I love Violet so much. I especially love how her character has developed more through this book.

This one does jump about a lot more than the previous book with it following multiple cases at different stages.

I really enjoyed it though and I do hope there's another book to follow though!

3.5 stars

Violet Hamilton has a fledgling career as a Lady Detective, a most unusual occupation for a woman in 1897. She is newly engaged to Benjamin Blackthorn although neither appear in any rush to walk down the aisle. They’ve set up the Hamilton and Blackthorn Detective Agency following their previous successes. When outspoken Mrs Withers is discovered dead on the beach at Hastings, Violet’s efforts to get involved are thwarted at every turn. However, it seems that much more is afoot of the nefarious kind in Hastings than this shocking murder. Can Violet, ably assisted by Benjamin, get to the bottom of it?

I love the first novel ( No Life For a Lady) where we are introduced to Violet, finding that novel both captivating and very funny. Although this novel is undoubtedly engaging and there are several lively moments, it doesn’t achieve the heights of book one in my opinion. The standout feature of the book is the character of Violet who is immensely likeable and very resourceful although I’m sure the male of the species find her more than a little exasperating as she doesn’t fit the compliant feminine role of the day. She is very independent in an age where that is not seen as an asset, quite the reverse and the situation for women at this time is done extremely well. The cards are stacked against women and Violet being Violet has to overcome the obstacles put in her path in her own inimitable fashion. She certainly gets herself into scrapes and more than a pickle or two which is entertaining….

There is plenty going on to keep you engaged and I especially enjoy the sections on quackery, goodness, the mind boggles.
There are some good, colourful descriptions of events, characters and so on with good historical details .

However, the plot is way too convoluted and it diverts a lot from the main track and it’s filled with extraneous detail. Inevitably, this means that they’re all lulls where very little happens to advance the plot. Where humour is intended some of this falls flat for me.

Overall, it is entertaining and is worth reading just the Violet but if there’s to be a third novel, more humour and a clearer plot would be greatly appreciated!


With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Head of Zeus, Aria and Aries for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Bravo Hannah Dolby! Sequels are a tricky thing but you have totally nailed it. Once again I found myself laughing out loud while also learning so much about history and savouring every word on every page.

The humour is clever and witty and it snuck up on me, managing to make me splutter in hysterics in one scene and smirk or giggle in others.

Not only did I learn about the ways people behaved and dressed in days gone by and the forgotten activities such as bath chairs, but the use of language was fascinating and delightful.

It is obvious a lot of research has gone into the creation of this novel, but also a lot of imagination. So many genres contain many, many books that can become almost interchangeable but this is so original and refreshing.

Please let there be more adventures to come for this Lady Detective.

I received this arc from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book. Violet Hamilton is a brave and impetuous Lady Detective, newly engaged and chafing against the restrictions on her life. I hadn’t read the first book in this series by Hannah Dolby but I certainly will now. Violet is a fantastic character, modern but still very much a product of her upbringing and the times in which she lives, which is a difficult balance to achieve. The book is very funny, with an excellent central story and secondary characters, and a lovely sense of time and place. Hugely enjoyable.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

Violet (and the lovely Benjamin) is back and she is as intrepid and delightful as ever.

If the first (fabulous) book was about a young woman finding her voice and purpose in a patriarchal, small town, Victorian society, How to Solve Murders Like a Lady shows Violet learning to use that voice. Violet is now engaged to Benjamin, but mostly so she can be his business partner and learn how to be a detective without causing a scandal. Of course she likes him, is sometimes a little fixated by his forearms, has fond and disturbing memories of certain activities in a railway carriage, but is it love? Does he love her? And if so what does that mean for her fledgling independence? Marriage is the end of a woman's career after all. While she battles with these questions there are crimes to solve and if missing goats doesn't feel like the biggest of tasks, it's a start. But things soon take a darker turn and Violet finds her new profession can lead to very real danger.

Of course, Violet is not just thwarted by crime and criminality, she also has to battle with the expectations of a lady's behaviour in a patriarchal society where a woman has few rights. There were so many passages I wanted to underline, to annotate, to put on a tshirt as Violet grows in spirit, confidence and independence. She is a keen, satirical, questioning observer and narrator, and if sometimes naive that's because that's how society has brought her up to be.

How to Solve Murders Like a Lady is a more than worthy sequel which could be read as a standalone, and I for one can't wait to see what Violet does next. I loved every word. Highly recommended.

i greatly enjoyed <i> no life for a lady </i> and was thrilled to discover it had a sequel! thank you again to netgalley for this copy. violet remains endearing to me; her antics and interactions with the various characters in her seaside town make for an easy, entertaining cozy read. although, i thought the pacing was slower here, which could get a bit boring.

This is the second in the series and I have loved seeing Violet grow as a character and as a young woman, newly engaged and finding her feet in the relationship amongst the Victorian rules of society. There is plenty of mischief and mysteries to solve for Violet and Benjamin in this one and a spattering of real history in too - electric corset anyone?! Thoroughly enjoyed and will certainly be on the lookout for book 3.

**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **

Having thoroughly enjoyed the author's first book in this series, 'No Life for a Lady', I was keen to read thus second novel and I was not disappointed! The hilarious business partnership of Violet Hamilton and Benjamin Blackthorn has now been formalised and they are solving mainly minor crimes throughout St Leonard's and Hastings.
However, they soon become embroiled in a crime far more serious and sinister.
I love Violet and her get up and go attitude. This is a woman who will not be told to remain in her place or act like a lady! She is funny- hilarious in fact- and determined to solve the crime. Her relationship with Benjamin is delightful, and I found myself chuckling out loud whilst reading.
I really enjoy the historic setting of these novels, I think the early 1900s? Certainly a period when women were expected to act like ladies and to know their place- something that Violet is unable to tolerate!
Another thoroughly enjoyable story- highly recommended!

I adored Hannah Dolby's debut, 'No Life for a Lady', featuring the naive and sheltered Violet Hamilton determined to uncover what happened to her mother a decade ago, while dodging every attempt by her father to marry her off. To my delight, Violet returns for another adventure forging her way as a 'lady detective'. This time, Violet is determined to uncover who murdered the judgemental Mrs Withers.

Now engaged to detective and furniture-repairer Benjamin, Violet's still reluctant to marry him, wanting to focus solely on her career. Refreshingly, Ben is patient, understanding and knows its up to Violet to decide. I absolutely adored the scenes with both of them, which for me, are the heart of these books. Ben knows Violet is a force of nature and his calm, supportive manner provides the best partner for her. I cackled at his attempts to woo her via a letter which goes over the head of Violet who replies with a matter-of-fact response.

Interwoven in is the restricted role of women, and the ever-present danger of being thrown in an asylum just for being outspoken and resistent to men's attempts to control them. I appreciated that Violet, knowing she is sheltered and lacking in knowledge, still understands and experiences the discrimination and danger she faces bucking against the system.

Packed with humour and a heroine to champion, this book was a worthy sequel to the first. I was bereft when I finished. I'm hoping there's more Violet ahead because she's such a compelling character who has grown so much through the two books. I feel like we've only just got started on her adventures and I hope to join her for more.

Thanks to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for the ARC. I've pre-ordered by book and audiobook.

Violet Hamilton is an intreped, impetuous and inspiring Lady Detective. Fighting against conventional society that demands respectablity and ladylike behaviour from young women, she strives to learn all the detecting skills she will need in her chosen career from her hunk of a fiance. From rescuing goats to escaping from the threat of an electric corset her latest adventures are colourful, laugh out loud hilarious and on the whole widely successful even if at times against the odds. The plot is actually very sensible and well thought out, the setting of Hastings and its environs is knowledgeable and beautifully evoked and the historical detail is authentic and obviously well researched. I thoroughly enjoyed this outing, the author writes with a light touch exacting both the humour and the pathos from the story and the characters. I look forward to the next adventure with great anticipation.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read this.

I was very happy to be invited to read this by netgalley, since I'd been periodically checking to see if this book had been announced since reading the first one last year. I reread the first book in preparation for this one and I'm glad I did because I could really see how the tone of this series really flows over the course of the two books.

I think the thing that's most interesting about this series following Violet is that we as a reader often know more than her in terms of the culture she's living in. What I mean is, Violet is self admittedly sheltered and sometimes naive because of her upbringing as a proper victorian lady - though she's taking steps to rectify this. It means that when she checks herself into a ladies 'health center' we as the audience know she could be in real danger, because we know historically and especially during this time period women's health often involved some horrendous tactics. It gives an undercurrent of danger to a series that's overall very light hearted which means you get to emotionally invest in Violet (but with the comfort of knowing it's probably going to be all right in the end)

The plot in this one got a little bit convoluted but I just love seeing Violet figuring things out on her own. Benjamin is a great love interest, mostly because he knows he can't stop her from doing whatever it is she pleases. He never strays too far into over protective love interest mode which is actually very refreshing for this genre.

Overall this is a cute series with well written humor and a real joy at the heart of it as we see Violet getting into various shenanigans. I'll be looking out for the next book.

How to Solve Murders Like a Lady is the sequel to No Life for a Lady which I read last year.
Violet is determined to prove herself as a capable detective, despite societal constraints!
The case in question: the murder of Mrs Withers.
As was the first book in the series, this is a delightful read, perfect for lovers of historical mysteries and light-hearted romance. I now eagerly await the next installment 🕵️‍♀️

I absolutely loved the first book about intrepid Violet, and I was so excited to read this one. It did not disappoint! Funny, clever, and bristling with loveable characters, this is the ultimate comfort read. I absolutely love the gentle thread of romance (I’m always longing for more scenes between Benjamin and Violet), and I hope there will be a hundred more of these. Perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn, and a real joy.

A brilliant read by Hannah Dolby, with a sometimes humorous story about being a lady detective in a time when such things were frowned upon. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the book. Definitely recommended.

HANNAH DOLBY – HOW TO SOLVE MURDERS LIKE A LADY*****

This is a sequel to the witty and fascinating book No Life for a Lady. Set ‘in the year of our Lord, 1897’ in Hastings, our heroine is still struggling against the restraints of society (women should be seen and not heard and be kept in their place by men, who are superior in every way) and her autocratic father, to become a Lady Detective.

Without ruining the twists and turns, this is an even more enjoyable tale than the previous one. Not only has she found herself a good man (though doesn’t want to marry unless he agrees to her becoming a Lady Detective, despite the opposition to such a calling for a woman in the town) but she finds herself embroiled with murder and mayhem.

Lots of the original characters are back, plus several new ones, with good and bad intent. The writing is such that you can believe it was written at that time, without it becoming cliched or unclear.

Set in Hastings, with mention of real people who lived in the town, and real settings (you can follow her exploits street by street) this is great fun as well as clever and inventive. There are splendid set-pieces: a fight to the death with an evil Lord on Hastings Pier and a bomb about to go off on the West Hill lift which she has to defuse before Hastings gets blown to smithereens.

Hopefully she is sitting down chronicling her next case right now as I can’t wait to read it.

Absolutely brilliant, loved it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me an advance copy, I will definitely be recommending.

How to solve murders like a lady by Hannah Dolby

It took time for me to warm up to book 1 and when I did I was completely in love with the story and the characters, so I expected to jump straight back in the world that the author created and I did but again it took me along time.. the books are slow to get going but when you are in the middle of the story, you are hooked.

Again there is a solid mystery at the heart of the book, the murder of Mrs Withers and the indecisions of Violet towards Benjamin and life and how just being a woman will hamper her life.

I enjoyed the book and I hope for more cases for both Violet and Benjamin.. I want to see who they can become and what they can achieve.

#Netgalley #mystery #lady

Another superb book in the series! It’s not essential to read the first book as a gentle recap is gone through in the first few chapters however it’s such a delightful series that I’d recommend reading the first book. The characters are quaint and capture the era beautifully, there’s gentle humour throughout, a true heroine who struggles with being a woman in her time and some lovely observations male/female stereotypes and perceptions. Of course there are mysteries and a murder to solve as well - I loved it, an absolute delight!

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review

I remember enjoying the first book but this one was too slow and, despite a few good jokes unfortunately a little boring.

Violet is engaged to Benjamin, the “very tall detective” from the first book. She is a proud Lady Detective now, trying to prove to the world that she’s able to do the job.

Even though there was a murder mystery Violet and Benjamin were trying to solve, there were too many irrelevant details to focus on it. Violet’s constant struggle against everyone around questioning her capabilities was taking too much attention from the main story. In the end the murder case just solved itself which was a little anticlimactic. The romance too was a lackluster and the whole thing felt choppy and a challenge to read.

This book would benefit from more action and color, the deadpan jokes were not enough to keep it alive. The pacing could be improved too, the main story deserves to be in the center of attention and the rest can be cut in half.

All in all it was a pleasant enough read but not as good as the first one.

Thank you Aria & Aries and NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another delightful book with the undeterred Violet whose anger at being treated as flighty or worse foolishly, simply because she is a woman is not only very easily imagined, but also very endearing. And she is someone who cares for others, but perhaps not for their opinions or unkindness, but does try to give some a second chance. But only a second one as we women cannot go on forever trying to find the good in those that do not care that much for others, don't we?!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.