The Briar Club

This was a well-written historical fiction book set during the McCarthy Red Scare/Korean War era in America. The characters are well-developed and quite believable, embracing the breadth and depth of various aspects of humanity. There are a few triggers: sex, language, LGBTQ, violence; there is also a lot of humanity, warmth, created family, and grace.

4.5/5 stars

We start with a murder in a women's rooming house in 1950's Washington DC. We then spend the next 400 pages learning the stories of the women who live here, We learn where they come from, what they do, who they love, and who they hate. We see them ultimately come together as a found family, and then very nearly self-destruct.

Kate Quinn blends her trademark historical suspense with a genuine sense of what it felt like to be a woman living and loving during the era of McCarthy, the Rosenbergs, and the Korean War.  This is my favorite book of the year so far, and I only hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.