Enjoyed ( )

4.5* ( )

This book had me in the first few pages with a hanging and The Strange Adventures of H only got better. This rollicking tale takes place place in 1660's England during the reign of Charles II. H, who is called H by her parents because they can't agree on a name, is one of six sisters to her father's chagrin and anger. A minister with no fatherly love for his brood, marries off his two older daughters to two mean and righteous men, runs off the next two into a hard world and dies of a heart attack. The youngest two, H and Evelyn, are packed off to an aunt in London. A mere young adolescent H then has a respite at her aunt's in London where she is treated lovingly and well.
This, however, would be a short and boring book indeed if it ended here and this is not a boring book. As I can't give everything away, H survives the Great Plague of London, The Great Fire of London (all very exciting), destitution, the stage and many other adventures with a surprising end. There was also murder and orphans thrown in for extra entertainment. As Godfrey was putty in Aunt Madge's hands I was a slave to this book to the end. Thankfully, the weather was stormy and the power was out so the interruptions were minimal. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for a review. Also to the author for an afternoon and evenings entertainment. ( )