The English Monster by Lloyd Shepherd

The English Monster

Lloyd Shepherd

A gruesome murder tale set in an atmospheric colourful nineteenth century London alternates with the story of a young man out to make his fortune on the high seas in the Elizabethan era of buccaneers, piracy and a fledgling slave trade. An exciting but disturbing book partly based on real life events. Avoid reading the reviews inside the book as they give too much away.

Extract
She leans towards the door again, and hears the faint, sharp cry of a baby. Something about the noise recalls the strange sound she'd thought she'd heard by the dock, and the wave of fear in her head (an authentic fear, not one learned from the gothic extremities of a novel) crashes in again, and she begins to strike the door.
'Mr Marr! Mr Marr! Let me in please, Mr Marr! It is Margaret.'
A hand falls on her shoulder and she whirls around, the shout frozen in her throat. Behind her stands a short, stinking stranger who puts his toothless face into hers and yells at her: ...
Parallels
  • Jamrach's Menagerie by Carol Birch
  • Big Machine by Victor Lavelle