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kategci's review
3.0
I really like historical fiction and I really like narrative nonfiction and I felt that this book fell a little short. Ariel Lawhon writes very well and I have 2 other titles of hers that I will read, but this New York story did not grab this New York girl. I read afterwards about Judge Crater's disappearance and I know that around the Great Depression, New York City was a very corrupt place. While this story is a plausible explanation for the mystery, it was all tied up a little too neatly. The only person who liked the Judge seemed to be his wife, so I was not really invested in figuring out where he went. Lawhon was unable to make him the least bit likable, so I felt like everyone was better off without him, even his wife. It took her a while to figure that out, but apparently, she went on to a long happy marriage to someone else.
cjfiebert's review against another edition
3.0
My best friend Christine read this book and gave it a 4/5. We typically like the same books and historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, so I decided to read it as well.
This book focuses on the real-life disappearance of New York Supreme Court Justice Joseph Crater. This fictionalized tale gives an account of what might have happened to him, focusing on what his wife, his maid and his mistress know about the event.
The novel follows each of the women in the days, weeks and months following the disappearance of Justice Crater. Throughout the story, you know that each woman knows more than she is letting on, even to those closest to them. The wife, Stella, knows that her husband was involved in the corrupt politics of the Tammany Hall era and believes that there is more to his disappearance than she will truly know. The maid, Maria, is married to the detective sent to uncover the truth of the case, but she holds secrets from her husband throughout the story and it isn’t until the full confession at the end that he realizes how much his wife truly knew. The mistress seems to know the truth and does her best to avoid the other women, but somehow gets tangled in with them anyway.
Overall, I have mixed feelings on the book. There were some parts that I felt dragged on longer than I would have liked. And then at the end, when I finally learned how things unfolded (in the fictional story since the case is still unsolved today), I was impressed with the planning that went into the plot. However, I think I would have enjoyed the story more if I had seen more of the planning along the way instead of a letter at the end showing “This is what we did. Plans changed slightly along the way, but we should still be okay.” Then again, my impression is that the real life case was not properly investigated because of the corrupt politics of the day and that there was a lot of sitting around, waiting for answers that will never come.
I liked this book, but don’t think it is one that I will keep on my shelf for rereading in the future.
This book focuses on the real-life disappearance of New York Supreme Court Justice Joseph Crater. This fictionalized tale gives an account of what might have happened to him, focusing on what his wife, his maid and his mistress know about the event.
The novel follows each of the women in the days, weeks and months following the disappearance of Justice Crater. Throughout the story, you know that each woman knows more than she is letting on, even to those closest to them. The wife, Stella, knows that her husband was involved in the corrupt politics of the Tammany Hall era and believes that there is more to his disappearance than she will truly know. The maid, Maria, is married to the detective sent to uncover the truth of the case, but she holds secrets from her husband throughout the story and it isn’t until the full confession at the end that he realizes how much his wife truly knew. The mistress seems to know the truth and does her best to avoid the other women, but somehow gets tangled in with them anyway.
Overall, I have mixed feelings on the book. There were some parts that I felt dragged on longer than I would have liked. And then at the end, when I finally learned how things unfolded (in the fictional story since the case is still unsolved today), I was impressed with the planning that went into the plot. However, I think I would have enjoyed the story more if I had seen more of the planning along the way instead of a letter at the end showing “This is what we did. Plans changed slightly along the way, but we should still be okay.” Then again, my impression is that the real life case was not properly investigated because of the corrupt politics of the day and that there was a lot of sitting around, waiting for answers that will never come.
I liked this book, but don’t think it is one that I will keep on my shelf for rereading in the future.
constantreader471's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars for an absorbing murder mystery/historical fiction book set in 1930s New York City. Parts of this book are based on actual incidents and real people. Judge Crater did disappear in 1931 and his body was never found. The title refers to 3 women in his life: His wife, his mistress and his long time maid, all of whom may have been privy to secrets that would have shed light on his disappearance.
How these 3 interact is mostly fiction and makes for a layered mystery, which is not completely revealed until the end. I recommend it to mystery/historical fiction fans. There is no graphic violence and one brief rape scene. The ending was bittersweet. but did wrap up all the loose ends.
I read this library book in 3 days.
How these 3 interact is mostly fiction and makes for a layered mystery, which is not completely revealed until the end. I recommend it to mystery/historical fiction fans. There is no graphic violence and one brief rape scene. The ending was bittersweet. but did wrap up all the loose ends.
I read this library book in 3 days.
arflegel's review against another edition
3.75
I definitely didn't know this was based on a real person and his disappearance til the very end - hah! Either way, I enjoyed this book. It kept me really engaged, and towards the end I found myself at work wondering what was going to happen.. Well done.
linneakarchibald's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 STARS
After not loving CODE NAME HELENE, I was hesitant to give this one a try, but I was looking for a quick audiobook while waiting for my library holds to come in and this was available, so I picked it up. I'm so glad I did.
It's the summer of 1930 and Judge Joseph Carter steps into a cab in New York City and is never seen again. In his wake, three women hold the keys to the truth of his meteoritic rise to the judge's bench, his complicated connections, and his eventual disappearance. On paper, the women could not be more different: his wife Stella is the picture of propriety, his maid Maria is reliable and discrete, and his mistress Ritzi is an opportunistic showgirl looking for a break. In reality, however, the women have much more in common than meets the eye. The mystery of the judge's disappearance unravels in a page-turning mystery that's atmospheric and enveloping.
One of my biggest issues with CODE NAME HELENE was that I occasionally felt the characters were unbelievable (despite being based on real people) and that took me out of the story. I didn't feel that with this novel and I think it'd be an excellent read for anyone who enjoys female-centric mysteries or Jazz Age stories.
After not loving CODE NAME HELENE, I was hesitant to give this one a try, but I was looking for a quick audiobook while waiting for my library holds to come in and this was available, so I picked it up. I'm so glad I did.
It's the summer of 1930 and Judge Joseph Carter steps into a cab in New York City and is never seen again. In his wake, three women hold the keys to the truth of his meteoritic rise to the judge's bench, his complicated connections, and his eventual disappearance. On paper, the women could not be more different: his wife Stella is the picture of propriety, his maid Maria is reliable and discrete, and his mistress Ritzi is an opportunistic showgirl looking for a break. In reality, however, the women have much more in common than meets the eye. The mystery of the judge's disappearance unravels in a page-turning mystery that's atmospheric and enveloping.
One of my biggest issues with CODE NAME HELENE was that I occasionally felt the characters were unbelievable (despite being based on real people) and that took me out of the story. I didn't feel that with this novel and I think it'd be an excellent read for anyone who enjoys female-centric mysteries or Jazz Age stories.
robyn5771's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
teegardenm2's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting read, but at some points hard to follow.
bookish_blonde's review against another edition
4.0
Told from three points of view, and I found myself rooting for each one in different ways. I enjoyed the prose and the 1930s atmosphere! I loved how all of it pieced together at the end of the story!
bookworm91's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.5
stevienlcf's review against another edition
2.0
Lawhom uses the true unsolved mystery of a New York State court judge, Joseph Carter, who disappeared in 1930, and crafts a tale around what may have befallen him. In Lawhom's re-telling, Judge Carter was indebted to the Tammany political machine. He was also having an affair with a bosomy showgirl, Ritiz, a former Iowa farm girl who, herself, was indebted to the owner of the Cotton Club, Owen Madden, one of the gangsters who sold Carter his judicial seat. In addition to Carter's social-climbing wife, Stella, the cast is rounded out with the Carter's maid, who is torn between her loyalty to her employers and her husband, Jude, a police detective who is investigating Carter's disappearance.
Lawhom packs her historical fiction with some true Prohibition-era historical characters, but she also introduces the typical genre cliches, including a prostitute with a heart of gold, a back-alley abortionist, and a bevy of fedora-clad gangsters. Lawhom does provide a surprising twist when Stella, who is near death, reveals all she knows of her husband's disappearance to Jude some 40 years later; however, the book is less than satisfying. As one critic aptly stated, it is more "more wooden than pulpy."
Lawhom packs her historical fiction with some true Prohibition-era historical characters, but she also introduces the typical genre cliches, including a prostitute with a heart of gold, a back-alley abortionist, and a bevy of fedora-clad gangsters. Lawhom does provide a surprising twist when Stella, who is near death, reveals all she knows of her husband's disappearance to Jude some 40 years later; however, the book is less than satisfying. As one critic aptly stated, it is more "more wooden than pulpy."