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Counterfeit Lady #6
City of Fortune
When a day at the races reveals sabotage and subterfuge, Elizabeth Miles must use every ounce of her craftiness to even the score in this all-new Counterfeit Lady novel from USA Today bestselling author Victoria Thompson.
Wealthy but uncouth Sebastian Nolan has invited his lawyer, Gideon Bates, and his lovely new wife, Elizabeth, to attend the famous Belmont Stakes. Nolan is anxious for Gideon and Elizabeth to help his daughter, Irene, acquire a bit of polish, now that his venture into thoroughbred racing has allowed them entry into society. He is also hoping to find her a rich potential suitor. Elizabeth is not exactly the society girl Nolan believes her to be, but she is eager to attend the races. Her con artist family has made a lot of money at racetracks, although not from betting on the horses, and she enjoys the excitement of the track.
Irene Nolan seems more interested in horses than husbands, and she jumps at the chance to show Elizabeth her horse, Trench, and introduce her to his rider, Cal Regan. Elizabeth soon realizes there is more than just a working relationship between Irene and Cal. But she also knows that Irene’s father would never allow his only daughter to marry a jockey. When Cal takes a terrible tumble injuring both himself and Irene’s beloved Trench, Elizabeth and Gideon learn that the mishap was not simply bad luck—the horse and rider are victims of sabotage.
It turns out that Sebastian Nolan has more than a few skeletons in his closet and someone is out to get their long sought-after revenge. Elizabeth knows that to help Irene and Cal, she is going to need some help in creating the quintessential con. With the ever honest Gideon at her side, she enlists those closest to her to come up with a scheme that will either ensure young Irene and Cal a first-place finish or have disastrous consequence...
Wealthy but uncouth Sebastian Nolan has invited his lawyer, Gideon Bates, and his lovely new wife, Elizabeth, to attend the famous Belmont Stakes. Nolan is anxious for Gideon and Elizabeth to help his daughter, Irene, acquire a bit of polish, now that his venture into thoroughbred racing has allowed them entry into society. He is also hoping to find her a rich potential suitor. Elizabeth is not exactly the society girl Nolan believes her to be, but she is eager to attend the races. Her con artist family has made a lot of money at racetracks, although not from betting on the horses, and she enjoys the excitement of the track.
Irene Nolan seems more interested in horses than husbands, and she jumps at the chance to show Elizabeth her horse, Trench, and introduce her to his rider, Cal Regan. Elizabeth soon realizes there is more than just a working relationship between Irene and Cal. But she also knows that Irene’s father would never allow his only daughter to marry a jockey. When Cal takes a terrible tumble injuring both himself and Irene’s beloved Trench, Elizabeth and Gideon learn that the mishap was not simply bad luck—the horse and rider are victims of sabotage.
It turns out that Sebastian Nolan has more than a few skeletons in his closet and someone is out to get their long sought-after revenge. Elizabeth knows that to help Irene and Cal, she is going to need some help in creating the quintessential con. With the ever honest Gideon at her side, she enlists those closest to her to come up with a scheme that will either ensure young Irene and Cal a first-place finish or have disastrous consequence...
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 6, 2022
64 people are currently reading
3459 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Thompson
83 books2,452 followersVictoria Thompson was a beloved authoress of 'standard mystery' novels.
This middle of the road tone is not violent like a 'thriller' but unsanitized (NOT light like a 'cozy mystery'), is unflinchingly adult, serious, and dark.
Humour, romance, family, and compassion balance out the crime part of dear Victoria's unforgettable mysteries.
This middle of the road tone is not violent like a 'thriller' but unsanitized (NOT light like a 'cozy mystery'), is unflinchingly adult, serious, and dark.
Humour, romance, family, and compassion balance out the crime part of dear Victoria's unforgettable mysteries.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
December 21, 2022
I like this author and really enjoy her series Gaslight Mysteries. I have read all the books in this series in order and like them. The writing is good, and the characters are interesting. It is hard to write a series about a crook gone straight and becoming a do-gooder. That is what this series is about and in particular City of Fortune. The premise is a huge stretch, but I went with it as it is fiction, and we need to believe. Very enjoyable writing with a plot that I had pretty well figured out in advance. It didn't make the story less engaging but perhaps a bit predictable. Rate it 3.5* and round up.
December 7, 2022
Elizabeth Bates is accompanying her new husband, Gideon, to the race track. One of his clients wants Elizabeth’s help in making his daughter, Irene Nolan, fit for society, which is funny since Elizabeth is still learning how to fit in herself. The day of horse racing doesn’t go the way the Nolan’s had planned however, when neither of their horses do well. But as Elizabeth gets to know Irene, Elizabeth realizes that Irene needs more help than fitting into society. In fact, Elizabeth’s skills as a conwoman might prove to be extremely helpful. Can she come up with a way to solve Irene’s real problems?
Obviously, this is more a caper than the typical mysteries I read, and I enjoyed the change of pace. I did feel the plot could have used an additional twist or two and some personal stakes for Elizabeth to truly draw me in, but I still really enjoyed it. And there are a couple of twists, one I didn’t see coming. The characters are strong. Elizabeth and Gideon are great lead characters, and we continue to get to know them well as we see the story unfold from both of their points of view. There are some funny moments that come from the characters including one line that really made me laugh. The 1919 setting is brought to life wonderfully as well. This is a fun addition to a fun series.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Obviously, this is more a caper than the typical mysteries I read, and I enjoyed the change of pace. I did feel the plot could have used an additional twist or two and some personal stakes for Elizabeth to truly draw me in, but I still really enjoyed it. And there are a couple of twists, one I didn’t see coming. The characters are strong. Elizabeth and Gideon are great lead characters, and we continue to get to know them well as we see the story unfold from both of their points of view. There are some funny moments that come from the characters including one line that really made me laugh. The 1919 setting is brought to life wonderfully as well. This is a fun addition to a fun series.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
January 1, 2023
A big fan of this author but this is the first I have read in this series.
Maybe I would have liked it more if I had read the previous #1-#5.
I just didn’t warm up to the characters and I am not a fan of horse racing so this fell a bit flat for me.
I will continue to read other books by this author, but I’ll be giving this particular series a miss.
Maybe I would have liked it more if I had read the previous #1-#5.
I just didn’t warm up to the characters and I am not a fan of horse racing so this fell a bit flat for me.
I will continue to read other books by this author, but I’ll be giving this particular series a miss.
January 5, 2023
This story was about a con job, not a murder mystery; excellent.
November 19, 2023
I'm either in a forgiving mood or these books are actually getting better
September 20, 2022
I love Elizabeth Miles and her dashing (now husband) Gideon. He's learning how to accept his independent wife and family and she's settling into domestic life. But of course that changes with another mysterious death. I'm a huge fan of the gaslight mystery series by this author, and this is a great series as well. I can't wait for more adventures of the Mile's family grifters.
January 11, 2023
4.5 Stars
This was a fun 5th book in the series. Maybe my favorite. Regardless of Gideon's continued reluctance to utilize Elizabeth's previous occupation, the grifters are back. Gideon is learning the grey areas of his black-or-white mentality.
I enjoy this series because it's a true cozy historical mystery. Rarely even murder. The mysteries focus on the con and helping the underdog. It's one of the more unique mystery series that I've read. There was little suspense and some predictable elements, but I enjoyed the entire execution of the story with all its many side characters.
January 8, 2023
Enjoyable light read. Bonus star for a character with my name. 😀
December 11, 2022
Visit again with familiar characters and watch the con develop. Watch for the surprise con at the end. Great addition to the series.
December 15, 2022
I featured this one last week and ever since then I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it! The cover fully lured me in as well as the horse racing aspect and I just couldn’t get it out of my head! I had planned to read this one a little bit later this spring when my calendar wasn’t so full but sometimes it just happens like this where I can’t get a book out of my head and then boom here we are reading it way before I planned to !
I have read some of Victoria Thompson’s books but have been limited to the Gaslight Mystery series. They are pretty good and that series especially is a long standing series (I think there are around 25 or 26 books!). She has written a couple of other romance books (cowboy romances) but the historical mysteries have been limited to the Gaslight Mystery series. Then in 2017, Thompson released the first book in her new series, Counterfeit Lady series and this series was born.
I haven’t read any of the other books in this series but I have the books on my radar and now that I have read this one, I think I am going to have to go and check out the other books in the series now. You could pick this one up mid series (which is what I did) without having read the other books, but there are clearly some plots that are established from previous books. It wasn’t a deal breaker for me but I did feel like my reading experience was different than someone who might be reading it from the beginning and in order.
Personally I would have liked to have read this series from the beginning so I could fully enjoy and understand the relationship between Elizabeth and Gideon. Clearly there is an established and shared history there and I think I would have appreciated their characters more if I had read about them from the beginning. That’s not to say that I was lost necessarily, Thompson does a good job at catching new readers up in the series but we are on book six here and sometimes that’s a lot of ground to cover and get new readers caught up on. So personally I prefer to read the series in order but it wasn’t necessarily a deal breaker here. The story was still good and I liked the characters a lot—enough that I want to go back and read more about them from the beginning. But if this is your first book from the series like me, you won’t be too lost to enjoy it.
As a former equestrian I liked the horse angle of this story. I have been to plenty of racetracks, in fact my old horse was an off the track thoroughbred so I loved the horse angle of this story. I loved that the author really went into detail about the behind the scenes of the racing world and the lives of jockeys. Even still there is a dark world when it comes to horse racing so I thought this was a well done and interesting aspect of the story.
Of course there is a mysterious death in this one and that’s the premise for the book, to solve a mystery. Lately I have been reading more modern and dark, twisty thrillers so this was tame by comparison. However, this was a welcome break from some of the heavier stuff I have been reading, this book was more about sleuthing and solving as crime. Without giving too much away, I wish this book had a couple more twists and personal buy in for the characters but overall it was pretty good and I was invested enough to want to read the other books in the series! If you are a historical fiction fan, especially cozy mysteries then this is going to be a good option for you. I enjoyed this book quite a bit!
I have read some of Victoria Thompson’s books but have been limited to the Gaslight Mystery series. They are pretty good and that series especially is a long standing series (I think there are around 25 or 26 books!). She has written a couple of other romance books (cowboy romances) but the historical mysteries have been limited to the Gaslight Mystery series. Then in 2017, Thompson released the first book in her new series, Counterfeit Lady series and this series was born.
I haven’t read any of the other books in this series but I have the books on my radar and now that I have read this one, I think I am going to have to go and check out the other books in the series now. You could pick this one up mid series (which is what I did) without having read the other books, but there are clearly some plots that are established from previous books. It wasn’t a deal breaker for me but I did feel like my reading experience was different than someone who might be reading it from the beginning and in order.
Personally I would have liked to have read this series from the beginning so I could fully enjoy and understand the relationship between Elizabeth and Gideon. Clearly there is an established and shared history there and I think I would have appreciated their characters more if I had read about them from the beginning. That’s not to say that I was lost necessarily, Thompson does a good job at catching new readers up in the series but we are on book six here and sometimes that’s a lot of ground to cover and get new readers caught up on. So personally I prefer to read the series in order but it wasn’t necessarily a deal breaker here. The story was still good and I liked the characters a lot—enough that I want to go back and read more about them from the beginning. But if this is your first book from the series like me, you won’t be too lost to enjoy it.
As a former equestrian I liked the horse angle of this story. I have been to plenty of racetracks, in fact my old horse was an off the track thoroughbred so I loved the horse angle of this story. I loved that the author really went into detail about the behind the scenes of the racing world and the lives of jockeys. Even still there is a dark world when it comes to horse racing so I thought this was a well done and interesting aspect of the story.
Of course there is a mysterious death in this one and that’s the premise for the book, to solve a mystery. Lately I have been reading more modern and dark, twisty thrillers so this was tame by comparison. However, this was a welcome break from some of the heavier stuff I have been reading, this book was more about sleuthing and solving as crime. Without giving too much away, I wish this book had a couple more twists and personal buy in for the characters but overall it was pretty good and I was invested enough to want to read the other books in the series! If you are a historical fiction fan, especially cozy mysteries then this is going to be a good option for you. I enjoyed this book quite a bit!
December 12, 2022
1-5 are great - this one, not so much
Disappointed in the silly, implausible con storyline. All revolved around a "proud" jockey - a character I didn't like & at 97% the author tries to redeem him - didn't work.
Disappointed in the silly, implausible con storyline. All revolved around a "proud" jockey - a character I didn't like & at 97% the author tries to redeem him - didn't work.
December 20, 2022
4.5/5 stars
My favorite of the series by a wide margin. Nothing can top the slow burn of Frank and Sarah for me, but I think Thompson has finally settled into what Elizabeth and Gideon should be after a bit of a rocky, instalove start. Genuinely grinned at a bunch of their exchanges here and enjoyed the way they are evolving while still being very true to themselves.
There were a few plot moments here that weren't quite as strong to me, namely
My favorite of the series by a wide margin. Nothing can top the slow burn of Frank and Sarah for me, but I think Thompson has finally settled into what Elizabeth and Gideon should be after a bit of a rocky, instalove start. Genuinely grinned at a bunch of their exchanges here and enjoyed the way they are evolving while still being very true to themselves.
There were a few plot moments here that weren't quite as strong to me, namely
June 28, 2023
Thanks to PRH for this copy that I received from a drawing. A fun mystery with enjoyable plot and characters! Enjoyed it! 3.5 stars rounded up
December 8, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
This is a good Historical Fiction mystery set in London. Although this is book 6 in the series, it can be read as a stand alone. I haven't read any of the previous books, but there was enough back story provided in the book for me to not feel as though I had missed too much.
Elizabeth and her attorney husband Gideon are invited to share a box with his client Sebastion Nolan at the horse races. Nolan wants Elizabeth to take his daughter Irene under her wings to "refine" Irene so she will be accepted into society and she can snag a rich husband. Nolan raised Irene on his own after his wife died, and she grew up in the stables and involved with horses and the horseracing world. When Elizabeth sees Irene interacting with their jockey Cal, she senses there is more than a employer/employee relationship between the two.
When Cal has two mishaps at the races, one leaving one of his legs shattered, ending his career, Elizabeth senses sabotage and insists that she and Gideon help Irene and Cal. This ultimately ends in Elizabeth involving her con artist father and his crew to help out with the case.
I enjoyed this book and liked Elizabeth and Gideon's relationship. Elizabeth is smart and savvy and Gideon doesn't try to box her in or interfere in her plans. I loved Gideon's mother. She added humor to the story and was unfailing in her support of Elizabeth. In fact, she delighted in Elizabeth's antics, as well as rubbing elbows with her con man father. The book is well-written and easy to read. The only reason I knocked off half a star from the book is because it dragged a bit in the middle and I felt that some parts of the story, including a few twists, were unnecessary. It almost felt like filler to increase the page count. But, these are minor issues of mine, and others may not feel the same.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group. All opinions are my own.
I
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
This is a good Historical Fiction mystery set in London. Although this is book 6 in the series, it can be read as a stand alone. I haven't read any of the previous books, but there was enough back story provided in the book for me to not feel as though I had missed too much.
Elizabeth and her attorney husband Gideon are invited to share a box with his client Sebastion Nolan at the horse races. Nolan wants Elizabeth to take his daughter Irene under her wings to "refine" Irene so she will be accepted into society and she can snag a rich husband. Nolan raised Irene on his own after his wife died, and she grew up in the stables and involved with horses and the horseracing world. When Elizabeth sees Irene interacting with their jockey Cal, she senses there is more than a employer/employee relationship between the two.
When Cal has two mishaps at the races, one leaving one of his legs shattered, ending his career, Elizabeth senses sabotage and insists that she and Gideon help Irene and Cal. This ultimately ends in Elizabeth involving her con artist father and his crew to help out with the case.
I enjoyed this book and liked Elizabeth and Gideon's relationship. Elizabeth is smart and savvy and Gideon doesn't try to box her in or interfere in her plans. I loved Gideon's mother. She added humor to the story and was unfailing in her support of Elizabeth. In fact, she delighted in Elizabeth's antics, as well as rubbing elbows with her con man father. The book is well-written and easy to read. The only reason I knocked off half a star from the book is because it dragged a bit in the middle and I felt that some parts of the story, including a few twists, were unnecessary. It almost felt like filler to increase the page count. But, these are minor issues of mine, and others may not feel the same.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group. All opinions are my own.
I
December 15, 2022
I accidently read a cozy mystery, I guess? Not usually a genre I read.
I haven't read any other books in the series, but understand all the characters and the setting was fine.
The author did a lot of research on horse racing, so any readers of this book will get a thorough primer on the subject.
I was mildly entertained, but it did feel pretty long by the end. The con was... interesting. I have mixed feelings about it.
I might go back and read the earlier books in this series because I like Elizabeth.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I haven't read any other books in the series, but understand all the characters and the setting was fine.
The author did a lot of research on horse racing, so any readers of this book will get a thorough primer on the subject.
I was mildly entertained, but it did feel pretty long by the end. The con was... interesting. I have mixed feelings about it.
I might go back and read the earlier books in this series because I like Elizabeth.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
December 9, 2022
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Historical / Mystery
*Rating* 3-3.5
*Thoughts*
City of Fortune is the sixth installment in author Victoria Thompson's Counterfeit Lady series. Wealthy but uncouth Sebastian Nolan has invited his lawyer, Gideon Bates, and his wife, Elizabeth Miles Bates, to attend the famous Belmont Stakes. Nolan is anxious for Gideon and Elizabeth to help his daughter, Irene, acquire a bit of polish, now that his venture into thoroughbred racing has allowed them entry into society. He is also hoping to find her a rich potential suitor. Nolan has a horse and jockey he believes can regain his reputation.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Historical / Mystery
*Rating* 3-3.5
*Thoughts*
City of Fortune is the sixth installment in author Victoria Thompson's Counterfeit Lady series. Wealthy but uncouth Sebastian Nolan has invited his lawyer, Gideon Bates, and his wife, Elizabeth Miles Bates, to attend the famous Belmont Stakes. Nolan is anxious for Gideon and Elizabeth to help his daughter, Irene, acquire a bit of polish, now that his venture into thoroughbred racing has allowed them entry into society. He is also hoping to find her a rich potential suitor. Nolan has a horse and jockey he believes can regain his reputation.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
December 17, 2024
Interesting book about horse racing around New York in the early 1900s. The poorly regulated races were held at tracts such as Belmont and Aqueduct (so named because it was located on a former Brooklyn Water Works site).
The book could easily be called the Book of Many Con Games! I loved it. So many twists and turns. “Because greed is so much more powerful than love can ever be.” Although there is still romance in the book.
Very entertaining.
The book could easily be called the Book of Many Con Games! I loved it. So many twists and turns. “Because greed is so much more powerful than love can ever be.” Although there is still romance in the book.
Very entertaining.
February 19, 2023
I thought the previous book in the series was my favorite, and it was quite good, but this one topped it.
Thompson has really learned who the characters are—and more importantly, who they are to one another—and it's paying off beautifully. The interactions in this book were so great; I had to pause to appreciate it and/or laugh multiple times.
The ending con with Cal seemed superfluous and a bit too meandering, but the Old Man more than made up for it. 4.5 stars.
Thompson has really learned who the characters are—and more importantly, who they are to one another—and it's paying off beautifully. The interactions in this book were so great; I had to pause to appreciate it and/or laugh multiple times.
The ending con with Cal seemed superfluous and a bit too meandering, but the Old Man more than made up for it. 4.5 stars.
September 18, 2022
Elizabeth is once again considering managing a con after attending a horse race and befriending an owners daughter. To save the day she must convince her father, several family and friends and a Spanish countess to help - all while attempting to make sure her husband never has to lie. A fascinating look at horse racing, New York society and cons!
December 24, 2022
My rating is a very weak "2 Stars". The plot dragged on endlessly and only the [slight] surprise ending raised my rating from 1 to 2 stars. I will have to think long and hard before reading the next book in the series when it comes out.
December 2, 2022
3.5 stars
Interesting premise and main characters, but the plot is sometimes confusing, making the story less engaging than it could have been.
Interesting premise and main characters, but the plot is sometimes confusing, making the story less engaging than it could have been.
January 28, 2023
3.5. I really enjoy this series and I’m amazed with the myriad cons the author is able to come up with for the main character. A thank you to Goodreads for gifting the ebook to me.
November 16, 2022
City of Fortune was an excellent addition to the Counterfeit Lady series. I loved the 1919 setting and the information about both horse racing and Womens' rights that were woven into the story.
Elizabeth Bates and her husband Gideon have been invited to the Belmont Stakes by Sebastian Nolan who is one on Gideon's clients. Elizabeth meets Nolan's daughter Irene who is extremely knowledgeable about horse racing and who happens to be in love with her father's jockey.
When chicanery happens which injures both horse and jockey, Elizabeth decides to run a con on Nolan to make things right for the young couple.
Luckily, she isn't the only one with a con in mind. Her father has arrived at the races with a woman who looks amazingly like Irene's mother and Nolan's first love. Only Irene's mother died in childbirth which created a bitter rivalry between Nolan and Daniel Livingston who was engaged to Irene's mother before Nolan swept her away.
Since the look-alike is also a con woman, it isn't hard to enlist her help in running a con on both Nolan and Livingston and a good part of the unsavory elements of New York Society too.
This story was a lot of fun to read. I loved the twists and turns and plots.
Elizabeth Bates and her husband Gideon have been invited to the Belmont Stakes by Sebastian Nolan who is one on Gideon's clients. Elizabeth meets Nolan's daughter Irene who is extremely knowledgeable about horse racing and who happens to be in love with her father's jockey.
When chicanery happens which injures both horse and jockey, Elizabeth decides to run a con on Nolan to make things right for the young couple.
Luckily, she isn't the only one with a con in mind. Her father has arrived at the races with a woman who looks amazingly like Irene's mother and Nolan's first love. Only Irene's mother died in childbirth which created a bitter rivalry between Nolan and Daniel Livingston who was engaged to Irene's mother before Nolan swept her away.
Since the look-alike is also a con woman, it isn't hard to enlist her help in running a con on both Nolan and Livingston and a good part of the unsavory elements of New York Society too.
This story was a lot of fun to read. I loved the twists and turns and plots.
August 14, 2023
I wasn't thrilled with the use of the cruelties of horse racing as a setting here, but Victoria Thompson always tells a good story and this was no exception.
November 17, 2022
City of Fortune by Victoria Thompson
A clever con can be so much fun to watch, a bit of drama, a puzzle, much suspense, and at its best, an opportunity to correct injustices . . . if Elizabeth is in charge. With the help of her MIL “we met in prison” and father, brother, and a host of helpful friends, she sets out to help a young couple whose future has been dimmed by the horrifying “sponging” sabotage of a beautiful race horse. (I had never heard of this abusive practice — truly evil).
First step, identify and court the very worst in society, those who deserve to lose and are more susceptible to cons that play on their greed and self-centeredness.
Then start planning, in this case, con within con within con . . . so much fun for all except the targets, who deserve it, so we won’t waste any sympathy on them or on the foolish men who carry a romantic rivalry over decades of misery. We’ll save sympathy for the good men whose pride and conditioning to be “the provider” might lead them to refuse the good they are offered . . . in need of a reverse con to help the unwilling accept opportunity.
I especially enjoy watching Gideon find a way to help without actually lying or being dishonest, and his mother’s eager fascination with cons and jargon. Poor boy, he doesn’t have a chance.
This was fun to read, and I already miss this lovely group of con artists. When’s the next caper?
A clever con can be so much fun to watch, a bit of drama, a puzzle, much suspense, and at its best, an opportunity to correct injustices . . . if Elizabeth is in charge. With the help of her MIL “we met in prison” and father, brother, and a host of helpful friends, she sets out to help a young couple whose future has been dimmed by the horrifying “sponging” sabotage of a beautiful race horse. (I had never heard of this abusive practice — truly evil).
First step, identify and court the very worst in society, those who deserve to lose and are more susceptible to cons that play on their greed and self-centeredness.
Then start planning, in this case, con within con within con . . . so much fun for all except the targets, who deserve it, so we won’t waste any sympathy on them or on the foolish men who carry a romantic rivalry over decades of misery. We’ll save sympathy for the good men whose pride and conditioning to be “the provider” might lead them to refuse the good they are offered . . . in need of a reverse con to help the unwilling accept opportunity.
I especially enjoy watching Gideon find a way to help without actually lying or being dishonest, and his mother’s eager fascination with cons and jargon. Poor boy, he doesn’t have a chance.
This was fun to read, and I already miss this lovely group of con artists. When’s the next caper?
October 15, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-galley in exchange for an honest review. Elizabeth and Gideon, blissfully married and enjoying life together, are back again to help out one of Elizabeth's new friends and her family as they navigate the cutthroat world of horse racing and marriage. As someone who thoroughly enjoyed the history and real life grit of "Seabiscut" (the book not the film) I really enjoyed the less-than-rosy picture that Thompson painted of conditions that jockeys endured. This was a great mystery, and ended all too quickly for me!
February 22, 2023
City of Fortune is the sixth book in Victoria Thompson's Counterfeit Lady series. Elizabeth Bates is back with a new con. However, this time it isn't her con but one of her father's associates, whom Elizabeth agrees to help with the setup. Joining Elizabeth is a group of society folks, including her mother-in-law, husband (begrudgingly), and her good friend Anna. Elizabeth’s father and brother also make an appearance. We are in New York City when the signs point to the passage of the women’s right to vote amendment, Mother Bates’ pet project.
I love this series. Elizabeth is finding her way around the society crowd as Gideon Bates' new wife. The target for this con is Sebastian Nolan and Daniel Livingston. These two have a long-running feud that is still on fire some twenty years later.
Sebastian Nolan is one of Gideon’s clients. When he talked to Gideon about setting up a trust for his daughter, he invited Gideon to Belmont for the big race. Sebastian has a couple of horses in the race that he wants to show off. Livingston also has a horse farm with horses in the race. As these two men lock horns, their feuding puts them off guard and makes easy marks.
This is a great story that continues the character development, an interesting con, with a nice dose of New York racing history thrown in. Elizabeth and her mother-in-law’s relationship continues to develop. “Mother Bates,” as Elizabeth calls her, can’t help but encourage Elizabeth when there is a potential con. Gideon has come a long way, too, as he cautiously supports his wife with her cons. He prefers that Elizabeth won’t be involved, but he understands that she only helps people.
Depending on how closely you follow the characters, there is a slightly unexpected twist and a satisfying ending. I missed the clues, but some of my reading friends knew the “secret” before I did. City of Fortune can be read as a standalone, but there is a lot of history missed if you jump in at book six. It makes me crazy when people give a one or two-star review because they didn’t read the series from the beginning, then complain about what they didn’t know.
Now I’m waiting for the next Gaslight Mystery by Ms. Thompson. Victoria Thompson is one of my favorite authors of historical novels. Every book highlights her research and makes me do a little more on my own.
Kate Forbes continues as narrator for this series. She does an excellent job. Her voice, inflections, and enthusiasm bring this story to life.
I love this series. Elizabeth is finding her way around the society crowd as Gideon Bates' new wife. The target for this con is Sebastian Nolan and Daniel Livingston. These two have a long-running feud that is still on fire some twenty years later.
Sebastian Nolan is one of Gideon’s clients. When he talked to Gideon about setting up a trust for his daughter, he invited Gideon to Belmont for the big race. Sebastian has a couple of horses in the race that he wants to show off. Livingston also has a horse farm with horses in the race. As these two men lock horns, their feuding puts them off guard and makes easy marks.
This is a great story that continues the character development, an interesting con, with a nice dose of New York racing history thrown in. Elizabeth and her mother-in-law’s relationship continues to develop. “Mother Bates,” as Elizabeth calls her, can’t help but encourage Elizabeth when there is a potential con. Gideon has come a long way, too, as he cautiously supports his wife with her cons. He prefers that Elizabeth won’t be involved, but he understands that she only helps people.
Depending on how closely you follow the characters, there is a slightly unexpected twist and a satisfying ending. I missed the clues, but some of my reading friends knew the “secret” before I did. City of Fortune can be read as a standalone, but there is a lot of history missed if you jump in at book six. It makes me crazy when people give a one or two-star review because they didn’t read the series from the beginning, then complain about what they didn’t know.
Now I’m waiting for the next Gaslight Mystery by Ms. Thompson. Victoria Thompson is one of my favorite authors of historical novels. Every book highlights her research and makes me do a little more on my own.
Kate Forbes continues as narrator for this series. She does an excellent job. Her voice, inflections, and enthusiasm bring this story to life.
December 19, 2022
3.5 Stars
Elizabeth Miles Bates is a reformed con woman whose days of cheating innocent people out of their money are in the past. Elizabeth is now happily married to Gideon Bates, a very honest attorney. Elizabeth, her mother-in-law Hazel, and Gideon are excited to attend the Belmont Stakes and mingle with some of the racehorse owners. They become involved in the life of the daughter of one of Gideon’s clients, Sebastian Nolan, who owns one very promising horse. During a race, that horse has a strange accident, severely injuring the jockey, Cal Regan. Elizabeth thinks this is suspicious and also notices that Cal seems to have an unexpectedly close relationship with Nolan’s daughter, Irene. Elizabeth is determined to find out who is behind this sabotage and use her skills to help Irene and Cal.
City of Fortune is the sixth in the Counterfeit Lady novels. It’s the first I’ve read, and I think it works well as a standalone. Elizabeth is a unique main character, especially for a cozy series. She was friends with her husband’s mother first when the two women met in prison after a protest for women’s voting rights. It’s refreshing that Elizabeth and Hazel are friends as well as in-laws. Elizabeth is considered a member of society now, but her background would shock the people she now socializes with. She isn’t afraid to speak her opinion and now uses the skills she learned as a con woman to help those in need. Gideon is very supportive of his wife and is willing to help her as long as he is not required to lie. He seems a bit stuffy at first but loosens up by the end of the book and seems like a good match for Elizabeth.
There is a subplot involving a con woman posing as a Spanish widow waiting to get a large inheritance which becomes important to the main plot as the story progresses. It’s interesting but gets very confusing since there are several side characters mixed up in this con, and all are lying. It goes on for too long and becomes more and more convoluted. I wasn’t fully engaged with this part of the book, so this middle part moved slowly for me. The “Senora ” has another reason for running this con, which I guessed right away, but it does set up a nice ending for a couple of the characters. Overall, I enjoyed the premise of the book and the satisfying ending. Fans of the series should enjoy the latest of Elizabeth’s adventures.
~ Christine
Elizabeth Miles Bates is a reformed con woman whose days of cheating innocent people out of their money are in the past. Elizabeth is now happily married to Gideon Bates, a very honest attorney. Elizabeth, her mother-in-law Hazel, and Gideon are excited to attend the Belmont Stakes and mingle with some of the racehorse owners. They become involved in the life of the daughter of one of Gideon’s clients, Sebastian Nolan, who owns one very promising horse. During a race, that horse has a strange accident, severely injuring the jockey, Cal Regan. Elizabeth thinks this is suspicious and also notices that Cal seems to have an unexpectedly close relationship with Nolan’s daughter, Irene. Elizabeth is determined to find out who is behind this sabotage and use her skills to help Irene and Cal.
City of Fortune is the sixth in the Counterfeit Lady novels. It’s the first I’ve read, and I think it works well as a standalone. Elizabeth is a unique main character, especially for a cozy series. She was friends with her husband’s mother first when the two women met in prison after a protest for women’s voting rights. It’s refreshing that Elizabeth and Hazel are friends as well as in-laws. Elizabeth is considered a member of society now, but her background would shock the people she now socializes with. She isn’t afraid to speak her opinion and now uses the skills she learned as a con woman to help those in need. Gideon is very supportive of his wife and is willing to help her as long as he is not required to lie. He seems a bit stuffy at first but loosens up by the end of the book and seems like a good match for Elizabeth.
There is a subplot involving a con woman posing as a Spanish widow waiting to get a large inheritance which becomes important to the main plot as the story progresses. It’s interesting but gets very confusing since there are several side characters mixed up in this con, and all are lying. It goes on for too long and becomes more and more convoluted. I wasn’t fully engaged with this part of the book, so this middle part moved slowly for me. The “Senora ” has another reason for running this con, which I guessed right away, but it does set up a nice ending for a couple of the characters. Overall, I enjoyed the premise of the book and the satisfying ending. Fans of the series should enjoy the latest of Elizabeth’s adventures.
~ Christine
December 7, 2022
City of Fortune by Victoria Thompson
Mystery/Historical Fiction
Counterfeit Lady #6
Publication Date: Today!
It’s rare you can pick up a series six books in and not feel like you missed anything. Thompson does an excellent job here of giving you just enough background information for everything to make sense but not enough to spoil the events of the previous novels.
In City of Fortune, Elizabeth, a former con’s daughter, and her lawyer husband, Gideon, attend the races with one of his client’s, Sebastian Nolan, and his daughter, Irene. Things are going well until a series of incidents occurs and mysterious acquaintances pop out of the word work. It is clear to Elizabeth that Irene is in love with the family’s jockey and her father would never indulge such a romance. Elizabeth comes up with a con to allow Irene and Cal to have a future well everyone deals with the consequences of what happened during that day at the races.
This is the coziest of mysteries. It features a plot that is kind of obvious from the very beginning in terms of the “who dun it” but the why they did it kept me flipping pages. I absolutely needed to know why anyone would do that. It has a tiny drop of romance, so small that if it isn’t normally your thing this might be a book for you. It also does a great job of comparing different ways of thinking between classes and prominently features discussions of the suffrage movement taking place at the time.
The only real issue I had, and it’s more of a me-problem than a book problem, was that every time someone referred to Gideon’s mother as “Mother Bates” I wanted to chuck my book out the window. I get that his wife would also be Mrs. Bates so it could be potentially confusing but, I would have accepted the “elder Mrs. Baters” or perhaps “MOM?!?!” over Mother Bates.
Well, that and the cover art really does nothing for me. I’m not going to lie, if I had been browsing in a bookstore I would have passed right over this novel and not given it a second thought which is a shame because it is cute. There is just so much dead space on this cover.
Thank you to Berkeley for providing an advanced reading copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Mystery/Historical Fiction
Counterfeit Lady #6
Publication Date: Today!
It’s rare you can pick up a series six books in and not feel like you missed anything. Thompson does an excellent job here of giving you just enough background information for everything to make sense but not enough to spoil the events of the previous novels.
In City of Fortune, Elizabeth, a former con’s daughter, and her lawyer husband, Gideon, attend the races with one of his client’s, Sebastian Nolan, and his daughter, Irene. Things are going well until a series of incidents occurs and mysterious acquaintances pop out of the word work. It is clear to Elizabeth that Irene is in love with the family’s jockey and her father would never indulge such a romance. Elizabeth comes up with a con to allow Irene and Cal to have a future well everyone deals with the consequences of what happened during that day at the races.
This is the coziest of mysteries. It features a plot that is kind of obvious from the very beginning in terms of the “who dun it” but the why they did it kept me flipping pages. I absolutely needed to know why anyone would do that. It has a tiny drop of romance, so small that if it isn’t normally your thing this might be a book for you. It also does a great job of comparing different ways of thinking between classes and prominently features discussions of the suffrage movement taking place at the time.
The only real issue I had, and it’s more of a me-problem than a book problem, was that every time someone referred to Gideon’s mother as “Mother Bates” I wanted to chuck my book out the window. I get that his wife would also be Mrs. Bates so it could be potentially confusing but, I would have accepted the “elder Mrs. Baters” or perhaps “MOM?!?!” over Mother Bates.
Well, that and the cover art really does nothing for me. I’m not going to lie, if I had been browsing in a bookstore I would have passed right over this novel and not given it a second thought which is a shame because it is cute. There is just so much dead space on this cover.
Thank you to Berkeley for providing an advanced reading copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 19, 2022
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
City of Fortune is the 6th Counterfeit Lady mystery by Victoria Thompson. Released 6th Dec 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
Protagonist Elizabeth is a sort of "equalizer" who is a mostly reformed con-woman who only uses her skills for good these days. She's setting into married life with her ever-honest paragon of a husband, attorney Gideon to provide an air of respectability.
This story takes place around horses and the racing milieu is central to the plot. After a dreadful accident at the racetrack, Elizabeth is determined to get to the bottom of what's happening and find out who's responsible, and at the same time not have her cover blown as a counterfeit socialite.
The story does work well enough as a standalone and the mystery is self contained in this volume, although the characters have developed over the course of the series and some interactions will be spoiled by reading them out of order (such as Elizabeth and Gideon's marriage). The dialogue is sometimes a tiny bit stilted, but I believe that's a conscious decision for period verisimilitude on the part of the author. The author is additionally very good at making the horse racing setting believable and immersive.
Four stars. With 6 books extant in the series, it would be a good choice for a binge (or buddy) read. Definitely one for fans of historical mysteries with strong feisty female characters.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
City of Fortune is the 6th Counterfeit Lady mystery by Victoria Thompson. Released 6th Dec 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
Protagonist Elizabeth is a sort of "equalizer" who is a mostly reformed con-woman who only uses her skills for good these days. She's setting into married life with her ever-honest paragon of a husband, attorney Gideon to provide an air of respectability.
This story takes place around horses and the racing milieu is central to the plot. After a dreadful accident at the racetrack, Elizabeth is determined to get to the bottom of what's happening and find out who's responsible, and at the same time not have her cover blown as a counterfeit socialite.
The story does work well enough as a standalone and the mystery is self contained in this volume, although the characters have developed over the course of the series and some interactions will be spoiled by reading them out of order (such as Elizabeth and Gideon's marriage). The dialogue is sometimes a tiny bit stilted, but I believe that's a conscious decision for period verisimilitude on the part of the author. The author is additionally very good at making the horse racing setting believable and immersive.
Four stars. With 6 books extant in the series, it would be a good choice for a binge (or buddy) read. Definitely one for fans of historical mysteries with strong feisty female characters.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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