The publisher kindly sent me a physical copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Jane Austen meets Arthur Conan Doyle in a historical fiction debut for fans of Ruta Sepetys and Elizabeth Wein.
Born into an affluent family, Leo outwardly seems like a typical daughter of English privilege in the 1870s: she lives with her wealthy married sister Christabel, and lacks for neither dresses nor trinkets. But Leo has a crippling speech impediment that makes it difficult for her to speak but curiously allows her to mimic other people’s voices flawlessly. Servants and ladies alike call her “Mad Miss Mimic” behind her back … and watch as she unintentionally scares off every potential suitor.
Only the impossibly handsome Mr. Thornfax seems interested in Leo … but why? And does he have a connection to the mysterious Black Glove group that has London in its terrifying grasp? Trapped in a city under siege by terror attacks and gripped by opium fever, where doctors (including her brother-in-law) race to patent an injectable formula, Leo must search for truth in increasingly dangerous situations — but to do so, she must first find her voice.
Mad Miss Mimic Review
Mad Miss Mimic is an enjoyable historical fiction. I’m not sure I would pick it up if I saw it at the bookstore so I’m glad I tried something different!
Mad Miss Mimic follows a young girl named Leo who happens to have a severe speech impediment. Because of this, she’s often overlooked by others and finds socializing difficult. She ends up investigating an interesting mystery and discovers more about herself as time goes on!
Leo is a great main character – you can’t help but like her. Stuttering and mimicry is such a struggle for her so you can’t help but root for her throughout the book. She’s a character you want to succeed.
I really loved the setting of this book. It’s set in Victorian London and I think it’s just lovely. I’m a history major so I love reading historical fiction! Being set in 1872 lends a unique and interesting vibe to the book and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it!
Another thing I really enjoyed is the historical accuracy of the book. Sometimes historical fiction can be tricky to navigate. But Sarah Henstra’s acknoweledgement of the amount of research that went into this book shows her the authenticity of the book.
My one (and really minor) complaint about the book is that some points are really unclear. For example, a character dies at the beginning of the novel but I don’t know how or why she died. As a result, you are left with some confusing thoughts.
I think at times, Sarah Henstra would benefit from making certain scenarios more explicit to her reader. With that said, it doesn’t take away from the overall experience of the novel.
Overall, Sarah Henstra’s debut novel is intriguing, suspenseful, romantic and an enjoyable read. I’m thankful that Penguin Random House Canada sent me a copy to review. Because I enjoyed it so much, I’m excited to read more young adult historical fiction!
Rating: ★★★★☆
Favourite Quote
I loved you. But I knew from the beginning that I could never have you.
About the Author
Sarah is a professor of English literature at Ryerson University, where she teaches courses in Gothic Horror, Fairy Tales & Fantasies, Psychoanalysis & Literature, and Creative Writing. She grew up on the wild, wet coast of British Columbia, but now she lives in Toronto, Ontario with her two sons.
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