It’s time to meet the four women who make up the Laudanum Ladies’ League. As I’ve mentioned before the book came about after a discussion whether Breaking Bad could be set in a different time period, and one of the key parts of that was finding parallels to the characters. Here are my takes on four of the key characters.
Gwen Walters is Walter White (even her first name means that in Welsh). Gwen is the wife of a pharmacist and when he needs cataract surgery she takes over his role, then turns to drug manufacturing to pay for the surgery. With her marriage in danger of deteriorating if her husband discovers what she’s involved in, can she resist falling deeper into the underworld?
Jenny Rosewood is Jesse Pinkman. An old maid of almost thirty she’s been trapped as an unpaid housekeeper for her uncle for over a decade. She is already living a double life and is more streetwise than Gwen. She sees the opportunity to become financially independent but a new romantic relationship becomes pivotal to her decisions regarding the business.
Selina Salisbury (almost certainly not her real name) is Saul Goodman. She’s very intelligent and manipulative. Having created a life as a high-class ‘companion’ to wealthy and powerful men. she sees the untapped potential in Gwen’s laudanum tincture. Her main priority is herself so when conflict threatens the group, which way will she swing.
Augusta Charles is Gus Fring. Completely ruthless, she has built her empire (both legitimate and otherwise) by appearing philanthropic while using enforcers to do her dirty work. And she has no qualms about turning them on her associates if they cross her.
There are also: Archibald, Gwen’s demanding husband. Archie, Gwen and Archibald’s adult son who is abroad. Conrad, Jenny’s tightfisted uncle and owner of the pharmacies. Miriam, an artist with strong views on opium use. Daniel, a face from Gwen’s past and a lawyer who is determined to bring down a prostitution ring. A selection of thugs and society ladies.
Elisabeth’s writing career began when she entered her first novel into Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write contest in 2013 and finished in third place. She was offered a two-book contract and hasn’t looked back. Since then she has published six Medieval romances with Harlequin Mills & Boon and doesn’t have any plans to stop!
Elisabeth works as a Primary teacher but she’d rather be writing full time because unlike five year olds, her characters generally do what she tells them. When she isn’t writing, she spends most of her spare time reading and is a pro at cooking one-handed while holding a book. She loves historical fiction and has a fondness for dark haired, bearded heroes.
Elisabeth enjoys skiing, singing, and exploring tourist attractions with her family. Her children are resigned to spending their weekends visiting the past. She loves hot and sour soup and ginger mojitos - but not at the same time!
She lives in Cheshire with her husband, two children and two cats with ridiculous names because the car broke down there in 1999 and she never left.
You can find Elisabeth on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ElisabethHobbes?ref=hl
and Twitter https://twitter.com/ElisabethHobbes
View more posts
Book reviewer and garden enthusiast. Updates from my Hampshire garden. Usually talking about books and plants. People do not forget books or flowers that touch them or excite them—they recommend them.
Elisabeth Hobbes Writes History 