LoveReading Says
LoveReading Says
Oh my, what a story! Set in the 1920’s, Nell finds herself caught in the middle of a crime spree, and faced with the difficult decision of whether to serve, marry, or steal. The Forty Elephants actually existed, women running their own, mostly family based, gang of thieves from the 1870’s through to the 1950’s. Author Clare Whitfield has obviously thoroughly researched the history of these women and has created a thrilling and beautifully eloquent tale. Her compelling debut People of Abandoned Character was also set among history and focused on Jack the Ripper. Some of the actual figures from the Forty Elephants appear within Poor Girls, however the majority of this tale is set within the fictional world of Nell. It feels oh-so real, the clubs and clothing are described so vibrantly, and the life of the gang sparks with fiery authenticity, It isn’t all high-jinks, diamonds and champagne, the darker side of their life spills into violence, and prison life is made abundantly clear. I found myself caught hook line and sinker, not wanting to put this book down as the end drew ever closer. Chosen as a LoveReading Star Book, this really hits the spot. Exciting and fascinating in equal measure, Poor Girls grounds itself in reality and thrusts a fist in the air for the strength and audacity of these women.
Liz Robinson
Find This Book In
About
Poor Girls Synopsis
We were never destined to have anything - so you know what we did?
We took it anyway.
1922. Twenty-year-old Eleanor Mackridge is horrified by the future mapped out for her - to serve the upper classes or find a man to marry (preferably kind). She 'proved useful' working in a munitions factory during the war - handling explosives - but now, society is returning to normal and women are being put back in their place.
But Eleanor has never paid attention to what society expects of her. When she crosses paths with a member of the notorious female-led gang the Forty Elephants, she is in awe of these bold women who wear diamonds and fur, drink champagne and gin, who take what they want without asking. Now, she sees a new future for herself: she can serve, marry - or steal.
After all, men will only let you down. Diamonds are forever.
In Poor Girls, Clare Whitfield exposes the criminal underbelly of 1920s London - but this isn't a morality tale, it's an adventure for the willingly wicked.
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781837930869 |
| Publication date: |
7th November 2024 |
| Author: |
Clare Whitfield |
| Publisher: |
Head of Zeus an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing (UK) |
| Format: |
Hardback |
| Pagination: |
408 pages |
| Primary Genre |
Crime and Mystery
|
| Other Genres: |
|
| Recommendations: |
|
Press Reviews
Clare Whitfield Press Reviews
'Poor Girls is a brave, bold novel... You'll fall hard for Nell and the Forty Elephants.' ARAMINTA HALL
'Funny, fast-paced and dark, Poor Girls is a riveting read, with dialogue that absolutely crackles and a fabulously unsentimental heroine in Nell.' ELODIE HARPER
'Memorable, outrageous and full of heart. Loved it - every time I put it down I couldn't wait to pick it up again.' ELENI KYRIACOU
'Wonderfully roguish characters, and great period detail. Really enjoyable.' IAN MOORE
'A richly vivid and picaresque masterwork, Poor Girls is by turns humorous, horrifying and humane.' TOM MEAD
'A real page turner.' CAITLIN DAVIES
Author
About Clare Whitfield
Clare Whitfield is a UK based writer. While studying for an MA in Creative & Critical Writing at the University of Winchester, her fiction appeared on Spelk, Commuter-Lit, Literary Orphans and in Matt Shaw’s Masters of Horror anthology. Clare has published two crime fiction novels, People of Abandoned Character, which won the Goldsboro Glass Bell Award in 2021, and The Gone and The Forgotten. Poor Girls is her third novel.
More About Clare Whitfield
