3,5 ★★★☆

I really enjoyed this book. It was an entertaining and quick mystery set in 18th-century London, with a rich work on details and descriptions that makes it easy to immerse yourself in the world.

The main protagonist is intelligent and likeable enough, though somewhat judgmental. However, her motivations didn’t always make sense. Lizzie is said to embark on her investigation to clear her name, yet there’s no immediate threat to her since the inspector himself admits there’s no evidence against her. Moreover, it felt implausible that the inspector would allow her to accompany him during his investigation considering her lack of any official role or qualifications. He doesn’t even particularly like her either. There were also moments where the timeline felt unclear and I was confused.

Despite this, the book is decidedly enjoyable, with a strong historical setting. I would be interested in reading the next one!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Fans of historical crime fiction set in Georgian England will love this reissue from Georgina Clarke. Set in Soho in 1759, it has all the ingredients of a successful historical murder mystery in the vein of Leonora Nattrass: authentic setting, engaging heroine, page turning twisty plot, hints of future romance and the setting up of a series.
It’s a delight. The heroine, Lizzie Hawkins, lives and works as a member of a more genteel brothel, run under the benevolent (mainly) eye of the Madam, Ma Farley. Lizzie tells the tale with a subtle combination of intelligence, warmth and cynicism. From the beginning we can see she is not one of your run of the mill bawds, and as the story progresses, her own back story is gradually revealed. She is drawn into the investigations that take place when one of her clients is found dead in the yard behind a Soho pub. She works closely with Will Blackstone, one of the original Bow Street runners, under the leadership of John Fielding, the brother of the celebrated literary figure, Henry. From initial suspicion and mistrust, they grow to respect each other as Blackstone increasingly realises that Lizzie is someone of depth and integrity.
The plot is unfolded with skill and pace and the reader is carried by this forward propulsion as the mystery thickens and is then resolved after a climactic showdown between Lizzie and the villain.The resolution at the end is both satisfying and carries the promise of more to come in future books. Clarke has written a sequel and a third book is due later in 2025. I will definitely be reading both of them to see what develops between Lizzie and Will.
I had just a couple of doubts about the world Clarke creates. Although she shows the abject misery of the street prostitutes, addled with gin, sleeping rough, and willing to provide any service to pay for food and more gin, there is something strangely sanitised about Lizzie’s experiences as a higher class working girl, and the other members of Ma Farley’s establishment. Lizzie gives full vent to her feelings about her work: her exhaustion, her disgust, her contempt for her clients, but despite that, it seems a relatively safe and tranquil situation that Lizzie is too comfortable with. It’s clear that Clarke knows her stuff and has done a shedload of research about the period, but I felt that the reality would have been more perilous, even for the cosseted girls of Ma Farley’s. I also didn’t quite believe in the wonderful Lizzie, who was a little too untouched by her experiences. She’s a great character: appealing, beautiful, feisty, intelligent, but a little too kind, it seemed to me.
More positively, I thought Clarke was unflinching in her portrayal of the aristocracy and the gentry - callous, entitled predators, slicing through the seedy side of London, blissfully untroubled by the human wreckage left in their wake. Some things never change. Overall, a highly enjoyable recreation of 18th century London life and a compelling crime mystery to boot.

I read enjoyed this book
An entertaining read and interesting crime drama set in 1750s London . Lizzie a prostitute is forced to investigate a murder to remove suspicion from herself working with Davenport one of the Magistrate John Fielding's investigators (forerunners to the Bow street runners prior to there being any recognised police force.
Follow Lizzie through the dangerous squalid streets of London where women sell themselves just to survice and people can be hung for minor crimes committed to ensure survival.
Looking forward to Lizzie Hardwicke's next adventure

Loved this book a good paced page turner. The history and description of London 1759 takes you there the look and smell.

Prostitution, sometimes referred to as the world's oldest profession to the latest profession a constable or watcher.

Can Lizzie using her knowledge of locals who will not talk to the constabulary help her find the killer and the reason. Kept me guessing untill the end.

Lizzie Hardwicke is a high class prostitute working from the house of the infamous Ma Farley who runs a tight ship. Ma's girls cater to wealthy men and when one of Lizzie's clients is found to have been murdered after he was kicked out of Ma's house, suspicion soon falls on Lizzie.

Whilst the police are investigating Lizzie, she tries to find the true culprit to clear her name, but someone is working against her and she's framed for the crime she didn't commit. Meanwhile, it comes to light that the murdered man had been blackmailing many people - he knew secrets about Ma and some of her wealthy patrons, any one of which could have had the motive and means to kill him. Lizzie has to race to prove her innocence before she hangs.

This is a brilliant story, the tension doesn't let up all the way through. I loved all the characters, the grisly descriptions of life in 18th century London and the lives of the working girls on the streets in contrast to those at Ma's was all so well written. This is the first in a series and I'll be sure to read the next.

I really enjoyed this book, it was a quick and entertaining read with 18th Century London as backdrop, which is always a bonus! It reminded me of one of my favourite series, the Raven and Fisher books by Ambrose Parry. There have been some comparisons with Sarah Waters and that’s probably a stretch -the mystery is not particularly mysterious and there is little by way of interpersonal; there is perhaps a hint of future romance but nothing that happens in this book. Was it enough to compel me to read the sequels? Probably!

I can also see some criticism around supposed fat phobia in the book -as a fat person myself I think that’s gravely exaggerated and not the case at all.

A brilliantly written historical crime debut, this is the first of the Lizzie Hardwicke trilogy- a unconventional, audacious, clever, and beautiful heroine fighting to survive in the dark underbelly of Georgian London. Atmospheric, fast paced and full of rich historical detail, this is a story of lies, obsession, murder and revenge, and I was gripped from the very first page.

Featuring a cast of characters as unreliable as the next, what I found very clever was the authors excellent way of using smoke and mirrors to point the fingers of suspicion at every character. You didn't know who to trust and this really added to the depth, tension and nervous excitement of the novel. Every chapter held a new and sometimes disturbing twist often revealing a secret you didn't quite expect - I haven't had a book keep me on my toes as much as this one did for a long time.

Shocking, sometimes tragic, dark, dirty, upsetting in places but uplifting and very funny in others, lovers of dark historical and Gothic fiction will love this. It's absolutely brilliant.

This was a delightful, witty and full of action novel! I just loved it! I loved Lizzie's character and her way of understanding life... The plot felt realistic and compelling. On top of that, the painting of 1700's London showed a deep knowledge of the times. I can't wait for the next book in this new series. A promising writer indeed!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

Wow, this book combines my two favourite things; history and murder mystery to make a super fun and gripping read. I absolutely devoured this book in one sitting and I’m dying for more instalments of Lizzie’s story already.

The historical setting was well described and immersive, the main characters were likeable and sharp and the big reveal was well orchestrated. The historical elements were interesting throughout and I definitely want to do more research into 18th century London on the back of this (the historian in me geeked out).

There were small reveals throughout that were predictable and I just want Lizzie to catch a break but overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend as this is a solid 4.5* for me (rounded up to 5*)!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC!

London in 1759 isn't where Lizzie Hardwicke imagined herself living, and she definitely didn't see herself working in a Bawdy House! But sometimes needs must! She didn't imagine being the last person to see a new client before they were found murdered either and even though William Davenport, the Bow Street Magistrate's Assistant, seems competent he doesn't have the contacts she does! When another body is discovered, Lizzie realises she has to work harder, but that will only increase the danger she has put herself in, especially as she knows there is very little trust in her line of work

The author's notes in the advanced copy of this book Georgina Clarke says this is a twenty-first century take on the eighteenth century, which describes it perfectly. This is a great read. It flows, and the two main protagonists, Lizzie and Davenport, are sympathetically written and easy to like. First published in October 2019, this is now the first novel in a trilogy, which can't wait to continue reading.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Verve Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. I had no idea whodunnit until the big reveal and happily recommend this highly.

I am grateful to Netgalley and Verve for allowing me to see a PPC of Death and the Harlot.
Another take on detective crime fiction: this time at the very earliest time of formal policing in London - as the Bow Street Runners were taking shape, though the detecting is done by an intelligent and educated young gentlewoman who has fallen on hard times following rape by her uncle and become the harlot of the title. Sin, debauchery, gin, blackmail and murder are all included in a picture of the seamier side of 18th century London. Lizzie is determined and loyal - the classic ‘tart with a heart’; but, although a good ripping yarn, it didn’t quite ring true for me.

The cover is excellent and perfectly depicts with a historical nudge the contents, willing you to delve in. A murder, a brothel and an investigation in the main character, Lizzie, hands itself over to an interesting and entertaining read.

I love the cover of this book, it gives a vibe about the story within.
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1759 and inside Mrs Farley's Bawdy House, a 'reputable brothel. a wealthy customer is found brutally murdered... The last person to see him was Lizzie..

I loved Lizzie she is a fabulous character and this gem of a read is both dark and intense.

The plotline is brilliant, the story well told and I did not guess what happens next.. A joyous tale..

Death and the Harlot by Georgina Clarke

The year is 1759, and London is shrouded in a cloak of fear. With the lawmen at the mercy of robbers and highwaymen, it's a perilous time to work the already dangerous streets of Soho. Lizzie Hardwicke is somewhat protected from the fray at Mrs Farley's Bawdy House, a reputable brothel. But then a wealthy customer is found brutally murdered... and Lizzie was the last person to see him alive.
Loved the character Lizzie and how she went along with her business which was not always at it seemed.
A very clever novel.