This was such an enjoyable read! I had no idea about the existence of The Forty Thieves before now and Georgina Clarke evokes the period beautifully. What is equally impressive is how she draws such vivid pictures of the very different social milieu in which the main characters, Ruby & Harriet, struggle to live. What these spirited, clever, proto-feminist women have in common is a desire for agency and independence of thought and they both see in each other what the other one wants… this drives the story and is emotionally engaging. A fabulous and thoughtful novel.

This is definitely in my top ten books of the year. I loved it!
The story is centred around two strong female protagonists who are both brilliant characters.
Firstly we are introduced to Ruby. She is a key member of the renowned forty thieves gang but Ruby is highly ambitious, talented, beautiful and seeks more from her life than small time thieving.
I was fascinated by the forty thieves and loved reading about the relationships both between the women in the group and with the Elephant Boy gang that they work alongside.
A bit later in the story we meet Harriet. She comes from a prestigious family and is about to be married to a politician who aspires to become the next Prime Minister. She has aspirations in journalism however and seeks some excitement in her boring domestic life with her parents!
Soon Ruby's and Harriet's worlds collide. They are both intrigued and slightly envious of the other.
I found this such an immersive read and could imagine the forty thieves local haunt 'The Crown pub,' the seedy nightlife in Soho as well as all the prestigious new department and jewellery stores that the thieves frequented.
For me this book had everything; an exciting plot, fantastic characters and an atmospheric setting in 1920s London society. I will be ordering the rest of Georgina Clarke's novels after reading this one. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction.

Thank you VERVE for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is vaguely like Peaky Blinders crossed with Oliver & Killing Eve (vibes only, it’s not nearly as violent or dramatic) — but you’ve got a 1920 setting, corruption, a group of career thieves, a women who is part of that group, and someone investigating her who gets a little too fascinated — you get the idea.

I enjoyed the writing, ignoring one strange sentence about dog shit. The characters are fleshed out nicely and I enjoyed reading about both of our MC’s. The plot develops well; by the last 50 pages I was reading it while I made my brew because I wanted to know what happened.

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.

Overall I enjoyed it and I would recommend to anyone fancying something that feels like a women-focussed, queer-ish, lower stakes side story to the Peaky Blinders.

Historical fiction at its best, The Dazzle of the Light drops you straight into the underworld of 1920s London and introduces you to the notorious 40 Thieves gang. Female criminals, in perhaps the most elegant of eras? I was hooked.

Georgina Clarke is an excellent writer, moving the plot along with a strong pace and keeping readers infuriated, excited and shocked by the events. None of us will be surprised by the differences between the classes, but the envy that Ruby and Harriet feel for each other is fantastic to see. To a woman like Harriet – who wishes to have her own career, yet is expected to marry well and become nothing more than a wife – Ruby’s life is glamorous, exciting and newsworthy. For Ruby, the idea of never having to worry about money is equally as appealing and fascinating.

The two women spend very little time together, but their stories do ultimately collide. Both characters are believable, relatable and even enviable – not just in their ambition (different though they are), but in their hunger and desire for a life of independence and security on their own terms.

Throughout the book our sympathies change, but the end leaves us feeling more sorry for Harriet. Perhaps she has made the right choice, given the circumstances, but seeing her unhappy and dependent is a far cry from Ruby’s continued sashaying around London.

And what a London it is. Clarke has perfectly captured the sights, sounds and smells of 1920s London. This novel is vivid, evocative and immersive. A fantastic book that I shan’t forget in a hurry.

An intriguing and genuinely fun book, about a gang of women who use their nifty fingers and skills in observation and sleight of hand to steal items from department stores that were big back in 20s unlike today where they are relatively thin. We follow a two characters one who’s born into an easy life and yet yearns for excitement and the other who was born into a life of hardship and yet also dreams of glitter and diamonds and luxury but had to steal what she can get. These two women from different sides of the streets of London find themselves meeting and being connected in different ways. I liked the boldness and vitality of Ruby but found Harriet a bit staid and too mild, I understand that the times were different and views on women working were rather looked down on, but I feel she gave up on her beliefs too easy for my liking. This is a good book though and reveals fascinating details into the life of a gang of thieves all women.