I received this from Netgalley.com for a review.

Second in the series Lizzie Hardwicke, Lizzie is once again thrown together with the handsome Inspector Will Davenport when a high profile investor is brutally hanged at centre stage and Lizzie discovers the body.

I think the first book was just a titch better.
3☆

Another great story about Lizzie Hardwicke ,having read the first book I was looking forward to reading The Corpse Played Dead and I was not disappointed.Set in the 1700's Lizzie is a high class prostitute who is asked to go undercover by Will Davenport a Policeman .he has asked her to work as a lowly seamstress at a theatre in Drury Lane as many mysterious things have happened there.This book is so atmospheric and the characters so real that it is easy to imagine you are back in that era .This is a fast paced story full of interesting characters I can't wait to read the third book in the series .Many thanks to the Publisher ,the Author and Net Galley for my preview copy

The Corpse Played Dead by Georgina Clarke is a Historical Murder Mystery set in 18th Century London. Lizzie is a very interesting character since her profession is a harlot turned detective in disguise as a seamstress. Each character is fascinating because they seem very different from the norm and yet real. The story is serious, but at times lighthearted and fun. Exciting fast paced suspense that tantalizes the reader to the end. I haven’t read the first book in this series Death and the Harlot, but have purchased it to read next. I look forward to reading more by a new favorite author and about a new enchanting character Lizzie Hardwicke.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. Loved it! 5 Stars

We last saw Lizzie Hardwicke in the role of prostitute - a role she chose not one she playing but now in this second novel of the series, Lizzie is to take on another role, in fact more than one. 

A role that is going to put her right in the middle of the action. 

Asked to go undercover by a Bow Street Magistrate - this is the days before a recognisable police force - Lizzie goes to Drury Lane, to a theatre to work as a seamstress. 

The theatre owned by David Garrick (yes the very same) has had some strange accidents and events going on. 

Lizzie is there to observe not the performance on the stage but that of what is going on behind the scenes - much more intriguing. 

As rich men are paid court in a not so dissimilar way to Lizzies occupation, actors and actress, playwrights and stage hands all witness the way money is gained to help the theatre survive. 

That is until one of these rich men ends up on stage himself......

Upside down......

With his throat cut......

Enter the magistrate Mr Fielding and one of the inspectors Will Davenport who we met in the first novel and who has developed a fondness for Lizzie despite her chosen path in life. 

Lizzie knows that she cannot leave this role until she has found out the truth about the dead man and whilst it seems the perpetrator has been caught and the case solved there are too many loose ends and unwoven threads to the story like the dresses and cuffs that Lizzie has been mending when she has been inconspicuously listening and observing. 

Who would pay attention to a grubby, second seamstress in a room full of egos and money?

If I did not know this was fiction I would believe I was reading an account of the time and that this was a piece of historical nonfiction of the Georgian time in the depths of some of the rather seedier parts of London.

The fact that it is before a police force and our main protagonist is female and a prostitute adds to the depth of the plot and makes is a page turner. I learnt from this book as I did from her debut and the dedicated and detailed research by the author is clearly evident. 

It is that which means I wait with anticipation as to where Lizzie Hardwicke is going to turn up next and who she is going to encounter and also perhaps in time she will have enough money saved to stop her current profession and find true happiness with Will Davenport..... then again the author might have another idea. How exciting!

It’s mid-eighteenth century London and Lizzie Hardwicke, born into the quality and then disowned by her father is earning her living as a harlot in Ma Farley’s Bawdy House. She met detective Davenport in the first novel in the series featuring this unique heroine and he once again approaches her to ask her help in investigating the goings-on in the local theater on Drury Lane. As far as he knows, it’s a simple matter of unexplained “accidents” that seem to be aimed at making trouble for the theater’s manager, Mr. Garrick.
Not long after Lizzie gets established in the theater, the investigation intensifies with the murder of one of the theater’s wealthier patrons. Lizzie discovers the body and with her history of having been instrumental in solving an earlier murder for Davenport, he presses her to investigate the theater as much as possible. Through her investigation, the reader is introduced to many of the seamier parts of London. As part of her situation as second seamstress Lizzie has given up her usual fancy frocks and styled hair for a dirty gown and sleeping on the floor. She travels among the servants and other lowly inhabitants of the city. The depiction of the dirty and dangerous streets, particularly for a single poverty level woman on her own are written with a richness that allows the reader to feel the fear of walking the streets alone and experience the grime and hunger experienced by the lower classes.
The mystery itself is well crafted, with clues throughout that point directly at the solution, if the reader is astute enough to follow them. The test for Lizzie and Davenport becomes one of separating which facts relate to the murder and which ones to the other problems the theater is experiencing. Caught up throughout the investigation is a growing attraction between Lizzie and Davenport, even while they both acknowledge it is an attraction that is impossible for them to act upon unless Davenport lowers his view of Lizzie to seeing her as a harlot and nothing more.
While this is the second in the Lizzie Hardwicke series, it was easy to follow the relationship between Lizzie and Davenport that was established in the first book. The mystery is independent of the first book, and it isn’t necessary to have read the first in the series in order to become intrigued in the “who done it” portion of the book. Given the opportunity, it would still be best to start with the first book in the series in order to experience the evolution of Lizzie’s relationship with Davenport.
The book deals with the grittier aspects of London society, and as such has a coarser feel than many novels that are written about the time period but which focus on the aristocracy. Lizzie lives in an amoral strata of London, and that is reflected in her activities as well as her conversation with others. She has her own moral standards, which in many cases are more honorable than the private behavior of the aristocracy who have perfected the dual standard of appearing to be genteel and upstanding in public and whose private behavior is grasping and often immoral. The book offers a view of the difference between the wealthy and the poverty stricken of the age as well as the subjugation of women. My thanks to Canelo Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an Advanced Digital Reader copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

The Corpse Played Dead by Georgina Clarke doesn't release until August, but I just couldn't wait to tell everyone how much this series is impacting me so far. Book 2 in the Lizzie Hardwicke series and it's already shaping up to be one of my favorites. Below is the Top 5 Reasons why I loved The Corpse Played Dead.


1. Lizzie Hardwick is a harlot.

I'm a sucker for unconventional heroines and Lizzie Hardwicke had me from the very beginning. She's as unconventional as they come and it's a lot of fun reading about someone who doesn't really have the "hero/heroine" qualities.


"I am not averse to flattery. This is a serious flaw in my character and I really should excise it."



Don't worry though. Her profession is not always in the forefront and does not go into much detail.

2. Georgian Era

I don't get to read a lot of historical fiction novels set in this time period. What with the men wearing powdered wigs and all it's hard to feel romantic about that. But it works well with murder and mystery. Also, the atmosphere tends to revolve around the lower class citizens which makes for a more grittier read.

3. Undercover Shenanigans

Lizzie foregoes her bawdy house to play a little undercover detective at the Drury Lane theater as a seamstress. Her little white lies to the inhabitants does go a little too far and it puts Lizzie in danger quite a few times. So the added drama of her being in disguise it quite thrilling. It was also funny to read the dialogue between Lizzie and her fellow harlot acquaintances when they help her put together her disguise. Fun times indeed.

4. Amateur Sleuthiness

Yes, I understand that sleuthiness is not a real word. The fact that Lizzie is in fact an amateur sleuth slash harlot really is the perfect combo. She's not really good at it, but I love that in the end, it all works out.



5. Drury Lane Theater

The setting is what really made this fun. I could almost smell the mustiness of the dressing rooms and the dark hallways. The first murder really put in perspective the dangers and pitfalls to any theater set. That death was the perfect dramatic scene and frankly I did not feel sorry for the victim.

Overall, this was a quick, fast paced read for me. Lizzie Hardwicke is really pushing her way to the top of my favorite characters list.

It was absolutely awesome to be back in the world of Lizzie Hardwicke (or should I say, Lizzie Blunt!?). Jumping into a book set in a completely different era is pure escapism, and I love imagining what it would have been like back in the 1700s. I’ve just been watching ‘Victoria’ set in the 1800s so I had a starting point and could image the voices and the clothes etc. The way of life for both eras are utterly different from the modern world that we are used to.
Just as the first book this second instalment of the harlot Lizzie Hardwicke was brilliantly written. It wasn’t stuffy or unintelligible, written with a 21st Century voice but describing a world gone by is the perfect combination and works so well. The attention to detail from the author and the amount of research she must have put into this book is phenomenal! I loved the historical afterward that advises that some of the characters we meet in the book actually existed. I love this; it is fiction but incorporates real-life historical events and people. 
In this story, we see Lizzie helping Davenport that we met in the first book. There are some underhand goings-on at a nearby theatre, and he needs her help to blend in and investigate. Things turn bad, and Lizzie once again finds herself facing life-threatening danger.
The story was well-developed, and I didn’t get lost at all. Even though there are lots of ‘players’ to get to grips with, it isn’t difficult to remember them all. They are repeated often enough for you to be familiar with everyone. 
I didn’t see the ending coming at all, and I had not guessed who the bad guys were or why. I do like being taken by surprise like this; it means the story wasn’t predictable nor uninspired.
A brilliant read and I am already looking forward to more of Lizzie Hardwicke. I hope we get to explore more of her ‘harlot’ life as I did miss this a little in this book.

This is the first book by Ms Clarke that I have read. It was different from the historical romances I usually read. It was a very well written murder mystery written in the first person. I found it a bit slow to start as the stage and characters were set but once the action started, I found it very hard to put down. The story was well written without a lot of fillers. It kept you guessing as to who the murderer was. Each character was well formulated and well situated in the story. The back ground was very easy to imagine. I loved Miss Hardwick and Inspector Davenport’s relationship and look forward to seeing it develop more over the books that I am sure will follow. There was no romance or sex in this book and was not needed. This was an excellent read and would encourage anyone who likes historical reads to add this to their TBR list. I received this as ARC and was more than happy to do a review.

Georgina Clarke has a winners with the two novels Death of a Harlot and The Corpse Played Dead. Lizzie Hardwicke a prostitute who lives in London among murderous events. These two books work hand in hand and would suggest reading them in order. The characters are interesting as is the story and the gallop to find out who done it. Of course on the case is Acting Inspector Will Davenport who is also a mysterious and reserved chap that adds color and some hints of romance. A copy of this book was provided by Canelo via NetGalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion." Can't wait for the next in this series.

First of all, I love this book. I loved it so much, I immediately bought the first one and read it. The series is now firmly on my auto-buy list and I am looking forward to more books in this series.

This book, the second in the series, is set Georgian England, in the London of the early days of the Bow Street runners. London in the 1750's was teeming with life and activity, lawless, crowded and filthy, and rife with homelessness. Hunger, drunkenness, thievery, prostitution and disease were epidemic. Alleys and streets were public toilets. It was all fascinating and made me so glad that I was not born into that time period.

Against this background, Lizzie Hardwicke shines with vitality, intelligence, and courage. She was born to a good family, but is now working as a prostitute in a house in London. In this book, she is called upon to aid the police in investigating what looks like attempts to sabotage a play in the Theatre Royale on Drury Lane, The theater is managed by David Garrick, who is also playing the role of King Lear. Since Lizzie had helped with a case in the first book, she was asked her to work undercover in the theater as a seamstress in order to help locate the saboteur. She is again working with Inspector Will Davenport. There is a very slow burn romance.

It's an intricate, well plotted mystery in another age, and I highly recommend it. The addition of real people like David Garrick of Drury Lane and Sir John Fielding of Bow Street help to bring the period alive.

My thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in the series featuring prostitute Lizzie Hardwicke. The first, 'Death and the Harlot', was excellent so I was pleased to get an advance copy of this.

This time, Lizzie gets placed by Inspector Davenport as a seamstress and spy in a Drury Lane theatre where strange things have been occurring. Before she can solve the mystery, a murder happens in the theatre and she is thrown into a much more dangerous situation than she originally envisaged. Instead, she gets caught up in a web of lies, deceptions, affairs and revenge as she tries to find the truth and the trustworthy. It was nice to see real historical figures such as Garrick and the historical setting was well researched.

This is a worthy follow-up to the first novel, although I did not find it quite as compelling - I wanted to read on, but found I did put the book down a few times and then struggled to remember who was who among the theatre folk. It's an enjoyable historical mystery with an engaging heroine, a hint of romance and a satisfying denouement. Recommended.

The Corpse Played Dead is the second in the Lizzie Hardwicke mystery series.

Things keep happening in a Drury Lane Theater and high-class prostitute Lizzie is sent in by Bow Street Inspector Davenport to observe and gather details. Lizzie goes in undercover as a seamstress and discovers more than she bargained for.

I enjoyed most the interplay between Bow Street Inspector Davenport and Lizzie. Secondly, the backdrop involving the theater and theater people was also very intriguing. The mystery itself was fun to work my way through and I did not guess who had done it until the last ¾ of the book.

I do not know why, but the details about Lizzie’s profession as a prostitute were a little jarring at times. It was stated matter-of-factly and with some detail. Maybe because I was so caught up in the mystery.

I did not read the first book in the series, but it did not deter from my enjoyment of this book.

I recommend this book for mystery lovers and people who enjoy historical fiction. 4/5

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of The Corpse Played Dead. Release date: August 19, 2019

Review will be posted on goodreads and will be published on Instagram @lowkey.bookish closer to the release date.

The characters in this story are delightful. They brought the story light and contributed greatly to the ease of reading. There were many points of mystery/interest not to discount the murder of an Earl. Getting to know the people who worked in the theatre proved to have it's own hidden facts, not necessarily sinister, but facts that brought them to this occupation. Once the murder began to unfold, there were moments of wow, didn't see that coming, but it was not drug out. It was pointed with detailed steps that had to be taken to bring about a realism. I discovered great joy in learning the actual historical points that are contained within these pages. This is definitely a read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a little mystery.

I am really impressed! Great writing, pace and plot. I love mysteries and this didn’t disappoint. The time period came to life in the scenes of Drury Lane and on the boards of the theater. I took a theater course many years ago at University tied to the Globe Theater in London, and was struck by the historical accuracy of this descriptions of theater life and operation for this time period. The author spent a lot of time on research! I really appreciate that in historical fiction.

The story centers on a protagonist who has come down in the world to work in a Brothel from an upbringing of upper class British society. She is plucky and strong, with a great attention to detail. Her partnership with Bow Street investigator Davenport creates an unlikely partnership for murder sleuthing. Nonetheless, the synergy is real, and pages turned at lightning speed for me.

I would read more about this unlikely pair!

Georgia Clarke is back with her second Lizzie Hardwicke novel and yet again she knocked it out of the park. This time around Lizzie goes undercover in a theater where it seems someone is trying to sabotage the theater owner. Lizzie must navigate as a seamstress assistant and observe everyone and everything around her.

Clarke has created a story where even the more minor characters are fleshed out and feel real. She does a wonderful job of intertwining the historical facts and her world of Lizzie Hardwicke. I truly hope there will be many more installments of Lizzie Hardwicke's exploits.

I enjoyed this book and enjoyed the development of the characters.

My thanks to Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

This is the second Lizzie Hardwick books I've read. This time Lizzie is helping Davenport investigate suspicious events in Garricks theatre, she is there only one day when she discovers a body. The investigation follows on from here.
I love this style of historic fiction and I absolutely loved Death and the Harlot, I didn't enjoy this one quite as much but it was still highly readable and I look forwards to more Lizzie Hardwick books.

Lizzie is a very, VERY high end worker at Ma's establishment for gentleman, and is also very quick-witted and observant. She has helped the magistrate's office in a previous murder, so when suspicious things start happening in the local theater she is asked to infiltrate and 'observe'. Early into this adventure she stumbles upon a gruesome murder.

Lizzie is an amazing character; to everyone (including her male interest) she is considered immoral and high-class trash but she does not let it phase her, and does not down-play what she does.

I love Lizzie Hardwicke and Will Davenport! This is the second book in the series. This time Lizzie gets to go undercover as a seamstress at a theater to see if she can find out who is sending the owner threats. What she does discover is a dead body that nobody liked. Now Lizzie and Will have to team up to find a killer before he strikes again. I am so looking forward to the next in the series.

I liked this book. It was different but interesting and entertaining. The story line was easy to follow and we’ll written. I highly recommend.