No Women Were Harmed
On sale
18th September 2025
Price: £24.99
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.
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.
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Reviews
An intriguing setting, complex characters and evocative writing; [No Women Were Harmed] has all the ingredients of a bestseller
A fabulous Sarah Waters meets Promising Young Woman slice of Victoriana about madness and murderousness 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!
A delightfully dark Victorian romp, No Women Were Harmed is an absolute treat for anyone who loves an unreliable narrator with a biting voice.
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.
An unreliable narrator makes for an intriguing lead character and compulsive reading in this historical novel set in the late 19th century...mesmerising
Lily has found herself shackled in a Victorian asylum, accused of leaving a slew of missing men in her wake...Haunting
A smart, immersive historical debut that will have you rooting for and questioning Lily in equal measure