The Wealth of Shadows by Graham Moore

May 19, 2025

The Wealth of Shadows by Graham Moore

In 1939, an assorted group of monetary experts from the U.S. Treasury Department set out to crash the German economy.

A look at World War II history from a different angle, this time from a monetary/economic perspective, based on actual events and people. Billed as a page-turning gripping spy thriller, it's not that at all and certainly not what I was expecting. It's slow-moving for one thing, with a lot of discussion about economic theory in the first part of the book. I also didn't find the characters all that engaging, although there is some witty dialogue among some of the characters but not enough to keep me interested, and I found myself skimming over a lot of parts. Some readers called it fascinating and it probably is to the right reader, who obviously isn't me. Not recommended unless you are into economic theory in minute detail. Or need something to help you get to sleep.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict

March 20, 2025

The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict

In order to gain the respect of their male counterparts, five female mystery writers from the Golden Age of mystery - Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Emma Orzcy, Margery Allingham, and Ngaio Marsh - join forces to solve the mystery of a young English nurse found murdered in Boulogne. 

Disappointing. Loosely based on an event in Dorothy Sayers' life. I usually really enjoy the author’s books but this one was slow moving, and the mystery itself was not compelling. Usually Benedict writes about real women who worked in areas that were normally reserved for men, and yes, the five women writers had to fight against sexism just to get their books published, let alone be accepted by their male peers. But unlike her previous books, I didn’t learn much about the characters’ lives. I guess I expected more from a story about the five major women mystery writers of the Golden Age - there were a lot of descriptions of where they were having high tea and shopping, and what they were eating and wearing (don’t get me wrong, I love a high tea). They just didn’t seem as sharp or clever as a mystery author should be, and Dorothy seemed like she was constantly prodding them along. Loved the cover, although it reminded me of Laurie Notaro’s The Murderess. 

Many thanks to Edelweiss for providing an eARC for review.

Dorothy Sayers

The Murderess by Laurie Notaro

February 24, 2025

The Murderess by Laurie Notaro

In October 1931, two trunks arrive in Los Angeles on a train from Phoenix. At first, railroad employees think someone is smuggling meat, but once the trunks are opened, they discover a much more horrific cargo. 

Based on the crimes of Ruth Judd, aka the Trunk Murderess, who murdered and dismembered two women she called her closest friends (I would hate to be her enemy). The crime is described in gory detail, especially the disposal of the bodies, as is Ruth's descent into mental illness, so more sensitive readers should be aware. Extensively researched, this is a departure for Laurie Notaro, who is best known for her humorous essay collections. Readers who enjoy Megan Abbot's edgy novels will enjoy this true crime fiction.

Winnie Ruth Judd, dubbed the Trunk Murderess

The Second Murderer by Denise Mina

January 31, 2025

The Second Murderer by Denise Mina

While ruminating on a recent case that seems too neat, private investigator Philip Marlowe is hired by a nasty millionaire to find (or maybe not find) his missing daughter.

So 1930s! So noir! So fun! This has all the hallmarks of traditional noir: a hard boiled detective who lives by his own code of honor, perpetually short of cash and down on his luck, a job he knows he shouldn't take, women that he should walk away from (or better yet, run), the gritty underbelly of the big city, plenty of wisecracks and slang. But most notably, without the misogyny found in noir mysteries of the Golden Age, probably because the author is female. Who doesn't love a good noir story? Even Jean-Luc Picard of Star Trek: the Next Generation fantasized about being a noir private eye. Scott Brick narrates the audiobook - I could listen to him read the phone book. Recommended for fans of noir mysteries.

The noir detective at his gritty best

The Girl from the Grand Hotel by Camille Aubray

April 29, 2024

The Girl from the Grand Hotel by Camille Aubray

When her grandmother refuses to pay for her final year of college, Annabel Falcone travels from America to the French Riviera to work at her uncle's hotel. It's August 1939, and the first ever Cannes Film Festival is about to get underway, with celebrities, athletes, and actors from all over the world in attendance. When a German tennis star is found dead in his hotel room, Annabel begins to suspect that there is more going on than just a big celebrity party.

Inspired by real events and the first failed Cannes Film Festival. Slow moving Anna plot that takes a long time to get anywhere. Also, Annabel is kind of bland. There are almost too many famous names dropped into the story. If you read everything about the golden age of Hollywood, you will probably enjoy this one. If not, maybe skip it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

French Riviera

Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray

February 3, 2024

Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray

Frances Perkins was the first female cabinet member in U.S. history, serving under Franklin D. Roosevelt. She was also the longest serving Secretary of Labor. But before that, she fought for workplace safety laws after witnessing the horror of the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. But her first priority was developing a safety net for the elderly, which became the Social Security system.

Frances was responsible for the creation of many of the programs that we take for granted today: Social Security, unemployment benefits, workplace safety regulations, child labor laws, public works and infrastructure support, an eight hour workday and a five day work week. Life in the United States would be very different today without her efforts. She also worked to help Jewish refugees escape from Hitler's Germany. Frances kept her personal life very private. She was married to a brilliant man named Paul Wilson (who was part of the Marshall Field family) who suffered from depression and bipolar disorder (known as manic depression at that time), and her daughter unfortunately inherited her father's malady. 

Dray does an excellent job of keeping the focus on Frances and not letting Roosevelt and his dominant personality overshadow her story. Well-researched like all of the author's previous books (I recommend My Dear Hamilton and Ribbons of Scarlet). Recommended for readers of historical fiction or as a crossover into fiction for those who enjoy American history.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Frances Perkins, Secretary of Labor

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

November 29, 2023

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

In 1972, just before Hurricane Agnes sweeps through, the Pennsylvania State Police find a skeleton at the bottom of an old well in the Chicken Hill district of Pottstown, PA. They question Malachi, an old Jewish man who lives near the site and has lived in the area since the 1930s, because some Jewish artefacts are found with the bones, but he claims to know nothing about it. After the hurricane destroys most of the neighborhood, Malachi is gone and the police never learn who the skeleton is.

Loved the author's two previous novels The Good Lord Bird and Deacon King Kong, and I greatly enjoyed this novel as well. Set between the two world wars, the story focuses on the residents of the Chicken Hill neighborhood, a low-income area populated mainly by Jews and African Americans but with a recent influx of Italian immigrants, and how they manage to co-exist and interact, helping each other out. The story reads almost like a collection of short stories, where a character is the main actor in one story, but may be a peripheral character in another (think Olive Kitteredge). It's the neighborhood of Chicken Hill that is the connecting factor that brings them all together. Some readers have complained about the large number of characters, but that didn't bother me at all. Be advised, the mystery of the skeleton plays very little part in the story (although you do find out at the end who it is) - I had a good idea about halfway through. One of the best books of 2023. Highly recommended for readers of literary fiction.

Pottstown, PA - I couldn't find a good picture of Chicken Hill, although there are some online archives

Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine

April 16, 2023

Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine

Luz Lopez and her brother Diego live in 1934 Denver with their aunt. Denver proves to be a dangerous place for both of them, and for all non-whites and mixed race people. Diego is caught with a white girl and forced to leave town to become a migrant worker. After working as a laundress with her cousin for several years, a local lawyer hires Luz as his clerk. Luz frequently has prophetic visions and reads tea leaves to make extra money while dreaming of a better future for herself. She catches the attention of a local handyman who is an aspiring musician, while also fending off the advances of her boss. Luz tries to navigate the confusing time and place where she lives, while waiting for her brother to return home.

A slow moving saga following five generations of a family, moving back and forth from late 18th century American West (aka the Lost Territory) and 1934 Denver. It could have used a little more plot, a little less wandering around and fewer characters. Too many wandering threads that only sort of come together at the end. I expected a better story.

The main drag in 1935 Denver

The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict

November 19, 2022

The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict

The six Mitford sisters are the toast of the London social scene, even in the middle of a worldwide economic depression. Oldest sister Nancy concentrates on her marriage and her writing, while sisters Diana and Unity are caught up in Hitler's fascism and become close personal friends of the Fuhrer, as well as strong supporters of the British Union of Fascists. Meanwhile, younger sister Jessica is a devout communist and runs off to Spain with her boyfriend to fight Franco's regime.

Marie Benedict really captures life in England and Germany between the two world wars. She focuses on the three oldest sisters: Nancy, the best known of the sisters for her writing; Diana, married to the head of the British Union of Fascists; and Unity, Nazi fangirl who possibly had an affair with Hitler. As with all of Benedict's books, research is sound and even readers who are unfamiliar with this time period will have no problem being caught up in the story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.

Five of the six Mitford sisters

The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo

August 31, 2021

The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo

Set in 1930's Malaysia, 11 year old Ren is on a desperate quest. He was apprenticed to a magician, and when the magician was on his deathbed, he begged Ren to go and find his missing finger that was cut off years ago. If Ren is unable to locate the finger, the magician's soul will wander the earth for eternity. He has 49 days to complete his task.

In his travels, Ren meets Ji Lin, an apprentice seamstress and dancehall girl. While being a seamstress is much more respectable, Ji Lin works as a dancehall girl to pay her mother's mahjong debts. She is drawn into the missing finger's magical sphere, and together the two young people search for the finger to fulfill the quest.

Very enjoyable fantasy with an interesting angle. There was a romance aspect that was unnecessary and didn't add anything to the plot or character development, but otherwise, this is a great historical fantasy that incorporates Chinese mythology and folklore.

Chinese mythology about the afterlife

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

February 27, 2021

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

In 1934, in the middle years of drought brought on by soil erosion, with the Great Depression in its fifth year, Elsa Martinelli makes the difficult decision to leave the family farm in Oklahoma and travel to California. Elsa's husband disappeared a few years earlier and Elsa believes he went to California following dreams of easy money. Their son is suffering from dust tuberculosis and the cleaner air in California is supposed to help. 

But California proves not to be the promised land - unable to find cheap housing, reduced to picking crops for low wages, the family is forced to live in a tent city. They experience grinding poverty, prejudice, and a number of other tragedies.

We all enjoy a good tearjerker now and again, but this was just too bleak. Nothing went right for the family and when Elsa finally does stand up for herself, it ends in tragedy. Her daughter Lorada has no absolutely redeeming qualities, and the sick son is a non-entity. The best characters in the book are Elsa's in-laws, Rosa and Tony Martinelli. They take Elsa in when she becomes pregnant with their son's child and her own parents throw her out (Elsa's parents also have no redeeming qualities). They are the first real family and love that Elsa has ever know.

I kept reading, hoping that something good happens or that there will be a happy ending, but it's all just so sad.

I am hit or miss with Kristin Hannah's books. Normally I'm not much into women's fiction, but I loved The Nightingale (which was more like historical women's fiction) and I moderated the book discussion at the library. The Great Alone was more like The Four Winds, bleak and depressing.

That's a dust storm blowing across the Great Plains behind the farm, not a mountain range

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.

Metropolis by Philip Kerr

September 26, 2019

Metropolis by Philip Kerr

In 1928, the Weimar Republic is limping along as Germany tries to rebuild from the war.  Berlin is a wide open city, the nights filled with all manner of vice and violence.  Detective Bernie Gunther is moved from the vice section of the Berlin police force to the murder commission.  He and his mentor are assigned to investigate a series of murders of Berlin prostitutes – the killer not only kills the women but scalps them, too.  They suspect it may be an ex-soldier, someone who got a taste for killing in the war.  But the prostitute murderer is quickly forgotten when someone who calls himself Doktor Gnadenschuss (German for mercy shot) begins killing disabled German veterans.  After following up a number of dead end clues, Bernie begins to suspect that the killer is someone he knows.

The book title refers not only to Berlin but also to the film Metropolis, which is set in a utopian city that is beautiful on the surface, but hides a bleak underworld of the disadvantaged and the criminal.  Interestingly, Bernie has a meeting with Thea von Harbou, an actual German screenwriter who wrote the script for the classic movies Metropolis and M: A City Hunts a Murderer - Bernie gives Thea suggestions for the plot of the latter film.

With Philip Kerr’s untimely death in 2018, this is the last of the Bernie Gunther mysteries.  Bernie is a noir detective usually based in Berlin but Kerr took us around the world as we explored Bernie’s life and career both before and after World War II.  I loved this series and I’m so sad it’s over – both Kerr and Bernie will be sorely missed.  I waited until I could get the audiobook version, since John Lee does a wonderful job with the narration as he has done with so many of the Bernie Gunther novels.

A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier

September 8, 2019

A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier

The British press called them "surplus women" - hundreds of thousands of women unlikely to marry due to the vast number of British men of their generation who were killed in World War I (over 2,000,000).  Violet Speedwell is one of these women, working to support herself as a typist and create a life for herself in the cathedral town of Winchester.  She accidentally comes upon a group of cathedral broderers, women who do needlepoint to cover the kneelers and cushions in Winchester Cathedral and bring comfort to the worshippers.  Violet's decision to join the group brings her friendship and the support of community, while ultimately changing the course of her life.

Historical fiction is like mental sorbet for me:  in between the heavier works of literary fiction and complex thrillers, historical fiction like this is gentle and understated, soothing in the troubled times we live in.  I especially enjoy historical fiction that focuses on largely unknown or hidden facets of history, in this case, the lives of the surplus women and the time between the two world wars.  I loved the cover of this book, with the embroidery border that you don't notice at first.  While I don't think this title is as strong as Girl With a Pearl Earring, it's a great choice for a rainy or snowy afternoon, to enjoy with a cup of tea and a plate of shortbread cookies (NOT the hated Garibaldi biscuits mentioned in the story, sort of a sticky current sandwich cookie, LOL).