Kitty Peck and the Child of Ill-Fortune (33 page)

Weather is always said to be a peculiarly British preoccupation. I was never much of a linguist when I was at secondary school in the late 1970s, but even to this day I can comment, quite accurately, on  the colour of the sky, the likelihood of precipitation and the quality of fog in both French and German. Back then, the ability to discuss meteorology in extreme detail was clearly thought to be a cultural passport for a girl about to be set loose on the world beyond Watford.

I was reminded of this when I read through the first draft of the book you’ve just finished.

Kitty Peck’s first adventure was written during a winter of heavy snowfall and biting cold. I work in the basement of our house in St Albans and back in December 2012 and January 2013, every time I looked up from the table and squinted out through the half-window to the street, all I could see was a mound of snow or, occasionally, the slush-covered boots of people skidding by. There is a lot of snow in
Kitty Peck and the Music Hall Murders.

Much of
The Child of Ill-fortune
was written in the winter of early 2014, but this time the world outside my window was wet and grey. I think the damp and the rain permeated my writing. Kitty Peck’s 1881 London is a sodden and ultimately bleak place.

 And more clouds are gathering . . .

I’m indebted to Hannah Griffiths, my brilliant editor at Faber & Faber for believing in Kitty and allowing me to take her to a dark place, to Katherine Armstrong (Faber & Faber Crime) for her warm pragmatic encouragement, to Sophie Portas (Faber & Faber publicity) who has held my hand at various events . . . and, in fact, to everyone at Bloomsbury House for their enthusiasm and support.

Beyond Bloomsbury I am so grateful to Tamsin Shelton for her sensitive, eagle-eyed handling of the text and for the fact that her language skills far outstrip my own!  I’m pretty sure she can talk about the weather (and much more) in at least four languages.

Thanks also to Eugenie Furniss, my fantastic and energetic agent. Now there’s a woman who loves a gothic tale almost as much as I do!

 I must also mention my friends and family who ‘lived’ this book every step of the way, especially  Lisa Aston my ‘tester’ whose desire to know more after I emailed her every chapter as I wrote gave me a huge boost of energy each time I turned on the computer. And also to lovely Daisy Coulam – she knows why!

Finally, last but not least, I must thank my completely excellent husband Stephen who could not be more supportive and loyal (except about the heating in the basement).

He misses me when I’m writing – but I’ve promised to make it up to him.

 The first in the Kitty Peck series

LONDON
‚ 1880

In the opium-laced streets of Limehouse the ferocious Lady Ginger rules with ruthless efficiency. But The Lady is not happy. Somebody is stealing her most valuable assets – her dancing girls – and that someone has to be found and made to pay.

Bold‚ impetuous and with more brains than she cares to admit‚ seventeen-year-old seamstress Kitty Peck reluctantly performs the role of bait for the kidnappers. But as Kitty’s scandalous and terrifying act becomes the talk of the city‚ she finds herself facing danger even more deadly and horrifying than The Lady.

This thrilling historical mystery takes us deep into the underworld of Victorian London. Take nothing at face value‚ for Kitty is about to go down a path of discovery that will have consequences not only for herself‚ but for those she holds most dear . . .

Kate Griffin was born within the sound of Bow bells, making her a true-born cockney. She has worked as an assistant to an antiques dealer, a journalist for local newspapers and now works for The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.

Kitty Peck and the Music Hall Murders
, Kate’s first book, won the
Stylist
/Faber crime writing competition. It was shortlisted for the 2014 CWA Endeavour Historical Dagger. Kate’s maternal family lived in Victorian Limehouse and Kitty’s world is based on stories told by her grandmother. Kate lives in St Albans.

‘Terrific debut novel . . . Victorian London has never been better illustrated . . . if this standard keeps up, we have a major new talent on our hands.’
Sunday Express

‘Occasionally a new writer bursts onto the scene with almost explosive force . . . [Griffin’s] hugely entertaining debut, set in the squalor, filth and depravity of Victorian Limehouse is all things to all readers – almost gothic in its intensity, but full of shades of dark and light, combining the macabre and wit of the music halls with a rattling action yarn which will appeal to historical readers, crime readers and people who just like a really well written adventure story . . . the book is an absolutely first class read and I shall be surprised if there’s a better debut this year.’
Crime Review

‘Kitty’s narrative voice . . . is sharply memorable and deserves to be heard in a further adventure.’
Sunday Times

KITTY PECK AND THE MUSIC HALL MURDERS