The Unseeing

"The Unseeing is a fictional novel about truth and deception based on the historical murder of Hannah Brown in 1836, and the subsequent trial. The fact that the victim’s body parts turned up in different places in London ensured the case’s notoriety. Hannah Brown’s fiancé was swiftly convicted of the murder, and so was his lover Sarah Gale. At her trial, Gale said very little to counter the accusations against her, and this forms the mystery of the novel: what would keep someone silent, when speaking out could help her avoid a death sentence? In the novel, a young lawyer is appointed to review the extent of Sarah Gale’s guilt, to find out what she is hiding and understand her motivation. The author’s background as a criminal justice solicitor and the careful location research combine to give the story an authentic feel. The world around the characters, particularly the notorious Newgate prison, is really well built."