A Tale of the Victorian Underworld

The Fortunes of Grace Hammer

A blistering tale of lust and burglary set in nineteenth-century Whitechapel and a bold and stylish debut novel from actress Sara Stockbridge.

Set in the 19th-century East End, this debut by Vivienne Westwood's muse is the tale of a jewel thief and mother of four who is forced to flee her home when one of her victims seeks revenge. A delectable mix of lust, loot and adventure

Her novel has an undeniable verve and a brash energy

An enjoyable romp through nineteenth-century Whitechapel

Stockbridge deftly captures the mood of Dickensian London in this gripping debut

Sara Stockbridge rose to fame in the 1980s as the muse of fashion designer Vivienne Westwood. Her second novel is the rollicking Victorian mystery, Cross My Palm.

Grace Hammer lives a sweet enough life with her four children in London's dank and dirty East End, dipping into the pockets of wealthy strangers foolish enough to venture there. She keeps a clean house and a tight hold on her magpie nature, restricting her interests to wallets and pocket watches - at night she dreams of shiny things. Unbeknown to Grace, her most audacious crime will soon return to haunt her and old enemies come knocking. 
 
Out in the dark countryside Mr Blunt rocks in his chair, grinding his teeth, vowing furious retribution. He has never forgotten his scarlet treasure, or the harlot that stole it from him. At night he dreams of slitting her lily-white throat...

Sara Stockbridge

This briskly enjoyable novel of gypsy fortune-telling and high-society crimes in 1860s London has all the intrigue of its neo-Victorian rivals... With her salty cast of vagabonds and villains, Stockbridge stirs the pot with glee

A good 'petticoat drama' read for fans of Sarah Waters

A vividly gripping mystery story that dances through the unexpected dangers of 1860s London

Stockbridge has talent... Full of double dealing and repressed female sexuality, Cross My Palm takes us from the drawing rooms of Cavendish Square to the thieves and prostitutes of Haymarket - and finally to the gypsy encampment on Dulwich Common

This is a witty, and mysterious second novel from multi-talented actress, model and author Stockbridge... Impressive

'You must cross my palm with silver first, my pretty miss.' 
 
London, 1860s. The capital's high society ladies like nothing more than to while away an evening at a private supper party, drinking sweet wine, sharing confidences - and having their fortunes read. But palm-reading is a perilous business: the lines of the left hand can unlock secrets and reveal futures best kept hidden. 
 
When fortune-teller Miss Rose Lee is called to entertain Lady Quayle and her guests at Portland Place, she sees in the palm of shy, cautious Emily a future she is forced to keep to herself. 'A quiet life, my dear' is what she tells the girl. But she spies two little crosses that spell something quite different - fearful, violent death. 
 
As Rose's predictions start coming true, her own fortunes become embroiled in the suspect fates of others and the future suddenly seems a dark and dangerous place. With a plucky heroine and a rollicking story, Sara Stockbridge's second novel is a cauldron of subterfuge and mysticism.

Sara Stockbridge

Praise for Cross My Palm

This briskly enjoyable novel of gypsy fortune-telling and high-society crimes in 1860s London has all the intrigue of its neo-Victorian rivals... With her salty cast of vagabonds and villains, Stockbridge stirs the ...

A good 'petticoat drama' read for fans of Sarah Waters

A vividly gripping mystery story that dances through the unexpected dangers of 1860s London

This briskly enjoyable novel of gypsy fortune-telling and high-society crimes in 1860s London has all the intrigue of its neo-Victorian rivals... With her salty cast of vagabonds and villains, Stockbridge stirs the ...

A good 'petticoat drama' read for fans of Sarah Waters

A vividly gripping mystery story that dances through the unexpected dangers of 1860s London

This briskly enjoyable novel of gypsy fortune-telling and high-society crimes in 1860s London has all the intrigue of its neo-Victorian rivals... With her salty cast of vagabonds and villains, Stockbridge stirs the ...

A good 'petticoat drama' read for fans of Sarah Waters

A vividly gripping mystery story that dances through the unexpected dangers of 1860s London

Books by Sara Stockbridge

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