DNF at 37%.

I felt like the plot pacing was too slow and I couldn't connect to any of the characters. Skipped to the end to see how it resolved, but I have no interest in reading the rest.

This is a remarkable emotional read, closer to a women’s/historical fiction than thriller but absolutely a stunning piece of work

The story of how Australia was settled by forcibly immigrating convicted criminals from the UK is one of the most controversial topics in history, but the story is most often told by men. Hope Adams has taken this piece of history and given it to the women aboard the Rajah. Although this is fictional, many of the characters and events are part of historical facts. Even the fictional characters have basis in the history of the women who actually travelled on the Rajah. It is a fascinating look at how these women were sent into some of the most severe country and managed to survive.
I have to say, the book is fantastic. The story comes alive when we meet the characters as they prepare to leave the only homes thay have ever known and travel to the unknown. This is a great piece of historical fiction. The history adds to the story, but the story itself is well worth your precious reading time.

Although the events on board the Rajah were fictional, this story was based on real events and it was incredible. Hope Adams masterfully weaves fact and fiction creating a beautiful story rich in history and friendships. There was even a surprising, chilling twist at the end! Such a good book!

The synopsis is very intriguing and the cover is beautiful. I wish that the author had developed the story more, it fell flat for me.

Didn't capture my attention and engagement. Interested in trying it again though and hopefully it will take.

A well-researched book with a great idea at the centre of it. Readers who are looking for slowly unfolding, contained mysteries might do well Dangerous Women.

Dangerous Women by Hope Adams is the story of women incarcerated in England for crimes ranging from petty theft to prostitution to murder and then essentially deported to Van Diemen's Land, a British colony on Tasmania. Within this history is the story of this book, which reads somewhat like an Agatha Christie mystery. Both the history and the mystery are interesting and keep me reading until the last page.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2021/09/dangerous-women.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

Did you know that this voyage actually happened, that the Rajah Quilt was really made and is hanging in the National Galley of Australia, and that several of the characters are based off real people from this voyage? How cool is that?! The author did take fictional liberties when it came to the story and the convicts; so while it’s based on history, it’s still fictional. The mystery surrounding the assault onboard is fictional but did add an interesting element to the story.

I found this story to be quite interesting but the first half was very slow. I actually contemplated walking away at several times. Once the story started to speed up though, it became quite engaging. While this book painted a good picture of the conditions the convicts lived in, I wanted to see more of their story and the troubles that they faced.

This was a great book full of mystery and intrigue set in a time and place few readers are familiar with. It’s hard to imagine being “convicted” of a petty crime and then being banished to an unforgiving foreign land. And on top of it, you must travel in close quarters for weeks on end on a prison ship filled dubious individuals. The author did a fine job of developing her characters and creating tension. Although I enjoyed The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline more, Dangerous Women was a good read. 4 stars.

A murder happens basically on the first page of this historical mystery about female convicts sailing to the colony of Australia in 1841. What a way to start off! The voyage of the Rajah and the quilt the women create on their three-month journey across the ocean are based on real events; the murder that dominates much of the plot is not, but adds an extra layer of interest to this well-written debut novel. After the scene describing the murder, the story shifts back and forth between "Then"--when the women first board the ship in April, and "Now"--July, as they sail close to the coast of Australia. The different personalities of the women on board the ship that befriended and clashed with one another, as well as their matron, young Kezia Hayter (again, based on the real Englishwoman who undertook the position of leading the women sent to the colony), made for a richly detailed story and made me want to learn more about these historical events.

The description of the book grabbed me and it being based on actual events even better. However I felt the book plodded along just like the voyage.

Set in a dual timeline, before the crime and after, it just didn’t grab me and I had to force myself to finish it. But I may look up information about the Rajah later.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review is book.

I really liked the concept of this book and that it is based around true events. Unfortunately, this just want the story for me. I was expecting something a little darker and faster paced. Even though it wasn’t my cup of tea, I do think others will enjoy this story of mystery on the high seas.

I really enjoyed Adams writing and thought she did an excellent job in bringing this ship life to life for the readers. The book did seem to drag out to me, but I also understand the ship voyage took a long time, so the length of the book was appropriate in describing the journey. I also think my reading frame of mind was not prepared for a sad, hard read. So it is nothing to do on Adams' part, but the reader's mindset. I did feature this book on Bookstagram. Excellent cover!

This story was so wonderful! It was emotional, historical, suspenseful, and everything I wanted! I loved the story and the mixture of fact and fiction. I need to see the quilt that these women created! I feel like I was constantly googling to figure out what really happened. It was an all-consuming kind of story that you get completely invested in.

If you enjoy historical fiction and women's fic, I highly recommend this one!

The cover of the book caught my attention first, I saw it on a must read list for 2021, and added it right away. This book is a mix of historical fiction and mystery thriller, taking place on a boat ( the Rajah) leaving England, to Australia with a large number of convicts on board. A sisterhood is created on this ship while working together to create a quilt. The quilt I found out is on display at the National Gallery of Australia ( a quick google search can show you the image).
I was pulled in quickly by the likeable characters, and the classic "who done-it" early on in the book, but found it dragging along in the middle, and I lost interest for a bit.
I did I like the empowering female storyline, the sisterhood bond, and the historical references.
I am fascinated by England/ Australia's history.

Thank you netgalley for a copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

I am impressed with the research the author has put into this book.
This is a fictionalized version of true historical events.
Nearly two hundred women mostly from a underprivileged and poor background board a transport ship bound for Australia.
These women are on a voyage for almost three months to the other side of the world,
It starts out with one of the women being seriously injured at another's hand, will she survive her attack? Only time will tell. This woman has her young son with her on this voyage.
Each chapter has a woman reminiscing on her past, the good,the bad,the lack of caring they had and what has caused them to commit the petty crimes they are accused of. One is a murderess, was it justified? It really can be a mind game if you think too hard on it, the mental health of these women.
The women are questioned about the vicious attack on the woman, did anyone see it, where they on deck when it happened? A very psychological book delving into the minds of convicted women aboard the convict ship Rajah.
These women where in confinement upon the ship and all carried a secret that they need to keep to escape justice.
Who is the attacker and will the women have to continue to live in fear?
Highly recommended!

Pub Date 16 Feb 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Dangerous Women by Hope Adams

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

I found this a very interesting read. I knew that convicts were sent to Australia, but didn't realize that women were included, and for petty crimes. She did a wonderful job with the characters who seemed very realistic, as well as the atmosphere on their journey on the Rajah. After learning about the Rajah quilt, I had to go find a picture of it online. It was beautiful and it has survived since the 1800s!

This was an excellent historical fiction novel, based on a true story.

#DangerousWomen #NetGalley

Dangerous Women by Hope Adams surprised me - I do like historical fiction but, for some reason, I didn't think I would like this one very much. Boy, was I wrong - this novel grabbed me from the beginning -
"I wish I didn't know, she thought. I wish I'd never found out. I could be the person I was this morning . . . The sea moving past the ship was almost black . . . For a long time she was afraid of it (the sea) . . . Now after many weeks at sea, she'd grown used to it , was in awe of it and loved it, albeit warily. . . she felt a change in the air around her, became aware of someone coming up beside her . . . Pain took away her words . . . The knife, the knife has killed me . . .
This is the beginning of the novel - in the Prologue - which formulates the timeline of the story. The Now chapters are from the stabbing to the landing in Australia. The Then chapters are from the beginning of the journey until the stabbing. Quite a journey the story takes us on. The real : London 1841 - 180 women convicts were transported on a 3 month journey to relocate aboard the ship, the Rajah, for petty crimes - many of the women worked on and completed the Rajah Quilt project during the voyage. The fiction: The enjoyable layer of fictionalized personalities of the women - what lead them to their crimes - their friendships and worries. And the added intrigue of secrets and a murder aboard ship - limited suspects - and a dash of romance included! Of course, I had to go on to research the Rajah and the Rajah Quilt project! Fascinating history! Thoroughly enjoyable read!

Dangerous Women starts off with an interesting premise: a ship full of convict women headed from Britain to Tasmania experiences a murder. Who did it? It's certainly a different spin on the typical historical fiction novel and, as a true crime fan, I was very excited to dig in. But this book turned out to be so much more than that hook. I truly connected to each of the women introduced in the story, including all three of the point-of-view characters of Kezia, Hattie, and Clara. Usually there's a favorite POV character but I liked them all so I wasn't disappointed when they switched. The whole time I was guessing at who the murderer was but the more I learned about each character the more heartbroken I was knowing one of them was guilty of such a terrible crime.

The author deftly moved between each of the POV characters, as well as timeline hopping between pre- and post-murder events. It read seamlessly and was so hard to put down. I enjoyed the realness of their reactions as well. They respond to events and each other in a way that might sting our modern time sensibilities but would've fit the time period correctly which I appreciated. Also, the ending was so well done. When I finished the story I felt satisfied and hopeful. Though the characters were fictional renderings, I wished them all better lives in the new land than they had had before. This novel is a great story that I'd recommend to any historical fiction reader.

Note: I received a free electronic edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank them, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to do so.