THE LOCKSMITH’S DAUGHTER | KAREN BROOKS | 2016
Karen Brooks loves history, and that she loves to write historical fiction is delightfully obvious. The Locksmith’s Daughter is a triumph of meticulous research into the everyday lives of 16th century England; a time of fearful religious persecution, sickening cruelty and rampant inequality. Ms Brooks weaves a commanding, and long story of a traumatised young woman, Mallory Bright, who goes on to forge a career as a spy for the government of Queen Elizabeth. What could have been a far-fetched tale of melodrama is catapulted into the realm of credible historical fiction by the attention to detail in every sphere of action: dress, culture, customs, locks, implements of torture, spying and myriad facts about the Elizabethan era.
The Locksmith’s Daughter digs deeply into the psyche of the troubled young woman with all her doubts, fears and hopes laid bare at every turn. Mallory isn’t a pastiche of feminism, nor a Girls Own Annual style heroine. Her intellectual abilities are credible, more so as her education and heritage are revealed. Ms Brooks doesn’t allow Mallory’s character to be too good, too much of a know-all, or too big headed and we are encouraged to cheer on her successes while we share in her misgivings and uncertainties.
The book is peopled with an extraordinary number of actual historical figures which gives it a secure underpinning in fact; and the fiction is woven seamlessly into the milieu. Every character is believable and has their own voice from impoverished street child to Sir Francis Walsingham, the queen’s private secretary and Mallory’s employer.
Be warned, this book doesn’t shy away from explicit public executions, state-sanctioned torture by a sadistic gaoler, and emotional and sexual cruelty by an egotistical lover. Never once does it descend into mawkish sentimentality or trivial farce. The romance is handled delicately, even if flagged from the beginning to everyone but Mallory. The only letdown is the Epilogue where it seems the author tidied up the loose ends swiftly, but by then the outcome was expected and so, forgiven. Don’t be surprised if a BBC mini-series comes of this tale, it has everything to commend it.