Albert Easterbrook

In The Tumbling Girl (2024),  it’s London, England, Queen Victoria is definitely in charge, and spunky, head-strong Former magician’s assistsant Minnie Ward is hard at work writing scripts for the Variety Palace Music Hall, when her best friend is found murdered, and the Metropolitan Police, such as they are, don’t seem particularly interested. With nowhere else to turn, she decides to hire former police officer turned private inquiry agent ALBERT EASTERBROOK.

It’s the start of a beautiful (but of course, complicated) relationship, as the quick-witted working class writer (who’s the star of the show here) and the well-heeled and definitely posh private eye (definitely playing second fiddle) team up to solve a variety of gothic-tinged mysteries in the so-called Variety Palace series, wandering the streets of London from its high-class gentleness clubs (no, not strip joints) and mansions to its darkest dives and dreariest hovels. And brothels.

The nascent series has been well received, its debut short-listed for The Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Dagger Awards John Creasey New Blood Dagger and winning the Historical Writers Association’s Debut Crown Award, while it’s drawn acclaim from sources as varied as Publishers Weekly, The Guardian and The Wall Street Journal.

A bigger mystery, though, may be… why no ebook editions in the States? Why only audio samples? Are they aiming for a very specific audience here; possibly ebook-adverse?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bridget Walsh was born in London to Irish immigrant parents. She studied English literature and was an English teacher for 23 years, before leaving the profession to pursue her writing. Bridget lives in Norwich with her husband, Micky, and her two dogs.

UNDER OATH

• “Ms. Walsh does a splendid job depicting Minnie’s flea-bitten yet appealing theatrical world and Albert’s monied yet treacherous milieu”
  — Wall Street Journal on The Tumbling Girl
• ‘Walsh’s diligent research pays off in spades here, and her rich and nuanced portrayal of the period will leave readers feeling like they’re on the soggy streets of London. Imogen Robertson readers will be eager for a sequel to this un-put-downable mystery”
  — Publishers Weekly (starred review) on The Tumbling Girl
• ‘This atmospheric debut historical mystery captures the world of music halls and the danger to women in Victorian London”
  — Library Journal (starred review) on The Tumbling Girl
• “A brilliantly written page-turner. A bravura performance tumbling us into a compelling mystery in a vivid, richly imagined world. You can smell the greasepaint and hear the roar of the crowd on every page”
  — Imogen Robertson on The Tumbling Girl
• “Historical crime fiction at its most beguiling”
  — Barry Forshaw (The Financial Times) on The Innocents
• “Walsh, who clearly knows her Victorians, writes with gusto. Whether she’s detailing the sweat, greasepaint and trickery behind theatrical illusion, the bloody savagery of the dog-fighting pit, or the creepily anthropomorphic world of the taxidermy diorama, time past is so vividly evoked that one can almost smell it. Highly recommended.”
  — The Guardian

NOVELS

• The Tumbling Girl () | Buy this book | Buy the audio
• The Innocents (2024) | Buy this book | Buy the audio 
• The Spirit Guide (2026) | Buy this book 

FURTHER INVESTIGATION

• The Streets of London
  Let them take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of London…
  

Respectfully submitted by Kevin Burton Smith.