Date of Review:

Published Work:

Kill-Grief

Reviewer:

Elaine Dingsdale

Source:

The Bookbag

Review Excerpt:

This debut novel is by a very talented author indeed. The front cover bears the legend jolts the reader into Hogarth's world with a vengeance - and this exactly encapsulates the breadth of the novel...

As the central protagonist, Mary is wonderful. Initially overwhelmed by the city, she gradually grows in boldness and stature. She's an extremely complex character, and I was often surprised at her actions. Emboldened by her increasing reliance on gin (the 'kill-grief' of the title), she becomes progressively more devious in her fight for survival, and towards the conclusion of the novel, she is a very different character to the almost timid girl of the outset...

Overall, this was a wonderful novel. The plot was well developed, and progressed at a good pace - quick enough to keep the reader turning the pages, but slow enough to keep us guessing. The characters were magnificent, encouraging us to sympathise with their ghastly lifestyle, and simultaneously back away from the squalor they represented. There was no part of this novel which I can fault - it was simply a great read, and I do hope the author writes more in this vein.

Link to Full Review:

The Bookbag - Kill-Grief review