Poor Girls

🎧4.25⭐️

I had the audiobook read by Jenny Bede who keeps the pace rattling along, it felt fitting for the era.

Historical fiction based on an actual gang. 1922 Eleanor had experience of life during the war working in a munitions factory, now she’s not happy with the life choices open to her, she crosses paths with the female led gang the forty elephants.

The writing style and language used gives a vibe of the era, there’s some good period detail included, as well as the glitz and glamour on one hand and on the other the poverty. I liked Eleanor’s sass, I loved her speech (sorry I can’t say more) I loved the wit and humour that was interspersed. The girls in her ‘cell’ formed a great bond, you couldn’t help but like them.
It doesn’t feel like your typical gangster book which I’m not keen on. I really enjoyed this book, I wonder if there will be a sequel.

I really enjoyed listening to the story of Poor Girls. A fictional tale in the genuine setting of the forty elephants, it eloquently demonstrates the time, place, setting, and circumstances of Nell and her fellow gang members, whether they found themselves there from either necessity or adrenaline.

With the highs and lows of family, relationships, and criminality abound the story unfurls at a pace to keep you keenly involved. The narration was on point, and complimented the story well.

Initially I thought I had sussed this book out, I continued to listen because despite this (false) confidence, I like the way the author writes, making two POV's and timelines easy to follow. Well I did NOT see the twist coming! The ending was satisfying, everything came together well and left me wanting more. My only (very small) criticism is that I feel that the ending could have been expanded on slightly, I would’ve liked to know more about the three ladies lives after the big twist.
The narration was fantastic, easy to listen to and emotive.
listened to this book in less than 24 hours and I'd like to read it again to see if there were any clues along the way!

Poor Girls isn’t my usual go to for reads, historical fiction doesn’t always tend to leap out at me but I felt like getting out of my comfort zone a little because I love a mystery thriller. I listened to this as an audiobook, only my second sent to me for review, I thoroughly enjoyed this.

Poor Girls dives into the criminal underbelly of London the 1920s. It’s something I’ve never quite considered how single working class women may have ever been involved in this. Everything I’ve seen on TV and film always focuses around men and honestly found this story absolutely fascinating.

Whitfield captures a great fast paced story following Eleanor Mackridge who joins a notorious female led criminal gang “the forty Elephants”. I found this to be funny, charming and above all else thrilling at the twist and turns. I’m not sure I should have loved the characters in this book given some of the absolutely depraved things they get up to, but you really do feel the eat the rich message the women are living by. A fantastic twist, that honestly I’m not sure I really saw all of this coming.

Thank you to NetGalley and head of Zeus audiobooks for this ELC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 📖 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Poor Girls - @clarewhitfieldauthor

“Men steal everything. Now we want our share.

1922. Twenty-four-year-old Eleanor Mackridge is horrified by the future mapped out for her – to serve the upper classes or find a husband. During the war, she found freedom in joining the workforce at home, but now women are being put back in their place.

Until Eleanor crosses paths with a member of the notorious female-led gang the Forty Elephants: bold women who wear diamonds and fur, drink champagne and gin, who take what they want without asking. Now, she sees a new future for herself: she can serve, marry – or steal.”

What a wonderful and vivid story of friendships, bravery and loyalty. Claire paints such a vibrant and clear picture for the reader and you can’t help but feel fully immersed in 1920s London. It’s full of the excitement, glitz and glamour you’d expect from a book set during this time and is based on the true story of the real Forty Elephants gang who were working during this time. If you like historical fiction, strong women and suspense with a character driven plot then this book will be for you.

The audiobook narration by @jennybede was outstanding and added an extra level of brilliance to the story. Their ability to switch between characters was great and their pacing and delivery was really good. I’m very quick to stop listening if a narrator doesn’t work for me but this performance was 5 ⭐️.

Thank you to @netgalley, @headofzeus and @clarewhitfieldauthor for the opportunity to listen to the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Poor Girls is released on the 7th November!