This historical fiction takes place after the end of World War II, in the throes of the scourge that was McCarthyism. It follows the denizens of a women’s boardinghouse in Washington, DC, who are from wildly different and sometimes mysterious backgrounds. The owner of the house and her children also have parts to play in this character-driven masterpiece. The story opens with a body in the attic apartment and blood all over the walls, and makes its twisted, turning path through the events that one by one precipitate the murder. The culture of divisiveness, suspicion, and intolerance is on full display, as the girls’ backgrounds combine with the events of the story to drive the action forward. One cannot help drawing comparisons between that difficult time in history and this one. A surprisingly deep, compelling read, with plenty of action, interesting characters and a conclusion you’ll never see coming.
-Andrea, Circulation
