What a well-written book this is.

Poor Alice Truelove cannot put up with her father's behavior any longer after the cruelty he has shown her since her mother died. Now age thirteen she feels it will be safer and happier living on the streets. of Wednesbury so she packs up and runs away.

Meanwhile, Bertram Jordon also known as BJ has been orphaned whilst his parents both died of influenza. He meets Alice and takes her under his wing. He teaches her how to pickpocket for survival.
It is an emotional book about these two children finding loyalty and friendship on the streets of the black country.
I couldn't put it down i highly recommend it.

Normally I like books by this author but found it hard to get through all the descriptive and detailed chapters prior to the story starting! Fell very flat for me and any book I read must grab me from the first few pages. This is my opinion alone and must not be taken as a negative view of this author who is usually a great storyteller.
Many thanx to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for allowing me to read and review this book

A sad but emotionally compelling book. Although I didn't love the circumstances surrounding these children, the honesty and emotion were hard to put down.

This is the second Lindsey Hutchinson series I have read and I loved them both. The story was so well written and was heartwarming and emotional in equal measure. I was instantly rooting for Alice and BJ and wanted them to get the happy ending they deserved. The characters and their stories are so well plotted you feel you are living their trials and tribulations with them and I am eagerly awaiting the sequel to see what happens.

What a wonderful start to a lovely trilogy.

Alice lives with her Father who blames her for her Mother’s death. Instead of putting up with his complaints she decides to runaway. Alice ends up becoming friends with BJ who is an orphan and he teaches her how to survive on the streets. Circumstances happen and Alice has to cope on her own. She must find a way to survive.

I really enjoyed this book I could not put the book down and wanted to know what was going to happen next. I enjoyed the characters and found it sad in places.

The story flowed so well and seeing what happened to them both.

I look forward to reading the next book.

Would recommend the book.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'The Pick-Pocket Orphans' by Lindsey Hutchinson.

Read and reviewed for Lindsey Hutchinson, NetGalley, Boldwood, The Bold Book Club, Book & Tonic and Rachel's Random Resources Tours.

Publication date 21st March 2024.

This is the first book I have read by this author. It is also the first book in a brand new series by Lindsey Hutchinson.

This novel consists of 52 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is absolutely beautifully written and it had me absorbed from the first page to the last. The vivid descriptions really put me in the storyline with Alice and BJ and the cover and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly.

This book itself was quite unique for me as in I have never actually read a fictional book about orphans on the streets before.The storyline is filled with heartbreak, love, friendship, shocks, tension, sadness, hope and much more. My mind and heart was completely captivated throughout and I couldn't stop turning the pages from start to end. I was completely shocked and saddened by certain events. I can't say any more than that as I don't want to spoil it for future readers. There are several parts where I found tears running down my face which isn't an easy feat so you may want a box of tissues on standby and I would definitely clear your schedules as this really is unputdownable. I cannot wait until the next book in this beautiful and amazing series comes out!!! If it is half as addictive as this amazing book then it is bound to be a winner!!! I absolutely loved how this book ended even if it ended in even more tears!!! This would make an absolutely stunning TV series!! This book is an absolutely gripping and moving historical family saga. it tells us the story of 13 year old Alice Truelove and BJ (Bertram Jordan). This book is the first book in a new trilogy and I am definitely looking forward to reading the next two books! After suffering at her father's hands Alice decides she would rather live on the streets than suffer anymore. She is constantly being blamed for the death of her mother and she has had enough. Alice packs the little that she has and heads onto the streets in the Black Country town of Wednesbury. Alice ends up meeting young Bertram who is known as BJ to his friends. BJ became an orphan after his parents passed away from influenza and has grown up on the streets since. Alice and BJ become close friends with BJ taking Alice under her wing and teacher her tricks to survive such as pick pocketing. However, BJ makes a huge mistake and Alice is at risk of losing her friend forever. What will become of Alice and BJ? Well, I'm not going to tell you am I! Where would be the fun in that? You'll just have to grab a copy of this moving page turner today to find out for yourselves!!! What I will tell you is that you need to clear your schedules and have the tissues at the ready!! I was completely invested in Alice and BJ from the moment I met them and my heart completely broke for them both, for what they went through and continued to go through as I turned the pages. They very quickly felt like friends that I wanted to reach into the pages, grab them out and keep them safe myself. Lindsey's fantastic evocative writing skills really did put me in the storyline where I felt Alice and BJ next to me and it left me screaming and raging at certain horrid characters and my heart racing along with theirs. It is one of those absolutely gripping storylines where I just had to know what was going to happen next especially when it came to Alice and BJ, it was like I need to know where they were and what they were doing at all times. In the end I was walking around with my kindle glued to my hands while I was cooking dinner, cleaning up and multi tasking!! I just could not put it down and I completely devoured it in a matter of hours! Hence, my warning to clear your schedules as it is truly unputdownable!!! After flying through the pages I was devastated when I came to the end and had to say goodbye to Alice and BJ and it made me need to see the next book coming out ASAP so I hope your busy writing it Lindsey!! In the meantime I will have to hunt all her other books down which I will be doing as soon as I have finished this review. I will be straight onto Amazon adding her books to my basket and wish list!! The fact that L:insey genuinely cares for the characters absolutely shines through the storyline. They are so well developed and realistic it genuinely feels like they are next to you thanks to her vivid evocative writing skills and descriptions. the fact that she has also done her research is another thing that is blatant to anyone who reads this. It is a huge annoyance when authors do not do enough, if even any research on their chosen topic/s as it then results in a book littered with mistakes potentially spoiling what could otherwise be a good storyline! however, Lindsey completely avoids doing this by taking the time to research the era she has chosen to write about. It ensures an intriguing, authentic and realistic reading experience where I loved learning about what was going on in that area during the Victorian era. I have always loved history and it felt like I was actually living it in this brilliant read. This book really is an amazing and fantastic start to what promises to be an absolutely gripping and addictive trilogy. It is ram packed with suspense, twists, turns and emotions that will have you hooked throughout!! Grab your copy now and jump on a rollercoaster ride of adventure, emotions and twists!

Congratulations Lindsey on a truly page turning, emotive and addictive book!! I would like to welcome you to my favourite historical author club and here's to your next success 🥂!!!

Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the first chapter of Lindsey's 'The Bad Penny', which promises to be just as good as this book and is one I'm definitely looking forward to reading myself!!!

Overall an absolutely heart-warming, soul lifting unputdownable book that will captivate your heart, body and mind.

264 pages.

This book is just £3.99 to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £9.99 in paperback via Amazon, at time of review which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I enjoyed it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a book tour for Rachel's Random Resources.

The Pick-Pocket Orphans is the first book in a trilogy. When I started reading, I felt an immediate connection with the main characters, Alice and BJ. Thinking about their situation, it wasn't long before I felt emotionally involved. They had difficult lives, and I wanted things to get better for them.

This book both lifted my spirits and tugged at my heartstrings. In some ways, it was quite a sad story, but it warmed my heart too, because I saw how all the characters helped and supported each other, and I found that endearing. I liked the attitudes and values of the characters, as they didn't have much, but were always grateful for what they had. More than anything, they were just grateful to have each other.

I found this light enough to read in one sitting too. If you like historical sagas, and you want a book that will help you escape for a short while, you may want to give this a try.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, Rachel's Random Resources, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

I am a huge fan of Lindsey and her work and have been for a few years now. By no means have I read everything that she has written but that is something that I hope to rectify in the not too distant future. I read the synopsis of 'The Pick-Pocket Orphans' and it certainly sounded like the sort of story I have come to expect from Lindsey - a moving and gripping family saga. Well it was certainly all that and so much more. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Pick-Pocket Orphans' but more about that in a bit.

I adored the two main character of Alice Truelove and Bertram Jordan (or BJ as he is known to his friends) and I warmed to them from the start. In fact they ended up feeling more like friends rather than characters in a book. I found myself feeling all protective of them and I kept wanting to jump inside the pages to sort out the characters, who were being nasty or awkward towards Alice and BJ. I know that this is a work of fiction but I find that the sign of a good book is when I become too involved with the story to the extent that I 'interact' with the characters as if they can hear me. That's exactly what happened with 'The Pick-Pocket Orphans'.

As with all of Lindsey's books, I was drawn to the book by the fact that I saw Lindsey's name on the cover of a book that I knew I hadn't read yet. As soon as I started reading the book itself, I knew that I wouldn't be doing anything other than reading for the rest of the day as I wouldn't be able to put the book down. I was spot on too. I picked the book up and didn't put it down again until after I had read the last word on the last page. My Kindle wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn't bear to miss a single second of the story. I had to know how the story ended and what implications the ending might have for my two favourite characters. The more of the book that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. I was so wrapped up in the story and in the lives of Alice and BJ that I lost all track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the book. All too quickly I reached the end of 'The Pick-Pocket Orphans' and had to say a temporary farewell to Alice and BJ. I found 'The Pick-Pocket Orphans' to be an unputdownable, page turner of a read which certainly tugged on the heart strings.

'The Pick-Pocket Orphans' is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Lindsey Hutchinson. Lindsey has an easy going writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of Lindsey's books often feels more like a chat between friends rather than reading a book. I hope that makes sense. Lindsey's love for her characters shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. She makes her characters seem just as real as you and I. I mentioned earlier on in this review that I felt as though Alice and BJ were friends rather than fictional characters in a book. Lindsey has clearly done a lot of research into the time period during which this story has set and this helps to make the story seem that bit more authentic. The Victorian era fascinates me and I love stories set during that time. Reading 'The Pick-Pocket Orphans' certainly felt like being on one heck of an emotional rollercoaster ride with all the ups and downs, highs and lows, twists and turns an so on. I found that I ended up going through all the emotions that the different characters were going through. I love the way in which Lindsey makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action. That's how I felt anyway.

In short, I adored reading 'The Pick-Pocket Orphans' and I wholeheartedly recommend it to other readers. 'The Pick- Pocket Orphans' is the first book in a new trilogy and if the next two books are as good as this one then the reader is certainly in for a treat. I will certainly be reading more of Lindsey's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

a new saga series for 2024 from Lindsay Hutchinson and this does not disappoint.
As expected it's a page turner full of family trials and tribulations including sorrow and courage..
Excellent.

A sad but inspiring story of two young people who made the best of their unfortunate circumstances.

Alice couldn't live with her father anymore. She didn't know where she was going. She didn't know how she was going to survive. Then she met BJ.

It was very touching how they looked after each other. Alice and BJ depended on each other.

It is difficult to fathom that this could really happened. I've seen movies and TV shows where they show street urchins in rags begging for food or coins. Children lived in workhouses. They worked in factories at very young ages.

Alice and BJ's story was one of survival and what needed to be done to meet their basic needs. It's amazing what the two of them accomplished at such young ages.

I was not happy when I came to the last page. What? I have to wait for the next book to find out what happens?

Another great novel from Lindsey Hutchinson! I started reading this and before I knew it I had finished it, I just flew through this page turning book.
Alice meets BJ after leaving home. BJ shows Alice the way of the streets and a truly lovely friendship develops between the pair before what they are doing catches up to BJ. Alice turns to the only person she knows for help but tragedy strikes leaving Alice alone, this makes Alice stronger as a person.
A great novel of friendship, loss and love. Highly recommend this novel to lovers of the saga genre.

This is the first book in a new trilogy and what a fabulous start to the series it was. Set in the 1860’s in the Black Country town of Wedensbury. I loved this book so much that I devoured it in two days it was so good. I’m a huge fan of historical sagas and this one was truly unputdownable. The two characters of Alice and BJ were wonderful and it would be almost impossible for me to choose a favourite if I had to. The strength and courage of these two children was amazing and there were times when I had a tear in my eye reading this book. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series to find out how life is working out for both Alice and BJ.

The latest novel by talented Lindsey Hutchinson, The Pick Picket Orphans, is the first in a new trilogy.

We meet 13-year old Alice and BJ who have been left all alone and penniless. BJ had been on the streets a while before Alice rocked up so he taught her the ropes. She soon became a pickpocket artist as well as checking out the market for forgotten food. Starting out together in the Black Country, the story then divides between England and Australia where BJ has been sent.

Lindsey has a knack of drawing you in immediately and getting you immersed until you’ve finished the book! I loved it! Grab your copy today.

Such a delightful and empowering read with so much emotion I didn't know whether I wanted to laugh or cry. Alice is a courageous little girl who despite everything being against her shines and has the kindest heart. When she meets BJ she finds a true friend but soon they may be torn apart. Can Alice find her way back to BJ? I loved how when these two individuals had nothing that they remained true to themselves and beat the odds for survival. I delighted in the future for them and really hope that they both have happiness. When I reached the end of the story I literally jumped for joy to find out there is to be another book and I am so excited to see how things progress for BJ and Alice. I hope you are busy writing Lindsey (haha). A emotional historical saga that is off to a exciting and warm start.

The Pick-Pocket Orphans opens with just how difficult thirteen-year-old Alice Truelove’s life has become. From the beginning of this story by Lindsey Hutchinson, you can’t help but empathize with this character. While she hopes for a better life this well-developed finds herself alone and hungry until she meets Bertram Jordan, or BJ to his friends. Together they forn a family as such. However, life takes a different turn than expected.

Most of the stories I have read by Lindsey Hutchinson take place in England’s Black Country but this one also has the characters sent to a penal colony in Australia. Like all of this author’s stories, the writing takes you right there with the characters. This story has all the feelings from despair to hope, fear and friendship. The future is still unsettles as this book ends until the next. Not exactly a cliffhanger ending, just that you feel more is coming for these two and their friends.

What a delightful story despite the hardships encountered by Alice and BJ. This is a work of historical fiction that follows Britist convicts to Australia and talks of the cruelites experienced by them. The reader will also discover surprizing threads of kindness stitched throughout. I was sorry to reach the end of the story which seemed to have come around so quickly. However, it does seem to me that there could well be a sequel to look forward to. I hope so. In my opinion, this is a great and clean read that even preteens could read.

~ Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger ~

March 2024

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGally and the publisher.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of The Pick-Pocket Orphans by Lindsey Hutchinson. I really enjoyed the first book of an apparent trilogy. I am looking forward to reading book 2 when it comes out. This was an emotional read and it was a quick read. I loved it and wanted more because it is definitely left unfinished. This was my first book by this author. I enjoyed her writing style. Definitely a 5 star read and I would highly recommend it to others.

Thank you for the chance to read this ARC in return for my honest opinion

I have read books by this author before and looked forward to the start of her new Trilogy
I also enjoyed her mothers writing - certainly a chip off the old block.

This was a sad book in some ways - two children left alone and destitute who forge what looks like an unlikely friendship.
They have to scavenge and steal just to survive - which certainly made me think about how much better life is these days

BJ is caught and transported to Australia - which today seems just horrific. He seems to fall on his feet though his shipmates are less lucky. Alice meanwhile learns a trade and through an impromptu 'find' manages to open a bakery - at 14. She is certainly resourceful despite so much tragedy in her life.

This is a well written and researched book with characters that you come to love and endear you whilst others are horrendous in their cruelty - but it makes for a well rounded book.
It does end rather abruptly but ready for the next one in the series
I wonder if this will make this more of a definite series rather than books that can be read as standalones - should this be pointed out on the blurb?

A great read and worthy of its 5 stars - I personally cant wait for book 2

What a great story this is ,read it in two days as couldn't put it down.Alice Truelove is blamed by her father for her mother's death and in the end she leaves home and lives on the streets . Here she meets BJ who teaches her how to live as a pick pocket. Things go wrong when BJ makes a mistake and Alice is left on her own to fend for her self.I can't wait for the next book in the trilogy.. Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books.

The only way to survive is to stick together...

What a delightful yet emotional read this was, as most of Ms Hutchinson's books tend to be. From the streets of the Black Country to the sunny climes of Western Australia, we follow the story of two youngsters, relative orphans, who find each other on the streets.

Alice Truelove has bore the brunt of her father's anger and near-hate for most of her life, even moreso now after the death of her mother the year before. Tired of being his verbal whipping girl, Alice packs her meagre possessions and steals away from the two-up two-down she has called home for thirteen years. A life on the streets is far more inviting than another day bearing the brunt of her father disdain for her a moment longer.

But she soon finds that life on the streets is far from easy though she still favours it from the alternative. It isn't long before she meets BJ, Bertram Jordan, who has long since learned to survive on the streets, pilfering and scavenging where he can. Though of indeterminate age, he takes 13 year old Alice under his wing and teaches her the ways of the streets. She soon becomes adept at pick-pocketing, filching and scavenging in the market square at the end of the day. Together they look out for each other.

But then one day, BJ fails to return and Alice begins to worry when by morning he still hasn't returned. She begins to ask around the market, ending up at Green's Bakery who have always looked after the two youngsters. A quick visit to the local constabulary with the gift box of some delicious pastries, Josie Green returns with the solemn news that BJ has been arrested for burglary. An appearance before the cranky Justice of the Peace sees him bound over to the assizes for trial and sentencing, for which he receives seven years transportation to Australia. Without BJ by her side, Alice must learn to fend for herself once again.

No one could predict what comes next for the two youngsters. BJ on a ship to Australia and Alice taken in by the Greens. A brighter tomorrow may be in their futures but not before tragedy strikes sending their lives on a course they didn't foresee. Alice is lost without BJ and seven years is a long time. What if she never sees him again?

Another delightful read by Lindsey Hutchinson though the ending feels a little unfinished but I'm guessing that is because the story is not yet over, with this being the first in a trilogy.

I do so love this author and her heartwrenching tales and I even found parts of this one somewhat deprssing. But it does pick up with the promise of a brighter tomorrow...just what that all entails we will have to wait and see what's in store for them.

Anothr cracking read.

I would like to thank #LindseyHutchinson, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #ThePickPocketOrphans in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.