In the hours of darkness, the streets and lanes around Dressmakers' Alley could seem dark and frightening, but the two men creeping like shadows past shuttered businesses were not afraid of anything much, exept the sound of a policeman's whistle and his pounding feet.
***
The Blurb
Welcome back to Dressmakers' Alley, where danger lurks on every corner...
London’s East End 1924
The girls of Dressmakers' Alley are happy in their new jobs. Business is thriving and yet a new shadow looms.
Women are being attacked and robbed whilst several businesses have been burgled. Are these two circumstances linked or is this just a coincidence?
As the attacks escalate, and the police seem unmoved to intervene, the men of Dressmakers Alley decide to take the law into their own hands and patrol the streets to keep them and their women safe.
But when the man suspected of the attacks is found brutally murdered the eyes of suspicion fall on the group and Sam Collins is charged with murder. He seemingly has a motive, no alibi and is the owner of the murder weapon. The Police are convinced they have their man but fiancé Winnie is determined to prove him innocent.
When the mystery comes to a head, a dark and surprising secret is revealed. The selfless action of a father prevents a miscarriage of justice - but at what cost?
My Review
I very much enjoyed being reacquainted with Dressmakers Alley and it's inhabitants. I read the first book in the series earlier this year and you can read my review of Dangerous Times on Dressmakers' Alley by clicking on the title. However, this works very well as a standalone novel and it is not necessary to have read the first book in order to enjoy this one.
Set in 1920's East End of London the author depicts both the era and it's environment very well. Her writing conjures up the atmosphere brilliantly. I enjoy books set in this time and place as this is where my grandparents were living in the 1920's which brings a huge relevance to my reading experience.
I enjoyed picking up with the characters from where the first book left off. Most of the women in the story are employed at the Miss Susie garment factory. It is a darker time than the previous book and the women and their associated families are afraid by a spate of violent attacks occurring in the area.
There are some dark themes in this book but they are sensitively handled and never gratuitous. As you would expect of a book of this genre there is also some romance and a bit of a mystery to solve too. Who is the person attacking these women and breaking into the local businesses? I was very invested in reading on and finding out who the culprit was.
Another great read from Rosie Clarke. I enjoyed reading this very much and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a historical saga.
Book Details
ISBN: 978 1785131592
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Formats: e-book, audio, hardback and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimed)
Purchase Links
About the Author
Rosie Clarke is a #1 bestselling saga writer whose most recent books include The Mulberry Lane series. She has written over 100 novels under different pseudonyms and is a RNA Award winner. She lives in Cambridgeshire.
You can also find Rosie at:
(media and ARC courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)
(all opinions are my own)
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