Suddenly, Sarah realizes that the woman is alive, and the book takes off from there. This is a very convoluted plot, a very atmospheric novel, and has parts which are especially tense. There are twists in the plot which I defy anyone to see coming.

This is a most worthy successor to last year’s “The Hangman’s Secret.” Rowland knows her business, and she delivers. I thoroughly enjoyed “The Woman in the Veil,” and I am already looking forward to next year’s book. I recommend this book, and award it all five of the stars which I am allotted.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions are my own.

Another good addition to this good series.
I was happy to meet again the cast of characters, I appreciated the well researched historical background and the solid mystery.
Can't wait to read the next instalment.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

This is the 4th installment in this Victorian mystery series. I have not read the first three, but plan to go back and do so. I like the quirky combination of characters who are friends who become family and are so dear and supportive of each other.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review; 3 2/3 stars rounded up to 4. The Woman in the Veil is the fourth title in Ms. Rowland's Victorian Mystery series. It could be read as a stand alone, but I think it works best if readers have read the previous books as there are multiple mentions to events in them as well a larger mystery involving Sarah's father and his disappearance. Following the successful conclusion of event's in the Hangman's Secret, Sarah, Mick, and Hugh are still covering murders for Sir Gerald Mariner's Daily World paper. They are called to the scene of a body of a naked woman, who's face was brutally slashed, washed up along the Thames River; when they arrive, the police haven't shown up yet allowing Sarah to get photos of the body. While taking photos, Sarah is shocked to realize that the woman isn't dead after all, but instead hangs to life. The mystery woman is rushed to a hospital, where she is stitched up. The woman is unconscious and had nothing to help identify her, but Sarah is determined to locate her family by writing a news article. After convincing Sir Gerald that the story will capture the public's interest, the story is published and the police are overwhelmed with people sure that the mystery woman is their missing loved one.

Three of the tips lead to the potential identity of the woman; the three families meet the mystery woman once she regains conscience to see if she recognizes any of them or vice versa. Two of the three are clearly less than ideal circumstances, but luckily the mystery lady remembers the third option and is reunited with her family. Sarah feels satisfaction that she was able to reunite a family, but nagging doubts and her fiancé make her question if the woman is in fact who she claimed to be. The mystery then kicks into high gear as Sarah and team work to determine the woman's identity once and for all.

I thought that the mystery was well done in the story with enough twists and turns to keep my satisfied. I also liked getting to see more of Mick and Hugh and the development with them. The mystery regarding Sarah's father continued to move along at a pace that I appreciated; it isn't the main focus of the book, but it also isn't being drug out with some solid developments. Overall, I really enjoyed this title and look forward to the next one in the series.

I did finally finish this book. It started out great, and a couple of months ago I thought it was due to my own state of mind that I somehow couldn't get through. That is why I did come back to the book, to try again. Again, it started great, with a nice and grimy atmosphere and interesting characters with backstories that fitted there interesting-ness.

Unfortunately, it did seem to evolve into a mess of loose ties, that were knotted just a bit too easily in the end. I certainly did enjoy the book, but I would have enjoyed it much better if it had remained just a bit 'cleaner'. Not in atmosphere, but in plot.

Sarah Bain and her partners Lord Hugh Stanton and Mick O'Reilly are crime scene photographers for the Daily World. They have also solved a number of crimes.

Their latest case has them photographing a beautiful woman lying dead on the shore of the Thames having been beaten and had her face slashed to make her unrecognizable. Only Sarah discovers that she isn't dead and their case, which the newspaper's owner wants them to pursue, is to identify her and discover who left her to die by the river.

Sarah's fiance Detective Sergeant Barrett has been assigned the case by his superior officer who really wants him to fail. Inspector Reid hates that Barrett and his friends have solved cases that Reid had mismanaged. He is determined to get revenge on all of them.

Since the woman knicknamed Sleeping Beauty has amnesia, her story brings a number of people who are sure that she is their missing family member. Three of the cases are credible and it is up to Sarah, Barrett, and their friends to discover where Sleeping Beauty belongs.

I enjoyed this latest in this series. Each episode lets us learn more about the characters. We are also gradually unraveling the mystery in Sarah's past. I like the Victorian setting. I like the relationships between the characters.

Before picking up this book, I did not know it was the fourth in a series, but that did not interfere with the reading experience and while it was sometimes referred to previous cases, that did not hinder understanding of the plot, character relations and such in this one. That said, I did not enjoy my reading experience.
The beginning was very promising, I was interested in the mystery and curious by the setting. However, the further in I got, the cleared the outline of the upcoming outcome became to the point where it couldn't have been anything else because all of the incidents had to be connected through certain characters. So there was not much mystery really, more like a matter of time until they figure it out and connect all the pieces in some way. And the ending was all over the place - as the book itself is quite short and there hadn't been much investigation going on, all of the things mentioned had to be connected by the end, even if they had surfaced once or twice at the beginning and had been set aside since (like the search for the main character's father).
Anyway, there are many other reviews loving this book and series so obviously everyone has a different taste, this just wasn't for me.