This is an historical fiction read which is set in 1869 where a young woman has the strength and courage not known to women in these times. Not wanting to marry is not heard of and wanting to find her mother who disappeared long ago is the only thing on her mind.

This is a book that drew me in from the start and I really enjoyed the great writing, the quirkiness of the story, the humour and the ease at which I read it. It is entertaining, has great characters, is a refreshing read but also has the intrigue and story of a wonderful book.

I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend as it is a book the will draw you in and and make you glad that you read it.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher/author for this ARC for an exchange for an honest review.

Really a great read, enjoyed it

This book is hilarious! I absolutely loved this book. The tone throughout is spectacular. Feel good, historical, romance, mystery, pro-fem…with loveable characters and laughs? I will read ANYTHING this author puts out. This is definitely going in my favorite reads of 2023 list.

I was drawn to the cover art. It turned out to be an enjoyable book. The mystery element put me a little out of my comfort zone as a reader and I enjoyed that. The author has a very wry sense of humor and that trnaslates to a witty, humourous MC.

This was a historical fiction mystery. I love regency historical fiction, so that is what drew me to this book. The settings were everything I want from historical fiction, and the vintage beach scenes gave me Sanditon vibes. Around halfway I guessed the essence of the mystery and I found the ending to be a little bit predictable. Still, I still felt compelled to keep reading until the end, because it was written well and I wanted to know how it ended.

At times it felt more character driven than plot driven, because not a lot was happening to move the story but the MC had a lot of revelations and inner discussions, until the very end and then a whole lot happened in the last few chapters. Still, I liked that the MC had dreams of being more than just a proper lady, and how she pushed herself out of her comfort zone to achieve her goals.

This is a good book if you like to read regency romances or mysteries with SFL main characters, who push the limits of society and rise above their obstacles.

A slightly quirky, fun period novel. Violet is a lot of fun to read about, she made me laugh a lot. This will make for a great summer read.

This is an excellent book for any fans of cosy crime. As its title suggests, Hannah Dolby gets to grips with the constraints of living as a spinster in 1896. The protagonist Violet lives at home with her short tempered father, who only changes when he finds romance - but that stirs up all sorts of trouble for Violet who is already looking into the disappearance of her mother when she was 18, 10 years earlier.
Set in Hastings and St Leonards this book really shows off the location as we see Violet walking along the promenade and exploring Hastings Old Town. Will she find someone to help her find her mother? Or will she be able to do it herself, as she explores whether becoming a detective is the life for a Victorian lady.
I hope Hannah Dolby has a commission for more in this series as I'd like to see what Violet does next and as she enters the 20th century.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read "No Life for a Lady" in exchange for an honest review.

Set in 1896, this is a light detective story about a young 18 year old girl whose mother disappears one night, last glimpsed on the Hastings pier. A decade later, Violet is determined to investigate the mystery of her mother's disappearance, hiring a detective she finds through the local newspaper.

Although the writing is clear and engaging, there was something about the story that felt anachronistic. If I hadn't been told that it was the year 1896, I would have assumed that the story was written in a more recent era. It failed to evoke the time period that it was supposed to be set in. In addition to that, the mystery itself was unbelievable and disappointing. When we finally get to the bottom of it, I was left distinctly underwhelmed. The ending detracted from the more enjoyable middle part of the story.

An interesting premise and relatively good writing could not overcome the unrealistic storyline and poorly evoked setting.

No Life for a Lady tells the story of Violet Hamilton, a 28 year old spinster by choice who wants nothing more than to solve the mystery of her mother's disappearance a decade earlier. Absolutely certain that her mother is still alive somewhere, Violet uses her savings to hire a detective to investigate the matter... and when that detective seems to be inadequate at best, Violet finds a former detective by the name of Benjamin Blackthorn and harasses him into taking on the case, as well as taking Violet herself on as a sort of detective-in-training. Book-smart but wildly naive, Violet finds herself immersed in a whole new world, doing things that finally give her life some meaning and struggling to fight off feelings for Benjamin along the way.

Cozy, hilarious, and exciting, No Life for a Lady is a perfect story to lose yourself in for an afternoon. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book!

Violet Hamilton is a 28 year old spinster, who keeps house for her father, since her mother, Lily, vanished from the local pier during a night out some 10 years earlier. Over the years since her mother’s mysterious disappearance, Violet has never lost the hope that Lily is alive, and manages to raise enough money to hire a private detective. In her naivety Violet soon realises that she has started a course of events that she has no control over.

This book did not grab me from the start, it took some getting into. A cosy mystery, perfect for a wet afternoon read. Within the first few chapters it was obvious what the outcome would be, and there was no great denouement, though a subtle twist regarding Lily’s love life. Violet was a nice enough character, sometimes more clueless than naive. Some good comedy moments, but at times the narrative was too repetitive and meandering. Needed more of Benjamin and Mrs Monk.

An easy, witty read, perfectly pleasant.

Thank you NetGalley.

I absolutely adored this book! Until, it arrived at the ending. What a letdown! Really!?! I was beginning to think Hannah Dolby would go on my list of go to authors. Instead, the need to ‘warn’ typical romance readers of the disappointing end comes to mind. The book was hilarious, witty, dry sense of humor, but a true disappointment.

This was a fun and slightly silly read. The MC is very ignorant of what happens between a man and a woman on their wedding night because of what her mother has both told her and not told her, which means Violet gets into some slightly dangerous situations because of her ignorance. The mystery was intriguing and I liked Benjamin and his shop. I loved the setting and the voice of the MC was entertaining. I wish there had been more focus on Ben and his feelings for Violet, more tension would have added to Violet's confusion and the hilarity of her ignorance. I also feel like Mr. Knight's murder was glossed over a bit too much. I wish it had actually been an accident or even self defense rather than intentional because even though he was a "bad" man murder is also bad. Overall it was an entertaining read and impressive for a debut author.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.

This is a late 19th century novel about one woman's relationship with her parents, and the mystery of her mother's disappearance 10 years prior, and ultimately this woman's own personal growth and self-discovery. It is a historical fiction, rather than a romance.

Violet Hamilton is a 28 year old spinster living with her father, a wealthy banker, in Hastings England. Ten years prior, Violet had said good bye to her beautiful, gregarious, charming mother, Lily Hamilton, when she left for an evening entertainment, not realizing that was the last she would see of her. There was never any evidence of death or any other contact with Violet since; her mother just disappeared. Violet seemed never to have been able to move on from that. Her parents did not seem to have a happy relationship, but she and her mother had a loving relationship. She seemed to idolize her mother and is constantly comparing herself poorly to her.

As the years moved on, Violet and her father muddled along. But the disappearance of her mother also had a negative affect on her standing and she never really made close friends, as other local women of her age and social standing either gossiped about her and her mother, or cut her. It did not help that they had moved to Hastings only a few years prior to Lily's disappearance, and she was not allowed to maintain connections with her previous friends. She also never developed any romantic connections, despite her father throwing suitors her way. She never forgot what her mother taught her about marital relations, which seemed messy, painful, and traumatizing to her.

Finally, in the present day, 28 year old Violet makes a bold move and uses her savings to hire a detective to look into her mother's disappearance, and that opens quite the can of worms as she learns and sees things that changes Violet's understanding of her parents, her life, and the world around her. She realizes how sheltered and naive she is. She is also determined not to marry and takes steps to become more independent, especially as her father appears ready to move on in his life, with a new lady friend, and is pushing Violet towards marriage herself. Her detective is not going the route she wants and is acting in ways that cause her grief and suspicion, and when she finds an alternative, Benjamin Blackthorn, she finds a new world opening up to her, where she learns new skills, new curiosities, new ways of connecting to people, and a developing confidence and desire to become a lady detective.

This was a bit of a slow start to the book for me and I had to step away a few times as it did not really draw me in. Violet seemed to idolize her mother too much and was very down on herself in comparison, and not able to move on from the event 10 years prior. From the writing, it seemed as though her mother may have been a bit of a social, slightly self-centered gadfly in an unhappy marriage and abandoned her family - not worthy of the pedestal that Violet put her on. It seemed pretty obvious on that her mother had no interest in men and likely left because of an affair with a woman. Her father and her do not have a deep or loving relationship and Violet seems stuck in the past and is a sheltered, lost soul. Her way of coping with things seems to be quite passive aggressive, such as lying about volunteering for non existent charities when presented with suitors by her father, rather than confronting things, or being bullied by her hired detective. This was all written in Violet's perspective though out, which I am not a big fan of personally so that was a bit of a deterrent. Also, Violet seems horribly naive frequently - too much so for a 28 year old woman. Perhaps a testament to her being overly sheltered, but it is laughable and at times dangerous level of naivete as some people sought to take advantage of her.

Things opened up for me when she met Benjamin, as he was an interesting character and he seemed to trigger in her a desire and courage to open her horizons, and seek to learn and live new opportunities. Their relationship was initially more her harassing him to take on her mother's case and him putting her off as he gave up being a detective to run a used furniture business. But then it becomes a grudging friendship and genuine interest in each other, but with only the slightest shadings of romance near the end.

So slow beginning, with characters that I did not really like, until Violet showed some growth and gumption, and became more interesting through her experiences and growth. Definitely not a romance, and with a hint of things to come, as she explores her new beginnings as a lady detective, perhaps with Benjamin as her partner?

3.25 stars out of 5

A brilliantly funny historical with a unique heroine, I adored every word of this book. Violet Hamilton's mother disappeared a decade ago when Violet was 18, leaving her naive, young for her daughter with her emotionally repressed father. When a private detective's leaflet falls onto her mat, Violet decides it's time to find out what happened to her mother and by doing so takes her first step into independence. The further she gets on her quest, the more she realises her ignorance and how unworldly she is, the more determined she is to learn not just what happened to her mother, but about the world, a world that prefers its women ignorant and dependent on men.

Over the course of her adventures Violet finds herself visiting a brothel, breaking into a museum, spying on skinny dipping men, learning to type and, accustomed as she is to turning down the unsuitable suitors her father keeps pushing her way, attracted to a man. She also finds out that her beloved mother had her own secrets, secrets that have had repercussions for the unwitting Violet.

Hugely entertaining although with serious undertones, I really hope this is the first in a series because I for one am here for the continued education in detecting of Violet Hamilton.

I appreciate a historical romance that involves an actual plot in addition to the romance. I was interested in what happened to Violet's mother and the conclusion was pretty good.

I do prefer my historical romance to be a little more fictional. By that I mean, I like the female characters to have a little agency even though I know that isn't historically accurate. Otherwise, I just find the book frustrating.

This was a lovely read! It's fun and light, and Violets is developed in a way that makes us warm up to her quickly. The mystery weaves through the story at an interesting pace, and the "side quests" that Violet takes are entertaining. The portrait of the restrictions that women had were on point and yes, I was rooting for Violet to break them all! If I were to find a flaw in this book, I would say it's pace is a bit too steady: there's no ups and downs, things just keep happening, which is not a bad thing, just not what I'm used to.

Tongue in cheek, funny, and such a wonderful read.

Violet Hamilton is presented various suitors over the years by her father, Violet doesn’t want a husband.
Violet has other ideas, and lots of them too. She knows her own mind.

The book is set in the late nineteenth century, in and around Hastings.
Violet has had a series of suitors over the years, and she has spent those times making sure they did not hang around. Putting off potential suitors from the start,
I found the book really funny, laugh out loud, a real tonic of a book. It’s light hearted, and I just loved Violets sense of humour. Her tongue in cheek style.
A little bit of history, and a bit of detective work thrown into the mix
Definitely a book I will remember, for all the right reasons.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions of the book are entirely my own.

Violet Hamilton refuses to marry, which is a little more difficult for a woman in 1896.

She aspires to be a lady detective and track down her missing mother. As an inexperienced young lady, she is prone to mishaps, dangers, and embarrassments. Despite everything, she stubbornly rejects all of her suitors. Still, she's not immune to men's charms, and perhaps someone special will soon turn her head.

A delightful book, full of wit and endearing characters. Violet is a driven young woman who wants to show the world that she is capable of achieving her goals.

A true pleasure to read.

This was an ARC from Netgalley. This was a cozy mystery with good characters. It was fairly predictable but a good cozy read.

This book was a real treat to read. It was heart-warming, romantic and funny in equal measure and a brilliant debut from author Hannah Dolby.

Violet Hamilton is an unmarried woman still living at home with her father in late Victorian Hastings. She seems surprisingly naïve for a twenty-eight woman and this jarred at first but as I read on, the reasons for this became apparent and I just fell in love with her character.

Violet’s mother disappeared ten years ago and Violet decides that she needs to find out what happened so she engages a private detective. She doesn’t entirely trust him and so tries to engage another only to find that he has died and his son has absolutely no interest in carrying on his father’s profession.

Violet is nothing if not determined and won’t let Benjamin Blackthorn give up detecting so easily. She is also determined to find out more about life itself as well as her mother’s disappearance and this leads her into various situations, none of which end up as she expects them to.

I absolutely loved Violet. Her naivety is touching as well as amusing and her frustration with the social requirements of being ‘a lady’ feel very real. I loved Benjamin too as he gradually becomes involved with Violet’s mystery despite his misgivings. The supporting characters are brilliantly written too especially Violet’s father who is a typical Victorian man and comes across as completely unfeeling. However he has depths which we begin to see as he pursues his new relationship with the vivacious Mrs Beeton.

The mystery is well thought out and I loved the ending. The mixture of Violet’s character, the mystery and humour combine to make this a fantastic read.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers, Aria and Aries for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

So the main draw of this book is the mystery and feminist themes, and the book does very well in both aspects, it’s a well written mystery and the feminist themes are potent. Violet is a young woman from a proper family who is searching for her missing mother in improper ways. The twists in the mystery are properly hinted at and the reveals are satisfying.

The one thing I would’ve liked to have seen is Violet’s narration and thoughts being more stark and honest. Her thoughts are largely as polite as how she speaks to others, and I would’ve liked to hear her honest thoughts, and her speak badly of others.
Definitely worth checking out if you can though!