It feels like going back to my roots with this book.

My ever first book I read freely by choice (not counting school books) was Catherine Cookson. Then onto other authors writing the same kind of genre in historical fiction which I thoroughly enjoyed.

It was great returning to an historical fiction novel that took a fantastic subject matter that was all too common and bandy these women together like suffragettes on a historic history breaker.

I loved this bunch of women so much. Determined to stand up for themselves, courageous and meeting things head on among the tears and the triumphs.

A good read about women standing up for themselves and each other. This has some sad turns but it's also got some happy ones. A good read.

An excellent saga story with great characters that I loved. Right from the start I was engrossed in this book.

Great characterisation portrayed as we follow the group of Wednesday wives in 1887 Black Country, England. Fighting for justice for women, justice they will try achieve in any way and at all cost!.
There will be harrowing situations, tears and laughs along the way as we get to know this bonded group of women and the hardships faced.
I learnt a lot from this book and enjoyed it very much.
My thanks go to the publisher, author and Netgalley in providing me with a arc of this book in return for an honest review.

This is the first book I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it.

The book is set in the Black Country and begins in the 1800s when women had very few rights and were often subjected to brutal behaviour from their husbands. The Wednesbury Wives band together to protect each other and to seek justice and revenge for wrongdoings.

I found the book easy to read with characters I could empathise with. The plot was engaging and kept my interest right though the book until the end. I finished it within a few days. It was very different to other family saga books I have previously read. I enjoyed the ending which was heartwarming.

I will be reading other books by this author as I enjoyed this one. Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a hard book to read at the start as it does have some Trigger Warnings for anyone effected by abuse, but the story was really well written. The only issue I sometimes had was at times I found it hard to believe it was written in the 1800's as the language sometimes did not seem to fit.
I would recommend it though if you like Historical Saga's.

Set in the colliery town of Wednesbury in the Black Country between Birmingham and Wolverhampton, this novel has more than a passing resemblance to the books of Catherine Cookson. It is 1887 when the story opens and young Violet Clancy is in trouble again. Since her father's death, her mother Kath has married John Sligo, and life is difficult for Violet and even her mother is at a loss as to why her behaviour has deteriorated.

This is a very readable book and follows the formation of the 'Wednesbury Wives', a group of women who band together to right the wrongs against women. If you like, a sort of impoverished, Victorian, Ku Klux Klan!

As time goes on the Wives become infamous for their activities and are known as far away as Birmingham. Whilst being a force for good, their methods are at best questionable and at worst criminal.

Whilst this isn't my preferred genre there are many readers who will thoroughly enjoy it. There is plenty of action, interesting characters and unlikely relationships, and it paints a picture of the deprivation and cruelty of life in a mining town at the end of the 19th century.

For me, it lacked credibility and was rather formulaic and for these reasons, I cannot give it more than 3 stars. However, it is an easy and entertaining read.

Pashtpaws


Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of this book to review.

The Wives’ Revenge is a new historical novel by Lindsey Hutchinson. We are swept back to 1887. Violet Clancy lives with her mum, Kath Clancy Sligo and her step-father, John in Wednesbury, England (the Black Country). Primrose Berry has done it again. She caused trouble and Violet was blamed for it. Violet knows what will happen when John finds out. When Kath finds out what John has been doing to her daughter, she calls a meeting of the Wednesbury Wives’ (Annie Green, Mary Forbes, Martha Slater, Kath Clancy, Joyce Clews and Violet Clancy). John Sligo soon meets an unfortunate demise. Woman in the town know if they need assistance, they can get help from the Wives’. They assist abused woman, find lost children, and so much more. Violet is asked to join the group when she leaves school and starts looking for work. After what happened with John, Violet avoids men. Then the persistent Spencer Gittins comes along. He is a kind and compassionate young man who falls for Violet. After the two marry, Violet can provide more help to the town. This group of close-knit women set out to get justice for the abused (sometimes revenge) and help the poor in their town. See what a group of hardworking and caring women can do when they band together in The Wives’ Revenge.

The Wives’ Revenge is an engaging novel that captured my attention from the very first page. I found the book to be well-written and have very lifelike characters. Thanks to the authors descriptions, I could visualize the town and her characters. I thought the author did an excellent job at capturing the time period especially with the dialogue (though, I did not like the continual use of the word wench). It was a very different time when the laws did not protect women and children. But the ladies of the Wednesbury Wives’ could and would help them. The Wives’ Revenge has a heartwarming ending. I do want to mention that the book contains foul language, violence, murder and sexual assault. Some of situations are just heartbreaking. There is also love, respect, courage and lifelong friendships. My rating for The Wives’ Revenge is 5 out of 5 stars (I loved it). I found the authors use of what my father called “ten dollar words” amusing (I love big words) and I learned a new word too (coterie). The Wives’ Revenge is one of those books that you will be thinking about for days after you finish it (it lingers in your mind). I will be reading Lindsey Hutchinson’s next book The Lost Sisters.

Loved this book! Old fashioned girl power at it's finest. I have now bought 3 more book's by this author, looking forward to reading them.

Thanks Netgalley. This book is about a group of wives and their revenge. Good read

Gritty, hard core and not afraid to say how it really was. A group of women, The Wednesbury wives as they call themselves, do what must be done to defend themselves, their children against the shameful actions of father and step-fathers. Along the way, a life long kinship is formed between the wives. The men who think they can act however they want, won't know what hit them and better watch their backs

Excellent book! Great characters and a brilliant storyline. I would highly recommend this book.