Viper in the Nest
Georgina Clarke
UK release date 24th April 2024

'A Harlots life can turn in an instant. She can be the toast of the town at noon and find herself slumped in an alleyway and riddled with the pox by sunset....'

I ended the month of March back in Georgian London on another adventure with the force of nature that is our very own Lizzie Hardwicke. The third book in this series we join Lizzie Hardwicke, Harlot by night and amateur detective by day, and the dashing but very reserved magistrate Will Davenport as they join forces again to solve a spate of murders, unexplained deaths and dirty, underground and underhand dealings.

This is another wild and thrilling ride through the dirty and murky streets of London with a secret held in every building and a shocking surprise lurking on every corner. What I love about this author is the brilliant way she manages to perfectly capture the class distinctions. You explore the dark underbelly of its back streets with all it's openness and brutal honesty compared to the seedy underhandedness of the aristocracy wrapped up in all it's fake decadence and riches.

It's a story full of twists, turns and surprises. It's disturbing, shocking, funny, thought provoking, dark and graphic. Full of a colourful cast of characters who are all well developed and memorable I can honestly say Lizzie and William have both found a permanent place in my heart. As frustrating as their relationship is I cannot wait to see what happens in their future... I hope the author doesn't keep us waiting too long....

Fans of historical fiction, a good murder mystery with a bit of darkness and the macabre thrown in for good measure will absolutely love this ....a rollicking good yarn 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Step into the shadowy streets of 18th-century London with the third thrilling instalment in the Lizzie Hardwicke series. If you're a fan of historical mysteries packed with suspense, secrets, and compelling characters, this is the book for you!

In June 1759, Lizzie Hardwicke, a clever and courageous undercover sleuth, is faced with a mystery no one else seems to care about—the apparent suicide of a civil servant who had everything to live for.

But Lizzie is determined to uncover the truth.

As she digs deeper, she finds herself navigating the dangerous world of London’s gambling houses, the violent streets of Soho, and the precarious position of women in Georgian society.

This book delves into darker, grittier themes than the previous instalments, exploring the challenges faced by women, especially sex workers, in a time when danger lurked at every corner. Clarke paints a vivid picture of London, with richly detailed settings and a plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

What makes Viper in the Nest stand out is the complex relationship between Lizzie and William Davenport, the detective with the Bow Street Runners. As their bond is tested by dark secrets and loyalty, the tension between them adds a personal layer to the mystery that will keep you hooked until the very end.

If you love historical mysteries with strong female protagonists, complex relationships, and an unforgettable setting, this is the book for you!

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Viper in the Nest is the third book in the Lizzie Hardwicke series. I was so excited to get the ARC for this book because I loved the previous two so much. This installment wasn't quite what I expected, although I still thoroughly enjoyed it. It feels darker and grittier in tone than the previous two, as it explores the dangers faced by women, and especially sex workers, in Georgian London.

Lizzie investigates the apparent suicide of a wealthy civil servant, which threatens her friendship with William Davenport, a detective with the Bow Street Runners. Meanwhile, the brothel where Lizzie works is under new management due to the reappearance of the madam's estranged husband, curtailing Lizzie's freedom. Although the setting seemed a little darker, Lizzie Hardwicke remains a fantastic protagonist: intelligent, kind, heroic and resourceful. I enjoyed seeing her interact with Lucy (a coworker with whom she has a strained relationship) and explore the different avenues open to women in the period.

Thank you to NetGalley and VERVE books for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Viper in the Nest by Georgina Clarke

This is the 3rd book in the Lizzie Hardwicke series. Set in London in 1759, Lizzie again helps magistrate's assistant William Davenport to solve a murder
Another brilliant book of eighteenth century London , so good you could almost imagine the sights & smells of it . So well described !
I love the character Lizzie Hardwicke a woman of her time and beyond.

A great read.

Viper in the Nest is the third Lizzie Hardwicke mystery and I am soo soo glad this series is back! I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books and it’s been a long wait for this third but well worth it. I had a great time reading it. When a boring civil servant takes his own life nobody is very interested but he was a protector of Lizzie’s friend and according to her had everything to live for. Then the owner of a gambling house is brutally murdered and rich, powerful a and dangerous men get involved with Lizzie stuck in the middle all while the no good husband of her madam has returned making life in the brothel worse for everyone. Will Davenport is called into help but things take a dark turn that threatens the friendship that has been forming between them. All of this is very good. It’s pulpy and dramatic and emo and I ate it all up with a spoon. There’s bit of a dramatic set piece towards the end and as I was reading it I thought “you know what this needs; a storm” then in the very next paragraph there was a rumble of thunder. I actually cheered out loud. I was so happy. Brilliant. So glad it’s back.

I have been praying to the book reading gods that I would get an ARC of this book because I absolutely loved the first two in the series.

Thankfully I did and I'm incredibly grateful because it's absolutely fantastic, if you've read the other 2 in the series then you will not be disappointed, if you haven't read them, go and go it right now.

This continues the story of Lizzie Hardwick, another death to investigate and I won't give anything away but Lizzie ends up in quite a predicament.

If you haven't read any of this series, you really should. I really hope the author writes more because I'm hooked!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me an ARC, I can't tell you how grateful I am. Georgina - please write more!

This is the 3rd book in the Lizzie Hardwicke series. Set in London in 1759, Lizzie again helps magistrate's assistant William Davenport to solve a murder mystery.
This is a well-written, atmospheric and pacy story, rich in period detail and vivid descriptions of eighteenth century London, including the disorder on the streets.
Lizzie Hardwicke is a great character - kind, intelligent, witty and feisty.
A great read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review