Dan Leno and the Limehouse Golem- The tale of a 19th Century Serial Killer
Wed 27 May 2009
Chelsey Parish, International Business/Communication
Dan Leno and the Limehouse Golem by celebrated author Peter Ackroyd is a dark and dripping detective tale of murder and mysteries set in the murky streets of 19th century London.
The opening chapter of the gothic tale lands the reader in a cold stone courtyard, witnessing the last execution of a female convict in London. It is clear the woman had been convicted of a hideous crime, but who is she?
The author weaves a complicated and disjointed account of a series of ghastly murders in the brothel and playhouse district of Limehouse. The story is woven from the perspective of multiple characters, all of whom have motive for murder. As the reader progresses through the novel, the characters become blurred and their actions heavily interwoven, leaving the reader hungry for clarification.
The reader is drawn into the dreary world of Limehouse and the day to day struggles and miracles witnessed by its superstitious residents.
The author draws from historical documents and personal accounts as well as extracts from memoirs of celebrated literary heavyweights such as Marx and Gissing as well as little known authors and publications.
The author uses excruciating detail in his character explanations that adds to the manic sense of obsession the characters display throughout the book. However the detail can destroy the flow of the story at times as the reader is drawn away from the mystery of the story and into the history of the character.
Overall Dan Leno and the Limehouse Golem is a fantastically gruesome novel that keeps the reader on their toes. The seductive lure of the characters and the strength of their interactions makes this non-fiction novel a real page turner and one not to be missed by those who love a tale of a dark deed.
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Submitted Comments
Superbly written review. I'm going to have to read it now!
Megan Marks