It is one of those books that transports you making you forget about real life. Moving and insightful

A powerful story which was both heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. The story set during the suffragette movement looks at the discrimination of the lower class. Was very moving and very well written

Compelling and tragic, this book had me utterly hooked from the first page. I read it over two days. Fantastic read.

A heart-wrenching tale of how one persons actions can ricochet and affect so many people. It’s a story of betrayal, loss, love and torment and I loved every second of it! Well maybe loved isn’t the best word. But this story resonated with me a lot!

I loved the flicking between POVs and I loved especially being in the mind of Lottie as we watch her grow and change due to the events of the novel. I found the writing to incredibly beautiful and portray emotions such as aguish, heartbreak and revenge so perfectly. I was highlighting so many different sentences and passages.

Well written with a compelling cast of characters and a compelling storyline. At times this made for uncomfortable reading and it does have hard hitting topics in it that some readers may find hard. However, saying that they were handled well as necessary for the story. I enjoyed it

This book was uncomfortable to read, especially the first half. Sexual assault is always tough to read about, and the author has written it in a way that is so real that everything Lotta experiences is still heartbreakingly relevant today. Her fear, her confusion, the accusations thrown at her, the injustice of it all - they are echoes of experiences women are still going through today.

An excellent book (though it may not be for everyone).

“Halloween night, 1906. Lotta Rae is assaulted by a wealthy gentleman and bravely takes him to trial alongside her barrister, William.

But the verdict is devastating, the consequences unimaginable. When Lotta discovers she has been betrayed, she vows to deliver her own justice.

Twelve years later, William and Lotta meet again: this night, their final reckoning.”

Thank you to Welbeck Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity of reading this book in exchange for an honest review:

This book was recommended to me by a friend from my online Book Group. When she told me it was one of the best books she had read last year (in advance of its January 2023 publication), I knew it would be good. However, I didn’t realise it would be so good!

I absolutely loved it and was gripped right from the start. The characters are so believable and throughout the book I was rooting for Lotta. It made me consider how actions and their consequences and decisions taken can have a knock on effect on so many people’s lives for such a long time. It made me think about repercussions, guilt, bereavement, loss, heartbreak, injustice and how, especially in the early 1900’s social class could be a deciding factor of life outcomes. The ending, which in many books is often disappointing was fulfilling and satisfying. I will in turn recommend this book to my friends!

An interesting book, atmospheric and exceedingly tragic, I particularly enjoyed the section about the fight for women votes.

A very interesting, engaging historical fiction. I thought this book was very well written with characters I really enjoyed and connected with. I liked reading about the Suffragetes too. It was very suspenful and kept me on my toes throughout. I read it in 3 sittings because I didn't want to stop reading!

The Trial of Lotta Rae is so much more than its name. I really enjoyed the trial and the lead up story; of Lotta’s relationships at work, with her family and with the professionals. Once the trial was over I found the book and its characters less easy to follow- it appeared as though people’s personalities had changed and this felt incongruent with what had already passed.

I enjoyed learning more about the Suffragettes and their movement, however this part of the novel felt shoe horned in as a personal passion project for the author rather than embellish the story line.
The ending, for me, was unsatisfactory- I felt as though a more powerful conclusion was needed.

I’d like to thank the publishers, author and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review

I was really excited when I heard about this book. it deals with a young woman from the working class and her journey to get justice. The novel is well written and it really keeps you hooked. It also deals with the Suffragettes and as someone who is very interested in that period of time, I loved this element of the story. It is not an easy read as it deals with horrible subjects, but these subjects are important and expertly dealt with. If you like historical fiction, novels about the class systems (especially about working-class protagonists), novels about women and justice, I would recommend this novel to you.

Wow, what a book. I absolutely could not put this book down. I even took longer breaks from work to finish it. This book is amazing and the way the book tells the same timelines but from a different person perspective was done with real panache. Lotta's character was so well rounded I felt myself getting upset at what she had to put up with and that does not normally happen when I am reading it was almost like she was a real person and not a fictional character.
This is one of those books that will stay with you long after you have finished it.

*Many thanks to Siobhan MacGowan, Welbeck Publishing, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
A teenage girl, Lotta Rae, at the dawn of the 20th century makes plans for future which are shuttered one night and which open ways to several tragedies befalling herself and her family. A strong female protagonist and her male counterpart become rivals involved in a dangerous game which is called having knowledge and power. This is a good read and kept me interested, however, as the plot unravelled, I felt bigger distance towards Lotta. There was something missing in her to make me connect with her more.

My absolute favourite book of 2023 so far!

It’s the 1920s and when Charlotte ‘Lotta’ Rae is attacked the night of her work party she is assigned to barrister William Linden. Neither of them realise their lives are going to be forever lost entwined, marked my love, loss, betrayal and anger. Covering the First World War, the Suffragette movement and the beginnings of the Labour party this novel is an insightful look into history.

Wow! I devoured this read. The emotional rollercoaster I experienced while reading this novel! Siobhan has given so much humanity and depth to the plot and to the characters it’s difficult at times to remember this is a novel with key points in history written through. It is an especially poignant read considering what is happening in our current climate, as though history and it’s mistakes are reflected back at us. This is brilliant for those who love historical fiction, women’s fiction and social justice.

Lotta Rae is an innocent and joyful teenager in London, just loving her work and courting with her true love.
The problem is real value attracts the dirtiest minds and so her life changes for ever.. naivity costs Lotta Rae everything!!

On trial all her trust is on one man, William, a forty something lawyer with a career to protect. When asked to defend Lotta, he sees a way out to maintain his lifestyle and family safe. Will he keep his word and be the man Lotta can trust to defend her honour and fight for the truth?
In the end, Lotta is betrayed not once but twice!!!
This historical novel is by far my favourite read in 2023, excellent writing, full of historical context and really bringing the sufragette movement to light!!!!

Thank you so so much to @welbeckpublish for this excellent book!!

The author is the sister of Shane MacGowan and both share that great Irish trait of telling a great story.
The main character in the book Charlotte Rae has a tough upbringing and her ways of dealing with tragedy hold her in good stead for her future calamities - which are many.
I did wonder how the character of William Linden - who is Charlotte's lawyer in her brave court case to defend her self against a high status man who has raped her - would reappear as such a major part of her story. But the author adds twists to the tale which bring him back because of his own guilty actions.
The setting of London is well drawn atmospherically although I did feel it more Victorian than Edwardian at times. The backdrop of the suffragettes and World War I added to the realism and made Lotta's actions move into different strata of the changing society at that time - especially for women.
As death - itself a huge Irish theme of life- draws into Charlotte's surroundings we are immersed into a ghostly telling of earthly actions that come to seek deliverance from guilt not love and understanding.
Some of the background settings could have done with a little more fleshing out rather than descriptive plotting but overall an interesting idea for a novel and a main character who carries us as readers through both her life and death.

"Set in suffragette London. Lotta Rae is a working-class 15-year-old, raped by a wealthy gentleman, who makes the brave decision to testify in court. William Lindon is a barrister about to lose everything. Both have decisions to make that will change the course of their lives and the lives of everyone around them for generations to come."

This book is powerful, sad and haunting. It's a masterpiece of storytelling, mainly because it could be the real story of any working class girl in a time when absolutely everything was stacked against her.
Despite the title of the book, the trial takes place very early on and the rest of the book is made up of the repercussions felt by Lotta, her barrister and her family and friends.
Set in Suffragette era London, she joins in the fight for Women's independence and freedom from Men, she suffers at the hands of many and somehow manages to hold on to love and honour for her parents sake.

It's not an easy read, it's cruel and it's harsh. There are times you can see what's coming and other times when the worst thing jumps out at you, I found myself muttering under my breath or gasping in horror when certain places or people were mentioned, knowing what the outcome would be.

Like I said above, Lotta could be ANY working class girl fighting against the higher classes, and that is what makes this book so haunting to read.
A huge congratulations to the Author, she has created a very vivid story that will stay with me for a long, long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the chance to read and review this book.

An absorbing novel and a well crafted storyline. Some excellent characterisation, especially Lotta. The novel picks up on the major transformative events of the early 20th century, the suffragette movement and ww1. These however are side issues to the predominant theme of the exploitation of a woman in the context of a class ridden society. It highlights the scandal of how women are effectively blamed when raped and draws out the consequences of that injustice. However, despite denying the existence of a higher power, the book makes great play on the idea that if justice is not done in this life, the world beyond us will exact its revenge. An interesting idea

This book was fascinating from start to finish. I loved the emotions it evoked in me, everything from heartbreak to anger. What surprised me the most about the book was that the trial itself wasn't the book's main focus but rather the aftermath. I really liked that about the story as it was a refreshingly new take on a woman scorned and out for revenge after being taken advantage of by men, especially a man who was supposed to be on her side to help her get justice.

The writing was exceptional without being wordy. It stayed true to the timeline but you don't need to be a scholar to understand and enjoy it. I also appreciated how Lotta was portrayed as an extraordinary woman with a simple background, proving that you don't need to be rich or highly educated to make a difference in the world. Although not a happy story it is a very real and accurate one that I enjoyed immensely. All. The. Stars.

This book starts with a brutal attack on a young woman by a member of a higher social standing. This then leads to the criminal trial of the individual which means that it turns into an attack on the victim. It is after this is all over that we find out that the people meant to protect the victims have conspired to ensure that the man is vindicated and the woman vilified.

This then has a knock on effect on the story and eventually leads to the woman putting into place a plan for revenge which does not go according to plan. Through the authors story telling we then find ourselves gripped between the dual pov's of the two main characters - the young woman and the man who was her laywer.

The author shows how everything has a cause and reaction and finds a way to put this story into words so that you can be on the side of both of them but still be emotionally attached to the woman by the end of the story. This is a strong story about survival and resilience of people during a time when women were the underdogs and had to fight for their rights.