I knew all of this when beginning to read The Dark Days Club, and so I was somewhat perplexed by the slow opening chapters. It’s a bit like Nancy Drew in ball-gowns. Our representative in this world is Lady Helen, making her society debut whilst trying to solve numerous mysteries pertaining to the death of her parents, and the disappearance of a maid. Set against the backdrop of real-life war with France, Regency London is a dangerous city, where a young woman can easily find herself at the mercy of a soul-sucking monster or boring, meat-breathed dance partner. Goodman’s setting is London in 1812: a world of royal presentations, dukes and earls, society balls, and, obviously, reticules. If, however, you have read enough Jane Austen to be familiar with the vagaries of women’s fashion in the Regency period, then give in to your instincts and grab this book. If you’re thinking of picking up a copy of The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman, I strongly recommend also acquiring a dictionary of 19th century English unless you happen to already know what a reticule is, some of the vocabulary here may leave you flummoxed.
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