A lush, true-crime–inspired historical novel about freedom, friendship, and the fight to live boldly in a world that demands silence.
 
In Frog Music, Emma Donoghue turns her keen eye for psychological insight toward a gripping, fact-based mystery. Drawing from a real unsolved murder, she recreates the vibrant chaos of 19th-century San Francisco in dazzling detail.
 
San Francisco, 1876. While the city swelters under a deadly heat wave, burlesque dancer Blanche Beunon lives fast and fearlessly—until her new friend, the eccentric frog-catcher Jenny Bonnet, is murdered. As Blanche searches for answers, she uncovers dangerous secrets about class, gender, and survival in a society that punishes independent women.
 
Through Blanche’s daring voice, Donoghue examines motherhood, friendship, and moral courage in an unforgiving age. The novel’s mix of suspense, sensuality, and historical depth makes it both a page-turner and a masterful work of literary art.
 
Bold, atmospheric, and deeply humane, Frog Music celebrates women who refuse to live by anyone’s rules but their own.
 
💖 Why You’ll Love It
A vivid blend of historical fiction and feminist noir.
Inspired by a shocking real-life crime.
Captures the grit and glamour of 1870s San Francisco.
Emma Donoghue’s storytelling balances tension, empathy, and authenticity.
A fearless heroine who defies convention and expectation.
 
🌟 Perfect For
Fans of The Crimson Petal and the White and Alias Grace.
Readers who love literary mysteries and historical dramas.
Book clubs exploring gender, justice, and independence.
Anyone who enjoys richly detailed period fiction with a modern heart.
 
❤️ Fans Also Liked
If you enjoyed Frog Music, you might also like:
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood — a mesmerizing historical crime story.
The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton — mystery and ambition in the 19th-century West.
Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier — women of science defying expectations.