In 1788, exactly one hundred years before Jack the Ripper terrorizes the people of London, a sexual miscreant known as the London Monster roams the streets in search of his next victim… Thomas Hayes, having lost his mother in a vicious street assault, becomes an underground pugilist on a mission to rid the streets of violent criminals. But his vigilante actions lead to him being mistaken for the most terrifying criminal of all. Assistance arrives in the form of Sophie Carlisle, a young journalist with dreams of covering a big story, though she is forced to masquerade as a man to do it. Trapped in an engagement to a man she doesn’t love, Sophie yearns to break free to tell stories that matter about London’s darker side—gaming, prostitution, violence—and realizes Tom could be the one to help. Together, they come up with a plan. Straddling the line between his need for vengeance and the need to hide his true identity as a politician's son becomes increasingly difficult as Tom is pressured to win more fights. The more he wins, the more notoriety he receives, and the greater the chance his identity may be exposed—a revelation that could jeopardize his father’s political aspirations and destroy his family’s reputation. Sophie is also in danger as hysteria spreads and the attacks increase in severity and frequency. No one knows who to trust, and no one is safe—Tom included, yet he refuses to end the hunt. Little does he realize, the monster is also hunting him. "I love the modern sensibilities of this book and its characters. In terms of historical novels, it's a cut above. The characterization is beautiful, and the descriptions and historical details are palpable. It was a delight to read . . . It really is the best historical I've read all year." --JT, Thomas and Mercer "I was riveted by this book from the first page and could not put it down . . . I loved the characters, all of whom are well-drawn and motivated. I loved the meticulous attention to historical detail and language--which was woven in deftly and naturally . . . Combine all of this with expert pacing and the ongoing mystery of the identity of the London Monster, and the novel is a winner!" --KD Alden, historical fiction author "This is a fantastic historical mystery which fans of Donna Scott's previous novel will enjoy. It will also appeal to fans of E. S. Thomson and Antonia Hodgson." --Madwoman in the Attic "Author Donna Scott takes full advantage of this amazing time in history and gives the reader a full immersion into Georgian London. I thought the author did a fantastic job of pulling the reader into her world. The clothes, the lifestyles, the culture and mores are all ring true. I enjoyed spending a few hours in that amazing time period. I found [the characters'] stories engaging and well-drawn. Told in 3rd person, the writing is good, fast paced and with little down time. The story is well plotted. The mystery of the Monster's identity was well done and added an interesting layer to the story. I would highly recommend this fine novel to anyone interested in this time period."-- The Book Delight "Simply wonderful! . . . A book that you can fully immerse yourself in, I found this to be one of the best mysteries I have read in a long time. Absolutely recommended."-- Archaeolibrarian "After loving Scott's previous book, Shame the Devil , I have been anxiously awaiting her new release, The London Monster, and I am happy to report that I loved this one too! I loved, loved, loved Sophie and Tom! Their chemistry was awesome, and I loved how their relationship progressed . . . and I like how the author keeps you on your toes and makes you question everyone [as the Monster]. A deliciously creepy mystery with a touch of romance and a glimpse at the darker side of London. I highly recommend The London Monster."-- Passages to the Past " "Give me historical fiction, mystery with some romance thrown in. I'm there for it! This book was so good. I don't think my words can do it justice . . . The mystery is one I did not guess till the final reveal, even though I kept having several suspects . . . Such an amazing story."-- Books, Writing, and More "The London Monster by Donna Scott, Is Perfection! Scott's latest novel is a must read for those who enjoy phenomenal suspense historical fiction . . . It's a unique and unforgettable story told through a brilliant multi-narrative . . . with absolutely wonderful character development, a suspenseful mystery, and a thoughtful and emotional storyline. I was absorbed deep within these characters' lives, questioning their situations and decisions . . . and the London Monster's diary entries are fascinating. I highly recommend."-- Gwendalyn's Books "There's a real darkness to the streets of London in this thrilling mystery, which kept me completely hooked from the first page . . . I would definitely recommend this one. It's brilliantly written and is superbly paced throughout. I could hardly put i