A television period drama that has drawn comparisons to the literary giants Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is available for streaming now, hot on the heels of another series praised as "sublime and wonderful" and one likened to Jane Austen, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The mini-series debuted two decades ago on the BBC and enthralled viewers when it first aired in 2005.

Numerous fans lauded it on IMDb, with one viewer awarding it a perfect 10/10 score and headlining their critique: "Compelling viewing. Loved every minute."

They commented: "Having read the book prior to watching this adaptation you would think that it would have lost some of its thrill. However, the story is so clever I could never tire of it."

A second highly-rated assessment stated: "I never dreamed when I started watching this DVD that I would be totally mesmerized [sic] by it within minutes. The story was completely absorbing and entertaining.

"The acting was superb. The biggest surprise of all was how I would be so completely enchanted by the love these two young women radiated across the screen."

A third pondered whether the programme featured the "best twist ever" and penned: "Skill fully [sic] evocative of Dickens, Collins and Conan Doyle this is top draw story telling. All the performers rise to the occasion and what a great twist at the end of an already serpentine plot."

One viewer hailed it as "truly outstanding", remarking: "I've watched it a few months ago and no matter how many times I watch it, I never grow tired. I envy those of you who haven't watched it, for all those marvelous [sic] sensations are yet to come!"

Another thrilled reviewer gave it a perfect score, stating: "Fingersmith is a very tightly plotted novel with breath taking twists and turns and I wondered if this could be done justice to in just 3 hours.

"I needn't have worried. The adaptation was excellent, very little cut out, and went along at a cracking pace (although I did wonder whether if you hadn't read the book, would you miss things?). It had the look and feel of a BBC classic costume drama and I kept having to remind myself that this is a contemporary book."

Fingersmith is an adaptation of the 2002 novel by Sarah Waters, the author behind Tipping the Velvet.

Set in the Victorian era, the plot revolves around an orphan and petty thief (a fingersmith) Sue Trinder (Sally Hawkins), who is roped in by conman Richard Rivers (Rupert Evans) to swindle an heiress Maud Lilly (Elaine Cassidy) out of her vast wealth.

However, the plan takes an unexpected twist when Sue and Maud fall in love, leading to a web of secrets and deception. Will Sue be able to keep up the pretence or will her feelings for Maud alter the course of the plan?

Viewers can anticipate a thrilling journey that will keep them on the edge of their seats until the very end.

Fingersmith boasts a star-studded cast featuring the likes of Hawkins and Cassidy, alongside Harry Potter's Imelda Staunton, Game of Thrones' Charles Dance, New Tricks' David Troughton, Screw's Stephen Wight, and Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery.

Additional cast members include Bronson Webb, Richard Durden, Polly Hemingway, Sarah Badel, and Ian Midlane. Even the author Waters makes a brief appearance as a maid in the TV series.

Fingersmith is streaming on Prime Video for a fee now