Thank you Simon & Schuster Audio for the ALC and @BookClubFavorites & Simon & Schuster #partner, for the finished copy of Maude Horton’s Glorious Revenge in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster / Simon & Schuster ALC
Published: January 16, 2024
Summary:
An Arctic expedition. A mysterious death. And the lengths to which one woman will go to avenge her sister
When Maude Horton receives a letter from the British Admiralty informing her of her younger sister’s death, her world is shattered. Bold and daring, Constance had run away from her life in Victorian London two years prior, disguising herself as a boy to board the Makepeace, an expedition vessel bound for the Arctic’s unexplored Northwest Passage. The admiralty claims Constance’s death was a tragic accident, but Maude knows when she is being deceived.
Armed with Constance’s diary from her time at sea and a fiery desire for justice, Maude sets her sights on the Makepeace’s former scientist, Edison Stowe, a greedy and manipulative man whom she suspects had a hand in her sister’s death. When she learns he has a new venture, a travel company that escorts spectators across the country to witness popular public hangings, she decides to join the latest tour, determined to extract the truth from Stowe and avenge her sister—no matter the risk to herself.
From the stark beauty of the Arctic to the teeming streets of Victorian London, Maude Horton’s Glorious Revenge is a mysterious, transportive tale about the unbreakable bond of sisterhood and the things we are driven to do by both love and greed.
My thoughts:
After thoroughly enjoying Lizzie Pook’s debut novel, Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter, I knew as soon as I saw this one, I had to read it and I’m so glad I did. It was another atmospheric, engaging read that exceeded all my expectations.
Historical mysteries have really become a favorite and this one definitely did not disappoint. A story of one sister trying to avenge her sister’s death, taking us from Victorian London to the cold Arctic shores, I was completely captivated from the start. The writing is so vivid and transportive that I felt I was right there alongside Maude as she searched for answers.
The story alternates between Maude’s perspective and that of Edison Stowe, the man Maude suspect’s might have had a hand in her sister’s death in the present and the diary entries of Maude’s sister from the past. This structure kept the story moving as we would occasionally be left with some cliffhangers, making you want to get back to one of the point of views to find out what would happen next.
It is quite evident the amount of research that went into this book, which of course sent me down the rabbit hole of my own. This made for such an authentic read, even though at times, it takes us on a dark journey. Who knew that Victorian London was so obsessed with true crime? Definitely read the author’s note for more information.
This book was so good! It’s a good mix of historical fiction, mystery and adventure and I think it will appeal to a wide audience, particularly those who enjoy historical fiction but are looking for something other than a war book.
Audio thoughts:
This is narrated by Genevieve Gaunt and I found it to be quite an immersive listen. Genevieve is a new-to-me narrator and I just loved the way she brought this story to life. Her pacing and intonation were spot on and she gave all the characters their own unique voices and personalities.
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