Only the Thunder Knows/East End Girls

JournalStone launches its Double Down tête-bêche series with two novellas based on lurid British crimes. In “Only the Thunder Knows,” a wild historical melee, 19th-century graverobbers William Burke and William Hare joust alongside King Arthur, Merlin, and evil forces, all in search of the Holy Grail. After a woman saves Hare’s life in exchange for the Grail, he hopes that double-crossing her will atone for his evil past. A surprise conclusion sets him straight and leads into the dark world of “East End Girls,” where Eliza, a young aristocrat and medical student, is torn between lofty career goals and her imminent marriage. Graphic scenes of her medical services to streetwalkers clash with those of family wedding preparations as her emotional turmoil mounts. An encounter with a mysterious stranger and the revelation of her father’s marital unfaithfulness confirm her commitment to a murderous path. Readers who enjoy toying with alternate-historical hypotheses and can endure gore should find these lively accounts appealing. (June)