The Wicked Cometh by Laura Carlin

The Wicked Cometh 

by Laura Carlin

The year is 1831

Down the murky alleyways of London, acts of unspeakable wickedness are taking place and no one is willing to speak out on behalf of the city's vulnerable poor as they disappear from the streets.

Out of these shadows comes Hester White, a bright young woman who is desperate to escape the slums by any means possible.

When Hester is thrust into the world of the aristocratic Brock family, she leaps at the chance to improve her station in life under the tutelage of the fiercely intelligent and mysterious Rebekah Brock. But whispers from her past slowly begin to poison her new life and both she and Rebekah are lured into the most sinister of investigations.

Hester and Rebekah find themselves crossing every boundary they've ever known in pursuit of truth, redemption and passion. But their trust in each other will be tested as a web of deceit begins to unspool, dragging them into the blackest heart of a city where something more depraved than either of them could ever imagine is lurking . . .

Once again, I fell in love with the cover of this book and then after reading some exceptional reviews from other bloggers, I knew I had to request this book! 

From the opening line, I was immediately taken back to 1831. Carlin has effortlessly created a firm sense of time and place and the reader is rooted within the murky, atmosphere of London. Historical detail weaves its way through the prose to maintain such authenticity but this is also a very readable novel which is hugely appealing to any reader, whether they usually read Historical Fiction or not. 

'This newspaper has taken note that the past month has been remarkable for the prevalence of cases where men, women and children are declared missing, scarcely a week passes without the occurrence of an incident of this type.'

It's impossible not to feel the shivers down your spine from this opening line. Carlin continues to induce a sense of trepidation and threat through her impressive evocation of London, each detail enabling the reader to feel completely transported and immersed in this unsettling and dark tale. 

Hester is an engaging protagonist. She is likeable and intriguing. At the beginning of the novel she is injured in a terrible accident involving the wheel of a cart and from this point onwards her life takes a different path. Rescued on the spot by the a member of the Brock family, she then finds herself whisked away to join them as they appear to be offering her a place to recuperate and regain her strength. But soon enough, a further motive is revealed.

'Not only do I intend to build up your physical strength through diet and exercises and provide proper medical care to make your leg as good as new, but I also wish to prove that those from the gutter can be educated'

This premise, and the subsequent exploration of issues like education, reform, class, power and oppression are always captivating whether it is 1831, 2031 or 1131. Carlin's story is suitably dark, nightmarish and full of threat and with memorable characters who fit so well with the time and unsettling nature of the story, this is a very compelling read. 

At the beginning I was reminded of perhaps Oliver Twist or Jane Eyre - although Hester has something more energetic about her which makes her feel more dynamic, attracting the reader to her plight more quickly. As the novel continues, it reminded me very much of Sarah Waters, not just because of the carefully observed relationship between Hester and Rebekah but also something about the mesmerising language. And at times, with the use of secret diary, perhaps there are even faint echoes of Wilkie Collins. Whether intentional or not, a writer who can write with the skill of Dickens, Bronte, Waters and Collins is someone with huge talent and skill. 

I would recommend this book. I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed the characters, I enjoyed the setting, I enjoyed the plot. And I really enjoyed the writing. Carlin's writing is as beautiful and intricate as the stunning cover design; it will draw you in and captivate you until the final page. 

The Wicked Cometh was published on 1st February 2018 by Hodder and Stoughton.

*My thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley*