Honestly, I've only read 20% of this book.
I had great expectations. I loved the premise: the way in which the sleuthing seemed to take place in the fitting room of a tailor. It sounded like something so very different from anything I'd read before.
But when I started reading, my expectations plummated. The prologue gave away the story's opening, and the subsequent five chapters felt like mere filling. The style is very heavy on explanation. Basically, the first five chapters consisted of explanation plus preparation to reveal what, as a reader, I had already worked out from the prologue.
Yet I wanted to give the story a chance because the premise intrigued me so much.
But when I came to the beginning of the action, I couldn't buy into it. Given the problem at hand, who would ever take that course of action? I mean, realistically?
As I said, I couldn't buy into it. And because I had a feeling that, if I continued reading, I would have had just more of that, I decided to drop it.

So much going on!

Rose Burnham has worked hard at learning her craft; as a seamstress she is not only good but also has a natural talent. Finally, she has taken the plunge and alo.ng with her two sisters, has set up her own business and is well aware that the first year will be hard. Having clients who settle their bills in an orderly fashion will be their main priority. So, when one of her best customers confides in Rose that she joined a matrimonial agency and has been duped out of her fortune, leaving her unable to pay her account, Rose feels she has no option but to look into the matter. After all, the success of her business could depend upon it . . .

I loved everything about this one; the period, the characters and the wonderful storyline. Beautifully written, it has inspired me to take a look at the author's other books. I would really love it if this turned into a series - I enjoyed it that much. Definitely one I recommend and am happy to give it all five stars!

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley.

This novel captures the spirit of the 1920s through the characters and creates a compelling picture of what it was like to be a young woman in these times.

I love talking and reading about historical clothing, so the glamorous depictions of outfits really drew me in. Although this was only a small part, and I found the writing to be down to earth with great historical details regarding the effect of World War One and use of themes such as “surplus” women, working women, etc.

To go back to the theme of clothing, I think that the novel worked well because it brought together many women from different walks of life and although tastes and shopping experiences have changed – it remains a big part of our identity.

No murders in this one, instead a fraud investigation, and it’s a tangled case. The plot took the reader down many different paths with all sorts of characters, not just the wealthy and their servants, which I was pleased about.

This meant the plot was not easy to guess, which I liked. I was thinking it can’t be this person, so who could it be? I got really involved! There was also some nice tension in the story with Rose having a personal reason to become an ameteur sleuth. She was a very likeable character, and it was very easy to empathise with her and her sisters, the passion for their business, and having to fight for what they had shone through. There was an intriguing secondary story that held its own and could have been the plot for a book in itself.

Miss Burnham and the Loose Thread by Lynn Knight is an absolute joy to read. This fantastic debut novel is a warm, exciting, and heartwarming hug of a book. Filled with humour, adventure, and heart, it's a brilliant mix of cosy crime and historical fiction that kept me thoroughly entertained.

Set in south-east London in 1925, the story follows Rose Burnham, a talented dressmaker who runs her own business alongside her sisters Ginny and Alice. When their loyal client, Miss Holmes, is swindled out of her inheritance by a deceptive suitor, Rose takes it upon herself to uncover the truth and recover the stolen money. What begins as a thrilling adventure soon reveals deeper layers of danger and intrigue.

The three Burnham sisters are delightful characters, each with their own charm and strengths. Rose's determination and quick thinking make her an engaging protagonist, while her sisters add warmth and humour to the story. The bond between the siblings is beautifully portrayed, and I loved the way they stood together to protect both their business and their community.

The book beautifully evokes the post-war era, highlighting themes of social change, female resilience, and the challenges women encountered in business. Lynn Knight’s extensive knowledge of social history and fashion, developed through her years of research and writing, shines through in her rich descriptions of fabrics, dress designs, and the meticulous craftsmanship behind garments for special occasions. Drawing from her expertise in exploring women's lives through cherished heirlooms and everyday objects, Knight adds authenticity and depth to the narrative, fully immersing the reader in 1920s London.

I particularly enjoyed the vivid depiction of society’s mixed attitudes towards women entering the workforce. While some characters championed independence, others clung to outdated views, which added a layer of realism and tension to the story. The glimpse into the lives of women living in hostels, navigating financial instability, and finding their place in a world still reeling from the Great War was both informative and thought-provoking.

The mystery itself was cleverly plotted, with enough twists to keep me guessing. While it carried the charm of a traditional golden-age detective novel, there was also a refreshing depth to the characters and themes explored. The balance between mystery and historical fiction felt seamless, and I appreciated the slower pace that allowed the characters and their world to shine.

This book would make a wonderful Sunday evening BBC historical drama. It’s comforting yet insightful, warm yet adventurous, and undeniably charming. I sincerely hope there are many more Burnham sisters’ mysteries to come because I’d love to spend more time in their company.

Miss Burnham and the Loose Thread is an excellent read, transporting the reader to another time and place. If you enjoy historical fiction, cosy crime, or stories about strong women forging their own paths, this book is not to be missed.

This book is such a joy. It is a golden age detective novel but with such colour and depth that you could be there working with Rose. I do hope there are many more to come. I will look out for them .

This is an absolutely fantastic debut. A warm, exciting, lovely hug of a book. We have sisters setting out on their own in business - in a man’s world, determined to make it, then one of their customers gets into trouble, and they refuse to let this happen, determined to bring the criminals to justice.

This is funny, heartwarming, exciting and overall just an excellent read, I struggled to put it down and the characters were so well written, I felt like I was in the story.

Brilliant fun!

My thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I found this lovely book the reading equivalent of a Sunday night BBC drama. Comforting, informative, warm and cheering, with elements that challenged me and really made me think.
I love books featuring strong women finding their way in the 20th Century, and here we had them having to face a world changed by The Great War. Miss Burnham and the Loose Thread was clearly really well researched, and it provided vivid details of the lives of these women. As well as the historical details and backdrop of 1920s London, it was also a 'cosy crime' novel that had a well-paced plot and really kept me guessing.
I wholeheartedly recommend this charming and well written book. It would make a good Book Club choice, as there is so much to talk about, with so many characters to discuss. An easy 5 stars from me.

Lynn Knight’s Miss Burnham and the Loose Thread revolves around 26-year-old Rose Burnham, who has set up her own dressmaking business, employing her two sisters, Ginny and Alice. It’s all going well until their over-reliance upon one key customer (Miss Phyllis Holmes) becomes evident when Miss Holmes is swindled out of her money and cannot afford to pay her bill. Rose is angry that Miss Holmes was conned by a man who pretended to woo her; persuaded her to lend him her savings; and then disappeared. Rose determines to find the man and get the money back.

The author does a superb job of evoking the period in many ways: the formal salutations between women (Miss Holmes and Miss Burnham never use first names); most women’s appreciation of freedom when they have it – and their sympathy for the women who don’t – but also the vehement disapproval of some old-fashioned jealous women. The reader is shown how society held mixed views about women going into business. And, of course, we get glorious descriptions of the dresses and hats that the Burnham sisters created for specific occasions.

This is a highly enjoyable book but I felt the middle seemed to sag a little, perhaps a reflection of Rose’s frustratingly slow progress towards catching the swindler. However, the denouement is satisfying, although perhaps a tad unrealistic – would a villain who goes to such pains to ensnare a vulnerable female really shoot their mouth off in public? Still, the book’s good points far far outweigh my picky concerns. I do hope Lynn Knight gives us a sequel or two.

#MissBurnhamandtheLooseThread #NetGalley

What great fun this book was! A delightful story about a dressmaker turned amateur sleuth with lots of excellent period detail thrown in. If you liked 'the house of Elliot' (tv) or 'a single thread' (novel) you will love this.

The three sisters are beautifully fleshed out and the mores of the time spot on. Throw in a couple of witless policemen and some very unchivalrous suitors and you have the perfect pattern for success.

I read this very quickly, it was a lovely read.

Adventurous Rose Burnham has set up her own dressmaking business with the backing of the marvellous Mrs. Lingard, employing her sisters Ginny and the irrepressible Alice. When a client is unable to pay her sizeable bill having been swindled by a confidence trickster, dubiously met through a matrimonial agency Rose is determined to get the money back in order to keep her business afloat and so begins to investigate.

Author Lynn Knight tells the story of a certain class of women in post-war 1920s London describing the financial uncertainty, sharing 'respectable' but grim hostels and lack of a whole generation of men and how this presents different life choices. She also writes beautifully about fabrics, design, fashion and a new generation of women supporting each other. Rose discovers a passion and a skill for sleuthing and we are left with the promise of a sequel. This interesting read is gentle and the main characters likeable and the plot unfurls nicely.

Rose Burnham and her sisters Gwen and Alice have recently left their respective jobs in department stores and set up their own dressmaking business. Things appear to be going well until their best client, Miss Holmes, comes to tell them that she no longer wants the outfit they have spent hours designing and making, she can't even pay them for the clothes she has already had, she has been duped by a man she met through a matrimonial agency (rather sickeningly called Cupid's Arrow) into 'investing' her inheritance of £800 into his start up business. Since then she has heard nothing from him, she has no way of contacting him and she is mortified.

At first Rose's indignation and pity for Miss Holmes is also fuelled by a desire to try recoup some of Miss Holmes' money so that their business can also stay afloat. She realises that they have neglected to drum up new customers and have perhaps not accurately priced the clothes they have made for their existing customers. Rose determines to go undercover to Cupid's Arrow and try to get matched with Miss Holmes' beau.

This was a pleasant, dare I say cosy, mystery. I am by no means an expert on the 1920s but a lot of the historical detail seemed authentic. I am a resident of South-East London and it did give me a thrill when Rose's mystery bus ride with her beau took her through Bromley and Petts Wood which are very close to where I live. I liked the references to the ongoing impact of WW1 on the lack of men of a certain age, and those that were around were injured in some way. I also liked the subtle indication that Miss Jennings and Isobel were not just friends. Loved the detailed references to clothes, as one would expect from a Professor in Fashion Curation at the London College of Fashion.

I would definitely be interested in reading more in this series.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Miss Burnham and the Loose Thread by Lynn Knight promised much. The story of three sisters running a dress-making business in 1920s London felt convincing. Rose, the middle sister, is the focus of the book and she was an interesting, rounded character. But then the amateur sleuthing started and the thread began to unravel slightly. But the realistic nature of the book held together pretty well. My real difficulty with the book was that there were just too many strands. I feel that Lynn Knight tried to cram all her ideas into one book, and that made it less enjoyable for me to read.

It is one of those books that transports you making you forget about real life and full of delightful characters that spring to life. I actually felt like I was there in the story with them ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
For all fans of historical fiction!