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jakewritesbooks's review
4.0
I liked it well enough for a first book in the series, though I’m not sure I’ll continue. Susanna Calkins gets the era well enough without having to resort to too many cliches. I like the world she builds and the mystery is interesting enough, if not overly complex. After a rocky start, it really catches itself and I was engaged to the end.
The problem I had with the story, and the reason why I’d be hesitant to continue, is I didn’t have a handle on Gina. She’s supposed to be the main character and yet, I didn’t feel like I knew her or was invested enough in her. I knew enough about her but not necessarily what made her tick. I know she has a rough life thanks to living with her dad and being underpaid. But what are her hobbies, aside from fixing clocks? Does she read? Like dresses? Men? Women? What’s her deal? I wasn’t invested enough in her so while I enjoyed the story, I doubt I’ll be reading more.
The problem I had with the story, and the reason why I’d be hesitant to continue, is I didn’t have a handle on Gina. She’s supposed to be the main character and yet, I didn’t feel like I knew her or was invested enough in her. I knew enough about her but not necessarily what made her tick. I know she has a rough life thanks to living with her dad and being underpaid. But what are her hobbies, aside from fixing clocks? Does she read? Like dresses? Men? Women? What’s her deal? I wasn’t invested enough in her so while I enjoyed the story, I doubt I’ll be reading more.
shavawnellsbury's review
4.0
3.5 rounded up to 4. Not my usual for a historical fiction mystery but it was cute. The beginning was a bit slow, I felt as though I had to power through to get to the good stuff. A nice cozy weekend read though and a nicely wrapped ending.
krisrid's review
2.0
I seem to be on a bad roll with my audiobook choices lately. This is the third one that I have not ended up finishing. I don't know if I am making bad choices, if the timing for these books has just been off, or if I am simply getting harder to please. Whatever it is, things have not been going well in audiobook-land for me lately.
This was not a bad book. It was fine, what I read of it. It just did not really grab my attention and draw me in, the way an "OMG! THIS BOOK IS AMAZING! I DON'T WANT TO STOP READING!" sort of book does.
I like the 20's as a period, and I like strong, independent spunky female characters, and this book had both. I don't really know why I didn't love it, but a third of the way in, I was already drifting away as I listened to the story. That is always a red flag for me, because when I am listening to an audio book that I'm loving, my attention doesn't wander - at all!
With so many books on my "to read" list, I just can't justify spending more time on a book that I'm ambivalent about. This wasn't a bad book, just obviously not the right book for me.
This was not a bad book. It was fine, what I read of it. It just did not really grab my attention and draw me in, the way an "OMG! THIS BOOK IS AMAZING! I DON'T WANT TO STOP READING!" sort of book does.
I like the 20's as a period, and I like strong, independent spunky female characters, and this book had both. I don't really know why I didn't love it, but a third of the way in, I was already drifting away as I listened to the story. That is always a red flag for me, because when I am listening to an audio book that I'm loving, my attention doesn't wander - at all!
With so many books on my "to read" list, I just can't justify spending more time on a book that I'm ambivalent about. This wasn't a bad book, just obviously not the right book for me.
gretel7's review against another edition
2.0
I received this from Netgalley.com for a review.
1920's Chicago speakeasy. Gina Ricci takes on a job as a cigarette girl to earn money for her ailing father and stumbles into a murder. As Gina searches for answers, she’s pulled deeper into the shadowy truths.
The writing was ok and the story moved along just fine, this is basically a clean story with no gory descriptions or extreme vulgar language. But, I don't know, I just got really tired of the many 'what if this or what if that' kind of questions.
2.25☆
1920's Chicago speakeasy. Gina Ricci takes on a job as a cigarette girl to earn money for her ailing father and stumbles into a murder. As Gina searches for answers, she’s pulled deeper into the shadowy truths.
The writing was ok and the story moved along just fine, this is basically a clean story with no gory descriptions or extreme vulgar language. But, I don't know, I just got really tired of the many 'what if this or what if that' kind of questions.
2.25☆
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