Book Review - Sugar & Blood

Book Review

Blood & Sugar

Laura Shepherd-Robinson

Pan Books

It should not matter what period a crime novel is set in. This one goes all the way back to 1781 and the filth of Deptford. A developing port, but a poor relation to London and Greenwich. The words on the striking front cover are ‘Magnificent’, ‘Powerful’, ‘Astonishing’, and ‘Enthralling’ and, C.J. Sansom adds, ‘A page turner of a crime thriller’

The details are amazing for we are told, in very clear terms what Deptford was like. Where they got drunk, the cost of a prostitute, how they dressed and what they ate. That’s in depth research at its best. I checked out one location and it was there and operating as depicted in July, 1781.

But what is it about? Well, I can start with a comment on today's news from America. White on Black yet again and the legacy of the slave trade. Deptford was a slaving port with most events based there although the devious corridors of Whitehall come into play too.

It's complex and the story evolves with many turns and twists. I loved it, but the book deserves more. The characters; some have class and position, others power, others have greed and control over fellow humans - both black and white. They have slaves as servants, for playthings and to do the master’s bidding. There is one more point in the book that brings in a totally different aspect and one that is current still. It is beautifully woven into the story.

It's also about a voyage and what happened in an Atlantic crossing to the Caribbean. The cast of characters and the Prologue feed us straight into the story and the cruelty. And that is in abundance!

I was delighted to find a different author, and another location to go along with Jane Harper and The Dry set in Australia, Will Dean’s novels from a Swedish swamp and Abir Muhkerjee’s during the time of The Raj. This story beats them all for its many moving parts.

I hope it gets into the last six for the final vote for Theakestons Old Peculier Crime Writers Award. I voted for it. It’s mutilating excellent.