Aspiring reporter Sophie Strong uncovers deadly secrets lurking in the aisles of a 1912 department store. Will she risk everything in her quest to expose a killer?
In 1912 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, aspiring reporter Sophie Strong yearns for a thrilling undercover mission that rivals those of her idol, journalist Nellie Bly. Her dreams of adventure are dashed when her cautious editor assigns her to the seemingly mundane role of a shopgirl.
But appearances can be deceiving. What starts as an ordinary job takes a sinister turn when a fellow employee meets a tragic end. Suddenly, Sophie and her coworkers fall under suspicion. Determined to prove their innocence and driven by insatiable curiosity, she embarks on her own covert investigation. Detective Jacob Zimmer urges her to leave the pursuit of criminals to the professionals, but she can’t resist plunging into the perilous web of secrets, lies, and hidden motives. Sophie explores the shadowy corners of one of the city’s most popular department stores, and each step closer to the truth lures her into more danger.
In this gripping historical mystery, Sophie Strong’s relentless pursuit of justice sets the stage for a heart-pounding race against time. Will she expose the killer’s identity before she, too, becomes a victim? Perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen, Victoria Thompson, and Ashley Weaver.
The second instalment in the Sophie Strong Mysteries was even better than the first!
First of all, the setting.
This story is mostly set in the millinery department of a big department store, and let me tell you, I loved it!
It’s very unusual. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen this kind of setting before (the department store is in itself not very frequented as a historical novel setting), and this particular department feels exceptionally connected to the time.
In the 1910s, lady hats had become almost a form of art. Ladies decorated them with virtually anything. Well-off ladies could spend a lot of money and time in a place like this. And yet, in 10 years, after the Great War, all of this had disappeared.
It was also extremely well researched. This environment is kind of familiar, being a department store (though with many peculiar details of the time), but also very different from anything we are familiar with because of the kind of items they sold.
The place, the work, the way people interacted, the way the entire department store functioned shows vividly on he page. I felt like I was there, even if everything was new to me.
The characters are also a strong asset of the story.
Many of them are recurring, and they are starting to create a strong bond with the reader. I loved meeting again characters I already knew, even if some of them just appeared in a few episodes. I also loved getting to know characters that had stayed in the background in the first story.
This gave me a deep sense of community, the sense that I’m getting to know these characters in a natural way, like it would happen in real life.
I won’t dwell on the romance that is clearly blooming – what can I say, I’m not a romantic woman – but I did enjoy it. It’s based on personality and circumstances, and yes, I’m kind of curious to see how it will evolve.
Again, the ending was fast and furious, but very plausible. Action, danger, acts of bravery. It was perfect.
It’s a very well-done, well-researched series so far, and I highly recommend it.
(read the review of the first book here)
Strong Temptations by Amy Renshow – A #HistoricalFiction #CosyMystery set in 1912 in the Millinery Department in a big department store in Milwaukee. Such an unusual, fascinating setting! #BookRecommendation #BookReview Share on XStrong Temptations
Excerpt
Her voice trailed off as she took in the ashen features of Charles Young, his eyes blank and half-open, his mouth slack. Sophie had seen that horrible stillness before.
“He’s dead,” whispered Vivian.
Sophie eyed Vivian, unable to stop the thought that popped into her head: What did you do?
“I just found him,” said Vivian, as if reading her mind. “But—look at the hatpin.”
Against her will, Sophie looked. She blinked, then glanced back at Vivian. “It’s yours.”
“The one you borrowed.”
“The one that was missing.”
“If someone finds it here, it’ll look—” Vivian took a step toward Charles’s body, reaching out the hand that held her handkerchief.
Sophie clutched her arm. “You can’t take it, Vivian. That would make it worse. The police need to see all the evidence.”
“Well, he won’t be less dead if my hatpin isn’t sticking in his chest.”
“But we don’t know what happened. We can’t—”
“Miss Bell? Miss Strong?” the authoritative voice of Miss Ramsey reached them. “Are the French Rooms ready?”
Vivian shot a grim look at Sophie. She had no chance of retrieving her hatpin now. Vivian gestured to the main salon, and both girls stepped back as she pulled the door shut and turned to the manageress.
The Thursday Quotables was originally a weekly post created by Lisa Wolf for her book blog Bookshelf Fantasy . It isn’t a weekly post anymore, not even for Lisa, but just like her, I still love to share my favourite reads on Thursdays and I still use the original template which included an excerpt.
