This might be cryptic but not sure!

Probably not right but cherry. Cherrie Booth was Blair’s wife, cherry casino are a popular brand of playing cards, there’s a painting in Edinburgh called the cherry girl, a marine scientist called Professor Michael Cherry and a fallen woman has lost her cherry.

Bit convoluted so probably not it.

I was thinking more along the lines of novels by Thomas Hardy e.g Tess of the D'ubervilles (For a Fallen Woman) or Agatha Christie stories e.g King of Clubs (For a playing card). I have been racking my brains over this but just cannot find a connection for all five!

I had to do Tess for A level, hated it. Hardy also wrote a poem from the opposite angle The Ruined Maid.

The Ruined Maid
BY THOMAS HARDY

"O 'Melia, my dear, this does everything crown!
Who could have supposed I should meet you in Town?
And whence such fair garments, such prosperi-ty?" —
"O didn't you know I'd been ruined?" said she.

— "You left us in tatters, without shoes or socks,
Tired of digging potatoes, and spudding up docks;
And now you've gay bracelets and bright feathers three!" —
"Yes: that's how we dress when we're ruined," said she.

— "At home in the barton you said thee' and thou,'
And thik oon,' and theäs oon,' and t'other'; but now
Your talking quite fits 'ee for high compa-ny!" —
"Some polish is gained with one's ruin," said she.

— "Your hands were like paws then, your face blue and bleak
But now I'm bewitched by your delicate cheek,
And your little gloves fit as on any la-dy!" —
"We never do work when we're ruined," said she.

— "You used to call home-life a hag-ridden dream,
And you'd sigh, and you'd sock; but at present you seem
To know not of megrims or melancho-ly!" —
"True. One's pretty lively when ruined," said she.

— "I wish I had feathers, a fine sweeping gown,
And a delicate face, and could strut about Town!" —
"My dear — a raw country girl, such as you be,
Cannot quite expect that. You ain't ruined," said she.

I don't know if that helps.

How about characters in Cannery Row?

There's definitely a marine biologist and a fallen woman in it.

https://www.gradesaver.com/cannery-row/study-guide/character-list

No idea but hope the answer is found. I thought perhaps 'Ace of Spades' but was unable to establish a link between marine biology and the songs of Motòrhead!

Did you figure this one out or has the answer turned up?