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drb_11's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
This book was VERY slow and the inner dialogue was repetitive. The plot was very predictable which made the book quite boring. I did like the hints of old New Orleans culture and wish that was explored more.
We could figure out benton/howard was the same person early on. And the Black Hand subplot was not well developed, the threat never felt real no matter how much the author tried to convince us it was real. I thought Constance’s sickness at the end would’ve been poison from the Black Hand, but it wasn’t. It just felt like a weird afterthought.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Pregnancy
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Racial slurs
barbaraskalberg's review against another edition
2.0
I had to stop the audio and check the ebook out or I never would have finished it. I couldn't listen another minute to the helpless voice the narrator created for the main character.
keishamae85's review against another edition
2.0
This was the longest most drawn out book I've ever read... most of it was filler.. constance was the most fainting weak damsel in distress main female character I've ever read in my reading life.. every time her character came up I rolled my eyes.. alice was also weak willed and annoying.. this book will never be recommended to anyone I know.. it's pretty horrible.. every chapter is basically a repeat of the one before and you pretty much figure out the connection after chapter 2.. worst book I've read so far in 2023
marranp's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
haudurn's review against another edition
1.0
This is a simpering story filled with undeveloped, undifferentiated characters and a completely predictable "plot twist". It has an unexplored, perplexing tone of homophobia.
mdh0602's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
brooke_review's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve lived in southern Louisiana all my life, but I didn’t know about New Orleans’ first all female organization, Krewe Les Mystérieuses, until reading Diane C. McPhail’s new novel The Seamstress of New Orleans. This novel sets a murder mystery against the backdrop of Mardi Gras in 1900 New Orleans to create an atmospheric tale that is equal parts dazzling and mystifying.
The Seamstress of New Orleans follows two women, Constance and Alice, with similar stories - both of their husbands have gone missing under peculiar circumstances. When the women meet and bond over costume preparations for New Orleans’ Krewe Les Mystérieuses ball, they become fast friends and support each other in their search for the truth about their husbands’ disappearance.
I’ll admit that I didn’t expect to like The Seamstress of New Orleans quite as much as I did! I was frankly expecting an overwritten historical fiction novel with an informative and important, but less than entertaining, storyline. I was quickly proven wrong! I am usually not a fan of murder mysteries, but McPhail pulled me right into her whodunit with the perfect blend of ominous mood and atmospheric storytelling. This novel never becomes dull or stolid because McPhail effectively switches the narrative from the mystery of the missing husbands to preparations for the Mardi Gras ball in even intervals.
My only fault with this novel is that the characters of Constance and Alice are so closely written that I had trouble distinguishing between their voices in the novel. I often thought I was reading Constance’s story, when it was in fact Alice’s, and because they were so similar, I didn’t realize my mistake until many pages in.
The Seamstress of New Orleans is recommended to readers who enjoy historical mysteries set in the south.
The Seamstress of New Orleans follows two women, Constance and Alice, with similar stories - both of their husbands have gone missing under peculiar circumstances. When the women meet and bond over costume preparations for New Orleans’ Krewe Les Mystérieuses ball, they become fast friends and support each other in their search for the truth about their husbands’ disappearance.
I’ll admit that I didn’t expect to like The Seamstress of New Orleans quite as much as I did! I was frankly expecting an overwritten historical fiction novel with an informative and important, but less than entertaining, storyline. I was quickly proven wrong! I am usually not a fan of murder mysteries, but McPhail pulled me right into her whodunit with the perfect blend of ominous mood and atmospheric storytelling. This novel never becomes dull or stolid because McPhail effectively switches the narrative from the mystery of the missing husbands to preparations for the Mardi Gras ball in even intervals.
My only fault with this novel is that the characters of Constance and Alice are so closely written that I had trouble distinguishing between their voices in the novel. I often thought I was reading Constance’s story, when it was in fact Alice’s, and because they were so similar, I didn’t realize my mistake until many pages in.
The Seamstress of New Orleans is recommended to readers who enjoy historical mysteries set in the south.
asp426's review
2.0
Bookclub read for May. I really struggled through this one. It started strong and then just lost me and dragged on forever. I was definitely skimming pages at the end. I wouldn’t really recommend this but I did enjoy learning about some of the unique history of New Orleans and Mardi Gras.
chantalsbookstuff's review against another edition
3.0
Historical fiction brings you The Seamstress of New Orleans played off in the 1900. Constance is having trouble with gang members for gambling debt her late husband had accumulated. This story follows her trying to put her life back toghter and creating a safe environment for her children.
I have a fondness for historical fiction and went in with high hopes. This book did not give me the satisfaction I would normally get from this genre. The storyline was a bit flat with no remarkable drama. I did like the characters and the dressmaking bits. I felt that this could have had a stronger storyline.
The narration was steady and good.
Thank you Netgalley and RB Media for this ARC.
I have a fondness for historical fiction and went in with high hopes. This book did not give me the satisfaction I would normally get from this genre. The storyline was a bit flat with no remarkable drama. I did like the characters and the dressmaking bits. I felt that this could have had a stronger storyline.
The narration was steady and good.
Thank you Netgalley and RB Media for this ARC.