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.

First of all, thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

(This book is more of a 3.5 stars, but I don't like to give lower scores, so it's rounded up to four stars!)

This book had a premise that had me hooked from the start. A period piece, mixed with some romance and mystery. Sign me up! I enjoyed how the story unfolded and how well you got to know Violet Hamilton, our main character. Is she most well-developed main character ever? No, but I understood where she was coming from most of the time. You see, Violet does not want to get married, not even a little bit. She rebuffs any suitor that her father sends her way, no matter how persistent they may be. She is far too busy finding her missing mother. When nearing the ten year anniversary, she decides to hire a detective to find her. However, this detective, a Mr. Knight, is a bit of a weird fellow and she does not like him much at all. So, she finds another one, Mr. Blackthorn, but he says he no longer works as a detective. She hopes to persuade him and persists going to meet him. From there on out, her life devolves into a bit of a mess.

For the characters, only Violet is really ever dealt with in-depth. The other characters, fun as they may be, never really get to become anything more than two dimensional people, there to drive the plot. Even her eventual love interest does not get much depth to him, which is unfortunate. The ending also felt a bit rushed, leaving so much to be said, that it felt as if there were chapters missing. It seemed to me that the author perhaps could not satisfactory explain or expand upon the situation Violet and her family found themselves in that she decided that an open-end was the best option for story. Maybe that's true, but I wish she would've written more. If there is ever a sequel, I will be sure to crack it open to know how everything unfolded.

Those looking for a light-hearted, cosy historical mystery will find they’ve come to the right place with No Life for a Lady. Violet is a sparky, likeable character who is determined to resist her father’s efforts to marry her off. There’s fun right from the beginning as Violet recalls the ways she’s managed to fend off potential suitors to date. This includes pushing one such unfortunate into a boating lake and inserting a hot teapot between herself and another.

It was unclear to me why Violet has waited ten years to make a serious attempt to investigate her mother’s disappearance but once she embarks upon it she has no intention of stopping. Except that her chosen detective turns out to be no ‘knight in shining armour’. (Violet, you should have trusted your instincts). Suddenly, Violet wonders if she’s really ready to find out her mother’s secrets and to have them become the talk of the ladies of Hastings, not to mention the men. She’d wanted discretion, wishing to keep the investigation from her father.

Although it makes for some slapstick humour, I wouldn’t have minded if the author had made Violet slightly less ditzy. She’s frequently tripping over things, bumping into lamp posts and even getting locked inside a price of furniture at one point. She’s also rather naive although, to be fair, that does lead to some laugh out loud moments, such as Violet’s errand on behalf of a Mrs Monk, the same lady who corrects a few of Violet’s misapprehensions about ‘marital intimacy’. And, for a prospective detective, Violet is a little quick to reach conclusions based on limited evidence, including about one particular person. However, she’s up for pretty much anything – except house cleaning – leading one character to remark ‘You are the most infuriating female I’ve ever met’.

Set in 1896, there’s a nice depiction of a Victoran seaside town complete with bathing carriages, small boys dressed in sailor suits and ladies promenading in their finery, although I’m not sure the phrase ‘get his finger out’ would have been in common parlance then. If I’m wrong, I stand corrected.

Finding the solution to the mystery of her mother’s disappearance provides Violet with grounds for believing she has what it takes to become a detective. It also signals there is potentially more fun to come in the company of this particular Lady Detective.

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!

The concept of NO LIFE FOR A LADY has potential: feisty spinster Violet Hamilton, 28, who lives in Hastings, England, in 1896, wants to find her missing mother, Lily, who left Violet and her father suddenly 10 years ago.

Alas, the story took nearly to the end to generate enough oomph or real feeling to capture this reader's attention.

I will not publish my comments anywhere else, because I believe the writer has innate ability and just needs more time to hone skills in plotting, pace, and character development. I wish her great future success.

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

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

Still in the process of finishing this one - full review to come! I will update my star rating also.

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 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 ⭐️

I voluntarily read an advanced copy of No Life For a Lady by Hannah Dolby. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for this ARC.

I started this book and, from the start, was confused about the tone. The flip from independent woman to sheltered daughter was too extreme. But I kept with the book, thinking that eventually, everything would click. I also wanted to know what happened to the mother. Unfortunately, that plot arc was very disappointing. I give this book 2/5 stars.