Reviews

City of Scoundrels by Victoria Thompson

gawronma's review

4.0

This was a surprising read. The plot was woven around the United States entering World War I and Spanish Flu. Really liked the Miles family.

rebecca_isreading's review

4.0

Thanks to the publisher, via Netgalley, for an advance e-galley for honest review.

This series continues to be particularly excellent. Victoria Thompson knows the time period well, and this time the story includes Gideon's imminent draft into World War I, as well as the 1918 influenza pandemic (if you read this, the streetcar scene!!). I have to be honest, I'm not sure I totally understood how the con in this story was going to work (too much back and forth about money passing hands for me to keep track of), but I liked the story and appreciate Elizabeth continuing to combine her family's skills as grifters with her desire to help people (and let greedy businessmen be conned). This was a fast paced historical fiction- though this series is definitely best if read in order!

argentrabe's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

leighannsherwin's review against another edition

5.0

I say this about every series but truly this one keeps getting better. It is late fall 1918, the war continues to rage on in Europe with a staggering amount of casualties. America is in the war and troops have at last arrived to help with the fight. Unfortunately for Elizabeth and Gideon the draft age continues to rise and Gideon's number is up. As he prepares to go off to fight he soon becomes embroiled in yet another of Elizabeth and her family's schemes. A young soldier comes to him asking for a new will. He has recently married and wants his wife and unborn child to get his money and share in the profits of his family shoe company. They make footwear for soldiers. His new wife Rose doesn't meet with approval from his family, and he knows should he die she will not be cared for. Not long after the soldier is dead in battle and Rose is attacked in her apartment and the new will stolen. What follows is a long meandering con job to get the young widow what her husband wanted for her. There are many twists and turns in this one. From a ring of German spies, to the horrors of war and the deadly Spanish flu come fully to life. As a history buff I didn't learn much new about the war and the home front, but the detail makes it seem real. From people literally dropping like flies in the street from the flu, to hush hush meetings concerning sabotage. I love the uniqueness of this series. Not a conventional mystery but the story of a con, with so many twists and turns you have to see if they can actually pulls this off. I love this series and can't wait to see where it will go as we head toward the roaring 20's and how our grifter with a heart of gold will deal with settling into domestic life with the ever so honest Gideon.

iugirljenn's review against another edition

3.0

These books are always fun and silly, but I didn’t enjoy this one as much. As usual, they trick some villain out of money and the whole con was super confusing. This books also a bit darker than past ones, with WWll and the Spanish Flu. It was interesting to read about the flu, especially in parallel to the coronavirus occurring today. Blood coming out your eyes and nose? Not a mental imagine I can stop seeing.