*UPDATED: FEBRUARY 2026* Now that we have a second season of Artful Dodger, we needed to update the reading list!
Many people missed it in the holiday rush but at the end of November 2023, one of my favourite period dramas ever was released. (Yes, it went into my top 5, maybe top 3, immediately.) The Artful Dodger is a period drama set in the same universe as Oliver Twist but continues the story of Jack Dawkins (aka the Artful Dodger) instead of Oliver. As it is set in colonial Australia, it also makes for a different setting than most Dickens-ish shows. As we’ve sadly only got one season, I obviously had to set out to find books to give that same feeling. These are the best books if you love The Artful Dodger!
The Best Books If You Love The Artful Dodger
If you aren’t familiar with The Artful Dodger, Jack Dawkins served in the navy, and ends up in Australia where he works as a surgeon. Lady Belle Fox is the governor’s daughter who wants to be a surgeon but is limited as a woman; when the two cross paths, things look hopeful. And we’ve got another Twist mainstay appearing- none other than Fagin!
These are all fictional books; I’ve got some non-fiction books on my to-read list that I’m hoping will matchwell but we have several fictional picks to work with already!
Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens
‘A parish child – the orphan of a workhouse – the humble, half-starved drudge – to be cuffed and buffeted through the world, despised by all, and pitied by none’
Dark, mysterious and mordantly funny, Oliver Twist features some of the most memorably drawn villains in all of fiction – the treacherous gangmaster Fagin, the menacing thug Bill Sikes, the Artful Dodger and their den of thieves in the grimy London backstreets. Dickens’ novel is both an angry indictment of poverty, and an adventure filled with an air of threat and pervasive evil.
Why You Should Read This…
This is an obvious choice, but if you’ve not read Oliver Twist, it is a good place to start. I will admit, I do find Dickens’ novels to be a bit of a slog but Twist is a favourite for many! There are some references to the original story in Artful Dodger– you won’t miss too much, but if you like to be in the know, this is your best bet.
The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels, India Holton
A prim and proper lady thief must save her aunt from a crazed pirate and his dangerously charming henchman in this fantastical historical romance.
Cecilia Bassingwaite is the ideal Victorian lady. She’s also a thief. Like the other members of the Wisteria Society crime sorority, she flies around England drinking tea, blackmailing friends, and acquiring treasure by interesting means. Sure, she has a dark and traumatic past and an overbearing aunt, but all things considered, it’s a pleasant existence. Until the men show up.
Ned Lightbourne is a sometimes assassin who is smitten with Cecilia from the moment they meet. Unfortunately, that happens to be while he’s under direct orders to kill her. His employer, Captain Morvath, who possesses a gothic abbey bristling with cannons and an unbridled hate for the world, intends to rid England of all its presumptuous women, starting with the Wisteria Society. Ned has plans of his own. But both men have made one grave mistake. Never underestimate a woman.
When Morvath imperils the Wisteria Society, Cecilia is forced to team up with her handsome would-be assassin to save the women who raised her–hopefully proving, once and for all, that she’s as much of a scoundrel as the rest of them.
Why You Should Read This…
Belle is one of my favourite period drama protagonists. Firstly, her tartan gown in the first episode is amazing. Secondly, she has oomph and her goals aren’t centred on a man- not overly common in period dramas.
The Wisteria Society is the first book in a historical romance series, and is a highly entertaining debut novel. Cecilia reminds me a lot of Belle, and her vibes with Ned remind me of Dodger. (And if you enjoy this, you’ve got two more books in the series to continue on with!)
The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch
An orphan’s life is harsh—and often short—in the mysterious island city of Camorr. But young Locke Lamora dodges death and slavery, becoming a thief under the tutelage of a gifted con artist. As leader of the band of light-fingered brothers known as the Gentleman Bastards, Locke is soon infamous, fooling even the underworld’s most feared ruler. But in the shadows lurks someone still more ambitious and deadly. Faced with a bloody coup that threatens to destroy everyone and everything that holds meaning in his mercenary life, Locke vows to beat the enemy at his own brutal game—or die trying.
Why You Should Read This…
Note: This is the first book in an ongoing series- books two and three are out but book four has been pending for decade now. If you don’t like series that might be left hanging, I would skip this one.
This is the first in a fantasy series, and it absolutely gives me the same feeling as Dodger. It capitalises more on the heist aspect, more early Twist than Dawkins in Dodger. However, it has the fun and excitement of Dodger, and that is not that easily found. It’s also a similar aspect of Fagin and the boys, as Locke is part of a gang, The Gentlemen Bastards, run by Father Chains.
The Murder of Mr. Wickham, Claudia Gray
The happily married Mr. Knightley and Emma are throwing a house party, bringing together distant relatives and new acquaintances—characters beloved by Jane Austen fans. Definitely not invited is Mr. Wickham, whose latest financial scheme has netted him an even broader array of enemies. As tempers flare and secrets are revealed, it’s clear that everyone would be happier if Mr. Wickham got his comeuppance. Yet they’re all shocked when Wickham turns up murdered—except, of course, for the killer hidden in their midst.
Nearly everyone at the house party is a suspect, so it falls to the party’s two youngest guests to solve the mystery: Juliet Tilney, the smart and resourceful daughter of Catherine and Henry, eager for adventure beyond Northanger Abbey; and Jonathan Darcy, the Darcys’ eldest son, whose adherence to propriety makes his father seem almost relaxed. The unlikely pair must put aside their own poor first impressions and uncover the guilty party—before an innocent person is sentenced to hang.
Why You Should Read This…
If you are looking for a book based in a pre-existing literary world, may I present this Austen-based mystery series! We have the son of Darcy and Elizabeth and the daughter of Henry and Catherine solving mysteries together as various Austen characters perish. While there is death, it is still a highly entertaining series! I love when authors and creators are able to take an existing universe and push them further without disturbing the original texts or rewriting them. (And yes, there is a second book in the series out with a third one releasing this summer!)
The Housekeepers, Alex Hay
Mrs. King is no ordinary housekeeper. Born into a world of con artists and thieves, she’s made herself respectable, running the grandest home in Mayfair. The place is packed with treasures, a glittering symbol of wealth and power, but dark secrets lurk in the shadows. When Mrs. King is suddenly dismissed from her position, she recruits an eclectic group of women to join her in revenge: A black-market queen out to settle her scores; an actress desperate for a magnificent part; a seamstress dreaming of a better life; and Mrs. King’s predecessor, with her own desire for vengeance.
Why You Should Read This…
The Housekeepers reminds me of Dawkins- although he is from the lower classes, he is doing what he can to improve his station in life. (It is one of the more difficult parts of the show to watch- he’s got a lot to deal with.) Although one might assume that Dawkins is simply continuing on with his life of petty theft and crime, he actually has some justifiable reasons for trying to change his life, like the women at the heart of The Housekeepers.
The Duke Undone, Joanna Lowell
When Royal Academy painting student Lucy Coover trips over a naked man passed out in an East End alley, she does the decent thing. She covers him up and fetches help. Trouble is, she can’t banish his muscular form from her dreams as easily. She finds herself compelled to put every detail down on canvas. What she doesn’t know is that she’s painting the infamous Duke of Weston, and that her life will never be the same.
A second son, Anthony Philby thought he could flee his brutal family legacy and become his own man. Forced back to London by his brother’s death, he inherits a fortune… with strings attached. One scandal will sink his bid for independence. It’s in his best interest to burn Lucy Coover’s shocking painting and pretend he never met the bewitching young artist. Instead, he finds himself offering a devil’s bargain. He’ll save her aunt’s dressmaking shop from ruin, if she’ll seek out his missing sister, Effie.
As they work together, an unexpected passion ignites between them. But the hunt for Effie leads to unexpected danger, and soon they find themselves risking everything… for a love that might destroy them both.
Why You Should Read This…
This is another historical romance, and this is another book that really reminds me of Belle. As a woman who is attempting to be an artist when only men were accepted in the profession, Lucy has to practice her craft in secret as Belle has to secretly study medicine. This is a darker story than Dodger in many ways, but if you are okay with that, this is a good option! (There is also a second book.)
My Fair Frauds, Lee Kelly, Jennifer Thorne
The Grand Duchess Marie Charlotte Antonie of Linsbourg–a war-torn country known for its wealth of emeralds–has taken Gilded Age high society by storm. Little does the upper crust know that this “deposed duchess” is actually con artist Alice, a vengeful young woman with her sights set on the five ruthless robber barons who destroyed her father and left her family in shambles.
Alice’s long con plan finally clicks into place when she meets scrappy magician’s assistant Cora, a drifter with lofty aspirations of her own, a malleable young lady who proves the perfect debutante pawn to lure in Alice’s final, and otherwise unattainable, target.
With the help of insider and society maestro Ward McAllister, among others, Alice and Cora launch into the social season of 1883, scheming their way through grand balls, private dinners, and opera nights, ensnaring Alice’s targets one by one. But as they hurtle toward their ultimate swindle, a sprawling orchestrated scheme at their fabricated embassy to rob their targets blind, pressures close in from all sides. Mutiny within the ranks, hidden moles, crises of conscience . . .
This sting is sure to be the event of the season. Or else ruin Alice and Cora both.
Why You Should Read This…
I’ve got to say, I have not had this much fun in a historical fiction book in months! I’ve certainly enjoyed them in different ways, but My Fair Frauds is the perfect mix of excitement, high jinks, dangers, and badass women that make for one of the most entertaining books of the year for me!
I also loved that the crew is made up of women, and distinct characters at that. It does make it rather the inverse of Artful Dodger, but I think it captures the scheming feeling of AD! When it comes to heists, women often get written as either seducers or jilted lovers/wives, and neither of those apply to Cora, Alice, or anyone else in the crew. I finished the book thinking that I would love to spend a day with everyone involved with the con, and that is high praise.
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, Heather Fawcett (Fiction)
Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world’s first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people. She could never make small talk at a party–or even get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, and the Fair Folk.
So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, get in the middle of Emily’s research, and utterly confound and frustrate her.
But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones–the most elusive of all faeries–lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she’ll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all–her own heart.
Why You Should Read This…
As Belle is forging her way as hopefully one of the first female doctors/surgeons in the Empire, Emily Wilde is also walking her own path as one of the only women who studies the fae. As she is also paired with a male lead who refuses to reveal his backstory, there are a lot of Dodger vibes. (We don’t have the same size of supporting cast as the show, but Emily and Belle are paired together in my mind!)
Have you seen The Artful Dodger?
Cheers,
The Historian
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