sarahmacp's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jmatkinson1's review against another edition
4.0
1841 and The Rajah sets sail bound for Van Diemen's Land. Aboard are 180 convict women, sentenced to transportation and torn from their families and loved ones. Kezia Hayter is a gentlewoman who has worked with Mrs Fry on prison reform and she accompanies the voyage, working with the women to produce a large piece of patchwork and keeping them on the straight and narrow. However many of the women have secrets and when one is murdered the race is on to find the culprit before the end of the voyage.
This is a piece of fiction based around a true story, the Rajah Quilt is a piece of work still in existence and a memory of the transportation voyages of the 19th Century. Beyond that the story is made up but Adams has managed to conjure up a tale that is warm and redemptive as it weaves together the stories of the woman and mystery of the murder.
This is a piece of fiction based around a true story, the Rajah Quilt is a piece of work still in existence and a memory of the transportation voyages of the 19th Century. Beyond that the story is made up but Adams has managed to conjure up a tale that is warm and redemptive as it weaves together the stories of the woman and mystery of the murder.
wombat_88's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
carmen_jimenezv's review against another edition
5.0
I loved loved loved Dangerous Women. It was a fantastic story that had a little bit of everything, from mystery and murder to love and compassion. It was fantastic and I devoured the book in just a few nights. I hadn't read anything about the Raja or the Raja Quilt before and it was such a great way to learn more about them both. A sad story at times, it was extremely interesting, and I cannot wait to see what Hope Adams writes next!
georgie24's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sirq's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
a little too long, could've done with some trimming, but very good otherwise
bc7ate9's review against another edition
4.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ historical fiction about female convicts sailing from the UK to the penal colony of Australia. I really liked this one. It’s a small bit of history I find fascinating (see also the novel The Exiles) and had secrets and mysteries that kept me interested. [audiobook from library]
summerline's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bethsbooketlist's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
x 📚 BOOK REVIEW 📚 x
🖋️"That's what we, too, are like, us women. We're a patchwork ... We've turned ourselves into something. We're many small pieces, each of us different but now stitched together. A patchwork of souls"
I'm really happy I finally got to this book on my shelf. It's been sat there for a while and this month felt like the right time for this thrilling historical mystery. I loved that though this is a fictional retelling, there is a lot of truth throughout this book. The voyage of the Rajah, the main crew, the women it transported and the making of the patchwork quilt - all are true. And this fascinates me that these characters are possible embodiments of those that came before us. These women all came from difficult circumstances and sometimes impossible situations, making the best of what life threw at them. I had so much compassion for all these women, and to bring their stories into the light is wonderful of Hope Adams to do. The plot kept me guessing throughout, and the moving between past and present time lines was really well done. I didn't guess the culprit so it achieved the surprise element. Wonderful writing and suspense building, I would whole heartedly recommend!
🖋️"That's what we, too, are like, us women. We're a patchwork ... We've turned ourselves into something. We're many small pieces, each of us different but now stitched together. A patchwork of souls"
I'm really happy I finally got to this book on my shelf. It's been sat there for a while and this month felt like the right time for this thrilling historical mystery. I loved that though this is a fictional retelling, there is a lot of truth throughout this book. The voyage of the Rajah, the main crew, the women it transported and the making of the patchwork quilt - all are true. And this fascinates me that these characters are possible embodiments of those that came before us. These women all came from difficult circumstances and sometimes impossible situations, making the best of what life threw at them. I had so much compassion for all these women, and to bring their stories into the light is wonderful of Hope Adams to do. The plot kept me guessing throughout, and the moving between past and present time lines was really well done. I didn't guess the culprit so it achieved the surprise element. Wonderful writing and suspense building, I would whole heartedly recommend!