Book Review: City of Secrets | Victoria Thompson

Victoria Thompson’s second installment in her Counterfeit Lady series was filled with salacious town gossip, moral dilemmas, and shocking photograph that had the characters in this book acting in ways they wouldn’t think possible. This author came highly recommended to me by one of the book besties, Melisa at The Book Collective. Melisa is a big fan of Thompson’s Gaslight Murder series, and now that I’ve read her work I can see why! This book is the best sort of historical fiction, in my opinion–a story that could happen in any time period, but is carefully tailored for the period it resides in. I hope you enjoy this series as well!

About the Book

Con artist Elizabeth Miles has determined that Society is the biggest con of all. So far, Elizabeth’s only real social success has been with Priscilla Knight. Priscilla is a dedicated suffragist who was recently widowed for the second time in her young life. Her beloved first husband, DeForrest Jenks, died in a tragic accident and left her with two young daughters and a comfortable fortune. Soon after his death, her pastor convinced her she needed a man to look after her. Before she knew it, he had engineered a whirlwind courtship and hasty marriage to fellow parishioner Endicott Knight. Less than nine months later, Endicott is also dead in a somewhat less tragic and even more suspicious accident.

Priscilla confides to Elizabeth that she had understood Endicott was wealthy in his own right, and she had brought a sizeable fortune to the marriage as well. Now her banker is telling her she has hardly any money left and that her house has been mortgaged. The banker has hinted at a scandal that could damage the family’s reputation and her daughters’ future prospects. Fearing destructive gossip, Priscilla doesn’t know whom to trust.

Elizabeth discovers some unsavory evidence that seems to point to the possibility that Endicott’s death may have been connected to blackmail. To save her new friend’s future, Elizabeth must use her special set of skills to find the truth.

Reflection

Well let’s get right to the pressing question of this novel: is it okay to con a blackmailer? I loved the discussions of morality, justice, and law in this book. Elizabeth and Gideon are on two different pages in how they approach justice. I think they can both agree that what happened to the widow Priscilla was unjust and inexcusable. But where they differ is in determining how justice can be enacted on behalf of Priscilla. There isn’t a clear answer for me, nor was there for Elizabeth and Gideon. In fact, in every way Elizabeth feels that Gideon is trying to fundamentally change her moral code, she is expecting him to change his. This led to a really fascinating dynamic between our leading couple.

The deception around Priscilla’s wealth is quite shocking as it unfolds. I was captivated, trying to piece together the puzzle in a way that made sense. There are delightfully colorful characters throughout this book. I loved the Old Man–Elizabeth’s father. He knows exactly who he is and doesn’t apologize for it. But he’s incredibly sweet to Elizabeth, encouraging her to not follow in her mother’s footsteps with a man like himself. I also enjoyed Gideon’s mother and her friend Anna! The theme of the women’s suffrage movement really pleased my feminist soul.

And then we have a cast of villains! I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just say that outward appearances don’t always indicate who someone is as a person. Grifters may seem to act as thieves, but they have a code of conduct that they operate on. Others may be even more villainous though they appear pious. It’s an interesting view of humanity for sure!

I found the writing to be smooth and engaging. Historical fiction can at times feel dry to me, but this book wasn’t remotely that way! I couldn’t put it down–I had to know what would happen!