'A fascinating insight into one of the most compelling stories in the history of the women's suffrage movement.' * The Times * 'Ajay Close's writing hums with an electric tension, her dialogue is superb, as is her insight into the complex mix of human imagination and emotion. This is a truly gripping novel, one which had me totally involved with the lives of the central characters.' * Scottish Review * 'Uncompromising in its honesty and compelling in its narration . . . Ajay Close has hit on a real-life story that may prove to be one of the gems of the year.' * The Herald * 'Cunningly constructed and well written.' * The Sunday Times * 'A captivating and nuanced read . . . Close writes witty and humorous dialogue that has the duck, dive and jab of a boxing match between characters.' * Scottish Review of Books * 'A thought-provoking and revealing read . . . Close's sophisticated writing is never less than engrossing.' * The Scotsman * 'Turbulent scenes on the streets of Perth a century ago are brought to life in a new novel about the struggle for women's votes.' * Dundee Courier * 'An engrosssing read filled with rich relationships and keen observations.' * Buzz Magazine * 'Novelist Ajay Close looks behind the satin sashes at the women who wanted the vote enough to break the law and risk their lives. Her new novel A Petrol Scented Spring is based on a true story she uncovered as a writer-in-residence in Perth.' * The Daily Record * 'A beautifully written, accomplished novel that vibrates with authenticity. If you are looking for a novel that brings you into another world and leaves you thinking about it for days after you finish, this is it.' * Bottle Imp, the Best Scottish Books of 2015 * 'Ajay Close is brilliant.' -- Fay Weldon 'Inventing a fictional narrative for her real-life principals, Close writes with breathless wit, dizzying passion, a quick sympathy for her two heroines, and an unflinching eye for the mechanics of the medical procedures inflicted on prisoners of conscience. ' * Kirkus Reviews *