An evocative account of life in Georgian England … How much we owe historians who trawl through the illegible and scattered archives for us to assemble these alternative accounts of history. But that didn’t prevent me from appreciating the book — and, I would dare say, even enjoying the depth of emotions it made me feel. When he comes to commiserate with her, his guard is down and she slips sixteen crushed-up pills into his drink.

The story actually gives up its secrets almost immediately - in fact, most of you probably figured it out after reading the blurb, right? Although I'm clearly not a fan, the crocodile-skinned lady, and many on Goodreads, absolutely loved it.We step back to try and clear the air of the noxious fumes, but we and our senses are held hostage by the toxicity of what lies beneath this panoramic view. The two girls grow in strength and confidence throughout the book and give each other the strength to face what they are going through.

Relying on documents such as account books, journals, letters, inventories and wills, Vickery paints pictures for her readers…Vickery discusses not only the appearance in everyday life in Georgian England but also the nature of the relationships within it… Behind Closed Doors is a fascinating contribution to our understanding of the Georgian period.I’d stopped enjoying the book soon after I started and only hung in there to see if it would improve.