A review by darthsansa
Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is a tale of gangsters, cops, starlets, socialites, and family all vying for fame and dominance in post WWI London. It grabbed me from page one and kept me reading late into the night. The dialogue is sharp and witty, the cast is varied and complex, and the setting is colorful and vivid. I felt like I could hear the music, taste the cocktails, and smell the smoke (and even the fetid Thames). 

The story centers around ruthless nightclub owner Nellie Coker who has just been released from jail. She  returns to an empire imperiled by the police who want to shut her down, criminals who want to steal her clubs, and her 6 children with their own issues. Nellie quietly watches and maneuvers around them while regularly consulting her Lenormand deck for insight.

There is a large cast of characters that includes naive country girls seeking fame in the city, jaded London social climbers, hardened war veterans, corrupt cops, drug addicts and alcoholics, and victims of poverty. Their paths cross and recross. Some will meet with tragic ends and others will make good, although not necessarily in the ways they were seeking.

Atkinson was inspired by the real life of Kate Meyrick, owner of multiple London nightclubs in the 1920s. It is meticulously researched and feels authentic and lived in. I loved this book…highly recommend.

Thanks to Net Galley and Doubleday Books  for this ARC edition.