FROM THE AUTHOR OF 'THE UNPICKING'
When whispers of abuse at Arrol's department store reach Mabel, a determined policewoman, she knows she must act. Enlisting the help of Johnnie, a cunning thief, and Beatrice, a savvy businesswoman, they embark on a perilous journey to uncover the truth.
Set against the backdrop of 1920s Glasgow, where women's voices are often silenced, this thrilling tale weaves together crime, justice, and the fight for equality. As the trio inches closer to exposing the scandal, they realize that in a world where women are rarely believed, their very lives may be at stake.
About the Author :
Donna Moore is an author of crime fiction and historical fiction based in Glasgow. Her first novel, a Private Eye spoof called Go To Helena Handbasket, won the Lefty Award for most humorous crime fiction novel and her second novel, Old Dogs, was shortlisted for both the Lefty and Last Laugh Awards. 'The Unpicking' was published with Fly on the Wall Press in 2023. Her short stories have been published in various anthologies. In her day job she works as an adult literacy tutor for marginalised and vulnerable women at Glasgow Women's Library, facilitates creative writing workshops and has a PhD in creative writing around women’s history and gender-based violence.
Review :
'A page-turning historical mystery set in 1920's Glasgow...This novel throws the fight for women's rights into stark relief, showing us how far we have come, and how far we still have to go.' - Rachel Canwell @bookbound2019, Author of 'Paper Sisters'
'I love female characters who defy societal norms and The Devil's Draper is full of them...Mabel is a wonderful character, I just love her! Another 5 star read.' - Jules Swain, @thereadingpara
'A well-constructed plot twist or two add unexpected layers to the story. Recommended, especially for historical mystery readers and those interested in gender studies.' - Aubrey Hamilton, Librarian
*'Glasgow, the ‘dear, green place’ is here a dark one, and I unreservedly recommend you go there.' *
- Historical Novel Society, Katherine Mezzacappa
'This is a wonderful piece of historical fiction, it exposes the treatment of women in the 1920s and it is interesting to make comparisons to life now. The plot flows effortlessly, the characters are beautifully formed and the setting is sublime. Highly recommended.' - Anne Cater, Random Things Through my Letterbox
'A warm, engaging novel about female spaces and sisterly solidarity triumphing over a misogynistic, narrow-minded system.'- Alastair Mabbott, The Herald
'Much of the charm of this novel is in a plot that reveals the constant challenges thrown at a woman in a society offering very few rights, little respect and a distinct lack of equality. However, not content with taking a backseat to her male counterparts, Mabel is determined to get to the bottom of a spate of thefts and reports of abuse at a local department store, making this is a gripping and entertaining mystery' - Scottish Field Magazine
'Ticks all the right buttons in terms of plot, pacing and relevance... Making light of the necessary feminist agenda pinpointing the inferior condition of women at work between the wars in the UK, Moore perfectly balances the historical minutiae with a plot in overdrive, pulling the reader along with her strong female characters on a slow-burn but fascinating journey, where social relevance and message combine perfectly with storytelling and the right amount of twists.' - Crime Time
'Moore’s descriptions of the period are detailed: the Dadaist Art movement, the suppers, the dancing, the fashions, the wares on display in the grand shops contrast with the dark underbelly of Glasgow and its criminal world, all adding to the atmosphere and creating an authentic sense of time and place.' - Ann Artis, The Yorkshire Times
