Adventures of Maud West, Lady Detective: Secrets and Lies in the Golden Age of Crime

The Adventures of Maud West is a novel that explores the life and career of Maud West, a female private detective in London during the Golden Age of Crime. It combines tales from her casebook with social history and original research to uncover the truth about her life and the reality of being a female private detective in a class-obsessed and male-dominated world.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 13 June 2019
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

The Adventures of Maud West: Lady Detective

If you are a fan of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple and Harriet Vane, you absolutely must read "The Adventures of Maud West." Prepare to be immersed in a world where the line between fact and fiction becomes blurred, and you will never be able to discern one from the other again. Jill Paton Walsh, the author of the Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane mysteries, has crafted a captivating tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Maud West operated her detective agency in London for over thirty years, beginning her sleuthing adventures in 1905 on behalf of the elite of society. Her remarkable exploits captured the attention of the world, but beneath her public persona, she had to conceal essential aspects of her own identity to thrive in a society deeply rooted in classism and male dominance. As Susannah Stapleton reveals, Maud was a most unreliable witness to her own life.

Who was Maud? And what was the reality of being a female private detective in the Golden Age of Crime? "The Adventures of Maud West: Lady Detective" by Stapleton takes you on a journey to uncover the truth behind the stories Maud West told about herself. Through a combination of social history, extensive original research, and captivating storytelling, Stapleton delves into the life and times of this remarkable woman.

As you immerse yourself in the pages of this book, you will encounter a cast of unforgettable characters, including Dr. Crippen and Dorothy L. Sayers. You will also venture into the seedy underbelly of 'good society' during the first half of the twentieth century, encountering Parisian gangsters, Continental blackmailers, and a host of other intriguing individuals. "The Adventures of Maud West: Lady Detective" is not only a portrait of a woman ahead of her time but also a deliciously salacious glimpse into the darker side of a bygone era.

So, if you are seeking a thrilling and captivating read that will transport you to a world of mystery and intrigue, be sure to pick up "The Adventures of Maud West: Lady Detective." You will not be disappointed.

Weight: 638g
Dimension: 236 x 168 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509867295