Set in the 1850s, an era in the Victorian age that was highly obsessed with the occult and the afterlife, Purcell’s novel provides a captivating glimpse into British society’s less-than-perfect-and-polished
“The Shape Of Darkness” takes place in Victorian Bath.
Silhouette artist Agnes Darken is struggling to keep body and soul together. The dawn of photography means her art is viewed as old-fashioned, and is falling out of favour.
Abandoned by a previous suitor, and with an elderly mother and orphaned nephew to support, Agnes must keep working.
Although a mysterious accident in the recent past has left her health in a precarious state . . .
Shortly after a sitting, a visit from the police confirms that one of Agnes’ clients has been found dead murdered. And then another. And then another. What is going on? Who is targeting Agnes and her business, and why?
Greg Fleming reviews The Shape of Darkness, by Laura Purcell
5 Feb, 2021 11:00 PM
3 minutes to read
By: Greg Fleming
Reviewed by Greg Fleming Laura Purcell has made a name for herself writing entertaining historical mysteries that are well researched and intricately plotted, without sacrificing a thriller s narrative drive.
Additionally Purcell scatters through her stories period-specific trends and beliefs. An earlier novel, The Corset, explored the practice of phrenology – the erroneous belief popular in the 19th century that a person s entire character could be read in the shape of their skull.
Here, she focuses on another little-remembered practice – making her lead protagonist Agnes Darken a struggling silhouette artist (prior to the advent of photography, silhouette profiles cut from black card were a popular way of recording a person s appearance). The novel also explores the fringe science of mesmerism and forms of spiritualism which were popular