A review by jentidders
Queen of Kenosha by Howard Shapiro

3.0

Nina Overstreet is a struggling folk singer in 1960s NYC, desperate to get a record deal and make it big. Instead, a random encounter leads to her being invited to join an agency of ex-FBI operatives whose mission is prevent a network of undercover Nazis establishing the Fourth Reich in the USA. Carrying out missions, Nina has to consider her own personal morals - what depths is it acceptable to sink to, if it's for the greater good? ⁣

There's a lot to like here; the 1960s/NYC/post-war/cold-war setting, a female lead, the music references and the suggested playlist for each section. However, I couldn't suspend my disbelief that NIna would be recruited into such a unit with no prior experience. Also, some of the illustration felt a bit flat, and it was hard to tell some of the male characters apart, meaning I was a bit confused in places. And even though there was meant to be some will-they/won't-they tension between characters, I didn't feel any romantic chemistry. ⁣

Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable enough read, but there are better graphic novels out there. ⁣

Thanks to NetGalley and Animal Media Group for the digital copy in return for an honest review. ⁣