Safe Return Doubtful

This book was initially serialised in 18 weekly parts in The People’s Periodical and Family Library, between November 1846 and March 1847. It was one of the Penny Dreadfuls. It has been attributed to Thomas Peckett Prest, but has been more recently been reassigned to James Malcolm Rymer, although other names have also been suggested.

A plagiarised version appeared in the States in 1852, Sweeney Todd: or the Ruffian Barber. A Tale of Terror of the Seas and the Mysteries of the City by “Captain Merry” (a pseudonym used by American author Harry Hazel.
The original story is thought to date back to France in the 17th century and there are claims that it, Sweeney Todd, was based on an actual person.
It enjoyed success in the stage before Stephen Sondheim adapted it as a musical for Broadway in 1979, and then took it to the West End the year after.
It has been adapted to film five times, most famously and recently by Tim Burton in 2007.
It has been adapted many times for radio and TV.

The book is well worth reading. Basically, it’s a thrilling adventure story with a powerful set of characters and a plot, that though the reader may think they know what happens, has the necessary twists and turns to grab the attention and hold on to it.

My GoodReads score 4 / 5