This was not a good choice for me, though I’m sure it will be enjoyed by many others. I felt the pace was very slow, and the setting up of the storyline too long winded, and overly descriptive. I found myself skim- reading after just a few chapters, as the narrative failed to engage me.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.

I enjoyed this book which was well written with interesting characters. I was also pleased to find that by the end I had learned a lot about this fascinating Victorian period without really trying! Ms Pook did well combining so many different elements eg artic exploration and hanging tourism and still have a story that flowed.
Thank you to netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an advance copy of this book

***advance review copy received from NetGalley in return for an honest review***
Lizzie Pook creates a very tangible Victorian London, filled with hangings and murderers and Maude Horton - looking to revenge the death of her sister. The novel flips between various perspectives, including that of Maude’s sister on a (fictitious) expedition to the Northwest Passage.
I particularly enjoyed the details around the hangings & “murder mania” which so gripped the nation (as a side note if people are interested in this phenomenon, Lucy Worsley’s A Very English Murder provides a lot of detail around the fascination with death, murder and punishment).
Is Maude’s revenge all that glorious? For me, I think she could have played a more active (and therefore satisfying for the reader) role, but it’s a very readable story that will keep most people turning pages.

Although this book was slow to start with it really picked up as you went on. I loved Maudes character and I was willing her on to avenge her sisters murder. Set across multiple points of view from the streets of London to the cold Arctic sea every part was immersive and chilling.
The really interesting part for me was the fascination with public hangings back in the 1800s

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the digital copy.

Set in dual timelines and two perspectives this historical fiction makes for a compelling read. The storyline was immersive and well paced. Some strong characters throughout. This is the first that I've read by this author but will definitely be keeping an eye out for her in the future. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I did enjoy "Maude Horton's Glorious Revenge" by Lizzie Pook immensely although I'm not sure it will be as memorable as her first book. It had all the right bits of historical fiction for me: London, baddies, revenge and an apothecary... although I would have liked more apothecary action as the cover hinted that. A fun gory read with a bit of history chucked in for good measure.

Well, this book was glorious indeed. The story was well plotted, and the disjointed nature of the writing worked so well. Things fell into place as and when you needed them to, leading to a good few wonderful ‘Aha!’ moments, alongside a few twists.

The worldbuilding was so incredibly detailed, you can tell a huge amount of research went into this, with everything feeling so rich and authentic.

I will definitely be looking out for more of Lizzie Pooks books in the future, and really enjoyed this one!

Well, unlike Lizzie Pook's debut novel, Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter, Maude Horton's Glorious Revenge is set chiefly in London England. England of the mid 19th century. Maude Horton lost her sister Constance in what the Admiralty called 'a tragic accident' but Maude has her suspicions. Maybe it's because her sister went to sea as a cabin boy, suitably disguised to hide her femininity. A woman on board a ship many a sailor would say it brought bad luck. What would happen if Constance's gender was found out by the rest of the crew? So, Maude has reason to be curious and approaches the Admiralty with questions of her own. What unravels is a multi-threaded story, one which brings to life the era in which it's set very well. I enjoyed it but found the ending (bearing in mind there could have been several), not one which I would have chosen. I was expecting to see the person responsible for the 'tragic accident' to suffer the same fate as the condemned criminals which were the central attraction of Edison Stowe's Moral Compass Tours. Additionally, corruption in the Admiralty would be challenging to pursue, mainly because the evidence was insufficient and most key witnesses were dead.
An enjoyable read nevertheless.

I really liked this book. It told the story of an arctic adventure, set in the middle of the 19th century. It is full of historical detail and suspense. I found the book hard to put down. I liked, that the main characters were women.
Maude Horton's sister Constance had disguised herself as a ship's boy. and set off for the Arctic aboard the Makepeace. The two sisters were orphaned and lived with their grandfather in his apothecary shop, watching and learning the skills of his trade.
Lizzie Pook has delighted me with both her books and is an author I will now look out for. I believe she wrote this story with great sensitivity, dealing also with many of our modern day issues.
Thank you Lizzie Pook

I read an eARC of this book so thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for this.

I found the start of this book a little slow but wow did it pick up in the second half to become something really exciting! Definitely stick with this one as you can see so clearly how all the threads and breadcrumbs from the different perspectives earlier in the novel come together.

This is set in 1850 and follows Maude as she tries to understand and then avenge what happened to her sister. Maude is quiet and mild mannered but is changed as she unravels the events that led to the disappearance of her bolder and more adventurous sister. This book jumps between the Arctic and England and explores the macabre world of execution tourism and animal trophy hunting.

Maude works in her Grandfather’s apothecary and I would have liked to have seen more of this. It was used for plot devices at times but I would have enjoyed more inclusion of Maude’s medical and chemical knowledge.

A very clever mystery, a compelling and exciting revenge narrative, a clear and evil villain, a likeable and relatable protagonist. All this comes together to create a very well-written, thrilling story. Enjoyable and I recommend this and I would read more from this author.

A fairly rollicking tale of murder and intrigue set around an expedition to the Arctic. Cross dressing and sisters and lovers and evil mothers abound. It also contains a bit more than you probably want of detail about the grisly tourist trade in public hanging around England.

I found this a little mixed, I think it was too long, but it had a resounding resolution that made you cheer for the heroine. Some amazing detail about the time when you could sit third class on a train in the open air ( thank god that's gone) and some lovely detail about Salisbury and Wilton House.

I would recommend for lovers of historical fiction.

A spooky and complex tale of Maude's hunt for the truth of what happens to her sister Constance with a connection to an Artic expedition and the London underworld. The characters are so well written and come alive, and Lizzy Pook is such a brilliant writer!


Thank you Pan Macmillan for the ARC!

Maud receives a letter from The Admiralty office, informing her of her sister’s death, and sets off to find out the details. What on earth was her sister, Constance, even doing on board an exploration vessel in the arctic?
The authorities tell Maud it was an accident, but then she receives a diary, her sister’s diary and things fall into place. Strange things happened on board the Makepeace. Things that Constance recorded. Maud becomes convinced that someone on board that ship murdered Constance, and thanks to her sister’s diary, she knows who that person is. Maud forms a plan to make the man pay for what he did.
Set in the mid-19th century, the book moves between two timelines. In the present, in England, Maud plots her revenge. It means her getting closer than she would like to the person she believes killed her sister, but she will do whatever it takes. In the arctic, through Constance’s diary, we discover what really happened on board the Makepeace.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was very keen to read this author’s second book as I really enjoyed her first one. This did not disappoint- beautifully written, fabulous plot line and as her previous book, extremely well researched. Loved it! Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the advance review copy.

Published 1st February 2024. A super adventure story full of historical detail and excellent characters. In 1850, Maude Horton finds out that her sister, Constance, is dead. As a lover of adventures, Constance had disguised herself as a boy and joined a ship going to the Arctic to search for lost Sir John Franklin expedition. She never returned and all Maude is told is that there was a tragic accident. When she comes into possession of Constance's journal, she realises that the truth has been buried and she sets out seeking justice for her sister. Her journey takes her through the Underworld of London, it takes her on macabre murder tours when the wealthy would take trips to get the best views of hangings, it takes her to Madame Tussauds. I loved the characterisation of the 'villain' who Maude was pursuing - a man who believed that he deserved more from life and that everyone was against him. And Lady Westbury was wonderful - this wealthy woman who collected souvenirs from executions and could discuss those she had witnessed. Beautifully gruesome. Maude is a terrific character, never believing in her own worth and having to find the courage to pursue this man - a courage that her sister had by the bucketful. We meet Constance through the journal that Maude reads, we learn about her bravery as she survives on a ship of men, never knowing whether today will be the day that they discover that she is not a boy. We also see her courage as she tries to find out what is really going on on board the ship and her fear as she knows that her life is in danger. The descriptions of the icy wasteland are breath-taking. This is a novel packed with lots of historical details and it is such a gripping read. I read her first novel and must say that I much prefer this one. An excellent read.

I thoroughly enjoyed the authors first book, Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter and was keen to get hold of a copy of this, her second.
“Maude Horton's Glorious Revenge" is the compelling tale of a determined woman seeking retribution for her sister's untimely demise.
Situated in 19th-century London, the narrative weaves a gripping account of vengeance and sorrow, as Maude delves into the circumstances surrounding her sister Constance‘s tragic passing during an Arctic expedition that she stowed away on while dressed as a boy.
A real pleasure to read!

Thanks to netgalley & of course, Lizzie Pook and publisher for this brilliant read.
One of my reasons for requesting this title was because it’s not something I’d normally opt for! I’m so glad I clicked the request button & was treated to an early sneak peek ⭐️ You’ll be immersed into the 1800s, in London, immediately & eager to get answers for Maude. The very journey she is determined to make to seek justice for her sister will keep you hooked !

This was such an interesting story- I never knew about the tours described within and I always enjoy historical fiction most when I learn something new! I thought the main villain of the story was more interesting than Maude’s character! Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

A romping good story set in the 19th century. Two sisters - one wants adventure and glory at sea in the search for lost sailors. She has to hide the fact she’s female as she’s well aware of the danger she could be in. Back in England her sister is ready for her own adventure, as she is off to find out where her sister has gone.
It’s a pacy story and we’re introduced to the morbid and voyeuristic way people had of going off to watch criminals being hanged, as if on a day out. What a macabre pastime.
This book will not disappoint. It’s a great read and I loved the ending.

A fabulously written gripping story that was a pleasure to read. I would absolutely recommend this book, it was brilliant