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.

Too many deaths associated with the bawdy house and Lizzie Hardwick appears to be the one person linking all three but who else could be responsible? I want to say I liked this book, but it just tried too hard. The author had obviously done a lot of research into London in 1759, but it was as if she wanted to put all that knowledge into this story and didn’t know when to stop adding new storylines for the plot. An okay story but not a gripping page turner and I’m not sure if it becomes a series whether I could be bothered to read the next book. My thanks to Net Galley and the author for an ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. I’ve a bit of a fascination with Georgian London and this didn’t disappoint. The characters are intriguing & the first person narrative perfect for the style. The dialogue is also convincing. I thought it was really descriptive and the plot very thorough. I will definitely be looking out for other books in this series.

Thanks to the author, publishers & NetGalley for access to this book in return for an honest review.

Lizzie, the upper class harlot finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery after a client whom she was the last known person to be with is found dead in a dirty alleyway. George Reed the well dressed cloth merchant from Norwich had secrets to hide and prosper from but was this the cause of his untimely demise? Lizzie helps to uncover the mystery and find the murderer in this gritty historic novel. Well written and I loved Lizzies character all in all a very enjoyable read.. cannot wait to read the next instalment following Lizzies next venture !

Great novel set in Londons Soho during the 18th century following a young woman, Lizzie Hardwicke who works in a brothel. One of her wealthy clients is murdered after being thrown out of the establishment. Constable William Davenport is investigating the murder and thinks Lizzie is the prime suspect even though there is lack of evidence.

I really liked the historical setting, the main characters Lizzie Hardwicke and William Davenport and thoroughly enjoyed the plot, with its twists and ending.I

I received this book from netgalley in return for a honest review.

A well-written, entertaining, historical murder mystery.
Set in London in 1759 Lizzie Hardwicke works as a prostitute in a renowned brothel. After being the suspect in a murder, Lizzie embarks on her own investigation into clearing her name and uncovering the real killer.
The characters are well-developed and Lizzie is extremely likeable. Really clever plot with enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. The author does a great job of transporting the reader to 18th century London without being too graphic.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

The novel had a really good of fluidity, and I felt like I was walking alongside Lizzie on the streets of London, looking for clues to solve the murder. All the sights and sounds of the 18th century came alive, along with an exciting storyline.

The investigation took some dark and unexpected turns. It also managed to get inside Lizzie’s head really well. She had a really strong character voice. Although parts of the novel were dark, they never went into gory details. I found myself glued to the pages each evening. The ending had a lot of drama, too. This book reminded me of The Ruby In The Smoke by Phillip Pullman (although set in a different time, it had the same feel with the depiction of London). Death and the Harlot would make a good TV series.