Lillian Armfield: How Australia's first female detective took on Tilly Devine and the Razor Gangs and changed the face of the force
I enjoyed it, but this book had quite a personal resonance for me. I am very familiar with many of the places it references, as wells as the experience of being a female in a male dominated industry. However, it was interesting reading about the story of one who can claim to be a first. The courage that Armfield must have shown going into those situations armed with only her pearls, handbag and her wits is astonishing. Inner Sydney in the early 20th century was a much more violent place that it is today. It is always difficult going first as you have no role models, no one to give you a help along and show you what you might expect.It was very well researched, but it was only ok. I would have like to have seen less repetition of events and more analysis of specific situations or of the roles of women in society generally in comparison to that of women in the police. But it didn't significantly detract from my enjoyment of the book and my admiration for Ms Armfield.
