![These Lost & Broken Things: A historical fiction novel by [Helen Fields]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41oblk9+J6L.jpg)
It's great to be a part of the Book Blog Tour for this amazing book today.
Blurb
Maiden-Mother-Murderer
How dangerous is a woman with nothing left to lose?
The year is 1905. London is a playground for the rich and a death trap for the poor. When Sofia Logan’s husband dies unexpectedly, leaving her penniless with two young children, she knows she will do anything to keep them from the workhouse. But can she bring herself to murder? Even if she has done it before…
Emmet Vinsant, wealthy industrialist, offers Sofia a job in one of his gaming houses. He knows more about Sofia’s past than he has revealed. Brought up as part of a travelling fair, she’s an expert at counting cards and spotting cheats, and Vinsant puts her talents to good use. His demands on her grow until she finds herself with blood on her hands.
Set against the backdrop of the Suffragette protests, with industry changing the face of the city but disease still rampant, and poverty the greatest threat of all, every decision you make is life or death. Either yours or someone else’s. Read best-selling crime writer Helen Fields’ first explosive historical thriller.
How dangerous is a woman with nothing left to lose?
The year is 1905. London is a playground for the rich and a death trap for the poor. When Sofia Logan’s husband dies unexpectedly, leaving her penniless with two young children, she knows she will do anything to keep them from the workhouse. But can she bring herself to murder? Even if she has done it before…
Emmet Vinsant, wealthy industrialist, offers Sofia a job in one of his gaming houses. He knows more about Sofia’s past than he has revealed. Brought up as part of a travelling fair, she’s an expert at counting cards and spotting cheats, and Vinsant puts her talents to good use. His demands on her grow until she finds herself with blood on her hands.
Set against the backdrop of the Suffragette protests, with industry changing the face of the city but disease still rampant, and poverty the greatest threat of all, every decision you make is life or death. Either yours or someone else’s. Read best-selling crime writer Helen Fields’ first explosive historical thriller.
Review
I loved the style of writing which is really exceptional and was immediately drawn into the book. It is set in 1905 with flashbacks to Sofia's childhood, which is how the book begins. Not so much of a childhood though, as we find her in a gambling den with a man to whom she just lost a bet to and who wants a big repayment.
We then are forwarded to 1905 with Sofia having just become a widow with two children to support. This was written with such emotion my heart was breaking as Sofia sets about finding work. It's no spoiler to say that eventually the work her new employer finds for her would not be amiss in Killing Eve. Indeed she can give Villanelle a run for her money for ingenuity! The murder side of things is pretty gruesome in description, so maybe not for the faint hearted.
There was an early reference for context to the Suffragettes and I was beginning to think that it was all the book would contain. However, about half way through the social history side really ramped up and the story of the Suffragette protests became more prominent in the book. Throughout the book the writing really gives you a feel and place of the early 1900s.
You may think the strap line of Maiden-Mother-Murderer sews this book up - but really there is so much in between with many twists in the tale. In fact I began to think the author had made an error at one point, I went back and forth in the book, and it was really bugging me, thankfully I let it go. All was revealed later on in another twist in the story line.
I will be thinking of Sofia for a long time - a well written character who just leapt from the pages with life.
I'm giving this book a well deserved 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Kelly for the invite onto the #Lovebookstour.
Author
An international and Amazon #1 best-selling author, Helen is a former criminal and family law barrister. Every book in the Callanach series claimed an Amazon #1 bestseller flag. Her next book, the sixth in the series, 'Perfect Kill' is due out on 6 February 2020. Helen also writes as HS Chandler, and last year released legal thriller 'Degrees of Guilt'. Her previous audio book 'Perfect Crime' knocked Michelle Obama off the #1 spot. Translated into 15 languages, and also selling in the USA, Canada & Australasia, Helen's books have won global recognition. Her first historical thriller 'These Lost & Broken Things' comes out in May 2020. A further standalone thriller published by HarperColllins will come soon. She currently commutes between Hampshire, Scotland and California, where she lives with her husband and three children. Helen can be found on Twitter @Helen_Fields for up to date news and information or at www.helenfields.co.uk.
Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/
Buy Link
https://amzn.to/2vH4aX2
Hi, it's Meggy from Love Books Group! Thanks a lot for your support with the blog tour. This is a wonderful review!
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