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Violet is a likeable lead character. She chafes at society’s expectations but with the naivety of a well-raised lady. This means she is caught unawares more than once, but to her credit she is rarely discouraged and persists regardless.
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. 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?A GORGEOUS historical romcom with lashings of mystery... Joyful!' Sophie Irwin, author, A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting
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.There are ladies who don’t like what they are made for, the cleaning and the domestic business, the caring and the mothering. We might think badly of them for it, but it does happen.’ 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. 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? 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. No Life For A Lady is the first novel by British author, Hannah Dolby. Ten years after her mother Lily goes missing from Hastings Pier, twenty-eight-year-old Violet Hamilton engages a private investigator to find out what happened. Frank Knight isn’t quite what she expected of a detective, but he has agreed not to tell her father: Lucas Hamilton would be livid…
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. If you are searching for a book full of adventure and self-discovery layered with witty social commentary, this is a perfect read. No political comedy would be complete without the enemy to clash with. In No Job for a Lady, the first two series see a familiar face for Jean’s regular battles in the form of George Baker (at the same time also finding fame playing Wexford in The Ruth Rendell Mysteries). Baker’s role is that of Godfrey Egan MP, a pompous fossil within the government whose majority is so substantial that he has lost all touch with the everyday people, and as such he regularly butts heads with Jean as she tries to reform the processes of government that he feels should be left well alone – especially by a woman. 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. 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…The premise was interesting but it became bogged down by too many distractions. The author clearly has a good imagination but needs to learn that sometimes less is actually more. No Life for a Lady by Hannah Dolby transported me into the 1890’s, and our strong heroine Violet made that journey quite memorable! Watch out Enola Holmes - Violet Hamilton is on the case! Pure joy and utterly charming!" - Faith Hogan No Life for a Lady is light-hearted, cosy historical mystery with a touch of romance from Hannah Dolby.
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