I loved this book, which reminded me of a Jojo Moyes novel. Rich and detailed characters with a different timeline will pull you into this moving read.

I really enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction with a difference .It’s based on the true story of a group of women convicts transported to Tasmania on the ship,the Rajah ,some of whom were involved in making a patchwork quilt ,which can still be seen today.The idea for this came from Kezia Hayter, a follower of Elizabeth Fry ,the prison reformer. Kezia was given the job of matron on the voyage ,and was responsible the well-being of the women being transported .
During the voyage a murder takes place ,and it’s left to the Captain ,ship’s doctor and the chaplain ,with the help of Kezia,to find out who was responsible and why.The book very cleverly tells the stories of the victim and another convict by moving from the time of the voyage to the past, explaining why both of these women ended up on the convict ship .
I really didn’t see the outcome of the investigation coming as it did and was kept guessing right up to the last minute.I was fascinated by the detail of the women’s lives on board the ship, and I liked the sympathetic way many of them were depicted .
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review which reflects my own opinion.

One of the best historical novels I have read in a long time
Very cleverly written it is based on actual historical events with just a bit of poet license added in
The transportation of women’s to Tasmania as it is known today actually took place as well as some of the key characters Kezia and Charles the captain of the Rajah
The Quilt that the women made still actually exists and if you want to see it you can google it
The story line is very clever because the way the story unfolds about the individual characters and the way they meld together is exactly how a quilt is made. Individual pieces sewn together to make something extraordinary
Absolutely brilliant read can’t recommend it enough

Kezia Heyter has been appointed Matron to accompany nearly 200 female convicts to Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania) on the Rajah. Whilst at sea she plans to get a group of the women to occupy their time by making a patchwork quilt. Based on true events this is a fictional tale of the voyage to Van Dieman's Land undertaken by female convicts back in 1841, the patchwork quilt they made whilst on board is now in a museum in Canberra, Australia.

Such a novel idea for a novel. Having read it, it has set me off to find out more about Elizabeth Fry and the women who worked so tirelessly for prison reform in the 19th century. Fascinating stuff, so a big thank you to Hope Adams for sending me on my own voyage of discovery.
The novel is largely set on a ship transporting women 'convicts' to Tasmania in 1841. it provides many of the women's back stories (tragic!) and the work of their 'matron' (a colleague of Elizabeth Fry's) to both occupy and 'better' them on the voyage, through embroidery and needlework. An attack on one of the women leads us into a mystery and 'who-dunnit' which was well plotted and kept me gripped.
I really liked this book and think it will be very well received. It is well researched and provided vivid descriptions of life onboard and of those it characterizes.
Thank you to the author, her publishers, and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, which I highly recommend. I have no hesitation in giving #DangerousWomen five stars.

What a fascinating read on so many levels! I absolutely loved it and couldn't put it down.
I hadn't ever really thought about the women often forced into a life of crime due to circumstances than desire. I hadn't considered mothers being taken from their children nor children forced to leave their homes to travel across the world for a crime they did not commit. It was heartbreaking to read.
I love how Hope Adams has created a clever whodunnit around this incredible piece of history. I pride myself of being able to work out novels like this before the big reveal but this one had me guessing right up until two paragraph beforehand when I suddenly had a lightbulb moment. It really did keep me guessing and suspecting many of the characters until the last moment.
Aside from the murder mystery element of the book, I loved the way the inequality of women of all classes was dealt with. Not only did the convicted women struggle but so did Kezia.
All in all this was a fabulous murder mystery with a historical twist based in truth. I would highly recommend it!

A historical tale of high seas, handiwork and intrigue. This is based on a historical voyage where women with criminal convictions were shipped to Australia to begin new lives. While on the journey some of the women were chosen to craft a quilt which is still available for viewing in an Australian museum. It's written well and I was drawn into the story of the women's experiences on this journey, their fear as each are investigated to see if they have any connection to a murder which occurs while on board and was left wondering how they each fared once they had disembarked in Australia, and what was the rest of their lives like? I would be very happy to find out there is a sequel to this book which did tell those stories.

This excellent book is based on a real voyage transporting women convicts to Australia in 1841. One of the group chosen to sew a patchwork quilt during their journey is attacked, and the rest are under suspicion. The relationships between the convicts, and those between matron, Keiza, and the officers, are the most fascinating aspect of the book. I also enjoyed the tragic backstories that lead to the women being transported.

The Rajah sets sail for Van Diemen's land in 1841. Its cargo a group of women convicts sentenced to transportation. On board is a young woman, Kezia Hayter, a prison reformer, tasked with the welfare of the women during the voyage. Kezia selects a small group of 18 women to produce a patchwork coverlet to be presented to the governor and his wife at the end of their journey.

The story follows 3 women during the voyage - Kezia and the convicts Hattie and Clara. Clara has joined the voyage by subterfuge and is operating under an assumed name. As well as learning stories of these and other women on the voyage, one of the women is attacked and seriously wounded and an investigation takes place to find the culprit.

The story is well structured and interspersed with descriptions of parts of the coverlet and extracts from the ship's log. Central characters are well developed and maintain interest. Themes on the situation of women in the 19th century are introduced telling into the narrative.

Based on true events, this historical fiction is well worth the read.

Set on a ship bound for Van Diemen's Land, the story is a little like the ship. It goes up and down and side to side but never loses its course on the way to its final destination. A ship full of female convicts on their way to a new life down-under, based on a true story. What could possibly go on in the middle of the sea to make a truly viable story? All the things that might happen on land; good deeds, love, murder, new friendships and, of course, hanky-panky. All in all, a combination that I enjoyed.

A gripping tale of friendship, hope the bonds that keep us going as human beings. The novel is set during the 1841 journey of the convict ship Rajah and introduces us to some interesting characters, from multiple walks of life.
I loved hearing the POV of different characters throughout the story and their actions that brought them on board the ship. Each reveals her dark secrets while working on the (now famous) Rajah Quilt as the plot moves towards a fantastic ending. I particularly warmed to Kezia Hayter who treats the women in her charge with respect and esteem though they have chosen a very different path in life.
A great example of historical fiction that uses elements of truth woven throughout an intriguing plot!

The historical events behind this book sound quite interesting. Plus the cover is gorgeous!! But I am afraid I've found the story told in Dangerous Women boring. Ups :p

Dangerous women is primarily the story of Kezia Hayter: a genteel women involved with the Ladies Committee and their role in improving prison conditions for women. Kezia is portrayed in her many roles: as a matron - helping the convict women learn a useful skill and to bond in a hard situation: being transported to Tasmania; being the driving force behind the creation of the coverlet, and as a red blooded woman who falls in love with Charles, the captain of the Rajah. The convict women are extras in their own story. Luckily a few of them are named, especially those who worked on the coverlet. 2 of them (Hattie and Sarah/Clara) also get a background story and an active voice but that's only because they are instrumental in the creation of the second part of the plot: Hattie's stabbing and subsequent murder investigation.

Don't get me wrong, this is a nice little story that's going to please many. But as far as I am concerned it is boring because the plot is just a rehash of ideas read in plenty of other books; and also disappointing because the "dangerous women" have been relegated to the role of extras: unknown and voiceless women in life, unknown and voiceless after death too. Sad!

Many thanks for the opportunity to read this novel.

This is a novel which is based on the true story of over 180 women. This for me was an unknown part of history which I was instantly pulled into. Since reading this book, I've done more search into the events within the plot and definitely feel keen to visit Australia in order to see the quilt myself.
Adams has created a thought provoking, addictive and engaging masterpiece with this novel. The plot flows well and develops in a way you crave more detail and information. The characters in this are well-developed and I have loved how some characters present are based on the real life individuals involved within this event.
We are taken back to 1841 in this novel, the author has provided a plot which is clearly well-researched and is completely unpredictable. This is a superb women's fiction/ historical fiction novel. Despite having no knowledge of this prior to reading this novel I have found this has been easy to devour.
Adams gives us a clear picture into the lives of the women and children on board. A favourite for me has to be Matron Hayter, I have found that the relationship between her and the women has been something which has developed throughout the book.
I cannot say anything negative about this masterpiece. I have loved every minute of reading this one and cannot wait to read more by the author. A most definite five star read and one which is highly deserving of more.

What an interesting mix of three genres this was. I was fascinated to learn that convict women in the 1840s were given patchwork pieces to learn sewing while transported to Australia to start a new life. The Rajah Quilt is displayed in the National Gallery of Australia and was stitched together on the journey that is described in this book. Hope Adams uses this historical story to set a fictional mystery in - the murder of one of the convicts during the course of the journey. The third genre is a love story which is apparently true too, although personally I found this the weakest link in the tale.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Hope Adams/Penguin Michael Joseph for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Dangerous Women is everything the blurb says, and more. We switch forwards and backwards between the transport of the women from Newgate prison to a pivotal event and its aftermath, taking the narrative from one of three women involved in the event. Slowly we understand the key players, the wondrous range of characters incarcerated in the prison ship, and a few of the men around the place too. Each character is fully rounded, emaciated, toothless, bitter, hopeful, resigned, a victim of justice, or hoping that justice will prevail, despite the blinkered eyes of the male society.

The pivotal event occurs fairly early, so we also have a tantalising glimpse of who it might be. The whodunnit laid in front of us develops through the words of some unreliable narrators as well as the women who are formally questioned by one bigoted and two open-minded men. And we feel the frustration of the matron as she fails to make her observations and experience heard.

This is a wonderful study of life in a closed community, with people from the underside of life, and a few misfits from the upper side, too. I exclaimed some ‘oh-no’s’ as the story unfolded, but no, another twist awaited. Even in the denouement there are further twists, and things the reader learns that lie hidden from the rest. You end wondering what life awaits these folk in Van Diemans Land, rooting for them.

To read that the ship, its logs, and the names of the women transported really existed adds to the poignancy, even though, as the author says, the tale is of her own imagination to fit the facts. It’s an excellent tale, excellently written.

I am already needing the sequel, please please I want to know more. This was a moving, interesting and gripping read based on the true story of the boat transporting women convicts and this passengers are fictional but the sewing is real.
Highly recommend, thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

In the 1800s a group of nearly 200 women were sentenced to transportation to Australia.  Most of their crimes were very small and petty.  But one of the women had a dark and deadly secret...
This book is so heartbreaking, especially when you remember that it is largely based on true events.  It is a beautifully written story about some extremely strong and remarkable women.  Highly recommended.

This managed to combine two of my favourite genres – mystery and needlework. Okay, needlework is not really a fiction genre, but it is one of my interests.

It incorporates the true story of the voyage of the Rajah transporting one hundred and eighty female prisoners to Tasmania in 1841. This was during the period when the Quaker Elizabeth Fry was working to improve the conditions of female prisoners and those transported. One of her acts was providing women with sewing materials to take on the voyage which they could use to pass the time, and also create items to sell for money on arrival. It is likely that several quilts were made on these voyages, but the only one that is known to survive is that created on the Rajah. I was lucky enough to see this at the Quilt Exhibition in the V&A during 2009 – usually it is kept in Australia. It is a large complex quilt and having the image of it in my mind added to my appreciation of the references to the quilt throughout the book.

But I think even with my enjoyment of the needlework, I would have found the book a little uneventful if it had only been about the actual voyage. However, the author introduces a mystery, two mysteries in fact. From the very beginning one of the protagonists is hiding something, and it′s a serious enough secret that it would need to be kept silent by the act of murder. But she is not the only one with secrets since these women have been transported for various crimes, and have also been damaged by the hard life of the 19th century. The main narrators are the criminal with the hidden identity, and Kezia Hayter (a real historical character) who is the ″matron″ in charge of the prisoners, but we also learn about the characters of many of the other women. Their interactions and stories are vivid and poignant; most of these women will never see their family or friends again.

I liked the resolution of the mystery, and that the book ended on a note of hope for all the characters.

I had a copy of this book early through Netgalley

As an expat Aussie and as someone who has seen the gorgeous Rajah quilt in the National Gallery (it can now only be seen once a year because of the fragility of the textiles), I was thrilled to be able to read this historical fiction piece, based on a real ship and using the names of some of the real women who sailed aboard that ship. This book also made me do further research, which to me is always a good sign because it really piqued my interest.
Genre-wise, I love the mystery of the book, that it's historical fiction; it's also a book with women at its heart and, strangely, I seem to have been drawn to books this year that revolve around sea voyages (maybe that's the vicarious travel bit). It ticks so many boxes for me and I would highly recommend it.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Michael Joseph Publishing and Hope Adams for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5* rounded to 5* here.

A clever, well researched historical story based on a true story. It is written in a way which allows the readers to feel the emotions of the characters by delving deeper and asking questions. Anyone who loves historical drama will be gripped by this wonderful book.