Book Review of The Blackbirds of St Giles by Lila Cain

1782. After fleeing enslavement in Jamaica, pugnacious Daniel fights for the British Crown in America. Promised his freedom, and an inheritance, he travels to London with his young sister Pearl. On arrival they are tricked and crash down to the lowest level of society: the Rookery of St Giles. But criminal leader Elias exacts a high price for offering refuge to the siblings.

After encountering others in the Black London community, Daniel uses his experience as a soldier to plot a route to freedom and independence for himself and Pearl. But he is haunted by a love he left behind in the Caribbean…

Lila Cain weaves a richly described alternative society in Georgian London, contrasting the luxurious life of the upper classes with the grinding struggle of traders, publicans and prostitutes. Whilst loosely rooted in actual history, the plot itself is worthy of a Netflix action thriller. This world is peopled with corrupt aristocrats, principled anti-slavery campaigners, professional fighters, venal traders and fierce women able to hold their own in a perilous environment.

My advice is to suspend disbelief and enjoy the ride!

However, Blackbirds of St Giles did prompt my curiosity about the hundreds of Black soldiers who fought for the Crown in the American war of independence and were promised freedom in Britain, only to find themselves destitute and reviled on arrival.

Lila Cain is a pen name for Londoner novelist Kate Griffin and educational publisher Marcia Hutchison. ‘Blackbirds’ is all from Daniel’s point of view, so we don’t get inside the heads of the female characters Pearl, Jen and Adanna. I’d like their next collaboration to have a female protagonist!

Stop press: the authors have informed me that their next book, The Nightingale of Covent Garden, follows Pearl's story and is to be published in 2026

Published by Simon & Schuster The Blackbirds of St Giles

Lila Cain is a partnership between Kate Griffin and Marcia Hutchison