William Sutton's Lawless and the Flowers of Sin was published by Titan Books in July 2016.
Information about William Sutton:
William Sutton comes from Dunblane, Scotland. He has written for The Times and the Fortean Times, acted in the longest play in the world, and played cricket for Brazil. He writes for international magazines about language, music and futurology. His plays have been produced on radio and in London fringe theatres. He has performed at events from the Edinburgh Festival to High Down Prison, often wielding a ukulele.
Information about Lawless and the Flowers of Sin:
It is 1863, and as a reluctant Inspector of Vice, Campbell Lawless undertakes a reckoning of London’s houses of ill repute, a shadowy netherworld of frayed glamour and double standards, mesmerising and unspeakable by turns. From the erotic booksellers of Holywell Street to the alleys of Haymarket, he discovers backstreet cast-offs and casualties of the society bordellos, and becomes fascinated by a musician who has established a foundation for fallen women. But his inquiries draw the attention of powerful men, who can be merciless in defending their reputations. Lawless must unlock the heart of a clandestine network, before he too is silenced...
A REVIEW OF WILLIAM SUTTON'S LAWLESS AND THE FLOWERS OF SIN
William Sutton's Lawless and the Flowers of Sin is the second novel in the series of mystery novels starring Inspector Campbell Lawless. It's an excellent addition to the Victorian mystery fiction genre. It's great that Titan Books has published it, because it's one of the best and most atmospheric novels of its kind.
Before I begin to review this novel, I'll mention that I'm difficult to please when it comes to mystery fiction, because I tend to avoid reading it due to the low quality of many novels. Fortunately, during the last couple of years I've had the pleasure of reading a few exceptionally good and intriguing mystery novels that are genuinely worth reading and recommending. William Sutton's Lawless and the Flowers of Sin is one of these exceptionally good novels, because it's a highly enjoyable and engaging novel with an enthralling atmosphere. I was positively surprised by this novel and its entertainment values (to be honest, it's one of the most interesting mystery novels I've ever read).
Lawless and the Flowers of Sin is a novel that will be of interest to many mystery readers and speculative fiction readers, because it's an exceptionally well-constructed and atmospherically written mystery story featuring prostitution, fallen women and men who will do anything to defend their reputations. As a speculative fiction reader I can mention that this novel fully caught my attention and kept me turning pages, because the story was good.
I think that this novel will also appeal to readers who are fans of the dark fantasy/gothic horror TV series Penny Dreadful. It has a bit similar kind of an atmosphere, because the author evokes a strong sense of Victorian way of life with all its wonders and terrors. I can also mention that this novel will delight those who have read Vaughn Entwistle and Gavin Scott.
Lawless and the Flowers of Sin is a story about Campbell Lawless who undertakes a reckoning of London's loose women. Sir Richard asks him to count every house of ill repute and itemise every last working woman on the streets, in bordellos and everywhere so that a census of sin can be done. This leads Campbell Lawless on a quest into a world of sin. During his work he visits various places of questionable repute and meets many interesting people...
When I began to read this novel, I was a bit overwhelmed by what is happening, because I had't read the previous novel and was not aware of who Campbell Lawless is and what has happened to him. As the story began to unfold and the events moved forward, everything began to make sense, because the author revealed things about the protagonist's life.
I was amazed at how much content and depth William Sutton had managed to add to the story. Normally, several mystery novels tend to be a bit simple in terms of story content and plot structure, but not this novel. This novel is satisfyingly complex and captivating, because the author delivers a nuanced story that has elements ranging from murder and prostitution to blackmail and theft.
Campbell Lawless is an interesting protagonist whose opinions and observations about events are are a joy to read. He is called Watchman, because he was apprenticed to his watchmaker father (his colleagues use his expertise on watch repair for free). He is an intelligent man who observes what happens around him and how people behave.
It was intriguing to read about Lawless' fascination towards a violinist called Felix Sonnabend who has established the Phoenix Foundation for Fallen Women. I also enjoyed reading about how many different people Lawless met during the reckoning. Some of the people he met were vividly portrayed individuals who briefly stole the show.
William Sutton's vision of Victorian England feels intriguingly bleak, dark and realistic. He writes about how rich people exploit the poor and how fallen women may end up dead and discarded on the streets of London. Life can be harsh and unforgiving for those who have to struggle for their living and lack the comforts of easy and relaxed life. The author has excellent observation skills and his social criticism feels vibrant.
I like the author's way of writing about fictional and real characters, because he creates interesting characters and writes fluently about real characters. I found it interesting that Charles Dickens made an appearance in the story, because I didn't expect it.
William Sutton excels at creating a dark atmospere, because his depictions of depravity and prostitution are more nuanced when compared to what other authors have written about such issues. He approaches difficult themes and issues in a realistic way. There's something deliciously sinful and raw about some of his depictions that fascinates me.
The author's use of quotes from Charles Baudelaire's famous Les Fleurs du Mal (The Flowers of Evil) adds a nice touch of class to the story. He uses these quotes well.
This novel has a beautifully drawn black and white map of London. The different areas and places are marked well on this map.
Because I enjoyed this novel and the author's writing style, I'm looking forward to reading the next novel, Lawless and the House of Electricity. I also intend to read the first novel, Lawless and the Devil of Euston Squar, because I want to find out what happens in it.
If you're in need of an excellent and highly entertaining mystery novel, please read William Sutton's Lawless and the Flowers of Sin, because it's perfect and atmospheric mystery entertainment. It's one of the best mystery novels of the year and should not be missed by fans of Victorian mystery fiction. When you begin to read it, prepare yourself to be totally hooked by the story.
Excellent Victorian mystery fiction! (More, please!)