Disclaimer: Please note I was sent a free Advance Review Copy (ARC) from Duckworth Books in exchange for my honest review.

I don’t (generally) reach for historical fiction, but Duckworth Books decided to force me out of my shell with this one. I devoured Eliza Mace in a couple of days for how witty, fast-paced and well-woven it was.

The book tells the story of 16-year-old Eliza Mace, who is trying to affirm herself and break free of a dysfunctional family that cages her potential and shadows her cleverness. When Eliza’s recluse of a father disappears one drunken night, she sets off to uncover just what happened to him, defying social norms and her family’s wishes over and over again in order to succeed.

We find out early on that Robert Mace, Eliza’s father, is in severe debt, having brought many people, including his own brother, on the cusp of ruin with his careless spending and so-called ‘business’ endeavours. Her mother, who is the rightful owner of the estate where the Maces live, is deeply disturbed by her husband’s antics, and even his mere presence throws her in a constant state of anxiety.

We then have Eliza’s uncle, James Mace, who lives on the estate, having otherwise no money to his name, but who has played a key role in Eliza’s upbringing and her wittiness and curiosity to escape the limitations of her own background.

When her father goes missing one night, following a violent argument with his closest servant, Eliza becomes set on one goal and one goal only: to find out what happened to him. She starts helping Dafydd, the new constable in town, to piece together the circumstances of the disappearance and becomes indispensable to finding the truth.

What I Loved About ‘Eliza Mace’

Despite her and I sharing a name, Eliza is nothing like me, in the best way possible. She is reckless, fearless and incredibly disobedient, constantly stepping over her mother and uncle’s advice to get what she wants. She is a quick-witted girl with strong principles, who never gives up on proving that she is not a child anymore.

I loved her character and can even say that I learned from her. I learned from her stubborness, her determination and her eagerness to stand her ground, which I often lack in favour of pleasing others. She has her flaws and is quick to admit being wrong when needed, but her confidence and drive are unbeatable.

Eliza’s complexity is not the only one that shines in the book, however. All characters are built in a solid, realistic way, making it easy to visualise them walking around in real life. For a book of under 300 pages, admirable care and attention is given to secondary characters and their back stories, which is what makes the book so engaging.

Despite being set in the 1870s, the book manages to combine historical nuance and societal aspects of the time with an organic sense of reasoning that perfectly suits modern-day readers. I so dread historical fiction books that dwell on what was wrong with society back then, making them impossible to digest and taking away from the story.

What to Expect From the Book

If you love mystery, strong characters and dark English settings, this is the book for you. You can expect so much from it:

• a Poirot-esque protagonist whose wit is impossible to escape
• adventure, mystery and thrill
• a powerful and unlikely friendship
• a varied and true to the times cast of characters
• family drama

TW: Please bear in mind that there is a depiction of sexual assault.

Eliza Mace by Sarah Burton and Jem Poster comes out on 7 March 2024 from Duckworth Books. You can preorder your copy on their website.