The Tumbling Girl
Published on 13. March 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
352 pages
978-1-80533-579-5 (ISBN)
Description
<b>WINNER OF THE HWA DEBUT CROWN AWARD
</b><b>SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA JOHN CREASEY DAGGER AWARD
</b><b> 'Delicious dark and compelling' Essie Fox, author of <i>The Fascination</i>
</b><b> 'A wry, warm and proper rib-tickling slice of dirty Victorian gothic' Julia Crouch, author of <i>The Daughters</i>
</b><b> 'Neatly weds historical detail and quiet wit' <i>Sunday Times</i>
</b>1876, Victorian London.
The feisty Minnie Ward is scraping a living as a scriptwriter for the Variety Palace Music Hall when the body of her best friend is found in a dingy riverside archway. Minnie is convinced she was murdered and teams up with dashing private detective Albert Easterbrook to find justice.
Together they navigate the streets of London, from high-class gentlemen's clubs to shady drinking dens. But as the bodies pile up, they must rely on one another if they're going to track down the killer-and make it out alive . . .
Reviews / Votes
Ms. Walsh does a splendid job depicting Minnie's flea-bitten yet appealing theatrical world and Albert's monied yet treacherous milieu * Wall Street Journal * Walsh's diligent research pays off in spades here, and her rich and nuanced portrayal of the period will leave readers feeling like they're on the soggy streets of London... Un-put-downable * Publisher's Weekly, Starred Review * This atmospheric debut historical mystery captures the world of music halls and the danger to women in Victorian London * Library Journal (Starred Review) * Neatly weds historical detail and quiet wit * Sunday Times * A sparkling novel and a complete delight to read. The characters and world are wild, vivid and enchanting. A wry, warm and proper rib-tickling slice of dirty Victorian gothic . . . I can't wait to see what Minnie and Albert are up to next -- Julia Crouch, author of 'The Daughters' A brilliantly written page-turner. A bravura performance tumbling us into a compelling mystery in a vivid, richly imagined world. You can smell the greasepaint and hear the roar of the crowd on every page -- Imogen Robertson, author of 'The Paris Winter' Beautifully evocative, deftly plotted and with engaging characters, it was a page-turner from beginning to end -- Sheila O'Flanagan, author of 'What Eden Did Next' Brilliant . . . Beautifully written . . . keeps you guessing till the end -- A. J. West, author of 'The Spirit Engineer' An accomplished crime murder mystery, with an addictively gritty plot and truly remarkable cast of characters . . . deliciously dark and compelling -- Essie Fox, author of 'The Somnambulist' Minnie Ward is a woman you want to follow through all the wicked twists and turns of Victorian London. Bridget writes wonderfully. It had me on the edge of my seat until the final page -- S. J. Bennett, author of 'Murder Most Royal' Smart, funny and expertly plotted, The Tumbling Girl cartwheels off the page . . . A cracking start to a charismatic and distinctive series -- Emma Styles, author of 'No Country for Girls' I absolutely loved The Tumbling Girl. Bridget Walsh is a fresh and fabulous new voice in historical crime fiction -- Elizabeth Chadwick, author of 'The King's Jewel' One of the most engaging double acts I've read in ages. Delightful, dark and depraved -- Trevor Wood, author of 'You Can Run' A racy and thrilling ride that doesn't let up till the last sentence. Superbly done -- Femi Kayode, author of 'Lightseekers' Walsh resurrects the culture and crimes of Victoriana without cliche or condescension, but with warmth, wit, remarkable texture and rare authority -- Tom Benn, author of 'Oxblood' The Tumbling Girl is gripping, dark and thrilling and takes the reader on a rollercoaster journey from music hall to gentleman's club and back again; all in the company of two engaging protagonists -- W. C. Ryan, author of 'A House of Ghosts'More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Pushkin Press
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 130 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
262 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-80533-579-5 (9781805335795)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Bridget Walsh was born in London to Irish immigrant parents. She studied English literature and was an English teacher for 23 years, before leaving the profession to pursue her writing. Bridget lives in Norwich with her husband, Micky, and her two dogs.
Content
ONE 15
THE FIRST STANHOPE: IN WHICH MR MOORE MAKES A DISCOVERY 28
TWO 32
THE SECOND STANHOPE: IN WHICH MR WINTER IS INCONVENIENCED 44
THREE 48
FOUR 61
FIVE 70
SIX 77
THE THIRD STANHOPE: IN WHICH SERGEANT PRICE ASKS SOME QUESTIONS 91
SEVEN 96
EIGHT 100
NINE 110
TEN 120
ELEVEN 132
TWELVE 141
THIRTEEN 150
FOURTEEN 160
FIFTEEN 165
SIXTEEN 176
THE FOURTH STANHOPE: IN WHICH MISS BELFER CONTEMPLATES HER FUTURE 188
SEVENTEEN 191
EIGHTEEN 199
NINETEEN 208
TWENTY 213
TWENTY-ONE 218
TWENTY-TWO 223
TWENTY-THREE 233
THE FIFTH STANHOPE: IN WHICH MR BANISTER RECEIVES SOME UNWELCOME GUESTS 242
TWENTY-FOUR 247
TWENTY-FIVE 255
TWENTY-SIX 267
TWENTY-SEVEN 273
TWENTY-EIGHT 275
TWENTY-NINE 285
THIRTY 298
THIRTY-ONE 308
THIRTY-TWO 317
THIRTY-THREE 324
THIRTY-FOUR 333
THE SIXTH STANHOPE: IN WHICH LORD LINTON ENJOYS A QUIET HOUR 340
THIRTY-FIVE 343
THE SEVENTH STANHOPE: IN WHICH EDIE BENNETT CONSIDERS THE FUTURE 348
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 351
THE FIRST STANHOPE: IN WHICH MR MOORE MAKES A DISCOVERY 28
TWO 32
THE SECOND STANHOPE: IN WHICH MR WINTER IS INCONVENIENCED 44
THREE 48
FOUR 61
FIVE 70
SIX 77
THE THIRD STANHOPE: IN WHICH SERGEANT PRICE ASKS SOME QUESTIONS 91
SEVEN 96
EIGHT 100
NINE 110
TEN 120
ELEVEN 132
TWELVE 141
THIRTEEN 150
FOURTEEN 160
FIFTEEN 165
SIXTEEN 176
THE FOURTH STANHOPE: IN WHICH MISS BELFER CONTEMPLATES HER FUTURE 188
SEVENTEEN 191
EIGHTEEN 199
NINETEEN 208
TWENTY 213
TWENTY-ONE 218
TWENTY-TWO 223
TWENTY-THREE 233
THE FIFTH STANHOPE: IN WHICH MR BANISTER RECEIVES SOME UNWELCOME GUESTS 242
TWENTY-FOUR 247
TWENTY-FIVE 255
TWENTY-SIX 267
TWENTY-SEVEN 273
TWENTY-EIGHT 275
TWENTY-NINE 285
THIRTY 298
THIRTY-ONE 308
THIRTY-TWO 317
THIRTY-THREE 324
THIRTY-FOUR 333
THE SIXTH STANHOPE: IN WHICH LORD LINTON ENJOYS A QUIET HOUR 340
THIRTY-FIVE 343
THE SEVENTH STANHOPE: IN WHICH EDIE BENNETT CONSIDERS THE FUTURE 348
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 351