Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

I've had Sarah Waters on my list of authors to read but hesitated in the past - and please don't judge me for being prejudice - because she's well-known as a gay and lesbian writer.  I guess knowing this made me think her writing would be riddled with pornographic gay love scenes.  This was a wrong assumption, by the way.  Anyway, Fingersmith isn't considered gay and lesbian fiction but the love story in it is between two women though that really does play second fiddle to the actual story, which would - in my opinion - be a mystery/thriller. And!!!  The love story is not pornographic nor is it graphic so please don't let that hold you back.

The premise:  In Victorian London, the orphaned Sue Trinder is raised by Mrs. Sucksby, den mother to a family of thieves, or "fingersmiths." When Sue is 17, "Gentleman" - a con man - comes to Sue for help in conning and bilking an heiress of her fortune.  Sue doesn't want to leave London and the only home she knows, but she concedes to help "Gentleman" in order to repay Mrs. Sucksby's kindness.  What follows are twists and turns and a thrilling ride that reveals secrets long held and a plan beyond what Sue actually knows.

This was a superbly written novel.  I never expected or knew what was going to happen from page to page and often found myself saying, "Oh boy!" and "NO!" while the characters were doing the same.  I have another novel of Sarah Waters and look forward to reading it.  Now, however, I'm off on something a little lighter:  A Dog's Purpose...I love it already!