Missed the TV adaptation but heard good things about the book, which I found in a charity shop.

Sue Trinder is an orphan, left as an infant in the care of Mrs. Sucksby, a "baby farmer," who raised her tenderly, as if Sue were her own. Mrs. Sucksby's household, in the Borough area of London, with its wailing babies calmed with doses of gin, also hosts a group of petty thieves — fingersmiths. One day, the arrival of Gentleman, an elegant con man, brings an enticing proposition for Sue: if she wins a position as the maid to Maud Lilly, a naïve gentlewoman, and aids Gentleman in her seduction, then they will all share in Maud's vast inheritance. Once the inheritance is secured, Maud will be disposed of, passed off as mad, and made to live out the rest of her days in a lunatic asylum.

With dreams of a fortune of her own, Sue agrees to the plan. Once in, however, she begins to pity Maud Lilly and to care for her in unexpected ways. But no one and nothing is as it seems in this Dickensian novel of thrills and reversals...

I really enjoyed this book, a real page turner with wonderful characterisations. The plot has many twists and turns, most of which I didn't see coming. It also gives a very good picture of life in early Victorian England, those in poverty and those on country estates, glimpses into insane asylums, prisons, and the spectacle of public hangings.

I'm passing this on to CaterinaAnna at the UnConvention in Birmingham on 1st July.

Thrust into my hands at the Uncon, totally unexpectedly!
I then wandered around carrying it and everyone told me how much I would enjoy it. Great icebreaker therefore. Many thanks herrgirl.
I seem to have picked up quite a few ring/ray books, so it will be a while before I get to it, so i promise a seperate JE.

Ring/Ray books kept arriving until I finally decided it was time to get Mount Toobie under control and read things in order of acquisition (sp?).
I thought this book was wonderful, a rare thing in this year of good but not brilliant books. The characters were credible, the twists and reversals intriguing and I did a very naughty thing by staying up very nearly all night midweek to finish it. Apologies for the brief entry, but that was nearly two months ago and life's been so hectic since that I have not kept up with this sort of thing at all.

PS Now need to see if the TV adaptation is available on DVD.

Heading to Essex to candy-is-dandy to start its travels. After this it is to go on to:
garibaldisghost
sunflowergirl (asked to be skipped)
SwanOfKennet
scotsbookie
GateGypsy
1lilbookworm
cat207
who I hope will donate it to 1001-library

Oh woe is me!! This book was quietly sitting on my bookshelf having been completely ignored, forgotten as a ring and even unjournalled. I will read it next and get it moving again. Thanks for the kick in the pants, CaterinaAnna.

I loved this book - the best thing I've read for ages - why does it take me so long to get round to reading the good stuff?

Very well written and so unusual. The characters were great and the story had so many twists that I never expected.

I will certainly be reading more by Sarah Waters.(this was my first).

I have PM'd garibaldisghost and aim to get this off asap.

Arrived awhile ago and mea culpa I forgot to journal it.

Although a 'page-tuner' I took quite a few days to read this and found it clever, complicated, full of twists and turns, 'spicy', dark and thoroughly enjoyable.

This is a book that I can wholeheartedly recommend to others and is well-worth its place on the 1,001 list.

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

I left this amongst the takeaway menus outside the Eastern Delights Tandoori.

This is now a Septuplet release for the Twin Challenge, as I've also released books on MARKET Streets in York & Nottingham & MARKET Places in Arnold, Louth, Retford, & Ilkeston!