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Carol Hedges
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Rack & Ruin (The Victorian Detectives Book 4) Kindle Edition

by Carol Hedges (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 687 ratings
The city is in the grip of railway mania when the gruesome discovery of several infant corpses in an abandoned house forces Inspector Lachlan Greig of A Division, Bow Street Police Office and his men to enter the dark and horrific world of baby farming. It will take all Greig's skill and ingenuity to track down the evil perpetrators and get justice for the murdered innocents.

Meanwhile two school friends Letitia and Daisy stand side by side on the threshold of womanhood. One longs for marriage to a handsome man The other craves entry to higher education. Will their dreams come true, or will their lives be shattered into little pieces by the tragic and unexpected events that are about to overtake them?

Hope meets horror, and Parliament is threatened by anarchists in this rumbustious fourth Victorian crime novel, set once again amongst the dangerous twisting alleyways and gas lit thoroughfares of 1860s London.

Grab DIAMONDS & DUST, the first in this electrifying series.

Praise for HONOUR & OBEY: “Carol Hedges has again delivered a book which is written to be devoured in one sitting.” ~ A Woman’s Wisdom

Praise for DEATH & DOMINION:''I love Carol Hedges' portrayal of atmosphere .... and her gift for conveying exactly what a character is like.'' ~ Rosie's Book Review Team
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  1. Book 4 of 11
    The Victorian Detectives
  2. Print length
    242 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    November 13, 2016
  6. File size
    3.1 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01MRJWVXN
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little G Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 13, 2016
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 2nd
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.1 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 242 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 4 of 11 ‏ : ‎ The Victorian Detectives
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 687 ratings

About the author

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Carol Hedges

Carol Hedges

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Carol Hedges (1950 - )

Carol Hedges is the successful UK writer of 18 books for Teenagers/Young Adults and Adults. Her writing has received much critical acclaim, and her novel Jigsaw was long-listed for the Carnegie Medal.

Her Ebook Jigsaw Pieces, which deals unflinchingly with many of the problems that beset today's teens, is available on Amazon as is her Dystopic Fantasy The Last Virus

Carol is the writer of 'The Victorian Detectives' ~ a series of novels set in 1860s London and featuring Detective Inspector Leo Stride and his side-kick Detective Sergeant Jack Cully.

The ten books in the series are:

Diamonds & Dust

Honour & Obey

Death & Dominion

Rack & Ruin

Wonders & Wickedness

Fear & Phantoms

Intrigue & Infamy

Fame & Fortune

Desire & Deceit

Murder & Mischief

She is also the author of the 'Spy Girl' series ~ a Middle Grade/YA set of 5 books featuring Jazmin Dawson, the female 'Alex Rider'

The five books in the series are:

The Dark Side of Midnight

Out of the Shadows

Once Upon a Crime

Dead Man Talking

Ready Deadly Go

All her books are published by Little G Books and are available via Amazon in print and ebook.

Carol Hedges lives in Hertfordshire with a Tortie-Siamese cat called Halley and a lot of pond fish. When not writing/sleeping/trying to resist cake, she tutors A level and GCSE English Literature. She campaigns as chair of a local action group to save a community urban green space from possible development. She also minds her two grandchildren, one of whom is the star of the Award Winning series of blogs: The Adventures of L-Plate Gran

Bits of her writing life can be viewed on her Blog: http://carolhedges.blogspot.com

Visit her unusual Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/thecuriousVictorian/

Find her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caroljhedges/

On Twitter: @riotgrandma72

On Mastodon: @Riotgrandma72@Mastodon.social

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
687 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Judith Buffalohead
    5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Superb
    Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    As always, the pictures of London are magnificent & the characters carefully and beautifully drawn. It is such a pleasure to spend such quality time in the company of Carol Hedges !
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  • Amazon customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good Series
    Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2018
    Format: Kindle
    I have read four books in this series and enjoyed them all. I particularly like the use of the narrator who sets the stage almost as if the reader is watching a play. I'm very disappointed that I won't be able to continue the series. As a voracious reader on a limited income, I depend on KU books to satisfy my appetite. It appears that the rest of the series is not available in KU. Best luck to Ms. Hedges. Great series!
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Quite an enjoyable read!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I enjoyed this story very much and look forward to the rest in the series that I assume are just as good as this one.
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  • Donna D
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another great story!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I cannot wait to begin book 5. This series of novels have thoroughly captured my attention. Each is complete but uses some of the same detectives and other characters, all taking place in Victorian London.
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  • Stine
    5.0 out of 5 stars glorious writing
    Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I'm on book 6 now, having read 1,2,3,4 and 5. It is wonderful storytelling, ditto language and a massive knowledge of the time she writes about; Victorian London comes to life.
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  • Barb Taub
    5.0 out of 5 stars Carol Hedges writes better Dickens than Dickens
    Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2016
    Format: Kindle
    Even though I'm looking over my shoulder in case someone from the University of Chicago is standing there demanding the return of my English Lit degree, I have to admit it: I don't like Dickens. Or rather, I like everything about his books except the writing. I love his subjects, the tropes he uses and even invents. But I'm in luck! Carol Hedges, in her wonderful Victorian detective series, channels the most Dickensian of tropes without the overly sentimental, I-get-paid-by-the-word-so-I-never-use-one-where-six-would-do Dickensian mush. Consider the writing in her latest book in the Victorian Murder Mystery series:

    * Priggish: In Dickens, the writing is an over the top mix of sentiment and satire, steeped in Victorian melodrama and sanctimonious prudishness. Author Hedges pares back the language to make every word count, while mixing in a welcome dose of humor. "It is much too early for urgent reports, but Greig begins to read it, silently tutting at the absence of paragraphing. As usual, the comma has looked in the face of the writer and decided not to disturb him."

    * Emotional: Dickens' characters and writing are constantly bouncing between narrowly suspicious and bizarrely credulous, making them seem shallow and flat. Hedges' characters come complete with backstories that inform and drive their actions. Daisy Lawton, the beautiful young girl about to make her debut into Victorian society, could have been as one-dimensional as Lucie in Tale of Two Cities. Instead she has the conviction of friendship, and the example of her parents' marriage to give depth to her character. Even better, despite clues and speculation on what drives Inspector Grieg, his backstory isn't revealed until the end of the book.

    [quote] He's a single man. No children. But the Bow Street sergeants say he's like a terrier after a rat up a drainpipe. Absolutely determined to catch these people, whatever it takes. [end quote]

    * Social Critic: Dickens didn't shy away from pointing out social issues, although his writing became increasingly dark as he realized that social woes such as poverty and child abuse were immune to his critique. It's true that Carol Hedges has the advantage of 20-20 hindsight, but she uses that to take on the particularly difficult Victorian crime of baby farming, one which was virtually invisible to Londoners at the time, even though they routinely came across the corpses of children who had died of abuse or neglect. Rack and Ruin's Inspector Grieg muses, "He regards it as deeply ironic that there are laws against mistreating animals, strict licensing laws for the numerous cow-keepers who supply the city with fresh milk, but not a single law to safeguard the lives of children."

    * Twisty Plots: Probably as a result of being initially published as serials—the soap operas of his day—Dickensian casts are huge, plots convoluted, and plot twists rely heavily on contrived coincidences. This was lampshaded by Oscar Wilde in his play, The Importance of Being Ernest, which earnestly—sorry, I couldn't resist—entreats, “Now produce your explanation and pray make it improbable.” But this is where Carol Hedges comes into her own. Without abandoning the properly Victorian tone, her plots involve lots of characters who are constantly running into each other as they pursue goals ranging from apprehending baby murderers, to making a socially acceptable marriage, to education for women, to blowing up Parliament. Although Rack and Ruin, like all books in this series, works as a standalone, it's fun to welcome old friends like detectives Stride and Cully, and Cully's wife Emily, while each has a role to play here.

    The descriptions of 1863 London are wonderful, especially as it contrasts the idyllic London of the upper and middle classes with the London being reshaped by the industrial revolution.

    [quote] It is the month of May, and the city is in full bloom. Green leaves unfurl, yellow celandines peep from their lowly beds. Violets beckon coyly. Pink frothy waterfalls of blossom cascade from park cherry trees. Birds and bees go about the purposes for which they were created and everywhere from crook to cranny, in garden bed of bow pot warmth returns and nature reasserts itself in song, hum, bud and flower.

    Except here.

    Here there is only the shrill roar of escaping steam, the groans of machines heaving ponderous loads of earth to the surface, the blasts of explosives, and the clack of pumping devices as the future arrives in lines of steel rails and a thundering in the blood. [end quote]

    I really can't say enough good things about this book and the whole series. If you want a great detective story, beautifully detailed within its historical context, with a well-rounded supporting cast, I recommend Rack and Ruin as well as the earlier books in this series. The pace accelerates to a satisfying conclusion, while the descriptions of London, Victorian language (frowsty?), and society at various levels is pure entertainment.

    ***I received this book for free from the publisher or author to facilitate an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.***
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  • Cathy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loving these books
    Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2016
    Format: Kindle
    It’s the spring of 1863 in the city of London, and as Hind Street is being demolished to make way for the railway, something horrifying is uncovered by the construction workers. Inspector Lachlan Greig of the Metropolitan Police, based in Bow Street, is called to the scene, where the bodies of eleven dead babies have been discovered.

    When the wonderfully named Edwin Persiflage and Danton Waxwing, who lodge in Hind Street, decide they have a grievance against the rich and privileged and declare themselves anarchists, they pose a threat to the public resulting in yet another problem for Inspector Greig.

    Miss Daisy Lawton is living in a different world altogether. Full of the joys of spring, she’s young, pretty, well to do and on her way to meet her best friend from school, Letitia Simpkins. The two girls have vastly different backgrounds – Daisy is secure in the love of her family and the knowledge life only promises good things, such as being in love, shopping and parties. Whereas Letitia has a tricky and strained family life, at the beck and call of her parents and only a step up from the servants. The only light at end of her very dark tunnel is a well-timed meeting with librarian, Sarah Lunt, who is of the opinion ladies should be able to study and train for a profession. Letitia herself loves learning and believes there should be more to life than waiting for a man to offer marriage.

    As in her previous books, Carol Hedges’ vivid and engaging prose recreates the atmosphere and flavour of Victorian London and its inhabitants evocatively, so that I was transported back in time immediately. The story gives considerable realisation and understanding of life at that time, across the many societal levels of the population. The characters are portrayed extremely well, including the secondary ones, and whether they’re likeable or not they draw the attention.

    Lachlan Greig is a wonderful addition to the stories, I like him a lot, and it was good to get reacquainted with Stride and Cully. The plight of, and non-existent civil rights for, women in Victorian times is highlighted, not only by the machinations of Daisy’s mother and Letitia’s horrible situation but also with those who are forced, for whatever reason, to seek the services of the so-called ‘baby minders’. People who are at best unscrupulous, and at worst guilty of mass infanticide. The obviously in depth research needed for this story must have been heartbreaking.

    I’m loving these books and am very glad to know there will be another.

    Reviewed for Rosie Amber’s book review team and based on an digital copy from the author. This does not affect my opinion or the content of my review.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great stuff
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 25, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Again I feel as if I am in a History class albeit a very enjoyable one. Older schoolchildren should be urged to read these books as they are both enjoyable as great fiction but very informative as a historical ones. Brilliant work Carol keep 'em comin.
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  • Torsten
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of her best books
    Reviewed in Germany on August 6, 2018
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I‘ve just finished „Rack and Ruin“ and if there is something to say about Carol Hedges' writing then that her books keep getting better and better. After "Diamonds & Dust", "Honour & Obey" and "Death & Dominion" this book presents itself as another well composed Victorian crime story in the "Victorian Detectives" series.

    If you expect a typical murder of the "Lord Whatshisname killed in the library with a chandelier" type, you might be in for a surprise, as the case presented by Carol Hedges is a bit more unusual and probably also more realistic by entering the world of baby farming.

    Carol manages to paint a detailed and exciting picture of Victorian London, again stepping away from the trodden path of stories playing only in the upper echelons of society. She shows us normal people and their situation in life, adds a spark of humour to it and weaves in an amazing assortment of anarchism, a paper that reminds of the qualities of the Daily Mail, suffragettes and a whistled „Bluebells of Scotland“.

    One might as well recognise that some references have their roots in recent events, or rather they are still present in our times, e.g. if we find an immigrant character with a well observed German accent. Yet these references don't overshadow the crime story, but add to it by giving a vivid impression of the various ideas running through 1860s London.

    While this book is part of a series and some characters are well known to the reader of her previous books, "Rack & Ruin" can be read standalone, it's not necessary to take in the whole series to enjoy this murder mystery.
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  • Jo Beckford
    5.0 out of 5 stars A ripping good tale!
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on November 30, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    What I loved most about this book is that you start it thinking it’s going to be a whodunnit but in fact it’s a book about the people who inhabit a world of new possibilities. Victorian London comes alive in this book. It also pulls no punches as to the reality of living in that period. This is not a romantic story. Life was hard for many and Ms Hedges portrays this beautifully in a fast paced and witty voice.
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  • sandyv
    4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable but...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 23, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    An enjoyable read, but not nearly so captivating as the previous three books in the series. Grieg is the new detective and he is a likeable type, but I would have liked to see more of Stride and Cully who are pretty peripheral to this story. As with the earlier tales there are two other stories woven through the main one and pretty much unconnected with it which makes for a multi level read.
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  • historybird
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 12, 2020
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Carol Hedges has created some great characters, characters to really care about. She also has a unique style that keeps the narrative flowing like a river heading for the rapids. Buy the set and read them in order, some of the characters pop in and out of each others stories and you get to follow their lives beyond the end of their story. One word of warning though, once you start one of these books, the world will disappear until you reach the end. Charles Dickens could have learned a thing or two from Ms Hedges.
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