19th Century

On September 11, 1888, a few days after Jack the Ripper’s second victim was found brutally murdered, a desperate Caroline Foster arrives in London with only a battered steamer trunk and five shillings in her purse. Forced to sell her deceased father’s estate to settle his debts, Caroline is now homeless. Her only hope is to find her estranged brother, Charlie, whose last known address is 212 Montague Street in London’s notorious Whitechapel district. What she finds is a disreputable gentlemen’s boarding house, the Whitechapel Full Moon Society, but no Charlie, who vanished in June. With nowhere else to go, Caroline applies for the open maid’s position. Mrs. Easton, the landlady, gives her three rules: ask no personal questions of the guests, never enter the iron-barred room on the second floor, and, most importantly, remain locked in her room during the night of the full moon. As Caroline adjusts to her daily tasks, she begins to suspect that this strange house and its odd residents might be connected to her brother’s disappearance and the serial killings terrorizing London. Writing with verve and flair, DeLozier, in her sophomore outing (after Eleanore of Avignon), offers a fresh take on the Jack the Ripper mythos and adds a paranormal twist. Following Caroline’s transformation from a sickly, timid young woman into a strong, confident protagonist who discovers her true identity and takes charge of her life is a compelling and delightful journey. Fans of historical fantasy mysteries with a touch of dark romance will adore this one.—Willy Williams

Hazel Russon’s life in 1882 Utah territory is defined by three things: the Mormon church, polygamy, and the men, who call themselves priests and bishops, who control both. She knows she’s supposed to suppress her sinful dreams of a monogamous life with her sweetheart and her desire for the freedom to play her beloved piano. But she must, and becoming the fourth wife of Jacob Manwaring, she’s carted far away from her home, family, and civilization. Her new homestead is shared with strangers: Sister Prudence, the most recent; Sister Abby, first wife; and Sister Flora, second wife. Federal agents are pursuing polygamists, so the family must be careful how and where they are seen. When Hazel senses something shifting in the house—the actual building— her fears about being a sister wife ratchet up. Jacob, who promised her a piano, now says they don’t have one—but what about the box piano she finds in the attic? She sees apparitions, but the only one that acknowledges them is one of the children. And who is the seemingly cursed woman, and why will the others not speak of it? And is Hazel really only the fourth wife? Hamilton, a historian specializing in Mormon women in polygamy, drew inspiration from her polygamous ancestors to create this horror story grounded in historical reality. Mormon gothic at its finest.—Dodie Ownes

The Whitechapel Full Moon Society

The Fourth Wife