Victorian England. Jenny has lost her job as a maid and finds herself in the unenviable position of supporting her orphaned siblings. Her brother has abandoned them all to run away with an actress and, with no reference, poor Jenny has neither hope nor prospects.
Her saviour arrives in the form of a wealthy theatre-owner, Mrs Dyer, who offers Jenny the role of dresser at The Mercury Theatre. Here we are introduced to the magical world of talented actors, dramatic backdrops and onstage illusions. The theatre is every bit as extraordinary as Jenny had always imagined it to be.
And yet there is also a dark side to the theatre. After Jenny witnesses a horrific scene, a mysterious and powerful object is brought into The Mercury. It promises much to those who possess it, but also threatens to rip their world apart.
‘The Whispering Muse’ offers a deliciously dark and intriguing slice of drama. Purcell entwines myth and magic with a twisted tale befitting a Shakespearean tragedy. This page-turner would be fabulous for fans of the theatre!
Thank you to Net Galley, Laura Purcell and Raven Books for this ARC in return for my honest review.
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