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Title details for Murder in Punch Lane by Jane Sullivan - Available

Murder in Punch Lane

Gothic crime in the laneways of 19th century Melbourne

by Jane Sullivan
ebook
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Melbourne, 1868. When dazzling theatre star Marie St Denis dies in the arms of her best friend, fellow actress Lola Sanchez, everyone believes it was suicide by laudanum overdose. Everyone except Lola. On the brink of stardom herself, she risks everything by embarking on a quest to find Marie's killer.
When journalist Magnus Scott, writing as 'the Walking Gentleman', publishes a compassionate obituary about her friend, Lola decides to seek his help. A fraught attraction develops between these two amateur detectives from opposite sides of society, and their volatile relationship soon begins to compromise their investigation.
Lola keeps a secret from Magnus. She traverses the corrupt underbelly of the brash young metropolis just as he does, but disguised as a boy, entering dangerous, forbidden spaces where the lives of the rich and privileged intersect with the city's underclass and outsiders: bohemians, theatre folk, prostitutes, down-and-outs and opium addicts.
Neither are prepared for the truths they will uncover about the powers that rule Melbourne - or the consequences for their own lives. And now they must race to find the murderer before the city destroys them both.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    July 2, 2024

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9781760688998

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9781760688998
      • File size: 1540 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Books+Publishing

      May 28, 2024
      Jane Sullivan’s third novel, Murder in Punch Lane, transports readers to the grizzly underbelly of 1860s Melbourne. Actress Lola Sanchez doesn’t believe her best friend, theatre star Marie, died by suicide. In a society that is against her gender every step of the way, Lola pairs up with part-time columnist and full-time womaniser Magnus Scott to prove that Marie was murdered and unravel the mysteries of the city. When Lola’s newfound stardom forces her into harrowing experiences that echo those of her late friend, she finds her life on the line in a twist ending involving betrayal and deceptive appearances. Murder in Punch Lane is fast-paced, as Sullivan (Storytime) skilfully creates and maintains tension throughout, and her confronting explorations of feminism, sex work and exoticism vividly depict the society of the time. Lola’s strong character shines as she opposes the gender norms of the period. At the same time, Magnus’s perspective shows character development as he grapples with his changing perception of money and the role of women. Their slow-burn romance is sweet and subtle. The novel is based on the death of Marie St Denis in 1868 and cleverly introduces real characters from Melbourne’s history, such as Redmond Barry. This gothic melodrama will appeal to readers aged 16+, especially those drawn to 19th-century historical fiction, amateur detective and crime novels with a touch of romance.

Formats

  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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