Enthralling continuation!

Treacherous Trade (Fiona Mahoney Mystery #2) by Kerrigan Byrne       

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Oh my goodness! Victorian clean up specialist Fiona Mahoney is surrounded by men of power! And such men! Like the Scotland Yard Inspector, Grayson Croft and The Hammer, dangerous lord of London’s underbelly, alongside the exotic assassin, Aramis Night Horse, and yes, Jack the Ripper. All take an interest in Fiona. Fiona is London’s premier post mortem sanitation cleaner. The sanitation work is how Fiona puts food on the table. Her true passion is investigating who’s killing prostitutes in Whitechapel. This has become her overriding raison d’être after her best friend and prostitute Mary Kelly, was butchered by Jack the Ripper.

In this issue Fiona has slowly come out of the dreadful place she’s been in following her ex fiancé and childhood friend, Father Aidan Fitzpatrick’s death, to be given the news that another young courtesan has been brutally murdered. Not Fiona believes, by the Ripper. Her investigations lead her into dark alleyways, physical assault and DANGER!

Aunt Nola (Fiona’s somewhat unusual aunt who communes with the spirits and taro cards) had it right when she warned of  “Betrayal, Fiona. They’ve told me. Someone close to you is going to betray you…or worse. You are going to betray them. Lovers, I think. Your lover? Or maybe someone you love? Someone will be in love, and then…treachery. Treachery will tear them apart.”

Depravity is nothing unusual for the ladies of the night but here new depths are reached, even as Fiona and Croft’s sister Amelia search for answers.

Ending on a note that has me absolutely tantalised with anticipation, and screaming with frustration, I am on tenterhooks for the next in this compelling series.

Let’s just say that this tale has all the energy, passion and suspense that the best of Byrne’s titles give.

An Oliver Herber ARC via NetGalley 

Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change