#BookReview #PublicationDay Blood & Sugar by Laura Shepherd-Robinson @LauraSRobinson @MantleBooks @panmacmillan @rosiewilsreads @Tr4cyF3nt0n #5Stars

Book Synopsis:

Blood & Sugar is the thrilling debut historical crime novel from Laura Shepherd-Robinson.

June, 1781. An unidentified body hangs upon a hook at Deptford Dock – horribly tortured and branded with a slaver’s mark.

Some days later, Captain Harry Corsham – a war hero embarking upon a promising parliamentary career – is visited by the sister of an old friend. Her brother, passionate abolitionist Tad Archer, had been about to expose a secret that he believed could cause irreparable damage to the British slaving industry. He’d said people were trying to kill him, and now he is missing . . .

To discover what happened to Tad, Harry is forced to pick up the threads of his friend’s investigation, delving into the heart of the conspiracy Tad had unearthed. His investigation will threaten his political prospects, his family’s happiness, and force a reckoning with his past, risking the revelation of secrets that have the power to destroy him.

And that is only if he can survive the mortal dangers awaiting him in Deptford . . .

Blood & Sugar is available in all formats now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

Blood & Sugar is an absolutely stunning piece of historical fiction. I knew from the first few pages that I would enjoy this book and I was not disappointed.

The historical setting of 18th Century London and Deptford was brought vividly to life with the reader feeling they are actually there experiencing everything first hand alongside Captain Corsham. The dark period of the slave trade is obviously a very sad part of British history and the author doesn’t hold back any of the heart breaking details which made me cry at times. How anyone thought that it was ok to treat people like that is beyond me. The seedy underbelly of Deptford life was also brilliantly described and helps add to some of the tension in the book as the dark, narrow streets makes the reader wonder what they will encounter next. It is a world that I am grateful that I don’t inhabit!

I loved the main character Captain Corsham who comes across as a very considerate, loyal person who just wants justice for his friend and goes above and beyond to get it. He’s a very brave man as his investigation takes him to some very dodgy areas and it was touching to see how much he obvious cared for his friend that he’s willing to put himself in such danger. He is deeply affected by the horror of the slave trade that he undercovers and I thought it showed him to be a lovely guy that he wouldn’t even entertain the idea of getting involved himself.

This book is incredibly gripping and I was instantly absorbed into the story. There is always something happening or a discovery being made which makes the story hard to put down. The investigation into what happened to Tad soon gets very murky and incredibly intriguing. I didn’t have much of an idea about what was happening but loved going along for the ride and watching the story unfold. The story of the slaves was quite an emotional one and the descriptions of their horrific treatment made me anxious that the people involved would get their just deserts. I wanted to keep reading to see how everything would tie together.

This unbelievably is the author’s debut novel and I’m very excited to see what she comes up with next. If you like gripping, atmospheric historical fiction then you’ll love this book.

Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton and Rosie Wilson for my copy of this fabulous book!

About The Author:

Laura Shepherd-Robinson was born in Bristol in 1976. She has a BSc in Politics from the University of Bristol and an MSc in Political Theory from the London School of Economics. Laura worked in politics for nearly twenty years before re-entering normal life to complete an MA in Creative Writing at City University. She lives in London with her husband, Adrian.