The Cofessions of Frannie Langton (Sara Collins)

[shewhostaples]

Framed with the narrator's trial for murder of Mr and Mme Benham, her employers, this novel follows the life of Frances Langton, from her childhood as a slave in the Caribbean to her undesired career as a domestic servant in London, and her love affair with Mme Benham.

Well, this was staggeringly good. It combined a critique of the dynamics of slavery and post-slavery with a good old-fashioned sensation novel, and kept me intrigued and guessing all the way to the (sad but satisfying) end.

If I had to nitpick, I'd say that there were about twice as many overcreative similes as they needed to be, but otherwise the prose was great.

I also reread Paper Love (Jae) because I needed something easy and comforting and set on the Continent.