No Life for a Lady

Violet doesn't want to marry but her father is insisting that she does. Not that she has much choice as it is in 1896. She is definitely unique in her views for a lady in that time period. She wants to find her mother who disappeared mysteriously 10 years earlier. She is fun, original and sassy. I love the LOL scenes. She is a delight. It's an interesting mystery and I have fun reading it.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

A fun read definitely in the vein of Dear Mrs Bird and Mrs Bensons Beetle. It makes such a change for a book that doesn’t just follow usual rules, one to pack in your bag for holiday

I suspect we all need someone like Violet Hamilton in our life to remind us to dream bigger and break a few rules every once in a while!

This is a funny and heartwarming book set in the glorious Hastings seaside in the late Victorian era. Violet Hamilton lives with her father, being a rather different kind of young women, who at the ripe old age of twenty-eight has already decided to spurn the advances of suitors arranged by her father to woo her. Violet dreams of something more than marriage. But she isn't sure what. Especially as Violet's own Mother disappeared without any explanation ten years ago - there are things she longs to know. Violet thinks she can't solve this mystery alone, so she employs the help of a Detective, Mr Knight. But Violet can't shake her suspicions that Mr Knight is more than just a bad mannered man, he might also be a bad detective. Violet starts investigating other options and meets Benjamin, the bearded son of Hasting's best detective. Piecing together her Mother's past and learning about herself, Violet realises she has ambitions that cannot be contained by her fathers limited expectations and sets forth on an adventure that is filled with hilarious and heartwarming moments. Picking up skills from Benjamin and uncovering more clues about her Mothers life, through these events Violet starts to see the possibilities of life open around her.

Dolby creates a world filled with rich characters that are easy to love, even if at first some are misunderstood by Violet's innocent view of the world - that only adds to the comedic dilemmas she faces getting to know Benjamin under strict social rules for unmarried women. ("If anyone heard us use our first names they might think we were lovers. It was a truly shocking lapse of formality. It felt dangerous and illicit. I realised I didn't care.")

It is a book I wholeheartedly recommend, an absolute diamond of richly drawn characters, dramatic twists, and a slice of romance that keep pages turning.

It's easy to get complacent and forget that reading is about escaping, No Life for a Lady is a reminder of what good stories do best: transport the reader into an adventure. Especially one as fun as Violet, brought to life in vivid technicolour detail on every page. I cannot wait to read what Dolby writes next!

Oooh, what a joyful character Violet is! I really appreciated her being vulnerable for not knowing lots of things she could've asked her mother if she hadn't disappeared then years earlier. How she walks out on men on two different occasions on the same day just because she was feeling uncomfortable, and is embarrassed about it later, but haven't we all had situations like that?
And when things do go the way she was hoping or even better – sorting things, Violet being on a high, realizing what a powerful feeling that is, as opposed to being terrified which she admits to often feel as well.

Also very on topic when it comes to men thinking women are inferior creatures, as indeed you sometimes think nothing much changed since 1896.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

I was randomly selected by the publisher to receive an ARC. Thank you to Netgalley as well. It's 1896 and Victoria is 28 years old. Her mother has been missing for ten years now. In that time, Victoria has searched her room and done all that she could think of to figure out what happened. An advertisement for a local detective catches her eye and she hires Mr. Knight on the spot. He seems a bit unsavory but she knew of no other detective. Victoria lives with her Father on the seaside and their two staff. She attends church weekly and is determined not to marry.

Victoria's Father introduces her to many gentlemen, all of which she firmly and creatively turns them down. She is a bit of an oddity, being 28 and unmarried. There is also a kind of public stain from having a missing Mother. Victoria has dabbled in charity work but longs for more purpose. It's not proper really for a spinster to work, being a gently bred young daughter of a banker. When Mr. Knight continues to investigate her Mother's disappearance, she continues to find him uncomfortable to be around. When firing him doesn't work, she looks for another detective.

Benjamin's Father was the detective but has since passed away. His son has decided instead to sell furniture. Victoria charmingly inveigled herself into his life. She assists him with some light detective work. His shop has a typewriter and he allows her to learn typing, even assisting with receipts and such. Victoria keeps her activities from her Father but she is immensely pleased with herself for finding useful, interesting work. Benjamin takes on a few cases reluctantly, with Victoria's help. Detective work could be dangerous and he wanted to avoid his Father's fate. Victoria has become a permanent part of his life. As feelings start to develop, Victoria pushes them aside to focus on finding her Mother.

Mr. Knight is consumed with finding her Mother and she soon finds out why. Victoria's innocence is shed several times over the course of the investigation and from meeting new people in this new enterprise of hers. She finds out her Father hid a letter from her that her Mother sent after her disappearance. The mystery unravels in unexpected and exciting ways. I was entertained throughout and thoroughly enjoyed Victoria and Benjamin. Her strong, silly and unconventional personality are a treasure. I look forward to more of Victoria.

This is a fantastic piece of historical fiction that was well written with well developed charcaters and a compelling storyline that was full of charm, mystery and humour - it made me laugh out loud at times. A great read.

Funny, enlightening, joyous romantic comedy. Historical angle gives it a really fresh feel. Highly recommended.

I just loved this book! Set in 1896, Violet is a feisty 28 year old spinster actively avoiding marriage despite the reputation it brings her. The humour throughout this book is very well written so we find our trusty heroine inventing ridiculous charities to explain where she spends her time. In reality, it's spent trying to trace her mother who disappeared a decade earlier and with her new friend who owns a furniture shop. Clearly there's a lot more to it than this so it well worth reading.

If you are looking for an escape with an endearing main character who will make you smile, this is the book for you. Highly recommended.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Violet Hamilton, a 28-year-old "spinster" living in a seaside town in England during the late Victorian era, is one of the most delightful characters I have encountered in a long time. Keeping house for her stolid banker father and unwilling to accept any man as a potential husband, Violet looks for something to make her life meaningful. Obsessed with finding out what happened to her beautiful mother, who disappeared 10 years ago, she decides to engage a local private detective, Frank Knight, to find her. But when Knight uncovers some unsavory details and is not as discreet as she demands, Violet approaches another detective who seems more suitable. Unfortunately, Benjamin Blackthorn has decided to become a furniture salesman rather than follow in his late father's detective footsteps and is reluctant to help Violet. But he hasn't reckoned with her determination and persistence--no shrinking Violet here!

Narrating her own story, Violet reveals in the most entertaining (often hilarious) fashion her unshakeable character, her desires and eccentricities, and her shocking lack of knowledge about certain things. Supporting characters are also well drawn and memorable. This is a fun, charming book by a debut author, and there is certainly enough going on in Violet's tumultuous life by the end of the story to fuel a sequel. Here's hoping!

My thanks to NetGalley and Aria and Aries for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

This was a remarkably entertaining debut novel. It's difficult to pin it down since it has a bit of romance, a bit of history, a bit of sleuthing and a bit LGBTQ before its time. I had no expectations before starting the book but got into it quickly, mainly because of its endearing protagonist. This could be the first one in a series about a lady detective if the writer develops her characters a bit more and finds other equally interesting story lines. I would be interested to see how it continues.

When Violet Hamilton's mother goes missing she's set on finding out where she went. Violet hires a private detective. She then hires another one. In the midst of that she finds herself set on a course of doing a spot of detective work herself. It's an unusual occupation for a woman but she finds she likes it. I came to like Violet, she's an inquisitive woman with a willingness to learn and try different things and that makes her a better detective. It's an interesting journey with a woman who's willing to take chances to find out what happened to her mother and she might also find out so many other things about the world and herself along the way.

No Life for a Lady by Hannah Dolby is a great historical fiction that is full of mystery, laughter, and fun.

I really enjoyed this historical mystery. The author did a great job of balancing historical detail and the more serious elements with quip, wit, and humor.

I always like a book that balances it all, as it helps create a fresh, fun, and entertaining read. Violet Hamilton is a creative, sassy, and vibrant young woman and placing her in the late 19th century really creates a push/pull scenario as she is a circle surrounded by square pegs.

Definitely entertaining.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and Aria 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 3/2/23.

So much fun! A delightful mix of comedy, mystery, and romance.

It is 1896 and Violet is discovering her dream job might just be “Lady Detective”. She is 28 years old and remains devastated by her mother’s disappearance a decade ago. As detective work is an unsuitable profession for women, Violet saves up in hopes of hiring a private detective to find out what happened to her mother. When Violet saves enough and happens upon a notice in the paper advertising detective services, she is elated. Soon, however, she gets the sinking feeling this detective isn’t as talented as he led her to believe. Unfortunately, the best detective in town is dead and his son, Benjamin (aka Mr Blackthorn) has sworn off detective work in favor of selling furniture. Will Violet be able to solve the mystery before her reputation is in tatters?!

Violet is an amazing and lovable character - full of curiosity, humor, resilience, aspirations, and determination. Would love to read a series about Violet thriving as the best detective in town!

Thank you to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!
For a start, it was easy to get into - I connected with the main character from the word go.
Secondly, it was hilarious. There was one line in particular that just cracked me up!
Thirdly, it had a good plot. It kept me guessing.
It's the kind of book you race to finish because you want to know what happens, then you regret it the second you reach the last word, because you know you'll miss the characters and the next book won't seem quite as good.
Please, please, please tell me there'll be a sequel....

What happens when a woman wants to finally get answers to a decades old mystery and a new detective just happens to come to town? You wind up with discovery, a not-so-competing detective agency-cum-furniture seller-cum quasi detective agency, and a leading lady that wants to make a real impact. I really liked this book, but felt the main character seemed a little too naive for her age, still I would recommend it!

No Life for a Lady

First I want to thank Netgalley and Aria & Aries for granting me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

What a cute easy going read this was! We are introduced to a strong willed, unconventional woman who at the age of Eight and Twenty is still unmarried much to the despair of her father. All Violet wants is to find her place in the world, and her missing mother. So she sets out to enlist a Detective. Unfortunately for her he has died, and his son wants nothing to do with detective work. Unfortunately for the son, Violet won’t take no for an answer.

We are taken on a hilarious journey filled with secrets and self discovery. I adored the interactions Violet has with men, mainly because they made me laugh. Confronted with awkward situations Violet has a plan. Walk away. You’ll understand once you read.

I would enjoy more stories about our loveable Violet and I hope they will come!.

the best thing I have read for ages - a gentle, funny, joyful delight. I didn’t want to finish it and I know I will re-read it often.

It is part mystery, part romance, part tale of self discovery and utterly, utterly charming. I can’t remember the last time I felt such deep affection for a protagonist- Violet’s voice is totally original, so funny and you will care SO MUCH about what happens to her. If you enjoy a comfort read then you will LOVE this. Out in March and I’m already crossing everything for a sequel.

This book was very fun, and I ended up enjoying the protagonist immensely. It did take me a bit to get into the story and to embrace the humor of the main character. To be frank, I initially found her utter lack of self-awareness jarring. Then, about a quarter of the way in, I began to realize the tone of her internal dialogues is probably not so different than my own.

Embrace the absurd realism (or realistic absurdity?) and enjoy a delightful, awkwardly romantic adventure.

A delightful read great characters so well written a mystery to be involved in.Will be recommending a book many readers will enjoy.#netgalley #ariaaries

4.5🌟
Thank you to NetGalley, Aria & Aries Publishing and Hannah Dolby for a chance to read an ARC for “No Life for a Lady”. This is my honest and unpaid review.
I really enjoyed this book! I loved the inner monologue that Violet has going throughout the book. It was interesting to see her go from being the innocent ornament that women were supposed to be back then to becoming a stronger, more independent woman by the end. Many parts of the book made me chuckle and I liked the the clues and twists that kept the reader moving forward. I hope those poor animals will finally be free of their habits one day.
The only reason I didn’t give the book the last 1/2 star was that I had some difficulty with the pacing of the story. Some parts seemed to be long then others almost jumped ahead and I had to reread to make sure I hadn’t missed something. Otherwise, I really liked it! I felt like this might be the first book of a series based on how it ended so if it is, I will keep my eye out for another!

What an absolutely delightful book with which to begin my 2023 year of reading!
No Life for a Lady by Hannah Dolby is such fun to read and I definitely had difficulty putting it down. The main character Violet is a force to be reckoned with - a mixture of innocence and naivety, exuberance and curiosity, and strength and determination. It is thrilling to watch how she navigates coming into her own as the book progresses.
The book is utterly charming, with a gentle humour that carries throughout its pages. The lack of communication between various characters and the resulting misunderstandings lead to many of these humourous instances, much to the delight of the reader.
To round things out, there is an interesting mystery and a budding romance that keep you turning the page to the end.
#NoLifeforaLady is a well-written historical tale, and I am grateful to #NetGalley for the ARC. I can hardly wait to see what Violet does next.

No Life for a Lady
by Hannah Dolby

Pub Date 02 Mar 2023
Publisher :Aria & Aries,
Genre :General Fiction (Adult) | Historical Fiction | Women's Fiction

we are in 1896 in the Victorian era in this book and ASDA 10 years ago missing she is now how the detective to help figure out what has happened to her mother. We are following Violet through out her story on what has happened. Knowing you're own mind in this this time period is very dangerous

I really enjoyed the historical aspect of the story although at times the pacing is slow.

In these Victorian times, the only real prospect for Violet is marriage, but at twenty-eight she might already have left it too late. Since her mother disappeared ten years previously, she has kept house for her father and fabricated accounts of her charitable works as required, in order to keep the interfering women of the parish at bay.
For years she has dreamt of hiring a private detective to trace her mother. She hires Frank Knight, but by the time she realises he is suspect, it is too late to transfer the case to Benjamin Blackthorn who on the other hand is shaping up to be exactly the answer to her prayers. So, she starts the sleuthing herself, in between fending off the unsuitable marriage specimens forced on her by her father.
No Life for a Lady, Hannah Dolby’s debut is just perfect. Violet is a wonderful character, funny and interesting with a finely balanced naivety. She flings herself headlong into the search, paying only the briefest attention to the necessary conventions and hampered by her scant life knowledge until all the pieces start to fall into place.
I loved this joyful entertaining read and am delighted at the invitation from Head of Zeus through Netgalley UK to read it.

Brilliant read with a plucky protagonist and fantastic plot. I loved it!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of the book.

No Life for a Lady by Hannah Dolby

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.
Loved the main character Violet and how her modern ( for the time ) determination on not being married off to a whole heap of men who her father has deemed eligible to marry her off to.
A different style of mystery genre which keep me guessing until the end.
A must read.

This was a very enjoyable read!

It was fun, well paced and with some very nice twists and turns. Also, who can resist Mr Blackthorn….

An excellent Christmas holiday read! No life for a lady is a thoroughly entertaining historical mystery/ romance novel. Violet is an unconventional woman who refuses to live a traditional life. She lives in a time when women were supposed to marry well, keep house, and have children. Violet however, is on a quest to find her mother, who has been missing and presumed dead for 10 years and ropes the unwilling son of a detective Benjamin in to help her.
This is a heartwarming tale and Violet is a fabulous character, hopefully this isn’t the last time we hear from her!
Thank you to NetGalley, Aria & Aries, Aria for the opportunity to read and review this gem of a book.

Violet is one of those incandescent characters who grab your heartstrings with her hilarity, determination and bravery and lingers in your mind long after her story is told. Violet is desperately trying to locate her mother who has been missing and presumed dead for 10 years. No Life for a Lady is a great historical fiction that is full of mystery, laughter and fun. I loved everything about Violet and her adventures! Highly recommended,

A terrific novel, lively and entertaining, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Violet is a wonderful leading lady, bright and intelligent, adorably naive in affairs of the heart and superbly unconventional in her efforts to learn more. Her desire to investigate her mother's disappearance 10 years ago sets off a rollercoaster of events which are further complicated by her father's desire to find her a suitable husband. Violet's manner of disposing of unwanted suitors is hilarious as are her efforts at housekeeping. The seaside setting of Hastings works a treat for a kaleidoscope of colourful characters and Benjamin Blackthorn is perfect as Violet persuades him to be her partner in crime. The plot is cleverly crafted and moves along at a cracking pace with a suitably outrageous climax. I do hope there are more of Violet's adventures as a lady detective in the pipeline. Hugely enjoyable and great fun to read.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced reader copy.

I loved the spunky heroine Violet! It was a lovely romance story that was well done and an easy holiday read.

What an absolute joy of a book! Violet is a force to be reckoned with as she embarks on a venture to find her mother, who disappeared 10 years ago. She encounters fierce male detectives, ladies of disrepute, lots of male attention and a rather handsome furniture dealer in her quest to become a Lady Detective - quite a feat for a Victorian/Edwardian lady! I loved everything about Violet and her adventures! Highly recommended, witty and full of joy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When taken at face value, No Life for a Lady seems like a fun little bit of fluff, enjoyable to read, but with little longevity to make it memorable. However, when one really delves into the book and examines the topic, it is so much more than that.

Violet Hamilton is a young woman living in Hastings/St. Leonard, desperately still trying to locate her mother who has been missing and presumed dead for 10 years. She refuses to live a traditional life and neatly evades all attempts made by her father to ensnare her in matrimony. This book opens with Violet hiring a detective to locate her mother, but immediately we know something is off about this detective. Through her own wits and charm, Violet meets another detective turned furniture seller, Benjamin Blackthorn, and has a few adventures along the way, befriending others who live on the fringes of polite society.

In a typical historical romance novel, when the female lead doesn't meet societal expectations, the difficulties of being such a woman are vaguely hinted at. In No Life for a Lady, the sometimes harsh realities of being an unmarried woman in the late 1800s are presented, Violet struggles against these expectations and forges her own path through subterfuge and lies and disguises.

This book was a joy to read, and I hope that others will pick it up when it releases for publication in March 2023. Thank you to Aria & Aries, and NetGalley for the electronic ARC for review.

Violet is 28, and does not wish to marry, which was not usually the case in that time period. Instead she wishes to find her mother, and hires a detective to do that. Her views are uncommon for the time, and this novel is a delight. I cannot recommend it highly enough, it is so good. Reminds me of 'Lessons in Chemistry' in some parts. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the book.

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 just loved reading this book over my Christmas holidays and finished it in two days. Violet is a hero we can all cheer for - everything about her is lovable and funny and we are completely on her side throughout. The novel is funny and heart-warming and a pacey read.

This was so much fun! I love a historical mystery. This had a little romance that I really enjoyed also.

I think that this maybe won't be for everybody. It takes a while for things to pick up in terms of the mystery aspect - I personally didn't mind this, but I think some people might. For me, I thought it made sense for the tone of the novel. It was charming. It gave us time to get to know our main character, Violet, and about her life and the things she's up against as an unmarried woman looking for meaningful employment.

I would say it renders the mystery sort of low key. I liked that though, as this book is actually more about Violet wanting to become a lady detective. This is how we get introduced to Benjamin, the love interest, who I really enjoyed. It was very sweet but also sarcastic, and we love that.

I don't know if this is going to be a series, but I hope so because there's a lot more for Violet to achieve! This is her just starting to learn about the world and herself for that matter and I would love to see more of her adventures.

TW: Sexual assault

The story follows Violet’s journey to reunite with her missing mother while she is taking the risk of her freedom. To help her along the way, she hires a sketchy detective. He’s totally consumed about the case of Lily Hamilton. It has told from the MC’s narrative, which is more interesting and has kept my interest until the very end. Thus, Violet is quirky and a likeable book main character to me.

Isn’t sound familiar? Yep, I do have same feeling of the book’s vibe. The MC is magnificent as Enola Holmes. She is a young lady who is intent on running her own life on her own way.

It was a great escapism that this book had brought to me on Christmas eve. It was packed with hilarious adventures and self-discovery. It had immediately transported me to stunning recreation scenes of the English countryside in the 19th century. It was fun and entertaining as the mystery unravels in unexpected plot twists.
Overall, the storyline was great and delightful. I was totally absorbed.

A delightful little treat of a read. I immediately fell in love with the protagonist, and I devoured this book in one sitting. I genuinely chuckled out loud on more than one occasion, and I was completely engrossed the entire time. Highly recommend, and will definitely be reading more by this author.

This is such a wholesome read, set in a time where being a women meant all that was expected of you was to marry well, keep house and have children.
Violet is a pioneer of her time, dreaming of living outside that mould whilst dealing with the disappearance of her mother ten years ago.
I enjoyed Violet as a character and how she handled stepping outside her comfort zone and pushing for more.
This book was really easy to read and made me laugh at points. The story at parts felt slow but this is a book that drops clues throughout that you will miss if you aren’t careful.
I enjoyed all the different characters from different social standings.
I wish there had been more of Benjamin and relationship building with Violet because although this isn’t a romance book I LOVED their interactions and wanted more of them together. I feel this also would have given a clearer view of Benjamins feelings.
I also have a strong appreciation that most of the side characters were women, giving those who had less of a voice in their time a chance to be seen.

Enjoyable read, perfect for a cosy evening in

I really hope this is not the last time I read about Violet! I loved her as a main character! She was fiercely strong, independent, and lacked a filter which made me giggle several times throughout. While I am ignorant of the time period, this felt well researched; I had no trouble diving into the setting.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

This is a great story of a ferociously independent lady who wants to rebel against the Victorian expectations set out for her of marriage and children, and instead to pursue a career.
Her choice of career is very much rooted in the mysterious disappearance of her mother when she was still a teenager and she sets out to solve the mystery with not one but two private detactives.
Violet is an absolute joy to read- her inner turmoil about continuing to please her father and at least try to consider the never ending stream of potential suitors versus her desire to be a detective and to find her own way in life is particularly well described.
Along the way she meets a number of great characters, gets into several tricky and reputationally dangerous situations, misunderstands a number of situations due to her innocence of life and there is doubt about whether she will achieve her goals. Every page will have you rooting for her to indeed become a Lady Detective!

Violet Hamilton is a 28-year-old self-professed spinster living in 1896 Hastings with her father, and she has never had closure since her vivacious, beautiful mother disappeared 10 years earlier. She secretly decides to hire a private detective for the case in an attempt to move forward with her life. However, she is not pleased with the obsessive, aggressive PI (Mr. Knight, who refuses to be fired) and tries to convince another more honorable (former) PI (now furniture seller) to take the job. Meanwhile, her uptight, remote father is constantly throwing possible husband candidates her way. She just wants to solve the mystery and begin to experience and explore the possibilities around her, including her dream of a profession, but discovers that is not so easily undertaken for a woman. As she begins to discover secrets about her mother, she finds herself questioning everything in their family’s past and realizes there is no quick fix to be had. How will she uncover the truths and be able to embrace a future with so many doubts and unknowns?

I loved this debut SO much!! While the subject matter was not always humorous, it was written with such wry wit and charm throughout that I devoured it and hated to reach the end. This has much to say about a woman’s place in society (hence the title) during this period and just how precarious and vulnerable her situation could be. There are moments of great levity amidst the humor when I was struck by sadness and sympathy by both Violet’s attempts at independence and her confusion about and loss of her mother which curtailed all of the advice/knowledge that she would have gained from her.

Violet is one of those incandescent characters who grab your heartstrings with her hilarity, determination and bravery and lingers in your mind long after her story is told. Extra praise also for the rest of the excellent and colorful cast.

Highly recommended.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Aria for providing the free early arc of No Life for a Lady for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

A big thank you to Hannah Dolby, Aria & Aries, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. No Like for a Lady comes out March 02, 2023!

No Life for a Lady is a delightful histotical fiction that has romance, mystery and a stong women discovering what she is made of. There is one thing Violet absolutely refuses to do and that is get married, even if her father keeps throwing gentelmen at her. Ten years ago Violets mom disapeared, noone know is she ran off or in the worst case murdered. Violet is done not knowing which is the case, so in an effort to find out what happened she hires a detective, Mr.Knight. But after a couple interactions with him she can tell that she made a mistake in hiring him, so when she sees an advirtisment for another detective a Mr. Blackthorn, she thinks she can hire another detective. Too bad Mr. Blackthorn is determined to leave detective work behind and sell furniture instead. What ensues is Violet discovering that she is not just a lady, she can almost anything including a typist and a lady detective.

I really enjoyed this novel, it was fast paced and funny. Violet develops into such a brave and ambitious female character. Honestly some of the things she said made me laugh so hard. I really like seeing her start to take more control of her life and start to go for what she wants. Well this book is mainly womens fiction there is some romance and honestly it was just really cozy to see it develop. The only reason this was not a five star read for me was that the ending felt a little rushed and even though the big mystery was solved there were still some things not resolved that really could have been resolved in an epilogue. All of that aside if you are looking for a fast paced novel full of mystery and heart, No Life for a Lady is the book for you.

This was such a good book. I love historical fiction, especially when it is about eras/ situations that I previously knew nothing about and this was definitely one of those books. It was so well researched and so compelling in its narrative that not only did I love reading it but I felt that I learned too. A really enjoyable read and perfect for any fans of historical fiction.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Violet Hamilton is not a typical lady, at 28 years old she is not at all interested in marrying, despite the number of suitors her father sets her up with. What she wants is to find out what happened to her mother, who disappeared ten years ago.

I absolutely loved this book. Violet was such an interesting character, she’s determined and independent. But utterly innocent and with her own charm. I loved the elements of mystery and romance. I would thoroughly recommend this uplifting tale.

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.

Fun mystery/historical story with a strong female protagonist.
Violet is 28 and unmarried, unheard of in the late 1800's. Her mother left when she was 18 and she has always wondered why. Her father thinks she is dead. Violet pawns some jewelry and hires a detective to find her - even though it is now 10 years later. She soon realizes that the detective is not what she thought and tries to get him to stop. Meanwhile she meets another former detective and starts working for him as a typist. Her reputation is in question, her father has found another lady to woo, and Violet feels as though life is running away from her. Can she solve her mother's disappearance before her father forces her to marry?

No life for a lady by Hannah Dolby

Its 1896 and Violets mum disappeared ten years ago and Violet now has the opportunity to hire a private detective to find her.. but it’s not going the way she has envisioned.

Violets whole world has revolved around her mother, from her mother’s guidance in the ways of love to her disappearance which created a big hole in Violets life and turned her life upside down and now Violet is going to take control of her life and find her mother, have some fun and maybe experience love…

This book is a joy.. I was a little wary of it at first but I soon warmed up and fell in love with Violet.. it is a joyful, funny read which you will be rooting for Violet and rooting for Violet to experience the world which she has been hidden away from.. I hope that this book is going to be the first of many adventures that that we have with Violet and her desire to become a lady detective.

This book got 5 stars from me.. I loved it!

#Nolifeforalady #NetGalley #Mystery #Mother #Fun

I loved this book and I loved Violet Hamilton, her naivety, her feistiness and her determination to not get married.

Set in 1896, Violet hires a detective to find her mother who disappeared 10 years earlier. There follows, a chain of events that lead to a new career, love and revelations.

Easy to read and quite obvious how it was going to end, I flew through the pages, enjoying every word.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

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.

Such a lovely, warm and funny read. Exactly what I needed after lots of serious books and, you know... life. This book has definitely exceeded my expectations.

HANNAH DOLBY – NO LIFE FOR A LADY *****

I read this novel in advance of publication through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

In 1886, ten years before the story opens, naïve eighteen-year-old Violet’s glamorous mother disappears one evening after an event at the theatre on Hastings Pier. Her body has never been found, not washed up along the coast, no messages received, no sightings.

This is the time when young women were seen but not heard, chaperoned when they wanted to go out, so for Violet to hire one Frank Knight, a mysterious private investigator, to track down her mother, is almost unheard of. Especially knowing that her staid bank official father, had she told him, would have been furious. Instead, he is busy trying to find suitable suitors for his daughter to get her off his hands. Having been warned of the horrors of sex by her mother, she is not interested. Until she meets a second private detective in the Old Town, now selling furniture after an accident, and discovers unwelcomed and worryingly amorous feelings for him.

This is an amusing and splendid read, often laugh-out-loud funny, with plenty of interesting periphery characters, from the moody servants in the house, to the friendly vicar at her mother’s church, and the prim young ladies of the town who don’t want to be associated with her, to ladies of the night. Plenty of twists and turns keep the reader guessing until the truth is finally revealed.

Living in Hastings, I have to say that the author has done wonders in recreating the atmosphere of the seaside town in those days. One could follow in Violet’s footsteps today such is the detail of road and place names which lend authority to her prose.

Great fun and amusing, this tale swishes along as fast as her skirts and comes highly recommended. Should be a series.

What an absolute breath of fresh air this book was! A very entertaining and unique read, with plenty of laugh out loud moments.

"... I wanted nothing more in the whole wide world than to be a Lady Detective." Determined yet naive and vulnerable at the same time - Violet Hamilton was a very intriguing character. On a mission to find her missing mother, I found her actions and reactions amusing - especially when it came to 'helping out' in non-existent charities and societies that she made up on the spur of the moment.

Set in 1896 in Hastings, Violet Hamilton aged 28, spinster of the parish, is definitely a young woman born a century too early. She displays the feistiness and determination of a woman born closer to the millenium.
She is trying to find out what happened to her mother, who disappeared without trace ten years ago. She is hampered at every turn by the fact that she is an unmarried woman, and must always be mindful of her reputation. She can usually find a way around such minor difficulties, as she endeavours to find out more about the ways of the world generally, and encounters a few surprises along the way. It’s a historical, mystery romance, but not as you know it!
I loved this book, it is beautifully written, enjoyable, humorous and very refreshing. The characterisation of all the players is strong, I could relate to all of them. It’s a cleverly woven mystery, as Violet tries to find her mother, and I so enjoyed the narrative, it never flagged. It kept me fully engaged from start to finish.
I will look for more of this author’s work, and I have no hesitation in recommending this to other readers.

No Life for a Lady is full of deliciously complex characters who, at first glance, seem typically two-dimensional, as can sometimes be the case when reading cozies. However, the author, Hannah Dolby, masterfully pulls the reader in by expertly layering her story so you cannot help but want to read more.

The year is 1896, and Violet Hamilton is a twenty-eight-year-old spinster. Her life and prospects ground to a halt when her mother disappeared almost ten years prior. (Not that it matters much to her, for she has vowed never to marry). Her father, convinced that her mother has left them, pretends like she never existed, but Violet cannot. Unsatisfied that the local authorities did a thorough investigation, she employs Frank Knight, a private detective. However, their meetings leave her with a sense of unease, so she seeks out a second opinion. Unfortunately, her second option, Benjamin Blackwood, is now a furniture dealer. So it looks like it's up to Violet to solve the case.

This was a debut novel, and what a debut it was! I cannot recall ever reading a historical fiction, cozy mystery comedy before, and it's a damn shame. It deserves its own (sub?) subgenre. This book was enjoyable from its first pages to the last. It tackles unpleasant and delicate subject matter, such as sexism, agency, and loss, with shrewd and quippy acknowledgment. I hope Hannah Dolby isn't finished with Violet Hamilton as a character because I would love to read more about her Lady Detective escapades.

Violet is a paradox, a product of her time and upbringing. In some regards, she is rigid by even the day's standards, valuing propriety and primness. In other ways, our protagonist steamrolls over societal norms. It's captivating to watch her character growth as she finds her voice. The narrative is so well done, as well. There's plenty of misdirection, but like any well-written mystery, it allows the reader to play detective, giving clues along the way. While I have many thoughts on this book (and all of them good), in an effort not to give away the plot, all I will say is I highly recommend this book.

If you are searching for a book full of adventure and self-discovery layered with witty social commentary, this is a perfect read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria for granting my wish and this ARC!

Aside from knowing it was historical fiction, I wasn’t sure what to expect from No Life for a Lady when I picked it up. So I’m delighted to say that it was such a joy to read. The perfect choice to brighten up a grey January weekend (when I read it), it blended really funny plot moments with a hugely likeable lead character in Lady Violet Hamilton.

Set in 1896, Violet lives in Hastings on the English south coast with her father, a repressed and authoritative bank manager. Violet may be a Lady but she has no intention of marrying and living the life expected of her, for a few reasons. When Violet was 18 her mother, Lily, disappeared and ten years later, when No Life for a Lady is set, it is still something that aches on Violet’s heart and mind.

So, she decides to try and do something about it and hires a private detective – Frank Knight – to find out what happened to her mother. The thing is, Frank Knight isn’t a very good detective, Violet is sure she could do a better job herself. The thought appeals to her…

She finds another detective in town, Benjamin Blackthorn, who just happens to be a lot younger and far more attractive than Frank Knight. Unfortunately, Benjamin isn’t in the detective game anymore, he sells furniture. Violet, however, doesn’t give up easily and plots to persuade Benjamin to take her case. While spending time with him – for purely professional reasons, of course – she can’t help but find herself being drawn to him.

The Violet / Benjamin story is so heart-warming to read and adds such a lovely dimension to No Life for a Lady.

From the Bridgerton vibes when Violet talks about her society debut (that never was) to her realisation that maybe, just maybe, she could be a Lady Detective, I thoroughly enjoyed joining Violet on her journey as she learnt a lot about the ways of the world, human nature and just what exactly did happen to her mother ten years ago…

I laughed out loud so many times reading No Life for a Lady, it blended humour and heart so well. This is Hannah Dolby’s debut book, so I’ll definitely keep an eye out for what she writes in the future. Hoping another adventure with Violet might be on the cards!

I really enjoyed this book, a bit different to my normal but still a great read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me an advance copy, I will definitely be recommending.

This story is full of a joyous innocence and also a feminine ambition out of step with what was considered ladylike in the late 19th century. It is slightly unbelievable as a period piece, not just for its feisty yet ingenuous heroine, who launches into a quest for the truth about her mother’s ten year absence, but in it’s language and placement in time. However, the author goes to not inconsiderable trouble to show the reader how vulnerable the female race was to male abuse and unwanted advances at worst, and unseemly parental pressure to marry at best. Her experience of marriage is from her parents, and that was not all it seemed. We follow our intrepid character around the seaside town of Hastings as she negotiates the pitfalls of her chosen path to our delight and amusement. The plot is not implausible and the writing is entertaining and rewarding. Well done to the author.

‘No Life for a Lady’ tells the story of Violet Hamilton, a young woman living in Hastings, a seaside resort town in the south of England. Ten years have passed since the disappearance of her mother, having gone out for an evening with friends never to return, and Violet has always had a nagging feeling that something wasn’t quite right about the disappearance. No body was ever found, nor did anyone remember her seeing her mother leave the pier in the evening, but how can a woman, especially one renowned for her beauty and charm, just seemingly disappear?

But life is not so simple for a woman in the late 1890s. Society dictates much of the expectations of how one should conduct oneself, and so Violet finds herself trapped between conforming to those expectations, and her own wishes and desires. And of course, the disappearance of her mother is always on her mind.

When a detective shows up advertising his services, she is quick to hire him in hopes of finding the answers she wants. However, as a bad feeling on their meeting makes her unsure of her choice, she has to weigh up what it means to conform to expectations, and whether or not she can risk her reputation to get the answers she is looking for?


I very much enjoyed this book! The characters are interesting, the plot intriguing, and the setting gives for an interesting insight of what turn of what life would have been like for a woman towards the end of the Victorian period. Violet holds an interesting role in that of a dutiful daughter both to her father with whom she still lives (and is continually trying to arrange a marriage for her) and that to the memory of her mother, as well as wanting to stay true to her own wants and desires away from expectations.

The story starts off at a good pace, picking up speed along the way, and towards the end of the book as it reaches its Crescendo I found it difficult to put down. The ending was hinted at throughout but never to obviously, leaving a satisfactory feeling of having figured out the mystery, but without it being revealed too soon, as well as some surprises along the way.

It is also well written in terms of giving an idea of what it would have been like to navigate throughout society, dealing with differences in both class and gender. This was my only negative in the book, as through the first quarter of it, it always seemed to focus on what was “right and proper” with mentions on nearly every page. While this constant referencing of propriety did seem hamfisted and tedious, though in the latter part of the book it’s frequency ebbed off leading for more enjoyable reading. That said, I can also see how it plays into the perception of the world that Violet holds.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys detective and mystery fiction, as well as anyone who has interest in social relations in the late Victorian period.


Thank you so much to NetGalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A delightfully quirky read which was refreshingly innocent with plenty of underlying humorous innuendo. Wonderfully depicted characters, some of which I felt could be developed further, I'd love to know more about some of them roaming the streets of Hastings in 1896. A gentle charmingly joyful read with some wonderful old-fashioned turns of phrase.

Definitely a joyful read. Historical fiction with humor, romance and mystery.
This was a light and enjoyable read and I hope it becomes a series. Violet is such a likable character who makes you laugh even while going through a rough time!
Thank you NetGalley, Hannah Dolby and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

At the end of the 19th century violet our heroine valiantly and controversially doesn't want to be wed but she does want to be working in order to support herself. In a novel that is not only funny but full of mystery and the whisperings of non start romance. With her mother missing presumed dead she sets about hiring not one but two detectives and the ongoing story that develops is priceless. If you like mystery this is a definite hit.

Delightfully quirky read involving a mystery set in 1896, and a young woman working to understand the societal expectations at the time. Violet is a headstrong, witty heroine, with a knack for inquisitive pursuits. This book has heart, and complexity, while keeping a light airy tone of bemusement.

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 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!

This is such a fun cozy read. No Life For A Lady may be a cozy mystery and a slow burn romance, but it is also about a woman's path of self discovery. Violets life was shaped by her mother's disappearance, her father's desire for her to wed, and her mother's views on married life. After hiring a private detective, Violets romantic notions of truth, morality, and life as a lady are shaken, forcing her to reevaluate it all. The slow burn romance, the unraveling of her mother's past, and the insight into the mind of a Victorian English lady are so well done.

For fans of Enola Holmes who want to watch the birth of a new Lady Detective

This is surprisingly delightful, and I rather hope it'll be the first in a series. There's the odd glitch (would they really have used the term 'share' in the way they do, at the time when it's set?) and the Redoubtable Narrator is slightly too reminiscent of Emmy Lake (the Mrs Porter series) but really, it's lovely.

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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 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.

No Life for a Lady by Hannah Dolly

This is a delightful book which engages you more and more as you get into the story. It’s 1886 in England, so customs rule what young, single ladies are allowed to do. Violet, now 28 years old, does not want to marry, but wants to be a Lady Detective.

Curious about her mother’s disappearance without a trace, Violet hires a detective to help her find her mother. It’s been ten years, but Violet is sure she’s alive.

Violet’s growth throughout the story is heartwarming. It’s interesting to see the changes society and women have gone through since these times until now. Luckily for us, Hannah Dolly has written the story in modern language.

A solid four star novel for anyone liking a fun detective romp with many twists and turns, I thank #BloomsburyPublishingPlc and #NetGalley for this ARC for my review.

Only the worst curmudgeon would fail to be totally enchanted by Violet Hamilton!

It's 1896. Violet, 28, lives with her father and is busy resisting his attempts to marry her off. Violet is underwhelmed by any of the candidates and has determined she will not marry. As the novel progresses, she realises that there are far more interesting things she could be doing. Like becoming a Lady Detective.

Her main goal is to find out more about her mother, who disappeared 10 years ago. But as a detective-in-training, there's plenty of demand for her skills and opportunties to hone them.

This is a wonderful, wonderfully-written novel. It's lighthearted but clever. Set in 1896 but with a sassy heroine with a modern style. It feels neither old-fashioned nor anachronistic. There's something of the Zuleika Dobson about Violet, but the real charm of this novel is in the story, plot, pacing and dialogue. It's funny and deceptively light.

I really hope this is just the first of many novels about Violet Hamilton!

An absolutely brilliant book, I loved this story which had me laughing out loud at times. Cannot recommend this highly enough, just so good!
Violet wants to find out what happened to her mother who disappeared 10 years ago. She appoints a detective and then decides to do some detecting of her own. Violet is hilarious, and as the story unfolds the reader learns more about her and her family.
This is an engaging read ,with a mystery at its heart. The characters are well written and you find yourself really hoping that things work out for them. Violet is so funny, her little quips and the insights the reader gains into her thoughts are laugh out loud hilarious. A brilliant read I thoroughly enjoyed this story.

4 stars / This review will be posted on goodreads.com today.


In 1896 a young woman is expected to marry young, behave like a lady, and pursue interests such as charitable work. An unmarried woman of 28 is considered a spinster, unlikely to ever marry, and certainly not expected to work. Especially as a detective. But Violet is not your average Victorian woman.

Violet’s mother went missing ten years earlier. Her father has avoided most any talk of her mother, and Violet has missed her terribly. While she knew her parents fought, she did not think that her mother would simply abandon her. Most suspect that she is dead. Violet is sure that she’s not. So she hires a local detective to look for her mother. Only he’s a smarmy man that treats her as though she’s brainless. Not what Violet expected.

When Violet finds another detective’s ad in an old newspaper, she chooses to approach him about taking over the investigation for her mother. Only he’s not so keen to do it, and in the meantime, Violet finds something else to fixate on - typing. Will Violet find her mother without jeopardizing her relationship with her father? And will she ever be taken seriously as a woman with ambition?

Along the lines of other books about quirky females, this one is a gem. It’s so hard to imagine in today’s world how restrictive life was for a woman in the 19th century. Women like Violet were not the norm - or at least not outwardly. This novel approaches subjects that would have been utterly taboo back then. It’s a fun novel, especially seeing how Violet has to carefully navigate her male-dominated existence. I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it.

Hastings 1896 and Violet is determined to resist her fathers attempts to marry her off. Instead of a husband Violet is looking for her mother who disappeared ten years previously.

Oh this was such a fun read! A refreshing and original take on the cosy crime novel.

What a great character Violet is. Not easy to be something other than what society expects today let alone as a lady of class in 19th century England, but Violet manages it. I loved how strong willed she was and not afraid to express an opinion even when it was getting her into trouble.

Though the book touches on serious topics it is shot through with humour and wry observations.

The writing is great, creating a really good sense of what life would have been like for a Victorian woman of Violets class.

Come along with Violet as she hunts for the truth about her mothers disappearance and makes her way in a man's world- it's a journey you won’t want to miss!

Thanks to Aria and Netgalley for the chance to read an early copy

Definitely the next Dear Mrs Bird! It is a wonderfully joyful book. Like a big hug. Already been recommending it to my friends and family.

Romance and mystery. Two elements I love which were pulled together nicely in this book. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

This was one I enjoyed reading and loved the characters! I felt it was well written too. Thank you for the advanced copy.

No Life for a Lady is a cute historical fiction mystery book that I was completely wrapped up in. I absolutely loved our main character Violet as she navigates being an independent ‘spinster’ and her determination to complete all the tasks thrown her way and unravel the mystery of her mother’s disappearance 10 years ago. This is an easy read which I found to be very heartwarming and enjoyable. Perfect for fans of cozy reads!

I really loved reading Violets perspective of the 19th century woman verging and exploring feminism. Her cheek and bluntness was a joy, making me laugh at every chapter.
Her personality is easily imagined upon learning that her mum disappeared when she was 18, leaving her with her dad. Causing her scepticism and wariness of marriage as she navigates into adulthood, looking for answers 10 years later.
I couldn't really see where this book was headed, as Violet is so stubborn, which made me even more intrigued.

What a smashing read! I thoroughly enjoyed tagging along with Violet on her many adventures so that she could become a Lady Detective and I hope there will be another book in a possible series?

Beautifully written, and very evocative of it's time, I really enjoyed this novel about a girl growing up in the 1890s but with very much a mind of her own.

It is 1896 and Violet is 28. Despite the best efforts of her father, she is also resolutely single. Part of the problem being the disappearance of her mother, and the stories she told her about marriage before she left. 10 years after her mother's disappearance, Violet decides to hire a detective to help her find her mother and find out what happened to her.

She then finds herself working for the second detective in town and decides that becoming a lady detective is what she would really like to do with the rest of her life. However, this was 1896 and young ladies merely got married and had children. They certainly didn't work in Detective agencies.

There are a few things which don't quite ring true, but overall it was a very good story.

Oh what a great find!
Violet has lost her mother and ten years later she decides to employ a detective to find her.
Set in a world where women have no voice and with some hilarious moments I loved this character and the story was clever and well plotted.

Completely loved this historical mystery and read it in one sitting! I loved the feistiness of Violet who strives against the conventions of her time (1896), and yet is hugely vulnerable due to the mystery of her mother's disappearance ten years previously. Violet's innocence of the 'real' world, along with the necessary social conventions, creates some hugely funny scenes which had me truly chuckling to myself. I loved the dual detective aspect of the novel and how all the threads came together at the end. Loved the book, loved Violet and would definitely want to read more if Dolby decided to write a sequel!

**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **

Delightful romp with a wee bit of romance destined to charm fans of Miss Scarlet and the Duke and Deanna Raybourn. Violet is deciduously irrepressible and this will make for a fab series!

1896 was not a good time for a lady and certainly not for Violet Hamilton.
28 years old, a spinster, outspoken but still hemmed in by antiquated rules
of decorum and blighted in the eyes of local society because her mother the beautiful
flirty woman that shewas has just disappeared.

Nearing the tenth anniversary of her disappearance Violet is determined to get to
the bottom of the mystery. There is a lot of pressure on the hapless Violet. Her
father has started bringing a series of ineffectual and vapid young men as suitors,
hoping one of them will take Violet offhis hands, his hope is that he himself
wants to get married.

After a disastrous interlude with the detective in town, whom Violet instinctively
distrusts (but cant get out of his clutches) she appeals to the honest Mr Blackthorne
for help. He is dragged into it much against his will but the entire story ends
well for all.

The hypocricy of the age, with its well delegated rules and roles for each gender
heavily in favor of the males does not make for pleasant reading. It is however what
it was. To have to navigate that and come out victorious one had to choose one's battles.
That is what Violet strove to do. A bit slow at times, this was Victorian romance and
life well written about

I loved this seaside tale of a would-be detective! This was the perfect, light-hearted, period read. Violet is a larger than life but very likeable character and I loved the way she put off her suitors and the charities she said she volunteered for, they genuinely made me laugh. I really enjoyed this, more for Violet and her relationships than the actual mystery at the heart of it. I would definitely read further adventures of Violet, lady detective. Highly recommend.

A perfect mix of historical mystery with a little romance sprinkled throughout which made this a perfect cozy read. Violet was such a unique, spunky voice for the late 1800’s. I was drawn in by her determination to solve her mother’s disappearance and to live her life on her own terms. There was good character growth, plenty of adventures in lovely settings, and multiple laugh out loud moments. Fans of Deanna Raybourn who love amateur detective reads will thoroughly enjoy this debut author’s book!

I absolutely loved this! So funny, with a really good plot and a completely lovable main character. I just had a lot of fun reading this!

Violet, our mc, grows so much through this book. She kind of seems a bit silly at the start but you just see her learn so much and become so much more confident and by the end of the book I was so proud of her!!

You can totally tell HD is a comedian from how funny this was. But the actual story, with Violet searching for her mother who disappeared 10 years, dealt with quite a few darker themes, which I though were so well done.

Not sure I can even talk about Benjamin Blackthorn - safe to say I’m obsessed

If you’re looking for a fun historical read with a good mystery and a bit of romance, please pick this one up!!

A funny, enjoyable Edwardian romp with an unforgettable heroine and a wacky cast of characters. Infused with warmth, a duvet of a book. Highly recommended.

Wonderful! I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a book this much. It is joyous, funny, clever and delightful. When life gets you down, pick up No life for a Lady -it’s a tonic.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an ebook in exchange for review!

I really enjoyed this book. there’s something about ‘unconventional’ women in historical fiction that always draws me in. initially it didn’t exactly fall into what I had pictured from the blurb but that wasn’t a bad thing at all!

the plot was fairly slow to begin with but it picked up well as the story went on and i loved the conclusion of it - it was heartfelt and well written. i also really liked the continued insight into Violet’s thoughts and views on the world and how she reacted to it and her inner battle with herself throughout the book was really interesting to read, especially towards the end and the way she reacted to what happened (trying to avoid leaving spoilers haha)!

overall, I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for an easy read that still has excitement and plot twists throughout.

What an absolute delight of a book! Funny, innocent, intriguing and such a lovely light read. It’s not a book to keep you up all night but on a dull February day it’s a joy, beautifully written with some laugh out loud moments to keep your mind busy. I do hope there will be more books from this author, what a lovely sense of humour she has!

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

This book is an absolute delight! Violet is one of the most charming, funny, determined female MC’s I’ve read in a loooong time. She kind of reminds me of Veronica Speedwell on a smaller scale, but with literally none of the life experience. But that’s not going to stop her from figuring things out, no-sir-ee! Her encounters with Maria Monk in the later part of the book will explain everything. 😁 I really, really hope there are more stories to be told about this newest Lady Detective! (And let’s be honest, more Benjamin, too!)

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

No Life for a Lady by Hannah Dolby is a fun and light hearted historical romance with a hint of mystery set in the seaside town of Hastings during the Victorian era. Violet is 28 and as far as her father is concerned she is desperately in need of a husband, though she is far less convinced of the merits of that plan. She would rather be independent and make her own way, and her father won't help her to do what she wants most.- find out what happened to her mother who disappeared ten years before. Determined to uncover the truth she hires a local detective and in doing so opens a can of worms.
This was a really fun read, Violet is an unusual combination of innocent (as would be expected given the historical setting ) and strong willed in her desire to find out what happened and to avoid being palmed off on the first available suitor. She brings so much charm to the book that I found myself reading it in one sitting , and I would love it if this turns out to be the beginning of a series featuring Violet's adventures as a detective. Some of the situations she found herself in genuinely had me giggling. If you love a character driven novel that still tells a good story I highly recommend picking this one up.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

A much needed addition to the genre! No Life For A Life is a breath of fresh air, a perfect period piece and detective story. Such a fun time!

I loved this book. Few novels make me laugh out loud but this did! It has a lovely whimsical sense of fun, along with a heroine who is forthright yet self deprecating. It is a mystery with a love story as a central theme and is a carefully crafted story with some nice twists to it. It illustrates an important point, that women in late Victorian and early Edwardian times were so constrained compared to today, all in the name of propriety. Don’t go looking for tension or gritty reality, but just enjoy it for what it is, a fun tale.

Satiate your Historical Fiction Mystery hunger pangs with whacky, clever and cracking No Life for A Lady. In 1896 women are to be demure homemakers and child minders. But not everyone subscribes to that.

Enter Violet Hamilton who, at 28, is an elderly spinster in the minds of most, especially that of her father. But she is fiercely independent, ambitious and wishes to make her own way. Her mother who disappeared ten years earlier instilled a unique mindset and outlook into her daughter. Violet secretly seeks the right detective to search for her mother, one who will take her seriously. In doing so she meets Ben. She also discovers layers of secrets and learns more about herself. To me the mystery is almost secondary to the characters. Some are more endearing than others but all are interesting.

Historical Fiction fans ought to add this to their to read lists, especially those who hanker after pure entertainment and escapism.

My sincere thank you to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this supremely enjoyable novel.

What a brilliantly fun historical fiction!

The main character, Violet, was such a brilliant protagonist. She’s in her late twenties, sure of herself and forthright, but also painfully naïve. Her mother disappeared ten years earlier, and without a parental figure to guide her (her father is physically present but emotionally not) she has some glaring blind spots in her knowledge of the world. I’ll be honest, I was worried at the start that she was just ‘not like other girls’ but her character made perfect sense within her world and her family. What was great across the course of the novel was that she not only grew more knowledgeable about the world, but actively took those steps herself, admitting to herself that there were things she didn’t know and seeking the answers.

The mystery element of the story was really well-balanced with the rest. While I did really like the answer to the various questions behind the mystery, the way they were resolved was quite sudden, and honestly felt like an easy way out! I think there could have been more satisfactory ways of wrapping up that particular storyline (no spoilers!). One of the reveals also had me rolling my eyes a little bit at the start, but by the end it was pretty well-executed so I did enjoy it overall.

The character-led storyline is definitely the selling point of this book for me; it’s funny and outrageous, with a little mystery to tie it all together.

I received a free copy for review. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book, it was riddled with humour and wit, the protagonist was very engaging and I enjoyed the story immensely.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

No Life for a Lady is a fun debut novel set in late Victorian Hastings where 28-year-old spinster Violet Hamilton is investigating her mother's disappearance ten years earlier.

Violet is a charmingly quirky character and she learns a lot in the course of the book, sometimes behaving in a quite shocking and unladylike fashion. There is mystery, danger, skulduggery, bracing seaside walks, delicious cakes and maybe a little bit of love too. Perhaps the ending leaves an opening for a sequel? I do hope so.

A recommended read!

“So many private battles are fought between men and women, she said. ‘And so often we do not know what happened, because the women are silenced. I do not know what I will do. But I will not let this man, who is so unimportant to you and me, who is so angry that he is unimportant to us, to invade our lives anymore.”

Violet Hamilton is a woman who knows her own mind. Which, in 1896, can make things a little complicated. Now 28, she does not want to marry. She wants to make her own way in the world. But more than anything, she wants to find her mother Lily, who disappeared ten years ago.
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.

This is a novel with a burning mystery at its core but is also a coming-of-age story about a young woman in Victorian times, trying to make a difference. The humour takes a bit of getting into before you realise the awkwardness to it is what makes it funny. My favourite part of the book, though, is Violet seeing herself as a lady typist in her hopes to find financial stability, before she decides she wants to become a lady detective.

A story with an endearing and audaciously sassy protagonist, this was a fabulously quirky mystery-rom-com. One I definitely hope to see more of as the Violet Hamilton-Lady Detective series.

This ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Aria & Aries.

### Enola Holmes vibes and I’m not mad about it.

Violet Hamilton’s mother, Lily, disappeared ten years ago and everyone seems to have given up trying to find her. Now a spinster at the ripe old age of 28, Violet takes it upon herself to:

1. Hire a detective
2. Fire the useless detective
3. Take up the hunt for her missing mother herself

There are some problems, however:

1. Misogyny
2. It’s 1896

In her search, she encounters various eccentric characters who expand her sheltered worldview, including a nice furniture salesman who also dabbles in detective work. Many of these scenarios are very funny and I really enjoyed my experience reading this book. I think there were instances where the prose dragged a bit, but overall I think the writing style was good.

There is not much more I can say about the plot without giving away important details, but I will say that Violet’s search has a satisfying ending and that she goes on some amusing side quests before the conclusion. This seems to be Hannah Dolby’s fiction debut and I will definitely be reading more of her work as it comes out.

Full of humour, just couldn`t put it down.
It`s 1896 and Violet`s dad is trying to find her a husband as she`s 28 years old.
But Violet doesn`t want to marry after her mother put her off by telling her how bad it can be especially in the bedroom, but her mother disappeared ten years ago and Violet wants to know where she went so employs a private detective to find her but things don`t go as planned so she tries to employ another private detective whom she takes a liking to.

The story is brilliant and the author has a brilliant sense of humour which is portrayed throughout the book that makes you laugh out loud, the characters are great and I hope she makes it into a series.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC

This was a gem of a book, which I really enjoyed!

Violet's mother disappeared 10 years ago but Violet has never given up hope that she will return or she can find her; so she enlists the help of a Private Detective or Investigator. But he's not that concerned about finding her mother and more interested in Violet herself. The book is set in the 1890's.

Her father too is trying to get her married off but all candidates are met with disdain by Violet.. And she decides to spend her time by trying to find out what happened to her mother herself. Violet is an independent young lady, as she has had to be, taking over the running of the house, since her mother disappeared. She wants to work for her living, her life has been dull and she wants adventure.

You will want like me for Violet to find out the truth, and also to find happiness in her own life.

It's a great book and I realy enjoyed it - you will too!

This a whimsical delight, with a naive but feisty heroine. There aren’t many plot surprises but somehow that doesn’t really matter much within the cosy mystery genre.

In Violet, an extremely innocent 28 year old spinster, the author has created a fantastic vehicle for both adventure and humour and the perfect set up for an ongoing series.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Head of Zeus Ltd for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review “No Life for a Lady.” All opinions and comments are my own.

There’s a mystery here; that’s the premise, anyway. But what “No Life for a Lady” is all about is a Coming-of-Age story. Never mind that Victoria Hamilton is 28, a “spinster” by Victorian standards, with no prospects, and running off every possible suitor. Her burning desire to find out what happened to her long-missing mother is the catalyst for a journey of self-discovery. Author Hannah Dolby has Victoria finding out that maybe there’s hope for her after all, and with a little help from a “real” detective -- who enjoys his own self-awakening in the course of our story -- worms her way into the detecting business, and learns a lot about people, both bad and good; there’s a lot of that in “No Life a Lady,” too. As Victoria says early on in her discovering, “I left… a much wiser woman.” That pretty much sums up what our author has her doing the whole way through.

Our finish comes, and we have the big reveal, and the explanations, for all that has gone before.
Mention should also be made that the book includes a gentle, romantic story, too. Forbidden, as it were, something that was not spoken of in the “polite society” of the times. Victoria really gets an education in “No Life for a Lady,” on many levels. It does take a while to get to the meat of our story, but persevere, and you will be rewarded. Our heroine gets in over her head, of course, but it all works out in the end. You may way to slap Victoria upside the head sometimes, but get there, she does. Ms. Dolby’s way with words, with her plotting, and especially with her characters, all present a picture of a young Victorian woman that is truly coming to life in these pages.

A brilliant, compelling read, bursting with humour and wonderful insights, and with a heroine who is determined to be herself at all costs. There are some real gems of lines, for example, when our heroine Violet is told 'Manners cost nothing,' she replies, 'Rudeness is also free.'
This is an historical romance with a difference!

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.

I laughed so much reading this book. Violet is a woman way ahead of her time, and doesn't have a problem speaking her mind and making it very clear what she wants and what she doesn't. Although her father wants her to get married, Violet makes up more ridiculous excuses each time, and you can't stop smiling at her creativity. She's sassy, independent (more independent than a women from the 1800s was), and won't stop at nothing to find the truth behind her mother's disappearance.

With the help of a detective, she sets on a journey to discover what really happened to her mom, and not even her father can stop her. There are a lot of hilarious moments, and this book definitely takes its readers on a rollercoaster of emotions.

I absolutely loved this book. It hooked me and kept me turning pages until I was done. Finished it in two days! The character development was strong, and the premise was unique enough that it didn't feel like anything else I've read.

Violet Hamilton has maintained her singledom to the ripe age of 28, much to the chagrin of her father. It's not that there haven't been suitors, her father continually finds more, but she wants more from life than they can offer her.

As the 10 year anniversary for her mother's disappearance looms, Violet hires a detective to attempt to discover what happened. After meeting said detective, she feels defeated, but fate leads her to Benjamin Blackthorn. Although not a detective any longer, she convinces him to allow her to work on some community cases with him in exchange for lessons on the typewriter. Just maybe she can realise her dream of being a Lady Detective.

Together, will they discover the truth of what happened to Violet's mother? Or will there be far more at stake than Violet ever imagined?

This was a great crime novel and I loved that it came from an empowered young woman's perspective. It may be set in Victorian times, but Violet is doing her best to have her voice heard and to find justice for her beloved mother. I also appreciated that the vulnerabilities Violet faced in not having a mother during her entry to womanhood were voiced and we glimpsed into the lives of women with different experiences and social standing.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am thankful to Netgalley, Author Hannah Dolby and Publisher Head of Zeus - Aria for this free ARC. I have happily written this review of my own volition and am excited for publication on March 2nd 2023!

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

This was a delightful surprise! The main character Violet is vividly drawn an is so likeable and easy to root for in her quest to stay single and solve her mother's disappearance.

I keep being surprised by these historical fiction novels- their cute covers do not disappoint! I was expecting a dramatic mystery with a strong, independent lady- instead, I got wishy-washy Violet, a creepy detective, a handful of carefree side plots, and a delightful giant.

I loved it.

To be fair, it took me a while to warm up to Violet. Trapped in her beautiful, missing mother's shadow, she tends toward the most naïve and blockheaded ideas, completely unaware of how the world works, but it's not her fault. I really just didn't want her to find out what happened to her mother, because her mother seems like a real jerk. However, Violet has a lot of great character growth, and her determination to learn and find her way in life was really fun to be part of, even with all the missteps (though why it took her 10 years to start, I don't know).

I am 100% in love with Benjamin Blackthorn- we LOVE a determined communicator! He appreciates Violet's determination, is amused by her odd behavior at times (getting herself locked in a box) but doesn't get flustered when she acts a little startled by his bluntness.

Although I've seen some complaints that the main mystery (missing mother) gets overshadowed by the other little "side quests," I found myself more interested in the fun extra characters that Ben and Violet investigate. They're harmless, a little silly, and make for a fast and easy read.

Overall, really fun little book that the author clearly enjoyed writing. I'll read more from Dolby, especially since I now know not to expect anyone in her books to take themselves too seriously.

“I realised that for a long time I had always thought of myself in terms of what I was not, rather than what I was.”

———
No Life for a Lady is both hilarious and uplifting. I enjoyed reading Violet’s journey into becoming a lady detective in the late 1890s—which for all we know is impossible in a patriarchal society. Despite being a historical fiction, the writing felt modern to me. It was easy to follow and the ending of every chapter made me eager to know what happens next. It was truly an enjoyable reading experience!

This book is so much more than the challenges of being a woman in the late 1800s. It also talked about how important it is to define your own life and not let others do it for you.

Overall, despite being slow-paced, I still had a great time reading this book. It was fun being a part of Violet’s journey into becoming the lady that she is.

I really enjoyed this book, it went at a good pace, had an intriguing story and great characters.

I highly recommend it!

Utterly charming and thoroughly enjoyable!
OK, confession time I thought this book was going to be a fun romantic comedy/historical romance - oh, how wrong I was and I am pleasantly surprised by how much I thoroughly enjoyed this feel-good humorous and charmingly fun historical mystery with one hell of a wonderful heroine taking the leading stage. I loved it and I cannot wait to see what happens next!

am addicted to historical mysteries and was simply delighted to find this story and author because it was so much more!

Laugh out loud moments, a charming heroine who is determined to be independent and just makes you feel good, and a mystery she is determined to solve. Plus so much more!!

Cannot wait for the next installment to see what Violet gets up to next!!

1896. Violet's father laments that she will probably never get married. He keeps suggesting suitors for her but she really isn't interested. Plus her mother went missing 10 years ago and she really would like to know whether she is still alive. So she enlists the help of a detective. But is he all that he seems. It appears that he isn't and she regrets her choice particularly when she finds out that the son of a former detective (with a brilliant reputation) now has a shop in Hastings. Although it appears that Mr Blackthorn does not wish to be a detective.

But Violet is persistent and she has some adventures trying to impress Mr Blackthorn with her skills. I adored this book so much. It is a light hearted read about a serious topic (a missing mother). I found it utterly addictive and I just wanted to keep reading to see how the story unfolded.

A great mystery that really picked up pace half way through.

Please let there be a sequel! Currently imagining what things look like for Violet Hamilton and Benjamin Blackthorn, both in terms of a relationship, but also what future detective cases come their way!

If you like your historical fiction to feature a sassy, feminist heroine and include a touch of both mystery and romance, then you’ll love this delight of a debut from Hannah Dolby.

We’re in late-Victorian Hastings on England’s south coast, with 28 year-old Violet Hamilton, who lives alone with her banker father since the unexplained disappearance of her mother ten years before. Having decided that marriage is not for her — based on her mother’s terrifying (and hilarious) description of marital relations — she stubbornly rejects every suitor that comes her way.

Violet is hopelessly unladylike: bold, opinionated, and very strong willed. A match for any man and certainly not marriage material. But, she has other ambitions: to lead an exciting, independent life … with a career … perhaps as a lady typist or a lady detective.

When Violet embarks on a mission to solve the mystery of her mother’s disappearance, the adventures that follow make for a rumbunctious romp of a read, involving a quirky cast of characters and all manner of shenanigans

I quickly warmed to the character of Violet, loving her spirit and total disregard for social conventions. She’s intelligent, with an inquiring mind and a caustic tongue, and tries valiantly to hold her own against the opposite sex, more often than not succeeding. She’s convinced that her mother is still alive and will stop at nothing to get to the truth.

Dolby has an easy, engaging writing style that bounces along at a jaunty, exhilarating pace, embracing a wonderful concoction of intrigue, humour and delicious sexual tension. I can’t say I found some of Violet’s behaviour wholly credible towards the end, but hey, this isn’t a story to be taken too seriously. Rather, just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Violet Hamilton has decided that after ten years since her mother went missing in the summer of 1886, she wanted to find her. She was 18 years old when her mother just disappeared one evening after leaving to meet friends & nothing had been heard from her since. Was she dead or alive? Violet always believed she was alive. Violet thought that hiring a private detective would answer all questions left outstanding.

This caused more questions than answers & led her to meet some incredible characters & to experience some life events that changed her life.

What a great book. The humour carries throughout as well as dealing with big issues from the time, it could easily translate to 2023. Violet is such a strong young woman who is fighting against the norms of life for women at this time, & she succeeds with aplomb. Oh, to be Violet with her strength & where with all.

Great debut novel by Hannah Dolby & I look forward to reading her further books.

Really loved the main character, and her strong and funny personality. The mystery detective aspect was so fun too. Benjamin is such a fun character and I loved the ending!

📕📕BOOK REVIEW 📕📕
No Life for a Lady by Hannah Dolby

A very enjoyable historical cosy romantic sleuth mystery! Something for everyone. Set in 1986 in Hastings/St Leonard’s on Sea wife and mother Lily Hamilton goes out and never returns. There was no signs of her anywhere and Violet and her father have made no attempt to find her, until now. Violet is a brilliant character. Strong in a way women are not expected to be. Intent on getting a job and earning a living. Determined to find her mother and never to marry. She is dreadfully naive, with no knowledge about physical relationships between husband and wife, but intelligent with a sharp wit.

Briefly, ten years after Lily went missing and despite repeated attempts by her father to introduce her to eligible gentlemen Violet is adamant she doesn’t want to marry. What she wants to do is find her mother and to that end she needs a private detective. What follows is a rather enjoyable romp with Violet breaking all the rules for a Victorian lady. But can she find out what happened to her mother?

I love the way Violet managed to persuade all her potential husbands that she really isn’t suitable. Full of tongue in cheek humour and inappropriate events Violet is a joy. Whether she would have really have been able to get away with everything she did just doesn’t matter. A well written and highly enjoyable easy read with a great protagonist. I hope to see Violet again as a fully fledged detective.

4.5⭐️

I want more, more, more of Hannah Dolby's new heroine, Violet. I sure hope Dolby creates a series for Violet so I can return to Hastings for more fun. Readers who love a fun detective story sprinkled with their historical fiction will enjoy No Life For a Lady. It's refreshing to read a book set in the late Victorian era. It's the perfect setting for Dolby's spot-on humor- appropriately subtle but, at times, laugh-out-loud enjoyable.

Bravo! Hannah Dolby for writing a thoroughly enjoyable debut novel. Please keep them coming.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an electronic ARC in exchange for a review.

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's quite naive and funny. Violet's father is a typical Victorian character, but he's also quite likeable. This well written book is the authors debut. I will be looking out for more from 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.

I love reading an author new to me and immediately wanting to read more of her writing!

Violet Hamilton is not the lady her father would wish her to be; he wants her to be safely married while she is of a mind not to get married at all. Her mother disappeared on them some years ago and Violet has long dreamed of finding her; to this end she has finally got enough money to hire a private detective - but is he any good?

I was first attracted to this novel by the striking cover - and when I read the blurb I knew it was one for me. There is so much more to it than that though; written with warmth and wit and such a lot going on! Our leading lady certainly doesn't suffer fools gladly and her observations on the many men her father produces are very entertaining! I would love to think this is the beginning of a series as it is certainly one I would follow. Beautifully crafted characters, superbly well-written and kept my attention all the way to the very end. A cracking read, highly recommended and easily meriting all five sparkling stars!

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

When I first started this novel it wasn’t what I was expecting. It took me a little while to get used to the pace of the novel as well as the author’s writing style but as soon as I settled in, I truly enjoyed this quirky novel. Violet is a determined, single minded young woman but she’s also naive and somewhat misguided. She has not had a mother to ask questions about life and her father is unemotional and doesn’t want much to do with Violet because she reminds him of her mother. Although he does seem to want her to marry well, if not only to get her out of his house. As Violet finds out things about her mother, it taints her view of the world and men in general. She goes out of her way to dissuade her beau’s from falling for her and is actually quite comical in her excuses to get away. This rather endears her character to me at the same time as making me shrink away in embarrassment for her.

When Violet tries to hire the “other” detective in town that I begin to understand her motives a little bit better. This young woman, without a mother, is trying to find herself. She is a boat without a rudder and is spinning in circles. The only thing she thinks she knows is that she doesn’t want to get married because from what her mother told her it sounds awful. Benjamin, brings some stability to her life. He doesn’t try to hold her back, he in fact helps her with her detective work, giving sound advice and giving her life a little direction. Of course, he’s a man who she must not mislead- so there’s a little misdirection on her part to hold him at a distance.

No Life for a Lady was entertaining once I understood that I wasn’t reading a romance, but a coming of age story- despite the young woman being twenty-eight. It was also a mystery, but the disappearance of her mother tied into why Violet behaved so bizarrely. As a woman in the current world, it is always interesting to see how women were subjugated and held back. The men in Violet’s life treated her pretty abominably which was why Benjamin was so refreshing. The author was very clever in giving us a lot of disreputable male characters to contrast and caste him in such a good light.

If you decide to read this book, give it a few chapters to find the pace and discover the humor and quirkiness in Violet’s character. She is truly an original and even though this book was pretty light-hearted what she went through made me think about her and women in her situation in the hours following my finishing the book. The mystery was secondary to a story that was entirely character driven but once it was solved it did explain quite a few things about the mystery that was Violet. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest.

Oh, I love this book! It was such a nice read, and you can't not love Violet. It was an engaging story line and I was hooked from the beginning in Violet's search for her mother.

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, intriguing, held my interest and I wanted to find out what was going on. I enjoyed this book and will look for more books by this author.

This book reminded me a lot of Lex Croucher novels which are strong female characters within the regancy period. This book however is set slightly later in the late Victorian era but i can still see the similarities between them. I didn’t really feel the chemistry between Violet and Benjamin at times and it also felt a little bit clinical which could be because of the time period in which this was set.

The plot was an interesting one and I didn’t expect some of the turns which the story took. I laughed allowed though because of what Mrs monks made poor violet do, which shows really how innocent she is. I love how violet didn’t want to conform to the typical women stereotype of the time and wanted to be her own person and have her own career. The character of violet reminds me of the character of Enola homes as she is interested in becoming a lady detective. I’m

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.

Fabulous! I loved Violet so much and the story was hugely entertaining. I’d love to see a Netflix adaptation! Very VERY highly recommended. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

This was quite a quirky and at times a funny read. Violet was such a naive young lady and she had no one to guide her. However, she was determined and wanted to find herself something useful to do. Violet wants to find out what happened to her mother. This brings her in contact with Benjamin, a one time detective and now shopkeeper. She feels an attraction to Benjamin but is unsure what to make of it. This was an entertaining read, it was good to see Violet maturing throughout the story and becoming more self aware and confident. This appears to be the first in a series and I will be interested in seeing how this series develops. I found this to be an entertaining read with a good variety of characters. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“Delightful” describes Hannah Dolby’s No Life for a Lady. Despite the central character’s frustrating but understandable naivete and her bumbling, or perhaps because of them, I was quickly drawn into Violet Hamilton’s loneliness, her desire for independence, and her search for her mother who had been missing for a decade.

A fan of Victorian fictional female detective Loveday Brooke, Violet lives with her banker father in Hastings, England. She has never had any adult responsibilities other than running his household since her mother left home as if to go to one of her frequent social engagements, giving no hint she wouldn’t return later in the day. Even running the household, Violet has the help of two full-time servants and a weekly laundrywoman. Regarded as a spinster at twenty-eight, Violet is happy with her single status. In fact, she has long found creative ways to reject every suitor her father brings home.

Violet is a determined woman. Without telling her father, she hires Frank Knight, a detective, to search for her mother, but she soon regrets her decision for more than one reason. Wanting to replace Knight, she finds an advertisement for Bernard Blackthorn, only to find him deceased and his son Benjamin running a furniture shop at the address. Might Benjamin be able to help her find her mother? After all, he had learned the detective business from his father. Despite Benjamin Blackthorn’s insistence that he is now a furniture salesman and nothing more and his advice to let Frank Knight continue doing the job, Violet hopes Blackthorn will change his mind. As a married man with a large brood of children, he inspires Violet’s trust, and she feels safe around him.

What’s more, she has found an object in his shop—a means to learn a respectable trade and to achieve the independence she craves and has been held back from achieving as a woman.

Surprisingly, Violet soon finds herself attempting seemingly simple detective jobs on her own and managing to botch the jobs in ways frustrating or embarrassing to her but humorous to readers.

What will the future bring for Violet Hamilton? Will she find her mother with or without Detective Frank Knight? Will she achieve the independence she so craves? Pick up this delightful book, turn the pages, and find out.

Thanks to NetGalley and Aria for an advance reader copy.

Shared on Barnes and Noble.

The year is 1896 and it’s now been a decade since Violet Hamilton’s mother vanished without a trace, determined to find out what really happened to her she hires a detective who turns out to not be who she thought he was and this in turn drags her into a whole world of things she shouldn’t be involved in…

Despite being about someone going missing this book is fun and pretty light hearted and I raced through it. At the centre is a mystery but the book is very much about women breaking convention and being who they want to be in a time where that was almost impossible.

There’s also a romance side plot which I absolutely adored and could’ve read an entire book about! I hope this is the beginning of a series as I don’t think the characters are finished with yet!

🗃️No Life for a Lady by Hannah Dolby🗃️

Violet Hamilton is a woman who knows her own mind. Which, in 1896, can make things a little complicated…

28 year old Violet is not your average Victorian woman. She is strong, independent, and with no desire to marry, she has her father driven to distraction.

Violet wants to work and make her own way in the world, but despite this rebuffing of social conventions, she is still quite prim and proper and altogether living a sheltered life on the edge of societal ostracism because of her lifestyle choices - namely, being single.

Until that is, she embarks on searching for the one thing she wants more than anything, to find her mother, Lily, who disappeared from Hastings Pier 10 years earlier. Violet feels her beloved mother’s disappearance wasn’t taken seriously, the police closed the case toot de suite, and Father won’t have ‘that woman’ mentioned in the house any longer. Violet even feels the house servants resent her for their lady of the house abandoning them.

There is, of course, no such thing as a lady detective, other than in the books Violet immerses herself in at home rather than spend time with her dour father. Instead, Violet hires a rather shady character, a man who gives her the heebie-jeebies, to help, sparking a chain of events that risk not only Violet’s reputation and a family scandal but that unearths shocking secrets that some people will do anything to keep hidden.

Violet is a great protagonist. Inquisitive, tenacious and full of charisma, it is impossible not to root for her. Though she did have me cringing sometimes with her candid honesty, she has little ‘filter’ once she gets going, but it’s clear working up to a frank conversation gives her immense nerves too.

The mix of mystery and historical fiction works well here with a slowly unravelling tale with some twists and surprises along the way, but interwoven beautifully is Violet’s journey of self-discovery as she reflects on the world around her.

A quirky, funny, beautifully written read that you’ll race through. 4⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy in return for an honest review. No Life for a Lady is out now.

This is the first time I have read a book by this author and I really enjoyed it! The author does a great job of blending romance and mystery along with historical details and entertaining fiction. Violet Hamilton is a wonderful lead character who has the perfect blend of lady like behaviors and witty attitude to keep the reader guessing!

Overall 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


📚Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author/publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, comments, and interpretations of the story are my own and bias free. I did not receive any money in exchange for this review. Thank you to the publisher/author for allowing me the opportunity to review. Reviews are usually cross-posted to social media, goodreads, and bookbub. 🦄

No Life For a Lady is a cozy detective story set in 1896.

Violet is 28 and she is becoming increasingly ostracised by society for remaining unmarried. To her father's consternation, she refuses any and all potential suitors.

Violet isn't interested in marriage. She wants to work and learn about the world, not become just another unhappy wife. This reluctance is fuelled partly by her mother expressing extreme horror at the marital intimacy expected. Violet was close to her mother, but one night she simply vanished and this is a mystery that Violet feels compelled to solve.

Hiring a detective, Frank Knight, Violet soon discovers her mother was more than she could ever have imagined. But Frank gives her the creeps and she tries to sever the arrangement, with no success.

She has learned of another potential source of help in the form of Benjamin Blackthorn, a reluctant former detective. Violet explodes into his life, and she soon acquires life experiences she would never have dreamt of.

A quirky and fun read, there's no doubt that Violet has gumption and tenacity, but also a tender heart and an insatiable curiosity which leads her to finding the answers she's longed for.

And there's a sprinkling of romance along the way too.

In 1886, the beautiful and vivacious Lily Hamilton appeared to vanish in thin air, never to be seen or heard from again. A decade later and still finding no answers to her sudden disappearance, Lily's daughter Violet takes it upon herself to hire a private investigator but when he instills little confidence, Violet attempts to solve the mystery of her mother's disappearance her way. However, in the close-knit town of Hastings where tongues wag and eyebrows rise, can Violet solve the mystery all the while keeping her reputation intact?

Hannah Dolby has crafted an utter joy of a read. I read this book in one (yes, one!) sitting because I had so much enjoyment and pleasure from the story that my afternoon flew by in the blink of an eye.

Violet is undoubtedly the heart and soul of the novel. Her humour, wit and courage leap off the pages in abundance that you simply cannot help but to fall in love with her and root for her success. The incredible naivety in which she regards the adult world - intimately - I believe makes her more sympathetic and brings to light the way that many women were often shielded of their own sexuality and femininity by society.

Violet is a narrator whose voice you never tire of and I would adore to read more of her "Lady Detective" escapades in the future!

Perhaps the ending was a tad rushed for my tastes, but when compared to the overall development of Violet's character and storyline, this is just a minor quibble.

No Life For A Lady is a fun, fresh look at exploring the female role in a male-dominated society at the end of the Victorian period and I can see this being a firm favourite among many historical fiction readers.

No life for a Lady is a brilliant Historical Fiction and Mystery Novel that I feel very lucky to have been able to read as an Advanced Copy.

Dolby explores feminism, sexuality, self-growth and self discovery absolutely beautifully. The writing is fast paced and incredibly witty - I laughed out loud on multiple occasions.

The story focuses on a 28 year old woman named Violet in 1898. Violet’s Mother disappeared 10 years prior and she now lives with her Father, who expects Violet to run the household and to marry. Violet is very strongly against this whole premise and continuously fights against female stereotypes, focusing more on what she would like to do for herself. While this story delves more into the disappearance of Violet’s Mother, Violet meets a number of new people and discovers a lot about herself along the way.

This story has an equal balance of plot and character focus, which really hooks you as you learn more about each character. The book is very accessible and has quickly moved into my top 10 books. I could not recommend this enough.

Obviously this book gets a 5/5 after I’ve done nothing but sing it’s praises.

The book is now on sale as of yesterday and I’m going to need to get myself a physical copy because I know I’m going to want to read this again in the future.

What a brilliant novel 🤩

A quirky, funny Victorian mystery, Dolby’s debut novel was a refreshingly original story about a young woman who wants to find mother. Viola doesn’t want to get married. She wants to be independent, have a career but finds herself being forced by her father to meet a multitude of young bachelors that she has no intention on marrying.

Hiring a detective to help find her mother is a bold step, but soon Viola is over her head and pins her hope on Mr Blackthorn, another detective to help her out of her predicament. Viola decides that she could be a lady detective and nothing or no one is going to stand in her way.

This was such a fun read! If you like Miss Marple and Enola Holmes, Viola will be a character you will enjoy. Her innocence and naïveté as a young 28 year old woman who hasn’t received any guidance from her mother is highlighted throughout and Dolby uses this to bring about some hilarious and touching moments in the story.

This is not just a book about a mystery- it’s about women breaking conventions and making a place for themselves in the world regardless of what society dictates to them. The romance sub-plot adds a further dimension to the story and I loved the banter between Bernard and Viola. Another stand out character is Mrs Monks- she’s a tyrant to Viola but their interactions bring about some of the funniest scenes in the book.

An entertaining coming of age story with plenty of humour and mystery. I hope that Hannah gives Viola another book and can’t wait to see what she writes next. Thanks to NetGalley and Aria & Ares for the arc. No Life for a Lady is out now! 4 ⭐️

At 18 years old Violet's mother vanished from her life, having kissed her goodbye that evening. Having been last spotted on the Hastings Pier, she vanished without a trace. Now 10 years later Violet is desperate to find her beautiful - if not slightly flighty and flirty - mother. In her desperation she hires the private detective Frank Knight to investigate, but with every interaction with Frank, Violet senses she will need to solve her mother's disappearance on herself since Benjamin Blackthorn, the son of a PI is determined to remain simply the owner of a furniture shop.

This book came as a bit of a surprise, I was not expecting to enjoy it as much as I did, but Violet's antics were hilarious and kept me engaged and entertained even if the pacing of the book was a bit slow at times.

Violet herself is fiesty and courageous, if not woefully ill equipped for the realities of the world. Naivete cannot be avoided though considering Victorian sensibilities and a father who virtually ignores her unless it's trying to set her up with another hapless chap. While her father desperately wants her to get married, Violet is an expert at warding off potential suitors.

No, for Violet she is singularly focused on finding her mother, which while this is the main driving plot of the novel was not my favourite part of it. I prefered the moments of absurdity that came with Violet's antics and adventures - they were much more compelling and interesting.

In the end it is a lovely coming of age tale, for a woman that at 28 in this era should really have come of age long ago. It's a fun, charming, and lighthearted read sure to amuse readers.

Charming, inspiring and hilarious, it was a perfect read for the International Women’s Day!

The story follows Violet Hamilton, a twenty eight year old woman whose mother disappeared ten years earlier. Violet is determined to find out what had happened and, without telling her father, hires a detective. As the detective proves to be less and less trustworthy, she tries to hire another one - enter Benjamin Blackthorn, an adorable giant who really wants to drop the whole detective business and live a quiet life selling furniture.

The pacing of the first half of this book was very slow but this is my only complaint. No life for a lady is an engrossing historical mystery with a wonderful cast of characters (trust me, you want to meet Maria Monk, a former courtesan and an occasional sex-ed teacher) and a compelling storyline. I loved Violet’s inner monologue, this book made me laugh out loud so many times! Violet was brilliant in the way she scared off her suitors and absolutely adorable when trying to escape an uncomfortable situation. Benjamin was like a big puppy; good natured but clumsy at times, I just wanted to hug him 🤗 While romance is not the center of attention in this story (no smut, pervs!) it surely adds to its charm.

Highly recommended, we need more women like Violet!

Thank you Aria & Aries and NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ohmygosh this book! This was an absolute charm of a read, so witty - some of it is laugh out loud, I mean if you've read the bit about the turkey neck/ mushroom you know exactly what I mean.

Violet Hamilton is an independent, strong minded, driven woman - in 1896. She does not want to follow the rules, she doesn't want to court men or get married (especially not to please her father) - what she really wants to do is live her life the way she wants to, and find her mother who went missing 10 years ago.

On a mission to unravel the circumstances that surrounded her mother's disappearance Violet crosses paths with private detectives, and gets a taste of wanting to do her own detective work. Let me just leave it there without spoilers - but expect: bucking the rules, humour, a great insight into the times, some fabulous vocabulary (Popinjay, Camphor, Bombazine, Mycology - just some of the fab words I googled!) oh and yes I did also google THAT mushroom!

I'm really hoping there will be a sequel...

No Life for a Lady is a bold, historical fiction read, centred around 28-year old Violet Hamilton, an unmarried spinster who struggles to fit into the confines and expectations set by society.
This was such a fun read! The book started off quite slow and did take me quite a few chapters to really get into, but once I was half way through and the mystery finally started to unravel, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Violet is a strong, independent character who just doesn't fit into the mould of a women of that era, much to the dismay of her father who is desperate for her to get married and forget about her mother's disappearance ten years prior. Violet knows her own mind and isn't afraid to stand up for herself (without feeling like an unrealistic character for the time period), and I love that.
Violet finds herself spending time with detective/furniture seller Mr Blackthorn, who is just an absolute delight, and I adored reading about them together.
My one gripe with this story was that the end felt a little rushed. Once the mystery was solved and the twists unravelled, I would have liked to have seen some more of what happened afterwards and what it meant for the relationships between certain characters.
I would describe this book as a 'cosy mystery' with a tiny sprinkling of romance thrown in for good measure. A book with plenty of wit, humour and feel good vibes, that doesn't take itself too seriously - I would recommend!

🕵🏻‍♀️Violet is a protagonist that you can’t help but love. From the start she had me giggling away with her witty comments or on-point observations. Her naivety to the social norms only made me love her more but I did fear for her safety.

🔎 The mystery surrounding Violet’s mother’s disappearance was the focus of this story and what led us to our two detectives. Mr Knight was a character that no one trusted from the start, you can’t put your finger on what it is but he is definitely shifty! The whole way through, different theories were running through my head, but I never predicted the final conclusion.

🏛️Set in the late 1800’s we learn a lot of fascinating facts about that time. What was expected of women, and what ‘careers’ they were allowed to have. The addition of characters such as Mrs Monk, Hildebrand and Mrs Tibbs showed all sides of life as a lady in those times.

💙The blossoming romance between Benjamin and Violet was the easter egg of the story. From the moment she knocked on his furniture shop door, I could see exactly where their story would lead and I was egging them on the whole way.

⭐ What a wonderful and fascinating story, full of mystery, romance and laughter. I can highly recommend it to all lovers of historical fiction. It will leave you with a big smile on your face.

No Life for a Lady by Hannah Dolby is a fun historical mystery. This breath of fresh air is a good laugh and a learning opportunity. It's a great read for anyone looking to find out more about the lives and struggles of young ladies in the 1890s. I love the setting of this book and look forward to more from this author.

Violet now aged 28 and in 1896 regarded as edging toward spinsterhood knows that she does not want to marry but will need to find a paid occupation. In an attempt to find her mother who disappeared 10 years ago, the idea of becoming a lady detective springs to mind I inhaled this novel. Violet was an absolute delight and her attempts to find her path in life, while remaining respectable, are at times hilarious. A romance and mystery with not everyone, quite as they seem this is the perfect book to cosy up with during these cold evenings. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this novel in return for an honest review.

"No Life for a Lady" would be best described as a lovely historical fiction about a woman ahead of her time, trying (or not) to fit in 1800s Victorian England. I saw another reader's review comparing this to "Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine," and while the protagonists in each book share some similar quirks, the story here was on the more humorous spectrum (honorable mention of the hilarity that was chapter 40). I might not have been too fond of the pacing at first, especially in the first third of the story, but it's just one little thing among many things I loved, such as the playing the detective aspect of this book, all the hilarious misunderstandings, and one very interesting gentleman named Benjamin Blackthorne (and the marvellous science that went behind chapter 58). And I simply adored Violet. She's one of the funniest female characters I've encountered in a while! If you're looking for a very entertaining historical fiction novel, look no further and read Hannah Dolby's new book.

This was one hell of a book to read. Loved every minute of it. Well worth more than 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

As light humorous historical romance stories go this one was excellent. I enjoyed the setting of turn of the century Hastings and found the characters engaging. A fun read.

A compeling, entertaining and well plotted story.
I loved the characters and found the plot tightly knitted and fast paced.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Absolutely fabulous!
Historical fiction with a modern twist this kept me engaged all the way through. I love the fact you can get an insight into bothe the time period and the setting of Hastings and feel like you can be walking the streets with Violet.
She’s an amazing strong female character who I would love to be friends with. And Mr Blackthorn had to be my favourite other character. The relationship building with him was just done impeccably.
Overall and absolutely favourite read so far this year!

I don't read a lot of historical novels but this was quite refreshing. It showed how stifling and restrictive life was for women in Victorian times. The fact that a father can make decisions for a 28 year old is shocking! Violet is a breath of fresh air. Trying to stick within social norms and preserve her reputation while investigating her mother's disappearance 10 years previously. A light, refreshing read. #netgalley #NoLifeForaLady

No Life For A Lady by Hannah Dolby was such a treat to read! Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my ARC.

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?

You guys this book is so laugh out loud funny! Dare I say it is a historical fiction rom-com! It took me a few chapters to get into the story and relate to Violet, but the humor and mystery kept my interest. Highly recommend. 4 stars.

This is a perfect book for people who love a cozy mystery, rom-com vibes, and historical fiction.

This book was well written and I loved the main character! I enjoyed all the characters in the novel and felt they were all written well and with depth. I thought this story was very entertaining and funny at times and would definitely recommend. My only complaint would be it took a little too long to get really into the story I think was a quarter of the way through before becoming really invested in the characters. I give this historical mystery 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I want to thank NetGalley and Aria & Aries for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book it was amazing read loved it. I loved learning about the Victorian fashion the type righters. How the people used to live. I loved learning about the mystery and Hastings pier. And the characters lives and they story behind them. I loved doing the read along as well plus having a special a code as well as the book. Loved violets character and learning the mystery how to solve the story. Brilliant book.

A delightful historical mystery book, featuring a strong willed, loveable heroine.

Violet is a 28 year old, unmarried woman in 1896 but rather than searching for a husband she’s searching for answers about her mothers mysterious disappearance 10 years ago.

It took me a little while to get in to the story but I was instantly charmed by the characters and descriptions of Victorian Hastings. I found myself drawn further into the plot as the book progressed, becoming invested in Violet’s life and in discovering what had happened to her mother.

Violet is the heart of the story and it was interesting to follow her as she navigated Victorian society and expectations alongside processing the trauma of losing her mother and a desire to be independent. Her quirky personality and interactions with more conventionally Victorian characters also leads to plenty of fun and laugh out loud moments!

This was an enjoyable, easy read. I’m really looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ten years after her mother went out and never returned, Violet wants answers. A historical fiction novel that is charming. I loved Violet and would like to see her story continue.

a charming and entertaining historical fiction set in 1896 about a 28-year-old woman who does not want to get married. after all, she has learned the horrors of marriage from her mother who disappeared 10 years ago ... violet is a lovable character and the writing is easy to read.

We meet 28-yr-old Violet Hamilton in Victorian Hastings, ten years after the disappearance of her mother. A chance sighting of a newspaper advertisement for a new detective in town leads Violet to hire him in the hopes of finding out what happened to her mother.

Violet quickly comes to realise that the detective, Mr Knight, is not acting as she hopes, but he refuses to be put off the case. She also finds another option in the form of former detective Mr Blackthorne, but he doesn’t want the case. Violet, who returns to Mr Blackthorne’s shop to use his typewriter in an effort to train as a “Lady typist”, finds herself increasingly drawn into investigating cases that have found their way to Mr Blackthorne, while simultaneously trying to bat away suitors that her father insists on bringing home. As the investigation into her mother’s disappearance progresses, she knows that there is much to uncover and must decide whether finding out the truth is really what is best for herself and her father.

I really enjoyed this story, and loved Violet! Her interactions with others in the story, from the kindly reverend, to the unsuitable suitors, the ladies in the house of ill repute, her father’s new love interest, and the detective who makes her feel warm in a way she doesn’t quite understand, are funny and charming. While wonderfully naïve at the start of the book, Violet grows with every new interaction, and I found her quirks very endearing. I loved her efforts to learn about being a “Lady detective” and I hope there might be a sequel, as I’m not ready to say goodbye to some of these characters just yet! I would recommend this title to any fans of historical fiction.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.

This was a really fun read.

At 18: Violet’s mother goes out one day. However she never comes home. The police investigate but close the case on lack of evidence.

10 years later, Evie, now 28 is living with her father. Determined to stay a spinster, she rebuffs the advances of all the unsuitable men that her father tries to set her up with. Determined to find out what happened to her mother, she hires a private detective.

Violet gets herself into some scrapes along the way as she can’t help doing a little investigating herself.

Thanks must go to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

I totally enjoyed this book. It is charming, funny, fast-paced and I read it in one sitting!
Violet is 28 years old and her father fears she will never marry. No matter who he introduces her to as potential husband material, Violet finds new and creative ways to discourage the young man. She is only interested in solving the mystery of her mother's disappearance. She hires a detective to help and he turns out to be very trustworthy, not on the up and up. Violet then attempts to hire a second one, Benjamin who doesn't really wabt to be a detective anymore.
There are some really terrific laugh out loud moments throughout this story. Violet is a pill and her inner thoughts can be a riot. Benjamin is a sweet cuddly teddy bear that you just want to squeeze and hold tight.
Overall a truly delightful, light- hearted mystery/romance? I highly recommend to readers who are looking for a quick laugh and light entertainment for the afternoon.
Thank you to Aria Publishing and to Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

Violet doesn’t want to get married. Why would she when she learned all she knows about sex and marriage from her mother who disappeared 10 years previous when she was just 18. Now 28, Violet is trying to find her mother and is learning some new things along the way.
It’s glorious, so funny, quick, witty and clever. I adored it.