Lizzie works in a dress design shop in 1950s Soho, part of London where the morals and societal expectations of the era were apparently ignored. Lizzie is separated from her husband and lost their only daughter, but she's trying to move forward with her life. She invites the young Chinese/British girl Peace to share her flat, and all is going well until Peace disappears...

Apparently this is the fourth in a series involving the same characters, which would explain why there were so many people mentioned who had little part to play in the story. I found this rather confusing in the early chapters; combined with the very informal writing style, and a tendency to over-describe places with lists of details, and I almost considered giving up on the book. But decided to keep going, and am glad I did since by about half way through I was able to get into the style, and found Lizzie increasingly interesting as a person.

I gather that the author grew up in Soho in this era, so the settings and people are, presumably, authentic. As such it was interesting from the social history perspective, although the drama at the end seemed a little far-fetched - but perhaps not.

I imagine this would have been better if read after at least one of the earlier novels in the series. Three and a half stars would be fairer. ( )

Lizzie Robinson, whose daughter Jenny died a year and a half ago, is working as a shop assistant for Freddy the Frock and his partner Antony, and living in a small flat over Bandy's bar. When Sugar asks Lizzie to help out in the bar aon weekends and Bandy niece Peace comes to stay, Lizzie develops a new interest in life. Then Peace disappears....

I don't know how I missed this when it first came out, but it's a good follow-up to the series that starts with Not All Tarts Are Apple. ( )

I enjoyed this historical novel set in Soho, London in the 1950's about a young woman coming into herself. Good period detail, fun & quirky characters, love interest ( )