The Foundling is due out in hardback February 2020. This review contains mild content spoilers that don't affect the plot. I received a free proof copy of this book from the publishers, Bonnier Books.
I was a huge, huge fan of Stacey Halls' first novel, The Familiars, which is set around the Pendle witch trials of the 17th century - right up my witchy street! When I heard about her second book I knew I had to get my hands on a copy.
Last year I was unbelievably lucky to attend the launch party for The Familiars where I met the lovely Stacey, and this year she just happened to have an event at Cheltenham Festival, where I was working as a bookseller. Folks, believe me when I tell you she's the nicest and most humble author I've ever met (and I've met a lot in this line of work). Plus she has fantastic shoes.
But that aside, Stacey is also an amazing writer. In both her novels, what really impressed me was the nuance and depth with which she writes her heroines. They're so alive, it's as if you could turn and have a conversation with them after the book is closed. And then there's the twisty, taut plots which keep you completely on edge. If you like female-led, vividly historical, almost-mystery stories then you really need to check out both of Stacey's fantastic novels.
Anyway, without further ado, let me introduce you to her latest work, The Foundling...
I was absolutely intrigued by the premise of this novel. The Foundling Hospital was a real place in 18th century London where mothers could leave their babies if they were unable to look after them, leaving also a secret token which would allow them to collect their child at a later date. Our heroine, Bess, is one such mother who reluctantly hands over her newborn daughter, only to be told when she returns to collect her that she has already done so - which means somebody impersonated Bess, and now has her child.
I mean, what a beginning! I was seriously moved by the scenes of Bess and the other mothers waiting to drop off their babies at the hospital. As I said earlier, Stacey's knack for depicting lifelike, vividly drawn women is just brilliant, and I felt every stab of pain with poor Bess.
Later, we meet Alexandra, an upper-class woman who never leaves her townhouse except for church, and who has imposed the same fate upon her young daughter, Charlotte...
I was reminded of something I enjoyed in The Familiars, namely the cleverly-wrought contrast between rich and poor. The class divide between titled, trapped Fleetwood and her enigmatic, illiterate midwife Alice was such a stark contrast and brought a wider sense of scope to the events of the novel than had it been contained to grand houses and aristocrats, as so many historical books are.
Similarly, in The Foundling, we see Bess scraping a living selling stinking fish by the Thames, and finding joy in the smallest of simple pleasures, like brewing second-hand tea leaves with her father on a Sunday afternoon.
Alexandra, on the other hand, never lifts a finger: she has servants to provide for herself and her daughter, plenty of wholesome food, and lovely clothes. Her parlour struck me as particularly evocative, a place of 'fiery warmth' where she nibbles biscuits and sips brandy.
It was hard not to recoil at some scenes viscerally describing the poverty of Bess's world, whereas Alexandra's house was positively plush, if a little stifling. I feel like this contrast is so important, not simply to our understanding of the characters, but of our own history: it can be uncomfortable to face how wide the chasm between different classes really was, a very short time ago. Stacey's writing captures it perfectly.
At first, I was shocked by the abrupt transition from Bess's point-of-view to Alexandra's, constantly feeling that I was on the 'wrong' side of the story - but as the novel progressed, I appreciated that the changes in perspective were actually a bit of a masterstroke.
Whenever I most wanted to be in Bess's head, I was seeing events through Alexandra's eyes, and vice versa, and the effect was to set me on tenterhooks to the point that I utterly devoured the book, desperate to see how it all pulled together. Plus, Alexandra's story was intriguing in and of itself, and the scene which explored where her anxiety and trauma stemmed from literally blew me away: my heart was pounding in shock.
Whilst not strictly a mystery or thriller novel, there were definitely elements in there that kept the tension simmering as the two main characters' lives became entwined. The historical setting was fully believable and the consequences of the characters' actions loomed large as I raced through to discover their fates.
Ultimately, I felt the ending perhaps tied slightly too neat a bow: for me it could have got a lot darker! But it does open up interesting questions about the future for Bess, Alexandra, and the next generation which I'd really love to have answered. I'd be very happy if Bonnier were to commission a sequel!
Overall, The Foundling might not feature any witches, but I won't hold that against it ;) It was a solid second novel with all the historical intrigue and cleverly-observed characterisation of the first. I can't wait to see what Stacey writes next.
My rating: 4.5 stars
Happy reading!
Steph x