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Sugarland
Readers' Favorite Book Award Winner
In 1921, young jazz pianist Eve Riser is caught in a drive-by shooting that kills the bootlegger standing next to her. Rescued by the bootlegger’s sister Lena, Eve recovers only to find that her pregnant stepsister Chickie, a popular nightclub singer, has vanished.
Eve and Lena navigate the speakeasies and jazz clubs of 1920s Chicago as they search for Chickie and the truth behind the murder. Along the way they encounter petty thugs, charismatic bandleaders, and a mysterious nightclub owner called the Walnut who seems to be the key to it all. Fighting racial barriers at every turn, Eve and Lena begin to unravel a twisted tale of secret shipments and gangster rivalry. Sugarland mixes the excitement of a new kind of music—jazz—with the darker side of Prohibition in a gripping story with "real suspense for anyone who likes a good mystery." (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)
In 1921, young jazz pianist Eve Riser is caught in a drive-by shooting that kills the bootlegger standing next to her. Rescued by the bootlegger’s sister Lena, Eve recovers only to find that her pregnant stepsister Chickie, a popular nightclub singer, has vanished.
Eve and Lena navigate the speakeasies and jazz clubs of 1920s Chicago as they search for Chickie and the truth behind the murder. Along the way they encounter petty thugs, charismatic bandleaders, and a mysterious nightclub owner called the Walnut who seems to be the key to it all. Fighting racial barriers at every turn, Eve and Lena begin to unravel a twisted tale of secret shipments and gangster rivalry. Sugarland mixes the excitement of a new kind of music—jazz—with the darker side of Prohibition in a gripping story with "real suspense for anyone who likes a good mystery." (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)
305 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2016
120 people are currently reading
683 people want to read
About the author
Martha Conway
14 books266 followersMartha Conway's latest novel is THE PHYSICIAN'S DAUGHTER. Her other novels include The Underground River (Simon & Schuster), which was a New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice, and Thieving Forest, which won the North American Book Award for Best Historical Fiction. Her short fiction has been published in the Iowa Review, the Carolina Quarterly, The Quarterly, Folio, Massachusetts Review, and other journals. She teaches creative writing at Stanford University's Continuing Studies Program.
Martha is one of seven sisters and now lives in San Francisco with her family.
Martha is one of seven sisters and now lives in San Francisco with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
July 3, 2020
"She knew what it would be like out on the circuit: some places they love the music and some places they don't. You get into a groove, then a waiter drops a tray and you lose it. Can't get your dresses cleaned properly, the man stiffs you on your pay, you take a break to eat lunch and can't find a restaurant that will serve you. She knew what the life was like, but she was going to do it anyway. She had to, and she wanted to."
See reviews first on my blog
Eve riser is a young piano player that goes on a circuit across the country with other musicians playing Jazz. One night when out with a guy she witnesses something awful and because of that, he sends her back to Chicago with something to give to a man named Rudy.
Once she is back in Chicago and meets up with her sister Chickie who has her own problems that play a pretty big part in the second half of the story. But once these two sisters start working together and becoming a team again everything seems like it will lookup. That is until Rudy and his sister Lena get added into the picture and more tragedy happens.
"She thought wearing men's clothes would make her feel free, but instead, she was just wondering at every turn what she should do with her hands, her feet."
Lena is a young woman who has lost everyone close to her in her family, and because of this, she is willing to do what it takes to try and find out what exactly happened, why it happened, and who did it. She gets help from Eve and a cast of other characters that help her in a bunch of different ways.
Overall I really liked this story. I found it to be a really quick read and I loved the friendship that happened between Eve and Lena despite the racial differences. This story is told in the perspective of both Eve and Lena (Chickie had a small part too) so we got to see how things were different for both of them, and how they both felt towards each other and how/why they wanted to help each other figure out what was going on. I also really enjoyed the musical parts and how they were explained in a simple way that still made sense (I took piano classes for 3 years, but sadly wasn’t ever really good at it) and helped the story go along. I did occasionally get a few of the male characters confused because they had similar names, but I think that was just me not paying close enough attention at times.
If you want a quick, 1920’s story that involves music and friendship then please read this book.
"This was all she wanted sometimes. To play her music and forget about everything else."
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
See reviews first on my blog
Eve riser is a young piano player that goes on a circuit across the country with other musicians playing Jazz. One night when out with a guy she witnesses something awful and because of that, he sends her back to Chicago with something to give to a man named Rudy.
Once she is back in Chicago and meets up with her sister Chickie who has her own problems that play a pretty big part in the second half of the story. But once these two sisters start working together and becoming a team again everything seems like it will lookup. That is until Rudy and his sister Lena get added into the picture and more tragedy happens.
"She thought wearing men's clothes would make her feel free, but instead, she was just wondering at every turn what she should do with her hands, her feet."
Lena is a young woman who has lost everyone close to her in her family, and because of this, she is willing to do what it takes to try and find out what exactly happened, why it happened, and who did it. She gets help from Eve and a cast of other characters that help her in a bunch of different ways.
Overall I really liked this story. I found it to be a really quick read and I loved the friendship that happened between Eve and Lena despite the racial differences. This story is told in the perspective of both Eve and Lena (Chickie had a small part too) so we got to see how things were different for both of them, and how they both felt towards each other and how/why they wanted to help each other figure out what was going on. I also really enjoyed the musical parts and how they were explained in a simple way that still made sense (I took piano classes for 3 years, but sadly wasn’t ever really good at it) and helped the story go along. I did occasionally get a few of the male characters confused because they had similar names, but I think that was just me not paying close enough attention at times.
If you want a quick, 1920’s story that involves music and friendship then please read this book.
"This was all she wanted sometimes. To play her music and forget about everything else."
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 5, 2016
Eve is a black woman, a jazz pianist of the 1920s, who witnesses a murder. This results in her quickly being caught up in an escalating tangle of bootlegging, gun running, gang violence, stolen money, and lies, when all poor Eve wants to do is survive. As if that isn't enough, she then discovers that her beloved younger sister, a nightclub singer, is pregnant and the father is nowhere to be found. Meanwhile Lena, a white nurse, is faced with the realization that her fragile younger brother is not as innocent as she'd assumed.
I was really impressed by the depth of research that went into this book. It's easy enough for an author to become an expert on her main subject (in this case, jazz and musicians), but Conway constantly drops in background details and allusions to other topics and events that give her depiction of 1921 Chicago a depth and complexity that is often lacking in historical fiction. I also really liked her descriptions of music: playing it, hearing it, writing it. She gives it a power and an attraction that felt very true to me. And, of course, to be able to do so is pretty important when all your main characters are musicians of one sort or another! We have people here who are working musicians, others who have given up on their dreams, and still others who are just now learning how to play. I liked that diversity of experience.
My favorite part of the book was the slowly growing friendship between Eva and Lena. Though at first they have nothing in common, they're thrown together by circumstances and gradually learn to trust and care for one another. The racial disparity between them is handled very well, in my opinion; it's a constant tension and problem, but they also manage to come together despite social and legal barriers.
On the other hand, the mystery aspect could have been better written; it was a bit confusing and seemed to include some jumps in logic. But you know what? I don't read mysteries for the mystery. I know that sounds odd, but I've discovered that the genre is a great place to find fantastic settings and characters, and as far as I'm concerned, the plots are just window dressing. Sugarland definitely succeeds at the former. I'll be checking out other books by the author.
I read this as an ARC via Netgalley.
I was really impressed by the depth of research that went into this book. It's easy enough for an author to become an expert on her main subject (in this case, jazz and musicians), but Conway constantly drops in background details and allusions to other topics and events that give her depiction of 1921 Chicago a depth and complexity that is often lacking in historical fiction. I also really liked her descriptions of music: playing it, hearing it, writing it. She gives it a power and an attraction that felt very true to me. And, of course, to be able to do so is pretty important when all your main characters are musicians of one sort or another! We have people here who are working musicians, others who have given up on their dreams, and still others who are just now learning how to play. I liked that diversity of experience.
My favorite part of the book was the slowly growing friendship between Eva and Lena. Though at first they have nothing in common, they're thrown together by circumstances and gradually learn to trust and care for one another. The racial disparity between them is handled very well, in my opinion; it's a constant tension and problem, but they also manage to come together despite social and legal barriers.
On the other hand, the mystery aspect could have been better written; it was a bit confusing and seemed to include some jumps in logic. But you know what? I don't read mysteries for the mystery. I know that sounds odd, but I've discovered that the genre is a great place to find fantastic settings and characters, and as far as I'm concerned, the plots are just window dressing. Sugarland definitely succeeds at the former. I'll be checking out other books by the author.
I read this as an ARC via Netgalley.
May 15, 2016
A riveting mystery set in Chicago in the Roaring 20's. The action starts off literally with a bang which sets Eve Riser on her journey to Chicago. There she hopes to connect with her sister, nightclub singer, Chickie (who has secrets of her own). Eve is a musician and familiar with music clubs and the dubious characters who frequent them. Unfortunately, Eve's troubles are just beginning when she's caught in the crossfire of a very public shooting. Luckily Eve finds an ally (and a nurse) in Lena. And as it turns out, it was Lena's brother who was killed.
This sets up a story that twists and turns its way between Prohibition-era underworld figures and the lives of average people just trying to get by. Eve and Lena investigate the reason for the killing while they navigate a racially segregated society. Their unlikely partnership is the foundation of the story. Two strong, independent women who are at times world weary, yet never resigned to accept the roles society has placed them in.
The author has woven in countless references of the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of the era. It's not like taking modern characters and dropping them into a time period with no real markers to define it. She's done her research and it shows. Eve and Lena are fully drawn characters and I was rooting for them to win out over the forces aligned against them. But, when they solve the mystery they must also face betrayal and heartbreak when the truth is revealed. A well-paced and suspenseful mystery set in a world where love and loss are always closely connected. (Received a review copy.)
This sets up a story that twists and turns its way between Prohibition-era underworld figures and the lives of average people just trying to get by. Eve and Lena investigate the reason for the killing while they navigate a racially segregated society. Their unlikely partnership is the foundation of the story. Two strong, independent women who are at times world weary, yet never resigned to accept the roles society has placed them in.
The author has woven in countless references of the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of the era. It's not like taking modern characters and dropping them into a time period with no real markers to define it. She's done her research and it shows. Eve and Lena are fully drawn characters and I was rooting for them to win out over the forces aligned against them. But, when they solve the mystery they must also face betrayal and heartbreak when the truth is revealed. A well-paced and suspenseful mystery set in a world where love and loss are always closely connected. (Received a review copy.)
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November 11, 2016It’s 1921, and Prohibition is in full swing, but you wouldn’t know it from the nightclubs and speakeasies of Chicago, where bathtub gin mingles with homemade bourbon distilled from trainloads of corn sugar shipped up from Southern farms. A young man named Al Capone is on his way up, the bar owners squabble over control of the sugar trade, and the police know to turn a blind eye. So when a drive-by shooting ends in murder, two young women—Eve, a black jazz pianist, and Lena, a white nurse—band together to find Eve’s missing stepsister and the killer of Lena’s brother in Sugarland (Noontime Books, 2016)—a fast-paced, twisty, riveting journey through the seedy back alleys of the Windy City, where the Great Migration has only just begun to break down the barriers of racial segregation. Out of these disparate elements Martha Conway—the winner of numerous awards for her previous historical novel, Thieving Forest—blends a scintillating cocktail set to the thumping rhythms of jazz, directed by a mysterious kingpin known only as the Walnut.
For an interview with the author, go to New Books in Historical Fiction.
For an interview with the author, go to New Books in Historical Fiction.
April 20, 2016
The start of this book had my heart beating 100 times a minute. I felt every bit of Eve’s fear. And from there on, the author grabs you and you are there. In the club, hearing the music, on the street with shots being fired or composing music. Her writing is so vibrant this book plays like a movie in your head.
Conway totally manages to convey the undercurrent of fear in a “colored” woman’s life in Prohibition era America. “Eve heard herself say thank you sir in her best white voice and closed the door carefully behind her even though she wanted to slam it on his big fat self. Everywhere she went it was just the same thing. A white man running things and her saying yes sir.” I was actually surprised to find the author was white. Her writing reminded me of Toni Morrison.
The characters are colorful, fully fleshed out. Not just Eva, but also Lena, a white nurse who befriends Eva over a shared love of jazz.
How did I miss this author before? Her prior book won the North American award for Historical Fiction. And after reading this, I can see why.
Thanks to netgalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book.
December 14, 2016
Monotonous, clunky prose with a weak story line. I love the 1920's- it's one of my favorite eras in U.S. history, and as an African-American myself, I was excited to read a novel from the point of view of an African-American woman during that time. Though Conway nailed historical references and created lovely characters, the mystery just wasn't that compelling, in the end. Also, the constant mentions of the main character switching to her "white voice" vs. her "black voice" was mildly offensive and unnecessary.
Unfortunately, my love for the Jazz Age just wasn't enough to save my opinion of this book.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, my love for the Jazz Age just wasn't enough to save my opinion of this book.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 22, 2016
I'm exhausted today because I stayed up til 1am last night reading this book. It's beautiful- a gripping mystery, perfectly drawn characters and hugely evocative descriptions of the jazz age. Martha Conway's prose is stunning- spare and elegant and she has written some of the best descriptions of music and the effect it can have on people that I have read. I loved it.
December 15, 2018
Martha Conway is one of those authors who brings us delicious slices of history served up with an optimistic wideview of our march through time. Each of her novels is unique, each carries with it the angst of our past with an outlook more positive that not.
Sugarland is 1920's Chicago, the leading edge of the spread of jazz and the unique way of music to bridge the gap of isolationism and segregation. Prohibition set the stage for this revolution of music, joining together a whole class of folks with nothing more in common than a need for the beat, the jazz and blues and hip hop that warms the soul from the inside out.
Eve and Lena are step-sisters with a deep love and respect for one another, and with talents unique to their place in the musical revolution that began in the speakeasies of the midwest as southern poor made their way to northern cities, bringing with them the evolution of music that was born in the south but needed Chicago to mature. If you love music, read this book. If you only read one book this year, make it be this one.
Kindle Unlimited
Sugarland is 1920's Chicago, the leading edge of the spread of jazz and the unique way of music to bridge the gap of isolationism and segregation. Prohibition set the stage for this revolution of music, joining together a whole class of folks with nothing more in common than a need for the beat, the jazz and blues and hip hop that warms the soul from the inside out.
Eve and Lena are step-sisters with a deep love and respect for one another, and with talents unique to their place in the musical revolution that began in the speakeasies of the midwest as southern poor made their way to northern cities, bringing with them the evolution of music that was born in the south but needed Chicago to mature. If you love music, read this book. If you only read one book this year, make it be this one.
Kindle Unlimited
February 5, 2017
I received this for free for an honest review from Netgalley.
Eve Riser, a jazz pianist on the circuit, is present when a man is accidentally killed. In conspiracy with the man she was with, Eve is sent to Chicago with money and a letter to help cover up the crime. She joins up with her pregnant stepsister, Chickie, who later disappears. There is another murder that Eve witnesses, and Eve is injured in the crossfire. Eve, along with the latter murdered man's sister, Lena, set out not only to find Chickie, but to find who murdered Lena's brother.
This book draws the reader into a world of 1920's jazz, Prohibition, and racial tension. I did enjoy the book and its peeks of life in the 1920's for a person of color. I liked seeing behind the scenes of the clubs and glimpses of how the police cast a blind eye to alcohol to imbibe themselves. It was interesting to once again witness the racial tension of that time in novel form. I feel that the author wrote genuinely the glares and words that would have been directed at the opposite ethnicity.
Where I found a lacking in this book lies with the mystery/mysteries. There wasn't an intense mystery and was obvious in its ending. I usually don't mind figuring out a mystery before the ending of a story, but I do not enjoy the answers to the mystery served to me on a silver platter. I want the author to give me hints and clues along the way and give me a chance to put it all together. I found with Sugarland I was given the answer instead of the clues.
I still enjoyed this book for the setting and the characters if not for the mystery.
I rated this 3/5 stars.
Eve Riser, a jazz pianist on the circuit, is present when a man is accidentally killed. In conspiracy with the man she was with, Eve is sent to Chicago with money and a letter to help cover up the crime. She joins up with her pregnant stepsister, Chickie, who later disappears. There is another murder that Eve witnesses, and Eve is injured in the crossfire. Eve, along with the latter murdered man's sister, Lena, set out not only to find Chickie, but to find who murdered Lena's brother.
This book draws the reader into a world of 1920's jazz, Prohibition, and racial tension. I did enjoy the book and its peeks of life in the 1920's for a person of color. I liked seeing behind the scenes of the clubs and glimpses of how the police cast a blind eye to alcohol to imbibe themselves. It was interesting to once again witness the racial tension of that time in novel form. I feel that the author wrote genuinely the glares and words that would have been directed at the opposite ethnicity.
Where I found a lacking in this book lies with the mystery/mysteries. There wasn't an intense mystery and was obvious in its ending. I usually don't mind figuring out a mystery before the ending of a story, but I do not enjoy the answers to the mystery served to me on a silver platter. I want the author to give me hints and clues along the way and give me a chance to put it all together. I found with Sugarland I was given the answer instead of the clues.
I still enjoyed this book for the setting and the characters if not for the mystery.
I rated this 3/5 stars.
June 16, 2016
1920's Chicago is the setting for this well written tale about Eve, a jazz pianist, an unwillingly participant in a small time criminal's dealing with organized crime. Through Eve we get a small taste of that era, and how the raucous music helped blur color lines during that time period.
July 30, 2017
L'America del proibizionismo, l'America del segregazionismo, ma anche e soprattutto l'America del Jazza, del Ragtime, quella che, tra un proiettile e l'altro, ci ha donato pezzi di musica immortale. E immortale è la protagonista di questo romanzo veloce e ritmato come un pezzo di Scott Joplin, una donna "di colore" capace di suonare con la stessa forza, la stessa velocità e lo stesso ritmo di un uomo, di essere veramente la leader di una band, ma anche intelligente, pronta e capace di prendere in mano in proprio destino.
Ringrazio Noontime Books e Netgalley per avermi fornito una copia gratuita in cambio di una recensione onesta.
The America at the times of Prohibition and of segregation, but also America at the time of Jazz and Ragtime, the one that, between a bullet and the other, gave us immortal music pieces. And immortal is the star of this novel, fast paced as a piece of Scott Joplin, a black woman able to play with the same force, the same speed and the same rhythm of a man, to be truly the leader of a band, but also intelligent, ready and able to take control of her own destiny.
Thank Noontime Books and Netgalley for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Ringrazio Noontime Books e Netgalley per avermi fornito una copia gratuita in cambio di una recensione onesta.
The America at the times of Prohibition and of segregation, but also America at the time of Jazz and Ragtime, the one that, between a bullet and the other, gave us immortal music pieces. And immortal is the star of this novel, fast paced as a piece of Scott Joplin, a black woman able to play with the same force, the same speed and the same rhythm of a man, to be truly the leader of a band, but also intelligent, ready and able to take control of her own destiny.
Thank Noontime Books and Netgalley for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 25, 2017
I have read two of Conways other novels which were five star historical fiction. Sugarland did not measure up. I stayed with it because I have great interest in the themes of the novel post world war one, jazz, racism. The murder mystery gang part of the novel was the weakness. It dragged on way too long and was much too complicated. Conversely, I loved all of the characters Eve, lena, chickie, Henry. The novel would have been much stronger if it had revolved around these characters and their music and lives. These fascinating characters were not developed fully because of the centerpiece of the murder mystery.
May 28, 2018
Jazz and Mystery in Prohibition Chicago
After her lover kills a man, Eve is given money and the name of a man in Chicago to deliver it to. Thus follow other murders as Eve, her half-sister, Chickie, and white friend, Lena try to stay alive and unravel what is going on around them. Insight is given into race and nationality relations in the segregated north in the early days of prohibition shortly after WW-I.
After her lover kills a man, Eve is given money and the name of a man in Chicago to deliver it to. Thus follow other murders as Eve, her half-sister, Chickie, and white friend, Lena try to stay alive and unravel what is going on around them. Insight is given into race and nationality relations in the segregated north in the early days of prohibition shortly after WW-I.
February 9, 2017
I am not sure why I eventually finished this book. Curiosity I guess. The characters are not very interesting, the story line is mundane, and the lengthy descriptions of what it is like to play music are overly simplistic.
December 26, 2024
Sugarland by Martha Conway is a great Jazz age story.
The characters in Sugarland are believable and relevant to the early Jazz age right after WWI. The historical background added to story and made it interesting.
The characters in Sugarland are believable and relevant to the early Jazz age right after WWI. The historical background added to story and made it interesting.
August 3, 2017
I read this in anticipation of the author's newest book (underground river), and didn't love it. I think it could have used more character development for the three female leads.
June 23, 2018
A mystery set in the early days of jazz in Chicago, alongside the rise of Capone. Incomplete sentences meant for emphasis but too many of them to work
January 18, 2019
Not my typical book to read but it sounded good so thought I'd take a chance. It was a good chance and read it over 2 days (roughly 3 hours).
March 12, 2017
Absolutely marvelous! I wish that Sugarland could have gone on and on and on. It is more a story of jazz as well as it is a mystery. Martha Conway's words bring all of the Chicago jazz music heritage to life in Sugarland and leaves the reader wanting more - more of Conway's books and more studying of the jazz early years.
May 20, 2016
Sugarland is the third novel and second mystery by award-winning author Martha Conway. Set in the Jazz Age, Sugarland is rich with period detail and a deep appreciation for jazz. Eva Riser, the focus of the story is a jazz pianist on tour with a band when she witnesses a shooting. When a black man shoots a white man, there is no pleading self defense. Not in those days and no black woman witness will be held harmless either.
Gavin, her on-the-road beau sends her back to Chicago to keep her out of trouble. But the letter and money he asks her to deliver gets her into deep trouble when the man she who she is supposed to give it is shot dead right in front of her and worse, she is injured, grazed by a bullet. When she regains consciousness days later, the letter and money are missing and she is being nursed by the dead man’s sister.
She connected with her sister Chickie when she arrived in Chicago, getting a job playing piano in the same speakeasy where her sister sings. There she meets Henry, the band leader as well as Nathan Cobb, the club owner who aspires to be more, much more.
While she is more interested in extricating Chickie and herself from the danger they may be in because of the lost money, the lost letter and whatever tangential connection they may have to whatever the murder was about, Lena is determined to find out who killed her brother. The women are smart, resourceful and effective at maneuvering through the barriers of sexism, racism, de facto if not de jure segregation as well as ins and outs of the Chicago underworld.
I enjoyed Sugarland very much. It is a fair-play mystery. There are no secrets from the reader to prevent them from solving the mystery. We learn the facts as the characters learn them and when one character holds something back from another, it is held back from us. The mystery is satisfying, it hangs together and makes sense, but it is not what makes Sugarland stand out. That was in the way Conway wrote about race, about female friendship, and about music.
The writer dealt well with race and racism. There was no pretense that Chicago was a racial utopia. While segregation was not the law and lynching was not frequent, this story takes place just four years after the East St. Louis Massacre when angry white men marched into East St. Louis, Illinois and rioted. They burned the homes of black people, leaving 6000 homeless and lynched somewhere between between 100 and 200 people, though the true number will never be known. I appreciate the effort made to be true to the open acceptable white supremacy operating in Jazz Age Chicago.
I very much enjoyed the friendship that developed among the women. More importantly, so often when a white character helps a black character, they become the “white savior” in the story and take agency away from the black women. That does not happen in the relationship with Eva and Lena. They help each other and in one way, in encouraging Lena to be true to herself, Eva saves Lena in the most profound sense of the word. Neither woman loses agency to the other, they are both active participants in finding solutions.
What I liked best, though, was how Conway wrote about jazz and expressed the power and passion of the music. Her descriptions of Eva composing feel so real and that gives the story so much more raw honesty and power than anything else.
I received an electronic galley of Sugarland from the publisher through NetGalley
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre...
Gavin, her on-the-road beau sends her back to Chicago to keep her out of trouble. But the letter and money he asks her to deliver gets her into deep trouble when the man she who she is supposed to give it is shot dead right in front of her and worse, she is injured, grazed by a bullet. When she regains consciousness days later, the letter and money are missing and she is being nursed by the dead man’s sister.
She connected with her sister Chickie when she arrived in Chicago, getting a job playing piano in the same speakeasy where her sister sings. There she meets Henry, the band leader as well as Nathan Cobb, the club owner who aspires to be more, much more.
While she is more interested in extricating Chickie and herself from the danger they may be in because of the lost money, the lost letter and whatever tangential connection they may have to whatever the murder was about, Lena is determined to find out who killed her brother. The women are smart, resourceful and effective at maneuvering through the barriers of sexism, racism, de facto if not de jure segregation as well as ins and outs of the Chicago underworld.
I enjoyed Sugarland very much. It is a fair-play mystery. There are no secrets from the reader to prevent them from solving the mystery. We learn the facts as the characters learn them and when one character holds something back from another, it is held back from us. The mystery is satisfying, it hangs together and makes sense, but it is not what makes Sugarland stand out. That was in the way Conway wrote about race, about female friendship, and about music.
The writer dealt well with race and racism. There was no pretense that Chicago was a racial utopia. While segregation was not the law and lynching was not frequent, this story takes place just four years after the East St. Louis Massacre when angry white men marched into East St. Louis, Illinois and rioted. They burned the homes of black people, leaving 6000 homeless and lynched somewhere between between 100 and 200 people, though the true number will never be known. I appreciate the effort made to be true to the open acceptable white supremacy operating in Jazz Age Chicago.
I very much enjoyed the friendship that developed among the women. More importantly, so often when a white character helps a black character, they become the “white savior” in the story and take agency away from the black women. That does not happen in the relationship with Eva and Lena. They help each other and in one way, in encouraging Lena to be true to herself, Eva saves Lena in the most profound sense of the word. Neither woman loses agency to the other, they are both active participants in finding solutions.
What I liked best, though, was how Conway wrote about jazz and expressed the power and passion of the music. Her descriptions of Eva composing feel so real and that gives the story so much more raw honesty and power than anything else.
I received an electronic galley of Sugarland from the publisher through NetGalley
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre...
September 1, 2016
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 2.5 of 5
When the offer to review this book came through, I was very excited. A mystery ... a favorite new genre for me. Set in the 1920's ... one of my favorite eras for researching and writing about. And jazz music ... easily my favorite musical style. And I looked over the information about the book, and about the author, Martha Conway ... Edgar-nominated. Published in a number of fine literary journals. This really seemed right up my alley.
So I dug into this with high expectations and a good deal of eagerness. And I was disappointed.
Right from the start I had trouble getting into the book. The writing was dull and listless. And perhaps the worst sin of all ... we are simply told everything. This is the opening two paragraphs:
There is something about this style that I find jilting or halting. If this were intended to mimic the feeling of riding the rails, that would actually be really fascinating. But it is this way all through the book. Here I've opened the book to a random page:
The halting style is much the same here. This probably works really well in a short story, but 300 pages of this writing style grows tedious.
I was also surprised at how simple the story was. For a 300 page mystery I was expecting a little more involvement of sub-plots but this is pretty straight-forward one story about a missing girl, Chickie, and the world of speakeasies and nighttime jazz clubs.
So what did I like? Why two and a half stars? I liked the research that went in to the period. As I stated in the beginning, I really like this era. I liked the way the jazz world was portrayed and I liked the inclusion of the separate worlds for blacks and whites (which is always uncomfortable to read about but an important aspect of American life at this time).
But the relatively flat portrayal of characters and the writing style that tells, not shows, and clips along without giving much depth or color, prevented me from really being brought in to the story.
Looking for a good book? Though I liked the attempt and the choice of setting for this story, I can't recommend Sugarland by Martha Conway.
I received a copy of this book from the publicist in exchange for an honest review.
When the offer to review this book came through, I was very excited. A mystery ... a favorite new genre for me. Set in the 1920's ... one of my favorite eras for researching and writing about. And jazz music ... easily my favorite musical style. And I looked over the information about the book, and about the author, Martha Conway ... Edgar-nominated. Published in a number of fine literary journals. This really seemed right up my alley.
So I dug into this with high expectations and a good deal of eagerness. And I was disappointed.
Right from the start I had trouble getting into the book. The writing was dull and listless. And perhaps the worst sin of all ... we are simply told everything. This is the opening two paragraphs:
AT TWO IN THE MORNING the trains were stopped for the night, and the old wooden depot, manned only during the day now that the Great War had ended, was deserted.
Eve could see her breath in the cold January air as Gavin Johnson helped her up the last step of the empty train car. Then he jumped up himself. He moved closer and she smelled whiskey and something musky he’d splashed on his face. He pressed her against the rail and began to kiss her with lips cold at first but getting warmer. That was all right.
There is something about this style that I find jilting or halting. If this were intended to mimic the feeling of riding the rails, that would actually be really fascinating. But it is this way all through the book. Here I've opened the book to a random page:
They waited for a coal wagon to cross the street, pulled by a couple of skinny horses covered with matching green blankets. When a motorcar sputtered by, both horses skittishly lifted their heads, and Eve and Lena had to wait to get into the alley behind them as the coal man struggled to get the horses moving. Lena pulled out her pocket watch. She felt warmer and stronger in long pants. Also a sensation she hadn’t had since she was a girl—that she could break out in a run and leave everything behind. No one looked at her twice.
The halting style is much the same here. This probably works really well in a short story, but 300 pages of this writing style grows tedious.
I was also surprised at how simple the story was. For a 300 page mystery I was expecting a little more involvement of sub-plots but this is pretty straight-forward one story about a missing girl, Chickie, and the world of speakeasies and nighttime jazz clubs.
So what did I like? Why two and a half stars? I liked the research that went in to the period. As I stated in the beginning, I really like this era. I liked the way the jazz world was portrayed and I liked the inclusion of the separate worlds for blacks and whites (which is always uncomfortable to read about but an important aspect of American life at this time).
But the relatively flat portrayal of characters and the writing style that tells, not shows, and clips along without giving much depth or color, prevented me from really being brought in to the story.
Looking for a good book? Though I liked the attempt and the choice of setting for this story, I can't recommend Sugarland by Martha Conway.
I received a copy of this book from the publicist in exchange for an honest review.
October 17, 2016
Historical fiction is not a genre I normally pick to read, but I do enjoy a good look back into a snapshot of history from time to time. Sugarland was an action-packed novel from the very first page and I quickly found myself turning the pages to see where the story would lead. Simply put, I would best describe it as being an engaging story first with snippets of a fascinating era in our history woven throughout.
I loved the strong female characters in the story—Eve, Chickie, and Lena, and how they each chose to navigate the hands they had been dealt in a male-dominated era. Lena was probably my favorite, with her generous nature, determination to find out who murdered her brother Rudy, and her willingness to help Eve and Chickie even though most people they passed on the street didn’t think white and black women should be speaking to one another.
You can tell Martha Conway spent a great deal of time on research for this novel, but it doesn’t overwhelm the reader. I have read historical fiction novels that spent so many pages describing all the items found in an antebellum kitchen that I found myself bored and losing interest. Sugarland does the opposite of that. The unlikely friendship between Lena and Eve makes for a great storyline, as does the music and the backdrop of the Chicago jazz clubs. Never before have I heard music described in such a way as this:
"The music became furious. Lena leaned forward. The sax asked a question, the piano answered, but apparently not to the sax’s liking because it asked the same question again. The two battled it out."
The main characters found themselves in many perilous situations that left me gnawing on my fingernails and wondering how they would get themselves out of danger safely. The only issue I had with the book (besides an ending that I did not see coming!) was that I found it hard at first to keep track of all the club owners, musicians, and bootleggers, as most of them were intertwined with one another in some way. Once I clarified who Nathan Cobb, The Walnut, Travis, Moaner, and Pin were, it was a little easier to figure out who was double crossing whom. I highly recommend Sugarland to anyone looking for a good historical fiction mystery with strong female characters and an appreciation for the healing power of music.
I loved the strong female characters in the story—Eve, Chickie, and Lena, and how they each chose to navigate the hands they had been dealt in a male-dominated era. Lena was probably my favorite, with her generous nature, determination to find out who murdered her brother Rudy, and her willingness to help Eve and Chickie even though most people they passed on the street didn’t think white and black women should be speaking to one another.
You can tell Martha Conway spent a great deal of time on research for this novel, but it doesn’t overwhelm the reader. I have read historical fiction novels that spent so many pages describing all the items found in an antebellum kitchen that I found myself bored and losing interest. Sugarland does the opposite of that. The unlikely friendship between Lena and Eve makes for a great storyline, as does the music and the backdrop of the Chicago jazz clubs. Never before have I heard music described in such a way as this:
"The music became furious. Lena leaned forward. The sax asked a question, the piano answered, but apparently not to the sax’s liking because it asked the same question again. The two battled it out."
The main characters found themselves in many perilous situations that left me gnawing on my fingernails and wondering how they would get themselves out of danger safely. The only issue I had with the book (besides an ending that I did not see coming!) was that I found it hard at first to keep track of all the club owners, musicians, and bootleggers, as most of them were intertwined with one another in some way. Once I clarified who Nathan Cobb, The Walnut, Travis, Moaner, and Pin were, it was a little easier to figure out who was double crossing whom. I highly recommend Sugarland to anyone looking for a good historical fiction mystery with strong female characters and an appreciation for the healing power of music.
May 9, 2016
Eve Riser is a pianist on the jazz circuit in prohibition-era Illinois. She is caught up in a violent crime while on the circuit. Fearing that she would be connected to the crime, Eva is sent to Chicago to work and stay with her step-sister, Chickie. When she arrives Eva quickly finds herself in the middle of a drive by shooting of a bootlegger in which she is also shot. Lena, the deceased bootlegger’s sister helps Eva recovery. However, while she is recovering Chickie disappears and Eva discovers that the money she has been sent to Chicago with is missing. Lena and Eva go on a hunt of Chicago’s jazz clubs and speakeasies to try and find answers behind Lena’s brother’s death and try and find Chickie.
This is a historical mystery that throws you right into the action. Within the first few pages a man is dead and Eva is sent on the run. The danger quickly escalates as Eva, an African-American woman, navigates Chicago with a large amount of money. Since there is so much action in the beginning, I didn’t really get to know Eva’s character all that well other than that she is a brilliant musician and pianist who cares deeply for he sister. What I did get a wonderful sense of was the time period and music scene. The rise of jazz, the overall feeling that the music gives you, the story it tells and the way it brings people together was really the forefront of the novel for me. I loved the scenes in the jazz clubs where Eva or Lena was describing the music and the process of playing and writing. I did feel like I could hear some of the songs myself. Another aspect that was done well was the different racial relations of 1920’s Chicago. Many of the jazz musicians are African American and rule the jazz club scene, but segregation is still very much a part of their world. The friendship between Eva and Lena, a white nurse grows throughout the story as they navigate treacherous territory within the bootlegging world. However, Eva’s race sometimes hinders their mission. The mystery part of the novel, took a bit of a back seat for me, I did want to know why Lena’s brother was shot and how it connected to the death in the very beginning, but the setting and music stole the scene for me.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
This is a historical mystery that throws you right into the action. Within the first few pages a man is dead and Eva is sent on the run. The danger quickly escalates as Eva, an African-American woman, navigates Chicago with a large amount of money. Since there is so much action in the beginning, I didn’t really get to know Eva’s character all that well other than that she is a brilliant musician and pianist who cares deeply for he sister. What I did get a wonderful sense of was the time period and music scene. The rise of jazz, the overall feeling that the music gives you, the story it tells and the way it brings people together was really the forefront of the novel for me. I loved the scenes in the jazz clubs where Eva or Lena was describing the music and the process of playing and writing. I did feel like I could hear some of the songs myself. Another aspect that was done well was the different racial relations of 1920’s Chicago. Many of the jazz musicians are African American and rule the jazz club scene, but segregation is still very much a part of their world. The friendship between Eva and Lena, a white nurse grows throughout the story as they navigate treacherous territory within the bootlegging world. However, Eva’s race sometimes hinders their mission. The mystery part of the novel, took a bit of a back seat for me, I did want to know why Lena’s brother was shot and how it connected to the death in the very beginning, but the setting and music stole the scene for me.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
May 13, 2016
I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley.
The year is 1921 and prohibition is a year old. Anyone getting their hands on sugar can get a lot of money out of selling supplying it to club and bar owners desperate to brew some moonshine in their cellars. That is exactly what Rudy Hardy is doing.
Eve Riser is a young, African American jazz pianist with a band that is touring small towns. One day, when canoodling with another musician in the band, a white man comes and starts accosting them intending to rape Eve. Gavin, the man she was with tries to scare the white man away but accidentally ends up shooting him. He sends Eva to Chicago with money and a note intended for his business partner, Rudy Hardy. Eve is looking forward to seeing her step-sister Chickie, a jazz singer in Chicago and getting rid of the money and note by handing it over to Rudy Hardy. She gets a job at club where Chickie sings which run by Nathan Cobb.
Lena is a young nurse. She is Rudy's sister and has joined him at Nathan Cobb's club dressed as a man in Rudy's old military uniform on a dare. She is enchanted with the music, especially Eve. After the show, when Eve is standing outside the club waiting to meet Hardy, Lena comes up to her and gushes over the music. When Rudy joins them he is fatally shot by men in a passing truck and Eve is wounded.
Lena helps nurse Eve back to health and together they try to figure out what happened and Lena becomes more and more determined to figure out who killed her brother. Chickie, heavily pregnant, has also gone missing and a worried Eve is intent on finding her before she comes to harm. Meanwhile, half of Chicago seems to spot an opportunity to become the new supplier of sugar in the city and everyone is scrambling to find Hardy's partner.
I really enjoyed Sugarland. It is well written and very well researched. I loved how the author described jazz music, like stories that Eve and Lena feel when listening or playing. There isn't a lag in the entire story and it held my interest from beginning to end. I definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for a good historical fiction read with a murder mystery element.
The year is 1921 and prohibition is a year old. Anyone getting their hands on sugar can get a lot of money out of selling supplying it to club and bar owners desperate to brew some moonshine in their cellars. That is exactly what Rudy Hardy is doing.
Eve Riser is a young, African American jazz pianist with a band that is touring small towns. One day, when canoodling with another musician in the band, a white man comes and starts accosting them intending to rape Eve. Gavin, the man she was with tries to scare the white man away but accidentally ends up shooting him. He sends Eva to Chicago with money and a note intended for his business partner, Rudy Hardy. Eve is looking forward to seeing her step-sister Chickie, a jazz singer in Chicago and getting rid of the money and note by handing it over to Rudy Hardy. She gets a job at club where Chickie sings which run by Nathan Cobb.
Lena is a young nurse. She is Rudy's sister and has joined him at Nathan Cobb's club dressed as a man in Rudy's old military uniform on a dare. She is enchanted with the music, especially Eve. After the show, when Eve is standing outside the club waiting to meet Hardy, Lena comes up to her and gushes over the music. When Rudy joins them he is fatally shot by men in a passing truck and Eve is wounded.
Lena helps nurse Eve back to health and together they try to figure out what happened and Lena becomes more and more determined to figure out who killed her brother. Chickie, heavily pregnant, has also gone missing and a worried Eve is intent on finding her before she comes to harm. Meanwhile, half of Chicago seems to spot an opportunity to become the new supplier of sugar in the city and everyone is scrambling to find Hardy's partner.
I really enjoyed Sugarland. It is well written and very well researched. I loved how the author described jazz music, like stories that Eve and Lena feel when listening or playing. There isn't a lag in the entire story and it held my interest from beginning to end. I definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for a good historical fiction read with a murder mystery element.
May 25, 2016
In 1921, young jazz pianist Eve Riser witnesses the accidental killing of a bootlegger. To cover up the crime, she agrees to deliver money and a letter to a man named Rudy Hardy in Chicago. But when Eve gets to Chicago she discovers that her stepsister Chickie, a popular nightclub singer, is pregnant by a man she won’t name. That night Rudy Hardy is killed before Eve’s eyes in a brutal drive-by shooting, and Chickie disappears. Eve teams up with Lena Hardy, Rudy's sister, to learn the truth behind their siblings' involvement. As they fight racial barriers trying to discover the truth, Eve and Lena unravel a twisted tale of secret shipments and gangster rivalry.
If I had the opportunity to go back to an era, it would be the 1920s. The fashion, the jazz, the nightlife and the beginnings of women empowerment would be right up my alley. So the setting of Sugarland was perfect for me. Author Martha Conway wrote such descriptive backgrounds that it was like watching a movie. She captured the essence of the Roaring 20s, Prohibition and Jazz Age. Racism and relationships between races was also a theme in the novel and well portrayed. It was interesting to read how black and white musicians were treated during the Jazz Age as well as refreshing to watch a friendship build between two women from different backgrounds. The characters were well-developed with their own distinct personalities shown through both actions and dialogue. And the mystery wasn't so easy to solve!
Sugarland is a smooth read recommended for a breezy spring/summer evening on your patio with your favorite drink (or homemade hooch) and American jazz (Bessie Smith or Billie Holiday) playing in the background. You will get lost in the suspense fiction within the first couple chapters. Trust me—you'll want to read this story.
Literary Marie ~ 3.5 stars
If I had the opportunity to go back to an era, it would be the 1920s. The fashion, the jazz, the nightlife and the beginnings of women empowerment would be right up my alley. So the setting of Sugarland was perfect for me. Author Martha Conway wrote such descriptive backgrounds that it was like watching a movie. She captured the essence of the Roaring 20s, Prohibition and Jazz Age. Racism and relationships between races was also a theme in the novel and well portrayed. It was interesting to read how black and white musicians were treated during the Jazz Age as well as refreshing to watch a friendship build between two women from different backgrounds. The characters were well-developed with their own distinct personalities shown through both actions and dialogue. And the mystery wasn't so easy to solve!
Sugarland is a smooth read recommended for a breezy spring/summer evening on your patio with your favorite drink (or homemade hooch) and American jazz (Bessie Smith or Billie Holiday) playing in the background. You will get lost in the suspense fiction within the first couple chapters. Trust me—you'll want to read this story.
Literary Marie ~ 3.5 stars
September 4, 2016
Eve Louise Riser comes from a family of musicians; she is a gifted pianist who plays with Jimmy Blakeley and His Stoptime Syncopaters. She wrote and published a few songs under the pen name E.R. King. On the other side of her life, it seems like Eve was always around trouble. Sugarland: A Jazz Age Mystery by Martha Conway, set in the 1920s in Illinois, is about speakeasies, hooch, jazz and murder. Eve was making out with tenor sax player, Gavin Johnson, in the Entertainers boxcar in Hoxie, Illinois when they encountered trouble. Trouble that led to Eve witnessing Gavin killing a man and telling her to flee to Chicago to deliver a letter and some money to Rudy Hardy.
When Eve arrives in Chicago, she looks up her sister, Eulalie ‘Chickie’ Riser, who is also a singer and pregnant. Eve begins to learn a lot about the underground world of nightclubs, liquor, and corn sugar when one day she witnesses another killing, that of Rudy Hardy - then she discovers that her sister, Chickie, has disappeared. Why? She and Lena, Rudy’s sister, set out to discover the mystery of what these two events have in common.
Just like the TV series The Untouchables, Sugarland: A Jazz Age Mystery by Martha Conway puts you in mind of what happens behind the scenes in the bootlegging, '20s and jazz era. It is during those times that you hear of names like Victor ‘The Walnut’ Rausch. The Walnut is co-owner of the Oaks Club with Nathan Cobb, but this club is merely a front for a more shady operation. If this era interests you, then Sugarland: A Jazz Age Mystery by Martha Conway is the book for you.Sugarland
When Eve arrives in Chicago, she looks up her sister, Eulalie ‘Chickie’ Riser, who is also a singer and pregnant. Eve begins to learn a lot about the underground world of nightclubs, liquor, and corn sugar when one day she witnesses another killing, that of Rudy Hardy - then she discovers that her sister, Chickie, has disappeared. Why? She and Lena, Rudy’s sister, set out to discover the mystery of what these two events have in common.
Just like the TV series The Untouchables, Sugarland: A Jazz Age Mystery by Martha Conway puts you in mind of what happens behind the scenes in the bootlegging, '20s and jazz era. It is during those times that you hear of names like Victor ‘The Walnut’ Rausch. The Walnut is co-owner of the Oaks Club with Nathan Cobb, but this club is merely a front for a more shady operation. If this era interests you, then Sugarland: A Jazz Age Mystery by Martha Conway is the book for you.Sugarland
April 26, 2016
Chicago jazz clubs in 1921 is the theme of the novel, “Sugarland: A Jazz Age Mystery” by Martha Conway. I was interested in reading this novel because of my love for the historical time period and my love of jazz music. This was a turbulent time in our nation’s history during Prohibition. The rise of gangs, gangsters, guns and bathtub gin in Chicago and elsewhere in our country was the way of the times. “Sugarland” is the story of Eve Riser, a young African-American musician who plays piano in the clubs on the jazz circuit. She witnesses an accidental killing of a white man by a black man. She is a pawn of the man trying to cover up the crime and agrees to deliver a letter and money to a man in Chicago. Since her step-sister is in Chicago, she travels willingly to take care of the mission. When she arrives she is unwittingly involved in another shooting. She becomes involved with a white girl, Lena, whose brother was killed in the shooting. She and Lena are caught up in the bootleggers’ operations and are in a very dangerous position.
I did enjoy this novel, but at times could not follow who was a part of what gang. The one thing that was quite striking in telling of the murders and crime was the absence of the police. The police were paid off to look the other way. It is interesting that our society now is seen to be crime-ridden, with gangs, guns, and drugs being prevalent, when almost one hundred years ago, we had the same problems. I was provided with a print copy of this novel by SmithPublicity.com in return for my honest review.
I did enjoy this novel, but at times could not follow who was a part of what gang. The one thing that was quite striking in telling of the murders and crime was the absence of the police. The police were paid off to look the other way. It is interesting that our society now is seen to be crime-ridden, with gangs, guns, and drugs being prevalent, when almost one hundred years ago, we had the same problems. I was provided with a print copy of this novel by SmithPublicity.com in return for my honest review.
April 30, 2016
This story has some of my personal favorites in it; Prohibition, Jazz and the way people have to survive. Prohibition era Chicago is a real interesting time in history. There are strong undercurrents given in a look, a few words and in some cases, unnecessary violence. Everyone is dirty. And whoever isn't dirty, becomes dirty by the undertow of survival. I enjoyed the hope of a relationship between races and the strength needed to stay true to it. So much is learned about what was expected of African Americans and of women of this time through Eve, Lena and Eve's sister Chickie. Eve is a hearty and true soul. Lena seems lost with a dream that seems to be all but dead inside of her....and yet, a spark of possibility that awakens. Chickie is loving but selfish and the kind of girl who wants so much to resolve her childhood trauma of her father never knowing who she was through her own pregnancy. There is a lot of courage in this story with all characters. On a another note, my perception of jazz music has altered. A long time lover of jazz, I hear it differently now. The descriptions in the story of the instruments speaking to each other, and the players telling their story with how they handle their notes now has me listening with purpose to hear the story.
Sugarland was definitely an engaging read.
Sugarland was definitely an engaging read.
June 1, 2016
A razzle-dazzle of beguiling events compel the action in this atmospheric noir-ish historical mystery set in 1920s Chicago. A mishap during an amorous moment has African-American pianist and budding composer Eve Riser fleeing to Chicago with money and a note for a white man named Rudy Hardy. While at the meeting spot Eve is approached by two men claiming to be Rudy Hardy, one of which is Rudy’s sister Lena disguised in an army uniform, as shots from a truck fires shots at the three. Recovering from wounds, Eve finds out that Rudy is dead, Lena is nurse, her pregnant sister, Chickie, has disappeared and the money and note are missing. As Eve and Lena seeks answers a complex maze of deceits, ambitions, and secrets may be more than they bargained for.
The well-researched historical details of the vicious battles of the Prohibition gangs, the addictive draw of jazz, and the blatant racism adds an elevated edge to the mystery and nicely balances the storyline. I enjoyed the strong no-nonsense characters, Eve and Lena as they tried to remain true to their nature in a time where gender and race predetermined your place in society. The supporting cast was very full, and it does take a while to sort out who’s who.
Overall this is an entertaining smooth-paced gritty read for fans of historical mysteries.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The well-researched historical details of the vicious battles of the Prohibition gangs, the addictive draw of jazz, and the blatant racism adds an elevated edge to the mystery and nicely balances the storyline. I enjoyed the strong no-nonsense characters, Eve and Lena as they tried to remain true to their nature in a time where gender and race predetermined your place in society. The supporting cast was very full, and it does take a while to sort out who’s who.
Overall this is an entertaining smooth-paced gritty read for fans of historical mysteries.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 26, 2016
I received this from netgalley in exchange for a review.
So where to start... there were a few themes the author tackled and I felt she did a pretty good job with it: black vs white, men vs women, and money vs poverty. The race issue was the most developed and it broke my heart to see all that Eve went through because of the color of her skin.
I enjoyed the story although at some points I had to be pulled along to the next few pages. It wasn't bad though... it gave good stopping points here and there. It wasn't a page turner for me, but I did want to finish it and I did care about the characters and their story.
Eve is the main character and I rooted for her the whole way, however my least favorite character was Chickie. I thought she was the weak, needy one compared to Eve's strong, smart persona. But they were good for each other and as annoying as Chickie was to me, she had her share of hardship and heartbreak which made me feel for her.
I don't want to give any spoilers so I will just say that this is a very well written book with a decent story. It's worth it to take the time to read and experience a well researched era filled with jazz and the love of music.
So where to start... there were a few themes the author tackled and I felt she did a pretty good job with it: black vs white, men vs women, and money vs poverty. The race issue was the most developed and it broke my heart to see all that Eve went through because of the color of her skin.
I enjoyed the story although at some points I had to be pulled along to the next few pages. It wasn't bad though... it gave good stopping points here and there. It wasn't a page turner for me, but I did want to finish it and I did care about the characters and their story.
Eve is the main character and I rooted for her the whole way, however my least favorite character was Chickie. I thought she was the weak, needy one compared to Eve's strong, smart persona. But they were good for each other and as annoying as Chickie was to me, she had her share of hardship and heartbreak which made me feel for her.
I don't want to give any spoilers so I will just say that this is a very well written book with a decent story. It's worth it to take the time to read and experience a well researched era filled with jazz and the love of music.
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