Description
The first of the sharp, witty Variety Palace Mysteries, The Tumbling Girl sees an unlikely duo team up to solve a grisly spate of murders.
1876, Victorian London.
Minnie Ward, a feisty scriptwriter for the Variety Palace Music Hall, is devastated when her best friend is found brutally murdered. She enlists the help of private detective Albert Easterbrook to help her find justice.
Together they navigate London, from its high-class clubs to its murky underbelly. But as the bodies pile up, they must rely on one another if they’re going to track down the killer – and make it out alive . . .
The Tumbling Girl is a gripping debut that is sure to delight fans of historical crime.
Praise for The Tumbling Girl
‘Walsh’s diligent research pays off in spades here, and her rich and nuanced portrayal of the period will leave readers feeling like they’re on the soggy streets of London. Imogen Robertson readers will be eager for a sequel to this unputdownable mystery’ Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
‘A sparkling novel and a complete delight to read. The characters and world are wild, vivid and enchanting. A wry, warm and proper rib-tickling slice of dirty Victorian gothic . . . I can’t wait to see what Minnie and Albert are up to next’ Julia Crouch
‘Beautifully evocative, deftly plotted and with engaging characters, it was a page-turner from beginning to end’ Sheila O’Flanagan
‘More please! Bridget Walsh is a fresh and fabulous new voice in historical crime fiction’ Elizabeth Chadwick
‘Brilliant . . . Beautifully written . . . keeps you guessing till the end’ A. J. West
‘An accomplished crime murder mystery, with an addictively gritty plot and truly remarkable cast of characters. I fell in love with this deliciously dark and compelling Victorian read’ Essie Fox
‘Delightful, dark and depraved all at the same time. What’s not to like?’ Trevor Wood
‘A very good read’ Ann Granger
‘I loved it from the opening line! . . . Minnie Ward is a woman you want to follow through all the wicked twists and turns of Victorian London . . . It had me on the edge of my seat until the final page’ S. J. Bennett
‘Action, romance, body counts and class distinctions come together in brilliant prose that leaves the reader hungry for the next instalment of the Variety Palace mystery. A racy and thrilling ride that doesn’t let up till the last sentence. Superbly done’ Femi Kayode
‘Walsh resurrects the culture and crimes of Victoriana without cliché or condescension, but with warmth, wit, remarkable texture and rare authority’ Tom Benn
‘Smart, funny and expertly plotted, The Tumbling Girl cartwheels off the page. I loved my time with these characters. A cracking start to a charismatic and distinctive series’ Emma Styles
‘Rich in period detail, Walsh’s thrilling debut melds authentic, believable characters with a perfectly executed plot set against the backdrop of a finely drawn Victorian London’ Mark Wightman
