One thing I really appreciate in Camden's books is that the characters are intelligent and generally act accordingly. For instance, Jonathan recognizes the danger of newspapermen knowing Katherine's name, so he makes sure they never say it in their hearing. They get personal guards who actually do their job. They do research and make sensible plans. That doesn't mean things don't go horribly wrong, of course, but it wasn't lack of smarts on their part. I did live in dread of the inevitable disaster Jonathan's house of lies comes crashing down, but since he'd been building it since age 14, I can see how that would be a tangled web to unweave (to mix metaphors). But I really liked him; such a complex character--so incredibly upright, yet it's all built on secrets and lies. And Katherine was great too.
I also love how much actual history gets worked into the stories--from Katherine's flamboyant boss to the NYPD's Italian Squad to anarchists to the mafia. I hadn't realized the mafia was already entrenched in New York by 1910 (and certainly didn't expect it to appear in the book). But I can see how it would have been a significant factor to the police force, even if they weren't directly involved in a crime. And if they were . . . Things could get really messy in a hurry.
This is one of Camden's most suspenseful stories. I can't wait to read about Inga and the other ladies of Midtown!
Thank You Bethany House and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.
