This was a gem of a novel that told the stories of two independently minded young women negotiating a changing society still struggling to come to terms with the devastation of the Great War. Most of the story is based around actual events and real people which I always find so interesting in historical fiction novels. Confess this is one of the reasons i drive a higher vehicle when not at work, the difference in sitting that two or three feet higher is amazing.

This book single handedly has helped me through my poorly period this week and I absolutely adored it. 6/5 if it were possible. Its very rare to be dazzled by incorrectly adjusted headlights unlike 40 years ago. I guess modern design and the mot sees to that.As the book moves on, Harriet and Ruby’s lives become intertwined through events brought about by Harriet and her journalistic ambitions. Each, in their own way, glamorises the other which makes for an interesting, eventful and tense plot.

Ruby Mills is ruthlessly ambitious, strikingly beautiful - and one of the Forty Thieves' most talented members.

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My main complaint is how long it took to get going, it could’ve been much shorter — there’s only so many times I want to read about people stealing gloves. Stakes were very low until the end, so it was a little tough to keep interest initially. Please also be aware there are multiple instances of SA, although it’s 1920 and probably accurate, it can be tiring to read about women having little to no choice in their sexual encounters quite so often. The light wars i'm afraid are here and only going to get worse as millions more people arrive and millions more cars go on the road, plus hundreds of thousands of houses more plus amenities shopping centres etc means more light still, all you can do is try to mitigate the problems for yourself. Lists, twice, naughty, not nice. But before I get to my selection of the best crime fiction I read this year (gentle reminder that far too much is published annually for two Declans to be comprehensive, let alone one) I want to note a few seasonal treats in prospect. This is a great piece of historical fiction and I it had me drawn in form the beginning, as the story unfolded of these women. The supporting characters were rich in description and quite frankly despicable in some cases. The plotting, the deviousness could not be forgiven with some but when these desparate women were turning to all sorts to simply survive, you did suddenly realise how unfair class, society and gender can be and in some cases still is an issue.