The characters were so intriguing and had such great potential, so I was really disappointed by how poor the execution was. The story failed the characters. I almost didn't finish it, I thought it was so badly done.

This was okay, but I think I just expected something different/more from Donoghue. The book felt a bit familiar, and just putting in a lesbian romance doesn't suddenly make average "edgy."

I think Emma Donoghue's books - particularly her historical novels like Slammerkin, The Sealed Letter and Frog Music - are great. I find that her characters haunt me for months, years later. And they haunt me because of their pathos - they're heroic in a very individual, sort of gritty, kind of grimy way. Someone else wrote about how they were bummed because they did not like Blanche, the main character in Frog Music. She is not the most sympathetic person but I recognize her, how she is waking up from being adrift in life and the costs that come from seeing the craziness. Donoghue does a great job of using history to provoke us into imagining alternative moralities, life stories, ways of surviving. I like her gusto and I like that she does not shy from depicting cruelty - and not the sort that leaves you in tears but the sort that leaves you breathless and sort of shocked into a moment of clarity. I am trying to capture why I like her books so much - so ... I guess I am rambling but I really think she has a unique voice that promises to get better and better.

Definitely a let-down after "Room", but the historical fiction angle and San Francisco setting made it an enjoyable read. Couldn't get into the characters too much though.

Hmm how to review? I love it when authors take real-life stories and weave a nice juicy narrative for it. All the better if it’s a mystery. Late 19th century San Francisco is fascinating, but though this tale was full to bursting with images, smells and ideas, it just didn’t catch me. Maybe too many ideas.... I didn’t really care about a one.

This book was honestly the best book I have read in many many months. It was absolutely riveting, and I could not keep my hands off it. I love the style of writing, the characters were well thought out, the plot was so detailed and seamless, the subtle lgbt representation was the cherry on top of a perfect sundae. I have already recommended this book to all my friends and now encourage all of you to read it as well!

Quite disappointed to be honest... some good passages still but I am not even sure I would recommand the book. The start was good but then... yep, not really my cup of tea

Didn't care. I think it's well written, but it might just be a matter of occurring in a time period that I don't much care about.

This was quite interesting. Historical novel? Sexy? Painful? Niche? I think so.

this book is set in san francisco in 1876, there is a heat wave and a smallpox epidemic engulfing the city. as i was reading it after the heatwave we've had this year and also covid the oppressiveness of this novel felt pretty true to life. i have to admit i didn't really love the characters apart from Jenny who i won't spoil if for anyone but who out of all the ragtag bunch they were was the most likeable and had the hardest time which you find out as you read on through the book. Blanche who although i did feel sorry for her at times i also felt was bit of a character who if she'd made different choices may not have been in the circumstances she was in, but i guess that's the point humans do think that way and the hand your dealt you try to make the best of it. what i liked in at the end was finding out that this was an unsolved real crime that i had been reading about and the author wove this really well and explained at the end what resources she'd found to write the story. i have Room and The Wonder by this author that i feel were better, but this was still worth the read.