I do love a good historical fiction book, but I found this one a little too cozy for my tastes.

That said, I enjoyed the relationship between Lizzie and Mr Davenport, and I can see why so many people love this series.

I particularly enjoyed the insight into 18th Century theatre life and could easily imagine the scenes described thanks to Clarke's wonderful phrasing.

If you prefer your crime on the cosier side, then this series is definitely for you.

Book 2 in the Lizzie Hardwicke series, I would recommend reading Death and the Harlot first, to catch up with previous events and characters.
Lizzie is still working at Ma Farley’s upmarket brothel and she has gained a certain degree of notoriety after events in book one.
Mr John Fielding, the Magistrate, wants Lizzie to go undercover at the Garrick Theatre, where several puzzling accidents have happened recently, comprising of petty threats and acts of vandalism, indeed, a young stagehand fell off a ladder when Lizzie and her fellow whores visited the theatre. She is to work as a seamstress and listen to the gossip, whilst investigating the theatre and the people employed there.
An actors life is not all greasepaint and glamour, there are rich patrons to entertain, painting of the scenery and mending costumes, and apparently discovering a dead body on the stage early one morning.
The Police are called in and Lizzie is once again helping Mr Davenport, who works for Mr Fielding, to help find the guilty person. Lizzie is intelligent and can happily mix in both worlds of the Titled class and the workers. She is kind hearted, quick on the uptake and very practical, she makes an excellent undercover detective.
The undoubted attraction between Lizzie and Davenport is leading to an affection and he seems inclined to want to protect Lizzie in this novel.
I do hope this budding romance continues, hopefully we shall find out more in the next instalment of this very atmospheric and thrilling series, The Viper in the Nest.
A lovely mixture of actual people and the setting of Drury Lane is far removed from Berwick Street, and Lizzie begins to appreciate how lucky she is, despite being a sex worker. There are more dangers for young girls and women on the streets if you don’t have someone to watch out for you.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Verve Books for my ARC! freely given in exchange for my honest review. I gave a five star rating.
I have left reviews to Goodreads and Amazon UK today.

I read 'Death and the Harlot' first to put the main subjects into perspective (I would recommend this) and was very pleased with this second of the series, 'The Corpse Played Dead'. An excellent historical mystery and recommended.
My thanks to Verve Books and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

I decided to read the first Lizzie Hardwicke novel Death abd the Harlot before delving into this one. I'm glad I did as it gave me more background detail than just reading this #2.
Lizzie and Will Davenport continue their allegiances and delve into the theatre world for this next mystery story.. I enjoyed the storyline, Georgian England nuance and twists. It was a bit far fetched in parts but an enjoyable historical read.

It was once again easy to step into Lizzie’s Georgian London, a far cry from the rooms in which people had tea in Jane Austen’s books. We as readers get to see much more of the working class, the harsh and often brutal realities and conditions for the people living in these times. Lizzie takes us into the heart of the theatre world with all its characters, or should I say players. There were some very unlikable characters here, and their self interests really came across.
The mystery takes us off in all kinds of directions, exactly what I like – a good crime story that lets you work it out for yourself. I didn’t guess the murderer until near the end of the book, where it reached a satisfying conclusion. The book balanced historical knowledge with the mystery well, and the different locations in the book kept the pace of the novel going.

Although Lizzie is out there solving crimes, she is still trapped in her circumstances which leads me to wonder how the character’s life will develop in the future novels, and whether she has a career ahead of her as a full time sleuth. Also, could there be a touch of romance in the air? I’ll let you read it for yourself and make up your own mind.

Check your trigger warnings for this one as it contains violence towards women.

This is the second book in the Lizzie Hardwicke Mysteries series, and it's another fantastic read. I love historical mysteries, and this is a brilliant example of it done well. Most of the characters are fictional, but some really lived, and Georgina has a fantastic way of bringing the two together. The London of the 18th century has so much texture and seediness that it makes a sensational setting for a murder mystery.

Lizzie is asked by her friend William Davenport, who works for the Magistrate, to go undercover at a local theatre where there have been too many strange happenings to be accidental. He wants her to pose as a seamstress and watch and learn from the staff and actors to see what is happening. Then, there is a brutal murder. A nobleman has been horrifically killed, and so Lizzie is on the case.

Lizzie is such a fantastic character. As she grew up in more palatial surroundings than she currently lives in, she can move around grimy London while also understanding the world of the gentry.

I am also loving the spark between Lizzie and Davenport. Will this develop into something? I don't know, but I can't wait to find out.

This is a fantastic series of books that take you into the world of London in the 1700s, with the difficulties, opulence, and people just trying to get by. The book is beautifully paced and takes you along on the ride from setting up the story right through to the unmasking of the murderer.

I originally read and reviewed The Corpse Played Dead back in 2020, so when I saw it up for review on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to revisit it. I remember thoroughly enjoying the Lizzie Hardwicke series, and I can only hope this means more books are on the way!

While this could technically be read on its own, I’d highly recommend starting with Death and the Harlot. The first book sets up the dynamic between Lizzie and Inspector Will Davenport, which is hard-won and layered with tension and mutual respect. Plus, it’s just a great read, so don’t miss it if you can help it!

From the very first page, The Corpse Played Dead throws you into the heart of mid-18th century London. Lizzie, a high-class prostitute with a sharp mind and an even sharper wit, has worked with Bow Street runner Will Davenport before. When a theatre company at Drury Lane starts experiencing a string of misfortunes, he asks her to go undercover as a seamstress to investigate.

The characters in this book practically leap off the page, but Lizzie is the real star. She’s clever, complicated, and full of personality, yet there’s a vulnerability to her—she doesn’t always recognise her own worth, even when she’s proving time and again that she’s a force to be reckoned with. Davenport, on the other hand, is her perfect foil. He’s reserved, intelligent, and driven by a strong moral code, which puts him in constant conflict with his growing respect (and possibly more) for Lizzie, given his conservative views on her past and profession. Their push-pull dynamic is brilliant to read.

The theatre setting is equally compelling, packed with fascinating personalities and intricate relationships that give Lizzie’s investigation real depth. The mystery itself is well-paced and full of action, leading to a thrilling conclusion that had me gripped.

I gave this book five stars back in 2020, and I see no reason to change that now. If you love historical mysteries with a sharp, unconventional heroine, this series is a must-read. I really hope there’s more to come!

I received an advance reader copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Corpse Played Dead by Georgina Clarke

The 2nd in the series apparently , I didn't realise , but still enjoyed the title nevertheless . Not reading the first didn't really retract from the story , because of that I feel this could be read as a standalone .
An undercover assignment for the Bow Street magistrate sees Lizzie Hardwicke trade Mrs Farley's Bawdy House in Soho for life as a seamstress at a theatre on Drury Lane.
Once there, she quickly realises that what goes on in the wings is much more intriguing than the theatrics being played out onstage...
A much enjoyable read.

The Corpse Played Dead is the second in the Lizzie Hardwicke Mystery series, which has recently been reissued by VERVE Books. The series follows Lizzie Hardwicke, (disowned) gentleman's daughter and sex worker in 18th century Soho. As an educated, intelligent and highly observant woman who is often overlooked and underestimated, Lizzie makes an ideal spy/informant. After solving the murder of a high profile client to clear her name (i.e. book one) Lizzie is approached by William Davenport, of the Bow Street Runners, to go undercover in a London theatre plagued by a mysterious saboteur. However the case takes a darker turn when Lizzie discovers a body.

The book more than delivers on the promise of the first in the series. It was a joy to revisit Lizzie and see her navigate the world of the theatre, as well as the development of her relationship with Davenport. Going into this series I wasn’t expecting romance but I found myself getting very invested in their mutual attraction turned slow-burn yearning.

I’ve seen reviews suggest that The Corpse Played Dead could be read as a standalone without affecting the reader’s enjoyment. It’s true that Georgina Clarke does a masterful job of swiftly recapping how the events of the first book affect where Lizzie is now in a way that never feels repetitive or like an infodump but readers planning on doing this should be warned that the identity of the previous book’s killer is mentioned, albeit briefly.

I thoroughly enjoyed this fun, well constructed historical mystery and can’t wait to read the third installment, Viper in the Nest, which is due out in April 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley, VERVE Books and Georgina Clarke for the ARC in return for my honest review.

What a fantastic second installment for Lizzie!

Whilst this book is the second in the series, this can be read as a stand alone book and you don't need to read Death & the harlot, but honestly it's so good - go and read it!

Set in 18th century London, the tale of Lizzie - amateur sleuth!

I love this series and can't wait to read the third when it is released.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read for an honest review, hopefully I'll be able to read the third because I don't think I can wait until it's released!

I adore this series, I adore Lizzie ! Her wit and her way of thinking is like a bit of fresh air! The intricate plot is not only suspenseful but also interesting. The author has a solid knowledge of the social times in which I am fully immersed while reading. In this novel, the world of theater life is the main theme (apart from murder!). This was definitely fascinating to see how the people working there, either as actors, seamstresses or as other workers were organised and what it all involved. Really good! I have already pre-ordered the third book and hopefully it will not be the last one!
I have received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

Poldark meets Bridgerton meets Strike.

This is the second book in the series reissued by Verve books and it confirms the promise that was suggested by the first, Death and the Harlot. It’s set six months after that, in 1759, and picks up the tale of nineteen year old Lizzie Hardwick, a prostitute in Soho who is not all that she appears. An educated daughter of a respectable gentleman, she was thrown out and disowned after a rich family friend had sexually abused her. Changing her name, she arrived in London, finding a position at Ma Farleys, a high class, relatively safe brothel. In book one she gets entangled in the murder investigation of one of her clients, forging a relationship with Davenport, a detective with the Bow Street runners. Her skill leads him to offer her paid work for the runners as a source of intelligence about the goings on in Soho, while keeping the security of her job in the brothel.
In this second book, Davenport installs her as a seamstress in the theatre of David Garrick, where Lord Hawbridge is found brutally murdered, hanging upside down over the stage. She comes across a series of suspicious characters, from every section of society, before the culprit is unmasked, in a breathless finale. It’s an excellent historical murder mystery. Clarke’s knowledge of the period and its theatre world is impressive and she uses it with a light touch to create a convincing sense of time and place. She provides a range of suspicious characters with a range of motives so the reader has enough to fuel the speculation that is at the root of much of the pleasure of this kind of fiction, and the story is well paced, with twists and turns and end of chapter cliff hangers.
It’s not all fabulous though, which is why I give it 4 stars rather then 5. Some of the plot twists, or breakthroughs in Lizzie’s understanding of the mystery are a little far fetched to say the least. I’m all for suspending my disbelief when I’m invested in the story and the characters, but my eyebrows jerked upwards on more than one occasion, accompanied by a knowing smirk and a thinks bubble above my head bearing the single word, “Really?”. Although the portrayal of the eighteenth century theatre world was very seductive, I did miss Ma Farley’s genteel brothel and Lizzie’s coworkers, which added an extra dimension to the first book.
But this is splitting hairs. The books work because of Lizzie Hardwick. She’s a fabulous, attractive creation and her growing relationship with Davenport is a beautifully understated driver in the narrative. It will certainly make me look out for the third in the series, also due to come out in 2025. I think it’s only a matter of time before the series is adapted for TV - it would be a very welcome addition to historical drama - Poldark meets Bridgerton meets Strike.

Lizzie Hardwicke is a fabulous character, and it seems that she has to change roles quite often. Usually a common prostitute, she is now undercover for the Bow Street magistrate and mayhen are the name of the game.

This is a fun read and :izzie takes the reader on a wild escapade trying to solve the mystery

It is a brilliant read and highly recommended.. I just love the cover..