Overview

From M.J. Rose, New York Times bestselling author of Tiffany Blues, “a lush, romantic historical mystery” (Kristin Hannah, The Nightingale), comes a gorgeously wrought novel of ambition and betrayal set in the Gilded Age. 

New York, 1910: A city of extravagant balls in Fifth Avenue mansions and poor immigrants crammed into crumbling Lower East Side tenements. A city where the suffrage movement is growing stronger every day, but most women reporters are still delegated to the fashion and lifestyle pages. But Vera Garland is set on making her mark in a man’s world of serious journalism.

Shortly after the world-famous Hope Diamond is acquired for a record sum, Vera begins investigating rumors about schemes by its new owner, jeweler Pierre Cartier, to manipulate its value. Vera is determined to find the truth behind the notorious diamond and its legendary curses—even better when the expose puts her in the same orbit as a magazine publisher whose blackmailing schemes led to the death of her beloved father.

Appealing to a young Russian jeweler for help, Vera is unprepared when she begins falling in love with him…and even more unprepared when she gets caught up in his deceptions and finds herself at risk of losing all she has worked so hard to achieve.

Set against the backdrop of New York’s glitter and grit, of ruthless men and the atrocities they commit in the pursuit of power, this enthralling historical novel explores our very human needs for love, retribution—and to pursue one’s destiny, regardless of the cost.

Review

Vera is from a wealthy New York family. But, she does not let this hold her back. She has an alter ego… Vee Swann. Vee is actually a journalist. During this time period of the gilded age, this is a huge, out of the norm, job for a female. When Vera runs across a family secret plus a family “suicide”, she is determined for Vee to get revenge and crack the mystery of the Hope diamond.

This is not my favorite M.J. Rose story. But, that is not to say it is not good. It is delicious! I just actually figured this out. Unusual for me. And let me add…no doubt in my mind…no one does better female characters than this author. And Vera is the best! She does not conform to the women of the day. This stresses her mother beyond belief, which is an added side story. (Had me laughing in places).

There are so many twists and turns in this tale. M. J. does and excellent job with all the unique aspects. I was hooked from the start. The setting, the time period, the mystery and of course…the love interest…you must read this to find out!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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