(Rounded down from 3.5)

Compelling, sympathetic, and bloody, this portrait of what it takes a woman to survive in late 20th century London is gripping from the start. It is written in a retrospective epistolary mode, so the story is being recounted fifty years after it occurred through a series of letters. This, well, this I didn’t love. It didn’t feel like it added to the story, and it actually felt like it held me back from the experience.

Let’s start with what I enjoyed, though. This is not a re-telling of Sweeney Todd (or The String of Pearls,) it is telling a parallel story about an under-explored character from that story, and I think it does that well. We get a deeply moving portrait of a life marked by adversity and struggle, shot through with brief moments of victory only to have lasting happiness constantly be on the periphery, just out of reach. I really enjoyed our central character, and the journey she went through. She is still mostly a victim, of her birth, her circumstances, her sex, and a number of awful men that cross her path, but within that she does fight for agency and make choices, sacrifices, for clear and specific reasons. The world-building is rich and descriptive, not just the 19th century England of it all but also a number of different locations within that, all distinct and captivating. The story moves quickly and covers a lot of ground, and allows our main character to develop and grow. The writing also worked, the tone and style personal and emotional and helped create the atmosphere. The story is happy to force us to blur the line between aggressor and victim, and doesn’t want the reader to be content and unquestioning in their acceptance of such a false duality, and I appreciate that.

I enjoyed the novel quite a bit, I enjoyed the depth of story and the pacing, the shocks of gore and violence and the small moments of intimacy that struggled in its bloody grip. The epistolary format, though, held me back from really loving this story. I did enjoy the meta story being told, about the missing reporter to whom all these letters had been addressed, I think that was a nice touch. I don’t find the argument as to why our main character was allowed to begin this correspondence compelling, nor that as to why she was insistent on telling her whole story (but repeatedly telling this reporter that she couldn’t tell anyone) …. But I am willing to overlook that, if the epistolary framing brings something else to the story and experience, something lost otherwise. Unfortunately, for me, it didn’t. It did set up a nice ending, I will give it that. But having everything told in this retrospective epistolary format kept us at a significant distance from the main character and from her actions. Her feelings, her experiences, both terrible and titillating, are all seen through a filter, never mind the constant doubt about the narrator’s reliability. The story that was told is exciting and emotional and has all sorts of peaks and valleys and I would have loved to be able to experience that with our main character, not set at a remove, not in an almost clinical recollection. The occasional additional ephemera included—police reports, letters from the reporter’s father, letters from physician groups, and so on, these were a nice touch. They helped create tension in the story and did add to the overall ambiance. But I would gladly give them all up if I could have been in the room with our character when she sawed through her first leg, when she took that fateful carriage ride with her mother, when she crossed all sorts of lines, both knowingly and unknowingly. There is a level of immediacy and intimacy that I felt was lost in the decision to write in this format/mode, and what was gained didn’t quite make up for it.

That said, I did enjoy the novel. Even though I constantly felt like I was being held at arm’s length I was still drawn to read the next chapter, and the next, to dig deeper and see what secrets might be uncovered. The atmosphere and writing are well-crafted, and the story itself is inventive and fun, forcing the audience into an alliance, or complicity, with a party they know they should avoid. Although I didn’t feel the emotional experiences of the characters were as well-explored in this format as they might be in others I did find the main character genuine, complicated, and engaging, and most of the various ancillary characters also colored the world well and felt like more than mere window dressing. If you are most attracted to the immediacy and intimacy of a character’s story and aren’t particularly compelled by epistolary novels then, even though the story itself is a good one, this novel may not work for you. However, if you’re intrigued by or even simply don’t mind epistolary novels, and, for that matter, retrospective first-person novels, then I think this novel is a lot of fun and worth seeking out.

I want to thank the author, the publisher Soho Press, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

There are such horrors in this book, and they are told in such an enticing manner that I found myself almost unable to put it down until I reached the end. An epistolary novel set in Victorian London, with the backdrop of Mrs. Lovett, her pies, and Sweeney Todd? Yes, there's plenty of darkness to delve into, and this book delves deep, and there's a strange and thrilling beauty, terrifying though it is, in the telling of the tale. I love the way Demchuk and Clark draw us in with all the trappings of a gothic tale, skillfully entwined with mystery and suspense, as we're led through the dirty streets and bloody rooms of London, into the greater darkness beneath the surface. A thoroughly compelling, profoundly disturbing, and unforgettable book.

Unholy, queer, and bloody in all the right ways. This gothic fever dream doesn’t care if you’re ready—it drags you by the neck and whispers folklore straight into your bones. It’s theatrical, poetic, and a little feral. I was obsessed.

I had the highest hopes for THE BUTCHER'S DAUGHTER, and perhaps that was the problem—nothing could quite live up to my expectations. I normally love epistolary stories, but Mrs. Lovett's story didn't work for me in this format. I found it more confusing to follow the story and had to reread sections, which is never a good sign. While I didn't love this, I know it'll find its readership.

The Butcher’s Daughter by David Demchuk and Corinne Leigh Clark was a surprisingly gripping read. Told through letters and documents, it offers a fresh perspective on Mrs. Lovett’s backstory, blending dark humor with unsettling twists. The epistolary format added depth, though at times I found myself flipping back to keep track of the correspondents. Despite this, the narrative’s eerie atmosphere and character development kept me hooked. If you’re open to a macabre tale with a unique structure, this one might just surprise you too.

I adored this book, devoured it, couldn’t put it down in the second half. It’s heartbreaking and surprising, paying tribute to the original inspiration while crafting a standalone story, doesn’t shy away from gore, while never wholeheartedly relying on it.
The Victorian setting is fully realized and immersive, a character in and of itself, as cliche as it might sound. Demchuk and Clark’s character work combines with terrific pacing and a mesmerizing epistolary style to create an unforgettable story.

Entertaining but ultimately pales in comparison to the horror and humor of musical - a pie underbaked. Margaret's fall to Mrs. Lovett isn't believable and her portrayal of herself makes her into a victim of circumstances, not a heroine of her own making, which is disappointing. The last few lines of the book don't match up with her own portrayal of herself - which I get, Margaret is trying to portray herself sympathetically throughout her letters - but I wish we got more of the joyfully murderous woman. I wish I could understand what the authors were aiming to do with their depiction of her fall, it's half-baked and doesn't make a lot of sense. Ultimately a fun bit of fanfiction, which doesn't follow canon, that had me re-listening to the musical performances.

Title/Author: The Butcher's Daughter by David Demchuk & Corinne Leigh Clark

Page Count: 432

Publisher: Hell's Hundred

Format: I read a physical ARC

Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: David Demchuk- The Bone Mother and Red X

Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978164129...

Release Date: May 6th, 2025

General Genre: Historical, Crime Thriller, Horror, LBGTQIA+, Gothic fiction

Sub-Genre/Themes: 1800s, Victorian Era, Accomplices, Barbers, Brothels, Butchers, Cannibalism, Doctors, Medical horror, Missing women, Murder, Personal letters, Psychic trauma, Sapphic romance, Secret societies, Stillbirth & Crisis Pregnancy, Women journalists, Women serial murderers

Writing Style: Epistolary novels, Collaboration, Intricately plotted, Atmospheric, Intensifying

What You Need to Know: "In 1887 London, journalist Emily Gibson investigates the chilling past of a woman claiming to be Mrs. Lovett, Sweeney Todd's infamous accomplice, through a series of letters revealing a harrowing life in Victorian London, drawing her into a dangerous mystery." --NoveList Plus

My Reading Experience:

I just finished The Butcher’s Daughter by David Demchuk and Corinne Leigh Clark, and I’m still sitting with it—mostly because I can't believe what they managed to do here! It's such a thrilling read. The rich, grim Victorian setting completely pulls you in without feeling staged. You’re just there with these sights and smells, narrow alleys, cluttered medical rooms, and untrustworthy people lurking in dark corners.

The characters are some of the most authentic I’ve read in a while. Even when they’re doing awful things, like really bad things and making horrible decisions, you still want to know more about them. The format with the back-and-forth letters, different POVs, newspaper clippings and posters, really keeps things moving. For a book that’s over 400 pages, it doesn’t feel long. The pace is strong, and the twists actually surprise you, which is rare. There are a lot of them. I didn't see them coming at all, and they land hard (no surprise though, I'm an easy sell) Ha! If you’re into historical horror, you’ll probably eat this up. (Pun not intended. But also—maybe.) Fans of Sweeney Todd will be DELIGHTED by all the connective tissue. Not for the squeamish! There is butchery, blood, meat, body horror, and detailed descriptions of nastiness.

This is character-driven horror! What really stood out to me was the representation—queer and disabled characters are central to the story and fully developed. It feels honest and intentional in a way that’s really refreshing but completely expected as a David Demchuk fan (author of Red X and The Bone Mother) Everyone on the page is alive and fully fleshed out. Some you fall in love with and some you love to hate.

Final Recommendation: If you are an avid horror fan and familiar with Sweeney Todd, this is ESPECIALLY for you. That said, a strong content warning: this book includes graphic violence, cannibalism, pregnancy-related horror, and cruelty. It’s intense, it’s brilliant, and it’s on my list for the best books of 2025 for sure.

Comps: Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito, The Savage Instinct by M. M. DeLuca, In the Garden of Spite by Camilla Bruce

This book was a fantastic read! Enjoyed the gothic vibes, and I haven't even seen Sweeney Todd, just a good story.

I won’t publish this feedback on Goodreads or anywhere else as I don’t think that’s fair

Personally I really struggled with the writing style, it was extremely hard for me to follow but I do have some reading difficulties so that could be why.

Honestly I wanted to love this book but I just didn’t unfortunately I have no doubt for the right reader this would be a high rated book

Have you ever wondered while watching Sweeney Todd why Mrs Lovett is the way she is and who she was before, I have! I love a backstory and this one was great (terrible for her) but great. It is an epistolary novel told in one sided correspondence and journal entries. This was graphic and gory so if you’re squeamish about blood maybe don’t read it. We hear about her childhood, what happens after she’s basically abandoned and her fight for survival and then of course we hear about her life after she moves to Fleet Street and beyond. If you’re a fan of the musical I would give this one a read.

The Butcher's Daughter Review!

Thank you so much Soho Press and Netgalley for this gifted e-read, in exchange for an honest review! The Butcher's Daughter is out May 06 2025. I was so dang excited to get this ARC. Sweeny Todd has got to be my favorite musical of all time and I was really looking forward to diving into Mrs. Lovett's life. The Butcher's Daughter was a 2.5/5 stars for me! I am usually all for mixed media in my books. It makes the book interesting and go by so very fast. I am not sure if it was just the way it was written, but the mixed media was very confusing and I didn't know who was sending it and which character it was going to? It made of a confusing read for about half of it. This one was also very slow. Mrs. Lovett didn't actually meet Todd until about 70% way through the book. So the last 1/3 of it flew by for me. Overall, I just don't think this book was what i was expecting.

Let me start off by saying: This was my first epistolary novel, and I honestly don’t think this particular writing style is for me. As a fan of the musical Sweeney Todd, I was intrigued by the premise of a book that delved deeper into the backstory of Mrs. Lovett. I think that the authors did a fantastic job at creating a grim, dark, and atmospheric tone that fit the setting. But, the story just seemed to drag and was a bit all over the place for me. I think the combination of letter correspondence and articles was interesting, but it also took me out of the story as a whole. It felt difficult for me to connect with both Miss Gibson and Margaret, and I feel as if that had something to do with the writing style. But, overall, it was a fun and gory read (even though it took me quite a while to actually finish reading it).

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.