Publisher's Weekly Review
The real-life case of British serial killer Mary Ann Cotton, who was hanged in 1873 for murdering her stepson and was suspected of multiple other murders, provides the backdrop for this chilling psychological crime novel from DeLuca (Lilah). When Clara Blackstone gives birth to a stillborn and malformed child, Clara attacks the doctor after he tosses the small corpse into a slop bucket as if it were trash. She also partially blinds a nurse by stabbing her with a scalpel. Clara's husband, Henry, has her confined to London's Bethlem Hospital, where she's force-fed and lives with other violent women. Following her release from a year's confinement in 1872, Clara, who finds her reunion with Henry awkward, gets unexpected help after a charitable prison visit to Mary Ann, who's imprisoned for allegedly killing 20 people over a dozen years. Mary Ann, who seems unscathed by whatever misdeeds she committed, becomes a mentor for Clara, who's trying to figure out Henry's intentions and an appropriate response to them. DeLuca keeps readers guessing, while cleverly using the Mary Ann Cotton case to advance her plot. Minette Walters fans will be pleased. (Apr.)
Booklist Review
In 1873, Clara Blackstone departs from the private asylum where she was institutionalized after a traumatic stillbirth led to a nervous breakdown. Beleaguered with barbaric medical treatments throughout her internment, Clara vows never to be confined again. Unfortunately, Clara soon finds herself held captive in a domestic prison by her gaslighting husband, Henry, and his colleague, Reverend Buckley. They try to fit Clara into the mold of a perfect housewife, dictating her every move. Clara's only solace is visiting female prisoners at the local jail. Through these charitable visits Clara meets Mary Ann Cotton, England's first female serial killer and the jail's most infamous detainee. The notorious husband- and baby-poisoner mesmerizes Clara and the two develop an unlikely bond. As Mary Ann's execution date draws near and Henry's nefarious intentions become clear, Clara must find a way to secure her freedom at any cost. DeLuca gives Mary Ann a gentler treatment than the history books, but delivers a fascinating portrayal of womanhood in Victorian England that is also a nail-biting thriller that will keep readers riveted until the very last page.
