Lizzie: Lethal Innocence (Lizzie Series, Book 1) [Paperback]

J. Robert Whittle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1999

Nine-year-old Lizzie Short is street smart and spunky. She needs to be, for living on the streets in the harsh environment of Eastside London in the early 19th century, has been anything but easy, especially for a girl. Lizzie, however, is no ordinary girl and when her four friends are deported to Australia (at beginning of the story) for merely stealing food, she finds herself forced to begin a new life and she is up for the challenge.

This Canadian bestselling novel is the heartwarming story of a homeless young girl who through a series of incidents, changes the direction of her life and soon gains a reputation for her compassion, credible business decisions, and imaginative feats of daring adventure.

Lizzie has an intriguing way of dealing with people - her friend, Quon Lee, the Chinese boy who lives in a barrel, her adopted father, Joe, and the many other memorable characters of all ages and walks of life who frequent the dockland area on the Thames. The combination of loyalty, frivolity and family life depicted in this remarkable story of ordinary working-class people is an excellent achievement lacking both sexual innuendo and scenes of gratuitous violence.

Recognized internationally as a delightful, multi-cultural, multi-generational read, these books are applauded by homeschoolers, libraries and school teachers in many countries. This volume has also been recommended reading for at least several colleges and university English Lit. classes.

Whittle has also written the bestselling series, the Victoria Chronicles (Bound by Loyalty and Loyalty's Reward) set in the Pacific Northwest (Victoria BC and Seattle WA) 1900-1917.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...engaging, exciting, funny and touching story set in a historical setting... Recommended. -- Entertainment Magazine, May 2000

Mr. Whittle surprised himself by finding out he was not only a fine writer but was a feminist to boot! -- Terri Hunter, Times-Colonist, Feb. 02

Of the thousand books I have read, Lizzie is in the top 50. Mr. Whittle is a great storyteller. -- Don McKenzie, BC, Canada 2001

Packed with imagination, colorful dialogue and adventure, young audiences will admire and strive to emulate the enterprising and irresistible Lizzie. -- Beth Bruno, School Psychologist and Author of

From the Publisher

If you are discovering J. Robert Whittle's novels for the first time, you're in for a surprising treat. Although his books have already amassed a huge following, Whittle is a relatively new novelist on the scene. Born in Yorkshire, England, he credits four things with having greatly influenced his life: his mother, his grandfather, a strong work ethic, and a love of history. Being an amateur historian since a child, his historical research for these books is impeccable. Having four sisters no doubt also played a role. For when he began writing in 1994, he often found himself telling the stories of women struggling against all odds, and many say his sensitivity to the subject of women's rights is both remarkable and heartwarming.

Lizzie: Lethal Innocence, set in early 19th century London, England, was Whittle's first published novel and, beginning with the area of Western Canada where he now calls home, I am delighted to admit that it appears we have quietly created a phenomenon. Selling these books solely in local bookstores and markets/craft shows, this remarkable man soon realized his readers must be right - he could write - and so, happily, he continues to do so when he isn't out amongst his public selling and signing books. This appeases his now international audience which grew in an extraordinary manner through the tourist trade of Victoria, BC, and word of mouth, as readers of all ages discovered these 'family-friendly' novels. We often hear delightful stories of families setting up reading schedules of a few hours each when a new novel surfaces. Of course, there are many cheaters to this system! I wonder how many books can brag of this joyful situation?

Hence, because of this popularity, Whitlands Publishing has now published four books in the Lizzie Series and two in his more recent series set in Canada/USA, The Victoria Chronicles. Lizzie: Lethal Innocence and Bound by Loyalty (the first book in the Chronicles) are Canadian bestselling novels and his eager and devoted fans keep us busy producing novels each year as we try keep up to his readership. In 2005, distribution across Canada and the USA became a reality and, thanks to the internet, all Robert's books are now available worldwide.

If I could wish for one thing with regard to these books, it would be to interest a large publisher or agent to take on what I have begun. History needs these gentle, refreshing stories, like many of those favourites of yesteryear ... Anne of Green Gables, Little House on the Prairie, Woman of Substance. Personally, I would like more time to read Robert's books as I, like many readers, want to reread them over and over again. He has many more books waiting to be published and I fear that only through the help of a larger publisher will they see the light of day and that would be a travesty.

This often outspoken former mining engineer had no idea he could write such inspirational stories and I am proud to be the first publisher to have brought them to light. Robert was a young 65 years at the time and, like Lizzie, he was a child phenomenon who never stops producing winning ideas ... and writing wonderful stories.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Whitlands Publishing Ltd. (April 1, 1999)
• ISBN-10: 0968506100
• ISBN-13: 978-0968506103
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,202,727 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born in Yorkshire, England on June 10, 1933. An entrepreneur from an early age, I wasn't to know that this was merely preparing me for writing novels and marketing my own books in later life. I played professional cricket while attending Leeds University and become a mining engineer where I led a first-response to disaster team for 12 years for the British Coal Board. By 1963, following many serious accidents, I moved to Australia, and later, to Canada where I worked for the Canadian Government in the Arctic for two years.

In 1971, I moved in Victoria BC. Many years later while recuperating from knee surgery on an old mining injury, I discovered how much I enjoyed writing. In 1998, my wife Joyce Sandilands, published "Lizzie: Lethal Innocence" which became my first bestselling novel. By 2010, we had become well-known in the book industry as the Canadian couple who wrote, indie-published, and sold their books at local farmer's markets and craft shows. My 3 bestselling novels are "Lizzie: Lethal Innocence", "Bound by Loyalty" and "Loyalty's Reward" part of the 4-book Lizzie Series and Victoria Chronicles Trilogy, all historical novels. Joyce and I have also co-written 2 novels and a book of short stories.

If you visit Victoria BC from April-September, look for me at the Bastion Square Market Wednesday-Sunday. My books are found in select Victoria bookstores, amazon.com (kindle) and my website: jrobertwhittle.com. Tourists from so many countries visit Victoria, we know our books can be found in the homes of 60+ nations of the world! A fair feat for an old, but friendly guy, in only 13 years!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a wonderful adventure!, May 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Lizzie : Lethal Innocence (Paperback)

A great story for young and old alike. Lizzie is captivating - took me back to my adolescence and my own dreams of entrepreneurship and adventure. Lizzie is fiercly loyal to those she loves and she is always thinking of ways to better the lives of her loved ones.

Enjoy!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lizzie's Great!!!, January 19, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Lizzie : Lethal Innocence (Paperback)

This is the first book in the Series. Mr. Whittle has a great imagination and does a great job of keeping you guessing what Lizzie and her friends will do next. I recommend this book for readers and non-readers...for the young and young-at-heart. Everyone will love Lizzie!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars These books ARE alive and doing SOOO well!, January 17, 2004

By 

A big 'J. Robert Whittle' Fan (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lizzie: Lethal Innocence (Lizzie Series, Book 1) (Paperback)

These wonderful books by J. Robert Whittle may not appear to be available on this site, but believe me they are available -- and you don't want to miss them!! The first book quietly became a Canadian bestseller through sales only near his own town in BC. Now they are working with a distributor at last and these gems will be easier to find in 2004.

All Mr. Whittle's novels (he has 5 now) are read by readers of all ages. I know, because everyone from my grandparents to my kids, and nieces and nephews, have enjoyed them. Why? Because they're like an English Anne of Green Gables ... wholesome and lots of fun. Lizzie is some spunky girl and her best friend is a boy, so great for guys too. I can't wait till Book Four comes out in 2004! Have a look at the author's website for more info. Thanks Mr. Whittle, please keep writing!!