victorian – Emma's Biblio Treasures

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: The Deadly Inheritance of Everest MacDonald by A. J. West

Published October 8th, 2026 by Orenda Books
Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Mystery, Crime Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Set in wartime London and based on a true story, Everest Macdonald investigates the murder of her uncle, the actor William Terriss. A riveting, dark historical mystery from Sunday Times bestselling author A.J. West.
‘Meet Everest Macdonald, your new favourite historical sleuth … a work of Bayeux proportions, beautifully imagined with perfect pacing and twists galore!’ Janice Hallett
‘A dark confection of phantoms, hidden motives, the angst of the Victorian theatre … and murder’ Vaseem Khan
‘You are in for one hell of a ride when you meet Everest Macdonald! Essie Fox
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Some inherit a fortune.
She inherited murder…
1917. As the Great War rages on the continent, Everest Macdonald is summoned to her father’s deathbed and entrusted with a final urgent request: she must uncover the truth behind the murder of her uncle, the celebrated Victorian actor William Terriss, a crime that has haunted her family for twenty years.
In 1897, Terriss was stabbed to death outside London’s Adelphi Theatre, a killing that shocked Victorian society. The murderer was swiftly arrested and confined to Broadmoor, the case declared closed. Yet, years later, a sealed package of evidence is passed to Everest by her dying father, which casts doubt on the official verdict and the haste with which it was reached.
Drawn back to wartime London, with her husband and children left behind, Everest begins her investigation, following a trail that leads her into the world of late-Victorian theatre, where fame and fortune mask obsession, envy and cruelty. With time running out and her father’s strength failing, Everest must uncover what really happened on the night Terriss died, and shed light on the unsettling legacy he left behind.
Based on an extraordinary true story, The Deadly Inheritance of Everest Macdonald is a dark, atmospheric historical mystery and a compelling adventure, as an unlikely investigator risks everything to pursue one of the most notorious killings of the Victorian stage.

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

On December 16th 1917, actor William Terriss is murdered outside London’s the Adelphi Theatre. His shocking murder is quickly solved and the perpetrator, Richard Arthur Prince, is swiftly arrested and locked away in Broadmoor. Twenty years later, Everest Macdonald, is called to her father’s deathbed and receives his final request: to find the truth about her uncle’s murder. Because as Everest now learns, her father has never believed the official version of the crime and has compiled a dossier of evidence she must now follow to lead her to the truth. But can she solve a twenty-year-old murder before her father’s time runs out?

Atmospheric, immersive, witty, cryptic and compelling, The Deadly Inheritance of Everest Macdonald is a gorgeous slice of Victoriana. Masterfully written, cleverly choreographed and meticulously researched, A. J. West has crafted a madcap and eerie mystery inspired by the real-life murder of William Terriss. Set against a backdrop of WWI and the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the story moves between timelines and narrators as it tells the story through traditional narrative, flashbacks, memoirs and diary entries. A story of family, ghosts, secrets and murder, West had me in his thrall from start to finish. I listened to the audiobook and West’s evocative imagery merged perfectly with the fantastic narration of Lucy Penrose to make the characters and story leap from the pages. I felt like I lived every moment alongside the characters, including the twists and turns, and my heart was racing as we approached the dramatic conclusion.

Everest Macdonald is my new favourite amateur sleuth. As a middle-aged, menopausal woman I felt a strong affinity with Everest from the start. And the more I got to know this intrepid, strong and inquisitive heroine, the more I loved her. Once again West has created an unforgettable character who I will hold dear in my heart long after reading. But Everest isn’t the only star of this show and there are many richly drawn and compelling characters who I loved reading. I had a real soft spot for Clare in particular and, even though he’s mad as a hatter, Prince is so much fun to read. I liked that we were never sure if he – or the others – were reliable narrators and that there were so many different suspects for Willie’s murder. I had my suspicions but my jaw hit the floor when all was revealed.

A must-read for anyone who enjoys an entertaining historical murder mystery.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

Thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for my invitation to take part in the blog tour, and to Orenda Books for sending me a proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A.J. West’s bestselling debut novel The Spirit Engineer won the Historical Writers’ Association Debut Crown Award, gaining international praise for its telling of a long-forgotten true story. His second novel, The Betrayal of Thomas True, debuted at number two on the Sunday Times bestseller list, and won the CWA Historical Dagger. A.J. was also shortlisted for the Booksellers Association Author of the Year.

An award-winning BBC newsreader and reporter, he has written for national newspapers and regularly appears on network television discussing his writing and the historical context of contemporary events. A passionate historical researcher, he writes at The London Library and museum archives around the world.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

‘The Corset’ by Laura Purcell ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

oznor

Is prisoner Ruth Butterham mad or a murderer? Victim or villain?

Dorothea and Ruth. Prison visitor and prisoner. Powerful and powerless. Dorothea Truelove is young, wealthy and beautiful. Ruth Butterham is young, poor and awaiting trial for murder.

When Dorothea’s charitable work leads her to Oakgate Prison, she is delighted with the chance to explore her fascination with phrenology and test her hypothesis that the shape of a person’s skull can cast a light on their darkest crimes. But when she meets teenage seamstress Ruth, she is faced with another theory: that it is possible to kill with a needle and thread. For Ruth attributes her crimes to a supernatural power inherent in her stitches.

The story Ruth has to tell of her deadly creations – of bitterness and betrayal, of death and dresses – will shake Dorothea’s belief in rationality, and the power of redemption.

Can Ruth be trusted? Is she mad, or a murderer?

This gothic novel had been languishing on my shelves for a while when I decided to pick it up as my fiftieth read of 2019. The Silent Companions was one of my favourite reads last year so I began this full of high expectations. I was not disappointed.

Dorothea Truelove is attracted to the forbidden and isn’t interested in the life expected of her as a wealthy heiress, but in becoming a better and more useful person. She spends time on charitable work which leads her to Oakgate Prison and Ruth Butterham. Sixteen-year-old Ruth is awaiting trial for murder. She grew up poor and was sold to work as a seamstress to pay of her mother’s debts. It is her talents with a needle and thread that she claims enabled her to kill, saying that she has the ability to sew death into the things she creates.

Dorothea and Ruth are two very different women. Dorothea has known a life of privilege while Ruth has known nothing but poverty. Both have suffered loss but the effect it’s had on their lives is very different. When they meet they have outlooks on life that are also different but find that they come to bond over Ruth’s story. I liked both main characters and the author did a great job of writing their diverse lives in a way that made you understand their actions and beliefs. There were some other great characters in this book too. Some I loved and others I despised.

The author highlights many important issues of the time in this novel. There is an interesting look at mental health and phrenology, women’s roles in society and how workers were sold into slavery with no rights and treated appallingly. In particular, I think Ruth’s life and the struggle of the poor in Victorian times was particularly well written. I could almost smell the rot and decay of their dank, desolate and depressing living conditions and feel their terror at being starved, having no rights and the fear of what their cruel employer might do to them for the slightest reason. There were parts of Ruth’s story so harrowing I’d have to stop reading and take a break for a while.

I am so glad that I finally read this book. Dark, haunting, atmospheric, chilling and raw, this was impossible to put down. The story is exquisitely written and has solidified Ms Purcell as one of my favourite authors whose novels are a must-read. There is so much I loved about this novel: the ambiguity, the magnificent writing and that mindblowing ending that had me sitting there in disbelief at what I was reading. I would vacillate from heartbreak to anger to disgust as I read Ruth’s story. To be honest Dorothea’s chapters almost felt like light relief in comparison.

So is Ruth mad or a murderer? Victim or villain? That is something you’ll have to read and decide for yourself. The Corset is an outstanding piece of gothic noir that I highly recommend.

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