I thoroughly enjoyed this novel by Hope Adams, mention historical women’s fiction and I’m there but add in patchwork and quilting? I am ALL in for that!
I have read various books about transportation and the early penal colonisation of Australia before but hadn’t heard of the Rajah or its famous quilt top. I urge anyone reading this book to Google the quilt as the size of it has to be seen to be believed!
I found the novel slightly confusing at first as without being introduced to the characters we were thrown headlong into the crux of the entire novel, one of the female convicts being stabbed presumably by a fellow prisoner. The character being described in the opening paragraphs speaks of wishing she hadn’t known something and that she wishes she was the person she had been that morning setting the scene for the mystery of the novel. I found opening the book with the middle of the story an interesting idea, often a prologue is actually told from a present day or after the event standpoint but the stabbing in this novel falls pretty much into the centre of the timeline. Enough of my waffling, I’m sure it isn’t even remotely confusing if you aren’t starting it very late at night/early in the morning within a few minutes of ending the previous, very different style of novel!!
I loved the characters in the book, though there was a slightly cliched romantic storyline and the ubiquitous early feminist struggles I fell totally in love with Kezia who’s shyness is shoved down and hidden, who’s charitable and accepting disposition drives everything she does. We now know a great deal about how shared crafting offers an opportunity for people to speak when normally they would be intimidated and how good it is for various mental health issues but the fact that the likes of Mrs Fry and Kezia knew that then is quite remarkable. Adams skilfully weaves this knowledge into the days of her fictional characters voyage, we find out about the women’s emotional struggles, their pasts, their desires and loves and the nastier sides of many of them.
The male characters are mainly sympathetic apart from Revd Davies who is probably a much more realistic portrayal of a man of that period but Mr Donovan and the Captain are great characters who care about the prisoners so I was glad they were on Kezia’s team as was I!
As a mystery story it was brilliant. I was fairly sure whodunnit and why and I was right but I was never sure if I was because of the well placed red herrings.
I do wish we’d seen the women’s lives in Australia even if it was just a quick epilogue. This is the second book I’ve reviewed this month where I’ve wanted a sequel!

In 1841, aboard a ship transporting female prisoners convicted of petty crimes from London to Van Dieman’s Land, a woman is stabbed and left for dead. Almost all of the passengers are guilty of something and it seems one of them is willing to commit murder to conceal their past. But why? And can the crew find the culprit before the ship arrives at its destination?

‘Dangerous Women’ follows the journey of the ‘Rajah’, the ship on which nearly two-hundred women are being transported to start a new life on the other side of the world. As well as trying to leave behind their criminal pasts, they are also leaving behind everyone they knew, loved ones and people best left forgotten. As well as the captain and his crew, accompanying the women on board is Kezia Hayter, a women’s prison reformer turned matron, who brings together a select group of the women to complete a very special sewing and embroidery project.

As the story – and the quilt - progresses, we learn more about this group of women, some of the other convicts, the ship’s crew and about Kezia. I enjoyed discovering the different backgrounds and personalities of the women, and at times it felt like I was sitting in their sewing circle on the deck of the ship, listening in!

The structure of the novel travels in time between the present and the recent past, either before their time on the ship or in the early days of the sailing, and I do like this kind of structure in the novels I read. I also loved the historical element and setting of the novel as well as the ‘whodunnit’ plot line and these combined, along with the snatches of romantic intrigue between some of the passengers, made for a really interesting, enjoyable read. The historical note at the end of the book reveals that there is a great deal in this novel that is based on real events; the name of the ship and those of the doctor, cleric and matron are all real, as is - of course - the quilt that was created. The stabbing and other key parts of the resulting plot have been invented by the author.

This is the first novel under this name by an already established author and, based on ‘Dangerous Women’, I’ll certainly be keen to read what Hope Adams writes next. She has taken a fascinating aspect of history and delivered a novel that is both gripping and thoughtful and also clearly well researched. Thank you to the publishers, Penguin Michael Joseph, and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy in return for this review.

This novel cleverly encompasses the true story of the transport of the female convicts on board the Rajah to Tasmania in 1841, combining fact with fictional accounts of life on board, and the mystery of the death of one passenger.

This is much more than a whodunnit, as the background stories of ‘then’ and ‘now’ interweave allowing the reader some speculation as to the reason for the attack on board the ship.

The historical note in the afterward was truly fascinating and the quilt from the voyage now hangs in the National Gallery of Australia.

Inspired by the true story of women prisoners transported in 1841 from England to Tasmania, Hope Adams has imagined a tale of murder and intrigue, of people who are not always who they appear to be.
After a slow start introducing characters Adams develops their back stories and picks up the pace to deliver an unusual historical novel confined to the voyage of the ship Rajah.

This is a story about a ship full of women who are being transported from prison in Britain to Tasmania (then Van Diemans Land) in 1841. Their crimes seem quite trivial – mainly theft, but of small amounts of food, or clothing. This is an imagining of a real voyage which the author Adele Geras has researched. The central focus for the women on the long voyage is creating a quilt, all hand stitched, which can still be seen in the British Museum.

It is also a mystery, but a somewhat genteel one. The women all seem quite pleasant and gentle, I’m not sure it is an accurate reflection of Victorian female thieves but I quite liked the gentleness. Even though a woman is stabbed (which is the mystery), somehow it is all rather restrained and not particularly violent.
We focus on about eight main characters and get to know them through the voyage, their background, what led them to jail and thus to transportation. It is as much as anything a book about female relationships and perseverance.

It was enjoyable to read and interesting for being based on a real voyage.

I was enticed by the premise and subject matter of this novel. It started well and I expected lots of twists and turns. Unfortunately I didn't find it.
While the book is well written, it just wasn't for me. I'm sure many people will enjoy it though.

I always enjoy reading about characters who actually existed hence this book appealed to me. Not much has been written about the female convicts who were sent to Australia. I liked the quilting theme that headed each title. I would recommend it.

Dangerous Women is an excellent example of female-led historical fiction. Based on a true story, it depicts the lives of almost 200 women sentenced to transportation to Tazmania, and the coverlet they created during the crossing under the guidance of Kezia Hayter. Though they lived in a world governed by men, these women, their lives and motivations are in the very centre of this story, accompanied by a fictional murder.

200 women convicts on board a ship to Australia, with a murderer on board. Great story but it’s a bit slow in the middle, worth persevering as it picks up again

Sadly, I didn't finish the book which is about a group of female prisoners and their fellow passengers on a journey to "a new world".

I just couldn't muster interest in finding out about the characters, might be something to do with going into Tier 4/lockdown at the time of reading, just before Christmas.

While I quite enjoyed this book I did find it a tad slow and a little repetitive. I accept this is a fictional account based on a real event and while the author did not fall into the trap of gratuitous embellishment of characters I do feel it lacked a little depth. Some of both the conditions and characters could have been more developed during the long and slow journey across the world without loosing the main thread of the story. By no means a poor book just feel it could have been more.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

3.5 stars

This book was provided to me via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Dangerous Women follows almost 200 convict women as they embark on a voyage from London, UK to Hobart, Australia as punishment for the various crimes in the mid-1800s. Along the way, they complete a patchwork quilt known as the Rajah quilt, after the boat they are travelling on. I was surprised at the end of the book to find out that all of this is true but the story of what happened on the voyage presented by Adams is fictitious.

The book is written from multiple character viewpoints and bounces between the early days of the voyage under 'Then' chapters, and later days after the incident under 'Now' chapters. I found this really difficult to get my head around to start with and was confused as to who was who and had to keep checking if I was in a 'Then' or 'Now' chapter. Perhaps a character list to reference may be helpful to the reader, as although it was confusing I suspect this was intended as the characters themselves were trying to work out who was responsible.

Despite the confusion, I thought it was well written and I enjoyed the history aspect of the story especially with the ambition to highlight the issues faced by women of the time, where many were convicted of crimes that were committed as an act of survival as opposed to true malevolence. Sadly many of these issues and circumstances still exist today.

It isn't a book that blew me away but it was an enjoyable and enlightening read and I'm off to find out more about this ship, the blanket and it's history. It would also be nice, in the final version of the book, to see sketches or photos of the sections of the blanket referenced in the descriptions at the beginning of each chapter.

This is the story of 200 female convicts who are on the Rajah, being transported to the other side of the world, for a new start. Some of the women form a group, and stitch a quilt that will be a record of their journey. Each chapter starts with a description of the patch they're working on. Its a shame there wasn't a diagram or drawing of the finished quilt. One of these sewers is murdered, and there are several possible suspects. I was hoping the story would be a bit more exciting than it was. It seemed almost too calm, any didn't feel at all threatening to me. It was an interesting read, when you remember that it was a fictional account of a true story, but just a bit slow for me.

En route to Australia, there is a stabbing on board a ship of convict women. This is the story of those women and what happened on that fateful journey.

I'm still not quite sure about this book. I do like a historical setting and the idea of a ship full of convict women is a really good one, particularly when it is loosely based on real characters. However, I finished this book a few days ago and I can't really remember the detail of the story or the characters which really doesn't bode well.

I think the idea is a good one but it probably isn't the best I have read.

I was very keen to read this book as I lived in Tasmania for a number of years and convict history is a popular topic. This novel tells us of the journey from England to Van Diemen’s Land - now Tasmania. All these women are convicted criminals, some for petty crimes, others more serious, such as murder.
On the voyage, aboard the Rajah, we get to know Miss Hayter, the matron who looks after the women, and several of her charges. They make a coverlet, from scraps of fabric, and, as they are sewing, we learn of their crimes and their former lives in England.
One of the women on board is killed, and much of the novel is spent trying to find out who is guilty of this crime.
This novel is based on real events and it is well written. It is intriguing to find out why women were deported, and it gives us a little insight into what life might have been like for these women, going to the other side of the world to start a new life.

Dangerous Women.
Based upon a true story, The Rajah is a prison ship, transporting 200 women, convicted of various crimes to Tasmania in 1841.
Kezia is a 23 year old Matron, who has been selected by Elizabeth Fry and other ladies concerned with prison reform, to accompany these prisoners in order to look after the welfare of the women and their children. She will also be responsible for their moral education by prayers, hymns and needlework, in order to prevent the mischief of idle hands whilst on board.
Clara, another prisoner, is attempting to conceal her crime, and has taken on a new identity in order to make a new life for herself.
Hattie has no family left behind in England, her 6 year old son, Bertie, is also on board for that very reason. Hattie is murdered on board.
Kezia tries to find out who the murderer is and why Hattie was chosen.
Told in flashbacks, we learn the story of Hattie and her connection to the murderer. As the voyage takes three months, we learn about life onboard, the filthy living conditions, the food , the boredom and squabbling between the women, the fears and loss each woman is experiencing. Some women had their children onboard and they were educated, but the main focus relates to the titular quilt.
Each chapter heading describes a piece of material that was used in the making of the quilt. Sewing is an occupation , to prevent idle hands and mischief, to educate, and to teach a skill and perhaps a future trade for when they reach Hobart. The Rajah Quilt was made as a gift for Sir John and Lady Jane Franklin, upon landing in Tasmania. This quilt is now in the National Gallery of Canberra, and it is truly wonderful, I visited the pictures online, the original colours must have been so vivid, and brought a little piece of hope and beauty into such a sad and desperate occasion.
A wonderfully inspiring read, full of compassion and friendship. The sadness of these women and the petty crimes committed, take us back to a harsher world. Full of the social history of this time, I enjoyed this book immensely. The early days of prison reform very well described, and Kezia is a very capable and sympathetic character. The attitude of the Captain was enlightened ,I found him to be very modern for those times.
A five star read, no doubt about it. Would be a marvellous addition to any school bookcase. I will leave reviews on Goodreads and Amazon when pages are opened. These opinions are my own, thank you to the publishers for my advance copy.

Omg!!! I have fallen in love with this story. It’s left me breathless, laughing at the saucy women who don’t give two ahems for anyone’s opinion.I also loved that Kaizia was strong and could hold her own against the men even if you felt like socking them whenever they played the don’t fret your pretty little head. I loved how all the women felt real and all their faults even though they stole was either due to circumstances beyond their control to people who helped mothers get rid of inconveniences such as babies. I don’t hold with that but if you are desperate and feel you just cannot provide for them... what would you do? And who would you turn to at that time? If you are silent then yes that was their dilemma too. I just was gripped from the first page and just loved it. Also knowing that yes the captain and the matron did get to marry in real life just puts a shine to the story. Honestly a gem of a book... I want more from this author!!!!

Having recently enjoyed The Exiles, another story based on transportation to Australia I was keen to pick up Dangerous Women which charts the Rajah on a three month voyage of transportation of petty criminals in 1849. The story is richly drawn and based on a true story.

Onboard are a mix of women and some children mainly petty criminals but there's also a murderer onboard who has hidden her crime. The story is told before and now and is told by 3 women - Kezia Hayter, the Matron in charge of the women, Hattie the victim and Clara whose is hiding a secret...

Kezia hand picks women with sewing skills to work on a quilt which becomes known as The Rajah Quilt. It seems it's one of these women who harms Hattie.... The Captain, Chaplain and Surgeon make it their aim to find the killer.

A great read which I recommend.

Dangerous women, by Hope Adams, is based on a true story of around 200 female convicts being transported from English prisons to Tasmania, in 1841. On board the Rajah, the female criminals are a mixed bunch all with interesting back stories. The overwhelming feeling is of sympathy towards most of the convicts caught in the act of petty crimes. Though mostly unapologetically guilty, these women are, for the most part, put in horrible positions through their circumstances and abuse they have suffered at the hands of men.

The story centres around a murder of one of the convicts and the chapters move back and forth between then (when the murder took place towards the start of the voyage) and now (the inquest lead by the captain, chaplain and matron in charge of the ladies needs, around three months into sailing). On their voyage, selected women, as part of a rehabilitation scheme, sew a large, patchwork quilt. The women in this sewing group are the main suspects in the murder and the quilt features heavily in the story. The story is told from the perspective of three very different women. Kezia Hayter, the matron of the ship, who is attempting to inspire the women and bring them a sense of purpose through the quilt making project. Hattie, the unfortunate victim of the stabbing and lastly, Clara, who is not who she seems—she has stolen the identity of another prisoner in order to escape a harsher sentence. It is implied throughout the book that she has her secret to keep and would go to any lengths to do so. She is the assumed killer but did she actually do the deed?

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and didn’t mind the Then and Now chapters. Sometimes moving back and forward through a story can halt the flow but I didn’t find that here. I did however find the small descriptions of the patchwork segments at the start of each chapter tiresome.

I would recommend this book highly. It is a thought provoking and historically humbling read.

This is an excellent and very well-written book which I found to be a really absorbing read. The basis of the story is the journey of female convicts being transported to Van Diemens Land in the 1840's and is based upon a true story. Parts of the story have been embroidered to add mystery but the history on which the book is based is true and very interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and can highly recommend it.