New York City in the early twentieth century was a busy
tumultuous place where wealth could be made, but for many,
moving to the land of opportunity only resulted in fighting
a tough survival existence and a lifetime of hot and
smelly tenement buildings. Yet, for all that, they had
their pride and if they could look down on someone else,
they would and the Chinese were considered the lowest of
the lot. Immigration laws even barred Chinese men from
bringing Chinese women to America to marry. So, when poor
Irish women found comfort in the lace curtains, good
furniture and plentiful food that their Chinese husbands
paid for, they were forced into an isolated existence
between two worlds. A world made even harsher for their
mixed blood children!
Midwife Sarah Brandt lives less than a mile away with her
newly adopted daughter, Catherine, in a smartly appointed
home, however, had not entered into Chinatown until she was
called to help Cora Lee with her baby's delivery. Once
there, she very quickly understood the situation and tough
choices that these women faced. Them just as she is
leaving, she meets "Angel", the beautiful half-Chinese
niece of Cora. Angel was crying and screaming that she
would not marry the old and ugly Mr. Wong, a friend of her
father's, no matter how much money he had!
When Harry, Angel's brother, notices that Minnie Mae Angel
is missing and all her clothes are gone, she vows to help
her mother find her. They both know going to the police is
useless as Angel is not a "missing white girl", but Sarah
knows someone on the force who will help. She calls on her
friend, Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy, for assistance.
But when Angel is found dead behind an old tenement
building, is there any chance at all that the killer can be
found?
Victoria Thompson breathes compelling life and realism into
this historical mystery which is her ninth and latest novel
in this Edgar®-nominated series. Highlighting the early
prejudices of the day, Thompson has crafted a gripping tale
with intriguing character interplay that will delight her
fans, both existing and new, especially with its surprising
ending. I particularly enjoyed the dialogue between
Sarah and her allies and the shy, but helpful hints from
Maeve, Catherine's nursemaid, that move Sarah in the right
direction in her investigations. A great read -- enjoy!
Sarah Brandt has made her uneasy way to Chinatown to
deliver a baby. There she meets a group of Irish women who,
completely alone at Ellis Island, married Chinese men in
the same predicament. But even as a new century dawns, New
Yorkers still cling to their own kind, scorning children of
mixed races.
When the new mother's half-Chinese, half-Irish niece goes
missing, Sarah knows that alerting the police will
accomplish nothing, and seeks the one person she can turn
to-Detective Sergeant Malloy.
And when the missing girl is found dead in a Chinatown
alley, Sarah and Malloy have ample suspects in her murder-
from both sides of Canal Street.
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