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alavenderx's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A Dickensian-style cast of characters, so cleverly written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Police brutality, and Death
Moderate: Abortion
hphipps's review
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping, Rape, Alcohol, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Drug use, Murder, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Abortion and Domestic abuse
fkshg8465's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Ugh. This book was FAR too long for what it was. I liked the story, but I hated the meandering storytelling. I wanted to like it more, but I was just toooooooo bored most of the time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Drug use, Sexual harassment, Death, Mental illness, Abortion, Gun violence, and Suicide
samsearle's review against another edition
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Police brutality, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Abortion, and Drug use
why_not's review
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This novel is interesting and very well written. It is character driven though I feel as if the characters aren't really explored. My favorite parts explored the point of view from Nellie and Gwendolen, but those from the Coker children, Frobisher, and Florence fall a little flat.
The point of views from a female mob boss losing the reigns of her empire is novel and performed quite well imo. And that from a nurse hardened in the first world war despite being a bit of a "not like the other girls" trope is fun as we see her expectations of police work differ from reality.
Other than that the characters feel flat. I know Frobisher is supposed to be our Niven foil. I won't go too much into Florence, but her story doesn't feel complete.
My biggest gripe is the slow start. SoG takes nealy half the book to finish explaining the case and the Coker empire. Then the rising action and climax all come very quickly and take something of a backseat to the love triangle. Then everything is wrapped up in a nice bow. I wish the story challenged me more and spent a bit more time with Florence who had a chance to be an extremely interesting character.
The point of views from a female mob boss losing the reigns of her empire is novel and performed quite well imo. And that from a nurse hardened in the first world war despite being a bit of a "not like the other girls" trope is fun as we see her expectations of police work differ from reality.
Other than that the characters feel flat. I know Frobisher is supposed to be our Niven foil. I won't go too much into Florence, but her story doesn't feel complete.
My biggest gripe is the slow start. SoG takes nealy half the book to finish explaining the case and the Coker empire. Then the rising action and climax all come very quickly and take something of a backseat to the love triangle. Then everything is wrapped up in a nice bow. I wish the story challenged me more and spent a bit more time with Florence who had a chance to be an extremely interesting character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse
Minor: Alcohol
ppppaula's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Kate Atkinson can do no wrong! Another cleverly written story with memorable characters in a great setting (1920s London). Think nightclubs, gangs, runaway teens, a wily family matriarch, detectives, and a cast of strong characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion, Murder, Addiction, and Alcohol
rondasue27's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Drug use, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Murder, and Death
Minor: Vomit and War
nialiversuch's review
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Violence, Death, Drug use, Murder, Police brutality, Medical content, Mental illness, Alcohol, and Grief
Moderate: Rape, Misogyny, and Sexual assault
Minor: War, Abandonment, and Abortion
shelfofunread's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I’ve adored Kate Atkinson’s writing ever since I first read Case Histories for an undergraduate crime fiction module at university, so I absolutely leapt at the chance to be part of the blog tour for her latest novel, Shrines of Gaiety. And let me tell you right now that it did not disappoint!
Set in 1926, Shrines of Gaiety, follows Nellie, ambitious matriarch of the notorious Coker family, ruthless owner of several of London’s hottest clubs, and perpetual fly in the ointment for Detective Chief Inspector Frobisher. Nellie might have done her time for one criminal enterprise, but Frobisher suspects she has fingers in many more pies – and that at least one of his colleagues on the force is helping her to avoid further prosecution.
Nellie, meanwhile, has problems of her own. During her time in prison, her six children have got far too used to enjoying the glitz and glamour of the Coker’s club empire without her at the helm. And that’s before she has to think about the spy in her midst, the crooked cop with sights on her fortune, two missing teenage girls, a ghost from her past, and the persistent dogged presence of Detective Chief Inspector Frobisher.
Shrines of Gaiety is a layered narrative, alternating between several perspectives and storylines to immerse the reader in the vibrant world of 1920s London. At first, the frequent changes in perspective and the large cast of characters felt somewhat overwhelming but Atkinson’s command over her narrative, and her ability to create distinct voices for each character, meant that I never lost track of who was who. And whilst it did take quite a while for the various plot strands to weave together, I was enjoying each piece of the jigsaw so much that I didn’t mind not being able to see the full picture from the outset!
I also really loved the way in which Atkinson has portrayed 1920s London. On one hand, there is the glitz of the resurgent post-war nightlife scene. Beneath that, however, there is the seedy underbelly: the dance hostesses who accidentally overdose, the gangsters trying to muscle in on each other’s turf, the bodies being quietly (and not-so-quietly) rolled into the Thames, and the teenage runaways seeking stardom but at risk of getting sucked into less salubrious line of work. As Atkinson makes clear, there’s a lot of grime beneath all that glamour. And whilst it is clear that Atkinson has done her usual meticulous level of historical research, the novel wears its learning lightly and never becomes over-burdened as a result.
Despite this, I found myself rooting for Nellie and her clan whilst, at the same time, also rooting for Frobisher in his quest to bring her empire to an end! Even though the moral compass of many of the characters is heavily skewed, they remain relatable products of both their lives and of the times in which they live. The sharp and witty dialogue, peppered liberally with dashes of dark humour, meant that each character really came to life, and it was impossible not to be drawn into their world and their stories. With murder, mystery, and romance all on menu, there really is something for everyone in this richly textured read!
Alternating between the lighter and darker sides of 1920s London, Shrines of Gaiety is a wonderfully evocative novel that, given a little time and patience, will utterly immerse you into its world. Combining a dash of The Great Gatsby with a good dose of Peaky Blinders and a side of Boardwalk Empire, this beautifully written and richly detailed read is perfect for historical fiction fans to curl up on the sofa and while away a weekend with this autumn.
NB: This review also appears on my blog at https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpress.com as part of the blog for the book. My thanks go to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Set in 1926, Shrines of Gaiety, follows Nellie, ambitious matriarch of the notorious Coker family, ruthless owner of several of London’s hottest clubs, and perpetual fly in the ointment for Detective Chief Inspector Frobisher. Nellie might have done her time for one criminal enterprise, but Frobisher suspects she has fingers in many more pies – and that at least one of his colleagues on the force is helping her to avoid further prosecution.
Nellie, meanwhile, has problems of her own. During her time in prison, her six children have got far too used to enjoying the glitz and glamour of the Coker’s club empire without her at the helm. And that’s before she has to think about the spy in her midst, the crooked cop with sights on her fortune, two missing teenage girls, a ghost from her past, and the persistent dogged presence of Detective Chief Inspector Frobisher.
Shrines of Gaiety is a layered narrative, alternating between several perspectives and storylines to immerse the reader in the vibrant world of 1920s London. At first, the frequent changes in perspective and the large cast of characters felt somewhat overwhelming but Atkinson’s command over her narrative, and her ability to create distinct voices for each character, meant that I never lost track of who was who. And whilst it did take quite a while for the various plot strands to weave together, I was enjoying each piece of the jigsaw so much that I didn’t mind not being able to see the full picture from the outset!
I also really loved the way in which Atkinson has portrayed 1920s London. On one hand, there is the glitz of the resurgent post-war nightlife scene. Beneath that, however, there is the seedy underbelly: the dance hostesses who accidentally overdose, the gangsters trying to muscle in on each other’s turf, the bodies being quietly (and not-so-quietly) rolled into the Thames, and the teenage runaways seeking stardom but at risk of getting sucked into less salubrious line of work. As Atkinson makes clear, there’s a lot of grime beneath all that glamour. And whilst it is clear that Atkinson has done her usual meticulous level of historical research, the novel wears its learning lightly and never becomes over-burdened as a result.
Despite this, I found myself rooting for Nellie and her clan whilst, at the same time, also rooting for Frobisher in his quest to bring her empire to an end! Even though the moral compass of many of the characters is heavily skewed, they remain relatable products of both their lives and of the times in which they live. The sharp and witty dialogue, peppered liberally with dashes of dark humour, meant that each character really came to life, and it was impossible not to be drawn into their world and their stories. With murder, mystery, and romance all on menu, there really is something for everyone in this richly textured read!
Alternating between the lighter and darker sides of 1920s London, Shrines of Gaiety is a wonderfully evocative novel that, given a little time and patience, will utterly immerse you into its world. Combining a dash of The Great Gatsby with a good dose of Peaky Blinders and a side of Boardwalk Empire, this beautifully written and richly detailed read is perfect for historical fiction fans to curl up on the sofa and while away a weekend with this autumn.
NB: This review also appears on my blog at https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpress.com as part of the blog for the book. My thanks go to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol
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