I was enticed by the premise and subject matter of this novel. It started well and I expected lots of twists and turns. Unfortunately I didn't find it.
While the book is well written, it just wasn't for me. I'm sure many people will enjoy it though.

I always enjoy reading about characters who actually existed hence this book appealed to me. Not much has been written about the female convicts who were sent to Australia. I liked the quilting theme that headed each title. I would recommend it.

Dangerous Women is an excellent example of female-led historical fiction. Based on a true story, it depicts the lives of almost 200 women sentenced to transportation to Tazmania, and the coverlet they created during the crossing under the guidance of Kezia Hayter. Though they lived in a world governed by men, these women, their lives and motivations are in the very centre of this story, accompanied by a fictional murder.

200 women convicts on board a ship to Australia, with a murderer on board. Great story but it’s a bit slow in the middle, worth persevering as it picks up again

Sadly, I didn't finish the book which is about a group of female prisoners and their fellow passengers on a journey to "a new world".

I just couldn't muster interest in finding out about the characters, might be something to do with going into Tier 4/lockdown at the time of reading, just before Christmas.

While I quite enjoyed this book I did find it a tad slow and a little repetitive. I accept this is a fictional account based on a real event and while the author did not fall into the trap of gratuitous embellishment of characters I do feel it lacked a little depth. Some of both the conditions and characters could have been more developed during the long and slow journey across the world without loosing the main thread of the story. By no means a poor book just feel it could have been more.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

3.5 stars

This book was provided to me via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Dangerous Women follows almost 200 convict women as they embark on a voyage from London, UK to Hobart, Australia as punishment for the various crimes in the mid-1800s. Along the way, they complete a patchwork quilt known as the Rajah quilt, after the boat they are travelling on. I was surprised at the end of the book to find out that all of this is true but the story of what happened on the voyage presented by Adams is fictitious.

The book is written from multiple character viewpoints and bounces between the early days of the voyage under 'Then' chapters, and later days after the incident under 'Now' chapters. I found this really difficult to get my head around to start with and was confused as to who was who and had to keep checking if I was in a 'Then' or 'Now' chapter. Perhaps a character list to reference may be helpful to the reader, as although it was confusing I suspect this was intended as the characters themselves were trying to work out who was responsible.

Despite the confusion, I thought it was well written and I enjoyed the history aspect of the story especially with the ambition to highlight the issues faced by women of the time, where many were convicted of crimes that were committed as an act of survival as opposed to true malevolence. Sadly many of these issues and circumstances still exist today.

It isn't a book that blew me away but it was an enjoyable and enlightening read and I'm off to find out more about this ship, the blanket and it's history. It would also be nice, in the final version of the book, to see sketches or photos of the sections of the blanket referenced in the descriptions at the beginning of each chapter.

This is the story of 200 female convicts who are on the Rajah, being transported to the other side of the world, for a new start. Some of the women form a group, and stitch a quilt that will be a record of their journey. Each chapter starts with a description of the patch they're working on. Its a shame there wasn't a diagram or drawing of the finished quilt. One of these sewers is murdered, and there are several possible suspects. I was hoping the story would be a bit more exciting than it was. It seemed almost too calm, any didn't feel at all threatening to me. It was an interesting read, when you remember that it was a fictional account of a true story, but just a bit slow for me.

En route to Australia, there is a stabbing on board a ship of convict women. This is the story of those women and what happened on that fateful journey.

I'm still not quite sure about this book. I do like a historical setting and the idea of a ship full of convict women is a really good one, particularly when it is loosely based on real characters. However, I finished this book a few days ago and I can't really remember the detail of the story or the characters which really doesn't bode well.

I think the idea is a good one but it probably isn't the best I have read.

I was very keen to read this book as I lived in Tasmania for a number of years and convict history is a popular topic. This novel tells us of the journey from England to Van Diemen’s Land - now Tasmania. All these women are convicted criminals, some for petty crimes, others more serious, such as murder.
On the voyage, aboard the Rajah, we get to know Miss Hayter, the matron who looks after the women, and several of her charges. They make a coverlet, from scraps of fabric, and, as they are sewing, we learn of their crimes and their former lives in England.
One of the women on board is killed, and much of the novel is spent trying to find out who is guilty of this crime.
This novel is based on real events and it is well written. It is intriguing to find out why women were deported, and it gives us a little insight into what life might have been like for these women, going to the other side of the world to start a new life.

Dangerous Women.
Based upon a true story, The Rajah is a prison ship, transporting 200 women, convicted of various crimes to Tasmania in 1841.
Kezia is a 23 year old Matron, who has been selected by Elizabeth Fry and other ladies concerned with prison reform, to accompany these prisoners in order to look after the welfare of the women and their children. She will also be responsible for their moral education by prayers, hymns and needlework, in order to prevent the mischief of idle hands whilst on board.
Clara, another prisoner, is attempting to conceal her crime, and has taken on a new identity in order to make a new life for herself.
Hattie has no family left behind in England, her 6 year old son, Bertie, is also on board for that very reason. Hattie is murdered on board.
Kezia tries to find out who the murderer is and why Hattie was chosen.
Told in flashbacks, we learn the story of Hattie and her connection to the murderer. As the voyage takes three months, we learn about life onboard, the filthy living conditions, the food , the boredom and squabbling between the women, the fears and loss each woman is experiencing. Some women had their children onboard and they were educated, but the main focus relates to the titular quilt.
Each chapter heading describes a piece of material that was used in the making of the quilt. Sewing is an occupation , to prevent idle hands and mischief, to educate, and to teach a skill and perhaps a future trade for when they reach Hobart. The Rajah Quilt was made as a gift for Sir John and Lady Jane Franklin, upon landing in Tasmania. This quilt is now in the National Gallery of Canberra, and it is truly wonderful, I visited the pictures online, the original colours must have been so vivid, and brought a little piece of hope and beauty into such a sad and desperate occasion.
A wonderfully inspiring read, full of compassion and friendship. The sadness of these women and the petty crimes committed, take us back to a harsher world. Full of the social history of this time, I enjoyed this book immensely. The early days of prison reform very well described, and Kezia is a very capable and sympathetic character. The attitude of the Captain was enlightened ,I found him to be very modern for those times.
A five star read, no doubt about it. Would be a marvellous addition to any school bookcase. I will leave reviews on Goodreads and Amazon when pages are opened. These opinions are my own, thank you to the publishers for my advance copy.

Omg!!! I have fallen in love with this story. It’s left me breathless, laughing at the saucy women who don’t give two ahems for anyone’s opinion.I also loved that Kaizia was strong and could hold her own against the men even if you felt like socking them whenever they played the don’t fret your pretty little head. I loved how all the women felt real and all their faults even though they stole was either due to circumstances beyond their control to people who helped mothers get rid of inconveniences such as babies. I don’t hold with that but if you are desperate and feel you just cannot provide for them... what would you do? And who would you turn to at that time? If you are silent then yes that was their dilemma too. I just was gripped from the first page and just loved it. Also knowing that yes the captain and the matron did get to marry in real life just puts a shine to the story. Honestly a gem of a book... I want more from this author!!!!

Having recently enjoyed The Exiles, another story based on transportation to Australia I was keen to pick up Dangerous Women which charts the Rajah on a three month voyage of transportation of petty criminals in 1849. The story is richly drawn and based on a true story.

Onboard are a mix of women and some children mainly petty criminals but there's also a murderer onboard who has hidden her crime. The story is told before and now and is told by 3 women - Kezia Hayter, the Matron in charge of the women, Hattie the victim and Clara whose is hiding a secret...

Kezia hand picks women with sewing skills to work on a quilt which becomes known as The Rajah Quilt. It seems it's one of these women who harms Hattie.... The Captain, Chaplain and Surgeon make it their aim to find the killer.

A great read which I recommend.

Dangerous women, by Hope Adams, is based on a true story of around 200 female convicts being transported from English prisons to Tasmania, in 1841. On board the Rajah, the female criminals are a mixed bunch all with interesting back stories. The overwhelming feeling is of sympathy towards most of the convicts caught in the act of petty crimes. Though mostly unapologetically guilty, these women are, for the most part, put in horrible positions through their circumstances and abuse they have suffered at the hands of men.

The story centres around a murder of one of the convicts and the chapters move back and forth between then (when the murder took place towards the start of the voyage) and now (the inquest lead by the captain, chaplain and matron in charge of the ladies needs, around three months into sailing). On their voyage, selected women, as part of a rehabilitation scheme, sew a large, patchwork quilt. The women in this sewing group are the main suspects in the murder and the quilt features heavily in the story. The story is told from the perspective of three very different women. Kezia Hayter, the matron of the ship, who is attempting to inspire the women and bring them a sense of purpose through the quilt making project. Hattie, the unfortunate victim of the stabbing and lastly, Clara, who is not who she seems—she has stolen the identity of another prisoner in order to escape a harsher sentence. It is implied throughout the book that she has her secret to keep and would go to any lengths to do so. She is the assumed killer but did she actually do the deed?

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and didn’t mind the Then and Now chapters. Sometimes moving back and forward through a story can halt the flow but I didn’t find that here. I did however find the small descriptions of the patchwork segments at the start of each chapter tiresome.

I would recommend this book highly. It is a thought provoking and historically humbling read.

This is an excellent and very well-written book which I found to be a really absorbing read. The basis of the story is the journey of female convicts being transported to Van Diemens Land in the 1840's and is based upon a true story. Parts of the story have been embroidered to add mystery but the history on which the book is based is true and very interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and can highly recommend it.

This is well-written, with chapters going back and forth, telling the back story of the women. There are descriptions of the quilt at the beginnings of the chapters. I would have loved to have seen a photograph of it somewhere in the book, or maybe on the front cover. I did think the plot was slow and repetitive and slightly sanitized - there was a bit of swearing and descriptions of poor conditions but it was a little tame. Also, none of the characters stood out - the women seemed interchangeable for me.

In 1841 The Rajah sailing ship was tasked with transporting 180 female convicts from London to Hobart in Tasmania. The Master of the Rajah was Charles Ferguson, the ships surgeon was James Donovan and along with the 180 women there were 10 children and Kezia Hayter who had been sent out to Australia by prison reformer Elizabeth Fry to look after the convicts. One of her duties was to supervise a group of women in the task of creating a patchwork quilt which would become the Rajah quilt.

Hope Adams has created a fictional account of the journey of the Rajah and those onboard. We see the women's lives through different characters (she deliberately changed the convicts names), we see their past, we see friendships blossoming and we hear their voices. To add interest to the story we have a woman with a deadly secret and an assault takes place on one of the women causing fear and suspicion to take hold amongst the women.

This is one to watch in 2021, it's a fascinating tale, features characters who are fully rounded and it's just a great novel.

Based on a real journey and real historical characters, Dangerous Women is set on the 1841 voyage of the Rajah, a ship transporting female convicts to Van Dieman’s Land (now known as Tasmania). Midway through the voyage a woman is stabbed and suddenly it seems that there is a murderer in their midst.

The story is told from the perspective of three women: 23-year-old Kezia Hayter is employed as the matron of the ship and is attempting to inspire the women and bring them a sense of purpose through a group embroidery project. Hattie, a petty criminal, is one of Kezia’s sewing group until she is stabbed. Lastly, Clara is not who she seems—she has stolen the identity of another prisoner in order to escape a harsher sentence. Could her secret be a motive for murder? The story jumps back and forth between events in the past and the aftermath of Hattie’s stabbing as the captain, chaplain and ship’s doctor, with the help of Kezia, try to unmask a murderer.

Dangerous Women is wonderful combination of evocative historical fiction, murder mystery, romance and thought-provoking social commentary—most of the women being transported were convicted of petty crimes that they had been driven to by poverty and other circumstances. This book is trying to do a lot and at first, I found the different narrative voices and the time jumps confusing. But once I had the characters straight the story flowed more naturally. It’s a wonderfully sympathetic tale that, like the Rajah Quilt, encompasses a rich patchwork of women’s voices—harmoniously stitched together with occasional bloodstains. The real Rajah Quilt, that inspired the author, is still available to view in the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra.

I thoroughly enjoyed this clever, poignant tale of embroidery and murder on the high seas.

This was a very interesting story, but, with the premise of a murderer amongst a ship-load of convicts, I expected this to be a more exciting read. I think the constant back and forth in the narrative prevented the story from moving forward and made it feel slow. It was well written, but not compelling.

Wow what an amazing story. This is based on a true story which made it all the better. Women and some small children were sent to Australia for small crimes and this is their story. This was a chance to restart their lives and put their crimes behind them but heartbreakingly they had to leave their families behind including their children in most circumstances.

The journey aboard the ship called Rajah was grueling with conditions being very poor for them but this is also about their strength, spirit and comradery. They were a sisterhood that were forced together for the journey of 4 months and in those circumstances their personalities shone through.

It's about them coming together to make a patchwork quilt, which is still known as the Rajah Quilt and this still exists in the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra. This particular voyage was very well documented so the author has used that which also helps to make it so good.

It was a glimpse into the lives aboard the ship Rajah. It was extremely sad but also uplifting and although it doesn't say what happened to the ladies once they got off of the ship you find yourself wishing them well and hope they made the most of the fresh start. A follow up story would be great.

Truly inspirational