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Heloise Chancey Mysteries #1
She Be Damned
Longlisted for the CWA Debut Dagger
"An intelligent and intriguing crime novel set in the heart of Victorian London. Its atmospheric and twisting narrative had me hooked." Sarah Ward
"A gripping and refreshingly different historical crime novel." Angela Buckley
London, 1863: prostitutes in the Waterloo area are turning up dead, their sexual organs mutilated and removed. When another girl goes missing, fears grow that the killer may have claimed their latest victim.
The police are at a loss and so it falls to courtesan and professional detective, Heloise Chancey, to investigate.
With the assistance of her trusty Chinese maid, Amah Li Leen, Heloise inches closer to the truth. But when Amah is implicated in the brutal plot, Heloise must reconsider who she can trust, before the killer strikes again.
Tjia brings us a pacey and exciting murder mystery set in Victorian London. This historical crime thriller sees a young female detective work with the police to evade a violent killer.
"An intelligent and intriguing crime novel set in the heart of Victorian London. Its atmospheric and twisting narrative had me hooked." Sarah Ward
"A gripping and refreshingly different historical crime novel." Angela Buckley
London, 1863: prostitutes in the Waterloo area are turning up dead, their sexual organs mutilated and removed. When another girl goes missing, fears grow that the killer may have claimed their latest victim.
The police are at a loss and so it falls to courtesan and professional detective, Heloise Chancey, to investigate.
With the assistance of her trusty Chinese maid, Amah Li Leen, Heloise inches closer to the truth. But when Amah is implicated in the brutal plot, Heloise must reconsider who she can trust, before the killer strikes again.
Tjia brings us a pacey and exciting murder mystery set in Victorian London. This historical crime thriller sees a young female detective work with the police to evade a violent killer.
288 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2017
23 people are currently reading
615 people want to read
About the author
M.J. Tjia
4 books27 followersTjia has a PhD in Creative Writing and Literary Studies. Her novella The Fish Girl won Seizure’s Viva la Novella, 2017.
She has been shortlisted for the Josephine Ulrick Short Story Prize, Overland’s Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize, Fish Short Story Prize, and the Luke Bitmead Bursary and longlisted for CWA dagger awards. Her work has appeared in Review of Australian Fiction, Rex, Peril and Shibboleth and Other Stories.
She Be Damned is M.J. Tjia’s debut novel, and is the first instalment in her Heloise Chancey historical crime series.
M.J. lives in Brisbane, Australia, with her family, and as of January 2018 is now the Prose Editor of Peril Magazine.
She has been shortlisted for the Josephine Ulrick Short Story Prize, Overland’s Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize, Fish Short Story Prize, and the Luke Bitmead Bursary and longlisted for CWA dagger awards. Her work has appeared in Review of Australian Fiction, Rex, Peril and Shibboleth and Other Stories.
She Be Damned is M.J. Tjia’s debut novel, and is the first instalment in her Heloise Chancey historical crime series.
M.J. lives in Brisbane, Australia, with her family, and as of January 2018 is now the Prose Editor of Peril Magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
November 9, 2017
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
She be damned is a compelling crime story set in Victorian age, where Mrs. Heloise Chancey; the main character of the story is being hired by Sir Thomas to find a young girl who has disappeared. It was a quick read, where I was capable enough to read within a few hours and I found the explanations about Mrs Heloise’s dresses boring so that I left those parts unread. But the author’s attempt in hiding the true murderer of the girls is appreciated and I kept guessing all over the time as to whom the culprit was and eventually found that my guessing was wrong.
She be damned is a compelling crime story set in Victorian age, where Mrs. Heloise Chancey; the main character of the story is being hired by Sir Thomas to find a young girl who has disappeared. It was a quick read, where I was capable enough to read within a few hours and I found the explanations about Mrs Heloise’s dresses boring so that I left those parts unread. But the author’s attempt in hiding the true murderer of the girls is appreciated and I kept guessing all over the time as to whom the culprit was and eventually found that my guessing was wrong.
October 1, 2017
I’d like to thank Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
She be Damned is a gritty Victorian Gothic novel that compels you to keep reading every page, because the research put into this book shines through. The historical and cultural aspects of 1863 London, pulled me and kept me entranced. As Heloise Chancey takes up the case of the missing young Eleanor, I felt myself flinching as Heloise pulled the curtain away from prostitution life in the 19th century. She be Damned doesn’t shy away from abortion, STD’s, rape, and other issues that these women faced.
Heloise is engaging, quit witted, and a bullheaded, while her maid, Amah is the calmer and more rational of the two. I’d even argue that Amah is a role model for Heloise, even though Heloise seems to always dismiss Amah’s opinions. These two women, are what make She be Damned unique. You get to see this crisis of women being brutally murder from two completely different perspectives, Amah a Chinese immigrant, and Heloise a courtesan.
I admit the dark nature of this novel wasn’t always easy to read, but the fact remains that no matter your position in life, no voice deserves to be brushed aside, and that’s where Heloise excels. She gives voice to the voiceless.
She be Damned is a gritty Victorian Gothic novel that compels you to keep reading every page, because the research put into this book shines through. The historical and cultural aspects of 1863 London, pulled me and kept me entranced. As Heloise Chancey takes up the case of the missing young Eleanor, I felt myself flinching as Heloise pulled the curtain away from prostitution life in the 19th century. She be Damned doesn’t shy away from abortion, STD’s, rape, and other issues that these women faced.
Heloise is engaging, quit witted, and a bullheaded, while her maid, Amah is the calmer and more rational of the two. I’d even argue that Amah is a role model for Heloise, even though Heloise seems to always dismiss Amah’s opinions. These two women, are what make She be Damned unique. You get to see this crisis of women being brutally murder from two completely different perspectives, Amah a Chinese immigrant, and Heloise a courtesan.
I admit the dark nature of this novel wasn’t always easy to read, but the fact remains that no matter your position in life, no voice deserves to be brushed aside, and that’s where Heloise excels. She gives voice to the voiceless.
July 22, 2017
An excellent written novel. Sir Thomas wants Mrs Chancey to work for him again and do some covert investigating for him. Mrs Chancey was a very good actress, she has worked for him before she roughed herself up as a street prostitute in order to spy on a group of young men and she has also performed as a harem dancer in order to reconnoitre at a foreign embassy. There is an investigation of the deaths of several women in the Waterloo area, each of the women were prostitutes and had terminated a pregnancy and died soon after from blood loss and infection. The body of the last prostitute who died in this manner was taken to hospital to be used as a specimen, and they found that parts of her body was missing. Frightening as it seems that the last prostitute was the fourth body to have been found in this condition within the last seven weeks. Vile acts must have taken place as apparently all their sexual organs were missing, inside and outside. Obviously someone who is very evil is butchering these unfortunate women.
September 2, 2017
Fast-paced and mysterious, She Be Damned was an interesting and often fun romp through Victorian London.
Heloise Chancey is approached by a Sir Thomas to assist in a case involving a young, missing pregnant woman. Fearing the worst because there's been a rash of ladies of the night being murdered and mutilated, Heloise agrees, but on her terms. Sir Thomas wants her to go back to her former life and masquerade as a prostitute, she would rather not because of reasons of her own. Heloise has come a long way in the skin trade, working her way up to courtesan. Complete with the riches that come along with it, and she's rather not give that up for a case that may or may not pan out. Sir Thomas eventually relents, and the mystery unfolds from there.
Naturally, a story about prostitutes being murdered is bound to be dark and gory, which it often was, but there was plenty of humor throughout to balance out the dark. And while there wasn't anything particular new and interesting in Tija's London, the characters were dynamic enough to overshadow the often bland world-building. Amah Li Leen and Heloise were the perfect pairing, the perfect companions, and while they don't often get along, there's an underlying bond between them that's as unbreakable as they come. There were also a few surprises thrown in concerning the both of them, and I certainly didn't see them coming.
My only complaint is that the characters are introduced immediately, and Heloise's past as an actress is referenced quite early on, and I wanted to know more. I felt like Tija could've provided a little backstory, a little history, to Heloise, but hopefully that'll be explored in subsequent books (provided this is to become a series.) Although there is a major revelation pretty late in the novel regarding her past, so I'm just guessing that everything wasn't explored fully because it would've taken some of the excitement out of that reveal. At the end of the day, my complaint is a fairly minor one that I'm sure will be redeemed in the future, again providing that this is to become a series.
All in all, I quite enjoyed She Be Damned, and I do hope that we will see more of Heloise, Amah, and Bill in the future. Here's hoping we do, because there's still so much to be explored with all 3 of them.
*eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
Heloise Chancey is approached by a Sir Thomas to assist in a case involving a young, missing pregnant woman. Fearing the worst because there's been a rash of ladies of the night being murdered and mutilated, Heloise agrees, but on her terms. Sir Thomas wants her to go back to her former life and masquerade as a prostitute, she would rather not because of reasons of her own. Heloise has come a long way in the skin trade, working her way up to courtesan. Complete with the riches that come along with it, and she's rather not give that up for a case that may or may not pan out. Sir Thomas eventually relents, and the mystery unfolds from there.
Naturally, a story about prostitutes being murdered is bound to be dark and gory, which it often was, but there was plenty of humor throughout to balance out the dark. And while there wasn't anything particular new and interesting in Tija's London, the characters were dynamic enough to overshadow the often bland world-building. Amah Li Leen and Heloise were the perfect pairing, the perfect companions, and while they don't often get along, there's an underlying bond between them that's as unbreakable as they come. There were also a few surprises thrown in concerning the both of them, and I certainly didn't see them coming.
My only complaint is that the characters are introduced immediately, and Heloise's past as an actress is referenced quite early on, and I wanted to know more. I felt like Tija could've provided a little backstory, a little history, to Heloise, but hopefully that'll be explored in subsequent books (provided this is to become a series.) Although there is a major revelation pretty late in the novel regarding her past, so I'm just guessing that everything wasn't explored fully because it would've taken some of the excitement out of that reveal. At the end of the day, my complaint is a fairly minor one that I'm sure will be redeemed in the future, again providing that this is to become a series.
All in all, I quite enjoyed She Be Damned, and I do hope that we will see more of Heloise, Amah, and Bill in the future. Here's hoping we do, because there's still so much to be explored with all 3 of them.
*eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 11, 2017
SHE BE DAMNED is the opening salvo in a new series set in London in the 1860's featuring courtesan and professional detective Heloise Chancey. If this opening is anything to go by then this will be a fun, engaging and very lively group of novels.
Given this is the debut, there is a scene and character set up going on, but never to the detriment of the plot and pace of the story overall. Chancey is a wonderful character - strong, resilient, a survivor despite the odds stacked against her - revealed as the novel progresses. There's a really good, unforced sense of place and time as well, established using circumstances and events, rather than resorting to scene setting descriptions. Everything about the novel feels true to life, right from the interactions that Chancey has with the police and brothel madams, the girls who work in the brothels, street urchins, and the maids and staff who keep both her, and the wheels of society moving.
The central plot is also very much of the time. The dodgy doctors, the backyard resolutions of untimely pregnancy and the questionable health care for sex workers in those days. From the awful numbers of women being found mutilated and dead, co-coinciding with the disappearance of a young woman thrown out of her family home for her own unmarried pregnancy there is a timely, without being preachy, reminder that we're quick to blame the women, never the clients, never the downright stupid "rules" and restrictions involved. It's actually quite refreshingly done - many of these women are survivors, they are making the best of the hand that life has dealt them and Chancey, in particular, is unrepentant (nor should she be), and proud of her achievements.
Needless to say I really loved this novel. Loved the character, appreciated the observations about women's role in society and the need to survive despite the odds. Loved the sense of place and time, and really liked the way that it all came together in a beautifully balanced storytelling style. SHE BE DAMNED should leave you looking forward to the next instalment with pleasurable anticipation.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
Given this is the debut, there is a scene and character set up going on, but never to the detriment of the plot and pace of the story overall. Chancey is a wonderful character - strong, resilient, a survivor despite the odds stacked against her - revealed as the novel progresses. There's a really good, unforced sense of place and time as well, established using circumstances and events, rather than resorting to scene setting descriptions. Everything about the novel feels true to life, right from the interactions that Chancey has with the police and brothel madams, the girls who work in the brothels, street urchins, and the maids and staff who keep both her, and the wheels of society moving.
The central plot is also very much of the time. The dodgy doctors, the backyard resolutions of untimely pregnancy and the questionable health care for sex workers in those days. From the awful numbers of women being found mutilated and dead, co-coinciding with the disappearance of a young woman thrown out of her family home for her own unmarried pregnancy there is a timely, without being preachy, reminder that we're quick to blame the women, never the clients, never the downright stupid "rules" and restrictions involved. It's actually quite refreshingly done - many of these women are survivors, they are making the best of the hand that life has dealt them and Chancey, in particular, is unrepentant (nor should she be), and proud of her achievements.
Needless to say I really loved this novel. Loved the character, appreciated the observations about women's role in society and the need to survive despite the odds. Loved the sense of place and time, and really liked the way that it all came together in a beautifully balanced storytelling style. SHE BE DAMNED should leave you looking forward to the next instalment with pleasurable anticipation.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
August 25, 2017
Looking at the reviews for this one online it seems quite divisive. People seem to love it or hate it so I fully expected a similar reaction. Slightly disappointed then that I ended up feeling 'meh'. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. It was quite easy to put it down and start reading another book and go back to it at a later time. Not necessary a bad thing, there are some books I've done that with and never finished them.
Heloise (and I love that name) is a courtesan in the Victorian era who does occasional work for a private detective. Searching for a missing unmarried pregnant woman takes her back to the seedy side of London and the world of prostitution, back street abortionists and a world where women are being brutally murdered.
I've read some reviews that talk about the misogyny within the book and the language from the men to the women. While it can be offensive it's typical of the era and so to me fit well within the story and as much as I hate the idea of us being silly women with little brains we've definitely come a long way since then. Heloise has brains and the book to me shows that she uses her brain while at the same time being able to manipulate the men into thinking everything is all their idea. Which I imagine wet on a lot.
The murders are grisly and well documented. I was a bit confused by the policeman, working the murder on the side to try and enable him a promotion. At no time was it discussed how that went, whether his superiors approved, whether solving the crime got him what he wanted or questioned why he was doing such a thing. It seemed strange to me.
I couldn't quite take to Heloise. It was never clear how she managed to go from back street prostitute to owning several properties. Although she did spend a lot of time using one rich man or another so maybe it came from them. She was so self obsessed that I just couldn't bring myself to like her which took away some of the enjoyment of the book.
Altogether it's not a horrible book but I'm probably not going to read any more of them.
Free arc from netgalley
Heloise (and I love that name) is a courtesan in the Victorian era who does occasional work for a private detective. Searching for a missing unmarried pregnant woman takes her back to the seedy side of London and the world of prostitution, back street abortionists and a world where women are being brutally murdered.
I've read some reviews that talk about the misogyny within the book and the language from the men to the women. While it can be offensive it's typical of the era and so to me fit well within the story and as much as I hate the idea of us being silly women with little brains we've definitely come a long way since then. Heloise has brains and the book to me shows that she uses her brain while at the same time being able to manipulate the men into thinking everything is all their idea. Which I imagine wet on a lot.
The murders are grisly and well documented. I was a bit confused by the policeman, working the murder on the side to try and enable him a promotion. At no time was it discussed how that went, whether his superiors approved, whether solving the crime got him what he wanted or questioned why he was doing such a thing. It seemed strange to me.
I couldn't quite take to Heloise. It was never clear how she managed to go from back street prostitute to owning several properties. Although she did spend a lot of time using one rich man or another so maybe it came from them. She was so self obsessed that I just couldn't bring myself to like her which took away some of the enjoyment of the book.
Altogether it's not a horrible book but I'm probably not going to read any more of them.
Free arc from netgalley
June 19, 2017
She Be Damned made for compulsive reading, I was enthralled from the very first page. A beautifully written book with such authenticity, that each page whisked me back in time. The story galloped along as I followed the characters that were all too real. I could not put it down and recommend to anyone in need of an immersive read.
August 17, 2017
If you like historical mysteries set in 1860's Victorian London, this book is in your wheelhouse! We meet Heloise Chancey, a courtesan nicely set up in a Mayfair house with her Chinese maid Amah Li Leen and a small staff. On the side, she does some detective work for the police informally and is asked to find Eleanor, a young woman with a good family who is missing in London's dark side of prostitution.
Heloise returns to her roots (we get some brief flashbacks of a very hardscrabble life in Liverpool and her working her way up from the brothels of Waterloo to her current situation) and makes contacts to try and find Eleanor. But her investigation gets into the middle of a larger mystery - young prostitutes have been found murdered, in a manner similar to what Jack the Ripper will do about 20 years later.
Along the way Heloise informally works with Bill Chapman, a police sergeant, and there is a bit of a romance, although nothing very graphic. We don't get graphic details about the deaths either, although the murders themselves are pretty awful. I found the casual acceptance of violence against women (domestic abuse, some references to rape, women having absolutely no control over their bodies or fortunes) more horrifying. There were doctors at the time who felt removing a woman's ovaries and womb would "calm them down" and make them more content with their lives.
The mystery is compelling and kept my interest throughout. The author does a great job with the London setting and the attitudes and morals of the time. We learn bits and pieces about Heloise and Amah Li Leen's history and I would definitely read the next book in this series!
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Heloise returns to her roots (we get some brief flashbacks of a very hardscrabble life in Liverpool and her working her way up from the brothels of Waterloo to her current situation) and makes contacts to try and find Eleanor. But her investigation gets into the middle of a larger mystery - young prostitutes have been found murdered, in a manner similar to what Jack the Ripper will do about 20 years later.
Along the way Heloise informally works with Bill Chapman, a police sergeant, and there is a bit of a romance, although nothing very graphic. We don't get graphic details about the deaths either, although the murders themselves are pretty awful. I found the casual acceptance of violence against women (domestic abuse, some references to rape, women having absolutely no control over their bodies or fortunes) more horrifying. There were doctors at the time who felt removing a woman's ovaries and womb would "calm them down" and make them more content with their lives.
The mystery is compelling and kept my interest throughout. The author does a great job with the London setting and the attitudes and morals of the time. We learn bits and pieces about Heloise and Amah Li Leen's history and I would definitely read the next book in this series!
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2018
A crime thriller set in 19th Century London, this is the start of a series about Heloise Chancey, a wealthy courtesan and actress, who moonlights as a detective on tricky cases that require a special approach.
Asked to investigate the disappearance of a young noblewoman, Heloise reluctantly returns to the filthy streets of Waterloo, where she used to work as a prostitute before using her skills to move up socially, so that she now only sleeps with the rich men of her choice. Discovering that girls have been murdered and viciously mutilated, their sexual organs removed, Heloise is sure that one of the local doctors, who pregnant street girls go to for abortions, is the culprit. When a further murder happens in her house, the police arrest her half-Chinese maid, and refuse to believe her protestations, so Heloise goes after the suspect herself...
All the details of London life in the 1860s, including Heloise's clothes, home decor, and social life, even what she eats and drinks, made an interesting and unusual backdrop to the standard "female in a male-dominated world" detective story. The first paragraph almost put me off - I'm not into erotica and thought this was going to be too smutty for me, but actually there are only a few sex scenes - for a high class call girl, Heloise gets away with not having much sex, instead doing a lot of flirting. The mystery was fine, I didn't guess the baddie, and it was all nicely tidied up.
My biggest criticism is of the horrible and unnecessary first person present narration - it's so trendy now, but it almost always spoils the telling for me.
Otherwise I liked the writing, and Heloise's character, and especially Amah and her backstory.
I bought this one because I received the next book as an ARC from NetGalley and can't bear to read series out of order. Hopefully we'll find out more about Heloise's childhood and marriage there. 3.5 rounded up for a good heroine.
Asked to investigate the disappearance of a young noblewoman, Heloise reluctantly returns to the filthy streets of Waterloo, where she used to work as a prostitute before using her skills to move up socially, so that she now only sleeps with the rich men of her choice. Discovering that girls have been murdered and viciously mutilated, their sexual organs removed, Heloise is sure that one of the local doctors, who pregnant street girls go to for abortions, is the culprit. When a further murder happens in her house, the police arrest her half-Chinese maid, and refuse to believe her protestations, so Heloise goes after the suspect herself...
All the details of London life in the 1860s, including Heloise's clothes, home decor, and social life, even what she eats and drinks, made an interesting and unusual backdrop to the standard "female in a male-dominated world" detective story. The first paragraph almost put me off - I'm not into erotica and thought this was going to be too smutty for me, but actually there are only a few sex scenes - for a high class call girl, Heloise gets away with not having much sex, instead doing a lot of flirting. The mystery was fine, I didn't guess the baddie, and it was all nicely tidied up.
My biggest criticism is of the horrible and unnecessary first person present narration - it's so trendy now, but it almost always spoils the telling for me.
Otherwise I liked the writing, and Heloise's character, and especially Amah and her backstory.
I bought this one because I received the next book as an ARC from NetGalley and can't bear to read series out of order. Hopefully we'll find out more about Heloise's childhood and marriage there. 3.5 rounded up for a good heroine.
June 1, 2018
Heloise Chancey Mystery Ratings:
She Be Damned: ★★★
A Necessary Murder: TBR
—
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
Well colour me surprised, I don’t think I was very fair with my initial thoughts when I first started this book. It more than redeemed itself by the end, and I look forward to reading the next in the series.
She Be Damned follows Heloise, part-time detective, part-time courtesan and full-time societal challenging bad ass. Hel has been hired to find Eleanor after she's runaway from her father. While searching for the young girl Heloise finds herself in the center of a search for a murderer. A series of bodies belonging to sex workers have been found with all their sexual and productive anatomy ripped out. Worried that poor Eleanor has found the same fate, Hel investigates the disappearance of the girl as well as the murders, having to insert herself in the midst of her old life again. With the help of her own sticky fingers, a young boy, Chat, her ex-coworkers and her Chinese maid, Amah, Heloise finds herself in over her head with her life at stake.
What's a girl to do? Leave it to the men of the police force? Unlikely.
“You’re mad,” he says. “Hysterical. I should have you committed.”
Always an arsehole’s ultimate threat, that one.
Okay so the first few pages had me wanting to DNF this book, but having Heloise describe her features in great detail made a little more sense when it was revealed that Heloise is a courtesan since her looks probably play a big part in her work. Her comments about her maid really rubbed me up the wrong way, however, she did redeem herself later in the book, in my eyes at least (I'm white af, take my opinion on this with a grain of salt).
Hel is strong and independent, she learnt how to make something for herself from nothing and she owns her sexuality.
Amah was enjoyable to read, she was snarky and blunt. I do wish we got a lot more of her though and I hope we get more of her back story in the next book!
I’m angry. Angry that we’re all vulnerable to the whims of all manner of men.
This book, surprising to me, has some serious feminism vibes and I'm glad I stuck it out and kept reading.
Unlike many novels about sex workers, especially their murders, this book was very much pro-sex worker. I think the fact that our main character is one played a huge part in that.
I got angry with Hel every time someone said something derogatory about her old co-workers, and I was disgusted along with her every time someone looked down their nose at her because of her work. I was especially furious every time some man insinuated women were useless and incapable of dealing with shit.
Women are too sensitive to see a dead body and some blood? Did everyone in the 1800's just forget that women have been dealing with blood for days, once a month, all on their own from the age of 9-13, onward? Please. Come to me when you're stuck at work and you've got blood leaking not only through your underwear, but your pants too and no one seems to have a tampon. I've seen more men squirm at the sight of doctors cutting people open or limbs bending the wrong way than I've ever flinched at the same sights. Fuck 1800's men, ya'll weren't too bright, were you?
I’ll keep searching for the murderer. I know I have as good a chance to catch him as any of the others. And when I do— I curl my fingers into a fist until my fingernails leave crescent marks in my palm— I’m going to shoot a big, deep hole into the bastard, in a very manly fashion.
She Be Damned did what I assume it set out to accomplish, a good murder mystery with women at the helm and to perhaps sway those who look down on sex workers.
It was reasonably fast paced but I did find myself skimming quiet a bit. There were some scenes we probably could have done without. There were enough twists to keep me interested and a very shocking reveal I wasn't expecting at all, but was glad Tjia included it.
I'll happily read the next book, I'm excited to see what Heloise and Amah get up to next!
___
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She Be Damned: ★★★
A Necessary Murder: TBR
—
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
“What trouble you got yourself into this time, missy?” she asks me.
I offer a sly smile. “Must keep oneself busy, Katie.”
Well colour me surprised, I don’t think I was very fair with my initial thoughts when I first started this book. It more than redeemed itself by the end, and I look forward to reading the next in the series.
She Be Damned follows Heloise, part-time detective, part-time courtesan and full-time societal challenging bad ass. Hel has been hired to find Eleanor after she's runaway from her father. While searching for the young girl Heloise finds herself in the center of a search for a murderer. A series of bodies belonging to sex workers have been found with all their sexual and productive anatomy ripped out. Worried that poor Eleanor has found the same fate, Hel investigates the disappearance of the girl as well as the murders, having to insert herself in the midst of her old life again. With the help of her own sticky fingers, a young boy, Chat, her ex-coworkers and her Chinese maid, Amah, Heloise finds herself in over her head with her life at stake.
What's a girl to do? Leave it to the men of the police force? Unlikely.
“You’re mad,” he says. “Hysterical. I should have you committed.”
Always an arsehole’s ultimate threat, that one.
Okay so the first few pages had me wanting to DNF this book, but having Heloise describe her features in great detail made a little more sense when it was revealed that Heloise is a courtesan since her looks probably play a big part in her work. Her comments about her maid really rubbed me up the wrong way, however, she did redeem herself later in the book, in my eyes at least (I'm white af, take my opinion on this with a grain of salt).
Hel is strong and independent, she learnt how to make something for herself from nothing and she owns her sexuality.
Amah was enjoyable to read, she was snarky and blunt. I do wish we got a lot more of her though and I hope we get more of her back story in the next book!
I’m angry. Angry that we’re all vulnerable to the whims of all manner of men.
This book, surprising to me, has some serious feminism vibes and I'm glad I stuck it out and kept reading.
Unlike many novels about sex workers, especially their murders, this book was very much pro-sex worker. I think the fact that our main character is one played a huge part in that.
I got angry with Hel every time someone said something derogatory about her old co-workers, and I was disgusted along with her every time someone looked down their nose at her because of her work. I was especially furious every time some man insinuated women were useless and incapable of dealing with shit.
Women are too sensitive to see a dead body and some blood? Did everyone in the 1800's just forget that women have been dealing with blood for days, once a month, all on their own from the age of 9-13, onward? Please. Come to me when you're stuck at work and you've got blood leaking not only through your underwear, but your pants too and no one seems to have a tampon. I've seen more men squirm at the sight of doctors cutting people open or limbs bending the wrong way than I've ever flinched at the same sights. Fuck 1800's men, ya'll weren't too bright, were you?
I’ll keep searching for the murderer. I know I have as good a chance to catch him as any of the others. And when I do— I curl my fingers into a fist until my fingernails leave crescent marks in my palm— I’m going to shoot a big, deep hole into the bastard, in a very manly fashion.
She Be Damned did what I assume it set out to accomplish, a good murder mystery with women at the helm and to perhaps sway those who look down on sex workers.
It was reasonably fast paced but I did find myself skimming quiet a bit. There were some scenes we probably could have done without. There were enough twists to keep me interested and a very shocking reveal I wasn't expecting at all, but was glad Tjia included it.
I'll happily read the next book, I'm excited to see what Heloise and Amah get up to next!
“You are more dangerous than the rest, my dear, because you think you are entitled to the freedoms of a man.”
___
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August 12, 2017
M.J Tjia definitely does a great job in capturing the seedy underbelly of Victorian life without going into detail about what life was like for the upper echelons of society. This is very much a story about the underdogs: prostitutes, murders and street rats, and indeed the heroine herself is a famous courtesan who- for reasons perhaps best explained as ‘plot’- likes to help her friend Sir Thomas and do a little detecting on the sly. This time, somebody’s been carving up prostitutes, cutting off their sexual organs and leaving them to die. Who better for the job than Heloise Chancey?
The heroine, Heloise, carries the story. We’re given no introductions or backstory into her life; instead, we’re plunged into the middle of the action and left to pick up the pieces as we go along. Heloise is an entertaining protagonist: she’s mysterious (though we do learn about her past the story progresses), full of determination, resourceful and refreshingly unapologetic, both about her wealth and her profession. She also has an exotic maid, Amah Li Leen, in tow, to whom there is more than first appears. Who better to guide us through the decrepit world of Victorian London? The host of secondary characters, too, are fleshed out and don’t adhere to stereotypes (except maybe the brothel owner) in a way that drags you into the world that Tjia has created and makes you want to read more.
Indeed, the author’s portrayal of Victorian London is rich in detail, from the brothels to the police stations, sprinkled liberally with Victorian slang rich enough to make the book feel realistic and draw you in. Apart from anything else, it’s also a fascinating look at how prostitution was seen in Victorian times, from the rich and respected courtesans to the destitution of the lower classes; Heloise herself has clawed her way up from the bottom and the fact that she herself is a prostitute makes for a more nuanced portrayal of it than perhaps we’d see in other books.
The plot unfolds deftly- there’s never a dull moment- but I personally found that I was reading it more for the interesting characters, and to see what Heloise would do, rather for than the case itself. There are twists and turns, some of which seem rather haphazard, thrown in more to confuse the reader rather than to serve any purpose in the story- as do some of the subplots. Indeed, I only understood why the interludes inserted into the novel were there under the very end, so if you like a novel that keeps you guessing then this is for you.
The heroine, Heloise, carries the story. We’re given no introductions or backstory into her life; instead, we’re plunged into the middle of the action and left to pick up the pieces as we go along. Heloise is an entertaining protagonist: she’s mysterious (though we do learn about her past the story progresses), full of determination, resourceful and refreshingly unapologetic, both about her wealth and her profession. She also has an exotic maid, Amah Li Leen, in tow, to whom there is more than first appears. Who better to guide us through the decrepit world of Victorian London? The host of secondary characters, too, are fleshed out and don’t adhere to stereotypes (except maybe the brothel owner) in a way that drags you into the world that Tjia has created and makes you want to read more.
Indeed, the author’s portrayal of Victorian London is rich in detail, from the brothels to the police stations, sprinkled liberally with Victorian slang rich enough to make the book feel realistic and draw you in. Apart from anything else, it’s also a fascinating look at how prostitution was seen in Victorian times, from the rich and respected courtesans to the destitution of the lower classes; Heloise herself has clawed her way up from the bottom and the fact that she herself is a prostitute makes for a more nuanced portrayal of it than perhaps we’d see in other books.
The plot unfolds deftly- there’s never a dull moment- but I personally found that I was reading it more for the interesting characters, and to see what Heloise would do, rather for than the case itself. There are twists and turns, some of which seem rather haphazard, thrown in more to confuse the reader rather than to serve any purpose in the story- as do some of the subplots. Indeed, I only understood why the interludes inserted into the novel were there under the very end, so if you like a novel that keeps you guessing then this is for you.
July 29, 2017
Mrs. Heloise Chancey has been hired by Sir Thomas to find a young pregnant girl who has disappeared. They are afraid the girl may have fallen into the hands of a killer who has killed and dismembered several young women and left them to bleed to death.
Heloise, a courtesan, part time actress and detective, goes back to her street prostitute roots in order to sniff out clues.
The atmosphere of 1800's London is so palpable, I was totally immersed in the book from the first page.
The noise, smells and feel are as if you're there, worried your shoes and skirts will be covered in the muck of the streets.
Her 'servant', Amah, is eventually accused of being the killer and Heloise must use all of her skills to free her.
I absolutely loved this book, and the ending was particularly surprising, making me sad it was over.
Can't wait for the next installment, please write as fast as you can, M J Tia!
Thank you Netgalley, Pantera Press and M J Tia for the chance to read this treasure of a book.
Heloise, a courtesan, part time actress and detective, goes back to her street prostitute roots in order to sniff out clues.
The atmosphere of 1800's London is so palpable, I was totally immersed in the book from the first page.
The noise, smells and feel are as if you're there, worried your shoes and skirts will be covered in the muck of the streets.
Her 'servant', Amah, is eventually accused of being the killer and Heloise must use all of her skills to free her.
I absolutely loved this book, and the ending was particularly surprising, making me sad it was over.
Can't wait for the next installment, please write as fast as you can, M J Tia!
Thank you Netgalley, Pantera Press and M J Tia for the chance to read this treasure of a book.
August 2, 2017
This book amazed me. I was checking my notes in preparation for writing this review and they're useless. They're full of "wow" and "amazing" and "that was very clever".
This book is just that.
The first thing that struck me is that, unusually for fiction, it's written in the first person. That's tough. Generally what happens is that after the 457th 'I did a thing, then I did another thing', the reader wants to gouge their eyes out with a rusty spoon. That is emphatically not the case with this book. The writing is masterful. The plotting and story progression are organic and seamless. The things that happened felt natural and not contrived. I just really REALLY enjoyed reading this book.
I read a ton and a half of mysteries. I consider myself pretty good at 'whodunnit'. I had -no- clue with this one. I was SO far off base and all I can say is "Well played, Ms. Tjia, well played"! There were plot twists and payoffs up until literally the last paragraphs.
The historical London and environs are perfectly drawn. The environments are well described (smells, sights, good and bad all together) along with historically accurate representations of sexual mores and attitudes in different strata of society.
A caveat, however. The narrative is quite gritty and graphic in places. There's a fair bit of sex (not in a nice way) and murder and historically awful stuff included. If you're looking for a nice tea shop cozy mystery, this is not it.
I'm going to put this author (M.J. Tjia) on my perma-update list on Amazon/Goodreads.
Five huge stars with glitter on top.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.
This book is just that.
The first thing that struck me is that, unusually for fiction, it's written in the first person. That's tough. Generally what happens is that after the 457th 'I did a thing, then I did another thing', the reader wants to gouge their eyes out with a rusty spoon. That is emphatically not the case with this book. The writing is masterful. The plotting and story progression are organic and seamless. The things that happened felt natural and not contrived. I just really REALLY enjoyed reading this book.
I read a ton and a half of mysteries. I consider myself pretty good at 'whodunnit'. I had -no- clue with this one. I was SO far off base and all I can say is "Well played, Ms. Tjia, well played"! There were plot twists and payoffs up until literally the last paragraphs.
The historical London and environs are perfectly drawn. The environments are well described (smells, sights, good and bad all together) along with historically accurate representations of sexual mores and attitudes in different strata of society.
A caveat, however. The narrative is quite gritty and graphic in places. There's a fair bit of sex (not in a nice way) and murder and historically awful stuff included. If you're looking for a nice tea shop cozy mystery, this is not it.
I'm going to put this author (M.J. Tjia) on my perma-update list on Amazon/Goodreads.
Five huge stars with glitter on top.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.
November 5, 2018
This is a super novel set in Victorian London. Heloise Chancey is a beautiful woman who lives among London’s high society in Mayfair but she is far from one of them. In her younger days she was a woman who sold her favours. Her charms had one very influential and wealthy gentleman fall in love with her, hence her residence now, including maid. The thing was she had a bright mind and the need to use it and so worked, on the sly, for the police as a lady detective. Her ability to get into places they couldn’t, made some unsolvable crimes now possible. A Speight of horrendous murders was occurring among prostitutes, with Jack the ripper type mutilations, as the book begins with one of his victims welcoming the end of her life.
Heloise is an extremely likeable character, a woman born way before her time but one that had learnt to let vain men think they were far more superior to her. When a young pregnant disgraced daughter of wealthy gentleman goes missing, concerns grow for her safety and Heloise eventually agrees to assist in finding the young lady. It requires her to move back to live in the red light district again and all the dangers that go with it.
What a belting story this is, a real mystery to solve of who and why someone would do this. I seethed at how she and other women were treated back in 1863 but in many respects it meant that Heloise wasn’t really seen as a threat. The story is one that was edgy from the first few pages, as it dipped into the activities of the murderer and his victims. There was a link to them all, it was a matter finding their connection to the killer.
I loved the descriptions of the era, the houses and clothes which brought the whole story to life. Heloise’s Chinese maid, Amah Li Leen is a worthy assistant way past that of her normal duties, another great character in the story. There are shocks in store for Heloise and heart ache. I hope that this is going to be a series. A brilliant addition to a long line of super detectives. Awesome!
Heloise is an extremely likeable character, a woman born way before her time but one that had learnt to let vain men think they were far more superior to her. When a young pregnant disgraced daughter of wealthy gentleman goes missing, concerns grow for her safety and Heloise eventually agrees to assist in finding the young lady. It requires her to move back to live in the red light district again and all the dangers that go with it.
What a belting story this is, a real mystery to solve of who and why someone would do this. I seethed at how she and other women were treated back in 1863 but in many respects it meant that Heloise wasn’t really seen as a threat. The story is one that was edgy from the first few pages, as it dipped into the activities of the murderer and his victims. There was a link to them all, it was a matter finding their connection to the killer.
I loved the descriptions of the era, the houses and clothes which brought the whole story to life. Heloise’s Chinese maid, Amah Li Leen is a worthy assistant way past that of her normal duties, another great character in the story. There are shocks in store for Heloise and heart ache. I hope that this is going to be a series. A brilliant addition to a long line of super detectives. Awesome!
August 12, 2017
18th century courtesan Heloise Chancey has made a success of herself. A list of rich clients, a talent for stage acting and a side job doing undercover detective work for the local law enforcement. Her latest assignment is to find Eleanor Carter, a runaway who is possibly hiding away in the more vulgar and murderous communities of London. A serial killer is on the loose, preying on prostitutes and mutilating their bodies. The police believe that Eleanor may be the perfect victim for the sadistic killer, so Chancey has to be fast on her feet. She Be Damned is a classic murder mystery that is set in Tjia’s disturbingly vivid depiction of 18th century London.
I thought Tjia’s writing made this novel something really worth reading. The only problem with the book, in my opinion, was with the story. The plot is decent, a mystery within a mystery, but I don’t feel it was explosive or captivating enough to encourage the reader to invest in the series all on its own. My problem lies with the case she is working on in the novel, it seemed very basic, in both depth and intensity, and it was over just as quickly as it begun. I hope that Tjia brings a more challenging case to Chancey in the next outing.
Heloise Chancey is an interesting character, having built her life up from nothing to become a success, living a life of luxury after having paid a hefty price both physically and mentally. Being plunged back into the scene of one of the worst chapters of her life is stressful, fearsome and a dire warning to watch her back. She is popular with the police due to her particular brand of finesse and infiltration when investigating. There was a frustrating lack of details about her past before the novel so I hope that is explored more in future novels. Her relationship with her servant Li Leen is a perplexing one and it was one of my favourite mysteries involved in the book, I am glad that got resolved in book one as now I have a deeper appreciation for their relationship which will be great in further instalments.
The element of the book that kept me invested was definitely Tjia’s writing. She has certainly got talent and I am excited to see what she is capable of when this series is in full swing. Tjia’s writing is many things, elegant, gritty, sensory and forthright are only a few ways to describe it. Her descriptive detail and superb research is something to be applauded. I have given She Be Damned 3.5 stars as it was a good book with plenty of amazing elements that I hope to see more of in the future. She Be Damned is perfect read for all mystery and historical fiction readers that enjoy vivid imagery and want to invest in a series.
I thought Tjia’s writing made this novel something really worth reading. The only problem with the book, in my opinion, was with the story. The plot is decent, a mystery within a mystery, but I don’t feel it was explosive or captivating enough to encourage the reader to invest in the series all on its own. My problem lies with the case she is working on in the novel, it seemed very basic, in both depth and intensity, and it was over just as quickly as it begun. I hope that Tjia brings a more challenging case to Chancey in the next outing.
Heloise Chancey is an interesting character, having built her life up from nothing to become a success, living a life of luxury after having paid a hefty price both physically and mentally. Being plunged back into the scene of one of the worst chapters of her life is stressful, fearsome and a dire warning to watch her back. She is popular with the police due to her particular brand of finesse and infiltration when investigating. There was a frustrating lack of details about her past before the novel so I hope that is explored more in future novels. Her relationship with her servant Li Leen is a perplexing one and it was one of my favourite mysteries involved in the book, I am glad that got resolved in book one as now I have a deeper appreciation for their relationship which will be great in further instalments.
The element of the book that kept me invested was definitely Tjia’s writing. She has certainly got talent and I am excited to see what she is capable of when this series is in full swing. Tjia’s writing is many things, elegant, gritty, sensory and forthright are only a few ways to describe it. Her descriptive detail and superb research is something to be applauded. I have given She Be Damned 3.5 stars as it was a good book with plenty of amazing elements that I hope to see more of in the future. She Be Damned is perfect read for all mystery and historical fiction readers that enjoy vivid imagery and want to invest in a series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2017
I read this as an ARC from netgalley so I shouldn't judge it too harshly.
I loved the premise, smart sassy lady detective in 1860s London investigating the Ripper deaths of local prostitutes. A bit Phryne Fisher. Right up my alley
It didn't *quite* push all my buttons. I like when I can't guess the end of a mystery but I think in this case it's because the clues seemed a bit heavy handed and I dismissed them. There is no subtlety to this novel in any sense. There is in-your-face sex, violence and character personality.
The writing itself is really good. The setting is fantastic, the descriptions spot on and really good story telling. I just couldn't get really invested. Heloise Chancey is a bit meh, she's supposed to be kickass but she's mostly just shallow. There are no great relationships in the book. The asides with Amah Li Leen are bizarre, but almost functional for the storyline. With better editing they might achieve a bit more in terms of backstory setting.
This reads as more of a 3rd or 4th novel in a series, where you're already invested in the character and just want to read about the next adventure they're having. As a first novel there needs to be less casual references to past events "off page" to make the character seem more interesting, and just make your character more interesting with dialogue and personal reflections.
Wow this review sounds savage, but actually overall I liked it. The writing is a lot better than the sum of its parts, and like I said I enjoyed the premise
I loved the premise, smart sassy lady detective in 1860s London investigating the Ripper deaths of local prostitutes. A bit Phryne Fisher. Right up my alley
It didn't *quite* push all my buttons. I like when I can't guess the end of a mystery but I think in this case it's because the clues seemed a bit heavy handed and I dismissed them. There is no subtlety to this novel in any sense. There is in-your-face sex, violence and character personality.
The writing itself is really good. The setting is fantastic, the descriptions spot on and really good story telling. I just couldn't get really invested. Heloise Chancey is a bit meh, she's supposed to be kickass but she's mostly just shallow. There are no great relationships in the book. The asides with Amah Li Leen are bizarre, but almost functional for the storyline. With better editing they might achieve a bit more in terms of backstory setting.
This reads as more of a 3rd or 4th novel in a series, where you're already invested in the character and just want to read about the next adventure they're having. As a first novel there needs to be less casual references to past events "off page" to make the character seem more interesting, and just make your character more interesting with dialogue and personal reflections.
Wow this review sounds savage, but actually overall I liked it. The writing is a lot better than the sum of its parts, and like I said I enjoyed the premise
August 28, 2017
I enjoyed this historical fiction mystery. It read like a cozy mystery with just enough suspense to keep the pages turning. Tjia does a great job of keeping you guessing who the murderer is and I can honestly say I didn't guess right.
It was also a unique spin to have a courtesan moonlight as an amateur detective. Heloise uses her true profession to gain access to Waterloo's prostitution world and also to charm others into giving her information. She has been hired to find the daughter of a rich man who ran away after becoming pregnant. There are also a string of prostitute murders around the same area the girl was last seen and Heloise, with the help of/despite the police, tries to find the girl as well as solve who is killing these women.
I found the secondary characters to be well written and great companions to Heloise. Of course not all are likable, but they all added to the story. I will say that I didn't care much for Amah Li Leen's POV being sporadically put in. I can see why Tjia thought it may enhance the story, but I found it unnecessary and distracting to the overall plot.
She Be Damned could very well be the first novel in a series as I can see Heloise using her skills and charm to solve more crime in the future.
It was also a unique spin to have a courtesan moonlight as an amateur detective. Heloise uses her true profession to gain access to Waterloo's prostitution world and also to charm others into giving her information. She has been hired to find the daughter of a rich man who ran away after becoming pregnant. There are also a string of prostitute murders around the same area the girl was last seen and Heloise, with the help of/despite the police, tries to find the girl as well as solve who is killing these women.
I found the secondary characters to be well written and great companions to Heloise. Of course not all are likable, but they all added to the story. I will say that I didn't care much for Amah Li Leen's POV being sporadically put in. I can see why Tjia thought it may enhance the story, but I found it unnecessary and distracting to the overall plot.
She Be Damned could very well be the first novel in a series as I can see Heloise using her skills and charm to solve more crime in the future.
August 13, 2017
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley.
Imagine the love child between Irene Adler and Sherlock Holmes, minus the over-smart brains. You get Heloise Chancey, courtesan and detective, who goes to investigate the gruesome murders and mutilations of pregnant prostitutes in 19th century London. It is a fast-paced novel with lots of action, but also plenty of emotional and calmer scenes throughout, not to mention a bit of fun. I do understand why other reviewers criticize the opening as misleading and off-putting, but for me it showcased what sort of protagonist we are dealing with: a sexy, assertive woman, confident in her body and her sexuality. One has to keep in mind that this is a debut work - and it is really very good. There is good pacing, clever plot twists, a nice mystery and lots of female power. So if you are turned off by the beginning, continue reading please, it does get less steamy and more serious. Overall, I am very much looking forward to reading more of this character in future installments. Or of her past, for that matter...
Imagine the love child between Irene Adler and Sherlock Holmes, minus the over-smart brains. You get Heloise Chancey, courtesan and detective, who goes to investigate the gruesome murders and mutilations of pregnant prostitutes in 19th century London. It is a fast-paced novel with lots of action, but also plenty of emotional and calmer scenes throughout, not to mention a bit of fun. I do understand why other reviewers criticize the opening as misleading and off-putting, but for me it showcased what sort of protagonist we are dealing with: a sexy, assertive woman, confident in her body and her sexuality. One has to keep in mind that this is a debut work - and it is really very good. There is good pacing, clever plot twists, a nice mystery and lots of female power. So if you are turned off by the beginning, continue reading please, it does get less steamy and more serious. Overall, I am very much looking forward to reading more of this character in future installments. Or of her past, for that matter...
July 17, 2017
Heloise Chancey is asked to investigate the girls being butchered when going to have their regeneracy aborted. They are bleeding to death. This is 1863 London and no one seems to care about this happening. Heloise is looking for one particular young lady from a better home who is out on the street. A compelling story of the times and the life of these young ladies. With the help of her Chinese maid, she is finding out more as she investigates.
December 14, 2017
This gritty historical fiction, set in the slums of 1860’s London, is a well written, authentic feeling story of the life and death of prostitutes, their customers, and the pimps, madams, doctors, and policemen who surround them.
January 9, 2018
There’s a serial killer on the loose in Victorian London and the best woman is on the case – Heloise Chancey, courtesan turned private detective. She’s called upon by the kindly Sir Thomas Avery and his client, the large-eared and disagreeable Mr Priestly, to do a ‘spot of work’ – find missing seventeen year old Eleanor Carter, who has been thrown out of home for finding herself in an ‘unhappy condition’. They’re worried she may have fallen victim to a Jack-the-Ripper style killer who has already butchered four pregnant women, removing their sexual organs in what appears to be a botched hysterectomy, leaving the police perplexed.
Heloise has a history as a stage actress so Sir Thomas and Mr Priestly direct her to pose as a prostitute in the slums of Waterloo. But Heloise, who does investigation work for pleasure and not money, decides ‘I don’t need to be flat on my back or flashing my breasts to find this Eleanor girl’. She leaves behind her trusted maid, Amah Li Leen, and ventures to Waterloo where she intends to do things her own way.
M.J. Tjia is the pen name for Brisbane based author Mirandi Riwoe, who also writes literary fiction and whose novella The Fish Girl won the 2017 Seizure Viva La Novella Prize. She Be Damned, the first in the Heloise Chancey series, was long listed for the 2015 CWA Debut Dagger and has been picked up by Legend Press in London. Tjia depicts a gritty Victorian London for a gruesome murder mystery, evoking the era with a few well-chosen words from the dialect, vivid descriptions of the squalid living conditions, and shrewd observations of sexist and racist attitudes of the time. Women with unwanted pregnancies find themselves in a desperate situation with no support, no health care and limited options available to them, and the treatment of Amah Li Leen who, as a Eurasian woman, is viewed as dangerous and untrustworthy and forced to disguise herself in public or risk being openly abused in the streets.
Heloise is a dauntless main character who is well aware of the realities of life, having worked in the back alleys and brothels of Liverpool before earning her place as an esteemed courtesan living in Mayfair. With an ability to move between different social circles, she throws herself into the investigation using her instinct, intelligence and experience to question a range of unsavoury characters. There’s sneaky Madame Silvestre at the brothel where Heloise used to work, the dodgy back door doctor conducting ‘scrapings’, and Bill Chapman, an ambitious police sergeant investigating the murders in his own time in the hopes of getting a promotion.
She Be Damned moves along at a nimble pace starting with a violent prologue where the murderer claims his latest victim, and with a shocking turn of events halfway through the story. Li Leen’s backstory is revealed in mysterious interludes throughout the book, making her a sympathetic character and allowing the reader a different point of view of Heloise, leading to a significant reveal at the end.
These two brave, unapologetic leading ladies makes She Be Damned a historical crime fiction novel that is perfect for contemporary readers and a joy to read. There’s plenty of material for this to become a rich and engaging series of mystery novels and I eagerly await the next installment.
Heloise has a history as a stage actress so Sir Thomas and Mr Priestly direct her to pose as a prostitute in the slums of Waterloo. But Heloise, who does investigation work for pleasure and not money, decides ‘I don’t need to be flat on my back or flashing my breasts to find this Eleanor girl’. She leaves behind her trusted maid, Amah Li Leen, and ventures to Waterloo where she intends to do things her own way.
M.J. Tjia is the pen name for Brisbane based author Mirandi Riwoe, who also writes literary fiction and whose novella The Fish Girl won the 2017 Seizure Viva La Novella Prize. She Be Damned, the first in the Heloise Chancey series, was long listed for the 2015 CWA Debut Dagger and has been picked up by Legend Press in London. Tjia depicts a gritty Victorian London for a gruesome murder mystery, evoking the era with a few well-chosen words from the dialect, vivid descriptions of the squalid living conditions, and shrewd observations of sexist and racist attitudes of the time. Women with unwanted pregnancies find themselves in a desperate situation with no support, no health care and limited options available to them, and the treatment of Amah Li Leen who, as a Eurasian woman, is viewed as dangerous and untrustworthy and forced to disguise herself in public or risk being openly abused in the streets.
Heloise is a dauntless main character who is well aware of the realities of life, having worked in the back alleys and brothels of Liverpool before earning her place as an esteemed courtesan living in Mayfair. With an ability to move between different social circles, she throws herself into the investigation using her instinct, intelligence and experience to question a range of unsavoury characters. There’s sneaky Madame Silvestre at the brothel where Heloise used to work, the dodgy back door doctor conducting ‘scrapings’, and Bill Chapman, an ambitious police sergeant investigating the murders in his own time in the hopes of getting a promotion.
She Be Damned moves along at a nimble pace starting with a violent prologue where the murderer claims his latest victim, and with a shocking turn of events halfway through the story. Li Leen’s backstory is revealed in mysterious interludes throughout the book, making her a sympathetic character and allowing the reader a different point of view of Heloise, leading to a significant reveal at the end.
These two brave, unapologetic leading ladies makes She Be Damned a historical crime fiction novel that is perfect for contemporary readers and a joy to read. There’s plenty of material for this to become a rich and engaging series of mystery novels and I eagerly await the next installment.
December 24, 2020
This is a highly promising mystery series set in London starring courtesan detective Heloise Chancey. Less escapist than similar genre entries (Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher and Sulari Gentill's excellent Rowland Sinclair series for example), Tija has a sharpness and grit to her exploration of the racial and gendered proscribed lives of her protagonists. While Chancey believes herself to have the untouchable elite status that facilitates Fisher's and Sinclair's adventures, for example, her companion understands the precariousness of Chancey's social position, and the extent to which it is dependent upon rich white male society, who understand all too well their own power. The books are not remotely bleak, however, clearly being light entertainment and fabric enthusiasts will salivate over the lavish descriptions of contemporary fashion and furnishings.
Tija has great strengths in characterisation, and Chancey, in particular, is captivating and fully realised. London's squalor is on show well here, as well as sumptuous opera settings. Tija deals with horrific crimes, but avoids gratuitous detail, keeping a focus on crime as part of a network of gendered violence, not individual horror.
Given the strength of Tija's literary fiction (under the name of Mirandi Riwoe), I was a little surprised that the plotting and writing were less assured - very much like most first entries in a crime series. You can see what Tija is trying to achieve in the passages, with less getting swept away by the writing in the main sections than I hoped. This contrasts with the sections written from the viewpoint of Amah Li Leen, where without plot work to do, the writing soars. I am very much looking forward to this settling in a bit. Similarly, the mystery elements of the plot were one of the weaker aspects of the story.
I've already bought the next one, and am madly hoping she releases the third one soon.
Tija has great strengths in characterisation, and Chancey, in particular, is captivating and fully realised. London's squalor is on show well here, as well as sumptuous opera settings. Tija deals with horrific crimes, but avoids gratuitous detail, keeping a focus on crime as part of a network of gendered violence, not individual horror.
Given the strength of Tija's literary fiction (under the name of Mirandi Riwoe), I was a little surprised that the plotting and writing were less assured - very much like most first entries in a crime series. You can see what Tija is trying to achieve in the passages, with less getting swept away by the writing in the main sections than I hoped. This contrasts with the sections written from the viewpoint of Amah Li Leen, where without plot work to do, the writing soars. I am very much looking forward to this settling in a bit. Similarly, the mystery elements of the plot were one of the weaker aspects of the story.
I've already bought the next one, and am madly hoping she releases the third one soon.
July 31, 2018
Victorian thriller!
A grim Victorian murder mystery with a rather different woman sleuth--the courtesan Heloise Chancey
It seems a serial killer is hiding in plain sight in the Waterloo area. The targets--pregnant prostitutes who are being horribly mutilated.
Concurrently Heloise is asked to help locate a respectable young woman, who has become pregnant and is being forced into a convent by her father. En route she escaped from that life of tedium into the merciless Waterloo area. But what might the poor girl have exchanged the tedium for?
Unfortunately Heloise's Chinese maid, Amah Li Leen becomes embroiled in the case and things take a grim turn.
Secrets of Heloise's past are revealed along the way, unraveled like some exotic Oriental dancer's costume. Interspersed between the diabolical happenings that are escalating, the interludes about the past provided by Amah Li Leen's and Heloise's reminiscences give more context to the life and mystery of Heloise.
I was struck by the unusualness of Heloise, a courtesan who courts danger and the challenge of investigation. A courtesan who seems very aware of the tightrope existence she leads.
A NetGalley ARC
A grim Victorian murder mystery with a rather different woman sleuth--the courtesan Heloise Chancey
It seems a serial killer is hiding in plain sight in the Waterloo area. The targets--pregnant prostitutes who are being horribly mutilated.
Concurrently Heloise is asked to help locate a respectable young woman, who has become pregnant and is being forced into a convent by her father. En route she escaped from that life of tedium into the merciless Waterloo area. But what might the poor girl have exchanged the tedium for?
Unfortunately Heloise's Chinese maid, Amah Li Leen becomes embroiled in the case and things take a grim turn.
Secrets of Heloise's past are revealed along the way, unraveled like some exotic Oriental dancer's costume. Interspersed between the diabolical happenings that are escalating, the interludes about the past provided by Amah Li Leen's and Heloise's reminiscences give more context to the life and mystery of Heloise.
I was struck by the unusualness of Heloise, a courtesan who courts danger and the challenge of investigation. A courtesan who seems very aware of the tightrope existence she leads.
A NetGalley ARC
August 11, 2017
I received this book for free from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This is a historical mystery that takes on strong elements of Jack the Ripper. The main protagonist is a female courtesan, who is pulled in to detective work to find a missing girl. The story was written well and portrays Victorian times very well. The book had a slow start and was a bit rushed at the end. It was almost like the author was trying to put in more story, but ran out of time. It The way this story was told it looks like we can see this turning into a series. Overall, the book was engaging, but the reader should be aware that it is not a cozy mystery and contains descriptive content. I am interested in reading a future book from this author to see how she develops.
August 23, 2017
3.5 Stars!
I gotta say I am surprised I liked this as much as I did. It is completely out of my normal theme/ range, but I loved the way the story was build and most of all I like the mystery! It did not feel cliché which made it so much better!
I gotta say I am surprised I liked this as much as I did. It is completely out of my normal theme/ range, but I loved the way the story was build and most of all I like the mystery! It did not feel cliché which made it so much better!
April 22, 2018
I love the narrative style. Although there's a risk of it becoming overbearing, Tjia manages to strike the perfect balance while maintaining the flow of the story. I'll definitely be reading more from this series!
October 14, 2017
She Be Damned is a difficult book to read, not because of the writing which is excellent, but the troubling topics it addresses. Prostitutes are being killed, but more than that their sexual organs are mutilated and removed. The victims are pregnant young women and their victimization is horrifying. Mrs. Heloise Chancey is similar to the girls in that as a courtesan, she too is dependent upon the goodwill of men, but differs in her status and treatment. She is also an accomplished actress, and has acted as a detective on previous occasions. This case is different, both because she is blackmailed into it and because it hits close to home. Heloise is to find a young pregnant who may have become a victim since she was banished from her home. It’s a difficult case both because it forces Heloise to visit places and people from her past, and puts her at deadly risk.
Issues of rape and the degradation of women dependent upon the whims of men are central, as is the reminder that women once (and often now) are considered objects of sexual satisfaction rather than individuals. Even today women bear the responsibility for pregnancy out of wedlock, even in cases of rape and incest. The hideous procedures women wishing to end pregnancy had to undergo remind the reader of what will take place if abortion is outlawed. While being a historical mystery, many of the issues raised are of current concern.
She Be Damned is a very good, but not altogether comfortable read. It isn’t for everyone, but I think those who do read it, knowing the content will find it an excellent historical mystery.
4 / 5
I received a copy of She Be Damned from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
Issues of rape and the degradation of women dependent upon the whims of men are central, as is the reminder that women once (and often now) are considered objects of sexual satisfaction rather than individuals. Even today women bear the responsibility for pregnancy out of wedlock, even in cases of rape and incest. The hideous procedures women wishing to end pregnancy had to undergo remind the reader of what will take place if abortion is outlawed. While being a historical mystery, many of the issues raised are of current concern.
She Be Damned is a very good, but not altogether comfortable read. It isn’t for everyone, but I think those who do read it, knowing the content will find it an excellent historical mystery.
4 / 5
I received a copy of She Be Damned from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
October 13, 2020
Actual rating: 3.5
I don’t usually read mystery or thrillers. This is the one that I read after a long time. This is a debut novel of the author M.J. Tjia. She Be Damned is a historical mystery set in the Victorian era in London. The main protagonist of the story is Mrs. Heloise Chancey who is a courtesan and lives in Mayfair with her Chinese Maid Amah Li Leen.
She got an assignment by Mr. Thomas Avery to find a missing girl named Eleanor, who was from a good family and was missing in London’s dark side, Waterloo. On the other hand, pregnant prostitutes in Waterloo area were being murdered and their sexual organs being mutilated and removed. They get the news of another girl getting murdered and they suspect that it may be Eleanor. Heloise decided to live in Waterloo, where her roots were, for investigating the case further.
During the investigation, Heloise made contacts to try and find Eleanor. But during all this mystery solving she gets into a bigger mystery and the number of events that were happening with the prostitutes. She meets a police sergeant, Bill Chapman who helps her in with the case. Obviously, there is some romance between them. They have a number of suspects for the crime and together they made some progress. She was near to getting the truth when Amah got arrested for the charge of murders.
Will Heloise be able to prove that Amah is innocent? Has does Amah anything to do with all this? What happened to Eleanor? Will Heloise find her? Who is the real killer and what actually is the motive?
All the characters were created beautifully according to the Victorian era of the 1860s. The dressing of Heloise was explained in a detailed manner like how the ladies were supposed to dress in those days. The author does a great job with the London setting and shown the attitudes and morals of the time correctly, as far I can say.
I found that the book is more character driven rather than the mystery driven. All the characters were dynamic and properly described as per their roles. I really liked the relationship between Amah Li Leen and Heloise. They were the perfect pairing while they don’t often get along.
Though the character of Heloise was represented to a big extent, nothing was revealed about her past. I wanted to know her back story, that how she gets to leave the life of the prostitute and got settled in Mayfair. But I guess, the author has saved that backstory to be described in next books of the series (yes, this is to become a series.). Also, bits and pieces about Amah Li Leen were shown, but I wanted to know more about her story, that how she ended up with Heloise. Middle English is used as the language.
At some point it was dark especially the way those prostitutes were being murdered. Those were awful. But I am glad, that there was not too much graphic description for those deaths. Sometimes, you feel as if the story has just skipped some parts and it becomes confusing during parts of the book. There was romance in the story but nothing too graphic.
In spite of having some complaints about the story, I loved the ending. It was surprising and I absolutely didn’t saw it coming.
If you are looking for some quick and assertive read, then this is a decent read. It is certainly worth the read, especially for the ending. That ending specially changed my whole outlook towards the story. As a debut novel, Tjia has done a great job. I will definitely wait for the next book in the series, as I want to know more about Heloise and Amah’s backstory.
*** Thank you NetGalley and Pantera Press fro providing me and eARC in exchange of an honest review.
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I don’t usually read mystery or thrillers. This is the one that I read after a long time. This is a debut novel of the author M.J. Tjia. She Be Damned is a historical mystery set in the Victorian era in London. The main protagonist of the story is Mrs. Heloise Chancey who is a courtesan and lives in Mayfair with her Chinese Maid Amah Li Leen.
She got an assignment by Mr. Thomas Avery to find a missing girl named Eleanor, who was from a good family and was missing in London’s dark side, Waterloo. On the other hand, pregnant prostitutes in Waterloo area were being murdered and their sexual organs being mutilated and removed. They get the news of another girl getting murdered and they suspect that it may be Eleanor. Heloise decided to live in Waterloo, where her roots were, for investigating the case further.
During the investigation, Heloise made contacts to try and find Eleanor. But during all this mystery solving she gets into a bigger mystery and the number of events that were happening with the prostitutes. She meets a police sergeant, Bill Chapman who helps her in with the case. Obviously, there is some romance between them. They have a number of suspects for the crime and together they made some progress. She was near to getting the truth when Amah got arrested for the charge of murders.
Will Heloise be able to prove that Amah is innocent? Has does Amah anything to do with all this? What happened to Eleanor? Will Heloise find her? Who is the real killer and what actually is the motive?
All the characters were created beautifully according to the Victorian era of the 1860s. The dressing of Heloise was explained in a detailed manner like how the ladies were supposed to dress in those days. The author does a great job with the London setting and shown the attitudes and morals of the time correctly, as far I can say.
I found that the book is more character driven rather than the mystery driven. All the characters were dynamic and properly described as per their roles. I really liked the relationship between Amah Li Leen and Heloise. They were the perfect pairing while they don’t often get along.
Though the character of Heloise was represented to a big extent, nothing was revealed about her past. I wanted to know her back story, that how she gets to leave the life of the prostitute and got settled in Mayfair. But I guess, the author has saved that backstory to be described in next books of the series (yes, this is to become a series.). Also, bits and pieces about Amah Li Leen were shown, but I wanted to know more about her story, that how she ended up with Heloise. Middle English is used as the language.
At some point it was dark especially the way those prostitutes were being murdered. Those were awful. But I am glad, that there was not too much graphic description for those deaths. Sometimes, you feel as if the story has just skipped some parts and it becomes confusing during parts of the book. There was romance in the story but nothing too graphic.
In spite of having some complaints about the story, I loved the ending. It was surprising and I absolutely didn’t saw it coming.
If you are looking for some quick and assertive read, then this is a decent read. It is certainly worth the read, especially for the ending. That ending specially changed my whole outlook towards the story. As a debut novel, Tjia has done a great job. I will definitely wait for the next book in the series, as I want to know more about Heloise and Amah’s backstory.
*** Thank you NetGalley and Pantera Press fro providing me and eARC in exchange of an honest review.
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July 30, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley and Legend Press for an advance copy of She Be Damned, the first novel to feature courtesan Heloise Chancey in 1863 London.
Heloise has earned enough money to live a financially comfortable life and is able to indulge her hobbies - stage acting and some detection work for private investigator Sir Thomas Avery. She is interested when Sir Thomas asks her to look for Eleanor Carter a young lady in an interesting condition who has run away from home and may have become the victim of a serial killer who is butchering pregnant prostitutes.
I enjoyed She Be Damned as it has a very readable style which draws the reader in to Heloise's lifestyle, although I'm less sure about said lifestyle. The plot involves Heloise gathering information by visiting various seedy haunts, most of which remind her of her past and how far she has come. It is well put together and does not pull its punches in either the dreadful poverty or hypocrisy of the Victorian age.
It is interesting that Ms Tjia chooses to make her protagonist a courtesan as it gives her a lot of scope in covering the many facets of Victorian society. She is able to portray the condemnation society heaps on Heloise for her profession and lack of morality and yet, thanks to her wealthy protectors, she is able to move among them. At the same time her past allows her to visit brothels and whorehouses with impunity and converse with the poor. Personally I did not find Heloise overly convincing as I found her far too modern for the times, both in her thinking and attitudes. And she smokes before cigarettes were commercially available.
She Be Damned is as much about Victorian morals as it is about crime. It is not a cozy novel with its frequent references to sex and abortion, the descriptions of the victims' mutilation and ripe language. I would be interested to read more about Heloise in a different setting.
This is an interesting novel with an easy, readable style about it so I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
Heloise has earned enough money to live a financially comfortable life and is able to indulge her hobbies - stage acting and some detection work for private investigator Sir Thomas Avery. She is interested when Sir Thomas asks her to look for Eleanor Carter a young lady in an interesting condition who has run away from home and may have become the victim of a serial killer who is butchering pregnant prostitutes.
I enjoyed She Be Damned as it has a very readable style which draws the reader in to Heloise's lifestyle, although I'm less sure about said lifestyle. The plot involves Heloise gathering information by visiting various seedy haunts, most of which remind her of her past and how far she has come. It is well put together and does not pull its punches in either the dreadful poverty or hypocrisy of the Victorian age.
It is interesting that Ms Tjia chooses to make her protagonist a courtesan as it gives her a lot of scope in covering the many facets of Victorian society. She is able to portray the condemnation society heaps on Heloise for her profession and lack of morality and yet, thanks to her wealthy protectors, she is able to move among them. At the same time her past allows her to visit brothels and whorehouses with impunity and converse with the poor. Personally I did not find Heloise overly convincing as I found her far too modern for the times, both in her thinking and attitudes. And she smokes before cigarettes were commercially available.
She Be Damned is as much about Victorian morals as it is about crime. It is not a cozy novel with its frequent references to sex and abortion, the descriptions of the victims' mutilation and ripe language. I would be interested to read more about Heloise in a different setting.
This is an interesting novel with an easy, readable style about it so I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
August 12, 2017
Overall I would have to give this book 3.75 stars.
The characters are well written such that you can lose yourself within them; feeling their joys and fears as if they were your own. Both Heloise Chancey and Amah Li Leen are such intriguing characters to read about and i find the book is more character driven then by the mystery itself; leaving a bit to be desired and it almost seems as if the plot is skimmed over during parts of the book in favor of learning about the characters lives.
Though I am certainly not complaining as i found it to make the book more unique and interesting for me personally.
The book deals with abortion, prostitution, racism, and sexisum within the times. however I would caution those who may be going through similar difficult times to be wary of the book as to not set yourself off.
that being said, I rarely felt overwhelmed by the book itself despite the ghastly situation in which the characters find themselves.
In conclusion I would have to say this book is certainly worth the read for the ending alone, though sudden and mostly for shock factor it certainly changed my outlook on the book as a whole for how well is was done.
The characters are well written such that you can lose yourself within them; feeling their joys and fears as if they were your own. Both Heloise Chancey and Amah Li Leen are such intriguing characters to read about and i find the book is more character driven then by the mystery itself; leaving a bit to be desired and it almost seems as if the plot is skimmed over during parts of the book in favor of learning about the characters lives.
Though I am certainly not complaining as i found it to make the book more unique and interesting for me personally.
The book deals with abortion, prostitution, racism, and sexisum within the times. however I would caution those who may be going through similar difficult times to be wary of the book as to not set yourself off.
that being said, I rarely felt overwhelmed by the book itself despite the ghastly situation in which the characters find themselves.
In conclusion I would have to say this book is certainly worth the read for the ending alone, though sudden and mostly for shock factor it certainly changed my outlook on the book as a whole for how well is was done.
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