Maude Horton is not a young lady to be ignored. Mourning the mysterious disappearance of her sister, Maude sets out to find the truth behind the tragedy, spurred on by the contents of Constance's diary and a burning desire for justice. What follows is the stuff of reader's dreams!

For lovers of Victorian era mysteries, Maude Horton's Glorious Revenge is at times Christiesque, historical and intriguing. Founded loosely on true stories of the time, we are transported back to an era where public executions drew voyeuristic crowds, where men found glory in killing and collecting, and arctic exploration was a danger only men would undertake.

Or would they?

A wonderful, engaging and compelling read.

Absolutely loved it! The writing style is very elegant, and immersive. It was exactly what I had in mind when I read its summary, and was not disappointed.
Its gory details made me shiver, and at times even horrified me but I found the morbid curiosity of the era quite fascinating despite the violence behind it. What particularly tickled my fancy was its atmosphere of mystery, and exploration - just like a visit to the Natural History Museum.
Finally, I was entranced by the sister love in the book, and spent most of the book in deep denial.

Maude Horton's Glorious Revenge by Lizzie Pook is the story of a woman who wants to avenge her sister's death.
Set in London in the middle of the 19th century, this is a story of revenge and loss. Maude Horton's sister died during an Arctic expedition and she takes it upon herself to find the truth.

I enjoyed reading the book. This gave me the feels of a good Sherlock-esque mystery.

So, thank you for the review copy and all the best.

In Victorian London, Maude Horton is set on revenge for the death of her sister Constance. Her sister having set off on a voyage to the arctic in search of another missing exploration ship, she sneaks on disguised as a boy. But in Maude’s search for the truth she is led to a diary written by a young boy aboard the makepeace vessel, the boy being her sister. This diary is the break she needs and proceeds to search for the person responsible for Constance’s death so she can seek revenge.

After reading and enjoying a previous book by this author I was happy to receive this book.

This is a historical fiction story but reading the acknowledgments at the end it explains how although the story is fictional there were some things that would’ve happened in that time including the huge deal made of hangings back in those days, especially for a highly known murderer. It was a great read that I recommend if you like a bit of a gruesome historical fiction.

Lizzie Pook is rapidly becoming my favourite author. I thoroughly enjoyed her first book, Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter and this second did not disappoint.
Set in 1850 Maude Horton is trying to find out what happened to her sister, Constance. Constance disappeared leaving a brief note saying that she was boarding the ship bound for the artic in search of Sir John Franklin's lost expedition. Since women were not permitted on naval ships, Constance had disguised herself as the ship's boy. However, when the boat returns and Maude and her grandfather wait for Constance to disembark they are met with the tragic news that Constance died during the trip.
Maude visits the Admiralty to try and find more information but laughed out of the room by those in charge. However, a clerk manages to smuggle to her her sister's diary of the trip and thus begins her endeavour to find justice for Constance.
Initially it appears Constance is the sister with the get up and go about her, but as the book develops, Constance also becomes an indomitable heroine, single-mindedly pursuing those she deems guilty of Constance's death. The journey takes us in the underworld of London, on train journeys, to the spectacle of hangings which had become public entertainment in those days, and into the world of Madame Tussauds.
The characters are well drawn. I loved the weasily and obnoxious Edison Stowe, who believes the whole world has it in for him, and the characterful Carter, king of the underworld, to say nothing of Lady Westbury and her fascination with all things about executions.
Wonderfully researched with much attention to historical detail and good pacing as well as a good twist at the end made this an unputdownable read for me.
With thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an arc copy in return for an honest review.

Maude Horton's Glorious Revenge is a tell of feminine strength and epic revenge. The character Maude of the title is Maude Horton, the granddaughter of a apothecary and sister of Constance, who has stowed away on a ship while dressed as a boy.
When Constance does not return, Maude is left to search for the truth and to seek revenge on behalf of her sister.
The story is told from Maude's perspective in 1850 and from Constance's diary entries (as Jack) in 1849. Both revealing the intense misogyny of the time.
This is a dark but compelling tale that is worthy reading.

Maude Horton’s Glorious Revenge by Lizzie Pook
I had read and thoroughly enjoyed Lizzie Pook’s debut novel Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter so I eagerly anticipated reading this novel. I was not disappointed it is an intelligent and well written story about Maude and her search to find out what befell her sister, Constance. She powerfully evoked the period of the 1850’s with her brilliant descriptions and I felt engrossed in the story.
Maude’s sister had disguised herself as a boy and boarded a ship travelling to the Arctic in search of Sir John Franklin who had gone missing along with two ships and all of his crew. When Maude goes to the Admiralty for answers about her sister’s death she is palmed off and so with the assistance of her sister’s diary she goes in search of the truth.
She involves herself in a macabre tour of hangings in order to get closer to the person she thinks is responsible for her sister’s death and whilst we follow her investigations we also discover what happened to Constance through reading her diary. It is a terrible indictment of the misogyny at the time the way in which both Maude and Constance are treated. I really enjoyed the novel and will be recommending it at my various book groups. My thanks go to the author, the publishers and to Net Galley for the opportunity to read it in return for an honest review.

I would like to thank NetGalley for sending me an advanced reader copy for review. All opinions in this review are my own.

Set in London 1850, Maude Horton has been sent a missive that her sister Constance has died while disguised as a boy on a ship to the Arctic. Maude refuses to believe that is all that happened, especially when no body was sent back to London and the men in charge refuse to answer her questions surrounding her sister’s mysterious death. She decides that if no one will tell her the truth, then she will have to find it for herself.

When I started reading this, I was instantly reminded of the movie, Enola Holmes. The men that Maude initially questioned about her sister’s death irritated me so much that I had to keep reading to see if she could wipe the smug grins off their faces. This book is divided into chapters that alternate between the present (1850) where Maude is trying to figure out what happened, and the past (1849) where Constance writes in her journal as Jack Aldridge while on the ship. As Maude learns more about the people that were on the ship, Makepeace, with her sister, you learn more about the world the book is set in. I liked this form of worldbuilding where you are thrown headfirst into it and learn more about it along with the protagonist. Maude sometimes comes across as naive as she describes the differences between Constance and herself.

Read this book if you enjoy historical fiction and mystery. It's perfect for fans of Enola Holmes and the Professor Layton games.

Maude Horton is one of those novels that make you glad you picked it up and started reading despite it being not your usual fare

An entertaining read, with strong female character on a quest to find what happened to her sister.
Her sister who disguised herself as a cabin boy on a voyage to the Arctic.
It was "jack" who's narration I enjoyed the most, in the form of diary.
Not quite the stand out as previous book I feel, but still a good way to spend a few hours.

Also, stunning cover!

Set in London in the middle of the 19th century, this is a story of the pursuit of truth and ultimately revenge. Maude Horton's sister died whilst posing as a cabin boy on a ship on an Arctic expedition. Maude desperately wants to know the truth about her sister's death but feels she is being brushed aside by the authorities. With help she is set on the trail of Edison Stowe who had also taken part in the Arctic expedition.
The story is told from three viewpoints, those of Maude and Edison Stowe and through the diary of Maude's sister, Constance.
This is an intriguing tale with some interesting and surprising twists. It is a quick and entertaining read.