Poor Girls - by Clare Whitfield (Hardcover)

About the Book

1922. Twenty-year-old Eleanor Mackridge is horrified by the future mapped out for her -- to serve the upper classes or find a man to marry (preferably kind). She 'proved useful' working in a munitions factory during the war -- handling explosives -- but now, society is returning to normal and women are being put back in their place. But Eleanor has never paid attention to what society expects of her. When she crosses paths with a member of the notorious female-led gang the Forty Elephants, she is in awe of these bold women who wear diamonds and fur, drink champagne and gin, who take what they want without asking. Now, she sees a new future for herself: she can serve, marry -- or steal. After all, men will only let you down. Diamonds are forever.

Book Synopsis

'Funny, fast-paced and dark... with dialogue that absolutely crackles' ELODIE HARPER
'A brave, bold novel' ARAMINTA HALL

Don't get angry.
Get rich.

1922. Twenty-four-year-old Eleanor Mackridge is horrified by the future mapped out for her - to serve the upper classes or find a husband. During the war, she found freedom in joining the workforce at home, but now women are being put back in their place.

Until Eleanor crosses paths with a member of the notorious female-led gang the Forty Elephants: bold women who wear diamonds and fur, drink champagne and gin, who take what they want without asking. Now, she sees a new future for herself: she can serve, marry - or steal.

After all, men will only let you down. Diamonds are forever.

In Poor Girls, Clare Whitfield exposes the criminal underbelly of 1920s London - but this isn't a morality tale, it's an adventure for the willingly wicked.

'Memorable, outrageous and full of heart.' ELENI KYRIACOU

'Wonderfully roguish characters, and great period detail. Really enjoyable.' IAN MOORE

'A richly vivid and picaresque masterwork... humorous, horrifying and humane.' TOM MEAD

'A compulsive read... A real page turner.' CAITLIN DAVIES

Review Quotes

"A brave, bold novel... It shows us how women have so often had to take the rights that society refuses to give them." --Araminta Hall

"A riveting read, with dialogue that absolutely crackles and a fabulously unsentimental heroine in Nell." --Elodie Harper

"An exuberant and atmospheric read" --The Times

"A pacy, entertaining caper with well-drawn characters" --Good Housekeeping

"Vivid, witty, and full of wonderfully drawn characters" --Woman&Home

"Raucous, fast-paced and dripping with 1920s grime and glamour" --The Sun

"Splendidly entertaining, with sharp characterisation and a great sense of fun" --CrimeTime

About the Author

Clare Whitfield is a UK based writer. While studying for an MA in Creative & Critical Writing at the University of Winchester, her fiction appeared on Spelk, Commuter-Lit, Literary Orphans and in Matt Shaw's Masters of Horror anthology. Clare has published two crime fiction novels, People of Abandoned Character, which won the Goldsboro Glass Bell Award in 2021, and The Gone and The Forgotten. Poor Girls is her third novel.