A wonderful exploration of female friendship during the incredible difficult period of 1600's England when most women little more than decorations for their husbands and had no individual worth. Learning that the vast majority of characters are real, from letters etc made me love them even more. Yes it is overly dramatic at times but that is how people of court were. I felt a strong affection for Anne and Frankie and rooted for their beautiful friendship the whole way.

At the heart of this book is the friendship between two women of different class. The story was well written and researched and is based on a true story. The context was an interesting to me too- it had never occurred to me that the people who travelled with James I ‘s court would feel like and be treated as unwelcome foreigners by many. The two main characters were portrayed well too. Neither was two dimensional, Frankie with her desire to be rid of her impotent, cruel husband and Anne, ambitious and scheming. My only complaint was the pace of the book which I found a little slow in places.

Set in the early 1600s, A Net for Small Fishes is based on the true story of Frances Howard and Anne Turner. Here, Frances has wealth and beauty, but is married to an abusive husband and deeply unhappy. Anne has talent and charm, but little power. The pair form an unlikely friendship. But their attempt to break away from conventions and seek some small happiness could lead to their downfall.

When two very different women meet in the strangest of circumstances, a powerful friendship is sparked. Frances Howard (Lady Essex) sweeps Anne Turner into a world of splendor that exceeds all she imagined: a Royal Court whose king is a stranger to his own subjects; where ancient noble families fight for power, and where the king's favourite, Robert Carr is also in love with Frances.

What began as a search for love and safety leads to desperate acts that may cost them everything, including their lives.

Over it's an interesting tale but it's quite a slow read of a book. Set during the reign of James 1st of England, this book is told from the viewpoint of Anne Turner. It follows Anne's domestic life with her doctor husband and her six children (some of which are from her lover) and then her time spent with Lady Essex and helping Frances rid herself of her husband, the Earl of Essex so she can be with Robert Carr.

Anne Turner, who was famously hanged for being involved in the murder of Robert Carr's friend Sir Thomas Overbury. In the last few years, I've read another book that looks at this murder so the story of it was not new to me.

I received this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

A highly enjoyable historical novel set in the Court of King James. For the full review go to https://joebloggshere.tumblr.com/post/654151338636328960/a-net-for-small-fishes-by-lucy-jago-i-think-this

I am not usually drawn to historical fiction but really glad gave this one a go. Superbly written and detailed.

I received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Bloomsbury Publishing, and the author Lucy Jago.
I really enjoyed this novel. The author paints an incredibly vivid picture of what life was like in the 1600s, and perfectly illustrates the precariousness and powerlessness of women, no matter their station or position in society.
I wasn't aware that the story was based on a true scandal, and discovering this in the epilogue made it all the more gripping and involving. Would recommend for anyone interested in this genre. 4 stars.

A Man’s World, My Masters

Frances Howard, the countess of Essex, is not a small fish; her friend Anne Turner, widow of doctor of middling income certainly is. Frances, however, is very unhappily married to an impotent brute of a husband, and turns to Anne as friend, confidante and source of help. This is a time when a wife is subject to her husband’s absolute control, his every whim, when she has little recourse to personal independence, when she is treated legally as though she were an untrustworthy child.

The two women help each other through their mutual friendship and cunning. Along the way, Frances acquires a lover, the vain favourite of the king, James I of England, a man besotted by attractive younger men. As court jealousies and passions spiral, a man must die to protect Frances’ reputation, but it will be the small fish who pay for the crimes of the great.

This is a really good read, based on a historical events, where the power of monarch is absolute, but arbitrary, when the positions of everyone else is insecure. I would call it a Jacobean tragedy, except such tragedies only affect the rich and powerful, not the decent and the powerless.

Lucy Jago introduces her readers to a period of history where women were held in very low regard. They were regarded as useful, for their procreative ability- but the sheer number of dismissive and insulting names that abounded in common use, show the widespread suspicion and misogyny- bawd, witch, whore, adulteress, sorceress...
Onto this canvas are laid our two protagonists. Frankie( Frances Howard, Countess of Essex) and Anne ( Mistress Turner, wife of Dr George Turner, court physician). Their status in life is so very different...Frances is a Howard, married to an Earl. Anne helps her husband keep up with the large ongoing costs of being a court physician however she can-selling her patented yellow starch and helping to concoct medicines- and is ambitious for more.

The friendship is tested and the bond strengthened many times as each woman depends on the other to help her out of a situation which is unbearable. Anne is widowed and made homeless by her son; Frances is trapped with a husband who cannot consummate their marriage, and wants to be free to wed again. Their willingness to help each other out takes them down dark pathways leading to the death of a man and a trial for witchcraft.

This was a very entertaining read set in a time where women had little agency over their own destinies, and the struggle and lengths these two women go to, to avoid being completely consumed by the whims of others.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A Net for Small Fishes follows the lives of Frances, Countess of Essex and Anne Turner, a Tailor and Fashion Designer, following their first not very comfortable meeting. Over time their lives, friendship and dependence become closer. James I is on the throne with his son, Henry, the heir. The action takes place around their respective Courts where Courtiers and Gentry angle for favour and for influence. There is plotting, spying and intrigue. Misogyny rules. Protestantism and Catholicism don't mix whilst Mistresses and sharing sexual favours are commonplace.
Frances has an unhappy marriage with a husband who severely abuses her We see her fall for another man and the issues which surround the implications of divorce. Anne is developing an increasingly successful fashion business for Society. She is happily married to the Treasurer to the College of Physicians and a medical doctor at Court but has another Knight as a lover (plus 3 children who maybe his.). Anne's life deteriorates when her husband dies and she quickly approaches poverty. Her lover provides some support but is seemingly reluctant to marry her How will their respective lives progress?
Lucy Jago paints a vivid, well written, picture of all that happens with highs and lows for both women. This is 17th Century (London) at its rawest.
I enjoyed the book which remains full of uncertainty until the end.

Set at the court of James the first Lucy Jago has painted a picture of two women of different class trying to support each other through difficult times. AnneTurner ,married to a well respected doctor feels compelled to help the much younger Frankie who is married to a brutal young husband. They are both pawns in a complex political game . I felt sorry for Anne drawn into a dangerous situation ,trying to support her family in poverty. I mainly enjoyed this novel but toward the end I found it dragged a bit. Well researched first book .

The court of King James I is not one that I am that familiar with, so this foray into it through the lives of Frances Howard and Anne Turner was a welcome eye opener. Pitched as a Thelma and Louise for the 17th century, this book focuses firmly on the friendship between the two women and the tragic lengths they would go to for each other. I thought that the narrative was really compelling, although I did find the pacing a little strange and found myself losing a bit of momentum in the latter third. I loved the characters and thought that Lucy Jago did a great job of filling these historical figures with life, warts and all. There was a lot to be said here about the role of women in society and at court, and I thought that this was explored very well, as was the notion of poverty, both in terms of the bread line and the scandalous levels of debt required to be a courtier. Overall, this was a thoroughly engrossing novel and I will be interested to see what the author comes up with next.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A fine and intricate net is woven to capture the reader’s heart and imagination.
Applause and gratitude for this examination of justice, friendship, loyalty and fear.
As the story unfolds, we realise that the fates of Anne and Frankie are tragically ‘caught in nets if custom and propriety’.
This book works on both an intellectual and sensuous level - bringing to life the Jacobean back drop - as well as the complexities of the many layered lives of two women from very different social circles, yet bonded in femininity.
I would highly recommend this fascinating heart wrenching story inspired by true events, to all. Fast paced and brimming with possibilities.

This was a well-written story, but ultimately it fell flat for me.

The characters didn't quite come off the page, the period details were good but the voice didn't captivate enough.

I found it boring if I'm honest. It felt like I did learn about the period but it felt that it was sometimes at the expense of pacing and dramatic scenes. The plot didn't feel like it rose to a crescendo, it just plodded along and then ended.

I didn't feel strongly attached to the characters. I also think billing this as like a historic Thelma and Louise does the book absolutely no service. That tagline made me want to read it but also built expectations that were nowhere near met by the actual book.

My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

At the court of King James I Frances Howard is young and beautiful and from a powerful family yet none of this can free her from her abusive marriage to the Earl of Essex. In contrast Anne Turner is married with six children and can provide Frances with genuine friendship. As they manoeuvre their way through court and life Frances tests Anne's loyalty with ways in which to escape her marriage.

If you like historical fiction, court intrigue and looking at how women in history were treated then this is for you. While it's not my favourite period of history it was interesting. I did find Frances being referred to as Frankie annoying (Frankie Howard seriously) and if anything my frustrations with the characters and their actions is probably a sign that it was an absorbing read.

SmallFishes
Media of A Net for Small Fishes
A Net For Small Fishes by Lucy Jago Bloomsbury February 4th 2021
The Blurb

Based on the true scandal that rocked the court of James I, A Net for Small Fishes is the most gripping novel you’ll read this year: an exhilarating dive into the pitch-dark waters of the Jacobean court

Frances Howard has beauty and a powerful family – and is the most unhappy creature in the world.

Anne Turner has wit and talent – but no stage on which to display them. Little stands between her and the abyss of destitution.

When these two very different women meet in the strangest of circumstances, a powerful friendship is sparked. Frankie sweeps Anne into a world of splendour that exceeds all she imagined: a Court whose foreign king is a stranger to his own subjects; where ancient families fight for power, and where the sovereign’s favourite may rise and rise – so long as he remains in favour.

With the marriage of their talents, Anne and Frankie enter this extravagant, savage hunting ground, seeking a little happiness for themselves. But as they gain notice, they also gain enemies; what began as a search for love and safety leads to desperate acts that could cost them everything.

My Review

Prepare to be transported to 17th Century England and the outer fringes of the court of King James, in the company of two remarkable women, Anne and Frances.

Who were they? Apparently they did exist and the novel is based on extensive research by Jago into their lives. From completely opposite ends of the social spectrum, Anne and Frances were women before their time as they challenged the natural order of society, a woman’s total dependence on men for a home, finances and indeed their reputation.

Anne, wife of a well respected physician, mother to 5 children, a secret lover but an amazing talent as a fashion connoisseur, the 17th century equivalent to today’s best stylists. Not for her the trappings of wealth, but a modest house, and finances that barely covered her living expenses. Yet Jago gave her warmth, a loving caring personality, an acceptance of her lot until she glimpsed something more comfortable and easy.

That something seemed a possibility as she met Frances, Earl of Essex, a woman so far removed from Anne, still a teenager, married to a cruel despicable man, a man unable to consummate the marriage, a man Frances longed to free herself from.

You wouldn’t have expected them to be friends, but then that joint longing to seek freedom, gave Jago the means to spin a tail of drama, intrigue, of meetings with suspicious 17th century quacks, whose potions promised things you knew would never materialise.

What started as a simple means to bend the will of man, to solve a problem soon became something more complex and spelt danger for Anne and Frances, danger that they were willing to take. Jago took them and us deeper and deeper into the politics of the King’s court, of the clash of religion over happiness, of arranged marriages to strengthen the power of families.

As the plan appeared to work, they experienced a time of great happiness before Jago slowly drew the curtains, as doom seemed to push them further and further towards desperate measures that had the most awful of consequences.

You felt enormous empathy for them both, but in particular for Anne as the views and opinions of others saw her fortunes wane as everything she held dear withered away. Jago did nothing to protect us from the horrors that confronted her, but gave her so much inner resolve, determination and bravery that you couldn’t help but admire.

The bond and friendship that existed between Anne and Francis was unbreakable and something Jago portrayed brilliantly, she made you want these women to succeed, to tear up the rule book, and basically kick ass in such a male dominated court full of suspicion. The scandal they caused, the ripple it produced was like a volcano that erupted with force and intensity, that shook society to its very core and forced prejudice to the fore.

And it was that society that also shone brightly as Jago effortlessly placed us right in the centre of the 17th century. The hustle and bustle of court, the clothes worn by women and the outlandish costumes worn by men, particular those in power was vivid and colorful. You could sense the tension in the air, in the bodies of her characters, the brief glimpses of laughter, fun and frivolity that carried you along through the pages.

The squalor of the streets of London with its smells, and noise and dubious characters was nothing but brilliant. The atmospheric darkness that enveloped Anne and Frances as they visited men of dubious medicines, was tinged with the danger of discovery as you held your breath, waited for the time to pass safely.

The meticulous research done by Jago was so clearly evident, her ability to turn that research in to such high class fiction a feat I admired and respected.

A Small Net For Fishes, was nothing but utter compelling and I was totally spellbound by, as Jago has been quoted, ‘the Thelmas and Louise of the 17th century’

I was not aware this was based on a true historical scandal while I read this, which makes the recapturing and re-imagining of what the key players were thinking and feeling truly admirable. That said, it took too long to set the scene and I struggled to get through this. The story is about beautiful, entitled and arrogant Frances who finds herself in an abusive marriage and is desperate for freedom; and Anne who has the intelligence, ambition and connections to help her. While they both seek love, a loyal friendship develops between these unlikely friends with dire consequences for them both.

It is beautifully written, with prose that really captures the era and frivolity of court. I felt invested in the characters and their fate. But the pace let it down, requiring much editing, and was only saved by the last 20%.

It took me a little while to warm to this book as I found the writing style a little frosty and therefore unengaging. So I was well into the proceedings before I felt I knew the main characters which, in turn, meant I never fully connected with them emotionally. However, this was still a well written tale. The time period was evoked vividly and I was fascinated to learn about an event in history I was previously unaware of. The scenes of Anne's trial, imprisonment and execution were incredibly moving as was the epilogue with the elderly daughters of the two main characters. I imagine that for fans of historical fiction this book will tick all the boxes. Also, it is always nice to hear historical events from the women's point of view especially when they are regarded, rightly or wrongly, as the 'villains of the piece.'

An earlier period historically than I’d normally read, can’t say I was hugely gripped by this novel by Lucy Jago, but I did finish it.

Based on a scandal that shocked the Jacobean court to the core. Frances Howard looking for a way out of her “marriage”to the Earl of Essex, conspires together with her friend and confidante Anne Turner with a naivety that is set to end end in disaster. The fickle nature of the court is highlighted and how lives were manipulated for one’s own gains.

Thank to the author and publishers Bloomsbury publishing for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review

Who would want to be a woman in the 17th Century? Lucy Jago portrays a very brutal and trying time, centred around two unusual female friends who ultimately are accused of murder. Essentially it is a compelling story about a failed marriage and a murderous plot when misogyny was the norm.
Anne is the lovely widow of a doctor, who is the older and solid friend of Frances Howard. Frances desperately wants to escape the verbal, physical and sexual abuse experienced at the hand of an aggressive and abominably domineering husband. But there are no sympathies for this. A woman should make her husband happy. To leave him would result in an indelibly tarnished reputation. However she has found someone she loves who would be with her. But the incarcerated Thomas Overbury may scupper lifelong happiness and she cannot afford for this to happen.
Anne is struggling financially since the death of her husband. With his blessing she gave birth to another man’s children during his illness, seeking that he married her upon his death. But she is strung along for many years enduring the difficulties of feeding herself and her children, whilst seeking embroidery commissions in the Royal Court gained by being the dresser, shopper and general go to person for Frances. The relationship between them is fascinating. Frances sees Anne as such a valued friend, but still treats her as per her subservient station, often seeing her struggle to feed and clothe herself and her children. She appreciates her, but also takes her loyalty for granted. She can be generous but also completely self-absorbed.
Emotions course through this book, with degrees of anxiety and stress as injustice and each turn of fate is experienced. There are deep seated attitudes about women and their place in society. Being charged with murder tests their friendship to the core. Was it really worth Anne being such a friend and do-gooder? Lots of what ifs to ponder after the denouement. A escapist great book club read.