The Lion's Courtship (Anna Kronberg Thrillers) Paperback – 2 Aug. 2014

Having read Annelie Wendeberg's 'Keeper of Pleas and 'Spider Silk', in which the author pulls no punches I still was not prepared for this book. This is much more than a work of fiction,this is an harrowing look at the realities of life in the underbelly of what was then the richest city in the world.Powerfully written,the author takes the reader through the gates of hell.Annelie Wendeberg's well research is equal to that of Jack London's 'The People of the Abyss',and Friedrich Engels ' The Condition of the Working Clas in England'.In addition to exposing the realities of life for the majority in Victorian Britain,a finely crafted plot produce a powerful novel.But not for the faint hearted !

Found it hard to get used to reading in the present tense but story was enjoyable enough. Suitable for all ages.

Reasonable read.

This made such a refreshing change from the modern novels I usually read. It's well-written, carefully researched and utterly believable. Victorian London was a dark, forbidding place and the author has recreated it in this story. This has the makings of a terrific series.

This is not the usual genre that I read. However the blurb did intrigue me. It was a good book, and kept me reading. Be warned if you can't stomach the seedier side of Victorian London, this is not a read for you. If you like Jack the Ripper type stories then it's a good one for your library

Well written descriptive story about crime within the poor areas of Victorian London. A tale along of knife crimes committed by the affluent amongst London prostitutes

Set in Victorian London and involves petty theft, murder, whores and a budding romance. I really enjoyed this story.

Imaginative and gripping

Enjoyed the writing style and storyline. Definitely want to read note from this author.

An auspicious opening introduces the novel's primary characters.This is not your usual story because there is an intense depth, both in the characters and in the portrayal of life in the slums. Along with the hopelessness and squalor of slum life, there is perseverance.Anna and Garret are opposites, so it seems. He is a burglar, successful at his trade, but with a built in compassion and a streak of decency. She is unselfish, rendering her medical services free to the poorest, but she has a hidden past.This is a love story of sorts, but much more. It is a grand historical novel with an impressive sweep of character and setting, which distinguishes the novel. It achieves reality, sometimes raw and painful. The novel is character driven with a depth of feeling displayed in Anna and Garret.This is the worst of slums. Different rules and different justice apply. When a prostitute is murdered by a "gentleman" sadist, that form of justice boils out.The novel's ending is not a conclusion. Important elements were left dangling. I'm not a fan of this technique. A novel should be complete, total resolution. Nevertheless, but with reservations, 5 stars is my rating. Reviewed by the author of The Children's Story, About Good and Evil.

Dark but not gloomy. Characters are believably complex ones, and quite refreshing after a lot of Victorian cheesy stuff around. Made me think of Charles Dickens, in a way, more than of Arthur Conan Doyle. Kronberg has a keen eye for details.

This is the opening book to the Anna Kronberg mysteries. As such, it's a bit fragmented, but compelling enough to take me to book 2. Much, much better! More collected and imaginary. And what's more, it leaves me looking forward to book 3 to continue the narrative. The Lion's Courtship is a good "lead-in" read.

It was my hankering to read something different that had me taking a look at The Lion’s Courtship by Annelie Wendeberg. This is the first book in the Anna Kronberg Thriller series, and is written in the first person. This was an intriguing and eye opening look into what the rest of the series entails.Anna Kronberg lives in the worst of the worst that Victorian London has to offer. Anna is a doctor, who is viewed by most as a “nurse”, (because why on Earth would a woman be a doctor?), treating those who would never have access to proper medical care if otherwise. She treats the prostitutes, the criminals, and the children who grow up in the miserable and abject poverty that is brought to life so vividly in this story. And then there is her secret identity where she moonlights as Dr. Anton Kronberg at Guy’s Hospital.When Garret O’Hare comes seeking Anna’s services, thus begins a reluctant acquaintance, at least on the part of Anna. However, Garret continues to surprise her and slowly gets under her skin. And it is only Garret that is willing to help Anna in her quest to find a man who had slashed the face of a young prostitute, the prostitute having seemingly disappeared altogether.So begins the search, where Garret warns Anna of the consequences that could come calling. There is no prettying up what the squalid conditions of where the story takes place is like. Ms. Wendeberg dishes it out as it is, and as it should be. The whole setting comes off as authentic, Anna and Garret realistic in a way that you can relate to and root for them. The menace that lingers owing to the killer is one that does not abate as the story proceeds, the ending being the most shocking of all. A killer who can outsmart everyone else, that is in reality who he is.I read this right after I finished watching The Alienist series, which I absolutely loved. I felt as if Ms. Wendeberg’s writing carried the same vibe, and I felt just right at home with the story that unfolded.I did take a look at the next book in the series and find that this is probably the only ending this story is going to get? Plus the series is veering in a totally different direction? I believe I might come back and sample some of the other stories in the series in due time.Recommended for those who love historical mysteries. This one definitely and cleverly serves as the appetizer to the next installment.Final Verdict: Ms. Wendeberg certainly has the prose, style, and wit to carry this off. Definitely gets one thinking, which I love in my books!