Book of the week

7/10

The Graves of Whitechapel is Claire Evans’ follow-up to her debut novel The Fourteenth Letter which was also set during the late 19th Century. Her debut work’s cryptic nature shared similarities to the works of Kate Mosse and Jessie Burton, and her sophomore novel follows suit.

As well as writing, Evans divides her time working at a successful The Graves of TV production company, which has Whitechapel been behind popular shows such as By Claire Evans, Fleabag, Liar and Baptiste. She pays Sphere, £8.99 gratitude to her family in her book

for supporting her mad lifestyle, which contrasts sharply with the refined writing style on display throughout this book.

The Graves of Whitechapel is set in wintry Victorian London and follows the pursuits of the crusading lawyer Cage Lackmann. Five years previously, Cage successfully defended Moses Pickering against a charge of murder. Now, a body has been found bearing all the disturbing hallmarks of that victim – and Pickering is missing. Hailed in Whitechapel as the Defender of the Innocent, Cage stops at nothing to prove Pickering was not involved in this heinous crime. He sniffs out something more sinister, and mysterious notes, photographs and poems provide clues to what he believes may be the truth.

But Cage must remember, as his mother told him, a lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its boots.

Poetry is a central theme and, in terms of its prose, The Graves of Whitechapel flows eloquently. With nods to greats such as Keats, Evans utilises the art form to add density to the evolving story with one poem above all – The Graves of Whitechapel – cleverly perpetuating the plot’s thickening mysteries.

Evans’ research into English court systems as well as literature and the taboo topic of homosexuality from the late 19th Century pays dividends throughout. Never losing sight of accuracy, the story feels authentic due to the author’s carefully crafted use of historical imagery.

However, the book also has its flaws. An alternative narrative, as opposed solely to Cage’s narrative, would have made for a more interesting dynamic to the storyline’s twists and turns. The conclusion feels overworked with too many endings scrambled into the last few chapters.

In all, The Graves of Whitechapel displays glimmers of potential with equal setbacks to match which results in a read that is brilliant at times, but also occasionally a tad lacklustre.

Review by Jamie Wilde.