I enjoyed this book, I thought the mystery element was very well plotted and although I had a guess at the culprit from the beginning I wasn't sure of my guess, and so it was still fun to figure it out along with Lizzy. I really liked the character of Lizzy and the setting of 1759 London. The one thing that kept me from liking this a bit more was that it was modernized, to an extent, for today's reader and I think the modernization of the language kept this from feeling truly historical. In the author's note Georgina Clarke explained this, but I think I would have felt more immersed in the story with more of a happy medium between the language of today and the language of 1759.

A really enjoyable romp through the seed London of the 1750s where harlot Lizzie turns detective having been the main suspect of murder. Light-hearted, entertaining but with substance.
Recommended.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Death and the Harlot is exactly what I needed to get me out of a recent reading slump!

Lizzie was a very likeable character, and I enjoyed following her on her journey to clear her own name by solving a murder. The relationships between characters felt genuine, and it was interesting to feel like I had an insight into the underbelly of 1700s London.

I’m definitely keen to read more about Lizzie’s adventures.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for this arc. A historical crime thriller which will have any archaic crime fan revelling in reading joy. Not quite my cup of tea but I’m sure many would enjoy.

I must start by thanking Verve Books and NetGalley for an Advance Reader Copy of this book. (Perhaps it is also worth stating for the record that the author is no relation!)

This book was such an enjoyable read. It is a historical murder mystery, set in 1750's London.

The book follows Lizzie Hardwicke, a prostitute working in a reputable brothel in Soho, who finds herself tangled up in a murder investigation after a wealthy customer is found dead.

I really liked the whole cast of characters that Georgina Clarke introduces us to in this book, but I particularly like the character of Lizzie. She is strong, independent, and fierce, but also (perhaps begrudgingly) soft-hearted and caring. I also really enjoyed the relationship between Lizzie and William Davenport, which was well crafted and helped draw me further into the story.

I enjoyed all the elements of the story and was kept hooked on the mystery until the very end. The writing was excellent, and even from the very first chapter, I appreciated the narrative style, which put me at ease straight away.

Despite this book being a murder mystery that did keep me gripped until the end, it was also a gentle book. The time spent building Lizzie's world and introducing the reader to the cast of characters did balance out the mystery, sleuthing, and drama, though it was never to the detriment of the story. It was clear from the book that it was setting up the world and relationships for potential future books and mysteries, and I am looking forward to returning to any future mysteries that Lizzie Hardwicke may need to solve in the future!

It is hopefully obvious that I would recommend this book, but I would particularly recommend this book if you are fans of books like Ruby in the Smoke by Phillip Pullman.

Lizzie is a harlot turned murder investigator when one of her clients turns up dead the next morning.
I really enjoyed this book, Lizzie is a fun character who is tenacious and making do with the cards that have been dealt to her. She's smart, resourceful, funny and has a very big heart for the people in her life.

The murder investigation was well plotted and kept me guessing til the end.

I look forward to reading more in this series

3.5 Death and the Harlot is a fun murder mystery set in 18th century London.

Lizzie Hardwicke is a harlot working in a bawdy house in London under the strict rule of Ma Farley. At a masquerade party, one of her clients George Reed, is expelled from the house following his inappropriate behaviour.

Reed is found murdered in a nearby tavern the next morning and Lizzie quickly becomes the prime suspect. But Lizzie is no ordinary harlot, she has a keen mind and is swept into the investigation alongside police officer Davenport.

As the duo roam through London’s seedy streets they will uncover an ever growing list of possible suspects in Reed’s murder.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fun, well plotted and fast paced. The mystery is wrapped up really well, and Clarke set up our characters and storyline for the next book in an intriguing way for a sequel.

Lizzie and Davenport’s characters are the standout of this book for me. Their chemistry as a detective duo is engaging and endearing. I cannot wait to see where the pair will go next.

And although Clarke did mention in her historical notes that she adjusted the language for a 21st century audience, I was slightly disappointed by some of the more modern terminology in an 18th century setting.

But I digress; I had a fun time with it and would recommend it as a more “adult” version of a typical cosy mystery. I look forward to another instalment in the series.

Thanks to Verve Books and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Last updated on Apr 26 2019
As a debut work, this is one of the best books I have read so far this year!. I found this to be a fascinating and delicious story, and it was such a shame to come to the end of such a satisfying read. It was great fun for a murder mystery , at times, light hearted froth, other time it showed very intelligently written ,clearly reasoned and explained story lines. I certainly didn't guess the murderer, it was most inventive.
Lizzie Hardwicke is a prostitute,who has the misfortune to be suspected of murder when her last client is found dead. Lizzie is a very strong minded individual, who realises that the Police aren't willing to search for the truth,so she joins forces with Detective Davenport, who is a decent investigator, and together they search for evidence to prove Lizzies innocence . Both previous clients and other street walkers help and hinder this strange pair in assorted ways, and it doesn't help that both Lizzie and Davenport both have secrets in their backgrounds that make each suspect the other! There are many likeable and believable characters in this story, and I had real affection for Lizzie and Davenport, they make a compelling couple.
As a debut book, this made a great impression upon me, and I am hopeful that a prostitute detective will be the next crime sensation! I know this book will do well and I will certainly recommend it most highly. A fantastic work of fiction that feels so historically accurate, with all the smells and sights of London portrayed in all its sad glory. Marvellous.
I reviewed this book on the above date, I wondered why it sounded so familiar to me! I left reviews to Goodreads and Amazon on the 26/ 04/ 2019.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. I can recommend it to everyone who'd like to read a not so conventional mystery. Sadly after hitting the 50% mark I had to force myself through it and the twists were very predictable. I really enjoyed the characters and the vibe of the whole book, but I was hoping for a little less predictable twist.

Unfortunately this was a DNF at 50% for me. I initially enjoyed the story and the murder at the centre of Lizzys story, however I found Lizzy herself annoying and it took away from my overall enjoyment of the book... however this could just be a me issue and I am definitely willing to get the book another try as I want to know ultimately - whodunnit!

thoroughly enjoyed the book; it captivated my attention from the very first page and held it until the end. The writing was engaging, and the characters were well-developed, making it easy to connect with the story. However, I did find that the plot was somewhat predictable. At times, it felt too obvious, which detracted from the suspense I was hoping to experience. Despite this, it was still a solid read, and I would recommend it.

I loved this book from start to finish. There were twists and turns that kept me turning pages. I flew through this book as I didn't want to put it down. It's a historical book with a murder mystery that kept me guessing to the very end.

We are in London in the year 1759. Lizzie Hardwicke works as a harlot at the bawdy house run by Mrs Farley. This gives her some protection from the danger of being a harlot on the streets. When one of her customers is found murdered, she is suspected of being responsible by the local police force. Determined to clear her name, she reluctantly joins forces with the magistrate's assistant, William Davenport.

Not only does this book walkthrough Lizzie's investigation into the murder, but it also delves into her life as a harlot working in the tough and dangerous world of London in the eighteenth century. She also shares why she became a harlot in the first place as her earlier life was vastly different and headed on a different path. We meet many interesting and very dubious characters, and any one could be the murderer.

This is the first book in a series of books surrounding the character of Lizzie Hardwicke. I can't wait to dive into the rest of the series after this fantastic introduction to the life and world of Lizzie Hardwicke.

A fun read, light-hearted but with enough substance to satisfy. Lizzie Hardwicke is a great character and I look forwarding to reading more about her.

Very enjoyable.

I found the book interesting and kept me hooked but unfortunately I found the killer very obvious from the beginning of the book. I also felt like there was so many names and people to keep up with that I was getting mixed up at times. Overall I thought it was a good book and would read a second one if it became a series.

This is a book that had me hooked from the very start! A protagonist who isn't a member of high society or someone whose role commands respect? A commoner, nay, worse...a lady of ill repute as the main character, whoever heard of such a thing? Yet, lady of the night, she is. Bright, witty and street smart, she is, and head over heels, I am! Lizzie Hardwicke, who works at a respectable brothel, being one of Mrs Farley's girls finds herself at the centre of a murder, one she was conveniently there for but did not commit. Enter stage left, the dashing William Davenport who is there to uncover the truth about what happened.

I loved this book from the first page and found it refreshing, charming and hard to put down. It is a modern take on what life was like back then, and it doesn't shield what like was like back then. Well researched and flawlessly written, Lizzie Hardwicke is joining the ranks of characters who I will keep my eyes peeled for. Bring on the next book!

Thanks to Netgalley, Verve Books and Georgina Clarke, for a review copy of the book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Loved it! Lizzie Hardwick was such a fun character to follow through this murder mystery and I found it hard to put my Kindle down once I started reading. The plot was well thought out, the characters were brilliantly crafted and the dialogue/social commentry were both witty and daming in equal measures.

I'd reocmmend to fans of the TV show Harlots or anyone who likes a gritty murder mystery with a feisty FMC!

Death And The Harlot is a compulsively page turning mystery set in Georgian London. Lizzie Hardwicke is a high-class sex worker who finds herself suspect in a murder case when one of her clients turns up dead.

Lizzie is a thoroughly likeable character with a strong voice. There's a trend currently for feminist retellings but Lizzie really embodies what it means to be a feminist heroine: she goes to great lengths to help, protect and show solidarity to other women; she's constrained by her gender but able to reclaim agency for herself; and the novel never shows away from acknowledging the power imbalance in her relationships with men, even the ones we're supposed to like. There's an abundance of female characters, from various walks of life, who feel complex, varied and have their own goals and agendas.

Clarke excels at painting a vivid, sensory portrait of 17th century London: this is a setting where you can smell the filthy gutters, feel the ground squelch under your feet, taste hot gingerbread from a street seller. As someone whose frame of reference for the Georgian period is mostly Jane Austen, I enjoyed getting to know a very different setting.

Thank you to NetGalley and VERVE Books for the ARC in return for this honest review.

A historical whodunnit with a difference. This is an extremely entertaining read that does not flinch from harsh realities of sex work. Our heroine Elizabeth discovers her calling as a detective whilst working as a high class call girl in Georgian London. A customer dies and she is suspect number 1, but before long it becomes clear there were many people with a (not literal) axe to grind.

There are no graphic descriptions or scenes in this book but it conveys the brutality, squalor and even smell of Georgian London extremely well. I'm looking forward to seeing how Elizabeth and her new colleagues in the police get on in future books. Well worth a read.

I could not put this book down! I read this in a day it was so captivating. Lizzie is such a funny and enchanting character that you can’t help but love and mr Davenport is a brilliant partner for her. I love the mystery and it kept me guessing till the end. I could lose myself in Victorian London with the smells and of the streets. I can’t wait to see where this series goes and would recommend to any, especially fan of the show miss scarlet and the duke and harlots!

What a fantastic read!

I really enjoyed this one, a story set in 18th century London. A story of a murder and Lizzie, a sex worker who becomes a detective sets out to find out who has committed the crime.

The author sets the scene perfectly, every character is described in a way that you could be watching it on screen. I would love to see this made into a TV series. I will definitely be reading the next in the series when it's released.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for giving me an advanced reading of this book.