In London of the 1850s, a famous actress is murdered. Her friend, Natalie Meadows jumps off the Blackfriars Bridge soon after the death. However, Natalie does not die and, by assuming another identity, she is free to attempt to solve the murder of her friend. As we travel the squalid streets of Victorian London we meet a whole host of unsavory characters any of which could have been responsible for the death of the actress. As usual, the closer Natalie gets to the solution, the more she places herself into danger.
Lee Jackson has a strong interest in Victorian London. In a sense, this book is really a travelogue of London in this time period and the careful attention to historical detail is one of the book's major strengths. The mystery, itself, is almost superfluous and the solution somewhat disappointing. In fact, the actual ending is a bit obtuse. The fact that this is a first novel makes this an impressive enough effort. Recommended.
