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The Library Thief
A strikingly original and absorbing mystery about a white-passing bookbinder in Victorian England and the secrets lurking on the estate where we she works, for fans of Fingersmith and The Confessions of Frannie Langton
The library is under lock and key. But its secrets can't be contained.
1896. After he brought her home from Jamaica as a baby, Florence's father had her hair hot-combed to make her look like the other girls. But as a young woman, Florence is not so easy to tame—and when she brings scandal to his door, the bookbinder throws her onto the streets of Manchester.
Intercepting her father's latest commission, Florence talks her way into the remote, forbidding Rose Hall to restore its collection of rare books. Lord Francis Belfield's library is old and full of secrets—but none so intriguing as the whispers about his late wife.
Then one night, the library is broken into. Strangely, all the priceless tomes remain untouched. Florence is puzzled, until she discovers a half-burned book in the fireplace. She realizes with horror that someone has found and set fire to the secret diary of Lord Belfield's wife–which may hold the clue to her fate…
Evocative, arresting and tightly plotted, The Library Thief is at once a propulsive Gothic mystery and a striking exploration of race, gender and self-discovery in Victorian England.
The library is under lock and key. But its secrets can't be contained.
1896. After he brought her home from Jamaica as a baby, Florence's father had her hair hot-combed to make her look like the other girls. But as a young woman, Florence is not so easy to tame—and when she brings scandal to his door, the bookbinder throws her onto the streets of Manchester.
Intercepting her father's latest commission, Florence talks her way into the remote, forbidding Rose Hall to restore its collection of rare books. Lord Francis Belfield's library is old and full of secrets—but none so intriguing as the whispers about his late wife.
Then one night, the library is broken into. Strangely, all the priceless tomes remain untouched. Florence is puzzled, until she discovers a half-burned book in the fireplace. She realizes with horror that someone has found and set fire to the secret diary of Lord Belfield's wife–which may hold the clue to her fate…
Evocative, arresting and tightly plotted, The Library Thief is at once a propulsive Gothic mystery and a striking exploration of race, gender and self-discovery in Victorian England.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published May 7, 2024
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21232 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 416 reviews
November 28, 2023
A really compelling read with fascinating themes. This is very much in conversation with 19th and early 20th century literature, which I of course hugely enjoyed.
May 5, 2024
1896. Florence Granger’s father is a bookbinder, he returned to England when she was a baby from Jamaica and she grew up in Manchester. Florence didn’t understand why her hair was fuzzy, just another thing he didn’t like about her and when she’s involved in a scandal he throws her out of the house and the only home she has.
Florence has no other options, so she goes to Rose Hall, in Lancashire and pretends her father sent her and she’s to restore Lord Belfield’s rare collection of expensive books. The staff have been reduced since Lady Persephone passed away and Florence discovers they are only two other servants Baxter the cook and Wesley a footman working at the estate. Lord Belfield’s brother Sir Chester and his wife Lady Violet visit and she finds Chester a creep and doesn't trust him.
Florence tries to make sense of Lady Persephone’s death, one night the library is broken into, none of the priceless books are taken, she discovers in the grate the charred remains of deceased mistress's secret diary and she wonders if it holds any clues to her death and was it really a tragic accident?
I received a copy of The Library Thief by Kuchenga Shenjé from the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Set in Victorian England, the gothic mystery is full of deceit, secrets, unique characters, and the author explores social themes, including women’s rights, racism, adultery, infidelity, cross dressing and different types of relationships. I found the narrative not to my taste and too explicit for me, however the restoration processes of old books interesting and three stars.
Florence has no other options, so she goes to Rose Hall, in Lancashire and pretends her father sent her and she’s to restore Lord Belfield’s rare collection of expensive books. The staff have been reduced since Lady Persephone passed away and Florence discovers they are only two other servants Baxter the cook and Wesley a footman working at the estate. Lord Belfield’s brother Sir Chester and his wife Lady Violet visit and she finds Chester a creep and doesn't trust him.
Florence tries to make sense of Lady Persephone’s death, one night the library is broken into, none of the priceless books are taken, she discovers in the grate the charred remains of deceased mistress's secret diary and she wonders if it holds any clues to her death and was it really a tragic accident?
I received a copy of The Library Thief by Kuchenga Shenjé from the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Set in Victorian England, the gothic mystery is full of deceit, secrets, unique characters, and the author explores social themes, including women’s rights, racism, adultery, infidelity, cross dressing and different types of relationships. I found the narrative not to my taste and too explicit for me, however the restoration processes of old books interesting and three stars.
April 14, 2024
*I received a free preview copy of this book from NetGalley*
Painfully anachronistic. Felt like the author knew nothing about Victorian England. Characters made strange and unrealistic choices - e.g. almost as soon as our heroine arrives at Rose Hall the gay footman invites himself to her bedroom to brush her hair every night. Sexual assault also plays a major role in this novel. Cannot believe this has been compared to the excellent Fingersmith. Save your time and money and skip this one!
Painfully anachronistic. Felt like the author knew nothing about Victorian England. Characters made strange and unrealistic choices - e.g. almost as soon as our heroine arrives at Rose Hall the gay footman invites himself to her bedroom to brush her hair every night. Sexual assault also plays a major role in this novel. Cannot believe this has been compared to the excellent Fingersmith. Save your time and money and skip this one!
May 8, 2024
According to Florence‘s father, she committed something so immortal he couldn’t have her in his house anymore.
He kicked her out, but not before she saw a letter from a man who needed his books rebound.
Florence scooped up the letter and made her way to Mr. Belfield’s estate Rose Hall.
When she arrived, Mr. Belfield refused to have her there since he had just recently been widowed and it wouldn't look right.
She talked him into keeping her.
Florence really wasn’t welcomed by the household staff except for Wesley.
She made the best of her stay and the best of what Mr. Belfield offered.
She spent her days repairing books and befriending Wesley.
While she was there she found out there was more than rare books needing to be repaired.
Quite a few secrets were hiding within the walls of Rose Hall and many conniving characters. There are also some delicate subjects discussed.
The storyline and eloquent writing will pull you into this Gothic-themed book with a mystery to solve and somewhat likable characters. 4/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
He kicked her out, but not before she saw a letter from a man who needed his books rebound.
Florence scooped up the letter and made her way to Mr. Belfield’s estate Rose Hall.
When she arrived, Mr. Belfield refused to have her there since he had just recently been widowed and it wouldn't look right.
She talked him into keeping her.
Florence really wasn’t welcomed by the household staff except for Wesley.
She made the best of her stay and the best of what Mr. Belfield offered.
She spent her days repairing books and befriending Wesley.
While she was there she found out there was more than rare books needing to be repaired.
Quite a few secrets were hiding within the walls of Rose Hall and many conniving characters. There are also some delicate subjects discussed.
The storyline and eloquent writing will pull you into this Gothic-themed book with a mystery to solve and somewhat likable characters. 4/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Want to read
January 21, 2024this sounds so interesting and after reading reviews that call it too political or too woke i'm even more intrigued
April 21, 2024
The reviews are mad that this is too "woke." Sorry, history wasn't all straight white people! I thought this was a compelling read with lots of secrets and reveals. It doesn't have a queer main character, but it's a pretty queer book overall. I'll talk about it more on the May 7th episode of All the Books.
Content warnings for rape, unwanted pregnancy, racism, sexism, homophobia
Content warnings for rape, unwanted pregnancy, racism, sexism, homophobia
March 27, 2024
With thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for an advance review copy.
Well - with novels by new authors you win some, you lose some, and this one was definitely in the 'lose some' category. I requested this title because of the comparison with Bridget Collins' The Binding and because it was billed as a gothic mystery with nods to the story of Rochester's wife in Jane Eyre - all very promising. In reality, it is pretty dreadful I'm afraid.
First of all, there are far too many woke agenda items crammed into the book - race relations, gender identity, feminism and female emancipation, women's suffrage, rape and sexual politics, the legacy of slavery, imperialism. The net result is that the treatment of all these themes is superficial in the extreme.
The quality of the writing is poor too. The plot drags, and there is far too much telling not showing, with lots of repetitive plot summaries to bring us back periodically from whatever political tangent we were on in the previous chapter and vainly try to re-establish a sense of mystery. But worst of all is the historical and lexical sloppiness - the language constantly feels anachronistic and there are a number of uses of words which didn't enter the language until quite a bit later than the late 1890s, when the story is set. 'Loo' wasn’t introduced till the 1940s, 'cross-dressing' not till 1911, 'transvestite' not till 1910. 'OK' was in use in the mid-19th century but was mainly American.
This novel needed a great deal more editing than it's had, and someone should have advised the author that she is still young and there is time to explore some of her pet themes in future works. As it stands, it's uncontrolled, poorly researched and frankly, quite boring. I'm not even sure why I bothered to finish it and certainly wouldn't recommend that anybody else does.
Well - with novels by new authors you win some, you lose some, and this one was definitely in the 'lose some' category. I requested this title because of the comparison with Bridget Collins' The Binding and because it was billed as a gothic mystery with nods to the story of Rochester's wife in Jane Eyre - all very promising. In reality, it is pretty dreadful I'm afraid.
First of all, there are far too many woke agenda items crammed into the book - race relations, gender identity, feminism and female emancipation, women's suffrage, rape and sexual politics, the legacy of slavery, imperialism. The net result is that the treatment of all these themes is superficial in the extreme.
The quality of the writing is poor too. The plot drags, and there is far too much telling not showing, with lots of repetitive plot summaries to bring us back periodically from whatever political tangent we were on in the previous chapter and vainly try to re-establish a sense of mystery. But worst of all is the historical and lexical sloppiness - the language constantly feels anachronistic and there are a number of uses of words which didn't enter the language until quite a bit later than the late 1890s, when the story is set. 'Loo' wasn’t introduced till the 1940s, 'cross-dressing' not till 1911, 'transvestite' not till 1910. 'OK' was in use in the mid-19th century but was mainly American.
This novel needed a great deal more editing than it's had, and someone should have advised the author that she is still young and there is time to explore some of her pet themes in future works. As it stands, it's uncontrolled, poorly researched and frankly, quite boring. I'm not even sure why I bothered to finish it and certainly wouldn't recommend that anybody else does.
February 17, 2025
The Library Thief is an engrossing historical fiction read, exploring themes of intersectional feminism against the backdrop of late Victorian social hierarchies and gender/race relations. It follows a year in the life of Florence, the daughter of a Manchester bookbinder.
As Christmas 1896 approaches, Florence Granger acts through desperation and subterfuge to inveigle herself into the household of Lord Francis Belfield at Rose Hall in country Lancashire. In her early 20s, Florence has been thrown out by her father, a bookbinder based in Manchester, having been discovered in a compromising position with her suitor. While Florence is experienced and fully trained in the trade of bookbinding, for reasons that are never fully explained in the book, it isn't considered a seemly activity for a young woman to be undertaking unsupervised by a man. Florence has intercepted a letter from Lord Belfield to her father, requesting his attentions to the valuable but deteriorated library of Rose Hall. Facing life on the street as her only alternative, Florence persuades Lord Belfield that she has been sent by her father to assess the collection, and is taken into the small household at Rose Hall.
Naturally curious, Florence quickly becomes aware of the mysterious and possibly sinister circumstances surrounding the death some months earlier of Lord Belfield's beautiful and ethereal wife, Lady Persephone. This gothic mystery narrative is woven through the story of Florence's experiences at Rose Hall alongside her personal voyage to self-discovery.
Florence has always considered herself as white, never having known her mother. However, other characters in the story immediately recognise her African heritage in her facial features and hair texture. How this has never occurred to her previously, Florence having grown up in the cultural melting pot of late nineteenth century Manchester, is a little mysterious, but we'll go with it... Over the course of the book, she undergoes a process of denial, curiosity, acceptance and belonging with her mixed-race heritage and identity. The late Lady Persephone and her brother had been able to "pass" as white due to their albinism, .
Meanwhile, Wesley, Rose Hall's sole footman and Florence's immediate confidante is a curious mix of naiveté, sheltered ignorance, devotion and open-mindedness. Parallels can be drawn between his (for clarity, I will use the pronoun with which Wesley is associated for the bulk of the novel) gender fluidity and Florence's status as a mulatto or quadroon (person of part black, part white ancestry). Both are ostracised from a society that favours dualities - black/white, male/female, virtuous/sinful.
Florence is taken under the wing, and later into the Liverpool home of Sibyl and Arabella, both of whom are extraordinary in their generosity to a woman they don't know and to whom they owe nothing. Meanwhile, and by contrast, the wealthy Belfield brothers begrudge Florence even her rightful payment for the book-binding and restoration services that she's provided at Rose Hall.
Double standards loom large between the sexual behaviour of Chester, Lord Belfield's younger brother and Florence's father, when compared to the standards and expectations of sexual propriety placed on Florence. She's summarily banished by her father for supposed wanton behaviour with her suitor, yet he regularly consorts with prostitutes with apparent impunity on his character. Having been raped and made pregnant by Chester is regarded as more a stain on Florence's character than on his. She must hide her "shame" from an employer who literally witnessed his brother's attack on her.
The Library Thief takes place contemporaneously with the rise of the suffragette movement in Britain, although it's clear from Mrs. Slocombe's betrayal of Florence late in the novel that notions of class loyalty transcend the bonds of female solidarity, especially when it comes to non-white women.
I found The Library Thief an engrossing and fascinating read, and felt that author Kuchenga Shenjé achieved her stated aim of creating "an antidote to the intentional erasure of the Victorian colonial project." In spite of the occasionally anachronistic language that pops up, I felt Shenjé created a vivid sense of time and place against which to set her story. The Library Thief explores a variety of important themes, including racial identity, gender roles, double standards as they apply to sexual behaviour, queer and gender identity, self-determination, guilt and redemption.
I'd recommend The Library Thief to readers who enjoy historical fiction that comes with a generous dose of social commentary, vividly drawn characters and interesting interpretations of the hero(ine)'s journey narrative archetype.
As Christmas 1896 approaches, Florence Granger acts through desperation and subterfuge to inveigle herself into the household of Lord Francis Belfield at Rose Hall in country Lancashire. In her early 20s, Florence has been thrown out by her father, a bookbinder based in Manchester, having been discovered in a compromising position with her suitor. While Florence is experienced and fully trained in the trade of bookbinding, for reasons that are never fully explained in the book, it isn't considered a seemly activity for a young woman to be undertaking unsupervised by a man. Florence has intercepted a letter from Lord Belfield to her father, requesting his attentions to the valuable but deteriorated library of Rose Hall. Facing life on the street as her only alternative, Florence persuades Lord Belfield that she has been sent by her father to assess the collection, and is taken into the small household at Rose Hall.
Naturally curious, Florence quickly becomes aware of the mysterious and possibly sinister circumstances surrounding the death some months earlier of Lord Belfield's beautiful and ethereal wife, Lady Persephone. This gothic mystery narrative is woven through the story of Florence's experiences at Rose Hall alongside her personal voyage to self-discovery.
Florence has always considered herself as white, never having known her mother. However, other characters in the story immediately recognise her African heritage in her facial features and hair texture. How this has never occurred to her previously, Florence having grown up in the cultural melting pot of late nineteenth century Manchester, is a little mysterious, but we'll go with it... Over the course of the book, she undergoes a process of denial, curiosity, acceptance and belonging with her mixed-race heritage and identity. The late Lady Persephone and her brother had been able to "pass" as white due to their albinism, .
Meanwhile, Wesley, Rose Hall's sole footman and Florence's immediate confidante is a curious mix of naiveté, sheltered ignorance, devotion and open-mindedness. Parallels can be drawn between his (for clarity, I will use the pronoun with which Wesley is associated for the bulk of the novel) gender fluidity and Florence's status as a mulatto or quadroon (person of part black, part white ancestry). Both are ostracised from a society that favours dualities - black/white, male/female, virtuous/sinful.
Florence is taken under the wing, and later into the Liverpool home of Sibyl and Arabella, both of whom are extraordinary in their generosity to a woman they don't know and to whom they owe nothing. Meanwhile, and by contrast, the wealthy Belfield brothers begrudge Florence even her rightful payment for the book-binding and restoration services that she's provided at Rose Hall.
Double standards loom large between the sexual behaviour of Chester, Lord Belfield's younger brother and Florence's father, when compared to the standards and expectations of sexual propriety placed on Florence. She's summarily banished by her father for supposed wanton behaviour with her suitor, yet he regularly consorts with prostitutes with apparent impunity on his character. Having been raped and made pregnant by Chester is regarded as more a stain on Florence's character than on his. She must hide her "shame" from an employer who literally witnessed his brother's attack on her.
The Library Thief takes place contemporaneously with the rise of the suffragette movement in Britain, although it's clear from Mrs. Slocombe's betrayal of Florence late in the novel that notions of class loyalty transcend the bonds of female solidarity, especially when it comes to non-white women.
I found The Library Thief an engrossing and fascinating read, and felt that author Kuchenga Shenjé achieved her stated aim of creating "an antidote to the intentional erasure of the Victorian colonial project." In spite of the occasionally anachronistic language that pops up, I felt Shenjé created a vivid sense of time and place against which to set her story. The Library Thief explores a variety of important themes, including racial identity, gender roles, double standards as they apply to sexual behaviour, queer and gender identity, self-determination, guilt and redemption.
I'd recommend The Library Thief to readers who enjoy historical fiction that comes with a generous dose of social commentary, vividly drawn characters and interesting interpretations of the hero(ine)'s journey narrative archetype.
April 29, 2024
It's 1896 and Florence Granger is helping her father in the family business Granger's Bookbinders in Manchester. Florence is disowned when she brings shame upon the family but before her father kicks her out onto the street, Grace intercepts a request from a valued client in Lancashire.
Florence travels to Rose Hall in Lancashire in her father's stead and talks her way into restoring the many rare books held in Lord Francis Belfield's personal library. Her position and standing is precarious, but her secret soon pales against the goings on at Rose Hall. Lord Belfield is a widower and it's not long before Florence becomes curious about his wife's untimely demise, convinced it wasn't an accident.
What transpires next in The Library Thief by Kuchenga Shenjé is a gothic mystery and upstairs/downstairs whodunnit and I was entertained the entire way. Early on, Florence is attending church when she gains her first real inkling about her local community and standing of the household she now resides in:
"In the first five pews sat the landed gentry with wives in black or navy satins and velvets, the most ostentatious in deep sapphires, emeralds and violets. All the husbands in the same uniform of morning suit with their hats laid next to them beside their well-trained children praying piously or with their eyes fixed ahead. I knew enough to avoid wearing anything made from loud rustling material, but I felt plain and shabby in my grey dress and threadbare shawl. We sat among the staff. Governesses, footmen, maids and gardeners; all clearly sat in order of importance within the small village, and then their own households." Page 20
Florence then goes on to acknowledge with some surprise that the social standing of her household in the area must be middling, given their pew position so far back in the church.
I'm a sucker for historical fiction novels about governesses (Mrs England by Stacey Halls) and I'll be loath to shelve this book because then I won't be able to enjoy seeing the cover design on my desk every day. (This happened with The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell too!)
In fact, The Library Thief by Kuchenga Shenjé definitely gave me Stacey Halls and Laura Purcell vibes, but the writing was definitely unique:
"In my experience, men of the cloth were quite learned folk, but something about him irked me. The smell of him, first of all, was somewhere between offal and the dank emissions from the corners of a pond that got no light." Page 86
What a description! I really enjoyed the setting at Rose Hall, Florence's relationships with the staff and of course Lord Francis. I love a good upstairs / downstairs tale however Shenjé somehow manages to keep the relationships relatable to today's sensibilities without disrespecting the historical setting.
I loved this description, and immediately felt like it could describe the relationship I enjoy with my husband:
"The jocularity between them was so well-grooved, it made me think of a carpenter bevelling the edges of wood, and the peels of wood curling up, making smooth laughing sounds along the way. They jostled and poked each other with the jokes that only they could make." Page 203
The Library Thief by Kuchenga Shenjé has a stunning cover design (the second absolute stand out design this year; the first being The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown) and delivers an historical gothic mystery about secrets, class, race, friendship, love, grief, female agency all wrapped up by a bookbinder poking about and asking questions. Perfect.
It's hard to believe The Library Thief is the author's debut novel, but Kuchenga Shenjé has definitely become an instant auto read for me, easily up there with Laura Purcell and Stacey Halls, highly recommended!
* Copy courtesy of Hachette *
Florence travels to Rose Hall in Lancashire in her father's stead and talks her way into restoring the many rare books held in Lord Francis Belfield's personal library. Her position and standing is precarious, but her secret soon pales against the goings on at Rose Hall. Lord Belfield is a widower and it's not long before Florence becomes curious about his wife's untimely demise, convinced it wasn't an accident.
What transpires next in The Library Thief by Kuchenga Shenjé is a gothic mystery and upstairs/downstairs whodunnit and I was entertained the entire way. Early on, Florence is attending church when she gains her first real inkling about her local community and standing of the household she now resides in:
"In the first five pews sat the landed gentry with wives in black or navy satins and velvets, the most ostentatious in deep sapphires, emeralds and violets. All the husbands in the same uniform of morning suit with their hats laid next to them beside their well-trained children praying piously or with their eyes fixed ahead. I knew enough to avoid wearing anything made from loud rustling material, but I felt plain and shabby in my grey dress and threadbare shawl. We sat among the staff. Governesses, footmen, maids and gardeners; all clearly sat in order of importance within the small village, and then their own households." Page 20
Florence then goes on to acknowledge with some surprise that the social standing of her household in the area must be middling, given their pew position so far back in the church.
I'm a sucker for historical fiction novels about governesses (Mrs England by Stacey Halls) and I'll be loath to shelve this book because then I won't be able to enjoy seeing the cover design on my desk every day. (This happened with The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell too!)
In fact, The Library Thief by Kuchenga Shenjé definitely gave me Stacey Halls and Laura Purcell vibes, but the writing was definitely unique:
"In my experience, men of the cloth were quite learned folk, but something about him irked me. The smell of him, first of all, was somewhere between offal and the dank emissions from the corners of a pond that got no light." Page 86
What a description! I really enjoyed the setting at Rose Hall, Florence's relationships with the staff and of course Lord Francis. I love a good upstairs / downstairs tale however Shenjé somehow manages to keep the relationships relatable to today's sensibilities without disrespecting the historical setting.
I loved this description, and immediately felt like it could describe the relationship I enjoy with my husband:
"The jocularity between them was so well-grooved, it made me think of a carpenter bevelling the edges of wood, and the peels of wood curling up, making smooth laughing sounds along the way. They jostled and poked each other with the jokes that only they could make." Page 203
The Library Thief by Kuchenga Shenjé has a stunning cover design (the second absolute stand out design this year; the first being The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown) and delivers an historical gothic mystery about secrets, class, race, friendship, love, grief, female agency all wrapped up by a bookbinder poking about and asking questions. Perfect.
It's hard to believe The Library Thief is the author's debut novel, but Kuchenga Shenjé has definitely become an instant auto read for me, easily up there with Laura Purcell and Stacey Halls, highly recommended!
* Copy courtesy of Hachette *
December 15, 2024
She clearly wanted to swim in the misery of her grief.
The protagonist in The Library Thief, Florence Granger, was forced to walk a very fine line between black and white. She was born to a white father and a Jamaican mother, and was taken from her mother from birth. The first thing that mentioned is that Florence’s father made sure her hair was hot combed regularly so that her very light skin and her pressed hair would show that she indeed would appear white. As being Black during that era was an undesirable thing, Florence’s anxiety would rise significantly if her curls started to appear, showing that the nature of her hair is quite different than other white people where she lives.
However, Florence became involved in a scandal that came into the picture that had nothing to do with race. Unmarried and pregnant, her father throws her out. Previously trained by her father who was a bookbinder, she takes a job at the expansive Rose Hall. Florence is hoping that her appearance as being white would permit her to work on this project. However, there was an a break-in and a fire in the grand library. Apparently nothing was stolen, but immediately Florence recognized something in the fire. It was a book, a diary of sorts, partially burned, but she is certain it is something of significance.
Passing for white was not always easy for Florence. But putting that aside, she really wants to restore the library at Lord Francis Belfield's library. When Florence arrived at Rose Hall, she notices with curiosity that it is not bustling in activity as one might expect, And apparently, she soon realizes that she is not the only one that is involved in a scandal. As the story progresses, we see that there are albino’s and other light skinned people that are trying to pass as white. The judgment that is experienced is almost beyond belief for us in our day. Quite naturally, anyone of the Black race did not have the freedom of marriage between races at that time.
There’s something intriguing in the Author’s Note. She mentioned the Windrush Generation, which piqued her curiosity after reading a book with that phrase. This inspired her to write this book. Naturally, I had to look up what the Windrush Generation was. It was a post-war migration to Britain by West Indian people traveling to the United Kingdom. The name “Windrush” came from the name of the ship that carried them. This migration occurred in 1948 and continued until after World War II.
As a dedicated reader, it is always interesting to see what inspires an author to write a book. However, I felt that this book was rather long and almost repetitive in some ways, even though my eyes were opened more about the struggles that people of my race experienced at that time.
I thought I’d mention a rather interesting that phrase that comes up in this book - tabula rasa. This is quite significant to see the path that individuals are often forced to travel. Children are born completely innocent, devoid of any knowledge or experience. So as I read Victorian era story, it was very intriguing to see how race and gender affected people during those days.
Many thanks to Hanover Square Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
The protagonist in The Library Thief, Florence Granger, was forced to walk a very fine line between black and white. She was born to a white father and a Jamaican mother, and was taken from her mother from birth. The first thing that mentioned is that Florence’s father made sure her hair was hot combed regularly so that her very light skin and her pressed hair would show that she indeed would appear white. As being Black during that era was an undesirable thing, Florence’s anxiety would rise significantly if her curls started to appear, showing that the nature of her hair is quite different than other white people where she lives.
However, Florence became involved in a scandal that came into the picture that had nothing to do with race. Unmarried and pregnant, her father throws her out. Previously trained by her father who was a bookbinder, she takes a job at the expansive Rose Hall. Florence is hoping that her appearance as being white would permit her to work on this project. However, there was an a break-in and a fire in the grand library. Apparently nothing was stolen, but immediately Florence recognized something in the fire. It was a book, a diary of sorts, partially burned, but she is certain it is something of significance.
Passing for white was not always easy for Florence. But putting that aside, she really wants to restore the library at Lord Francis Belfield's library. When Florence arrived at Rose Hall, she notices with curiosity that it is not bustling in activity as one might expect, And apparently, she soon realizes that she is not the only one that is involved in a scandal. As the story progresses, we see that there are albino’s and other light skinned people that are trying to pass as white. The judgment that is experienced is almost beyond belief for us in our day. Quite naturally, anyone of the Black race did not have the freedom of marriage between races at that time.
There’s something intriguing in the Author’s Note. She mentioned the Windrush Generation, which piqued her curiosity after reading a book with that phrase. This inspired her to write this book. Naturally, I had to look up what the Windrush Generation was. It was a post-war migration to Britain by West Indian people traveling to the United Kingdom. The name “Windrush” came from the name of the ship that carried them. This migration occurred in 1948 and continued until after World War II.
As a dedicated reader, it is always interesting to see what inspires an author to write a book. However, I felt that this book was rather long and almost repetitive in some ways, even though my eyes were opened more about the struggles that people of my race experienced at that time.
I thought I’d mention a rather interesting that phrase that comes up in this book - tabula rasa. This is quite significant to see the path that individuals are often forced to travel. Children are born completely innocent, devoid of any knowledge or experience. So as I read Victorian era story, it was very intriguing to see how race and gender affected people during those days.
Many thanks to Hanover Square Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
May 12, 2024
Thank you to netgalley and Hanover Square Press for a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
I'd like to start by saying my low review has nothing to do with any of the "woke" subject matters others are complaining about—I feel like these topics are important to have in historical fiction and in our writings. Very disheartened to see so many folks reviewing it low for that reason.
That being said, The Library Thief was just not for me. I found the story dragged beyond belief—I kept looking at the pages and wondering how I still had *that* much more to go. I think the writing, in my opinion, wasn't strong enough to keep me engaged the way I should have been. There was a lot of telling instead of showing. The pacing was also incredibly off—we spent so much time on certain aspects but glossed over crucial moments and relationship-building.
I also just never connected with the characters in the way I wanted to. I don't know—I was just very disappointed with this book. And it's only been a few weeks since finishing but I was struggling to even remember basic plot points to write the review, which is never a good sign.
I'd like to start by saying my low review has nothing to do with any of the "woke" subject matters others are complaining about—I feel like these topics are important to have in historical fiction and in our writings. Very disheartened to see so many folks reviewing it low for that reason.
That being said, The Library Thief was just not for me. I found the story dragged beyond belief—I kept looking at the pages and wondering how I still had *that* much more to go. I think the writing, in my opinion, wasn't strong enough to keep me engaged the way I should have been. There was a lot of telling instead of showing. The pacing was also incredibly off—we spent so much time on certain aspects but glossed over crucial moments and relationship-building.
I also just never connected with the characters in the way I wanted to. I don't know—I was just very disappointed with this book. And it's only been a few weeks since finishing but I was struggling to even remember basic plot points to write the review, which is never a good sign.
October 9, 2024
In 1896 Manchester, England, Florence flees after being kicked out of the house by her bookbinder father after she was caught mid sexual indiscretion. She runs to the estate of Lord Belfield, b/c she intercepted a letter to her father asking for his bookbinding services in Lord Belfield's extensive library. Lord Belfield raises an eyebrow, but agrees to hire Florence after she proves her book-repair ability. Lord Belfield is still grieving the loss of his wife, Persephone, in a suspicious accident. Or murder?
Since Florence isn't technically "downstairs staff," she is a duck out of water in the house, treated icily by the cook and condescendingly by the lord of the manor. So she spends her time in the library w/ the books. Her only friend is Wesley, the do-it-all-in-the-house servant since he's the only staff left other than the cook. He braids her hair every night so that it will lie smooth the next day.
Florence was born in Jamaica; she has never questioned the story that her mother died from giving birth to her. But she hasn't questioned her identity past that, even after seeing that Lady Belfield's servant was an African woman. Or... was she the Lady's servant? Or someone closer to Lady Belfield? The arrival of Lord Belfield's brother and sister-in-law only muddies the waters further, as Florence is caught reading Lady Belfield's letters to Sibyl - the servant -- and an "Arabella." Who were these ladies? What is the actual truth about Lady Persephone's death? Florence playing amateur sleuth just gets her into more trouble.
The plot veers about, changing emphasis and losing me a few times. Dastardly events and surprising revelations occur, and the plotline ends up a long way from where it felt like it started, veering into marital violence, homosexuality, and even transgender love.
Far from becoming her own woman, Florence's life is controlled by the men around her, far more than she realizes, and she suffers the consequences. The novel ends as one sees it would, w/ Florence FINALLY asking herself the question: "so who AM I, really?" I mean, we could have saved hundreds of pages worth of reading if she had asked her father that as she was being kicked out of his house....
I found the marionette-like quality of Florence's life to be suffocating reading. I don't know how Victorian women lived like that: no personal rights even to their own bodies, much less self-determination or pursuit of higher education, gods forbid!! ALL controlled by self-involved, often-cruel husbands and fathers. The meandering plot line; Florence's complete lack of self-awareness of who her mother was, or her ancestry while being from the hotbed of slavery that was Jamaica; and my own personal inability to deal w/ any loss of a woman's autonomy made this a difficult novel for me to enjoy, even though I did manage to finish it. 3 stars.
Since Florence isn't technically "downstairs staff," she is a duck out of water in the house, treated icily by the cook and condescendingly by the lord of the manor. So she spends her time in the library w/ the books. Her only friend is Wesley, the do-it-all-in-the-house servant since he's the only staff left other than the cook. He braids her hair every night so that it will lie smooth the next day.
Florence was born in Jamaica; she has never questioned the story that her mother died from giving birth to her. But she hasn't questioned her identity past that, even after seeing that Lady Belfield's servant was an African woman. Or... was she the Lady's servant? Or someone closer to Lady Belfield? The arrival of Lord Belfield's brother and sister-in-law only muddies the waters further, as Florence is caught reading Lady Belfield's letters to Sibyl - the servant -- and an "Arabella." Who were these ladies? What is the actual truth about Lady Persephone's death? Florence playing amateur sleuth just gets her into more trouble.
The plot veers about, changing emphasis and losing me a few times. Dastardly events and surprising revelations occur, and the plotline ends up a long way from where it felt like it started, veering into marital violence, homosexuality, and even transgender love.
Far from becoming her own woman, Florence's life is controlled by the men around her, far more than she realizes, and she suffers the consequences. The novel ends as one sees it would, w/ Florence FINALLY asking herself the question: "so who AM I, really?" I mean, we could have saved hundreds of pages worth of reading if she had asked her father that as she was being kicked out of his house....
I found the marionette-like quality of Florence's life to be suffocating reading. I don't know how Victorian women lived like that: no personal rights even to their own bodies, much less self-determination or pursuit of higher education, gods forbid!! ALL controlled by self-involved, often-cruel husbands and fathers. The meandering plot line; Florence's complete lack of self-awareness of who her mother was, or her ancestry while being from the hotbed of slavery that was Jamaica; and my own personal inability to deal w/ any loss of a woman's autonomy made this a difficult novel for me to enjoy, even though I did manage to finish it. 3 stars.
November 24, 2023
After seeing other review I think I may be the only one who actually loved this book!
Set in the early 20th century, Florence, the daughter of a bookbinder arrives at the door of Rose Hall to take on the meticulous job of restoring the rare collection of books of Lord Belfield.
Lord Belfield recently lost his wife and had written to Florence's father to employ his services so is shocked to see Florence arrive at his home.
Unbeknown to him, Florence is fleeing her home in Manchester after bringing scandal to her home. Her father has made in abundantly clear she is no longer welcome.
Rose Hall seems to be breathing off secrets and scandals itself. What has happened there before her arrival and what secrets is it still holding?
This was a real multi-layered read that seamlessly came together. I found it a really powerful story that was not only totally absorbing but warm and true to it's time, hitting the tough subjects of racism and 'womens' places at that time of life.
I loved the complexity of some of the characters, each one brilliantly written with real depth.
I read this in one sitting and would recommend to anyone who loves a historical fiction that isn't all about the war!
Huge thanks to netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK.
Set in the early 20th century, Florence, the daughter of a bookbinder arrives at the door of Rose Hall to take on the meticulous job of restoring the rare collection of books of Lord Belfield.
Lord Belfield recently lost his wife and had written to Florence's father to employ his services so is shocked to see Florence arrive at his home.
Unbeknown to him, Florence is fleeing her home in Manchester after bringing scandal to her home. Her father has made in abundantly clear she is no longer welcome.
Rose Hall seems to be breathing off secrets and scandals itself. What has happened there before her arrival and what secrets is it still holding?
This was a real multi-layered read that seamlessly came together. I found it a really powerful story that was not only totally absorbing but warm and true to it's time, hitting the tough subjects of racism and 'womens' places at that time of life.
I loved the complexity of some of the characters, each one brilliantly written with real depth.
I read this in one sitting and would recommend to anyone who loves a historical fiction that isn't all about the war!
Huge thanks to netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK.
May 26, 2024
3.5⭐️
March 5, 2024
After bringing her home from Jamaica as a baby, Florence’s father took action to protect her, to ensure she didn’t stick out, hot-combed her hair and safeguarded her to avoid unwanted attention, so she could enjoy a life like every other girl.
Yet, as a young woman, Florence cannot be as easily tamed as her hair and when scandal is brought upon his doorstep, the bookbinder throws Florence out onto the street with nothing but the clothes on her back, and the wits that she was born with. But she will simply not let this be the end of her story, no it is the start.
Intercepting her father’s commission, Florence talks and charms her way into the remote, beautiful and forbidding Rose Hall to restore its collection of rare and antique books, but Lord Francis Belfield’s library is old and harbouring many secrets of its own - but none so intriguing and mysterious as the whispers and rumours about his late wife, Persephone….
One night, the library is broken into but nothing of value seems to have been taken. Florence is puzzled, until a half-burned book catches her eye in the grate and realising it’s Persephone’s diary, she decides to read the forbidden pages and unravel the secrets that may hold the clues to her fate but she must remember that her father is still out there somewhere and her days at the manor could indeed be numbered….
An extraordinary debut which is captivating, vivid, ethereal, and full of secrets, The Library Thief is sure to be your next big obsession.
Yet, as a young woman, Florence cannot be as easily tamed as her hair and when scandal is brought upon his doorstep, the bookbinder throws Florence out onto the street with nothing but the clothes on her back, and the wits that she was born with. But she will simply not let this be the end of her story, no it is the start.
Intercepting her father’s commission, Florence talks and charms her way into the remote, beautiful and forbidding Rose Hall to restore its collection of rare and antique books, but Lord Francis Belfield’s library is old and harbouring many secrets of its own - but none so intriguing and mysterious as the whispers and rumours about his late wife, Persephone….
One night, the library is broken into but nothing of value seems to have been taken. Florence is puzzled, until a half-burned book catches her eye in the grate and realising it’s Persephone’s diary, she decides to read the forbidden pages and unravel the secrets that may hold the clues to her fate but she must remember that her father is still out there somewhere and her days at the manor could indeed be numbered….
An extraordinary debut which is captivating, vivid, ethereal, and full of secrets, The Library Thief is sure to be your next big obsession.
August 10, 2024
This book has been compared to Fingersmith which is an excellent, well-researched story. This one sadly doesn’t live up to its promise.
Fairly enjoyable first half, but then it lost my interest and I left it for a fair few months before coming back to it.
It ticks off most stereotypes for gothic fiction including sexual assault, dead women being present and a house fire… it also didn’t feel credible to the period and there are some very odd moments that felt like the author was following a checklist of topics to include.
There are some fascinating characters and I did like what the author was trying to do in the concept, but it loses its way halfway through.
Fairly enjoyable first half, but then it lost my interest and I left it for a fair few months before coming back to it.
It ticks off most stereotypes for gothic fiction including sexual assault, dead women being present and a house fire… it also didn’t feel credible to the period and there are some very odd moments that felt like the author was following a checklist of topics to include.
There are some fascinating characters and I did like what the author was trying to do in the concept, but it loses its way halfway through.
April 26, 2024
The kind of book you open and you physically can’t put down until you’re finished. Set in Victorian England in a library hidden away in the Lake District, we follow Florence, a young avid reader and meticulous bookbinder. She will spend months working on a rare collection of books, whilst coming to terms with who she is, discovering her roots, and unveiling some strange secrets. This is such an engrossing debut, beautifully written, historical, sapphic, gothic, utterly thrilling and mysterious. An incredible exploration of selfhood, race, gender and sexuality. I finished the book more than a week ago and I’m still struggling to find the words to describe it as it was such an embodied experience to read it. I will stop here because I don't want to reveal too much of the story, just run to your local indie bookshop and get yourself a copy. I will definitely wait patiently for anything and everything that Kuchenga Shenjé writes.
March 29, 2024
With thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I’m afraid that this one was really not for me. I love a gothic novel, I love a mystery and I’m quite happy to read about racial, sexual or gender politics but not all in the same book.
This couldn’t make its mind up what it was saying or what it was about and managed to be both woke and worryingly stereotypical at the same time. Why was there an insistence that the heroine had made herself available to all sorts of men from quite a young age in her back story. It seemed to pander to all the racist stereotypes that used to be bandied around about black people and sexuality and actually detracted from the plot.
If anyone was surprised by some of the key plot points it can only be because they’d skipped ahead too much as they were very well signposted.
I’m afraid that this one was really not for me. I love a gothic novel, I love a mystery and I’m quite happy to read about racial, sexual or gender politics but not all in the same book.
This couldn’t make its mind up what it was saying or what it was about and managed to be both woke and worryingly stereotypical at the same time. Why was there an insistence that the heroine had made herself available to all sorts of men from quite a young age in her back story. It seemed to pander to all the racist stereotypes that used to be bandied around about black people and sexuality and actually detracted from the plot.
If anyone was surprised by some of the key plot points it can only be because they’d skipped ahead too much as they were very well signposted.
August 8, 2024
“1896. After he brought her home from Jamaica as a baby, Florence's father had her hair hot-combed to make her look like the other girls. But as a young woman, Florence is not so easy to tame—and when she brings scandal to his door, the bookbinder throws her onto the streets of Manchester. Intercepting her father's latest commission, Florence talks her way into the forbidding Rose Hall to restore its rare books. Lord Francis Belfield's library is old and full of secrets—but none so intriguing as the whispers about his late wife…”
This was an enjoyable read, but the ‘surprise twists’ were so clearly telegraphed they weren’t any surprise at all. It also wasn’t nearly as shocking as it tried to be, and the bookish/book binding aspect of the story was minimal. That said, it explored the ideas of colonialism, being mixed race in an oppressive society, the feelings and difficulties involved in passing as white in that society. And not only the oppression of being a minority, but a minority woman who isn’t of higher class, at the mercy of “noble” men who are used to getting what they want, when they want it, who consider those beneath them as inherently “lesser.” But it’s also a story of self discovery, community, and found family.
While this is historical fiction, there’s a lot that isn’t necessarily historically accurate, but the broad strokes are there. If you’re interested in stories of Victorian England that aren’t just all about rich, straight, white aristocracy, then there’s a lot in this book to love.
This was an enjoyable read, but the ‘surprise twists’ were so clearly telegraphed they weren’t any surprise at all. It also wasn’t nearly as shocking as it tried to be, and the bookish/book binding aspect of the story was minimal. That said, it explored the ideas of colonialism, being mixed race in an oppressive society, the feelings and difficulties involved in passing as white in that society. And not only the oppression of being a minority, but a minority woman who isn’t of higher class, at the mercy of “noble” men who are used to getting what they want, when they want it, who consider those beneath them as inherently “lesser.” But it’s also a story of self discovery, community, and found family.
While this is historical fiction, there’s a lot that isn’t necessarily historically accurate, but the broad strokes are there. If you’re interested in stories of Victorian England that aren’t just all about rich, straight, white aristocracy, then there’s a lot in this book to love.
April 2, 2024
Discover the locations in the novel here
This novel threw up many surprises for me and all of them good ones! It’s historical fiction, set in Manchester and in a rare books library. We go back to the early 1900s but this is not a book about a war or wartime in any way. Instead I was introduced to Florence who was born in Jamaica and who finds herself working in a private library in Manchester. The man who owns the library is called Lord Belfield and he had originally wanted Florence’s father to work for him. He’s a bit shocked when Florence turns up!
Florence has fled home however and wants to stand on her own two feet. For a young woman of colour in those days, everything was against her. However, Florence is a formidable character. She enters Rose Hall and it’s not long before she will discover its secrets.
She finds a burned book in the fireplace one day after there has been a robbery at the house. Strange that the valuable books are still on the shelves. Turns out, this burned book was the diary of Lord Belfield’s wife and this very book may hold the clue to her fate.
It’s very beguiling entering Rose Hall and the world of bookbinders, rare books and well, just the library in general. It’s all evoked with style and gothic skill. Where the book really shone however was the underlying but powerful story of a black woman who came to England from Jamaica. This is the story of Florence and others like her, black Britons who came to England with their families even before the Windrush generation. I felt I was reading a long lost history and it was a compelling one.
May 19, 2024
I always try to give reasons when I review a book with less than three stars, so here it is. I really wanted to like this book, with its interesting premise, but for me there were too many things wrong with it that I resented both the money I spent in buying it and the time invested in reading it. For starters there is the inconsistency in the characterisation of both Florence and Wesley/Annie that really started to grate as the book went on. At the beginning of the book, when these two characters meet each other, and she presents herself to Wesley (a footman) as Miss, he responds by calling her M'lady, which any footman trained in his craft at that time would not have done. Worse, she doesn't correct him, even though she corrects someone later in the novel who makes the same mistake. Florence repeatedly elevates herself as being more enlightened than everyone else, but her own behaviour is erratic, and often quite judgmental in the way in which she proceeds to live her life. The burning down of Lord Belfield's brother's home just came across as the actions of a woman deranged and angry. Was she entitled to be? Probably. But it felt like a forced reaction.
The real problem is that there is a real and fundamental problem with character motivation. It is never adequately explained why Florence is so invested in what happened to the dead wife of Lord Belfield. Why should she care to the extent she did? Given that she was a woman with no independent means to support herself, she should have been at pains to protect her position within the house, yet she seemed to court trouble, looking for answers to questions we never understand why she was interested in. I have no problem with a female character behaving in a subversive manner, but there was never an adequate explanation underlying Florence's motivation in doing so.
Next, Wesley would spend evenings brushing and braiding Florence's hair, in Florence's rooms, breaching the strict segregation that would have been expected of them both. It made no sense why either of them were prepared to risk their position within the household. Again, it demonstrated that the author really didn't engage with the nuances of expected behaviour within late Victorian households.
The other issue I had is the way in which the author engaged with issues of race and gender. How was Florence the only person who didn't realise that she had biracial heritage? Especially given how painfully obvious the author made it. And don't get me started on the whole Wesley/Annie thing. It felt like the trans character was included because it met the diversity and inclusion tickboxes, rather than because s/he was either a convincing or authentic character. Annie seemed to represent a collection of typically feminine stereotypes wrapped up in a pretty dress. The only part I think the author nailed was Florence's reflection that to be a girl would be giving up the male privilege that Wesley enjoyed, and that the reality of actually being female would be worse for Wesley.
And I think for me, this is the real problem with the book. It felt like it was a book published because it did meet the diversity and inclusion tick boxes which publishers seem to rejoice in. But I have read better books which have done this. This is going to be one of those books that I never open again. Unfortunately, for me, despite the alluring title, and the very pretty art cover, the substance of the book was lacking. I just didn't enjoy it.
The real problem is that there is a real and fundamental problem with character motivation. It is never adequately explained why Florence is so invested in what happened to the dead wife of Lord Belfield. Why should she care to the extent she did? Given that she was a woman with no independent means to support herself, she should have been at pains to protect her position within the house, yet she seemed to court trouble, looking for answers to questions we never understand why she was interested in. I have no problem with a female character behaving in a subversive manner, but there was never an adequate explanation underlying Florence's motivation in doing so.
Next, Wesley would spend evenings brushing and braiding Florence's hair, in Florence's rooms, breaching the strict segregation that would have been expected of them both. It made no sense why either of them were prepared to risk their position within the household. Again, it demonstrated that the author really didn't engage with the nuances of expected behaviour within late Victorian households.
The other issue I had is the way in which the author engaged with issues of race and gender. How was Florence the only person who didn't realise that she had biracial heritage? Especially given how painfully obvious the author made it. And don't get me started on the whole Wesley/Annie thing. It felt like the trans character was included because it met the diversity and inclusion tickboxes, rather than because s/he was either a convincing or authentic character. Annie seemed to represent a collection of typically feminine stereotypes wrapped up in a pretty dress. The only part I think the author nailed was Florence's reflection that to be a girl would be giving up the male privilege that Wesley enjoyed, and that the reality of actually being female would be worse for Wesley.
And I think for me, this is the real problem with the book. It felt like it was a book published because it did meet the diversity and inclusion tick boxes which publishers seem to rejoice in. But I have read better books which have done this. This is going to be one of those books that I never open again. Unfortunately, for me, despite the alluring title, and the very pretty art cover, the substance of the book was lacking. I just didn't enjoy it.
May 11, 2024
Florence’s father is a bookbinder who returned home to Manchester from Jamaica with a baby for him and his mother to raise. Growing up with a father that seemed to despise everything about her from her fuzzy hair to her inquisitive nature Florence used books to feed her curiosity and fill in the space that loneliness created. After Florence’s father found her bringing shame to their family, she was thrown out with nowhere to go. When Florence intercepts her father’s mail, she found a letter requesting his expertise to restore a collection of rare books. After talking her way into the job Florence stumbles across a diary that belongs to the late lady of the house. As Florence reads the diary, she discovers there are many secrets in the house that she suspects lead to a murder that was covered up as a suicide. Now Florence is determined to find out what happened to Persephone Belfield.
I love a good historical fiction. This was a captivating story about a woman who was cast out by the only family she had ever known and found herself discovering things about herself she never knew while entering a whole new world of secrets and lies. This book starts off with a scandal but doesn’t tell you what the scandal is, so you have to patiently wait for it to be disclosed while also trying to figure out what happened to the late Lady Persephone. The path I thought the story would take was not at all where the book went, but I was very pleased by that. There were several different themes in this book from passing, LGBTQ+ representation, survival, and friendship.
Florence had such a hard time and my heart broke for her, so I was glad she was able to find some sort of solace in the end. I did shed a tear or two in the end for Florence and all she had to go through. I enjoyed the mystery behind what happened to Lady Persephone. This was a very complicated story with complex characters who were all just doing what they needed to do to survive in a world that deemed them unworthy whether it was because of the color of their skin, their gender, or their sexual preference. This was a great debut novel and I look forward to seeing what this author writes next.
Content Warning: sexual assault
I love a good historical fiction. This was a captivating story about a woman who was cast out by the only family she had ever known and found herself discovering things about herself she never knew while entering a whole new world of secrets and lies. This book starts off with a scandal but doesn’t tell you what the scandal is, so you have to patiently wait for it to be disclosed while also trying to figure out what happened to the late Lady Persephone. The path I thought the story would take was not at all where the book went, but I was very pleased by that. There were several different themes in this book from passing, LGBTQ+ representation, survival, and friendship.
Florence had such a hard time and my heart broke for her, so I was glad she was able to find some sort of solace in the end. I did shed a tear or two in the end for Florence and all she had to go through. I enjoyed the mystery behind what happened to Lady Persephone. This was a very complicated story with complex characters who were all just doing what they needed to do to survive in a world that deemed them unworthy whether it was because of the color of their skin, their gender, or their sexual preference. This was a great debut novel and I look forward to seeing what this author writes next.
Content Warning: sexual assault
May 17, 2024
Terminal case of imposing 21st values and perspectives on the past and there are too many plot devices that simply make no sense, mainly involving characters disclosing way too much information (also related to historical believability). Disappointing as I really wanted to like this one. The bookbinding details are good though!
May 20, 2024
First off: if you haven't yet read the publisher's blurb for the The Library Thief at the top of its GoodReads page, DON'T. There's a spoiler in it that will have a significant effect on how you experience the unfolding of the plot.
That said...
The Library Thief is neither a full-on mystery nor a full-on Gothic, but it has elements of both and makes for an engaging read. Florence, a bookbinder's daughter who hopes to work in the same field—and who has been banished from her home—takes on a job doing major repairs on a Lord's rare book collection. A job that just happens to come with room and board.
Florence is living in an uneasy, liminal space. No longer welcome at the not-all-that-welcoming home in which she was raised, she's now living on the "downstairs" side of the upstairs-downstairs divide. When Lord Belfield tells her she should give up her dreams of attending university or making a living binding and repairing books, that becoming a governess would be a great step up for her and probably as high as she can hope to go, she smiles politely and nods. His "generosity" in employing Florence is the only thing standing between her and homelessness.
There are tensions and a mystery in Lord Belfield's home. His younger brother, furious at not being the heir, is constantly asking for money and urging Belfield to sell family heirlooms. The brother also feels free to force his sexual "favors" on any woman with a class standing lower than his. The mystery involves the death of Lord Belfield's wife, who apparently went out walking in the middle of the night and fell from a local bridge. Out of respect to Belfield, the death isn't being investigated by police, but it is fodder for lots of local gossip. Most locals are happy to accused Lady Belfield's lady's maid—who just happened to be Black—because, you know, "they're not like us."
This gives you a good sense of all that's roiling beneath the surface in this book. As Florence becomes convinced Lady Belfield was murdered and begins her own hunt for the culprit, her situation grows increasingly dangerous.
If you enjoy mysteries/Gothics with independent heroines who are willing to take all sorts of risks and if you enjoy rooting for downstairs in that upstairs-downstairs divide, you're in for a treat with The Library Thief.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
That said...
The Library Thief is neither a full-on mystery nor a full-on Gothic, but it has elements of both and makes for an engaging read. Florence, a bookbinder's daughter who hopes to work in the same field—and who has been banished from her home—takes on a job doing major repairs on a Lord's rare book collection. A job that just happens to come with room and board.
Florence is living in an uneasy, liminal space. No longer welcome at the not-all-that-welcoming home in which she was raised, she's now living on the "downstairs" side of the upstairs-downstairs divide. When Lord Belfield tells her she should give up her dreams of attending university or making a living binding and repairing books, that becoming a governess would be a great step up for her and probably as high as she can hope to go, she smiles politely and nods. His "generosity" in employing Florence is the only thing standing between her and homelessness.
There are tensions and a mystery in Lord Belfield's home. His younger brother, furious at not being the heir, is constantly asking for money and urging Belfield to sell family heirlooms. The brother also feels free to force his sexual "favors" on any woman with a class standing lower than his. The mystery involves the death of Lord Belfield's wife, who apparently went out walking in the middle of the night and fell from a local bridge. Out of respect to Belfield, the death isn't being investigated by police, but it is fodder for lots of local gossip. Most locals are happy to accused Lady Belfield's lady's maid—who just happened to be Black—because, you know, "they're not like us."
This gives you a good sense of all that's roiling beneath the surface in this book. As Florence becomes convinced Lady Belfield was murdered and begins her own hunt for the culprit, her situation grows increasingly dangerous.
If you enjoy mysteries/Gothics with independent heroines who are willing to take all sorts of risks and if you enjoy rooting for downstairs in that upstairs-downstairs divide, you're in for a treat with The Library Thief.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
May 11, 2024
Full Review: https://thecaffeinatedreader.com/2024...
Florence makes friendships and connections at Rose Hall that are bound in iron and even better? There’s a murder mystery afoot. The Lady of the Hall drowned in the river on a midnight walk, but Florence and others about the local village and Rose Hall suspect foul play. Due to Florence’s book learning and her rather stubborn take on the mystery, she considers herself the detective and forges on to get answers.
Getting these answers isn’t simple and they lead to so many more questions. The pacing is slow, I would say. Again this is not just a murder mystery we are unraveling what makes Florence tick and those she’s connecting to around her. Rose Hall is practically a character itself, and Shenjé pulls no stops when it comes to calling out the dark sides of the aristocracy when it pertains to their staff. So often have those with power abused it and abused those under said power, we get a glimpse into this as well. Lord Belfield may not be a vile villain in the stereotypical sense but he is a villain of his own making especially in his complicity in his brother’s truly vile and reprehensible actions.
There is solace in finding answers even if they leave you with more questions, there’s solace in accepting who you are whether it has to do with where you’re from, who you love, or what you know you should have been born as and The Library Thief makes sure you know that. Shenjé makes a historical fiction that doesn’t erase issues that have always been around, past or not, and brings it all into a tale that left me in awe.
4/5 cups of coffee from me! Thanks so much to Harper Collins for the eARC of this in exchange for my honest review. Sorry, it was so long-winded…and it was vague on purpose as you all know; no spoilers here! I have included purchase links for the book and social links for the author below, including a bio on them.
Florence makes friendships and connections at Rose Hall that are bound in iron and even better? There’s a murder mystery afoot. The Lady of the Hall drowned in the river on a midnight walk, but Florence and others about the local village and Rose Hall suspect foul play. Due to Florence’s book learning and her rather stubborn take on the mystery, she considers herself the detective and forges on to get answers.
Getting these answers isn’t simple and they lead to so many more questions. The pacing is slow, I would say. Again this is not just a murder mystery we are unraveling what makes Florence tick and those she’s connecting to around her. Rose Hall is practically a character itself, and Shenjé pulls no stops when it comes to calling out the dark sides of the aristocracy when it pertains to their staff. So often have those with power abused it and abused those under said power, we get a glimpse into this as well. Lord Belfield may not be a vile villain in the stereotypical sense but he is a villain of his own making especially in his complicity in his brother’s truly vile and reprehensible actions.
There is solace in finding answers even if they leave you with more questions, there’s solace in accepting who you are whether it has to do with where you’re from, who you love, or what you know you should have been born as and The Library Thief makes sure you know that. Shenjé makes a historical fiction that doesn’t erase issues that have always been around, past or not, and brings it all into a tale that left me in awe.
4/5 cups of coffee from me! Thanks so much to Harper Collins for the eARC of this in exchange for my honest review. Sorry, it was so long-winded…and it was vague on purpose as you all know; no spoilers here! I have included purchase links for the book and social links for the author below, including a bio on them.
March 8, 2024
I was intrigued by the title and cover for this historical novel set in the early 20th century. The story revolves around Florence Granger, disowned daughter of a bookbinder. She tricks her way into a stately home by pretending that her father has sent her to restore the books in the library. While she is there, she begins to discover a mystery about the death of Persephone, wife of her employer.
I loved this book to begin with but as it went on, I found myself less interested in the plot and characters. The writing is excellent with some gorgeous atmospheric descriptions but the plot seemed to drag and become overly complicated. I was really interested in Florence’s story and the lives of the coloured community at that time. The part of the novel set in Liverpool was fascinating but I still found myself skimming over quite a bit of the second half of the book.
I think that part of this was down to the fact that I didn’t find the character of Florence that likeable and none of the other characters felt particularly well rounded.
It was certainly a good debut novel and I will be interested to read more by Kuchenga Shenje.
Thank you to Net Galley and Little Brown Books for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I loved this book to begin with but as it went on, I found myself less interested in the plot and characters. The writing is excellent with some gorgeous atmospheric descriptions but the plot seemed to drag and become overly complicated. I was really interested in Florence’s story and the lives of the coloured community at that time. The part of the novel set in Liverpool was fascinating but I still found myself skimming over quite a bit of the second half of the book.
I think that part of this was down to the fact that I didn’t find the character of Florence that likeable and none of the other characters felt particularly well rounded.
It was certainly a good debut novel and I will be interested to read more by Kuchenga Shenje.
Thank you to Net Galley and Little Brown Books for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 13, 2024
This book was....so strange. Like, I thought the main plot was this "murder mystery" but it felt like an after thought that the author kept being like, oh oops gotta put something in about the murder. The sleuthing was so forced and insincere feeling. Also, love the topics of transgender, homosexuality, sexuality and women's rights, but what a jumbled mess in trying to present every hot topic at once! And the sex scenes? What the. Did not expect graphic depictions of sex, a heads up would have been nice. It all just felt so incoherent. Also, the sense of place was not there at all. It felt like a modern day book and then all the sudden the author would remember to randomly throw in a "wish I didn't have to wear huge skirts" or a "my lord". Very inconsistent. And mention of soccer?? In England? In the 1800s? It either would have been futbol or not been invented yet. Seems like no historical research was done at all. There were some very endearing characters, I loved Wesley and Annie. So cute. But otherwise, would definitely not recommend.
April 21, 2024
I enjoyed the Gothic Victorian atmosphere of this debut novel; the author clearly has a reverence for literature and included plenty of nods to famous works of the genre. The Library Thief has an intriguing premise, a roster of mysterious characters who all have something to hide, and plenty of scandal in the first 100 pages, and while the writing style didn’t always work for me, I was eager to see how it all turned out. Shenjé tackles some really ambitious themes throughout, delving into racism, colorism, sexual abuse, gender identity, and more, and I appreciated the genuine exploration of issues that are not typically at the forefront of stories set in this time period, but I did find that the plot got a little lost along the way.
Thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
October 9, 2024
DNF- good premise. Slow and meandering. Unrealistic in many ways.
June 6, 2024
I choose to read The Library Thief by Kuchenga Shenjé because, well... library! Add to that the potential of a thief and a mystery and the book becomes even more promising. This book, however, is not much of a mystery and not very much about the actual library or the books. Florence's story is interesting and ends in an unexpected way. However, I do wish a book that has library in the title was more about the library and the books!
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2024...
Reviewed for NetGalley and a publisher’s blog tour.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2024...
Reviewed for NetGalley and a publisher’s blog tour.
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