Review of Andrew Taylor's Bleeding Heart Square
Atmospheric Thriller Set in Georgian London
Feb 21, 2009
The year is 1934, and twenty nine year old Lydia Langstone is living with her father in his rented flat at number 7, Bleeding Heart Square. This is one of the shadier parts of London: the flat is cold and miserable, and Lydia's father is an alcoholic who spends most of his time in the nearest pub. All something of a come-down for a wealthy lady used to having her own servants and the respect of everyone she meets.
An Independent Woman?
Lydia has no choice, however. She has left her husband Marcus, whose violent assualt on her forms the opening scenes of the novel, and must now find her way in life as an independent woman. Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own is proving harder to get through than she imagined, and she is forced to take a low-paying job with a legal firm in order to make ends meet.
It is not long, however, until Lydia finds herself involved with a mysterious case from the past. Philippa Penhow, the house's former owner, disappeared four years ago, apparently running off to America with a lover to start a new life. For many, this version of events does not ring true, and foul play is suspected - why else would Mr Serridge, current owner of number 7, Bleeding Heart Square and former lover to Miss Penhow, be receiving parcels containing rotting hearts?
Rory Wentworth
Lydia is not alone in her quest to uncover the truth. Rory Wentworth, an unemployed journalist who lives in the top flat of the house, is also investigating what has befallen Miss Penhow, and he and Lydia eventually begin to work together to unlock the secrets of the past. Meanwhile, Lydia's husband Marcus still looms menacingly over proceedings as a key figure in the British Union of Fascists, which has selected Bleeding Heart Square as the location for its meetings and recruitment drives.
A Dark Atmosphere
The novel is very strong on recreating the atmosphere in London at this time - the fear of a second world war, the uncertain position of a woman seeking divorce, and the undercurrent of violence stalking the dark and gloomy streets. The characters are convincing and the story is gripping - Taylor's masterstroke is to stick to a rigid pattern in structuring the novel, with each chapter starting with an extract from Miss Penhow's diary from 1930 before moving back to the present day events. This means that Miss Penhow's presence is strongly felt throughout the novel, and the reader really cares about what may have befallen her as she strides blindly into a sexual relationship with Serridge.
Andrew Taylor's reputation as one of Britain's finest crime writers continues to grow, and this thrilling novel suggests that his increasing popularity is well-deserved.
Bleeding Heart Square by Andrew Taylor is published in the UK in paperback by Penguin (2009), ISBN 978-0-141-01861-4.
 |
