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.
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The Devil's Draper by Donna Moore was published on 1 May 2025 by Fly On The Wall Press. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review.
Back in September 2023 I read and reviewed Donna Moore's The Unpicking and loved it. It went on to be one of my top books of that year. The author says in her notes that she didn't intend to write a sequel to The Unpicking, but she has, and I am so happy that she did. It's another beautifully written story packed to the rafters with superbly crafted, strong female characters. It is an absolute joy to read.
Whilst this is most certainly a sequel, it is also a strong stand alone novel and readers that are not familiar with the earlier book will not struggle at all. This talented author explains, but doesn't add tedious detail, it's cleverly done.
It's 1920 and the setting is once again, the great city of Glasgow. Mabel is one of only two policewomen in Glasgow. She is treated as a 'statement taker' by her male boss, yet she's probably far more astute than most of the male officers in the force. There are a couple of male officers that treat her with respect, but on the whole she's treated with contempt and pushed into a corner.
Mabel becomes aware of rumours of mistreatment of female workers at Arrol's, a local large department store. The owner is a well respected man in the community and getting anyone to believe the word of a lowly shop girl over a business owner is difficult. However, Mabel is determined to get to the bottom of this.
Enter Johnnie and Beatrice; two new characters. Johnnie is a member of a shop lifting gang and Beatrice runs her own business. Between them, these three women will investigate and expose the truth.
Back in September 2023 I read and reviewed Donna Moore's The Unpicking and loved it. It went on to be one of my top books of that year. The author says in her notes that she didn't intend to write a sequel to The Unpicking, but she has, and I am so happy that she did. It's another beautifully written story packed to the rafters with superbly crafted, strong female characters. It is an absolute joy to read.
Whilst this is most certainly a sequel, it is also a strong stand alone novel and readers that are not familiar with the earlier book will not struggle at all. This talented author explains, but doesn't add tedious detail, it's cleverly done.
It's 1920 and the setting is once again, the great city of Glasgow. Mabel is one of only two policewomen in Glasgow. She is treated as a 'statement taker' by her male boss, yet she's probably far more astute than most of the male officers in the force. There are a couple of male officers that treat her with respect, but on the whole she's treated with contempt and pushed into a corner.
Mabel becomes aware of rumours of mistreatment of female workers at Arrol's, a local large department store. The owner is a well respected man in the community and getting anyone to believe the word of a lowly shop girl over a business owner is difficult. However, Mabel is determined to get to the bottom of this.
Enter Johnnie and Beatrice; two new characters. Johnnie is a member of a shop lifting gang and Beatrice runs her own business. Between them, these three women will investigate and expose the truth.
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, a hundred years later. The plot flows effortlessly, the characters are beautifully formed and the setting is sublime. Highly recommended by me.
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Donna Moore is the author of crime fiction and historical fiction.
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.
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, facilitates creative writing workshops and has a PhD in creative writing around women’s history and gender-based violence.
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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.
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, facilitates creative writing workshops and has a PhD in creative writing around women’s history and gender-based violence.
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