BookBuff's Book Review of
"Fingersmith" by Sarah Waters

"Fingersmith" is another great novel, set in the same period as her previous two, Victorian era London. Sue Trinder is an orphaned girl living with a Mrs Sucksby in London. Mrs Sucksby's household is an odd one. Mr Ibbs ( a tenant of the house) is a dealer of stolen of goods. He pays for them, cleans them up, and sells them for profit. Mrs Sucksby astonishingly makes a living in almost the same manner. Sue is taught in to the trade (although excessively guarded by Mrs Sucksby) until a "Gentleman" visits the household and changes Sue's life forever. The plot thickens when the Gentleman arrives at the Sucksby household. It doesn't thicken lightly either, it grips you and takes you through so many extraordinary twists and turns that it becomes almost exhausting to be kept so tense and expectant for so long. I do mean 'exhausting' as a compliment to Waters' plot though - I was so riveted by the last portion of the book that everything else, errands, dinner, and even sleep, took a back burner to my finishing it.

Well, there you go, my paean to Sarah Waters! I read that she gave up teaching and is concentrating on writing full time. Her interview claims that "Fingersmith" is the last in its series. I have no idea of what she will treat us to next but I'm sure we won't be disappointed.

Amazon Link

You can contact BookBuff at bookbuff@dcdykes.com.

[back to top]