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Liberty Street
From #1 bestselling Canadian author Heather Marshall (Looking for Jane) comes a riveting, page-turning and intertwining story of two women whose destinies are linked over decades.
Toronto, 1961: Emily Radcliffe works as an editorial assistant at Chatelaine magazine, surrounded by a group of the best women journalists in the country, whose articles tackle the controversial topics no other women’s publication dares to touch. When a bombshell letter lands on Emily’s desk from an inmate at the notorious Mercer Women’s Prison, Emily sees a scoop that could launch her career as a real, hard-boiled journalist like the colleagues she admires. After convincing her boss to let her cover the story, Emily goes undercover in the prison to learn whether the shocking claims in the inmate’s letter are true. But what she doesn’t know is that getting into the prison will turn out to be the easy part; it’s getting back out that will be difficult.
Huron County, 1996: Rachel Jamieson spends her days working at a small-town cemetery, alone amid the peace and quiet. As an anxious and introverted person, the solitude of the job suits her just fine. But when one of her staff stumbles across an unmarked grave containing the remains of a woman in an old prison uniform, Rachel’s work takes a sinister turn. While she assists the police in uncovering the woman’s identity and how she came to be buried in a secret unmarked grave, trauma from Rachel’s past threatens to surface from where she’s kept it carefully hidden.
Inspired by the real-life Toronto women’s prison that was the first of its kind in Canada, as well as true figures and events, Liberty Street vividly brings to life the historic treatment of mentally ill and incarcerated women while shining a light on the dark realities of various ‘prisons’ that hold women captive.
Toronto, 1961: Emily Radcliffe works as an editorial assistant at Chatelaine magazine, surrounded by a group of the best women journalists in the country, whose articles tackle the controversial topics no other women’s publication dares to touch. When a bombshell letter lands on Emily’s desk from an inmate at the notorious Mercer Women’s Prison, Emily sees a scoop that could launch her career as a real, hard-boiled journalist like the colleagues she admires. After convincing her boss to let her cover the story, Emily goes undercover in the prison to learn whether the shocking claims in the inmate’s letter are true. But what she doesn’t know is that getting into the prison will turn out to be the easy part; it’s getting back out that will be difficult.
Huron County, 1996: Rachel Jamieson spends her days working at a small-town cemetery, alone amid the peace and quiet. As an anxious and introverted person, the solitude of the job suits her just fine. But when one of her staff stumbles across an unmarked grave containing the remains of a woman in an old prison uniform, Rachel’s work takes a sinister turn. While she assists the police in uncovering the woman’s identity and how she came to be buried in a secret unmarked grave, trauma from Rachel’s past threatens to surface from where she’s kept it carefully hidden.
Inspired by the real-life Toronto women’s prison that was the first of its kind in Canada, as well as true figures and events, Liberty Street vividly brings to life the historic treatment of mentally ill and incarcerated women while shining a light on the dark realities of various ‘prisons’ that hold women captive.
400 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 16, 2026
331 people are currently reading
6576 people want to read
About the author
Heather Marshall
3 books1,419 followersHeather Marshall lives with her family near Toronto. She worked in politics and communications before turning her attention to her true passion: storytelling. Her debut novel Looking for Jane was an instant #1 bestseller. Visit HeatherMarshallAuthor.com or connect on Instagram @heathermarshallauthor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 203 reviews
October 28, 2025
Utterly captivating. I found myself sneaking extra pages in whenever I could. Heather Marshall writes with urgency and passion about the injustices placed on women's lives and weaves it into a story that will latch onto your mind, with characters so real you'll want to reach through the pages to shout at them, but also to ache and cry and root for them. It's said often, and maybe too easily, but in this case I believe it to be true: This book is a triumph. Heather Marshall is a dedicated champion of women's rights, revealing the hard truths behind untold women's stories.
February 23, 2026
FABULOUS. No notes 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻Heather Marshall delivers another Canadian History hit set in the same 1960s universe as Looking for Jane with some fun crossovers but a completely different focus on a little known Toronto women’s reformatory.
This one is for the Nelly Bly and Orange is the new black fans and anyone who loves Genevieve Graham stories. Told in dual timeline structure, Liberty Street follows the mystery of a body discovered in 1990s Huron County and how one woman police detective’s investigation leads her to 1960s Toronto and the life of Emily Radcliffe, a young Chatelaine assistant who goes undercover as a girl stunt reporter for a story about the Female Refuges Act and the deplorable conditions of the Mercer Women’s Prison.
I couldn’t put this down and I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next! HUGE thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Canada for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!!
This one is for the Nelly Bly and Orange is the new black fans and anyone who loves Genevieve Graham stories. Told in dual timeline structure, Liberty Street follows the mystery of a body discovered in 1990s Huron County and how one woman police detective’s investigation leads her to 1960s Toronto and the life of Emily Radcliffe, a young Chatelaine assistant who goes undercover as a girl stunt reporter for a story about the Female Refuges Act and the deplorable conditions of the Mercer Women’s Prison.
I couldn’t put this down and I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next! HUGE thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Canada for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received an advanced copy from the publisher in trade for a fair review. I entered the book give away on Goodreads. I am so excited to finally receive a book to review.
I wanted to know if the characters in the book were fictionalized or real people, so I started at the end where the references and acknowledgments are written. I found this very interesting to learn how the author was inspired to write the book and her research into obtaining the information and the actual accounts of women's abuses under the laws at the time. There are two real characters mentioned in the story, Nellie Bly an undercover reporter exposing injustices in a women’s prison in the USA, Doris Anderson, editor of Chatelaine Magazine in the nineteen-sixties.
The story was two fold, one with Emily Radcliffe, a burgeoning author for Chatelaine Magazine,, excited to get the scoop that would solidify her career in 1961, as an undercover reporter at Mercer Women's prison and one of a
female police detective, Rachel Mackenzie finding a Jane Dough in an unmarked grave in 1996 at Millgate Cemetery where after much investigation bring Emily and Rachel together to share a sad but true story and bring closure to a family.
In the story we go from Emily's undercover story during her imprisonment learning about some of the injustices done to her fellow inmates and Rachel's story regarding the case of the unmarked grave but also of Rachel's life living with her grandmother Dora and her mother Mary who was unstable and would drop in once a year to "visit".
Some of the women in the Mercer's prison were locked up because of mental illness (post partum depression)(domestic violence), prostitution, under age petty theft, inter -racial children, teen pregnancy, women having too many children with different fathers, gender identity, being a lesbian, being incorrigible (Emily's case for admittance). The only way to be released was approval from the doctor who was Iris Stone. It was often denied.
While Emily was in the Mercer prison, she made friends with inmates to find out information for her story but over time these women’s lives mattered to her, and she forged some interesting friends. After her experience there she was no longer the idealistic young woman, but a woman damaged that had to fight anxiety and post traumatic stress seeking therapy. Yes, this experience helped her in her writing career, but at what cost to her soul?
Rachel MacKenzie, police detective investigating the Jane Dough has issues with her own family history regarding mental illness. She lived with her mother who was unstable, who drank and did drugs and had various affairs with different men. She ended up living with her Grandmother Dora and they both endured her mother’s visits every summer. There was some tragedy that occurred that people still talk about. It is a mystery until near the end of the story. This kept me turning the pages to find out what happened. As you read you can really empathize with Rachel and her grandmother.
Rachel is an objective detective always following the evidence. She excelled in math and science in school and liked absolutes. She is a likeable character. She was lucky to have a good mentor on the force, Detective Stevens. In the story her partner is Officer Stevens, the nephew of her retired mentor. They work together to piece together the unidentified corpse, solve a mystery and help a family member bring closure after 30 years.
I believe what this Historical Fiction account is trying to teach society is to understand abuse and the injustices to women of the past from 1880 - 1961 based on society's current and past beliefs on what is just; regarding women's sexuality, mental health as well as criminal activity. Many of these laws were based on misogynistic legislation, old beliefs regarding women's mental health and many laws regarding marriage and the rights of husbands and fathers. Basically, this story is about the worst abuses women have endured under the law while incarcerated. This is why the telling of women's stories is so important and the freedom to tell them.
I wanted to know if the characters in the book were fictionalized or real people, so I started at the end where the references and acknowledgments are written. I found this very interesting to learn how the author was inspired to write the book and her research into obtaining the information and the actual accounts of women's abuses under the laws at the time. There are two real characters mentioned in the story, Nellie Bly an undercover reporter exposing injustices in a women’s prison in the USA, Doris Anderson, editor of Chatelaine Magazine in the nineteen-sixties.
The story was two fold, one with Emily Radcliffe, a burgeoning author for Chatelaine Magazine,, excited to get the scoop that would solidify her career in 1961, as an undercover reporter at Mercer Women's prison and one of a
female police detective, Rachel Mackenzie finding a Jane Dough in an unmarked grave in 1996 at Millgate Cemetery where after much investigation bring Emily and Rachel together to share a sad but true story and bring closure to a family.
In the story we go from Emily's undercover story during her imprisonment learning about some of the injustices done to her fellow inmates and Rachel's story regarding the case of the unmarked grave but also of Rachel's life living with her grandmother Dora and her mother Mary who was unstable and would drop in once a year to "visit".
Some of the women in the Mercer's prison were locked up because of mental illness (post partum depression)(domestic violence), prostitution, under age petty theft, inter -racial children, teen pregnancy, women having too many children with different fathers, gender identity, being a lesbian, being incorrigible (Emily's case for admittance). The only way to be released was approval from the doctor who was Iris Stone. It was often denied.
While Emily was in the Mercer prison, she made friends with inmates to find out information for her story but over time these women’s lives mattered to her, and she forged some interesting friends. After her experience there she was no longer the idealistic young woman, but a woman damaged that had to fight anxiety and post traumatic stress seeking therapy. Yes, this experience helped her in her writing career, but at what cost to her soul?
Rachel MacKenzie, police detective investigating the Jane Dough has issues with her own family history regarding mental illness. She lived with her mother who was unstable, who drank and did drugs and had various affairs with different men. She ended up living with her Grandmother Dora and they both endured her mother’s visits every summer. There was some tragedy that occurred that people still talk about. It is a mystery until near the end of the story. This kept me turning the pages to find out what happened. As you read you can really empathize with Rachel and her grandmother.
Rachel is an objective detective always following the evidence. She excelled in math and science in school and liked absolutes. She is a likeable character. She was lucky to have a good mentor on the force, Detective Stevens. In the story her partner is Officer Stevens, the nephew of her retired mentor. They work together to piece together the unidentified corpse, solve a mystery and help a family member bring closure after 30 years.
I believe what this Historical Fiction account is trying to teach society is to understand abuse and the injustices to women of the past from 1880 - 1961 based on society's current and past beliefs on what is just; regarding women's sexuality, mental health as well as criminal activity. Many of these laws were based on misogynistic legislation, old beliefs regarding women's mental health and many laws regarding marriage and the rights of husbands and fathers. Basically, this story is about the worst abuses women have endured under the law while incarcerated. This is why the telling of women's stories is so important and the freedom to tell them.
March 16, 2026
Wow! Historical fiction at its finest. I love how this author writes about events in women’s history that many people are not aware of. I had to research and learn more about this Female Prison in Toronto. I have also never heard of the Female Refugee Act or going to prison for being “Incorrigible”, but looked into city archives to learn more about it. Very interesting! 👏👏👏
February 12, 2026
4.5 stars! Wow wow WOW. The blurb describes this as “a riveting novel” and they got it so right. This was a work of historical fiction brilliance that shines a spotlight on a not-so-distant past that should make all its readers feel enraged, moved, inspired, and in awe of the fearless women who paved the way for women today.
Liberty Street is inspired by true events and tells the story of Emily Radcliffe, a journalist who goes undercover at Mercer Women’s Prison in efforts to expose the atrocities experienced there. It’s 1961 and unfortunately far too easy to get in - getting out is an entirely different story. At the same time, we join Detective Rachel Mackenzie who in 1996 finds human remains that eventually lead her to Mercer.
This book was impossible to put down and I fell asleep reading it three nights in a row (blame my sleepiness, not the book!). I found myself fully invested in Emily’s story and cared a liiiitle bit less about Rachel’s, but watched with bated breath and events unfurled and the timelines merged - brilliant! This was tense and intense and often hard to read, but such an important story. I did find it repetitive and just a little too long sometimes, but I still really loved this.
The writing was exceptional, the message loud and clear, and was a reminder to me of why well-researched historical fiction just WORKS.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Liberty Street is inspired by true events and tells the story of Emily Radcliffe, a journalist who goes undercover at Mercer Women’s Prison in efforts to expose the atrocities experienced there. It’s 1961 and unfortunately far too easy to get in - getting out is an entirely different story. At the same time, we join Detective Rachel Mackenzie who in 1996 finds human remains that eventually lead her to Mercer.
This book was impossible to put down and I fell asleep reading it three nights in a row (blame my sleepiness, not the book!). I found myself fully invested in Emily’s story and cared a liiiitle bit less about Rachel’s, but watched with bated breath and events unfurled and the timelines merged - brilliant! This was tense and intense and often hard to read, but such an important story. I did find it repetitive and just a little too long sometimes, but I still really loved this.
The writing was exceptional, the message loud and clear, and was a reminder to me of why well-researched historical fiction just WORKS.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!
March 16, 2026
An important and memorable read that will stay with me for many years to come.
March 19, 2026
This is exactly why I love going into a book blind, placing full trust in an author whose work I’ve already admired. Despite the title hinting at something deeper, I didn’t fully connect the dots, which made the experience all the more rewarding.
What truly stunned me is that the story is inspired by real events, and even more so, that it’s rooted in a place so close to home. I live on Liberty Street, in Liberty Village, and pass the site of the Andrew Mercer Reformatory for Women every single day without ever realizing the devastating history tied to it. That revelation alone is why I champion historical fiction so strongly, it has the power not just to entertain, but to illuminate what’s been overlooked or forgotten.
Heather Marshall crafts a deeply affecting, intricately layered narrative across dual timelines, seamlessly weaving themes of resilience, mental health, and advocacy. The tension is expertly sustained, the premise unsettling, and the emotional impact both visceral and thought provoking. Though fictionalized, the story confronts difficult, often polarizing questions, particularly around the role women continue to play in advocating for one another.
Once I started, I was completely absorbed, unable to step away until the final page.
It also feels especially meaningful to support a Canadian author who is so committed to amplifying women’s voices and uncovering untold histories. I was already a fan of Marshall’s work, but this novel solidified something more: a deep respect for the stories she chooses to tell and the purpose behind them.
READ THIS BOOK
What truly stunned me is that the story is inspired by real events, and even more so, that it’s rooted in a place so close to home. I live on Liberty Street, in Liberty Village, and pass the site of the Andrew Mercer Reformatory for Women every single day without ever realizing the devastating history tied to it. That revelation alone is why I champion historical fiction so strongly, it has the power not just to entertain, but to illuminate what’s been overlooked or forgotten.
Heather Marshall crafts a deeply affecting, intricately layered narrative across dual timelines, seamlessly weaving themes of resilience, mental health, and advocacy. The tension is expertly sustained, the premise unsettling, and the emotional impact both visceral and thought provoking. Though fictionalized, the story confronts difficult, often polarizing questions, particularly around the role women continue to play in advocating for one another.
Once I started, I was completely absorbed, unable to step away until the final page.
It also feels especially meaningful to support a Canadian author who is so committed to amplifying women’s voices and uncovering untold histories. I was already a fan of Marshall’s work, but this novel solidified something more: a deep respect for the stories she chooses to tell and the purpose behind them.
READ THIS BOOK
March 16, 2026
Wow Heather Marshall has done it again!! Page turner, through and through, and tabbing pages of amazing writing. Feminist, girl power, strong female characters just has you so proud to be a woman with a voice because of people like she writes about in our history. A couple of my fav quotes;
“Courage and fear… So often they coexist… I suppose because courage only exists because of fear. It grows out of, and despite fear.”
“It was a brand of confidence Emily could only aspire to, and she wondered if it was innate or learned;… they both seemed cut from a cloth that was usually reserved for the creation of men, not women. A fabric woven from entitlement and inborn self-assurance on a great loom constructed eons ago, exclusively for Adam’s sons.”
Boom! Wow wow. Just wow. I cannot wait for her to release another, and this one just came out hahah. Cannot. Get. Enough. Bravo Heather Marshall!!!
“Courage and fear… So often they coexist… I suppose because courage only exists because of fear. It grows out of, and despite fear.”
“It was a brand of confidence Emily could only aspire to, and she wondered if it was innate or learned;… they both seemed cut from a cloth that was usually reserved for the creation of men, not women. A fabric woven from entitlement and inborn self-assurance on a great loom constructed eons ago, exclusively for Adam’s sons.”
Boom! Wow wow. Just wow. I cannot wait for her to release another, and this one just came out hahah. Cannot. Get. Enough. Bravo Heather Marshall!!!
March 9, 2026
This book had an interesting premise, but it was a bit too slow for me at the beginning to keep my attention. I did skip ahead to the author’s note at the end and enjoyed reading that. A more patient reader may love this book! DNF at 20%.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Ballantine for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Ballantine for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
March 16, 2026
Wow. Will need 10 business days to recover from this story. Unreal!!!! Please listen to me and read it as soon as possible.
March 17, 2026
LOVED this book. All her books are so good. Canadian HF gold
February 3, 2026
thanks NetGalley for the ARC
Wow! This was amazing from beginning to end. I was truly captured by the story and learned so much about history within my own country. I love stories like these where it touches on a topic of history that isn't as well known as some of the other topics covered in historical fiction. Although some people have qualms about dual narrators, I felt like they were both quite useful in this story and both had their own unique journeys and character arcs coming together at the end. I really loved this. I will definitely recommend it to all.
Wow! This was amazing from beginning to end. I was truly captured by the story and learned so much about history within my own country. I love stories like these where it touches on a topic of history that isn't as well known as some of the other topics covered in historical fiction. Although some people have qualms about dual narrators, I felt like they were both quite useful in this story and both had their own unique journeys and character arcs coming together at the end. I really loved this. I will definitely recommend it to all.
January 28, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy of this novel. I had read Looking for Jane previously-it’s phenomenal so I was excited to see Marshall’s latest novel available for review.
The novel is set in both 1961 and 1996 and features Emily, a young editorial assistant at Chatelaine magazine looking to launch her career as a serious journalist at a time when women were not really expected to have careers and Rachel a newer police detective trying to solve a case who also faces gender discrimination in her career. The intertwining storylines are fascinating, and a history lesson I knew nothing about. I’ve added two of the memoirs featured in the authors notes to my TBR list.
The novel is set in both 1961 and 1996 and features Emily, a young editorial assistant at Chatelaine magazine looking to launch her career as a serious journalist at a time when women were not really expected to have careers and Rachel a newer police detective trying to solve a case who also faces gender discrimination in her career. The intertwining storylines are fascinating, and a history lesson I knew nothing about. I’ve added two of the memoirs featured in the authors notes to my TBR list.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A very good story, historical fiction in fact, about an actual Women's institution in Toronto and the abuses that occurred there. A parallel story line taking place years later, eventually dovetails to a conclusion and the solving of a mystery.
The author strongly highlights the way women were (mis)treated as second class citizens and the misunderstanding of mental health issues.
The conclusion gets a little maudlin at times, but this will undoubtedly be a popular book upon its release. (I was provided with an ARC by the publisher)
The author strongly highlights the way women were (mis)treated as second class citizens and the misunderstanding of mental health issues.
The conclusion gets a little maudlin at times, but this will undoubtedly be a popular book upon its release. (I was provided with an ARC by the publisher)
March 15, 2026
I'm sobbing 😭 Heather Marshall does it again! Thank you for giving voice to women who were silenced and for educating us on Canadian history! 👏 This historical novel was inspired by true events and I couldn't put it down!
Toronto 1960s. Emily Radcliffe, an editorial assistant at Chatelaine wants nothing more than to prove herself as a journalist.
When a note from an inmate at Mercer Women's Prison is hand-delivered to her office, she sees this as the opportunity of a lifetime.
Emily gets herself sent to the Mercer where she goes undercover ("girl stunt reporter" style) to investigate the inmate's claims of deplorable living conditions, horrific treatment, abuse, etc.
Huron County 1996. Detective Rachel Mackenzie is called to the scene - a cemetary where unidentified female remains are found in an unmarked grave.
I was really invested in both women's stories and was eager to see how they tied together.
Loved how Heather explored the theme of women's mental health in both timelines. 💛
Heather did an incredible job of bringing the Mercer to life. The detailed map of the prison at the beginning of the book was really helpful. She explores themes of women's mental health, abuse, torture, corruption, courage, hope, resilience, and the power of female friendships.
I really felt for these women who were imprisoned through no fault of their own. Under the law at the time, women could be brought before a judge, sentenced and imprisoned for the most trivial reasons like "being unmanageable". 😡
It was also common for new mothers
struggling with post-partum mental illness
to be institutionalized. 💔😭
Absolutely loved Emily, Doris (her boss at
Chatelaine), Emily's parents especially her dad and the women she met at the Mercer - June Jones, Annie Little 😭, and Eliza.
Loved Rachel and her partner Detective Stevens.
I love novels that are set in the city I live in. It was fascinating (and really upsetting) learning about Toronto in the 1960s. I loved reading about the neighbourhoods I frequent and streets I walk along. 💛
The Author's Note was so beautiful and detailed. Definitely a must-read! 👏
I am blown away by the level of research Heather did for this book. 🤯
Highly recommend this emotional, eye-opening, and important read!
Toronto 1960s. Emily Radcliffe, an editorial assistant at Chatelaine wants nothing more than to prove herself as a journalist.
When a note from an inmate at Mercer Women's Prison is hand-delivered to her office, she sees this as the opportunity of a lifetime.
Emily gets herself sent to the Mercer where she goes undercover ("girl stunt reporter" style) to investigate the inmate's claims of deplorable living conditions, horrific treatment, abuse, etc.
Huron County 1996. Detective Rachel Mackenzie is called to the scene - a cemetary where unidentified female remains are found in an unmarked grave.
I was really invested in both women's stories and was eager to see how they tied together.
Loved how Heather explored the theme of women's mental health in both timelines. 💛
Heather did an incredible job of bringing the Mercer to life. The detailed map of the prison at the beginning of the book was really helpful. She explores themes of women's mental health, abuse, torture, corruption, courage, hope, resilience, and the power of female friendships.
I really felt for these women who were imprisoned through no fault of their own. Under the law at the time, women could be brought before a judge, sentenced and imprisoned for the most trivial reasons like "being unmanageable". 😡
It was also common for new mothers
struggling with post-partum mental illness
to be institutionalized. 💔😭
Absolutely loved Emily, Doris (her boss at
Chatelaine), Emily's parents especially her dad and the women she met at the Mercer - June Jones, Annie Little 😭, and Eliza.
Loved Rachel and her partner Detective Stevens.
I love novels that are set in the city I live in. It was fascinating (and really upsetting) learning about Toronto in the 1960s. I loved reading about the neighbourhoods I frequent and streets I walk along. 💛
The Author's Note was so beautiful and detailed. Definitely a must-read! 👏
I am blown away by the level of research Heather did for this book. 🤯
Highly recommend this emotional, eye-opening, and important read!
Review of advance copy
I’ve long had a quiet belief that if you walk into a bookstore searching for a new book, the right one will somehow find you.
That feeling proved true the day I came across Liberty Street. The title immediately caught my attention because I live on Liberty Street myself. It felt like a small, strange moment of serendipity. When I noticed the book was endorsed by one of my favourite authors, Kate Quinn, I picked it up—and before long I realized I couldn’t put it down.
I’ve lived in this neighborhood for some time and knew that a women’s prison once stood nearby, but it was always just a passing historical footnote to me. Heather Marshall brings that forgotten institution vividly back to life. Through her storytelling, the place emerges with all the desperation, brutality, and deep misogyny that marked both the era and the people trapped within it.
Reading the novel struck me on a deeply personal level. I recently discovered that my great-grandmother had been institutionalized after suffering severe postpartum depression, and that the treatment prescribed by doctors ultimately killed her—an overdose of insulin. Knowing this made many of the themes in the book feel painfully immediate. What might otherwise have felt like distant history instead felt uncomfortably close.
I rarely write reviews. After all, who am I to review a published author? But some stories linger long after the final page, and this was one of them.
Liberty Street is a powerful and haunting novel that reminds us how easily suffering can be forgotten by time—and how important it is that stories like these continue to be told.
Sometimes the right book really does find you.
That feeling proved true the day I came across Liberty Street. The title immediately caught my attention because I live on Liberty Street myself. It felt like a small, strange moment of serendipity. When I noticed the book was endorsed by one of my favourite authors, Kate Quinn, I picked it up—and before long I realized I couldn’t put it down.
I’ve lived in this neighborhood for some time and knew that a women’s prison once stood nearby, but it was always just a passing historical footnote to me. Heather Marshall brings that forgotten institution vividly back to life. Through her storytelling, the place emerges with all the desperation, brutality, and deep misogyny that marked both the era and the people trapped within it.
Reading the novel struck me on a deeply personal level. I recently discovered that my great-grandmother had been institutionalized after suffering severe postpartum depression, and that the treatment prescribed by doctors ultimately killed her—an overdose of insulin. Knowing this made many of the themes in the book feel painfully immediate. What might otherwise have felt like distant history instead felt uncomfortably close.
I rarely write reviews. After all, who am I to review a published author? But some stories linger long after the final page, and this was one of them.
Liberty Street is a powerful and haunting novel that reminds us how easily suffering can be forgotten by time—and how important it is that stories like these continue to be told.
Sometimes the right book really does find you.
February 20, 2026
I don’t normally reach for historical fiction, but this one completely won me over.
Liberty Street is inspired by true events and centers on Mercer Women’s Prison in Toronto, exposing the horrific treatment of women who were so easily institutionalized in the 1960s. The story follows Emily Radcliffe, a journalist who gets herself admitted to Mercer to uncover the abuse happening inside. Getting in is frighteningly simple. Getting out is another story entirely. Decades later, in the 1990s, Detective Rachel Mackenzie discovers human remains that eventually trace back to Mercer, forcing the past and present to collide.
This was riveting, tense, and at times hard to read, but in the most important way. The author shines a light on a not-so-distant history that should leave readers enraged, heartbroken, and deeply moved by the fearless women who pushed for change. The exploration of how women were treated as second-class citizens and the misunderstanding of mental health was especially powerful.
I was fully invested in Emily’s storyline and could not stop reading once she entered the prison. While I connected slightly less with Rachel’s perspective, watching the timelines slowly merge was brilliantly done. The book felt a touch repetitive and a bit long in places, and the ending leaned slightly sentimental, but overall I truly loved it.
The writing is exceptional, the research is evident, and this story reminded me exactly why well-done historical fiction just works.
Liberty Street is inspired by true events and centers on Mercer Women’s Prison in Toronto, exposing the horrific treatment of women who were so easily institutionalized in the 1960s. The story follows Emily Radcliffe, a journalist who gets herself admitted to Mercer to uncover the abuse happening inside. Getting in is frighteningly simple. Getting out is another story entirely. Decades later, in the 1990s, Detective Rachel Mackenzie discovers human remains that eventually trace back to Mercer, forcing the past and present to collide.
This was riveting, tense, and at times hard to read, but in the most important way. The author shines a light on a not-so-distant history that should leave readers enraged, heartbroken, and deeply moved by the fearless women who pushed for change. The exploration of how women were treated as second-class citizens and the misunderstanding of mental health was especially powerful.
I was fully invested in Emily’s storyline and could not stop reading once she entered the prison. While I connected slightly less with Rachel’s perspective, watching the timelines slowly merge was brilliantly done. The book felt a touch repetitive and a bit long in places, and the ending leaned slightly sentimental, but overall I truly loved it.
The writing is exceptional, the research is evident, and this story reminded me exactly why well-done historical fiction just works.
March 7, 2026
This book is a dual time line, taking place in Toronto during the early 1960s, and in 1996 Bayfield, ON. The setting for the 60s time line, is the Mercer Reformatory for Women. And actual jail for incorrigible women that was closed in the late 60s.
Our heroine, Emily, hears about the injustices of this prison and with the help of the editor in chief at Chatelaine and her father, gets sent there undercover. What happens during her time there becomes more than a story. It becomes about saving her friends and the never ending battle against injustices against women.
In Bayfield, Rachel is a detective in charge of finding out whose body was found in an unmarked grave. It leads her to Toronto, where she learns about the Mercer prison, but it also drags up her past, and how mental health in women is still something that is overlooked by men.
I really enjoyed both dual timelines. This book was interesting and I loved it!
Our heroine, Emily, hears about the injustices of this prison and with the help of the editor in chief at Chatelaine and her father, gets sent there undercover. What happens during her time there becomes more than a story. It becomes about saving her friends and the never ending battle against injustices against women.
In Bayfield, Rachel is a detective in charge of finding out whose body was found in an unmarked grave. It leads her to Toronto, where she learns about the Mercer prison, but it also drags up her past, and how mental health in women is still something that is overlooked by men.
I really enjoyed both dual timelines. This book was interesting and I loved it!
March 19, 2026
4.25
This book was an excellent, well researched, informative historical fiction read. I truly love reading stories pertaining to women’s history in Canada. The writing and story just lacked a little spark, and some emotional connection for me. It could have been on me as a reader, engaging in this book over March Break, that I just couldn’t fully sink into it. I loved the local settings and Toronto history. Also, my mom was a devouted Chatelaine magazine reader so that was a wonderful connection as well. I thank God that I have all of the rights and privileges that I have now. The 1960’s really wasn’t that long ago… This was a wonderful book (with a phenomenal ending) and I recommend it to all of my historical fiction fans.
This book was an excellent, well researched, informative historical fiction read. I truly love reading stories pertaining to women’s history in Canada. The writing and story just lacked a little spark, and some emotional connection for me. It could have been on me as a reader, engaging in this book over March Break, that I just couldn’t fully sink into it. I loved the local settings and Toronto history. Also, my mom was a devouted Chatelaine magazine reader so that was a wonderful connection as well. I thank God that I have all of the rights and privileges that I have now. The 1960’s really wasn’t that long ago… This was a wonderful book (with a phenomenal ending) and I recommend it to all of my historical fiction fans.
March 8, 2026
This author does her research. I have loved every book and although they are emotional, they are stories that must be told.
Still processing this was based on true events. It amazes me that women were put in hospitals for hysteria or other minor things.
The atrocities these women went through is unimaginable. The brave journalist who went undercover had to endure so much to tell the story of this hospital and the horrific things women went through and the people who tried to cover them up.
Still processing this was based on true events. It amazes me that women were put in hospitals for hysteria or other minor things.
The atrocities these women went through is unimaginable. The brave journalist who went undercover had to endure so much to tell the story of this hospital and the horrific things women went through and the people who tried to cover them up.
February 4, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada and Heather Marshall for the ARC of Liberty Street.
I first found this author after reading her book Looking for Jane and was captivated by her writing style. Finding out that there was another book of similar faction I couldn’t help but pick it up.
I’ve found that Heather Marshall does not shy away from difficult stories within Canadian History- from dealing with abortions and now with women’s rights in the 1960’s. We find ourselves entranced by the POVs of two characters- Emily who is journalist in the 1960’s and Rachel in the 1990’s.
When a body is discovered in an unmarked grave in the 1990’s, Rachel the young female detective finds herself on a journey to figure out who the body is. This research leads to her the life of Emily Radcliffe. She’s an assistant at the Chatelaine magazine and finds herself stumbling across the Female Refuges Act after she receives a note retailing the horrible conditions inside the Mercer Women’s Prison.
To get to the bottom of things, she finds herself undercover in the prison to find out exactly what is happening. And what she discovers shocks her.
The research done by Heather Marshall for not only this story but all her others, shines through on every page, emphasizing the authenticity of the narrative. The characters are ones that stick with you with how vivid and unforgettable they are leading to the emotional turmoil of the characters being felt by the reader. I also appreciate the fact that at the end of the book she touches on parts of her research to offer the reader further understanding to where this story came from.
Her books are definitely ones I will recommend to others I know!
I first found this author after reading her book Looking for Jane and was captivated by her writing style. Finding out that there was another book of similar faction I couldn’t help but pick it up.
I’ve found that Heather Marshall does not shy away from difficult stories within Canadian History- from dealing with abortions and now with women’s rights in the 1960’s. We find ourselves entranced by the POVs of two characters- Emily who is journalist in the 1960’s and Rachel in the 1990’s.
When a body is discovered in an unmarked grave in the 1990’s, Rachel the young female detective finds herself on a journey to figure out who the body is. This research leads to her the life of Emily Radcliffe. She’s an assistant at the Chatelaine magazine and finds herself stumbling across the Female Refuges Act after she receives a note retailing the horrible conditions inside the Mercer Women’s Prison.
To get to the bottom of things, she finds herself undercover in the prison to find out exactly what is happening. And what she discovers shocks her.
The research done by Heather Marshall for not only this story but all her others, shines through on every page, emphasizing the authenticity of the narrative. The characters are ones that stick with you with how vivid and unforgettable they are leading to the emotional turmoil of the characters being felt by the reader. I also appreciate the fact that at the end of the book she touches on parts of her research to offer the reader further understanding to where this story came from.
Her books are definitely ones I will recommend to others I know!
February 9, 2026
Emily is a young unmarried woman in the 1960s who dreams of being a female reporter.
Rachel is a cop in the 1990s with a rough family history.
When a body from the 60s is discovered, Rachel is looking for a Jane Doe and Emily is going undercover to get the scoop of her life about the treatment of women in the Mercers Womens Prison in Toronto
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From the first couple of chapters, I knew this was a book that was going to stick with me. I learned so much about a dark part of Canadian history.
Emily’s story, you’re rooting for her. Rachel’s story you’re trying to figure out what happened. They weave together so beautifully to create a powerful and strong story.
I already have Heather’s backlist on my TBR. I cannot wait to read more from this author. Thank you for sharing this ARC with me and for writing this incredible story
Rachel is a cop in the 1990s with a rough family history.
When a body from the 60s is discovered, Rachel is looking for a Jane Doe and Emily is going undercover to get the scoop of her life about the treatment of women in the Mercers Womens Prison in Toronto
_______
From the first couple of chapters, I knew this was a book that was going to stick with me. I learned so much about a dark part of Canadian history.
Emily’s story, you’re rooting for her. Rachel’s story you’re trying to figure out what happened. They weave together so beautifully to create a powerful and strong story.
I already have Heather’s backlist on my TBR. I cannot wait to read more from this author. Thank you for sharing this ARC with me and for writing this incredible story
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
After reading and loving "Looking for Jane," I knew this one was going to be a winner. Heather Marshall does not disappoint...
March 6, 2026
Another excellent book from Heather Marshall! Lived this one on audio.
March 13, 2026
absolutely loved this one
February 6, 2026
3.75/5⭐️ Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Liberty Street. This was a fascinating story about a piece of Canadian history I knew nothing about. I found the dual timelines slightly confusing and disjointed at times, but overall I was captivated by the storyline - it kept me hooked.
January 26, 2026
Wow, I absolutely loved this one!
I really enjoyed reading about the history of my province and the horrible things that happened in the 60s as well as the outlet Chatelaine was for women, at a time of suppression.
From the very beginning, you are rooting for Emily Radcliffe’s character, an aspiring journalist, wanting to succeed and expose the malpractice, illegal medical procedures and drug experimentation happening in the Mercer Women’s prison. The entire story was captivating, heartbreaking and eye opening. I read about similar experiences in university but to think about this happening so close to home was disturbing. Although the beginning was a little slow, once the undercover mission started, I was itching to pick up this book any chance I got.
If you’re looking for a captivating women’s historical fiction, this is it. I’ll be recommending it everyone and I feel so lucky to have stumbled upon it on Netgalley. A huge thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for an e-arc!
I really enjoyed reading about the history of my province and the horrible things that happened in the 60s as well as the outlet Chatelaine was for women, at a time of suppression.
From the very beginning, you are rooting for Emily Radcliffe’s character, an aspiring journalist, wanting to succeed and expose the malpractice, illegal medical procedures and drug experimentation happening in the Mercer Women’s prison. The entire story was captivating, heartbreaking and eye opening. I read about similar experiences in university but to think about this happening so close to home was disturbing. Although the beginning was a little slow, once the undercover mission started, I was itching to pick up this book any chance I got.
If you’re looking for a captivating women’s historical fiction, this is it. I’ll be recommending it everyone and I feel so lucky to have stumbled upon it on Netgalley. A huge thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for an e-arc!
February 17, 2026
3.5 stars.
As always, Heather Marshall writes of women breaking down the patriarchy and confines on women in history, and I am here for it.
Her previous two novels I gave 5 stars. I felt this novel had a lull around the 20-35% mark; as such my engagement was lessened. My exceedingly high expectations were my own fault. I also don’t love a jail storyline.
Regardless, Heather Marshall is one of my favourite authors, and remains as such today.
Recommend if:
-you love historical fiction and want something different than the WWII trope
-reading of past women heroes you’ve never heard of
-want to know more of women and mental health and its ugly past of how women were treated.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As always, Heather Marshall writes of women breaking down the patriarchy and confines on women in history, and I am here for it.
Her previous two novels I gave 5 stars. I felt this novel had a lull around the 20-35% mark; as such my engagement was lessened. My exceedingly high expectations were my own fault. I also don’t love a jail storyline.
Regardless, Heather Marshall is one of my favourite authors, and remains as such today.
Recommend if:
-you love historical fiction and want something different than the WWII trope
-reading of past women heroes you’ve never heard of
-want to know more of women and mental health and its ugly past of how women were treated.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2026
Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada, for the copy of this book.
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Read if you like: historical mysteries.
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The book follows two perspectives/timelines. The first follows Emily, a reporter in the 1960s who gets herself locked up in Mercer Women's Prison to witness and write about the horrors experienced by the female prisoners. Then we have Rachel, a detective in the 90s who comes across a dead body and must battle the ghosts of her past in order to solve the mystery.
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This was such an interesting story. I liked how the author represented the poor conditions in women's prisons, as well as how easy it was to lock a woman up back in the day. Emily was very brave to try to break the story, and I couldn't stop reading once she was in prison.
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Read if you like: historical mysteries.
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The book follows two perspectives/timelines. The first follows Emily, a reporter in the 1960s who gets herself locked up in Mercer Women's Prison to witness and write about the horrors experienced by the female prisoners. Then we have Rachel, a detective in the 90s who comes across a dead body and must battle the ghosts of her past in order to solve the mystery.
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This was such an interesting story. I liked how the author represented the poor conditions in women's prisons, as well as how easy it was to lock a woman up back in the day. Emily was very brave to try to break the story, and I couldn't stop reading once she was in prison.
February 24, 2026
There's something about historical fiction that just strikes a cord. And Heather Marshall tends to write about our country's darker past, often based around the injustices women faced in our not so distant past. Which always both intrigues me and makes me sad. Liberty Street delves into the Female Refugees act in the 1960's. And the atrocities faced in woman's "correctional" facilities. Like most of the history I discover reading historical fiction this was a law I knew nothing about and was appalled to learn of. Even during a time when women were still coming into their own in the world.
Marshall weaves a poignant and heart breaking tale told in dual timelines. That of Emily Radcliffe in the early 60's, and that of Rachel Mackenzie mostly in the mid 90's. Emily's story had me holding my breath and full of emotion. Her character a great representation of the pioneering career women of her time. Rachel's timeline didn't hold quite as much sway for me but I felt for the young girl she was and the emotional turbulance she faced with her mother. And the gender inequalities that were still present even in the timeline 30 years in the future. To see how little things had really changed.
What the women in the Mercer prison faced and those that mirrored it in real life, that Marshall took her inspiration from, was abhorrent. And the ease with how they could be incarcerated blows my mind. Makes me appreciate how far we've come and the liberties we have now. Even if there is more work to be done.
Like any great book, especially historical fiction, this one makes you stop and think. Be a little introspective. While still entertaining the reader. Marshall once again shows her expertise in showcasing women's stories and abuse. Bringing to the forefront a history that is overlooked but should not be forgotten.
TW's: incarceration, gynecological abuse, medical abuse, involuntary confinement, assault, fire, domestic abuse (off page),
As always, I highly recommend reading the authors note at the end. Its always interesting to see where and who the story was based on,
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House /Double Day for my advanced copy in return for an honest review
Marshall weaves a poignant and heart breaking tale told in dual timelines. That of Emily Radcliffe in the early 60's, and that of Rachel Mackenzie mostly in the mid 90's. Emily's story had me holding my breath and full of emotion. Her character a great representation of the pioneering career women of her time. Rachel's timeline didn't hold quite as much sway for me but I felt for the young girl she was and the emotional turbulance she faced with her mother. And the gender inequalities that were still present even in the timeline 30 years in the future. To see how little things had really changed.
What the women in the Mercer prison faced and those that mirrored it in real life, that Marshall took her inspiration from, was abhorrent. And the ease with how they could be incarcerated blows my mind. Makes me appreciate how far we've come and the liberties we have now. Even if there is more work to be done.
Like any great book, especially historical fiction, this one makes you stop and think. Be a little introspective. While still entertaining the reader. Marshall once again shows her expertise in showcasing women's stories and abuse. Bringing to the forefront a history that is overlooked but should not be forgotten.
TW's: incarceration, gynecological abuse, medical abuse, involuntary confinement, assault, fire, domestic abuse (off page),
As always, I highly recommend reading the authors note at the end. Its always interesting to see where and who the story was based on,
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House /Double Day for my advanced copy in return for an honest review
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