Overview

The library is under lock and key. But its secrets can’t be contained.

1896. After he brought her home from Jamaica as a baby, Florence’s father had her hair hot-combed to make her look like the other girls. But as a young woman, Florence is not so easy to tame—and when she brings scandal to his door, the bookbinder throws her onto the streets of Manchester.

Intercepting her father’s latest commission, Florence talks her way into the forbidding Rose Hall to restore its rare books. Lord Francis Belfield’s library is old and full of secrets—but none so intriguing as the whispers about his late wife… 

Evocative, arresting and tightly plotted, The Library Thief is at once a propulsive Gothic mystery and a striking exploration of race, gender and self-discovery in Victorian England. 

Review

Florence has been kicked out by her father. She has come across a letter to her father, a book binder, asking him to come and restore an old library. Florence decides to take this on her own and heads to Rose Hall. But she soon discovers many secrets!

I started to read this book physically and I just couldn’t get into it. So, I got it on audio from the library. I have a bit more patience with an audiobook. I did finish it but it was not a favorite.

When this book begins, your heart goes out to Florence but as the story moves along, I just didn’t like her very much. Then there is the middle section. Now, I am not a prude, but there were like 2-3 chapters that were just about Florence and her past sexual experiences. (She is a bit of a harlot 😂😂). I was like…why are we talking about this now. 🤷🏻‍♀️.

Now, I did enjoy the time period of Victorian England and learning about the hidden race in some of the characters. Pretty unique…all the lies surrounding some of the characters. The story itself is a bit spastic and scattered.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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