Reviews

Dangerous Women by Hope Adams, Adèle Geras

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katiekay915's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

bags_and_bookz's review against another edition

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3.0

Thank you Netgaley, Berkley Publishing Group and Hope Adams for free e-ARC in return of my honest review.

One hundred eighty Englishwomen are aboard the Rajah, all convicts for petty crimes. They all are sailing toward new life far away from England. Some left all families, some were allowed to take their children to take. Hatty had her son Bertie, her love and treasure in life, everything she has done was only for him. She is looking forward to her new life. Matron Kezia escapes her own troubles, her mother in particular. There is one woman who is not the one she tells she is. One day Hatty is stabbed, and the crew and matron has to figure out why and who did the horrendous act of stabbing.

In terms of historical context, I think Dangerous Women is amazing. I learned about Rajah quilt, the work that some women did aboard the ship during their trip. Hope Adams did a great job in building that part of the story - creating women' camaraderie and describing obstacles they had to overcome. For mystery - I think it was fine, interesting twist about the actual stabber.

Overall, good solid read. It did push me to do more research for Rajah quilt. I always appreciate book that broaden my horizons and let me learn something new.

jackobotts's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

emilydehaven's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

sarahmacp's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

jmatkinson1's review against another edition

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4.0

1841 and The Rajah sets sail bound for Van Diemen's Land. Aboard are 180 convict women, sentenced to transportation and torn from their families and loved ones. Kezia Hayter is a gentlewoman who has worked with Mrs Fry on prison reform and she accompanies the voyage, working with the women to produce a large piece of patchwork and keeping them on the straight and narrow. However many of the women have secrets and when one is murdered the race is on to find the culprit before the end of the voyage.
This is a piece of fiction based around a true story, the Rajah Quilt is a piece of work still in existence and a memory of the transportation voyages of the 19th Century. Beyond that the story is made up but Adams has managed to conjure up a tale that is warm and redemptive as it weaves together the stories of the woman and mystery of the murder.