Amazon.co.uk Review
Fingersmith is the third slice of engrossing lesbian Victoriana from Sarah Waters. Although lighter and more melodramatic in tone than its predecessor Affinity, this hypnotic suspense novel is awash with all manner of gloomy Dickensian leitmotifs: pickpockets; orphans; grim prisons; lunatic asylums; "laughing villains" and, of course, "stolen fortunes and girls made out to be mad". Oliver Twist (which is mentioned on the opening page), The Woman in White and The Prince and the Pauper all exert an influence on it but none overawe. Like Peter Ackroyd, Waters has an uncanny gift for inventive reconstruction.

Divided into three parts, the tale is narrated by two orphaned girls whose lives are inextricably linked. It begins in a grimy thieves kitchen in Borough, South London with 17-year-old orphan Susan Trinder. She has been raised by Mrs Sucksby, a cockney Ma Baker, in a household of fingersmiths (pickpockets), coiners and burglars. One evening Richard "Gentleman" Rivers, a handsome confidence man, arrives. He has an elaborate scheme to defraud Maud Lilly, a wealthy heiress. If Sue will help him she'll get a share of the "shine". Duly installed in the Lillys' country house as Maud's maid, Sue finds that her mistress is virtually a prisoner. Maud's eccentric Uncle Christopher, an obsessive collector of erotica (loosely modelled on Henry Spenser Ashbee) controls every aspect of her life. Slowly a curious intimacy develops between the two girls and as Gentleman's plans take shape, Sue begins to have doubts. The scheme is finally hatched but as Maud commences her narrative it suddenly becomes more than a tad difficult to tell quite who has double-crossed who. Waters' penchant for Byzantine plotting can get a bit exhausting but even at its densest moments--and remember this is smoggy London circa 1862--it remains mesmerising. A damning critique of Victorian moral and sexual hypocrisy, a gripping melodrama and a love story to boot, this book ingeniously reworks some truly classic themes.

Lending to lovepurple1 while it sits on TBR shelf

Lent to me by Giz-angel. Will read it after Tipping the Velvet.

Loved this - Sarah Waters is just such a fantastic story-teller and I really found this atmospheric.
Have given this back to Giz-angel.

And now I've read it too - I found it took me longer than normal to read this one, not quite sure why because I enjoyed it, I just felt at times it was over long and more complex than it needed to be. But a great book and now I wish to read a new Sarah Waters so she needs to write more :)

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

I am taking this to the Cafe Rouge meet up in the hope I can tempt someone to take it home. If you find this book then I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, and pass it on when you have finished.

Picked this up from the Greenwich meet today - looks interesting & will add to mt TBR. Hope to read soon.

This is the first of Sarah Waters novels that I have read (although I watched & enjoyed Tipping the Velvet on the telly box) and am impressed. I was enjoying the tale of Susan Trinder as I have been reading a few novels based around a similar time & place in history (1862, London) and wasn't expecting such intriguing twists & turns. In fact I can remember gasping out loud & having a little giggle to myself when the first one occured! Of course I won't give out any spoilers, just a recommendation that you have a read yourself!! Waters can definitely spin a yarn!

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Am wrapping up for a game of steal or reveal. Happy reading!

This was my win in the second bookswap game at Salcey Forest today. Looks good, so onto TBR pile. It was lovely to see you today, Martha. Hope to see you again soon!