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ethanzanemiller's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
thephdivabooks's review
4.0
A well-paced story that instantly transports the reader to Boston in 1942, Mullen quickly and effectively builds the sociopolitical context for the mystery. The US has joined WWII after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Boston in the early 1940s is filled with anti-Jewish sentiment across the different communities. Tensions among different groups have escalated from unrest to fascism, brutality, violence, and targeted attacks.
Journalist Anne Lemire writes a newspaper column called the Rumor Clinic that debunks false information and rumors spreading around the city. Many of these stories gain traction quickly and lead to dangerous consequences when the information is untrue. One of the stories she is working on revolves around allegations that a doctor at Fort Gillem in Georgia is performing illegal abortions on women in the WAAC (non-combat roles in the army) impregnated by soldiers. Anne rapidly debunks allegations from sources and gathers the information she needs to correct the damaging story. Anne’s Jewish background and her political leanings prompt her to pursue a story about local gangs targeting Jewish kids.
Meanwhile Devon Mulvey is an FBI agent who engages in…extramarital activities with married women. Almost exclusively married women, and not because he targets them but because most women happen to be married after the rush of proposals before soldiers were shipped out to war. In the same way that Anne’s Jewish heritage make her an outsider in many parts of the city, Devon’s Irish-Catholic background make him an outsider within the FBI ranks. Furthermore, it leads to problems within his community because he feels guilt investigating his own people.
When Devon is called to investigate the murder of a Jewish refugee whose body was found with a swastika drawn on a cocktail napkin, he finds himself at odds with the Boston Police Department. Meanwhile Anne’s brother Sammy is attacked by an Irish gang, leading her to pursue deeper investigations into antisemitism. When Anne and Devon’s paths cross, they find themselves with a common cause in their investigations into the Christian Legion.
This is a politically charged novel which can make it heavy to read. A quick pace and interesting leading characters pull the reader into the story. The partnership (if you can call it that) between Anne and Devon is rocky. Their backgrounds prevent them from really trusting one another, despite a romantic connection between the two that seems ill-fated.
A compulsive historical thriller with a strong emphasis on prejudice and political unrest.
Journalist Anne Lemire writes a newspaper column called the Rumor Clinic that debunks false information and rumors spreading around the city. Many of these stories gain traction quickly and lead to dangerous consequences when the information is untrue. One of the stories she is working on revolves around allegations that a doctor at Fort Gillem in Georgia is performing illegal abortions on women in the WAAC (non-combat roles in the army) impregnated by soldiers. Anne rapidly debunks allegations from sources and gathers the information she needs to correct the damaging story. Anne’s Jewish background and her political leanings prompt her to pursue a story about local gangs targeting Jewish kids.
Meanwhile Devon Mulvey is an FBI agent who engages in…extramarital activities with married women. Almost exclusively married women, and not because he targets them but because most women happen to be married after the rush of proposals before soldiers were shipped out to war. In the same way that Anne’s Jewish heritage make her an outsider in many parts of the city, Devon’s Irish-Catholic background make him an outsider within the FBI ranks. Furthermore, it leads to problems within his community because he feels guilt investigating his own people.
When Devon is called to investigate the murder of a Jewish refugee whose body was found with a swastika drawn on a cocktail napkin, he finds himself at odds with the Boston Police Department. Meanwhile Anne’s brother Sammy is attacked by an Irish gang, leading her to pursue deeper investigations into antisemitism. When Anne and Devon’s paths cross, they find themselves with a common cause in their investigations into the Christian Legion.
This is a politically charged novel which can make it heavy to read. A quick pace and interesting leading characters pull the reader into the story. The partnership (if you can call it that) between Anne and Devon is rocky. Their backgrounds prevent them from really trusting one another, despite a romantic connection between the two that seems ill-fated.
A compulsive historical thriller with a strong emphasis on prejudice and political unrest.
hreagan's review against another edition
2.0
The beginning was slow for me. I wasn't drawn in. I did stick with it and about halfway through I was finally interested in the characters stories. The story itself was good but needed more excitement to keep a reader interested.
bargainsleuth's review
3.0
Thanks to Minotaur Books, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I think I am over the WWII historical fiction that seems to have taken over the genre. I did like that this is set in the U.S. (more specifically, Massachusetts), because I think a lot of Americans think we were all in agreement about the war. And I did get the feeling that Anne was a more grown-up Nancy Drew in her sleuthing as a reporter. Devon was just okay. I liked the fact that the book showed the prejudices against Catholics and Jews. And let's not forget the way women were treated during that era.
I considered giving up at around 40% because the beginning of the book was just so overwritten and could have been much tighter, but I persevered. It ended up being a good book for me, but not great.
I think I am over the WWII historical fiction that seems to have taken over the genre. I did like that this is set in the U.S. (more specifically, Massachusetts), because I think a lot of Americans think we were all in agreement about the war. And I did get the feeling that Anne was a more grown-up Nancy Drew in her sleuthing as a reporter. Devon was just okay. I liked the fact that the book showed the prejudices against Catholics and Jews. And let's not forget the way women were treated during that era.
I considered giving up at around 40% because the beginning of the book was just so overwritten and could have been much tighter, but I persevered. It ended up being a good book for me, but not great.
kojicic's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
avalydia's review against another edition
3.5
An enjoyable, well-written read, although not as hard-hitting as Darktown. The ending left things feeling a bit unresolved between the main characters - I wonder if there'll be a sequel? - but overall, another solid entry in the crime genre from Mullen.
marcirenee1974's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0
This was a bit of a wild ride. I LOVE Anna and her take-no-shit and go-get-'em spirit, even though she gets into some scary & tight spots because of that spiritedness! The parallels to today's anti-Semitism and anti-anything not-white are quite terrifying to me. We really have not come that far and this book highlights that. This was my 1st book by Thomas Mullen but will not be my last!
dannielynnfountain's review against another edition
4.0
Historical fiction meets mystery, fast paced and twisty throughout. The mention of Civil Air Patrol made my day! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advance copy.