Title: Portraits and Poison

Series: Lizzie and Belle Mysteries #2

Author: JT Williams

Agents of history. Partners in Mystery. Sisters in solving crime.

Twelve-year-olds Lizzie Sancho and Dido Belle are from different worlds – Lizzie lives in Westminster in her dad’s tea shop, while Belle is an heiress being brought up by her aunt and uncle at grand Kenwood House – but they both share a love of solving mysteries. And after saving Lizzie’s father from attempted murder surely there is no threat too challenging for this detective duo?

It’s the summer of 1777, the night of the grand unveiling of the Sancho-Mansfields family portrait – and a celebration of friendship, family, and freedom! But all too soon things take a dark turn – the painting has been stolen! Now it is time for Lizzie and Belle to put their sleuthing skills to the ultimate test, following a trail of thefts, kidnappings and even poisonings that haunts the twisting London streets.

With a grand conspiracy afoot, and a mysterious organisation threatening their closest friends and family, who can Lizzie and Belle trust? Once again it is up to the two girls to unveil the truth and put an end to the villainy that plagues the city.

I loved Drama and Danger so tripped back to 1777 with Lizzie and Belle!

Lizzie and Belle have a portrait commissioned but it’s stolen so the girls set off with their sleuthing skills to see whodunnit! They might also be able to help a friend.

This was another solid read from JT Williams. Like book 1 highlighted the atrocities committed against black people at this time, this book presented the difficulties that were faced and also misogyny and corruption. It felt like this book was darker and really pulled on my heartstrings.

‘People not property.’

I could read book after book with Lizzie and Belle in this time period.