Official Selection:
I wanted to make sure that we kicked off this subscription with a well-written title, and one that would have broad appeal. We might get a bit more niche with our sub-genres going forward, and I know that we’re not going to please everyone every month, but this selection comes with multiple MBTB staff recommendations, Best of the Year honors from The Guardian and The Irish Times, and much more additional praise, including a recent write-up in The Wall Street Journal.Reminiscent of Victorian mysteries (like The Moonstone), this mystery set in 1890’s London opens with a seamstress jumping to her death with a secret message stitched into her skin. As the plot unfolds we meet the wryly-funny Inspector Cutter, aided (some would argue otherwise) by the somewhat bumbling, but well-intentioned Gideon Bliss. While they walk the seedy, shadowy streets to investigate the death of the seamstress, bicycling journalist Octavia Hillingdon is working on her own story illuminating the problem of society’s less-fortunate young women going missing. Will those stories intertwine? What’s The House on Vesper Sands? I guess it’s time to crack open the book and find out…. - McKenna
Bonus Recommendation:
The quintessential Victorian gothic novel. A classic, and not to be missed!
Bonus Recommendation:
Equal parts Agatha Christie & James Bond, this new release is perfect for historical mystery fans!