Still grieving the death of her watchman husband in a terrorist attack during the Outrages, factory worker Rose is struggling to make ends meet when she encounters middle-class Annie, a newspaperman's wife who devotes her time to lobbying for better working conditions.

Rose is desperate to avoid making waves with three mouths to feed. But she can't sit back and watch women and young girls continue to work in dangerous conditions, including her desperately sick lodger.

Fearing for her daughter's future and with her husband's killer still on the loose, all Rose wants is justice.. Just how far is she prepared to go?

An enthralling and emotional Victorian saga for fans of Kitty Neale, Libby Ashworth and Emma Hornby.

'Joanne Clague writes with such energy, wisdom, compassion and gentle humour, taking me right to the heart of her characters' lives.' Suzannah Dunn, author of The Testimony of Alys Twist

'A great read and an enthralling story.' Reader review

'I loved the fact that there is a mixture of serious and more light-hearted moments. I look forward to the author's next book.' Reader review

Born and raised in Sheffield, Joanne lives in the coastal village of Laxey in the Isle of Man with her husband, children, dogs and other assorted wildlife. She has worked in print, radio and broadcast journalism in the north west for the past three decades and is now a full-time writer of historical fiction set in nineteenth century Sheffield.