Release: February 16th, 2021
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Berkley
Source: Netgalley
Find it at Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, Kobo,
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Nearly two hundred condemned women to board a transport ship bound for Australia. One of them is a murderer. From debut author, Hope Adams comes a thrilling novel based on the 1841 voyage of the convict ship Rajah, about confinement, hope, and the terrible things we do to survive.
London, 1841. One hundred eighty Englishwomen file aboard the Rajah, embarking on a three-month voyage to the other side of the world.
They’re daughters, sisters, mothers—and convicts.
Transported for petty crimes.
Except one of them has a deadly secret and will do anything to flee justice.
As the Rajah sails farther from land, the women forge a tenuous kinship. Until, in the middle of the cold and unforgiving sea, someone mortally wounds a young mother. And the hunt is on for the assailant before he or she strikes again.
Each woman called in for question has something to fear: But, will she be attacked next? Will she be believed? Because far from land, there is nowhere to flee, and how can you prove innocence when you’ve already been found guilty?
About the Author:
Hope Adams was born in Jerusalem and spent her early childhood in many different countries, such as Nigeria and British North Borneo.
Also, she went to Roedean School in Brighton and from there to St. Hilda’s College, Oxford.
Dangerous Women Review:
I loved reading “Dangerous Women” and found it a fascinating historical mystery thriller.
Firstly, I had no idea that actual events inspired the story! While the mystery element is the author’s creativity, I was fascinated to further research on the “Rajah Quilt” and the convict women on board. It is clear that the author researched the events and thought she did an excellent job in paying homage to the Rajah. The author also tells the story in a gripping manner by alternating between the past and present. She also shifts the perspectives between various characters to keep the story fresh.
Speaking of the characters, I enjoyed the leads! Clara, Hattie, and Kezia are mesmerizing in their way, and I enjoyed the various twists and turns. Each of them stands apart with their distinctive personalities, and I wanted to know more about them. Kezia is a timid, religious woman who tries to be confident. Meanwhile, Hattie is a strong character who will do anything for her son, and Clara is the mystery character that everyone wants to know. Moreover, the author maintained the suspense element very well. On a side note, I also enjoyed the scenes between Kezia and the Captain.
Probably the only thing which I would have liked is to focus on the mystery. The book markets itself as a mystery thriller, but I think it is primarily a historical, women’s fiction novel. However, I am not complaining, as I still enjoyed the story a lot! I loved how the author personalized all the inmates, and by the end, I felt Phyllis, Tabitha, Joan, Izzy, and the others were my friends..
Overall, “Dangerous Women” is a beautiful historical novel with a touch of mystery worth reading.
