Description

The compelling, gorgeously atmospheric tale of female friendship, redemption and betrayal, inspired by the incredible true story of female convicts at sea

‘Beautifully written, an epic sea voyage with an intriguing murder mystery . . . an unputdownable read’ KATIE FFORDE

‘I was thoroughly entranced by the story, and the great murder mystery kept me guessing throughout. A real joy to read’ 5***** Reader Review

‘A gorgeous and compelling story with vibrant characters . . . I was fascinated’ RACHEL HORE
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London, 1841.

The Rajah sails for Australia.

On board are 180 women convicted of petty crimes, sentenced to start a new life half way across the world.

Daughters, sisters, mothers – they’ll never see home or family again. Despised and damned, all they have now is each other.

Until the murder.

As the fearful hunt for a killer begins, everyone on board is a suspect.

The investigation risks tearing their friendships apart . . .

But if the killer isn’t found, could it cost them their last chance of freedom?

Based on a real-life voyage, Dangerous Women is a sweeping tale of confinement, hope and the terrible things we do to survive.
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‘A fascinating prose patchwork of the women’s lives, stitched together by a twisting murder mystery. Engrossing and deeply satisfying – over the course of the journey we learn about the desperate lives of these women, many guilty only of petty crimes’ The Times

‘Hope Adams has skilfully patched a murder mystery into a historical event . . . Masterful plotting, well-drawn characters . . . an immensely satisfying read’ Guardian

‘A fine story of suspense, sisterhood and society, reflecting the harshness of women’s lives and their desperation to survive in a world that has scant regard for their wellbeing’ Daily Mail

‘An intriguing murder-mystery, skilfully written and bursting with colour and life’ Lucy Atkins, author of Magpie Lane

‘Dazzling. A captivating story filled with intrigue and dark secrets. An immensely satisfying tale of guilt, innocent and second chances’ Emma Rous, author of The Au Pair

‘A fabulous, page-turning novel that kept me gripped. It’s impossible not to become engaged with these women’ Jane Harris, author of The Observations

‘This is a locked room mystery to end all locked room mysteries!’ Sophie Bennett, author of The Windsor Knot

‘This atmospheric narrative excels in its depiction of the relationship between female prisoners – largely petty criminals – and the tragic backstories that have brought them together’ Mail on Sunday

Publisher Review

Transforms an actual 19th-century sea voyage of female convicts into a striking drama. The ship's young matron chooses a group to sew a presentation quilt, but near their destination, someone stabs one of the quilters. Evocative sketches of those on board reveal the realities of poor women's lives - readers will be rewarded * Publisher's Weekly * A vivid, cleverly-crafted mystery that will keep the reader turning the pages -- Erica James * bestselling author of Letters from the Past * Wonderful, evocative, moving and suspenseful -- Marika Cobbold * author of On Hampstead Heath * A historical episode artfully adapted in a tale that offers glimmers of hope for women discarded by society * Kirkus * Nerves fray, alliances form, and love blooms in this fast paced, well-written novel. This is a great page-turner! * Mystery and Suspense Magazine * A must-read for lovers of fearless historical fiction, and an examination of the shocking treatment of women in our not-too distant past -- Alma Katsu * author of The Deep * Combines historical fiction with tremendously gripping entertainment. Who on a ship of convicted women sailing from London to Tasmania is a murderer? -- Amanda Craig * author of The Golden Rule * A ship of convict women - all with their secrets - on the way to a new life in a new land, but facing danger all the way - this is a locked room mystery to end all locked room mysteries! -- Sophia Bennett * author of The Windsor Knot * A fabulous, page-turning novel that kept me gripped. Bringing together murder, convicts and patchwork quilting - all aboard a ship bound for Australia - it's impossible not to become engaged with these women and their individual plights - especially once everyone becomes a suspect -- Jane Harris * author of The Observations * Dazzling. Adams takes the fascination history of a convict ship and brings it to life in a captivating story filled with intrigue and dark secrets. An immensely satisfying tale of guilt, innocent and second chances -- Emma Rous * author of The Au Pair * An intriguing murder-mystery, skilfully written and bursting with colour and life -- Lucy Atkins * author of Magpie Lane * A gorgeous and compelling story with vibrant characters. I was fascinated by the novel's inspiration and the real life story of the Rajah Quilt -- Rachel Hore Beautifully written, Hope Adams has woven together an epic sea voyage with an intriguing murder mystery to make an unputdownable read -- Katie Fforde