A Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

What an unlikely pair to team up to bring down the notorious mob boss, “Lucky” Luciano! First meet Eunice Carter, the first Black woman to serve as a Manhattan’s prosecutor and who was chosen to be on the DA’s team to eliminate the tyranny of the mob in the 1920’s and 1930’s. While she was at first generally ignored and pushed aside, her out-of-the-box thinking and utter ingenuity was the ultimate key to permeating the cracks in the mob’s defense. But she could not do this alone. She was smart enough to enlist the assistance of the most famous madame in Manhattan: Polly Adler. Polly, who came to NY, alone, as a twelve year old Russian Jewish immigrant and worked her way up after much trauma and determination, provided the ultimate material to be used in the trial. This story is the fictionalized version of their dramatic and dangerous teamwork.

Reflecting the teamwork of the actual story was the teamwork required to write this novel. The two authors wrote seamlessly to depict the strain and the challenges of each woman and her role in being caught up in this legal morass. We learn of the toll the investigation and trial took on Eunice’s marriage and family life, as she risked both physical and emotional danger. We also learn of Polly’s determination not to be engulfed by the mob’s plan to centralize all prostitution in the city, primarily because of the toll it would take on the women she was determined to protect.

I also love this narrative, as it demonstrates how we are stronger together. While both women had challenging lives in different ways, and both experienced prejudice and malice and mistreatment, and lived in entirely different worlds, they were able to come to understand each other’s challenges, grief, and resentments. They were able to put aside their differences to come together, to work together and to trust each other in order to accomplish a shared goal. This is a lesson for us all, I believe.

This is a dramatic story – based in actual history – that was meant to be told. I cannot think of two more capable women to do this telling!

Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Luckily for Clementine Hozier, who came from modest means but had distinguished herself with her grace and wit, her benefactress was well-connected. At a fortuitous gathering of important guests, Clementine was seated next to the quirky but brilliant bachelor, Winston Churchill. And while Clementine had been engaged before, she never met anyone quite like this man; primarily because rather than being threatened by her intelligence and drive, he was enamored of both. She immediately became his confidant as well as his advisor, and of course, his wife. As she observed many of her peers being shunted into more traditional roles, she was always by his side, guiding him, calming him, and paving the way for him to succeed, even when he didn’t realize she was doing so.

This well-researched novel by Marie Benedict demonstrates how important women were during both world wars. While most history books highlight the men who brokered the strategies and ultimately the treaties, few reveal the role of the women working either alongside them or keeping the countries afloat when the men left for battle. Not only did Clementine Churchill ease the way for Winston to do what he did best, calming those who reacted to his brusque manner, but she also created opportunities for women to support the war efforts, both on the front and behind the scenes. She worked to pave the way for women to expand their possibilities.

We also see what foresight Churchill had about the threat of war and the dangers of certain allies. When no one was paying attention, he noticed the illegal build-up of the German army by Hitler and his Brownshirts. When no one was wary of Russia’s motives in forming an alliance with the US, he maintained his suspicions of their ultimate goal of taking over more territories. He was prescient and wise even when no one was listening.

There is a lot to learn from this novel. There were moments when it became a bit bogged down in the details, a bit repetitive. It was not Benedict’s most suspenseful novel. But it was definitely educational and I am happy I read it.

The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress by Ariel Lawhorn

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

State Supreme Court Judge, Joe Crater, has gone missing. His wife, Stella, has her suspicions about what might have happened to him, based on his shady dealings with even shadier men, but she is staggered by the absence of any true investigation into his whereabouts. Meanwhile, his mistress, Ritzi, fears she may be in danger, as she was with him on the night of his untimely disappearance. The one cop who is investigating the mysterious circumstances of the judge is actually married to Maria, the maid of the Crater family who has been in on some of their secrets. How they become connected and how they survive is the substance of this suspenseful narrative.

Loosely based on the actual notorious missing person, Joseph Carter, whose whereabouts have never truly been found, this suspenseful and atmospheric novel gives a colorful picture of NYC in the 1920’s and 1930’s. With Joe Crater’s connection to organized crime, in the persona of Ownie Madden, we are sucked into the world of speakeasies and Broadway and the corruption surrounding the judicial system as well as the police department at that time.

The story is also told via three very strong leading female characters, each of whom is connected to Joe, but also who become connected to and in some ways, dependent on each other. We see each of their vulnerabilities, each of their complex situations, and each of their motivations to carry on and stay true to their values.

Another great historical fiction novel from Ariel Lawhorn!

When You Loved Me by Beatriz Williams

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Current day: Recently widowed Lucy has just returned to Winthrop Island from Paris with her daughter, Elise (Punkin), after learning about the disappearance of her father. She has had a strained relationship with her father because of his persistent belief that there is buried treasure on his property and has given up most of his life – even sacrificing his family relationships – in pursuit of this theory. But as she begins to explore what has become of him, she also learns that her first love, Ben Ressler was the last person to see him alive.

1717: Hephzibah has been living on Winthrop Island since she and her sister lost their parents and her sister was married off to her much older husband. Just prior to an historic snowstorm, their house is invaded by a wounded pirate and his doctor friend, and Hephzibah does her best to help all of them survive.

If you’ve read any of my prior reviews of Beatriz Williams’ books, you’ll know how much I love her writing. She is an incredibly talented author with a sharp wit and creative imagination. We see this to some extent in this novel as well, but while there are beautiful and complex characters who engage the reader in their exploits (particularly in the character of Punkin, whom I as the reader came to adore), there is none of the usual snarky banter in the dialogue here, none of her sardonic wit (which I most admire).

On the other hand, I do love how Williams weaves into her novels characters from her prior novels. We have been on Winthrop Island in a number of her novels, and have met the Peabody family in those as well. It’s fun to see how she expands and develops these characters, creating, for example, an entirely new story from minor characters in the novel before. It’s not exactly a series, and no one novel is dependent on reading the other (except for her one trilogy), but it is fun to identify characters from the older stories.

So even while this may not be my favorite of hers, it is still an excellent read, still holds your attention, and the suspense builds late in the story to the point where it is hard to put down. Always a great sign, right?

It Girl by Allison Pataki

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Evelyn knows what it means to be hungry. Having experienced the death of her beloved father and her family’s subsequent plummet into poverty despite her mother’s best efforts, much has fallen onto Evelyn’s shoulders at a very young age. Even scrounging in the back of a local restaurant for scraps of food for her and her younger brother is nothing she is not familiar with. At the age of 13, she is brought into Wanamaker’s Department Store to work alongside her mother in order to make ends meet, in spite of her ardent wish to continue in school like her peers. It is here she is discovered by an artist, who sees in Evelyn something she could never have imagined for herself.

This novel is based loosely on the life of Evelyn Nesbit, thought of as the first supermodel, Broadway actress and Hollywood starlet who is known to have come from very humble beginnings. And while much of the story of this fictional Evelyn’s aligns with that of the real one, there is also an inner strength that is developed in the fictional character that we can only guess at with the real one. This Evelyn, our heroine, is used and misused by artists, by various older men, and even by her own mother. She is so young and innocent that she is taken advantage of by so many it is painful to witness. But at some point, she becomes so justifiably outraged, that she develops a plan of escape that is quite brilliant. We are rooting for her all the way.

We also see how so many of the female characters whom one would have hoped would have been supportive of her truly abandon her. Because of her beauty, many are jealous, and many perceive her as being either entitled or spoiled or even evil because of what she’s had to do to survive. Even those she’d thought of as her good friends quickly turn on her when she can no longer advance their status. Even her own mother abandons her when she feels she has made mistakes that might cost them the financial gains they’ve made, turning a blind eye to what her own daughter actually needs. It is disappointingly realistic. Fortunately, however, she does have a few true friends, ones who deeply care for her and worry about her welfare. These are the true heroes.

This is an engaging story, mirroring the life of a female legend. Certainly a worthwhile read!

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

2011: When Laurel was only 16 years old (more years ago than she’d like to admit), she witnessed a traumatic scene involving her mother, Dorothy, and baby brother. None of her 3 sisters were around, but she knows what she saw. She also knows her mother, with all her loving spirit and her tender ways, would have had a very good reason for doing what she did. And now that her mother is elderly and dying, Laurel feels this is her only chance to find out what exactly transpired on that terrible day.

1941: Dorothy has suffered a great loss. After she’d left home, her entire family was killed in a bomb blast during the London Blitz. Dorothy has managed to forge ahead, pick up the pieces, and make a new life for herself and for her boyfriend, Jimmy. In fact, when she lands a position working for a wealthy elderly woman, she finds herself living a new life the likes of which she could never have imagined. Better yet, she has made a posh new friend, Vivien, who she feels will be able to teach her how to continue to improve her lot in life. After an altercation with Vivien, however, she has come up with a plan to truly achieve what she aspires to in life.

This dual timeline brings to life the rough and unpredictable existence of those living in London during WWII. Few were able to continue much as they’d always done, such as the privileged woman Dorothy found herself working for. But for most, it was a much more bare existence, most being recruited to work for the war cause in whatever way that was. Jimmy, for example, was a photographer who captured the moments of pain, moments of violence of the war for the media. The story also highlights that good people will still be good and evil folks will remain evil, no matter what is going on in the world. But most are just trying to survive the best they can.

The writing here is solid. There were times when the story might have moved a bit more quickly – I did find myself becoming restless at moments. But overall, the characters are lovely, the plot thickens, and the twist at the end is something I, for one, did not see coming.

Definitely one to look out for!

Euphoria by Lily King

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

It is early 1930’s and Nell and Fen are newly married and working together on researching the various tribes of New Guinea. Well, perhaps working together is being a bit generous, as Nell has an overwhelming curiosity about the gender roles of the tribes and has embedded herself into their cultures with ease. She has also been more productive than Fen, having published a now world-renowned manuscript that has brought her quite a bit of fame. Even their friend, Andrew Bankson, a fellow anthropologist and self-doubter, can see that this has created jealousy on the part of Fen. Could this be how Bankson can work his way into Nell’s favor? Or might this be just a disaster waiting to happen?

This novel pours historical fiction and fascinating anthropologic hypotheses into a triangulated love story. While we learn about the cultures that Nell, in particular, is studying, how she integrates into their society and records details of their cultures, we also feel the palpable admiration and tenderness that Bankson feels towards Nell, even as Fen appears to ignore her. Meanwhile, as Nell learns about the more open attitudes of these more isolated cultures toward sex, she feels a kinship with them in many ways.

There is quite a bit to unpack here, and I believe bookclubs will have a field day with this one. I would not be able to do it justice in this blog, and so I will not try. But I do recommend this book highly, as I feel it has so much depth, both in the character structure and in the many ideas that the three scientists bat around. The plot develops quite subtly and one might believe they know where it leads, but they would likely be surprised.

Not quite a MUST READ, but close!

The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Birdie: It’s early 1930’s, and the Great Depression has hit Mississippi quite hard. Birdie considers herself lucky that she has a job, tedious and underpaid as it is. She has pretty much resigned herself to her single life, living at home with her Mama even as her younger sister has already flown the coup and gotten herself married, informing the family only after the fact. When circumstances become financially dire for Birdie and her Mama, she is encouraged to visit her now wealthier sister to ask for a loan. When she finds her sister and sees the reality of her life there, Birdie finds life can be challenging in ways she’d never dreamed of.

Meg: Being eleven years old at an orphanage during the Depression is hard, but never as hard as when the head of the establishment, the “esteemed” Garnett Pittman, just seems to have it out for you. Having been deserted by her mother two years prior, she continues to have dreams about her mother returning, which her best friend insists she must let go. But since she’s been exiled to a dreary, windowless room to herself all day, leaving only for meals and sleep, she can hardly be expected not to fantasize about her Mama. What else does she have to do? It is only when a new volunteer comes to work on the books for the orphanage and shows her a bit of kindness that she imagines she may have a future other than what Garnett has planned for her.

This is an incredibly beautiful story about women, their limited choices, and the lengths to which people will go for those they love. Written by the author of The Help, this novel is animated by the vernacular, the color, the beauty and the darkness of the South in the 1930’s. I listened to this on audiobook and found it utterly absorbing and entertaining, enjoying the lovely accents, rich characters and wonderfully snarky dialogue. As each of the histories of the main characters are gradually revealed, there is also a sense of horror at the evil inclinations of some and the victimization of many. Women at the time were particularly vulnerable, and those few with power did not always use that power for good.

But we root for these two characters – and many others – as we come to know their kindness, their sensitivity, and their complexity. And as the plot thickens, and takes unexpected curves, we find we worry for their safety and keep turning pages (or listening attentively) just to ensure we learn their fates. There is a great deal of suspense, of caring and of sadness – as there is in real life.

It’s been awhile since I’ve designated a book a “MUST READ,” but The Calamity Club absolutely is one! Whether you read or listen, I guarantee you will be taken in and love it!

The Cuban Heiress by Chanel Cleeton

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Upon boarding the ship, the SS Morro Castle, Catherine must act as if this is just another luxury cruise to Cuba that she is taking, something she’s completely used to; that is, if she’s to continue to convince her fiance, Raymond, that she is the heiress she has implied she is. Meanwhile, Elena is determined to hide out as much as possible on this same cruise, if she is to accomplish the revenge plot that she’s been scheming for months now. As the cruise progresses and the two women become more immersed in their ruses, we gradually learn how their stories are intertwined and how the success of one is heavily dependent upon the other.

Another gripping story of historical fiction from this author, Chanel Cleeton! We are treated to her creation of beautiful women characters who are both vulnerable and strong, irate and determined. They have both been wronged and are yet resilient and ready to move forward. They are also enmeshed in a plot that is complicated and intriguing, with unforeseen adversity that rushes up suddenly and overtakes them by storm.

My only complaint is one you’ve heard before from me: that the story is wrapped up too tightly into a pretty bow and delivers a happily-ever-after that is just too perfect. This is not how life generally works, and it is not how I like to see a novel end. But that may just be me…

Otherwise, this is an engaging work of historical significance, from both the Cuban history perspective as well as the story of the ship itself.

The Kennedy Debutante by Kerri Maher

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Kick Kennedy has just arrived in London and she has immediately fallen in love. The city’s deep history, the rich cultural opportunities – not to mention the exciting nightlife where she has quickly befriended most of London’s young elite – has given her a feeling she’s never quite gotten from the privileged but stuffy social gatherings back home in the US. And even though her family is most important to her, especially given their notoriety and their Kennedy connections, she finds herself thinking she would like to stay here, even as things are heating up with Hitler’s greedy ambition and the threat of war hanging over everyone’s head. To complicate matters, she has also become enamored of a particular young man, who has captured her eye. If only their religions did not interfere with their being accepted as a couple. So many challenges she must face!

This novel not only provides a window into the Kennedy family via Kathleen (“Kick”) Kennedy’s life and struggles, but it also gives a palpable sense of the anxiety among the younger set in London pre- and during WWII. Her father, Joe Kennedy quickly lost favor as the ambassador to England when he remained staunchly anti-war, even in the face of the rising threat the Nazis posed to England and to Europe. Kick, as a family member who was more in touch with the younger generation who were mostly for defending England and standing up to the Nazi attempt to take over all of Europe, had a more realistic view of the situation. And while her father did not listen to her initially, he gradually learned to trust his wise and socially adept daughter. While this was certainly a coming of age of a young debutante, it also was great historical fiction for a time that was complicated, scary, and a challenging backdrop for romance.

It also provided insight into the conflict between Catholics and Protestants at the time (and continuing to today). Particularly in England, where the chasm between the two religions was so deeply-rooted and had affected their royal families, nobles, and so many others, it was a source of trauma for those who might wish to marry into the other religion. The Catholics, believing that if they deserted their church, they’d be excommunicated, abandoned by their families, and considered damned for all eternity, this was a heavy load for true believers. And Protestants, who made up a larger swath of the population, believed that if they were to betray their church, they would be shaming their families, culture, and their history as well.

I felt I learned so much from this book – and it was a well-written and engaging story to boot! Highly recommend for my fellow fans of historical fiction!