No Women Were Harmed

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1800s
A01=Heather Mottershead
antiheroine
asylum
Author_Heather Mottershead
betrayal
british history
Category=FBA
contemporary
crime fiction
daily mail prize
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eq_fiction
eq_isMigrated=1
eq_isMigrated=2
eq_modern-contemporary
eq_nobargain
european history
european literature
family saga
family sagas
feminism
historical
historical british fiction
historical european fiction
historical mystery
history
inspirational
intended for women and girls
killer
lies
literary
liz nugent strange sally diamond
london
madness
metaphysical
murder
murder mystery
mystery
nineteenth century
religious inspirational
secrets
stacey halls mrs england
thriller
triflers need not apply camilla bruce
unreliable narrator
untold stories
victorian
victorian asylum
Victorian period
villain
whodunnit
women
women writers & fiction
women's rights
world literature

Product details

  • ISBN 9781408730935
  • Weight: 531g
  • Dimensions: 162 x 238mm
  • Publication Date: 18 Sep 2025
  • Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
  • Publication City/Country: GB
  • Product Form: Hardback
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And so, I am mad after all...The shackles gouge my wrists, disturbing the scars of Strangeways Prison's fetters. But no matter; if I bleed, I will not die: I am already dead.

Named after the funeral flower, Lily has walked hand-in-hand with death for as long as she can remember.

But the fact that death has chosen to follow her through life can hardly be conceived as her fault.

Certainly she cannot be expected to take the blame for the slew of missing men in her wake.

In fact, Lily is in no doubt that there has been some terrible mistake, and she will be released from this asylum any day now.

Now she just needs to convince you too...

Set against the harsh realities of a Victorian asylum, this compelling historical debut sees one unruly woman take her revenge on the men who would keep her caged, and ultimately asks where we draw the line between villain and victim in a society where the odds are stacked against women from the start. Perfect for fans of MRS ENGLAND by Stacey Halls, THE MAD WOMEN'S BALL by Victoria Mas and LILY by Rose Tremain.

Praise for No Women Were Harmed:

'An intriguing setting, complex characters and evocative writing; [No Women Were Harmed] has all the ingredients of a bestseller' Clare Mackintosh, author of The Last Party

'Sarah Waters meets Promising Young Woman with the most glorious of unreliable narrators. Absolutely loved it - so gripping, so unpredictable, and Lily is a character for the ages, unapologetically devious and sly, but still a(n anti) heroine readers will be rooting for. I'll be recommending this one to many people!' Naomi Kelsey, author of The Burnings

'A delightfully dark Victorian romp, No Women Were Harmed is an absolute treat for anyone who loves an unreliable narrator with a biting voice.' Carmella Lowkis, author of Spitting Gold

'A smart, immersive historical debut that will have you rooting for and questioning Lily in equal measure' My Weekly

'A well-crafted tale, as devious Lily justifies her actions...Mottershead's meticulous research reveals the realities of the asylum and the sad fates of the women housed there - one which Lily is determined to avoid at all costs' Daily Mail

'When the odds are stacked against a woman, what is she capable of?...Blurring the lines between victim and villain, this darkly riveting tale is impossible to put down' Woman's Own

'Set against the backdrop of a crumbling asylum, an unfortunate childhood, and callous characters, this novel is gripping, thrilling, and troubling...' Dan Bassett, Waterstones Bookseller

Winner of the Daily Mail First Novel competition, Heather Mottershead lives in Shropshire. Having been an accountant for more years than she cares to remember, she undertook a part-time History and English BA degree in 2009. Her debut novel, No Women Were Harmed, was born out of her love for both historical research and the county in which she resides.

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