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A review by bookadventurer
Blindspot by Jane Kamensky
3.0
This novel follows two narrators, Fanny Easton and Stewart Jameson, who both find themselves in trouble in mid-18th century Boston. Stewart is running from debtors back in Scotland and England, and Fanny has been living in the Manufactory for three years since she left her father's house for the streets. At the opening of the story, she decides to masquerade as a young boy.
Both are talented artists, which is how their stories end up intertwined: Jameson advertises for an apprentice in the local paper, and Fanny accepts as the boy "Weston". The plot follows their adventures as they learn more about one another and try to hid their secrets from the Bostonians. Then Jameson's black friend shows up, after being enslaved and running away. The ties between Jameson and this Ignatius Alexander are weakly integrated into the plot, and that was one of the things that bothered me most. Their close relationship is unconvincing.
Then a local political leader is found murdered, and the trio sets out to free the wife and child of the accused slave. This involves Sherlock-ian efforts from Alexander, and Watson-esque support from both Jameson and Fanny.
The political tension between factions in Boston, and between Bostonians and the King's Government, provide the backdrop for the story, and motivations for the characters' actions. Additionally, this novel portrays some of the trauma, turmoil, horrors, and hypocrisy of slavery during the Independence movement.
The story was fast-paced and really enjoyable until the denouement, which drags on and on as Alexander channels Hercule Poirot and Sherlock in describing the murder to the townspeople. The ending dragged as well, until the last few pages, which I once again found to be interesting.
Both are talented artists, which is how their stories end up intertwined: Jameson advertises for an apprentice in the local paper, and Fanny accepts as the boy "Weston". The plot follows their adventures as they learn more about one another and try to hid their secrets from the Bostonians. Then Jameson's black friend shows up, after being enslaved and running away. The ties between Jameson and this Ignatius Alexander are weakly integrated into the plot, and that was one of the things that bothered me most. Their close relationship is unconvincing.
Then a local political leader is found murdered, and the trio sets out to free the wife and child of the accused slave. This involves Sherlock-ian efforts from Alexander, and Watson-esque support from both Jameson and Fanny.
The political tension between factions in Boston, and between Bostonians and the King's Government, provide the backdrop for the story, and motivations for the characters' actions. Additionally, this novel portrays some of the trauma, turmoil, horrors, and hypocrisy of slavery during the Independence movement.
The story was fast-paced and really enjoyable until the denouement, which drags on and on as Alexander channels Hercule Poirot and Sherlock in describing the murder to the townspeople. The ending dragged as well, until the last few pages, which I once again found to be interesting.