This was a dark, fascinating read rich with atmosphere and complicated characters. I really appreciated how this expanded on the basis of Sweeney Todd and added a lot of new depth to Ms Lovett. The partial epistolary style took a moment to get into but once I did the story picked up pace snd kept me reading.

The first 2 acts of The Butcher's Daughter are intriguing, traumatizing, and compelling! The third act, while introduced with a different tone due to a good premise, stumbles, and the ending faceplants. To be clear, I enjoyed MOST of this book, it was MEATY and horrifying and gave Lovett depth and distrust and motivation-but the ending felt absolutely antithetical to the story. It was almost as if Ms.Lovett herself missed the point of her own story. Even the sapphic subplot felt beside the point-and this is coming from someone who loves nothing more than combining sapphic stories with cannibalism storylines and stuff.
If you like body horror, cannibalism, victorian intrigue, and unreliable narrators, you'll enjoy this read, The ending feels a bit anachronistic, but I still enjoyed the process, and the imagery was, indeed, MEATY.

Thank you Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for a review

The Butchers Daughter by Corinne Leigh Clark & David Demchuk
Pub Date: 06 May 2025
🔪🔪🔪🔪/5


"The law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness" - Hebrews 9:22

Following an investigation into a missing young journalist, Miss Emily Gibson, a dossier of correspondence between her and a Miss Margaret Evans is collected and ordered chronologically. As it comes to light, Miss Emily is searching for information on the infamous Mrs Lovett and her whereabouts. Throughout their correspondence, the life of young Margaret is unveiled, her life growing up on Butchers Row, becoming a house maid for a doctor and her brutal escape from him, and her finding her way to the warm embrace of the Symposia Heliconia.
With each correspondence between the two, and more truth is revealed, Miss Gibson feels more drawn to the mystery that is Miss Margaret and the story she has to tell, inching closer to the truth with each letter even if that will put her neck on the line.

This absolute gem of a novel brought the story of Mrs. Lovett to life, her childhood to adulthood,her struggles, and her determination to survive in a cruel world no matter the outcome. Not to mention that she isn't love struck by Mr. Todd, but instead, she keeps her independence and autonomy.

The way this story is told really brings the characters to life, the rich details, and atmospheric descriptions. You will feel like you're right there on Fleet Street.

Thanks to @netgalley and @soho_press for the opportunity to be able to read this gem of a novel.

I highly recommend getting your little paws on this bloody book, with a fluffy blanket and a comfortable chair( you won't be leaving soon)

I'm definitely a fan of stories with dark women. This falls heavily into that category! The letters were an interesting way to keep me engaged and guessing. Usually I'm not a fan of stories in this Era but this book swayed me into reconsidering.

As a Sweeney Todd fan I loved this. It gave Ms. Lovett a whole new depth to the character as it gave much of her backstory of which you don't get from the play or movie. I loved this so much and can't wUt to purchase it when it comes out.

"The Butcher's Daughter" delivers a deliciously dark and compelling reimagining of the infamous Mrs. Lovett, transforming her from a caricature of evil into a complex and chillingly human character. Set against the gritty backdrop of Victorian London, this novel weaves a captivating mystery that will keep you guessing until the very last page.

The unique narrative structure, presented as a dossier of collected evidence, immediately draws the reader into the intrigue. Miss Emily Gibson, the determined journalist, serves as our guide through this labyrinth of secrets, her correspondence with the enigmatic woman offering tantalizing glimpses into a horrifying past.

The author masterfully recreates the atmosphere of 1887 London, painting a vivid picture of its squalor, danger, and hidden darkness. The woman's recounted experiences are harrowing and visceral, transporting readers to the perilous streets and the unsettling confines of the pie shop. The narrative cleverly plays with the established legend of Sweeney Todd, offering a fresh perspective on a familiar tale while simultaneously building a new and equally disturbing narrative.

The psychological depth of the characters is a major strength of the novel. The woman's voice is captivating, oscillating between vulnerability and chilling detachment. Her motivations are shrouded in ambiguity, leaving readers to question her reliability and the true extent of her involvement in the gruesome events. Emily Gibson, in her relentless pursuit of the truth, is a compelling protagonist, her determination bordering on obsession.

The novel deftly balances historical accuracy with fictional embellishment, creating a world that feels both authentic and unsettling. The author's attention to detail, particularly in depicting the social conditions and criminal underworld of Victorian London, adds a layer of realism to the already gripping narrative.

"The Butcher's Daughter" is a masterfully crafted literary thriller that will appeal to fans of Sarah Waters and Gregory Maguire. It's a dark and atmospheric tale that explores the depths of human depravity, the allure of secrets, and the enduring power of myth. If you're looking for a chilling and thought-provoking read that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about Mrs. Lovett, this book is a must-read.

I. Am. OBSESSED with this book now. It was gruesome and gross and scary and sad and just INCREDIBLE. Even though a lot of details regarding Todd's life was changed from the musical/movie, Mrs Lovett's backstory seemed to fit in perfectly with the main story line. Although I am curious as to how much of her life was the truth, especially after reading that final letter she sent (which, side note, I'm hoping I'm correct in assuming who her son is 'cause that just makes the story even better). I feel like if I keep rambling I'll spoil the story so I'll just end it in saying that this book was AMAZING and I think everyone who's a fan of Sweeney Todd or just a good mystery/horror novel should read it.

In The Butcher's Daughter, authors David Demchuk and Corinne Leigh Clark reimagine the infamous tale of Sweeney Todd from the perspective of his enigmatic accomplice, Mrs. Lovett. Set in 1887 London, the narrative unfolds through a series of correspondences between journalist Emily Gibson and a woman she believes to be Mrs. Lovett, the notorious baker who allegedly transformed Todd's victims into savory pies. This epistolary approach offers a fresh and intimate glimpse into the psyche of a woman vilified in both literature and lore.

Demchuk and Clark's portrayal of Mrs. Lovett challenges traditional depictions, presenting her as a complex character shaped by her circumstances. The atmospheric setting of Victorian London, with its fog-laden streets and shadowy alleyways, serves as a fitting backdrop for this dark narrative. The authors' meticulous attention to historical detail immerses readers in the era, enhancing the authenticity of the story.

The Butcher's Daughter is a thought-provoking exploration of agency, identity, and societal judgment. By giving voice to a historically maligned character, Demchuk and Clark invite readers to reconsider preconceived notions and delve deeper into the untold stories lurking beneath well-known legends. This novel is a must-read for fans of gothic literature and those seeking a fresh perspective on a classic tale.

This book is presented through a series of letters and articles in a multi-media format, which I found quite enjoyable. While it is a slow burn, the payoff is well worth it! The characters are rich and deeply developed, from the main character to even some of the minor ones. This hauntingly morose and beautiful read showcases the exceptional work of the author. I highly recommend it to fans of gothic, historical, and melancholic horror.
Thank you to NetGalley and Soho Press for this ARC!

I am currently gathering my brains from around the room because my mind is blown...that was amazing. I may try to come back and write a more cohesive review but for now, it's gonna be more a bullet point type of deal:

- this doesn't shy away from the gore and butchering bits but, I mean, I think that's to be expected considering the story's inspiration.

- the epistolary format is brilliant and made moreso with the multimedia additions.

- although this goes for all the characters, but Mrs. Lovett (Margery, Margaret, Peggy, etc.) has such stunning depth--she's a marvel. It was so satisfying to get a story from the viewpoint of Mrs. Lovett; not only that but to write of and inspire such compassion for a well-known villainess...I was 100% rooting for her, human meat pies or not.

- my eyes sparkled, big ol saucers reading all the descriptions of late 19th century Victorian London/Whitechapel--it's my catnip!

I've not felt the voracious despite to completely devour a book like this in awhile. It was one of those books that made me feel like life was getting in the way of reading this lol

The Butcher’s Daughter by Corrine Leigh Clark and David Demchuk is a thrilling gothic horror, based in the world of Sweeny Todd, but focuses on Mrs. Lovett, Todd’s accomplice and Fleet Street Baker.

This story is told through correspondence from investigative journalist, Miss Emily Gibson, and a woman named Margaret, who is currently being held in a nunnery against her will. Miss Gibson is looking for Mrs. Lovett and corresponding with Margaret brings her close to learning what happened all those years ago with Mrs. Lovett backed men into her pies. Margaret tells Miss Gibson about her childhood and the horrible experiences she’s encountered since her father died, including the search for her son. Margaret’s life story is that of nightmares and intrigue, which entices Miss Gibson to learn more but it could cost her, her life.

The story was interesting. I enjoyed reading Margaret’s background story and seeing her try to justify actions or how she came to be. This is a dark story with butchery and gore. They give her romance life a shift, which helps tie the story together in the end. The ending was fantastic, and one that I should have seen coming but clearly didn’t pay close attention at the beginning of the book. I would recommend this book to fans of Sweeny Todd, horror and gothic historical fiction. I am giving this book 3 stars because it was a good book and would recommend it to others but it’s not one that I personally would purchase.

I loved this! In that reading-slower-so-it-doesn’t-end way. Loved the letter format, it felt like I was going through a bunch of documents, figuring out what happened. It was super atmospheric, sometimes tragic, and so darkly fascinating. This is 100% epistolary with the memoir parts reading like a novel.

Energy: Mysterious. Sinister. Visceral.

🐕 Howls: That final reveal may disappoint <spoiler>I grew attached to the main character so I didn’t wanna find out what I did. But upon reflection, it was perfect. Like, what was I thinking? She’s gonna process people into pie-filling and just move on?</spoiler>

🐩 Tail Wags: The historical fiction and macabre mystery combo. Immersive, cinematic experience. The slice-of-life autobiographical layers. The curious tidbits and period-accurate references (I learned so much looking things up…anatomical venus 🫢). Atmospheric transitions from cozy to darkly grotesque. The narrator’s unsettling evolution. Mix of horror, intrigue, and hint of grim humour.

Scene: 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 London, England
Perspective: Reading documents sent to a journalist, including: letters from a member of the local Priory who is writing their biography/memoir, letters in response to the journalist following up on leads, fact-checking, and requesting information.
Timeline: April to July. 1887. 1820s. Then & Now.
🔥 Fuel: What happened in Evans’ life? Who is standing outside the gates of the Priory? Who is trying to stop Evans from sharing her story and why? Is the journalist at risk for investigating further? Can someone commit atrocious acts and go on to lead a moral, normal life?
📖 Cred: Historical fiction speculative

Mood Reading Match-Up:
Peppery gravy and onions. Paris green paper. Meat pies. Pearls. Columns of black smoke. Beef tea. Oil of camphor.
• Sifting through autobiographical letters, news articles, book excerpts, and journalist communications.
• Epistolary character study
• Mix of morally ambiguous, morally grey, and villainous characters
• 1800s medical house of horrors
• Victorian slice of life
• Hints of good-for-her justice
• ‘Meat is meat’ food horror
• Grotesque tales of flesh, blood, and bone
• Gothic, atmospheric slow burn
• Books to read by candlelight
• Desperate measures, desperate times, dark historical fiction
• Sweeny Todd adjacent serial killings
• Perpetrator-or-victim psychological suspense

Content Heads-Up: Abortion (complications). Adoption (forced). Animal death (livestock, meat). Blood. Cannibalism. Child abuse (physical, violence; very brief recall). Class and wealth divisions. Death. Dismemberment. Domestic abuse, violence. Drugging (narcotics). Elder abuse. Gun violence. Infertility (brief mention). Loss of child (at birth). Loss of friend. Loss of parent (as teen). Loss of romantic partner. Matriarchy. Medical (infection, wounds, surgery). Misogyny. Murder, body gore. Patriarchy. Pregnancy (forced). Sexual assault, rape (brief; on page). Sexual content (sex work). Suicide (suspected). Trafficking (bodies, parts).

Rep: British. Cis. Hetero. Gay. Pale, freckled, and dark skin tones. Deaf.

📚 Format: Advance Reader’s Copy from Soho Press and NetGalley

🤩 Potential Fav of 2025

This was the most excited i've been to read an ARC by an author/authors I had never read before. It may have taken me a while to finish as I took a lot of breaks, but the story was exciting and entertaining throughout. I love epistolary novels and it was exciting to read through the journalist's investigation even if most of the meat came from the letters with M.E. I enjoyed how it felt like a showcase of the horrors of victorian england, and I did laugh at the little nod we got at the end. The Free Mason plotline was a suprise and I wished I could have had a bit more time spend on the threats encroaching on the reporter and her family, their ending felt a little rushed. Great read!

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

- epistolary novel
- gothic mystery
- horror and intrigue
- stunning prose
- queer
- sweeney todd retelling
- literary thriller
- plot twists
- disabled rep (deafness)

Don't ask me why I picked a Halloween-esque read in the month of January -- gothic books are my vibe all year round. Disturbing and gory, The Butcher's Daughter is a literary thriller that will keep you guessing regardless of your familiarity with Sweeney Todd. Written as a series of letters and newspaper clippings, it enraptures you with its writing style as you wait for the reveals to happen! It is a spine-tingling horrifying tale that will keep you up at night, flipping pages and then pondering about what in the pies just happened. The queer and disabled representation was beautiful and I wish there was more of Aphra and Margery on the page, my heart ached for them and for what was to come. Margery's story was so well-done, I love how her learning baking as a housemaid at the doctor's foreshadows her future career.

In all its rapture you'd almost forget that the Freemason storyline was forgotten and never picked back up, which is slightly disappointing, but the book offers a lot more to make up for it.

Lastly, it is a heavy read and while this was very enjoyable for me, it won't be everyone's cup of tea, so, just like you would with any book, please pay heed to the content warnings.

TW: Sexual Assault, Forced Pregnancy, Abortion, Animal and Human Gore, Misogyny, Cannibalism

Honestly I've never seen. Sweeney Todd and I didn't realize this was a retelling but I really enjoyed this story and will look for more from this author

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book

Wow. That is all I have to say. The idea of delving into the life of Mrs. Lovett one of Broadways most sought after musical roles was intriguing and masterful. Give to all readers.

Vegetarians, beware! Horror retellings of fairy tales are always welcome, but what if the source material is instead an infamous penny dreadful? Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, has his musical (and Tim Burton movie.) Now, his meat pie-baking partner in Victorian crime gets her due in this grisly, evocative historical mystery. Told through a collection of correspondence, including letters between a young female journalist and an old woman who may or may not be one “whose name we daren’t speak aloud for its profanity.” Well-researched and immersive – you’ll feel the grim, sooty reality of 19th-century London on your skin – this is a highbrow, Gothic spin on a sensationalist story populated with women who live, breathe… and bleed.

Okay -- so I've been a huge, huge fan of David Demchuk's work for the past several years, particularly as one of the great Canadian speculative fiction authors, and I hope more people discover his work through this book, "The Butcher's Daughter," co-authored with Corrine Leigh Clark.

As soon as I saw the plot description, I was like okay, oh my gosh, this is a <i>must-read</i> for me because I am all about historical horror. It depends on the era as well, of course, but for this era described, I was definitely into it.

The book starts in an epistolary manner with a letter from April 1887 address to a Miss Gibson. The letter tells her that the recipient has received three letters that Gibson has sent to Mother Mary Angelica, the Prioress of an abbey (St. Anne's Priory in North Hampstead). The recipient tells her that Gibson is a journalist who has been looking for a Margarey Lovett, a "wanton" woman, murderer, and that they don't speak her name, and that even though 50 years have passed since her case, Gibson still believes that Lovett is at this Priory where she's been hiding in secret. And then the rest of the letter goes on to remind Gibson that St. Anne's is a community of "Sisters of the Church" who don't mess around with wanton murderers -- although it's one of those things where the reader thinks, "Hmm -- this recipient doth protest a bit too much" because for someone who keeps insisting that Lovett is not at this Priory, she seems to have a lot of knowledge of the whole Bonnie and Clyde thing Lovett had with Sweeney Todd. The recipient also says "Listen, dude, this is not a good time for us" and goes into more depth, encouraging Gibson to write about other things. I'm not sure why the recipient, who turns out to be a Miss Margaret C. Evans, encloses a windhover's feather as a memento to Gibson, although I'm sure it will have significance later.

In any case, it definitely is the kind of beginning that piqued my interest, and I love the style of historical horror where you've got letters exchanged between people, newspaper clippings that add to the plot, and other things. The second letter that Margaret sends to Gibson says "Uhh, you can't go looking around in our files, but I'm going to tell you about the history of the Priory so maybe that will help."

I had started to wonder if the entire novel would be told in the form of letters between Margaret and Gibson, as a good chunk of the first parts of the book do, and this is how the reader gets their narrative updates in terms of what has progressed in the story.

Eventually, the letters from Margaret stop and you get this stodgy Sister Augustine who is the acting Prioress, and she politely tells Gibson to bugger off. Things don't end there -- they continue in different ways, and the reader sees the exchange of letters that Gibson also receives from other institutions where she has approached them for their research in trying to find out what happened to this Lovett.

There are times when the letters, particularly the longer ones from Margaret, slow the pacing down and some letters are more interesting than others, which is to be expected in this format. But there's always a tension of 'what will happen next' amid the different kinds of correspondence that Gibson gets, including telegrams. She also receives letters from as far as Windsor Castle telling her "Okay, seriously, drop this investigation."

Eventually, we get police reports and other forms of documentation to keep the mystery as well as the suspense going. Adding to that are the Priory's records and the reader wonders who is going to be left standing at the end of the novel.

Overall, I enjoyed this very Victorian horror novel and its throwback to the styles of 'Dracula' or 'The Portrait of Dorian Gray.' Highly recommended.

A dark, disturbing epistolary novel about Margery and how she became the infamous Mrs. Lovett. This was mainly comprised of Margery's letters to Miss Gibson, a well-intentioned young journalist, interspersed with other correspondence and newspaper articles. Margery writes Miss Gibson an autobiography: her childhood as a butcher’s daughter, then as a maid at a surgeon's home, then a companion at a brothel, and, lastly, her most famous role of pie baker. Although some readers may complain that Sweeney Todd only shows up towards the latter part, the strongest part of the book to me was everything before his appearance, specifically Margery's time as a maid and all the creepy Gothicness involved. I kind of wish the book had been only that period of her life. The Sweeney Todd story beats were gory and familiar, but there were enough changes to the canon plot to keep me guessing.

Her descent into villainy was well-done. I particularly liked the callback of her refusing to shake fellow servant Tom's polish-stained hand versus her determinedly shaking Todd's blood-soaked one. There were some beautifully poignant parts as well, mainly in her relationship with Aphra and the intimacy of shared sign language.

I did think the ending was a bit much. She reunites with her son (yay!) but he becomes...someone famous. I guess we're doomed to become our parents...

This was wild and I loved every second. David Demchuk, now with his co-writer Corrine Leigh Clark, does not miss. I read Red X and The Bone Mother last year and both were some of my top books of the year. I anticipate The Bucher's Daughter will one of my tops of 2025.

The Butcher's Daughter is an epistolary novel set in the mid-late 1800s outlining the life (more like lives - wow this woman's life is interesting and varied) of the titular butcher's daughter, who goes by many names. I'll use the one that stuck with me: Peggy, The letters begin when a journalist starts investigating into Peggy's life and ends up striking up a correspondence with her while she is sequestered away in a convent. Over time Peggy tells her life story and damn, it is a life story.

The incorporation of bits of ephemera like newspaper clippings and letters between side characters, in addition to the epistolary format, turns this into a multilayered nesting doll of a book. There are so many little nuances and alternative perspectives added that bring complexity and richness. Further, as in Demchuk's other works, Demchuk and Clark uncover and highlight queer histories that are not told in "official" historical accounts, which I love. This is not a horror book in a typical sense; I'd classify this more as historical fiction than horror. The vibe reminded me strongly of the show The Knick. But when the horror hits, it is super visceral. Demchuk and Clark are skilled in describing...let's say...gross things. I was icked out - in a good way! Being a butcher's daughter, Peggy has a kind of clinical, matter-of-fact way of writing about violence in detail that adds to the effectiveness of these moments for me.

Highly recommended - amazing work from Demchuk and Clark. Thanks for the ARC!