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Violet Hamilton #1
No Life for a Lady
It's remarkable how men react when women break the rules... but the people of Hastings are about to discover, women can be remarkable too...
1896. At 28, Violet's father is beginning to fear she will never marry. But every suitor he puts forward, she finds an increasingly creative way of rebuffing.
Because Violet is a woman who knows her own mind – and her mind is on her mother, who went missing 10 years earlier, vanishing from Hastings Pier without a trace.
Looking for the missing is not a suitable pastime for a lady. But when Violet hires a seaside detective to help, she sets off an unexpected chain of events that will throw her life into chaos.
Can Violet solve the mystery of Lily Hamilton's vanishing? Or will trying cost her more than she can afford to lose?
1896. At 28, Violet's father is beginning to fear she will never marry. But every suitor he puts forward, she finds an increasingly creative way of rebuffing.
Because Violet is a woman who knows her own mind – and her mind is on her mother, who went missing 10 years earlier, vanishing from Hastings Pier without a trace.
Looking for the missing is not a suitable pastime for a lady. But when Violet hires a seaside detective to help, she sets off an unexpected chain of events that will throw her life into chaos.
Can Violet solve the mystery of Lily Hamilton's vanishing? Or will trying cost her more than she can afford to lose?
328 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 2, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 400 reviews
January 6, 2023
4-5 stars
In the summer of 1886, Violet Hamilton’s beautiful mother kisses her goodbye, heads for a party and disappears, the last sighting being on Hastings pier. Ten years on, Violet decides to hire private detective Frank Knight to search for her mother though sadly he inspires little confidence. Can Violet solve the mystery herself but keep her reputation intact?
This is a wonderful surprise of a book whose lively writing engages me instantly. The chief charm of the book is Violet herself who you cannot help but love. She delights you with her avoidance of marriage, her independence and courage of spirit, her wit and humour, her cleverness and yet she’s also an innocent of the ways of the world, she’s wonderfully naive which gets her into a scrape or three. The characterisation is strong throughout from her curmudgeonly father whose determination she should marry is equally matched by Violet’s determination to the contrary, grumpy Edith the servant, the erratic and odd Mr Knight and the potential of Mr Benjamin Blackthorne.
This is a wonderful blend of humour ( laugh out loud at times), of innocent/not so innocent misunderstandings and crossed wires, of the unconventional versus the conventions of the day and there’s the mystery of the missing mother and a dash of Victorian/not so Victorian romance all in a great setting of St Leonard’s on Sea and Hastings. It’s an extremely easy glide through read and a gem of a book. It’s a highly entertaining, joyful book and I’m so hoping to meet Violet again maybe as a fully fledged detective! She’s a character you won’t forget in a hurry.
Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Aria and Aries for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
In the summer of 1886, Violet Hamilton’s beautiful mother kisses her goodbye, heads for a party and disappears, the last sighting being on Hastings pier. Ten years on, Violet decides to hire private detective Frank Knight to search for her mother though sadly he inspires little confidence. Can Violet solve the mystery herself but keep her reputation intact?
This is a wonderful surprise of a book whose lively writing engages me instantly. The chief charm of the book is Violet herself who you cannot help but love. She delights you with her avoidance of marriage, her independence and courage of spirit, her wit and humour, her cleverness and yet she’s also an innocent of the ways of the world, she’s wonderfully naive which gets her into a scrape or three. The characterisation is strong throughout from her curmudgeonly father whose determination she should marry is equally matched by Violet’s determination to the contrary, grumpy Edith the servant, the erratic and odd Mr Knight and the potential of Mr Benjamin Blackthorne.
This is a wonderful blend of humour ( laugh out loud at times), of innocent/not so innocent misunderstandings and crossed wires, of the unconventional versus the conventions of the day and there’s the mystery of the missing mother and a dash of Victorian/not so Victorian romance all in a great setting of St Leonard’s on Sea and Hastings. It’s an extremely easy glide through read and a gem of a book. It’s a highly entertaining, joyful book and I’m so hoping to meet Violet again maybe as a fully fledged detective! She’s a character you won’t forget in a hurry.
Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Aria and Aries for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
January 22, 2023
No Life for a Lady is an utter joy — funny, fun, adventurous and entirely lovely. Violet's voice is distinctive and such a pleasure to read. This is Eleanor Oliphant for historical fiction fans, with a dash of detective work and mystery thrown in. I loved everything about it. Highly recommended!
March 6, 2023
Violet Hamilton is twenty eight, she can clearly remember the day her mother Lily left their house in Hastings, she was going to visit friends and she never returned. Violet’s father alerted the police, they looked into her disappearance, Lily was seen near St Leonards Pier, the police assume she drowned and her father ordered the staff pack up all his wife's possessions and store them in the attic.
Ten years later, Violet’s father has been trying to marry her off for years, what he doesn’t understand is after her mother went missing, Violets friends stopped talking to her, they cross the street when they see her and some men no longer treat her with the respect she deserves.
Violet doesnt want to get married, her greatest wish is to find out what happened to her mother and she secretly hires a private detective to look into Lily's disappearance and she doesn’t want her father to know. Mr. Knight uncovers some shocking information about Lily, what her mother had been doing for the months prior to her vanishing, Violet didn't have a clue and this makes her extremely curious and she now wants to investigate the case herself.
In 1896, a lady of her social standing shouldn’t go out in public without a chaperone and could never be a sleuth, and Violet comes up with some clever ways and reasons to leave the house. Violet is frustrated by her lack of life inexperience, she has no idea about basic things a grown woman should know and what she has been told is rather vague and couldn't possibly be correct?
I received a copy of No Life for a Lady by Hannah Dolby from NetGalley and Aria and Aries in exchange for an honest review. The narrative is based around a long term missing person’s case, and the main character Violet wanting to break free of the silly rules women are forced to follow and start working as a private investigator. Violet wants to test society’s boundaries, at her age she’s considered a spinster any way, she makes some amusing blunders along the way and discovers the possibility her mother is still alive.
A Victorian era mystery and a humerus coming of age story all rolled into one narrative and Violet is a rather inquisitive and funny character. I enjoyed reading about how she outsmarted the creepy suitors her father found and her hilarious verbal exchanges with Benjamin Blackthorn and Maria Monk and four stars from me.
Ten years later, Violet’s father has been trying to marry her off for years, what he doesn’t understand is after her mother went missing, Violets friends stopped talking to her, they cross the street when they see her and some men no longer treat her with the respect she deserves.
Violet doesnt want to get married, her greatest wish is to find out what happened to her mother and she secretly hires a private detective to look into Lily's disappearance and she doesn’t want her father to know. Mr. Knight uncovers some shocking information about Lily, what her mother had been doing for the months prior to her vanishing, Violet didn't have a clue and this makes her extremely curious and she now wants to investigate the case herself.
In 1896, a lady of her social standing shouldn’t go out in public without a chaperone and could never be a sleuth, and Violet comes up with some clever ways and reasons to leave the house. Violet is frustrated by her lack of life inexperience, she has no idea about basic things a grown woman should know and what she has been told is rather vague and couldn't possibly be correct?
I received a copy of No Life for a Lady by Hannah Dolby from NetGalley and Aria and Aries in exchange for an honest review. The narrative is based around a long term missing person’s case, and the main character Violet wanting to break free of the silly rules women are forced to follow and start working as a private investigator. Violet wants to test society’s boundaries, at her age she’s considered a spinster any way, she makes some amusing blunders along the way and discovers the possibility her mother is still alive.
A Victorian era mystery and a humerus coming of age story all rolled into one narrative and Violet is a rather inquisitive and funny character. I enjoyed reading about how she outsmarted the creepy suitors her father found and her hilarious verbal exchanges with Benjamin Blackthorn and Maria Monk and four stars from me.
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September 7, 2023Kind of odd in that it's a historical mystery romance without quite enough romance to be a romance, and not really enough mystery to be a mystery. It's mostly about Violet's picaresque hijinks around Hastings as she gets a job, finds her spine, has various comedy enncounters and falls in love, interspersed with really quite unpleasant sexual aggression from a variety of men, plus her massive sexual trauma and abandonment inflicted by her mother.
The light comedy with bleak undertones kind of reminded me of The Nothing Girl so if you enjoyed that, this might well be for you. It didn't work quite as well for me but I've got a stinkinng cold which probably impeded my sense of humour.
The light comedy with bleak undertones kind of reminded me of The Nothing Girl so if you enjoyed that, this might well be for you. It didn't work quite as well for me but I've got a stinkinng cold which probably impeded my sense of humour.
February 21, 2023
SLOW PACED BUT STILL ENOUGH TO ENTERTAIN
I'll admit, there were times when I did not think I was going to finish this book. The one thing that kept me reading was a slight curiosity as to the disappearance of Violet's mother. At least, that was the main draw to begin with. But towards the middle of the book, it started to pick up for me. And if this end up being turned into a series (which the ending seemed to suggest in my opinion), I would not be adverse to keep reading.
👍 What I Liked 👍
Second half: The first half was quite hard to get through (see below for more information), but towards the middle things suddenly started to happen. the plot suddenly began to unfold and Violet became more of an active participant, in stead of just a thinker.
Mystery: I am not usually one for historical mysteries. It can be very hit or miss for my taste. This was not one of my favourites, but the mystery still managed to keep my attention grabbed long enough to actually enjoy the book.
👎 What I Disliked 👎
Pace: At first the pace made reading this book feel almost like work. I really had to struggle to get through it. The plot kept moving in circles with the same things happening over and over again. It was a tedious process. And while the book definitely picked up in the second half, the stark contrast between the two half definitely hurt the overall flow of the book.
Internal monologue: For much of the first half of the book all we are witness to are Violet's repeated thoughts and internal monologues about her mother, her life and her wish to remain unmarried. The same thoughts, over and over again. Several chapters are pretty much nothing more than just Violet thinking variations of the same things again and again. It was a drag and it slowed the plot down considerably.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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I'll admit, there were times when I did not think I was going to finish this book. The one thing that kept me reading was a slight curiosity as to the disappearance of Violet's mother. At least, that was the main draw to begin with. But towards the middle of the book, it started to pick up for me. And if this end up being turned into a series (which the ending seemed to suggest in my opinion), I would not be adverse to keep reading.
👍 What I Liked 👍
Second half: The first half was quite hard to get through (see below for more information), but towards the middle things suddenly started to happen. the plot suddenly began to unfold and Violet became more of an active participant, in stead of just a thinker.
Mystery: I am not usually one for historical mysteries. It can be very hit or miss for my taste. This was not one of my favourites, but the mystery still managed to keep my attention grabbed long enough to actually enjoy the book.
👎 What I Disliked 👎
Pace: At first the pace made reading this book feel almost like work. I really had to struggle to get through it. The plot kept moving in circles with the same things happening over and over again. It was a tedious process. And while the book definitely picked up in the second half, the stark contrast between the two half definitely hurt the overall flow of the book.
Internal monologue: For much of the first half of the book all we are witness to are Violet's repeated thoughts and internal monologues about her mother, her life and her wish to remain unmarried. The same thoughts, over and over again. Several chapters are pretty much nothing more than just Violet thinking variations of the same things again and again. It was a drag and it slowed the plot down considerably.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Follow me for more book loving content!
Blog ✨ Facebook ✨ Instagram ✨ Twitter
Blog Post: Which Book Should you read next based on your favourite Jane Austen Heroine
January 10, 2023
It is 1886, 18-year-old Violet Hamilton says goodbye to her mother as she head off a party on Hastings Pier to never been seen again. Ten years later Violet is now 28 years old. She is an independent confident, but quite naive woman, that knows her own mind and her father fears that she will never get married and keeps finding suitors for her. But Violet is not interested but she doesn’t think that they have her best interests at heart anyway.
It is near the anniversary of her mother’s disappearance, and she decides to hire a private detective Frank Knight to solve the mystery of her missing mother. But hiring him causes all sort of trouble for Violet, even bring her reputation into distribute. Is her mother alive or dead? Only time will tell.
Thank you, Aria, for a copy of No life for a Lady by Hannah Dolby. I really enjoyed this enchanting tale from the first page. I found this story to have refreshing and intriguing storyline. I was cheering Violet on and like how confident she came after getting to grips of becoming a ‘Lady detective’. I do hope or I would love to see another episode in this story for Violet. I feel like it is just the starting point of a great series in ‘lady detecting’. 5 stars from me.
It is near the anniversary of her mother’s disappearance, and she decides to hire a private detective Frank Knight to solve the mystery of her missing mother. But hiring him causes all sort of trouble for Violet, even bring her reputation into distribute. Is her mother alive or dead? Only time will tell.
Thank you, Aria, for a copy of No life for a Lady by Hannah Dolby. I really enjoyed this enchanting tale from the first page. I found this story to have refreshing and intriguing storyline. I was cheering Violet on and like how confident she came after getting to grips of becoming a ‘Lady detective’. I do hope or I would love to see another episode in this story for Violet. I feel like it is just the starting point of a great series in ‘lady detecting’. 5 stars from me.
June 2, 2025
4.5★s
No Life For A Lady is the first novel by British author, Hannah Dolby. Ten years after her mother Lily goes missing from Hastings Pier, twenty-eight-year-old Violet Hamilton engages a private investigator to find out what happened. Frank Knight isn’t quite what she expected of a detective, but he has agreed not to tell her father: Lucas Hamilton would be livid…
But what he uncovers has Violet concerned that he has little regard for her mother’s, and her own reputation. It’s quickly clear that she did not know her mother as well as she had thought, but when she tries to get Knight to halt his investigation, he refuses.
Violet really misses her mother: “Without her protection, her wisdom, men and courtship were like navigating stormy seas in a boat full of holes. It was safer to reject them all.” As Violet deftly dodges the prospective husbands that Lucas parades before her, while trying to (rather badly) run a household, she learns of another detective in town.
Benjamin Blackthorn immediately strikes her as much more trustworthy than Knight, but he is recovering from a broken leg and insists it was his father, Bernard who was the detective: he now only sells furniture. And he’d never take another detective’s case. Violet, though, is persistent and has soon managed to convince him that she can interview prospective female clients and even carry out investigative work for him. And just maybe, she can eventually convince him to look for her mother.
Some of those investigations turn out to be real eye-openers for a sheltered young spinster: tailing a woman’s fiancé, breaking into a museum, visiting a brothel, and foiling a theft; but “I wanted to find my mother. I wanted to fill my life with something useful, and not be afraid of living. I wanted to know about life, and not be wrapped and smothered in cotton wool because I was a woman.”
There’s a good deal of humour in this tale, as well as a cute twist, a very dramatic climax, and plenty of scope for further stories featuring this cast. An enjoyable and entertaining cosy crime debut.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Aria & Aries.
No Life For A Lady is the first novel by British author, Hannah Dolby. Ten years after her mother Lily goes missing from Hastings Pier, twenty-eight-year-old Violet Hamilton engages a private investigator to find out what happened. Frank Knight isn’t quite what she expected of a detective, but he has agreed not to tell her father: Lucas Hamilton would be livid…
But what he uncovers has Violet concerned that he has little regard for her mother’s, and her own reputation. It’s quickly clear that she did not know her mother as well as she had thought, but when she tries to get Knight to halt his investigation, he refuses.
Violet really misses her mother: “Without her protection, her wisdom, men and courtship were like navigating stormy seas in a boat full of holes. It was safer to reject them all.” As Violet deftly dodges the prospective husbands that Lucas parades before her, while trying to (rather badly) run a household, she learns of another detective in town.
Benjamin Blackthorn immediately strikes her as much more trustworthy than Knight, but he is recovering from a broken leg and insists it was his father, Bernard who was the detective: he now only sells furniture. And he’d never take another detective’s case. Violet, though, is persistent and has soon managed to convince him that she can interview prospective female clients and even carry out investigative work for him. And just maybe, she can eventually convince him to look for her mother.
Some of those investigations turn out to be real eye-openers for a sheltered young spinster: tailing a woman’s fiancé, breaking into a museum, visiting a brothel, and foiling a theft; but “I wanted to find my mother. I wanted to fill my life with something useful, and not be afraid of living. I wanted to know about life, and not be wrapped and smothered in cotton wool because I was a woman.”
There’s a good deal of humour in this tale, as well as a cute twist, a very dramatic climax, and plenty of scope for further stories featuring this cast. An enjoyable and entertaining cosy crime debut.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Aria & Aries.
May 5, 2023
I’m tempted to say that every so often a pearl can be found amongst the dross of the over-crowded HR genre - but I can’t mention “pearl” without wanting to laugh uproariously about one component of No Life for a Lady - the comedic theme throughout the book - the twists and turns as Violet tries to discover the how, why and what of sex.
Some might find this aspect of the story unbelievable, but I certainly don’t. I’m old enough to remember when young women were deliberately terrified by stories of pain and misery (in order to protect their “purity”) and were then forced to search for older girls who might be prepared to share detail about what would actually happen. (No Internet in those days.)
Searching is what Violet does throughout the story - and not just about sex.
Violet is primarily searching for her mother, who disappeared 10 years previously, and who she fears may be dead - although she has a disquieting certainty that she is alive and may have instead escaped to a happier life.
Violet is also searching for her own identity, independence and even for a paid job. She is rejected as a writer, but then decides to become a Lady Typist (almost respectable for the daughter of a banker in a small English town in the Victorian era) or, even more adventurously, a Lady Detective.
Finally, Violet is trying to decide if her decade-long determination to remain a spinster has been more fuelled by fear than her inability to fall in love. Shortly before she disappeared, Violet’s mother shared gruesome, bloody and pain-filled images of “marital intimacy”. As she tries to decide if her mother’s horrific story is accurate, Violet has many amusing adventures. Her internal judgements and musings are even more amusing.
As part of her adventures she meets Benjamin (thankfully, a seller of furniture and kindly retired detective, rather than a dissolute aristocrat) and begins to feel desire for him, so even though her searching for truth is generally hilarious, there is also a serious (and even romantic) element to her gradual enlightenment. (Be prepared, however, to be entertained by images of turkeys and mushrooms, amongst other cleverly constructed comedic scenes).
It’s not all laughs. There is also a serious side to Violet’s growing disenchantment with people she has trusted, as there is with her increased self-confidence and ability to make tough decisions.
Violet is thoroughly likeable. So is Benjamin. Their romance is gentle and charming.
No Life for a Lady is surely the beginning of a series. If so, I will be ordering the second instalment, as soon as that is possible - because this HR is not only refreshingly different from most of the HRs that I’ve recently read (and discarded before finishing) it is well written and insightful. It’s also very, very funny, which I appreciated enormously. In this sad, sad world this author has done her readers a good, good deal.
The laughs take it from 4 to 5 stars.
Some might find this aspect of the story unbelievable, but I certainly don’t. I’m old enough to remember when young women were deliberately terrified by stories of pain and misery (in order to protect their “purity”) and were then forced to search for older girls who might be prepared to share detail about what would actually happen. (No Internet in those days.)
Searching is what Violet does throughout the story - and not just about sex.
Violet is primarily searching for her mother, who disappeared 10 years previously, and who she fears may be dead - although she has a disquieting certainty that she is alive and may have instead escaped to a happier life.
Violet is also searching for her own identity, independence and even for a paid job. She is rejected as a writer, but then decides to become a Lady Typist (almost respectable for the daughter of a banker in a small English town in the Victorian era) or, even more adventurously, a Lady Detective.
Finally, Violet is trying to decide if her decade-long determination to remain a spinster has been more fuelled by fear than her inability to fall in love. Shortly before she disappeared, Violet’s mother shared gruesome, bloody and pain-filled images of “marital intimacy”. As she tries to decide if her mother’s horrific story is accurate, Violet has many amusing adventures. Her internal judgements and musings are even more amusing.
As part of her adventures she meets Benjamin (thankfully, a seller of furniture and kindly retired detective, rather than a dissolute aristocrat) and begins to feel desire for him, so even though her searching for truth is generally hilarious, there is also a serious (and even romantic) element to her gradual enlightenment. (Be prepared, however, to be entertained by images of turkeys and mushrooms, amongst other cleverly constructed comedic scenes).
It’s not all laughs. There is also a serious side to Violet’s growing disenchantment with people she has trusted, as there is with her increased self-confidence and ability to make tough decisions.
Violet is thoroughly likeable. So is Benjamin. Their romance is gentle and charming.
No Life for a Lady is surely the beginning of a series. If so, I will be ordering the second instalment, as soon as that is possible - because this HR is not only refreshingly different from most of the HRs that I’ve recently read (and discarded before finishing) it is well written and insightful. It’s also very, very funny, which I appreciated enormously. In this sad, sad world this author has done her readers a good, good deal.
The laughs take it from 4 to 5 stars.
May 12, 2023
Violet was unmarried because she didn't want to be married, but her father tried every day to introduce her to a new suitor.
Violet's mother disappeared when she was younger, but had informed her of what duties a wife would have to perform, and she wanted no parts of it.
Ten years after her mother disappeared, she decided to hire a detective without her father's knowledge.
Violet found a detective that was quite different and one that Violet didn't like.
So...Violet tried to get another detective who owned a second-hand shop to help her.
She was a determined, delightful woman for one living in the 1800s.
We follow her as she finds out information about her mother she really doesn't want to know as well as her avoidance of suitors.
Will she find out what happened to her mother?
Will Violet change her mind and find love for herself?
NO LIFE FOR A LADY is a funny, entertaining book that will actually have you laughing out loud at times.
Readers who need a change of pace and a quirky, lovable main character will enjoy this book.
You will be happy you met Violet.
She will make you smile at her antics and her attempts at being a modern lady in the 1800s.
This book was given to me by the publisher for an honest review.
Violet's mother disappeared when she was younger, but had informed her of what duties a wife would have to perform, and she wanted no parts of it.
Ten years after her mother disappeared, she decided to hire a detective without her father's knowledge.
Violet found a detective that was quite different and one that Violet didn't like.
So...Violet tried to get another detective who owned a second-hand shop to help her.
She was a determined, delightful woman for one living in the 1800s.
We follow her as she finds out information about her mother she really doesn't want to know as well as her avoidance of suitors.
Will she find out what happened to her mother?
Will Violet change her mind and find love for herself?
NO LIFE FOR A LADY is a funny, entertaining book that will actually have you laughing out loud at times.
Readers who need a change of pace and a quirky, lovable main character will enjoy this book.
You will be happy you met Violet.
She will make you smile at her antics and her attempts at being a modern lady in the 1800s.
This book was given to me by the publisher for an honest review.
September 7, 2025
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No Life for a Lady by Hannah Dolby transported me into the 1890’s, and our strong heroine Violet made that journey quite memorable!
Synopsis:
Violet Hamilton is a woman who knows her own mind. Which, in 1896, can make things a little complicated…
At 28, Violet’s father is beginning to worry she will never find a husband. But every suitor he presents, Violet finds a new and inventive means of rebuffing.
Because Violet does not want to marry. She wants to work, and make her own way in the world. But more than anything, she wants to find her mother Lily, who disappeared from Hastings Pier 10 years earlier.
Finding the missing is no job for a lady, but when Violet hires a seaside detective to help, she sets off a chain of events that will put more than just her reputation at risk.
Can Violet solve the mystery of Lily Hamilton’s vanishing before it’s too late?
Thoughts:
I am beyond thankful to Tandem Collective, Head of Zeus and Hannah Dolby, for letting me join this special readalong. I was lucky to receive an exclusive interactive readalong edition copy, full with QR codes, challenges and topics to discuss whilst reading the book. The format of the book was very interactive and although it distracted me a bit, I enjoyed finding out about this period in history. What people wore, what was popular at the time, how the streets and towns used to look like, what were people’s main professions, and most importantly, what were the women’s roles in society at this point in time.
First of all, Violet is an amazing character. She knows exactly what she wants(to find her mum) and also what she doesn’t want (to marry). She hires a detective to search for her mum, and she’s also quite busy rejecting men left, right and centre – much to the annoyance of her father.
The more clues are being discovered, the more unsure Violet is about the investigation and the detective. She starts interacting with Mr. Blackthorn in the hopes that he would be a better detective for this case, but Mr. Blackthorn is set to give up that career path.
The book highlights the era so well, the way women are treated in society and the audacity that men have.
No respect towards women (with exceptions), yet all they seem to care about is reputation. The part that hurt and angered me the most is the lack of freedom, and no freedom of choice. To be rejected for books in a library, to be denied education and a career, if you so wish to have… Yet they are able to get away with murder. In an environment like this, where all the odds are stacked against her, Violet was a breath of fresh air. I loved that she would stop at nothing to achieve the things she wants.Her determination, dedication and sense of humour made this book so enjoyable. The pace of the book started slowly at first, but then it picked up, and by the end I couldn’t stop turning the pages.
No Life for a Lady by Hannah Dolby transported me into the 1890’s, and our strong heroine Violet made that journey quite memorable!
Synopsis:
Violet Hamilton is a woman who knows her own mind. Which, in 1896, can make things a little complicated…
At 28, Violet’s father is beginning to worry she will never find a husband. But every suitor he presents, Violet finds a new and inventive means of rebuffing.
Because Violet does not want to marry. She wants to work, and make her own way in the world. But more than anything, she wants to find her mother Lily, who disappeared from Hastings Pier 10 years earlier.
Finding the missing is no job for a lady, but when Violet hires a seaside detective to help, she sets off a chain of events that will put more than just her reputation at risk.
Can Violet solve the mystery of Lily Hamilton’s vanishing before it’s too late?
Thoughts:
I am beyond thankful to Tandem Collective, Head of Zeus and Hannah Dolby, for letting me join this special readalong. I was lucky to receive an exclusive interactive readalong edition copy, full with QR codes, challenges and topics to discuss whilst reading the book. The format of the book was very interactive and although it distracted me a bit, I enjoyed finding out about this period in history. What people wore, what was popular at the time, how the streets and towns used to look like, what were people’s main professions, and most importantly, what were the women’s roles in society at this point in time.
First of all, Violet is an amazing character. She knows exactly what she wants(to find her mum) and also what she doesn’t want (to marry). She hires a detective to search for her mum, and she’s also quite busy rejecting men left, right and centre – much to the annoyance of her father.
The more clues are being discovered, the more unsure Violet is about the investigation and the detective. She starts interacting with Mr. Blackthorn in the hopes that he would be a better detective for this case, but Mr. Blackthorn is set to give up that career path.
The book highlights the era so well, the way women are treated in society and the audacity that men have.
No respect towards women (with exceptions), yet all they seem to care about is reputation. The part that hurt and angered me the most is the lack of freedom, and no freedom of choice. To be rejected for books in a library, to be denied education and a career, if you so wish to have… Yet they are able to get away with murder. In an environment like this, where all the odds are stacked against her, Violet was a breath of fresh air. I loved that she would stop at nothing to achieve the things she wants.Her determination, dedication and sense of humour made this book so enjoyable. The pace of the book started slowly at first, but then it picked up, and by the end I couldn’t stop turning the pages.
December 17, 2024
No Life for a Lady is light-hearted, cosy historical mystery with a touch of romance from Hannah Dolby.
‘There are ladies who don’t like what they are made for, the cleaning and the domestic business, the caring and the mothering. We might think badly of them for it, but it does happen.’
Violet Hamilton would prefer a profession to a husband, at twenty-seven she continues to fend off the latter, much to her father’s disapproval, but is yet to find the former. In part this state of affairs stems from the sudden disappearance of her mother in 1886 when she was eighteen, and as the ten year anniversary approaches, Violet is determined to find out what happened to her.
Discretely hiring a private detective is the first step but there is something about Frank Knight and his interest in her mother that Violet finds disturbing. An advertisement discovered by chance leads her to an another private eye, and though Benjamin Blackthorn initially turns her down, Violet eventually convinces him to help.
Violet is a likeable lead character. She chafes at society’s expectations but with the naivety of a well-raised lady. This means she is caught unawares more than once, but to her credit she is rarely discouraged and persists regardless.
There are several amusing scenes, including Violet’s efforts to turn away unwanted suitors, discretely tail a gentleman with her chaperone in tow, and a picnic with unexpected nature views. I also enjoyed the banter between Violet and Benjamin. Their low key romance is a sweet feature of the novel.
The mystery surrounding Violet’s mother’s disappearance plays out well, though I felt there were some small issues with the plotting, and the pacing was a little even. I enjoyed the reveal of the villain, and the drama of the conclusion.
No Life For a Lady is an engaging read with the potential to become a series.
‘There are ladies who don’t like what they are made for, the cleaning and the domestic business, the caring and the mothering. We might think badly of them for it, but it does happen.’
Violet Hamilton would prefer a profession to a husband, at twenty-seven she continues to fend off the latter, much to her father’s disapproval, but is yet to find the former. In part this state of affairs stems from the sudden disappearance of her mother in 1886 when she was eighteen, and as the ten year anniversary approaches, Violet is determined to find out what happened to her.
Discretely hiring a private detective is the first step but there is something about Frank Knight and his interest in her mother that Violet finds disturbing. An advertisement discovered by chance leads her to an another private eye, and though Benjamin Blackthorn initially turns her down, Violet eventually convinces him to help.
Violet is a likeable lead character. She chafes at society’s expectations but with the naivety of a well-raised lady. This means she is caught unawares more than once, but to her credit she is rarely discouraged and persists regardless.
There are several amusing scenes, including Violet’s efforts to turn away unwanted suitors, discretely tail a gentleman with her chaperone in tow, and a picnic with unexpected nature views. I also enjoyed the banter between Violet and Benjamin. Their low key romance is a sweet feature of the novel.
The mystery surrounding Violet’s mother’s disappearance plays out well, though I felt there were some small issues with the plotting, and the pacing was a little even. I enjoyed the reveal of the villain, and the drama of the conclusion.
No Life For a Lady is an engaging read with the potential to become a series.
July 30, 2023
—1.5 stars —
There is nothing I dislike more than ending up hating the protagonist.
And sadly, that’s what happened here.
Violet is one of the most irritating characters I have ever come across.
Not only does she behave like she’s FAR better than anyone else, she also continually talks down to people, is incredibly rude, and quite simply acts like a privileged brat most of the time.
I could continue counting my grievances with this book (mostly including the underwhelming mystery, the misplaced romance, and the slightly odd obsession with sex education), but I’d rather save my time, and my review writing mood for better books.
Thanks for reading! ❤️
There is nothing I dislike more than ending up hating the protagonist.
And sadly, that’s what happened here.
Violet is one of the most irritating characters I have ever come across.
Not only does she behave like she’s FAR better than anyone else, she also continually talks down to people, is incredibly rude, and quite simply acts like a privileged brat most of the time.
I could continue counting my grievances with this book (mostly including the underwhelming mystery, the misplaced romance, and the slightly odd obsession with sex education), but I’d rather save my time, and my review writing mood for better books.
Thanks for reading! ❤️
September 22, 2024
This was a lot of fun with a great setting, an engaging and unique heroine, and unexpected and entirely welcome humor. I will very happily read on in this series!
February 27, 2023
1896. At twenty eight, Violet's father is beginning to fear she will never marry. But every suitor he puts forward, she finds an increasingly creative way of rebuffing. Because Violet is a woman who knows her own mind - and her mind is on her mother, who went missing ten years earlier, vanishing from Hastings Pier without a trace. Looking for the missing is not a suitable pastime for a lady. But when Violet hires a seaside detective to help, she sets off an unexpected chain of events that will throw her life into chaos.
What a delightful read this book was. It's a romantic mystery. The women in this story are strong characters. Violet refuses to get married even though her father keeps introducing her to new suitors. Her mother had disappeared ten years ago, but no one knows if she just disappeared or was murdered. I quite enjoyed this different type of romantic mystery. It's easy to read and quite entertaining. I really liked Violet, she was quite a naive and funny. Violet's father is a typical Victorian character, but he's also quite likable. This well written book is the authors debut. I will be looking out for this author in future.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #AriaAndAries and the author #HannahDolby for my ARC of #NoLifeForALady in exchange for an honest review.
What a delightful read this book was. It's a romantic mystery. The women in this story are strong characters. Violet refuses to get married even though her father keeps introducing her to new suitors. Her mother had disappeared ten years ago, but no one knows if she just disappeared or was murdered. I quite enjoyed this different type of romantic mystery. It's easy to read and quite entertaining. I really liked Violet, she was quite a naive and funny. Violet's father is a typical Victorian character, but he's also quite likable. This well written book is the authors debut. I will be looking out for this author in future.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #AriaAndAries and the author #HannahDolby for my ARC of #NoLifeForALady in exchange for an honest review.
November 30, 2022
4 stars!
A very very solid, entertaining read. This is funny, joyful, and inspiring with a strong female lead and cutie of a male love interest.
This book will keep you glued to the page and there will come a point where you just won’t be able to put it down.
Absolutely recommend.
A very very solid, entertaining read. This is funny, joyful, and inspiring with a strong female lead and cutie of a male love interest.
This book will keep you glued to the page and there will come a point where you just won’t be able to put it down.
Absolutely recommend.
March 13, 2023
Those looking for a light-hearted, cosy historical mystery will find they’ve come to the right place with No Life for a Lady. Violet is a sparky, likeable character who is determined to resist her father’s efforts to marry her off. There’s fun right from the beginning as Violet recalls the ways she’s managed to fend off potential suitors to date. This includes pushing one such unfortunate into a boating lake and inserting a hot teapot between herself and another.
It was unclear to me why Violet has waited ten years to make a serious attempt to investigate her mother’s disappearance but once she embarks upon it she has no intention of stopping. Except that her chosen detective turns out to be no ‘knight in shining armour’. (Violet, you should have trusted your instincts). Suddenly, Violet wonders if she’s really ready to find out her mother’s secrets and to have them become the talk of the ladies of Hastings, not to mention the men. She’d wanted discretion, wishing to keep the investigation from her father.
Although it makes for some slapstick humour, I wouldn’t have minded if the author had made Violet slightly less ditzy. She’s frequently tripping over things, bumping into lamp posts and even getting locked inside a price of furniture at one point. She’s also rather naive although, to be fair, that does lead to some laugh out loud moments, such as Violet’s errand on behalf of a Mrs Monk, the same lady who corrects a few of Violet’s misapprehensions about ‘marital intimacy’. And, for a prospective detective, Violet is a little quick to reach conclusions based on limited evidence, including about one particular person. However, she’s up for pretty much anything – except house cleaning – leading one character to remark ‘You are the most infuriating female I’ve ever met’.
Set in 1896, there’s a nice depiction of a Victoran seaside town complete with bathing carriages, small boys dressed in sailor suits and ladies promenading in their finery, although I’m not sure the phrase ‘get his finger out’ would have been in common parlance then. If I’m wrong, I stand corrected.
Finding the solution to the mystery of her mother’s disappearance provides Violet with grounds for believing she has what it takes to become a detective. It also signals there is potentially more fun to come in the company of this particular Lady Detective.
It was unclear to me why Violet has waited ten years to make a serious attempt to investigate her mother’s disappearance but once she embarks upon it she has no intention of stopping. Except that her chosen detective turns out to be no ‘knight in shining armour’. (Violet, you should have trusted your instincts). Suddenly, Violet wonders if she’s really ready to find out her mother’s secrets and to have them become the talk of the ladies of Hastings, not to mention the men. She’d wanted discretion, wishing to keep the investigation from her father.
Although it makes for some slapstick humour, I wouldn’t have minded if the author had made Violet slightly less ditzy. She’s frequently tripping over things, bumping into lamp posts and even getting locked inside a price of furniture at one point. She’s also rather naive although, to be fair, that does lead to some laugh out loud moments, such as Violet’s errand on behalf of a Mrs Monk, the same lady who corrects a few of Violet’s misapprehensions about ‘marital intimacy’. And, for a prospective detective, Violet is a little quick to reach conclusions based on limited evidence, including about one particular person. However, she’s up for pretty much anything – except house cleaning – leading one character to remark ‘You are the most infuriating female I’ve ever met’.
Set in 1896, there’s a nice depiction of a Victoran seaside town complete with bathing carriages, small boys dressed in sailor suits and ladies promenading in their finery, although I’m not sure the phrase ‘get his finger out’ would have been in common parlance then. If I’m wrong, I stand corrected.
Finding the solution to the mystery of her mother’s disappearance provides Violet with grounds for believing she has what it takes to become a detective. It also signals there is potentially more fun to come in the company of this particular Lady Detective.
February 26, 2023
No Life for a Lady by Hannah Dolby is a delightful historical romance about a spirited woman who is ahead of her time.
Story Recap:
The year is 1896 and Violet, aged 28 is now past her marriage age and she’s determined never to marry. Violet’s mother went missing ten years ago, and she sets out to find out what happened to her. Her father is against her search, but Violet is a spirited young woman and she’s determined to do the search herself.
Will Violet find out what happened to her mother?
My Thoughts:
I enjoyed No Life for a Lady. As always when I read books set in this time period, I get frustrated with the limitations of being a woman during this time. However, it was fun to watch Violet ignore many of the rules and do her own thing. I loved her spirit and her ability to ignore social conventions.
The mystery of Violet’s mother's disappearance added to the story and I was fully invested in finding out what happened to her. The pacing in the middle bogged down a bit, but overall, I found the book to be very entertaining.
Recommendation:
I highly recommend No Life for a Lady to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Story Recap:
The year is 1896 and Violet, aged 28 is now past her marriage age and she’s determined never to marry. Violet’s mother went missing ten years ago, and she sets out to find out what happened to her. Her father is against her search, but Violet is a spirited young woman and she’s determined to do the search herself.
Will Violet find out what happened to her mother?
My Thoughts:
I enjoyed No Life for a Lady. As always when I read books set in this time period, I get frustrated with the limitations of being a woman during this time. However, it was fun to watch Violet ignore many of the rules and do her own thing. I loved her spirit and her ability to ignore social conventions.
The mystery of Violet’s mother's disappearance added to the story and I was fully invested in finding out what happened to her. The pacing in the middle bogged down a bit, but overall, I found the book to be very entertaining.
Recommendation:
I highly recommend No Life for a Lady to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
March 29, 2023
this one was a slow start but once it found it's feet it turned into a really enjoyable read. definitely recommend giving this one a read.
February 26, 2023
I liked the idea of this book, but it was slow and the plotting felt off. I had a very hard time staying interested in it for the majority of the book. I would say that the last quarter of it picked up the pace and I felt myself being more drawn into the story.
While I did end up enjoying the story and characters toward the end, it was a journey to get there. Violet had all the makings of a great female protagonist. She is determined, curious, and independent. At times though, she is naive and quite frustrating, but you can see her growth in the book.
Overall while I did enjoy the writing style and parts of the story, much of the book was slow and I found myself bored.
Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
While I did end up enjoying the story and characters toward the end, it was a journey to get there. Violet had all the makings of a great female protagonist. She is determined, curious, and independent. At times though, she is naive and quite frustrating, but you can see her growth in the book.
Overall while I did enjoy the writing style and parts of the story, much of the book was slow and I found myself bored.
Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 8, 2023
No logré conectar con esta historia. No comprendo bien porqué, pero no lo hice.
Digo que no logro comprender porqué no conecté porque considero que es una historia interesante, que esta bien escrita y que incluso me gusta mucho que presente cómo una mujer se veía limitada en cierta época (aunque en la actualidad lo seguimos estando, pero desde otros aspectos) y cómo le hacía frente a eso.
Sin embargo, tarde mucho en leerlo porque no me sentía atraída por la historia, no me generaba esas ganas de seguir con el siguiente capítulo. De todas formas considero que es algo muy personal, porque no le he visto fallas.
Los capítulos son cortos y dinámicos lo que hace que la lectura sea bastante ligera.
Gracias NetGalley y Aria & Aries, por el ejemplar en digital a cambio de una opinión sincera.
Digo que no logro comprender porqué no conecté porque considero que es una historia interesante, que esta bien escrita y que incluso me gusta mucho que presente cómo una mujer se veía limitada en cierta época (aunque en la actualidad lo seguimos estando, pero desde otros aspectos) y cómo le hacía frente a eso.
Sin embargo, tarde mucho en leerlo porque no me sentía atraída por la historia, no me generaba esas ganas de seguir con el siguiente capítulo. De todas formas considero que es algo muy personal, porque no le he visto fallas.
Los capítulos son cortos y dinámicos lo que hace que la lectura sea bastante ligera.
Gracias NetGalley y Aria & Aries, por el ejemplar en digital a cambio de una opinión sincera.
August 18, 2023
Fun, but not what I was expecting.
I did really enjoy this story and found it to be a quick read. It has all the fun elements of an amateur woman sleuth, sort of like Enola Holmes (but far less capable).
There were a number of things going on within the plot to keep your attention - and a cute, awkward romance to boot.
But it was never super clear what the aim of the story was going to be - romance? Finding her mother? Having a job? And at times it felt like it was lacking direction because of this lack of clarity. As the reader, I lost momentum around 60% of the way through because I couldn't get a hold of where it was going.
So while I enjoyed this and recommend it as a fun, quick read for your next rainy day, I wasn't left overwhelmingly satisfied at the end.
I did really enjoy this story and found it to be a quick read. It has all the fun elements of an amateur woman sleuth, sort of like Enola Holmes (but far less capable).
There were a number of things going on within the plot to keep your attention - and a cute, awkward romance to boot.
But it was never super clear what the aim of the story was going to be - romance? Finding her mother? Having a job? And at times it felt like it was lacking direction because of this lack of clarity. As the reader, I lost momentum around 60% of the way through because I couldn't get a hold of where it was going.
So while I enjoyed this and recommend it as a fun, quick read for your next rainy day, I wasn't left overwhelmingly satisfied at the end.
March 12, 2023
Firstly, a huge thank you to @tandemcollectiveuk , @headofzeus and Hannah Dolby for allowing me on this #tandemreadalong and #gifting me a copy of this lovely book.
As someone who is not great with historical fiction, I found this book quite an interesting read. The first 100 pages dragged a little but I think that was because there was a lot of QR codes to interact with and sometimes I felt it distracted me from the storyline and getting into the characters.
On to the book, Violet well, she was a very strong minded young women which couldn’t have been easy back in the 1800’s. Using her on initiative and mind to try and find her mother who suddenly disappeared.
She comes up against Mr Knight (who I felt was a right douche bag throughout) he looked down on her, treated her how I imagine a woman with her own mind would be treated back in those days. Then we have Mr Blackthorn… he was a lovely man. He was quite down to Earth and treated Violet better than most.
There are multiple themes throughout the book that are very relevant and informative to that time and I found it quite interesting to read. Violet came up against many hurdles in her journey to finding her mother but she never let it stop her. She kept pushing and fighting.
It was a very good #tandemreadalong and very interactive. Other group were great at telling each other their thoughts and opinions and it was interesting to read everyone’s views throughout.
Thanks again @tandemcollectiveuk and @headofzeus for having me.
As someone who is not great with historical fiction, I found this book quite an interesting read. The first 100 pages dragged a little but I think that was because there was a lot of QR codes to interact with and sometimes I felt it distracted me from the storyline and getting into the characters.
On to the book, Violet well, she was a very strong minded young women which couldn’t have been easy back in the 1800’s. Using her on initiative and mind to try and find her mother who suddenly disappeared.
She comes up against Mr Knight (who I felt was a right douche bag throughout) he looked down on her, treated her how I imagine a woman with her own mind would be treated back in those days. Then we have Mr Blackthorn… he was a lovely man. He was quite down to Earth and treated Violet better than most.
There are multiple themes throughout the book that are very relevant and informative to that time and I found it quite interesting to read. Violet came up against many hurdles in her journey to finding her mother but she never let it stop her. She kept pushing and fighting.
It was a very good #tandemreadalong and very interactive. Other group were great at telling each other their thoughts and opinions and it was interesting to read everyone’s views throughout.
Thanks again @tandemcollectiveuk and @headofzeus for having me.
March 21, 2023
Violet Hamilton’s mother disappeared without a trace 10 years ago & Violet decides it’s time to find her. She employs detective, Mr Knight, to try to track her down, or indeed discover if she is dead. Mr Knight turns out to not be quite so competent & so she further employs Blackthorn. With Blackthorn, she is able to partly live her dream of being a Lady Detective (not quite so easy for a woman in 1896!).
Running alongside this search for Lily is Violet’s dreadful love life. Well, bearing in mind she doesn’t want to marry, is pretty much non-existent. But Violet’s father keeps putting potential suitors (unsuitable to Violet!) in her path. It’s fair to say that Violet is a little naive in terms of bedroom antics but she soon has her eyes opened by the worldly Maria Monk.
I really enjoyed No Life For A Lady. A story of sticking to the principles of who you are & who you want to be, even when others are pushing you to live life the way they think you should. I finished it with a smile on my face.
Running alongside this search for Lily is Violet’s dreadful love life. Well, bearing in mind she doesn’t want to marry, is pretty much non-existent. But Violet’s father keeps putting potential suitors (unsuitable to Violet!) in her path. It’s fair to say that Violet is a little naive in terms of bedroom antics but she soon has her eyes opened by the worldly Maria Monk.
I really enjoyed No Life For A Lady. A story of sticking to the principles of who you are & who you want to be, even when others are pushing you to live life the way they think you should. I finished it with a smile on my face.
March 18, 2024
3,5 stars
February 24, 2023
Fun and silly and charming and unexpected. Took me a while to warm up to Violet, but she has a lot of character growth and it's easy to root for her. I especially loved seeing her dispatch her eager suitors with practiced ease while she wiggled her way into Mr. Blackthorn's detective work.
Full review on spinebreaker
Full review on spinebreaker
December 26, 2022
Simply brilliant! File this under mystery, romance, historical, family, relationships but above all humour. A thoroughly entertaining read which often made me laugh out loud. So many hijinks and misunderstandings and I totally loved the hilarious turns of phrase by the main character.
I don't give out 5 stars very often but No Life For a Lady deserves it.
I received this arc from netgalley and Head of Zeus in exchange for my honest review.
I don't give out 5 stars very often but No Life For a Lady deserves it.
I received this arc from netgalley and Head of Zeus in exchange for my honest review.
February 23, 2023
No life for a lady by Hannah Dolby
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Right tandem I have a bone to pick with you. How dare you expect anyone to do a week readalong with a book this good. I thought I would have a peak before the readalong was even scheduled to start and here I am at 2am reading the last page and craving for more after reading it in just two sittings !!
This quirky coming of age little tale tells the story of violet who is investigating her mothers disappearance 10 years ago from Hastings pier.
If you are in a reading slump look no further , this is a beautiful, fun easy to read book unlike any I have read in a while. It completely took me by surprise how quickly I engaged with the characters and plot and I hope this becomes a series as I can’t wait to follow the rest of violets adventures.
It was so charming and joyful I found myself smiling from the first page to the last. I can’t wait to devour more from this author!! I found it faultless and would highly recommend.
Thank you so much to the author, publisher and of course tandem and all my fellow readalong-ers for such a perfect readalong
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Right tandem I have a bone to pick with you. How dare you expect anyone to do a week readalong with a book this good. I thought I would have a peak before the readalong was even scheduled to start and here I am at 2am reading the last page and craving for more after reading it in just two sittings !!
This quirky coming of age little tale tells the story of violet who is investigating her mothers disappearance 10 years ago from Hastings pier.
If you are in a reading slump look no further , this is a beautiful, fun easy to read book unlike any I have read in a while. It completely took me by surprise how quickly I engaged with the characters and plot and I hope this becomes a series as I can’t wait to follow the rest of violets adventures.
It was so charming and joyful I found myself smiling from the first page to the last. I can’t wait to devour more from this author!! I found it faultless and would highly recommend.
Thank you so much to the author, publisher and of course tandem and all my fellow readalong-ers for such a perfect readalong
March 5, 2023
Brief Summary
I feel Netgalley was stretching the truth with its claims of "A delightfully quirky and clever book club read, perfect for fans of Dear Mrs Bird, The Maid and Lessons in Chemistry." I sadly didn't find this quirky or clever, nor did I find the story to be "fabulously funny" or have "lashings of mystery" as claimed in the editorial quotes.
This was ploddingly slow-paced and wont to drift off down a completely irrelevant side story, rather than focus on the main plotline. Where was the plucky, determined and focused young woman I was promised? Violet, whose name I've just had to look up since she made so little impact on me, had all the strength and determination of a wet piece of cardboard, folding at the slightest pressure and lying because she didn't have the courage to fight for what she wanted.
Pointless facts were repeated to a distracting degree, a good edit and removal of unnecessary filler would have improved the book greatly.
Star Rating
Whilst the author's voice was easy enough to read and follow, I had no desire to pick the story up. At times I had to force myself to continue reading, so on balance, this sits at a 2.5-star rating.
The Characters
Flat, dull and uninspiring at best, caricaturish at worst. I was toldViolet was strong and bullish but I was shown a doormat of a woman who became discombobulated at the slightest pressure.
The Plot
The premise was interesting but it became bogged down by too many distractions. The author clearly has a good imagination but needs to learn that sometimes less is actually more.
The Writing
The flow, word usage, descriptions and imagination were all good. There is a good book hidden within the pages of No Life for a Lady. It just needs a little work to polish it up and make it shine.
The World-Building
I felt the book relied more on me knowing what a Victorian English seaside town looked like. The social rules were there but there was little to truly indicate the time period it was set in.
I feel Netgalley was stretching the truth with its claims of "A delightfully quirky and clever book club read, perfect for fans of Dear Mrs Bird, The Maid and Lessons in Chemistry." I sadly didn't find this quirky or clever, nor did I find the story to be "fabulously funny" or have "lashings of mystery" as claimed in the editorial quotes.
This was ploddingly slow-paced and wont to drift off down a completely irrelevant side story, rather than focus on the main plotline. Where was the plucky, determined and focused young woman I was promised? Violet, whose name I've just had to look up since she made so little impact on me, had all the strength and determination of a wet piece of cardboard, folding at the slightest pressure and lying because she didn't have the courage to fight for what she wanted.
Pointless facts were repeated to a distracting degree, a good edit and removal of unnecessary filler would have improved the book greatly.
Star Rating
Whilst the author's voice was easy enough to read and follow, I had no desire to pick the story up. At times I had to force myself to continue reading, so on balance, this sits at a 2.5-star rating.
The Characters
Flat, dull and uninspiring at best, caricaturish at worst. I was toldViolet was strong and bullish but I was shown a doormat of a woman who became discombobulated at the slightest pressure.
The Plot
The premise was interesting but it became bogged down by too many distractions. The author clearly has a good imagination but needs to learn that sometimes less is actually more.
The Writing
The flow, word usage, descriptions and imagination were all good. There is a good book hidden within the pages of No Life for a Lady. It just needs a little work to polish it up and make it shine.
The World-Building
I felt the book relied more on me knowing what a Victorian English seaside town looked like. The social rules were there but there was little to truly indicate the time period it was set in.
March 17, 2024
No Life For A Lady is a fun historical mystery with a romantic sub-theme.
Violet Hamilton has spent ten years hoping that her missing mother would return. In the end, she turns to a detective to help her find out if her mother is still alive. Violet’s homelife is lonely, she doesn’t enjoy domesticity and would prefer to be out in the working world. Spurred on by the role of a detective she has ambitions to become a Lady Detective herself.
This story is set in Edwardian England, in and around the seaside town of Hastings. I liked Violet’s character and her chaotic life, especially her persistence with an early Remington typewriter. There are several other likeable ladies that added to the enjoyment of the story. The narrative was entertaining, not in a laugh-out-loud way, but it did leave me smiling when I had finished reading.
Violet Hamilton has spent ten years hoping that her missing mother would return. In the end, she turns to a detective to help her find out if her mother is still alive. Violet’s homelife is lonely, she doesn’t enjoy domesticity and would prefer to be out in the working world. Spurred on by the role of a detective she has ambitions to become a Lady Detective herself.
This story is set in Edwardian England, in and around the seaside town of Hastings. I liked Violet’s character and her chaotic life, especially her persistence with an early Remington typewriter. There are several other likeable ladies that added to the enjoyment of the story. The narrative was entertaining, not in a laugh-out-loud way, but it did leave me smiling when I had finished reading.
December 6, 2022
4.5 This read is tagged as the most joyful book of 2023 and it certainly lives up to this claim!
Travel back in time to Victorian England where women are to be seen and not heard, chaperoned wherever they go if single, and are most certainly not able to know their own mind. Violet Hamilton is not one of these women. She is 28, seen as a spinster because she does not want to marry. She is curious and takes matters into her own hands by hiring a detective to help find her mother who disappeared 10 years ago. But Violet can’t help but investigate herself which leads her onto a path of some interesting events along the way.
I love an unconventional quirky female protagonist who is strong minded and seeking to find her place in the world. Violet is a really interesting character; fearless, independent and strong willed but she also doesn’t have a filter and blurts out the wrong things in quite a hilarious way, as well as being naive about the ways of the world particularly the realities of intimate relationships (again leading to some comical dialogue and situations).
I don’t want to give any of the specific plots of the book away as it’s for the reader to discover and enjoy and witness Violet’s growth and journey. What I can say is I enjoyed accompanying Violet on her adventures, meeting a number of unique characters along the way. The dialogue and observations that Violet has with Mr Knight, Mr Blackthorn and Mrs Monk were so much fun (and funny to read too!).
This is definitely a book to read when you want pure escapism, lots of fun, joy and adventure and meet a sassy female Lady Detective ahead of her times. Enola Holmes often crept into my thoughts while reading this!
Travel back in time to Victorian England where women are to be seen and not heard, chaperoned wherever they go if single, and are most certainly not able to know their own mind. Violet Hamilton is not one of these women. She is 28, seen as a spinster because she does not want to marry. She is curious and takes matters into her own hands by hiring a detective to help find her mother who disappeared 10 years ago. But Violet can’t help but investigate herself which leads her onto a path of some interesting events along the way.
I love an unconventional quirky female protagonist who is strong minded and seeking to find her place in the world. Violet is a really interesting character; fearless, independent and strong willed but she also doesn’t have a filter and blurts out the wrong things in quite a hilarious way, as well as being naive about the ways of the world particularly the realities of intimate relationships (again leading to some comical dialogue and situations).
I don’t want to give any of the specific plots of the book away as it’s for the reader to discover and enjoy and witness Violet’s growth and journey. What I can say is I enjoyed accompanying Violet on her adventures, meeting a number of unique characters along the way. The dialogue and observations that Violet has with Mr Knight, Mr Blackthorn and Mrs Monk were so much fun (and funny to read too!).
This is definitely a book to read when you want pure escapism, lots of fun, joy and adventure and meet a sassy female Lady Detective ahead of her times. Enola Holmes often crept into my thoughts while reading this!
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