I really enjoyed this book and irs definitely unlike any other historical fiction I've read in recent times. Bessie really did have a tough start in life and at times my heart was breaking for her. The story has a massive twist around halfway in and from then on the story becomes something else altogether!

I wanted the main character to be smarter and take more ownership with her life choices. I think that the lack of choices available to unwed, lower class women was a real impediment to life, but wanting to scream at the protagonist is never a good sign.

The Lives of Diamond Bessie by Jody Hadlock is an entertaining and unique historical fiction that has many elements: history, mystery, suspense, and several twists and turns to keep the reader in their toes.

This is quite a unique novel. I went into reading it thinking it would be a fiction of the historical context that would show a formidable woman overcoming obstacles, trauma, barriers, and limitations…and there were elements and moments where I thought that was there certainly, but there were definitely a few turns and surprises I was not expecting.

I cannot divulge too much more about the change of direction regarding the narrative, as it would most certainly spoil it for future readers.

The book is a fictional telling of a true story, and it was heartbreaking at times to see how Annie/Bessie was treated and her losses. It really sheds light on many horrific things that happened to women in the 19th century, especially those that had minimal financial or familial means. The author did a wonderful job bringing these serious subjects their due attention.

The second half of the book takes a different turn, sort of a paranormal concept, so that was definitely an interesting spin and surprise.

A very unique book and one that I recommend for anyone that enjoys historical fiction, historical mystery, real life inspiration, and also potential paranormal threads.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and SparkPress for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 4/5/22.

I didnt know what to expect from this novel but what I got was way better than I thought it would be. It is a beautifully evocative story that at the same time left me with chills at its haunting imagery and prose. I didnt know how I felt about the genre bending in this book but it all came together seamlessly and it worked. The characters were well written and relatable, with some more likeable than others and some just purely detestable. I really enjoyed reading this book.

This book takes place in the 1860s and is about a woman named Annie (later Bessie).
The subject matter of this book is very interesting and why I picked it up. It's about a time where there is shame and blame placed on women who get pregnant out of wedlock, while the men face no consequences. The women have to live with it and are sometimes forced to make awful decisions about their lives.

But I just couldn't connect with the character and the writing. I found that there was very little emotion and I didn't understand one big decision Bessie made, that ended in the big plot twist in the book. The second half of the book was more paranormal and there were so many new characters introduced that I couldn't keep up. I guess this book just wasn't for me.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this story! I was skeptical at first, because I haven't read a whole lot of historical novels, but this one really changed my mind on them. I am glad I ventured out to this new genre!

SPOILERS AHEAD!
.
.
.
.
This story follows Annie Moore, a sixteen year old girl pregnant out of wedlock. She is sent to live with the nuns/Sisters, and when she has her daughter Hannah (named after her sister), they take her daughter away, and she is sent to live in an orphan asylum. Annie then escapes. She leaves Buffalo, and lands in a brothel house. When she soon realizes that she will be unable to get a respectable job to get her daughter back, she resorts to prostitution. This story follows her journey, life, and struggle over several years of prostitution, including several different brothel houses, under the name Bessie Moore.

She soon meets Abe, and right off the bat I did not trust this man. You can tell he is out for her money. The only way to leave this life back in the 1800s, was to marry a wealthy man. Bessie marries Abe against the pleas of several of her friends. They travel to Texas, and shortly after they are married, and Bessie refuses to open her own brothel house with Abe, he kills her.

The last part of the book follows the trial for her murder, and she herself is a spirit who hasn't crossed over yet looking down. He meets the town sheriff's wife, who also hasn't crossed over because she wants to see her husband happy, and remarry so someone can take care of their boys. I loved watching the friendship grow between Edla and Bessie, and I won't lie and say I didn't start to cry when Bessie finally decided to cross over, after saying goodbye to her mother, and her sister. I also could have cried when her dad was there as well. Bessie was looking for her daughter in Heaven, but Edla informs her that her daughter has been reborn, is back on Earth, and with a loving family.

I was so sad each time Bessie lost someone. Her daughter, her friend Mollie, and then she lost her own life. I also could have cried when Ed McDonald made her a headstone. That was so stinking thoughtful and sweet.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I think the author did an amazing job writing about a true crime story and putting her own spin on it. You can tell she put a lot of research into this story. I am a Cincinnati native, and she did a hell of a job writing about my city! She has definitely helped me learn to broaden my horizons in book genres, and jump into the unknown, and give it a shot!

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)

This book is inspired by a true story of a young Irish immigrant in America, who was forced into prostitution. A really good twist half way through made it all the more interesting for me. Face paced, it was a real page turner and I stayed with the story all the way through. Bessie was a great character that was easy to connect with. Well researched, the author sheds light on the plight of women in this era and the double standards allowed to men. This was the first novel I read by this author but will certainly keep an eye out for her in the future. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book. Recommend for readers of historical true crime and historical fiction.

I loved this book! It kept me up all night reading, and it left me just a bit haunted.

This was a great look at social norms/expectations during the late 1800s as well as a mystery. Ms. Hadlock did an outstanding job of engaging me and making me ask questions about why I believe things.

The characters are real and even though some of them are awful, they're relatable and complex. I enjoyed getting to know them.

Overall, I definitely recommend this book.

This book was different than anything I've ever read before. The mix of genres.... thriller, historical fiction, and the paranormal is a rare combination... at least in my reading experience.

There is a Bessie before betrayal, and a Bessie afterward. In a time where women had begun to fight for equal rights, An unwed pregnant Annie finds herself in a convent, shamed by her family and friends. Her baby is taken from her and put in an orphanage, and Annie searches for work so that she can get her baby back. Jobs were limited in the mid 1800's, so Annie find employment and lodging at a high end brothel. Annie, AKA Bessie, tries to redeem herself in a society that has exiled and limited her for her mistake and the choices she makes to survive.

Bessie believes her luck has taken a turn for the better when a gambling peddler sweeps her off her feet. Overlooking blatantly obvious warning signs, she marries, only to realize that her escape from prostitution leads to a more miserable existence. After a most treacherous act, Bessie is determined to seek justice by any means necessary.

I look forward to reading more from Jody Hadlock!

This was a very riveting read. I had no idea that this book was inspired by the true story of Diamond Bessie. The sheer amount of research and documentation by Jody Hadlock was impressive. I think she did an excellent job of capturing Bessie’s life before her untimely betrayal.

Bessie was born in the mid 1800s. She was pregnant out of wedlock and her child was taken from her by the Sisters who ran the convent for “fallen women.” Right away we see that women in the 1800s can only be married, in a convent, or become prostitutes because society throws them away. Hadlock writes how Bessie was forced to escape the convent and tried to find a “respectable” job so she could get her daughter back. Instead, she is saved by a sex worker and in turn, becomes one herself in order to survive.

There are a lot of feminist qualities to this book. Headlock described Elizabeth Candy Stanton and Susan B Anthony at a convention for women having the right to vote. A few of the sex workers also helped Bessie see that she can be in charge of her own life as much as possible and live for herself.

Bessie ultimately wanted a better life for herself and wanted to get out of the sex work. She realized that the best way to do that was marriage. She and Abe Rothschild had a magnetic attraction to each other and she fell in love with him.

The twist was interesting and while I didn’t love it, I think that was probably the best way to describe what happened in the second part of the book. I think Hadlock did a great job in re-enforcing that once again, women were seen beneath men even when one of them does something so evil.

This book captured the pain and hurt of a pregnant women in a time where being pregnant out of wedlock is shameful. The way that the story is written makes you want to fly through the pages.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me an e-ARC of this book for me to review.
This book takes the life of a woman, Annie Moore, who ends up pregnant out of wedlock and her family sends her to a convent, she end's up escaping without her child because she was sent to an orphanage. Then she realizes how society has everything turned around so that women can not be free and always need a male support system. She decides to stay at a public house, serving as a whore, where she can be more or less free and win some money whilst she tries to find a proper husband to marry her.
I really don't know how to evaluate this book. On one hand, yes I kind of enjoyed it but, on the other hand, I feel this book goes to a lot of places, most of them being unnecessary. There are several feminist interesting points on the society in the 1860s especially analyzing how the society is built so as to not allow freedom for women. Despite that, I think the book tries to reach too many topics and in the end, it feels like none of them are really dealt with. There's also a mix of genres that doesn't add anything to the story. It's a true crime, historical fiction that is also mixed with some fantasy. At many points, I feel the plot is derived a lot to tell a story that has nothing to do with the main story which it feels like the author is just trying to show all the research that she's done. It is interesting but it makes the story go very slow and at the end when you look back you realize that many things didn't necessarily need to be there. All in all, it was enjoyable, the narration captivates you and the main character is interesting.

This story was fantastic and totally enthralling, until it took a strange turn. It just didn’t work and wasn’t super enjoyable. I’m not sure what the author was trying to do here but it took a 4-5 star book to a 3 star book.

Fascinating glimpse into the life of a 19th century women. I’m once again saddened how difficult and unfair life was. Interesting insight into the legal works. Very well researched as this is based on a true story. Great read. Thank you publisher and netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

The lives of Diamond Bessie is inspired by a true story of the sixteen years old Annie Moore AKA Diamond Bessie , who got pregnant out of wedlock. When her daughter was taken away by the nuns , she is forced to escape and survive forcing her to prostitution, so she can make a living and get back her daughter and leave for a respectful life.
She lives an extravagant life and dreams of being an independent woman and will see an opportunity to leave her terrible life by marriage and hoping she could get her happy ending. The second part of the book was really interesting and how it managed to feel powerless in front of what’s happening and seeing how they can twist such an obvious murder.
The writing was good for what it’s saying, it was making you feel what Bessie felt from her feelings to her revolts and her decisions, with a lesson of history on how women were seen in those years and the roadblock that was very visible to even someone with potential.
This is a story of betrayal and how despite having to sell her body, she was a strong willed woman and became enraged and the reader along with her.

Set in the late 1800, this book follows Annie Moore through her life and after. Annie becomes pregnant young and is sent to live in a convent. After giving birth, she leaves and is forced into a life of prostitution to survive. There were very little options open to her that allowed her money enough to live. While living in a brothel, Annie (who is now Bessie) meets Abe Rothschild. A good part of this book is Bessie's time with Abe. Although Abe comes from a wealthy and reputable family, he does not live an upstanding life. Bessie pays the ultimate price by choosing a life with Abe.
I found this book slow and drawn out at times. It does give a good glimpse into what life was like for women at this point in history. Annie (Bessie) is a likable character and you want to see her succeed and flourish in life. It is written from an interesting point about halfway through the book. I found this helped to hold my attention more than the first half of the book. I also felt it ended somewhat abruptly. There was something missing for me in this book.

A great reminder of how far women have come. It is hard to know what we would have done in her situation. The author did a great job of researching the history to bring Bessie to life and for us to know her circumstances so we can empathize with her position.

Inspired by a true story, annie moore is pregnant at 16 and sent off to a convent. She escapes after her baby is taken away from her but due to poor opportunities for women in the 1860s, annie finds herself in prostitution. The first half of the book focuses on how she moves her way up in popularity at the brothel and eventually marries the love of her life. The second half of the book takes an interesting paranormal turn. I have never read a book like this! I was captured since the beginning and couldn't put the book down but once it hit that paranormal part, I didn't like where the story was going.

Overall, I really liked the plot and the point the author was trying to make about how poorly women were treated during this time. I also loved that it was inspired by a true story. I just wasn't expecting the second half to turn out how it did. I wanted the first half to just continue as is! But I would definitely read more from Jody.

I had no idea about the woman portrayed in this novel. A interesting read that involves a pregnant woman forced to give up her child after its birth. In the time that she is living, there are very few choices for a woman of her background. Forced to became a woman of "ill dispute", she survives on her ambition to try to better herself. Halfway through the book, the novel takes a strange turn which I felt was weird and I had trouble finishing it. I will not recommend.

Jody Hadlock, The Lives of Diamond Bessie, Spark Press, 2022

Thank you NetGalley for this uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review.

The Lives of Diamond Bessie is a fictional account, based on the life of a real woman. The book is divided into two parts, the first following Bessie’s life as a young pregnant woman who is forced into a convent where her baby is born and taken from her. Bessie must find a paid occupation and becomes a prostitute, albeit one with the status of belonging to a fine house and being attractive and popular there. The paucity of paid work available to young women who can supply no references, have little training or none, who are dependent on men as employers or husbands for any financial security is the theme that runs through the novel. The second part uses a clever device to continue Bessie’s story after her short-lived marriage. Here, again, women’s dependence on men is a major theme.

Women’s political movements also feature, with events related to women’s fight for the vote providing historical points related to the larger story of women’s fight for equality together with Bessie’s personal narrative. These events could have been far more valuable if they had been woven into the story rather than at times seeming as though they have been added to provide authenticity to the idea that Diamond Bessie’s story is a feminist one. Although she is suffering from the discrimination attendant upon being a woman, uneducated and untrained, and having to make her own living – all the issues that are relevant to women’s political activity - Bessie’s story seems to exist side by side with these ideas, rather than written to examine anything more than her personal story.

That story has some enlightening aspects. For example, the reality of the ‘boarding house’ culture has more impact in this story of a real woman, than in fictional accounts. However, as real as the disturbing features become, that Bessie was the owner of magnificent diamonds, was largely independent, and was as foolishly optimistic about marriage as any woman outside that culture places her differently from her less attractive, drug dependent friend whose fall was heartrending. Bessie’s journey to a New Orleans house as a ‘visiting prostitute’ is also another aspect of the work that is brought to light by her story.

I was disappointed in the writing which seemed rather pedestrian at times, but perhaps it was that for me Bessie’s story was far from gripping. I found her an uninspiring character. The strength she showed in controlling her use of laudanum was sadly missing in her relationships with men. While she initially fought to maintain her financial independence in a world designed to thwart her, Bessie’s aspirations did not go beyond marriage. Despite her independent wealth she failed to use it to her advantage, falling too easily into a situation that experience told her would continue to frustrate any attempts at achieving security and happiness. Although Part 2 introduces a very smart way of continuing Bessie’s story, I would have liked a bit more liveliness in the writing, and more use of the political points of reference.