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Not They Who Soar–1904 World Fair
Not They Who Soar
by Amanda Flower
I had high expectations for this series because I have appreciated many books by the author. Sadly, I was disappointed with this second book, Not They Who Soar. I enjoyed the first, To Slip the Bonds of Earth, but this one dragged for most of the book as Katharine Wright was repeatedly insulted by casual comments men made about women, especially concerning their potential in the workplace. While I understand the frustration women of that era must have felt, it just seemed that the author had Katharine wallowing in it. Katharine was college educated in Greek and Latin. While that was an outstanding achievement, and she used her knowledge to teach Latin, she too often relied for her self-esteem on her brothers’ efforts to build a successful flying machine. She also claimed to have a lot of knowledge of flying from being around Orville and Wilbur even though she did not assist them. She managed the house and the business end of their bicycle business and took care of “the boys” (actually grown men) after the death of their mother. I got tired of hearing of her interest in birds and flying because it was their interest.
Another aspect of the plot that bothered me is that Katharine’s trip is in response to the request of her very good friend Margaret who is stressed, but gives no reason for her anxiety. She wants help at the 1904 World Fair. Katharine travels two days by train to get there. Then she is of very little help to her friend who develops a stomach ailment. Time and again she abandons her in pursuit of a mysterious person or persons who ruined an expensive balloon craft that was expected to win an aeronautics competition. Perhaps that same person killed a young female mechanic who kept intercepting Katharine. The main character has a reputation for running into trouble, and she lives up to her image while ruining dresses and then borrowing her friend’s expensive dresses for events.
On a positive note, although the mystery seems to drag its way to a conclusion, there is a very satisfying ending where all the pieces are tied together and motives are sorted out. Villains get their just deserts, Katharine and Margaret have some fun together, and Margaret’s husband is successful in winning new clients. Part of his success is due to Margaret facilitating a business party in the huge Ferris wheel on the fair grounds. There is also a thread about infertility which is not really pursued. In addition, the book explores common attitudes in the U.S. at that time concerning non-western cultures and people. They were included in the fair as exhibits for entertainment, not for expanding cultural awareness.
I received a review copy of this book for free. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Rating: 3/5
Category: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Notes: 1. #2 in the Katharine Wright Mystery Series, but could be read as a stand alone.
2. The Author Note gives some background information that explains what is historical in this book and what has been altered for the sake of the story.
Publication: May 27, 2025—Kensington
Memorable Lines:
“Women don’t have interest in mechanics.” He paused. “At least, no respectable woman does. Their focus should be on the home and the children.” I never so badly wanted to pop someone in the mouth as I did in that moment.
“These others were made to come from deserts, small islands, and deep jungles. They were brought here so that people like you can stare at them and watch their primitive, and to some, inferior ways of living. Difference attracts ridicule.”
It seemed there always had to be a dark side, even to a celebration of accomplishments and advancement like the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. It was a sad fact that I would do well to remember.
The Girls of Good Fortune–justice after a massacre
The Girls of Good Fortune
by Kristina McMorris
Kristina McMorris has written some real gems of historical fiction. The Girls of Good Fortune is added to her portfolio as a page turner about a massacre of Chinese murderers. The historical focus, however, is not the details of the horrible event, but one daughter’s search for the truth and justice for her father and the others who were brutally slain.
Celia is the daughter of a Chinese man and a white woman. Celia, herself, appears white, but realizes that any in her bloodline could have the physical characteristics of the Chinese. While she is not ashamed of her heritage, she is shamed by members of white society when they are aware of her background. Working as a servant in Portland Mayor Bettencourt’s household in the 1880’s, she falls in love with his son Stephen. Their affair results in a pregnancy which he is not aware of before he ships off to study medicine in England.
The book begins with what seems to be a teaser in 1888 and then switches to 1885. These sudden switches occur several times and make the reader want to pull together the connections that are certainly there. A large part of the book is set in 1888 and has a convoluted plot. Neither Celia nor the reader is sure who is lying. With her daughter’s life at stake, Celia can not afford to make any mistakes or give up.
Although I never identified with Celia, I did sympathize with her dilemma and held my breath a number of times as she found herself in difficult situations—drugged, shanghaied, and imprisoned. At one point escape meant jumping in the dark into the icy ocean, joining a homeless encampment, hopping on moving trains, and disguising herself as a man. Most importantly, I felt for her as she tried to decide which of the other characters she could trust. If you like adventure, would love to abolish prejudice, enjoy historical fiction, and relish a well-written, complicated story, I recommend The Girls of Good Fortune.
I received a review copy of this book for free. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Historical Fiction, Multicultural, Women’s Fiction
Notes: 1. Additional information in the book is found in: Author’s Note, Themed Recipes, Reading Group Guide, and A Conversation with the Author.
2. McMorris devotes a section of her blog to this book with wonderful ideas for book clubs.
Publication: May 20, 2025—Sourcebooks Landmark
Memorable Lines:
In the role of mayor, he used to be driven by a desire to serve—a key word he’d often cited—and improve the lives of others, those of Chinese heritage included. But he’d since become consumed with climbing the political ladder, not caring who was stepped on during the ascent. How many injustices, how many slain immigrants, would it take?
She recognized more than ever: the stories people tell, to themselves above all, were often what kept them going. When looking back on life, really, who was anyone without them?
Half Broke Horses–stories of ranching
Half Broke Horses
by Jeannette Walls
Lily Casey is the protagonist of this “true-life novel,” and the story comes alive through her point of view. Born in 1901, Lily started life in west Texas on a 160 acre ranch that was too small and too dry. She was a hard worker, but she never felt sorry for herself. Her father had been kicked in the head when he was three years old and had a speech impediment. The family moved to New Mexico when the father was released from jail. Lily managed the ranch while her father wrote about Billy the Kid. Her mother was raised to be a lady.
Lily had a life of adventures. She unknowingly married a bigamist. She learned how to break horses, teach school, drive a car, and fly an airplane. She survived a tornado and poverty. She worked as a maid, but was fired for her attitude. To have a baby, she married Jim Smith who was equally hard working and honest, valuable qualities for the couple living in the Dust Bowl during the Depression. They had two children, Rosemary and Little Jim, who practically grew up on horseback until they were sent to boarding schools which neither child liked.
A British investment company bought a large, remote ranch and hired Jim to oversee it. Lily was an equal partner in their marriage. She came up with a plan to build a dam on the property since no one was getting water from wells. Her ingenuity and their hard work turned the ranch into a success. The couple wanted to have their own ranch, but didn’t want a mortgage. They were frugal and creative with money-making schemes.
Rosemary was an artistic, free spirit with the same determination that her mother had. They did not get along well and much of the book deals with their conflicts.
Half Broke Horses is character driven, but also gives what seems like a first hand view of life in the early 1900’s. It is, however, derived from the memories of Rosemary, the author’s mother, and the tales Lily told her daughter. Lily was always trying to teach her children life lessons although they often rebelled. About three-fourths of the way through the book, there is an incident that is dark, and it changes the perspectives and life trajectories of Rosemary and Lily. There are a lot of sad events in this book, but this one threw a pall over it for me. Regardless, as the author refers to it as a “true-life” novel, the reader expects veracity, and anything less would be whitewashing their lives, thereby diminishing the honest relationship already established between the author and the reader.
Rating: 4/5
Category: (Biographical) Historical Fiction
Notes: Written by the granddaughter of the protagonist
Publication: 2009—Scribner
Memorable Lines:
I was leaving the city with about as much stuff as I had arrived with. But I had learned a lot—about myself and other people. Most of those lessons had been hard ones. For example, if people want to steal from you, they get you to trust them first. And what they take from you is not only your money but also your trust.
I realized that in the months since Helen had died, I hadn’t been paying much attention to things like the sunrise, but that old sun had been coming up anyway. It didn’t really care how I felt, it was going to rise and set regardless of whether I noticed it, and if I was going to enjoy it, that was up to me.
…I realized that you can get so used to certain luxuries that you start to think they’re necessities, but when you have to forgo them, you come to see that you don’t need them after all. There was a big difference between needing things and wanting things—though a lot of people had trouble telling the two apart—and at the ranch, I could see, we’d have pretty much everything we’d need but precious little else.
The Blue Ridge Tunnel Mystery–time travel adventure
The Blue Ridge Tunnel Mystery
By MJ Rosewood
Although she debuts as a novelist with The Blue Ridge Tunnel Mystery, MJ Rosewood has a lot of experience to back up this middle grade novel. She is a long-time educator, now retired, who spent childhood summer vacations in the Blue Ridge Mountains and currently makes her home there.
The Blue Ridge Tunnel Mystery is a time travel book starring four children of different ages with individual talents and interests. The oldest at age 11, Tucker, is an inventor and a natural leader. His sister Tessa is proudly ready for second grade. She is deaf and can communicate with sign language, but also has cochlear implants. Cooper, age 10, is a voracious reader, and his sister is Haleigh. She may be wheelchair bound with spinal muscular atrophy, but she doesn’t let her disability slow her down. Together the four make a powerful team.
As summer begins, they are with their sitter Pearl when a strange occurrence transports them back in time. In fact, in this book, they time jump several times, landing at various spots important to U.S. history, and they meet people who will make a critical difference in important events. As we follow their individual travels and witness the development of their characters, two crucial questions arise: how will the children return to their own time period and will they be able to land in the same time as the other children? Along the way, they discover people who have met others from their group, but in a different past time.
All four children are brave and ingenious. More importantly, they have good character and want to help others. Despite the unbelievability of their tale, they encounter adults who are convinced of the truth of their story and want to help them, often in repayment for kindnesses the children have done for them. With dramatic rescues and dangerous missions, The Blue Ridge Tunnel Mystery holds exciting adventures and some mystery. Middle grade students will enjoy the story while learning some history. They will also be exposed to students who may need some assistance, but are nevertheless very capable and independent. I appreciated the author starting each chapter with the year the events happened and which characters were the focus of the chapter.
I received a review copy of this book for free. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Middle Grade, Fiction, Historical Fiction
Notes: 1. #1 in the Blue Ridge Kids Series.
2. Includes Author’s Notes that give insight into which parts of the book are accurate historically. The author shares a link to her webpage with more pictures and information about the setting.
3. Also valuable to readers, parents, and teachers are a glossary and a section of activities for further exploration.
4. Recommended for ages 8-12.
Publication: August 30, 2026—MJRW Press
Memorable Lines:
“Why are you feeding an enemy?” Johnny said with a scowl. “Son, we are all human. I would like to think if that young man had been you knocking on someone’s door they would do the same for you.”
Feeling alive, and not thinking about legs that didn’t work or being different, Haleigh and Madeline paddled around the beautiful lake…It was a good reminder, too, that there was more to life than physical limitations. She was truly living out her mom’s favorite saying, “You can’t change what you hide from.” This showed her anything was possible, even finding her way back home.
The Reluctant Healer of Halifax–man-made disaster
The Reluctant Healer of Halifax
by Terrie Todd
narrated by Naomi Mayo
Knowing nothing about the Halifax explosion, probably the biggest man-made disaster in Canada’s history, I entered this audiobook in complete ignorance. The author, Terrie Todd, pulled me into the horrendous story and didn’t let go until the main characters had some closure. There were lots of unhappy endings in The Reluctant Healer of Halifax, but there were also many examples of faith and courage.
Oliver Hamilton returns from France during WWI with only one eye and a damaged face. Convinced that no one would be able to look at him, he breaks off his relationship with Pearline Campbell without even consulting her feelings. Only a few days later, the Halifax explosion occurs, killing and maiming thousands. Both of the main characters have to step up to help others. They both lost family members and part of the book deals with the search for one of Pearline’s brothers. Meanwhile, there are many children in Halifax without homes, and Pearline takes in some of them with the help of her former maid, now considered a part of Pearline’s family.
All of the characters experience growth and answer God’s call in ways they would never have considered possible. I enjoyed listening to this book. Naomi Mayo is an excellent narrator, and I never had to wonder who was speaking or whose point of view framed each passage.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Historical Fiction, Inspirational, Christian
Notes: 1. Fellow blogger Carla inspired me to read/listen to this book. She is Canadian and one of the many challenges she has taken on this year involves reading books about Canada and by Canadian authors. You can find her review here: Carla Loves to Read.
2. The author has notes on the historical accuracy of the book including what events were changed and why.
3. #6 in the Enduring Hope series. Each book is a standalone written by a different author.
Publication: 2026—Oasis Audio
The Fisherman’s Lady–Scottish classic
The Fisherman’s Lady
by George MacDonald
edited by Michael Phillips
First published in 1875, entitled Malcolm, with a sequel arriving in 1877, The Fisherman’s Lady is a challenging read and a classical romance by a prolific writer of many genres. C.S. Lewis claimed MacDonald as his favorite writer saying, “I never wrote a book in which I did not quote George MacDonald.” The language is, of course, of an older age and reflects MacDonald’s background: Scottish minister, and author of fiction and nonfiction, including poetry. Contemporaries include Lewis Carroll, G.K. Chesterton, Charles Dickens, and Mark Twain.
Much of the dialogue in The Fisherman’s Lady is written with a Scottish brogue adding to the difficulty for the modern reader. Initially, I purchased a Kindle version that included both Malcolm and The Marquis of Lossie. Next, I located a printed version of The Fisherman’s Lady edited by Michael Phillips. He simplified the original by omitting some of the passages, but he also left some of the Scottish dialect for an authentic flavor.
Some readers categorize this novel as having a “gothic style.” It does contain some gothic elements from that Victorian period—a castle; dark, locked rooms; potential hauntings; crumbling stairways; the past affecting the present; twisted family ties; missing people; unusual sounds; and dreams.
The plot starts with sudden impact as it focuses on a corpse. Then, it proceeds slowly as characters are introduced. There are a lot of important figures in the book, and the editor lists them and a note about most of them, along with an area map. The story gains momentum and interest for the reader with lots of hooks leading into the following chapters. The protagonist is Malcolm, a fisherman who lives with his adopted father Duncan, an elderly, blind piper. Malcolm is a happy young man, honest, and a hard worker. He is devoted to the man who raised him whose only fault appears to be a quick temper over an old feud with another family. On the other side of the social strata is the Marquis of Lossie and his daughter, the beautiful Lady Florimel (Flory). Questions hang throughout the book concerning Malcolm’s parentage and that of the “Mad Lair,” a hunchbacked dwarf who has been badly mistreated by his mother.
Malcolm and Flory become friends, but they do not develop a romantic relationship because they both realize that social boundaries make any such bond between them unrealistic. Malcolm, however, would do anything for Flory, desiring to serve her long-term.
There are a few really evil women in this book. The way the upper class treats servants, laborers, the poor, and the disabled is upsetting, but a reflection of the times.
I enjoyed most of the book as far as it went, but I was disappointed in the sudden cut-off of the tale with no satisfactory conclusion for the characters. Most modern tales with sequels tie up the main threads in the first book but provide a motivation to encourage the reader to continue on to find out what happens to the characters in the next stage of their lives. This book contains a major event and then just ends with little attention to the aftershocks. The editor does include a brief paragraph to assure the reader on certain key points, but that statement was not part of the original text.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Historical Romance, Classic
Notes: 1. The first part of a two part set of books about Malcolm.
2. Includes Christian themes and shows characters trying to come to grips with their faith.
3. Clean
4. Includes preface by the editor and three appendices providing historical notes.
5. I have not yet decided if I will read the sequel, The Marquis of Lossie, or not.
Publication: Original in 1875—Henry S. King Publishers in Great Britain, and George Routledge & Sons in New York, and J.B. Lippincott in Philadelphia
This version edited by Michael Phillips in 1982—Bethany House Publishers
Memorable Lines:
Whatever may have been the projected attitude of the marquis, the moment he stood on the piper’s floor, the gentleman in him got the upper hand and his behavior to the old man was not only polite but respectful. At no period in the last twenty years had he been so nigh the kingdom of heaven as he was now when making his peace with the blind piper.
But Lady Florine had never studied anything yet, had never even perceived that anything wanted studying—that is, demanded to be understood. What appeared to her most odd, most inconsistent, was his delight in what she regarded only as the menial and dirty occupation of cleaning lamps and candlesticks; the poetic side of it, rendered tenfold poetic by his blindness, she never saw.
“No, no; never run from a lie. And never say, neither that you didn’t do the things except it be laid straight to your face. Let a lie lay in the dirt. If you pick it up, the dirt’ll stick to you, even if you fling the lie over the dike at the end of the world. No, no! Let a lie lay as you would the devil’s tail!”
The Lion Women of Tehran–power of friendship
The Lion Women of Tehran
By Marjan Kamali
No one can summarize the fascinating story told in The Lion Women of Tehran better than Marjan Kamali who says in her Author’s Note: “I follow the friendship between two girls who come from very different families and stations in life but who forge an indestructible bond when they are seven. Together they share the joys of childhood, the ups and downs of adolescence, the fractures of betrayal when they are young women, and the relief of redemption as their fate takes them across oceans and borders. All along, one of them, Homa, fights tirelessly for Iranian women to be free.”
The Lion Women of Tehran tells the story of multiple regime changes in Iran along with the hope for a better life and the disappointment when each new ruling class results in more hardship for the citizens than the one before. The novel’s setting is a powerful backdrop to this tale of the repression of women. Minor, even accidental, infractions such as a hair that escapes a hijab could result in imprisonment and torture. Men were not immune to jailing by the security police, either, with political prisoners receiving long, harsh jail sentences.
Ellie and Homa meet as children and despite difficulties over the years, they remain friends. These two characters capture the interest of the reader immediately and hold it as the novelist spins out a tale with many twists and turns. A chapter will end with a poignant line that lets you know that something important will happen in the next chapter or with a hook that grabs and won’t let go. I read this page turner quickly because I had to keep reading in hopes of discovering resolution to the various problems. The main final action occurs in 1982, but the author jumps ahead in time to 2022 to a concluding chapter and an epilogue. That technique seems rather abrupt, but it answers many questions satisfactorily without drawing the novel out needlessly with details that would detract from the main themes of the book—friendships that last and the strength of women in the face of adversity.
The chapters are well labeled to show whether the point of view is Homa’s or Ellie’s. Perhaps more importantly, the year and sometimes the month are noted. This notation is significant because there are gaps in the timeline and events are not always sequential in the storytelling.
The Lion Women of Tehran is a powerful work of fiction that deserves a top place in literary discussions. The prose is well-written and the plot is well-crafted. Marjan Kamali brings Iranian culture to life and presents an Iran that is not shared in news reports.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Historical Fiction
Publication: July 2, 2024—Gallery Books
Memorable Lines:
In the middle of the schoolyard with everyone watching, with the lunch break ticking away and stomachs grumbling, with the leaves on the ground fragile and breakable beneath our feet, my old friend wrapped her arms around me. She hugged me as though seven years had not passed…it was she Homa. The girl who was always her full self without apology, without explanation, without shame.
I walk in a city now littered with burning cars and trash cans ablaze, a city boiling in fury, a country desperate for change and freedom. My heart is heavy. I am once again cloaked in grief. As I walk, the voice in my head whispers again. And I cannot help but be chilled from head to toe: If the revolution succeeds, what if what follows is worse?
We are tired. Tired of the many ways we are continually told to shut up and obey. Tired of being worried about constant arrest because a strand or two of our hair might peek out. Because a patch of our skin might show. Tired above all—above all in God’s almighty planet—of being bombed. Night after night after night.
The League of Tribes—Publication Day!
I am delighted to announce the publication of my husband’s first novel. It is available on Amazon as a paperback or in a Kindle version. Visit his website drjohnhiggins.com to learn more about the book and the author and see some of the illustrations included in the book.
Suppose you were by accident of time-space transported 13,000 years into the past of a wilderness area you have been visiting with your son. For a time, your survival depends largely on a small band of Ojibwe natives. In this book, the protagonist, Dr. Jackson, is an advanced engineering professional. At its core the book reimagines the purpose of civilization in a way that seeks to improve the lives of those it encompasses. Realizing ultimately that he can never return home, he gradually adopts his new culture and new family relationships. His final fifteen years are invested in seeding two important changes to help his adopted people in the future. He introduces domestication of the horse, avoiding premature extinction and securing the horse an early and permanent place in the native culture. He travels widely and then develops a durable school to prepare for the eventual arrival of Europeans: their avarice, disease, and advanced technology as well as their more positive characteristics. Can such a small seed in time amount to much effect?
Beneath a Turquoise Sky–educating the Navajos
Beneath a Turquoise Sky
By Kiersti Giron
As Beneath a Turquoise Sky begins, the author introduces Caroline Haynes, a young lady in 1910 in Pennsylvania. After five years of playing the role of mother to her two younger brothers, she feels replaced by her father’s new wife Lillian. Her best friend’s brother, whom she had long adored, moved to China to be a missionary, without Caroline, and later married. Recognizing that she really doesn’t have a home or is needed in Pennsylvania, Caroline follows up on an article in the Home Mission Monthly seeking a teacher for the younger students at the Hebron Navajo Mission. She was drawn to “children in need of schooling, of the light of Jesus.”
When she arrives at the Territory of New Mexico after a long, arduous journey, she is shown to her tiny room attached to the girls’ dormitory and meets the handsome, but rigid, Rev. Willis Abernathy and his aunt Miss Spencer. Both have their own strict ways of running a school which are typical of schools set up for Native Americans at that time. The goal is conversion, but not just spiritual conversion. The white men wanted to get rid of Navajo culture and replace it with European customs all while making it clear that the Navajos are second class people. The motto of some was: “Kill the Indian, save the man.” To this end, the Navajo students were often punished if they spoke their own language. Haircuts were forced on them. Their traditional clothes were taken away, and they were supplied with uniforms.They were assigned Anglo names and removed from their families. The parents were told this was “all for their own good.”
Caroline’s interactions with the students and the other staff is a major part of the story, but just as important is Willis’ relationship with Tse, a Navajo two years younger. They grew up together and were friends for many years, but that all changed and we see it play out as Tse needs a job to help support his parents. Willis gives it to him but treats him in a very condescending way. As was typical of that time period, he seems to have no concept of the value of cultural differences. Tse is a Christian, but because he has reverted to Navajo dress and culture, Willis feels that he has turned his back on God.
Caroline “disobeys” Willis in her efforts to teach the children and give them the emotional support they need. Tse is her “accomplice” and both of them are chastised by Willis.
There are a number of well-executed plot twists that culminate in decisions these characters have to make that will affect their future and the future of the mission. Although I had a hard time liking Willis, I could understand him as a product of his time. That does not excuse most of his behavior, however. The story concludes with many loose ends tied up, but there are still systemic problems that are not worked out regarding how the Navajos and the white men interact with each other. Caroline and Tse are both very likable characters portrayed with some depth. They live out the kindness of Jesus in their everyday lives. Willis thinks he is doing the right things, but is missing the mark in his goals and how he treats others. All of the characters experience growth and positive change, and Tse especially comes to understand how he can honor his Navajo heritage and also be a follower of Jesus.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Historical Fiction, Christian, Romance
Notes: 1. The book includes a Glossary of Navajo Words, Historical Notes, and Acknowledgements of people and organizations that have contributed to the author’s understanding of the complicated historical and cultural background of this story.
2. Giron states that she has “shown only the milder side” of the trauma children experienced under this “education” system, but it is certainly sufficient to expose the reader to the damage even well meaning individuals caused in imposing Euro-American culture and customs in the name of religion.
Publication: April 14, 2025—Story Architect
Memorable Lines:
Perhaps being set apart did mean rejecting all that was Navajo and taking on the white man’s ways. But where was that ordained in Scripture? Not like the people of ancient Israel were European, after all.
But no, the bilagáanas were always right—government officials, Indian agents, or missionaries. No matter how many broken treaties, broken promises, broken families. Broken children’s hearts.
He sang as he bridled his horse, praising Jesus in his language, letting the tune follow the natural pattern of the tones, as in the chants. It sounded genuinely Navajo, yet the truth of the words lent a wholeness to his tongue he’d never heard before.
A Moment’s Shadow–Danger in Ireland
A Moment’s Shadow
by Anna Lee Huber
Having finished The Cold Light of Day, I was delighted to find that although I had missed getting A Moment’s Shadow as an ARC, my library had copies of this book in various formats. I grabbed the ebook to dive right in. It is even more interesting than the previous book which set the stage for Verity and Sidney Kent’s informal assignments in Ireland. They have several goals. Verity wants to find Alec, her former colleague during the Great War, who seems to have disappeared in Ireland. The pair has also been asked to investigate some missing phosgene cylinders, and they have determined that Verity’s nemesis, Lord Ardmore, who is always two steps ahead of them, is responsible. While they are in Ireland, a jewel thief visits one posh house after another. How he can accomplish these daring heists is baffling, but as Verity and Sidney already move in the social circles of the victims and have a reputation for solving mysteries, they are pulled into the investigation.
As the story progresses, it is difficult to know which side characters are on, and by the end the Kents are not sure which group they identify with. Both sides are committing heinous acts of murder, destruction, and torture. Both sides use deeply embedded spies to accomplish their goals. Verity disguises herself to pass as an Irish worker when needed and then as the socialite she is when that is appropriate to her sleuthing. Other than the social events they attend, nothing is glamorous about their lives in Dublin. Many of the wealthier class have escaped the turmoil by fleeing to their country homes, to England, and even abroad. Verity is “recalled” as some powerful person is unhappy with her inquiries. Since she is not working as a spy anymore, the government doesn’t really have the power or authority to demand her return. The people in charge, however, make it plain that they have been providing her with a measure of safety and can withdraw that protection if she does not return. A Moment’s Shadow has plot action that crescendos at the book’s conclusion with a hook that leaves the reader hanging and ready to devour the next book in the series.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Notes: 1.#8 in the Verity Kent Mystery Series. The author reintroduces characters from #7 and previous books in the series but I think it would be hard to jump in with #8. If you really want to read just the ones dealing with the Irish Revolution, then start with #7 and plan on reading at least two more—#8 and #9.
2. A good plan for reading books #7-9 would be to list the characters and acronyms along with a basic note about each. There are a lot of characters, and you might find it helpful to comment on where you think their alliances lie.
3. The book ends with a teaser chapter from the next book in the series, The Bravest Hour, with a projected publication date of August 25, 2026!
Publication: 2025—Kensington
Memorable Lines:
These sights were always discomforting to me, for instinctively I wanted to cheer on our Tommies, and yet the Crown Forces’ behavior reminded me painfully of the Germans lording over the Belgians when they’d occupied their country during the war.
Everyone was trying to avoid the notice of the Black and Tans, to survive in a place where affordable housing was scarce, sanitation was abominable, and a stray bullet could end your life at any moment.
With all the dry and sunny weather we’d enjoyed in September, it was easy to forget how damp Ireland could be. October elected to remind us of this with a vengeance. It lashed, it bucketed, it showered, it drizzled, it misted—but at all times some sort of precipitation was falling from the sky.
