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Happy Friday, all! Today I am super excited to share my review of another book I group read, and we unanimously endorsed, City of Secrets by Victoria Thompson, now available from Berkley!

My Thoughts:

Elizabeth Miles is a fascinating character, and she happens to be a con artist. Her only “friend” is Priscilla Knight, who has her own share of baggage. 

On her second marriage, Priscilla’s husband has died in a suspicious accident. Truth be told, her first husband died in an “accident,” too. 

Priscilla brought her own money into the second marriage thanks to the benefits from her first; however, all she owns is in jeopardy when a banker lets her know it’s been siphoned off. Priscilla turns to Elizabeth for help and in finding the truth.

Set in the 1920s, City of Secrets is the second installment in an engaging and well-written historical mystery series. I absolutely loved Elizabeth’s complex character. She is rough and unscrupulous, but she is warm and endearing at the same time. She is in a relationship with straight-laced Gideon, a lawyer who lives by the rules.

Every character is wonderful, the writing is smart, and I loved City of Secrets from start to finish. I’m reading book one now to get some backstory, and it’s only enriching th experience I had with book two. Well-done! 

Thanks to Berkley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own. 

Synopsis:

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.

Check out these reviews by the other Book Besties:

Berit at Audio Killed the Bookmark

Holly at Dressed to Read

Mackenzie at PhDiva

Melisa at The Book Collective

Have you read City of Secrets, or is it on your TBR? Have you read any of Victoria Thompson’s other mysteries? Do you have any favorite fall reads? Happy Reading! ~ Jenni THR

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A sweet little someone always loves to smell the flowers! 🌺 🌸 ♥️

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