The Penmaker's Wife by Steve Robinson
Genre: Historical fiction, thriller
Read: 17th January 2020
Purchase: Amazon
(publication date: 1st December 2019)
★★★★★ 5 stars
Despite reading the premise for this book, I went in completely oblivious to the tale that lay ahead. I must have skimmed the description, took it as historical fiction and added it to my TBR list. Never in a million years did I foresee what was to come.
I have not come across Steve Robinson before but this, THE PENMAKER'S WIFE, is a standalone tale of a different kind. How far would a mother go to give her child the best possible life?
Set in the Victorian era of the late 19th century, the story begins in 1880 with beautiful young mother Angelica throwing herself into the Thames with her 5 year old son William in her arms in order to escape her past and thus begin a new life. A rail journey booked for Birmingham will see them on their way, but not before a face from the past she is fleeing from catches up with her and blackmails her into submission. Seeing no other way out, Angelica acquiesces...and then there were three.
Tom Blanchard was not someone to be messed with. He was a low life degenerate making his living off the immoral earnings of women, and children, which is exactly what he had in mind for Angelica...and William, when he was old enough. Worse still, Blanchard knew just what she was running from so from him there was no escape...yet. But Angelica endeavoured to find a way, before he put her to work to earn his keep, and until then she would bide her time. When it came, it was not a minute too soon...fleeing to the streets that felt far safer than in Blanchard's care.
A chance meeting whilst walking in the park one day sees opportunity knock when William began playing with another young lad his age whilst Angelica befriended his young mother, Georgina Hampton. After an invitation to tea the following day, Angelica manages to secure herself a position as governess to Georgina's son Alexander...as well as the expected arrival of another in a few short months.
As soon as Angelica set eyes on Priory House, she knew that's what she wanted for herself and William. But as governess that freedom was not hers to claim although, upon moving in, it had become their home too...still Angelica wanted more. But to what length?
The Hamptons are clearly fond of William and the boys became inseparable, so it isn't long before Georgina informed Angelica that the same privileges that afforded Alexander would be William's also. She would tutor them both until they were old enough to be sent away to school, afterwhich Angelica would have a new charge in light of Georgina's pregnancy.
Despite being a governess, Angelica and Georgina became good friends which also extends to her small circle of close companions, Effie and Violet. So when tragedy strikes one afternoon while the two women are out walking with their boys, the path of Angelica's life changed irrevocably.
Devastated at the loss of her close friend and companion, Angelica, fearing her dismissal, once again saw an opportunity. The boys were now away at school, there would no longer be a child so her services were no longer required. Using her charm, beauty and wit she catches the eye of her friend's widower Stanley, fresh from his grief, and head over heels in love with her. Three years after Georgina's tragic demise, Stanley and Angelica marry...and she becomes the penmaker's wife.
But not everyone is please with the union. Violet, the former Mrs Hampton's closest friend, doesn't like Angelica and suspects she is up to something nefarious. Whilst Effie, a young woman two years her junior, is in love with Angelica. And so begins the secret relationship between the two women with stolen moments and discreet afternoons. But is the feeling mutual or just another opportunity to exploit and manipulate?
However when her past comes knocking and threatens all that Angelica has built up, she will do whatever it takes and stop at nothing to keep her secrets from being exposed.
Told in a progressive timeline from 1880 to 1896, in retrospect and in the present, THE PENMAKER'S WIFE is the story of Angelica Chastain, a woman with whom we sympathise and even admire as she rises from the gutter to become a woman of substance. But that sympathy soon wanes as her ulterior motives become obvious and we realise that she is nothing more than a manipulative conniving opportunist who will allow nothing and nobody to get in the way of her ambitions for her son. And as the story progresses, it soon becomes clear that Angelica is even more devious and wicked than she at first appeared.
With a remarkably high body count, THE PENMAKER'S WIFE combines historical fiction with dark thriller noir in the Victorian era that does not fail to keep the reader engaged. There is just enough information about penmaking to keep it plausible without getting too much into intricacies as well as the lesbian affair between Angelica and Effie which is more of a subplot that does not detract from the main story.
Compelling and effective in setting and atmosphere, it is easy to lose yourself to the life and times of the characters. Each setting was described so well that I felt I was there watching Angelica stealthily move by gaslight along the dirty streets to the exquisite rooms and halls of Priory House. The strength in each character is also well developed that you either want to love them or loathe them and added to the dark atmosphere of the Victorian era where I half expected to see Jack the Ripper in the shadows makes THE PENMAKER'S WIFE a hugely enjoyable tale that is unputdownable from start to finish.
I'm so glad I came across THE PENMAKER'S WIFE because it most certainly did not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the story unfold with no idea where it was going in this deliciously dark historical thriller filled with deceit, manipulation, secrets and murder.
Tense, intriguing and very atmospheric, THE PENMAKER'S WIFE is a brilliant and well told tale that is completely unique in concept with an ending that is quite delicious. When I opened this book, I had no idea where the journey would take me but I enjoyed every minute of it!
If you love historical mysteries, particularly those of a different kind, then don't go past THE PENMAKER'S WIFE. Trust me, you will NOT be disappointed.
I would like to thank #SteveRobinson, #NetGalley and #AmazonPublishingUK for an ARC of #ThePenmakersWife in exchange for an honest review.
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