I don't think I've ever raced through a series so quickly - and all library books too! Although none of the sequels quite matched up to the first novel for me, I could not stop reading about Kitty Peck's Limehouse misadventures and needed to unravel the mystery of the Vinculum and the identity of her mysterious father. I'm glad there were only four books to get through, however!

In the final instalment, the murders continue, including a poor little dog (even fictional animal cruelty makes me sick). Reading the books in quick succession, I did feel like Kitty's life is sort of stuck in a loop, despite the villains being different in each story. I also noticed the narrative quirks, like 'dandled' and 'sidled', cropping up with grating regularity, and Kitty having a memory of Nanny Peck's fairy tales and Joey's life lessons from her childhood for every occasion. Still, Kitty has a distinctive and likeable voice, and I love characters with photographic memories - what a talent! Lucca is unflappable as ever, and Lord Vellum a fascinating new ally, but Sam the journalist's upgrade from professional partner to love interest didn't work for me.

I rolled my eyes at Goonies/Indiana Jones ending and was going to dock a star, until I read the author's notes: 'I have taken gleeful pleasure in snatching at the tropes of Victorian melodrama, throwing them into the pot and stirring vigorously ... This is a heightened world of artifice, theatricality and the penny dreadful.' In that case, well played, madam! The revelation of Kitty and Joey's father, however, felt like an echo of the plot from book two.

Characters and intricate plotting aside, another joy of this series for me has been the hidden history lessons about Victorian London - I often had Google to hand for further research into the various places featured, like Wilton's Music Hall, the inspiration for the Gaudy, and St Bartholomew the Great.

Tell truth, despite the Victorian EastEnders vibe, this is an entertaining series with larger than life characters which kept me hooked. Brava, Kitty! ( )