1920s, post-war Britain is in the midst of a depression when Eleanor (Nell) finds herself drawn into a daring and dangerous enterprise at once making her feel thrilled and alive. Dazzled by the glitz and excesses of 1920s clubs, cars, dresses, furs and jewels, Nell is determined to reinvent herself as a ballsy, confident, glamorous woman, even if it means leaving her much-loved family behind. Combining real people like Alice Diamond, Queen of the Forty Elephants with fictional but very believable and sympathetic characters, Poor Girls' reflects on the limited opportunities and prejudice faced by women in post war 1920s Britain, particularly if born poor. The argument is made that luxury goods are seductive (insured) and so deserving of being stolen and sold on and that financial security shouldn't only be enjoyed by the wealthy few whose wealth has come from inheritance or through the hard labour and servitude of others. Clare Whitfield writes about the controlling side of being a member of the gang but slightly glosses over the darker side of gang culture emphasising the sisterhood and empowerment instead. That said, this was an enjoyable read which I would recommend. Kate Atkinson's 'Shrines of Gaiety' is a brilliant read if you enjoyed this book.

Set in 1920s London, this intriguing tale is a wonderful piece of historical fiction.
I have previously read a non-fiction book on the notorious female gang named the Forty Elephants, which feature in this story.....so my interest in the theme of this novel was willing it to be great....and I was not disappointed.
All in all a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Perfectly decent, though I fear in a few weeks, not perfectly memorable.
Interesting learning how the robbing was done, from the organising to the shop floor grabbing it.
A good mix of characters.
It just felt a bit flat sometimes.