This is the first historical cozy mystery in the Counterfeit Lady series by well-known author of Gaslight Mysteries, Victoria Thompson. I probably would never have thought to read it had it not been for another online book club I’m in. I never really thought I’d enjoy historical very much, but this was interesting as well as entertaining. I have to say it’s the most unusual job for a protagonist that I’ve read about so far! I am really anxious to keep reading in this series and hope I get approved from NetGalley to read the second book before it comes out in November.
My Goodreads review:
City of Lies by Victoria Thompson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have to say this is the most different occupation I’ve come across for a sleuth, making a living by being a grifter who cheats their way through life and encounters danger at just about every turn–especially when they make their mark angry. It was a well-written and plotted mystery though, as well as compelling. I got to know Elizabeth and her two friends that she got sent to jail with and cared about what happened to them. I had no idea all these awful things happened during women’s suffrage in our country and how some of those women actually did suffer and die for their rights. It was interesting to read in the back of the book after it ended that the women’s stay in the workhouse was based on some real life events.
The author painted the perfect bad guy in Thornton. I really wanted to see him get ruined for the way he treated everyone, especially females, so I loved how the sting finally ended, it was really epic! Even little shy Anna got to play an important part in it. There was a really good twist in the scheme that had me even fooled for a little while.
I haven’t read many other historical mysteries but this is the first that didn’t have a current murder to solve. They were mainly focused on the sting operation and making sure the bad guy paid and it was interesting to get to that point. The book didn’t end with a cliffhanger, but it did end in such a way that I definitely would like to read the next one and see what characters and situations might carry on in that book.
Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery 