[The Daily Telegraph, London] "MURDER! MURDER! Frances Langton, also known as Ebony Fran or Dusky Fran was indicted for the wilful murder of GEORGE BENHAM and MARGUERITE BENHAM, in that she on the 27th day of January in the year of Our Lord 1826 did feloniously and with malice aforethought assault GEORGE BENTHAM and MARGUERITE BENTHAM, subjects of our lord the King, in that she did strike and stab them until they were dead, both about the upper and middle chest, their bodies having been discovered by EUSTACIA LINUX, housekeeper, of Bedford Square, London.
No one knows the worst thing theyare capable of until they do it...
All of London is abuzz with the scandalous case of Frannie Langton, accused of the brutal double murder of her employers, renowned scientist, George Benham and his eccentric French wife, Marguerite. Crowds pack in the court room, eagerly following every twist, while the newspapers print lucid theories about the killings and the mysterious woman being tried at the Old Bailey. The testimonies against Frannie are damning. She is a seductress, a wtich, a master manipulator, a whore.
But Frannie claims she cannot recall what happened that fateful evening, even if remebering could save her life. She doesn't know how she came to be covered in the victims' blood. But she does have a tale to tell: the story of her childhood on a Jamaican plantation, her apprecticeship under a debauched scientist who stretched all bounds of ethics, and the events that brought her into the Benhams' London home- and into a passionate and forbidden relationship. Though her testimony may seal her conviction, the truth will unmask the perpetrators of crimes far beyond murder and indict the whole of English society itself.
The Confessions of Frannie Langton is a breathtaking debut: a murder mystery that travels across the Atlantic and through the darkest channels of history. A brilliant, searing depiction of race, class, and oppression that penetrates the skin and sears the soul, it is the story of of a woman of her own making, in a world that would see her unmade.
Yes, that's right ladies and gents!! I'm finally back. It has been crazy for the last little while. School, work, and life has just hit me so hard and my time has been so limited, but it feels so good to be back, writing reviews again. I've missed you all.
Harper Collins sent me this copy as an ARC, and the book is now out so I am a little late with this, but I'll share my thoughts anyway.
I am so into historical novels and murder mysteries- they're just the perfect mix. I love the old style detection and the way that people spoke back then, especially being in London.
The setting and time frame was awesome. I loved the idea of showing Langton's past on a Jamaican plantation. It was different, and I have never read a murder mystery in which a slave gets tried for murder- until now! I think it really adds perspective and a new way of looking at the justice system almost. It was really exciting, new, and refreshing. I liked it a lot.
It started off a little slow, but as i kept reading I got so much more into it. It was quick-paced and a real page-turner. There were also letters written throughout the novel, by Frannie, to one of her colleagues, which really added an element of excitement. I haven't read many books with personal letters from characters incorporated in them, so that was really cool.
Sara Collins really captured the essence of Jamaican and English culture throughout this. She wrote the characters so accurately and really made the reader feel like they were actual in the specified region. It felt like watching a movie, except I read my way through it. Books that are able to do this are really refreshing and cool. It makes the experience of reading way more exiciting. You feel like you're travelling, rather than just reading words on a page. i love this experience. it's one of the best in the world.
Crime and murder mysteries are always enjoyable for me to read. I just like a good thrill. Finding out about motives and analysing behaviours of every character is just so exciting, and it makes me feel like a detective (which I sometimes wish I was.)
Collins did a phenomenal job on this and I really hope she writes another book.. maybe a sequel? We could check in on Frannie after the trial? That would be very interesting.
Thanks goes out to Sara and Harper Collins for sending me this copy, and most importantly, a big thank you goes out to all of you who take the time to read and share my thoughts. i wouldn't be doing this if it weren't for you. I love all of you bookworms so much.
We'll talk again soon!
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