City of Betrayal

Counterfeit Lady #7

by Victoria Thompson

A year has passed since Elizabeth Bates ran her last con. Life has been simpler, although not nearly as exciting, but she has thrown herself into working to get the 19th Amendment ratified by thirty-six states to become the law of the land. Since every other Southern state has already rejected the amendment, it seems unlikely Tennessee will be an exception . . . but it's their only hope, so the suffragists descend on Tennessee for the final battle.

Elizabeth’s ability to interact with difficult men and to persuasively explain all the advantages of allowing women to vote—all skills she perfected as a grifter—have made her a valuable member of the team. But she would never have expected the lengths to which some would go to keep the vote out of women's hands. She'll need to devise the perfect con or the suffragists' life's work could all be for nothing.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Historical, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery, Audiobook

320 pages, Hardcover

First published December 5, 2023

About the author

Victoria 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.

Reviews

[Deby · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually love this series. This one was very different. There was almost no character development. There were only a handful of moments with any kind of nuanced emotion. Almost all of the action revolved around the voting of a political body, and it was reported straightforwardly, with a lot of the same arguments being rehashed many times. There were so many sentences that took the form of, "The [suffs/antis] [cheered/booed]." That straightforward reporting/reaction sequence got boring quickly. There was no discovery of a personal injustice that leads to an elaborate deception involving emotional arcs, which is the hallmark of the other books in this series. I look forward to the next book in the series and hope it's more like the earlier ones!

[Morgan · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Heather Moll · Rating 2 out of 5]

What happened?

As always, there’s lots of history in Thompson’s stories, but this lacked what makes this series great: Elizabeth using her grifter experience and connections to right a wrong alongside Gideon, who wants to keep her on the straight and narrow. This focused on political intrigue and I struggled to get into it. If you know when or how the 19th amendment was ratified, I think it makes for an even slower read. This was a slice of suffragist history and the politics, sexism, and racism behind it rather than a Counterfeit Lady story. It was like the author wanted to feature this time in Tennessee and the nation’s history at the expense of an entertaining story that shows Elizabeth’s personality as she runs a con.

There was no long con! The Old Man is in the background, but until the end, Elizabeth just watches the political process work. I love this series, but not this book. Hopefully, the next will get back on track, but the ending left me in doubt that there will be more.

I received an arc from NetGalley

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have grown to really enjoy this series, so this one was a real disappointment. It didn't fit in the series at all, in the sense that this read entirely as a retelling of the passage of the Women's Suffrage amendment, with minimal conning and no real big case-of-the-week type mystery to set right via long con (there was almost no conning at all tbh). This felt a little too much like Thompson really wanted to include this in the story, and rather than trying to create a story where it fit, she didn't have one and simply forced it.

I'm obviously very happy about the little personal development on the Elizabeth and Gideon front, but even that just felt a little bit underdeveloped. There were a few fun moments where Gideon in particular made me laugh, but I'm hoping for a lot more from the next installment of this series.

[Valerie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really like this series, but this one was a disappointment. It's all political with very little in the way of character development. It also is void of any con's, which the series is known for. Overall, very boring and flat - hope the next one is back to the quality of the first 6.

[Sherri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Politics. Still a dirty business. Those who are out for themselves and those who try to remain noble.

This is out of sorts for what we've come to know in the Counterfeit Lady series. Elizabeth and her merry band of family and relatives do not perform a con (or do they).

Elizabeth, with her husband, and mother-in-law and other friends and family descend like others to Nashville to help Tennessee pass the Women's Vote Amendment. It is all politics of the time and shows us how political scene has not changed over time.

So as a suffragist book, o.k. As a continuation in the series of Elizabeth and her cons, this is a pass for me.

[Sherry Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my least favorite of the series so far. No big con.

[Nyssy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was disappointing, it was tedious and boring. I found myself looking at the table of contents to see how many chapters the book had, which I've never done! Amazingly enough I was only on chapter 5, and didn't think I could finish this in one sitting. I usually can finish an anticipated book in a couple of hours, especially of a favorite author, but this one... *blah* It took me almost a month to finish because it was not as good and it would not keep my attention even though I speed read.

I sure hope the next one (if there is a next one) is back to the early settings, those were a joy to read.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Historical / Mystery
*Rating* 3.5

*Thoughts*

City of Betrayal, by Victoria Thompson, is the 7th installment in the authors Counterfeit Lady series. A year has passed since Elizabeth Miles Bates ran her last con. Life has been simpler, although not nearly as exciting, but she has thrown herself into working to get the 19th Amendment ratified by thirty-six states to become the law of the land. 35 States have ratified, 8 have rejected it including every Southern state.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...

[Brittany | alltoowellreadbrittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you for an advanced copy of this book!

I liked this story, but I honestly didn't love it. The character development felt weak, and the overall story felt like it lacked emotion. I also found the political aspects of the book to be repetitive and a bit boring at times.

That being said, I enjoyed learning about the history presented in the book, and that's what motivated my three star rating. I also think I would enjoy future books about these characters (I haven't read all the past books); I feel like the topic of this story made it boring, but I don't think the characters are boring, if that makes sense.

I think if you're a fan of the series, you'll want to read this one...if you haven't read the series yet, I would start with the first book!

Rating: 3⭐️

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fascinating dive into the history of the ratification of the amendment giving women the vote, but it didn’t feel like a true Counterfeit Lady book. How can it be with Elizabeth on the straight and narrow?! It was a more difficult read because I wasn’t trying to figure out how the con would work. I look forward to the next adventure, where hopefully Elizabeth will be back to bending the truth to appease Gideon.

[Anna Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy this author's books. The mini history lesson in the author's note is always an added bonus (gives you an idea of what is non-fiction in the book). I like the characters as well as the setting. The mystery kept me guessing.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too political, too long, too boring, probably should just have DNF' d.

[Roberta · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love the counterfeit lady but this book was just too boring.

[A Tiny Reader | Sharfin Islam · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5/5 stars

Not what I signed up for but mildly interesting

[PJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not enough conning!

[Katherine Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not her best in this series. Mostly an historic look at the ratification of women’s right to vote process in Tennessee. No major con or mystery to solve.

[Leigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was painful. I'm always excited to read this series because it's so unique. There's no typical cozy mystery formula in fact many times there's no actual murder or even a mystery at all. It's usually Elizabeth doing a Robin Hood type con, stealing from a rich a-hole to give to the less fortunate or as revenge for a con the mark played on someone else. But this book has little to no con or plot. There's the Old Man running something to do with distilleries in the time of prohibition but it's not a big part of the story. It's mostly getting the vote for women in America. It's very detailed almost too much but the passion the author has for the subject shows and it's very well researched. But it lacked the suspense and drama of the previous books. I kept waiting for something to happen. Even scenes with the Old Man didn't do it. This could've been a standalone book or even an excellent non fiction book. Or if she did want to include the fight for votes for women make Elizabeth run some con against the legislators or the Antis as those opposed to suffrage were called. But anyway hopefully it'll pick up again and be just as great in the next entry. Given how the book ended the next book if there is one should be interesting I hope.

[Arlene · Rating 2 out of 5]

So-So boring

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am already a fan of the "Counterfeit Lady" series and am surprised to realize "City of Betrayal" is the seventh entry. One thing I like about Victoria Thompson as a historical fiction mystery series writer is that I don't get bored with either of her series. I appreciate that she knows the periods she writes about well. Her plots and settings and themes are interesting and original. And authentic to their periods. She always paints a picture of the everyday life of multiple kinds of people. The Counterfeit Lady series started with "City of Lies." Then, Elizabeth Miles was a single woman con artist from a line of con artists and she is in trouble with one of her victims. She blends in with some protesting suffragists to evade him and is arrested and imprisoned with them. She befriends a matriarch from the group, Mrs. Bates. There is a hunger strike, Their imprisonment goes on far too long. Mrs. Bates' rather strait-laced lawyer son Gideon helps out. A great introduction to the art of the con and the odd meeting of two families from distinctly different walks of life.

"City of Betrayal" takes place primarily in Tennessee, where the state legislature has been called into session to vote on the 19th Amendment. Prohibition was recently put into place. The two factions of the suffragist movement, separated by their approach to securing women's right to vote and the anti-suffragists are there in large numbers. The women are individually buttonholing one legislator after another, gaining and losing their pledges to take their sides, sometimes through drink and bribery. So many little facts arise about the methods used by the players that are amusing and shocking. Thompson takes us through the on the scene legislative battles and the behind the scene machinations where there appear to be no rules. Elizabeth, is now married to Gideon and bound to a promise not to engage in grifting for monetary gain ever again. (Faithful readers know he lets her use her skills for good). She is at the hotel in the center of the action with Mother Bates and Gideon. Elizabeth soon finds her father, who is still in the game, is at the hotel, working a scam. He was attracted to the crowds of people that would be there, many with money. Naturally, this adds to the fun of the book because each one must include some con artistry.

In addition to an insight into 1920s Tennessee politics, we learn about about the national stage at the time. The arguments made against ratification are often offensive. For example, to support their viewpoints, the opposition notes that the rolls of black voters will increase exponentially as being a terrifying prospect for the South. Most pretend women need to be protected from the filth of politics. Wilson is president. Harding is running. Each is involved. With the last possible state to take up ratification at this moment in history all eyes are on Tennessee. (Other states that might have ratified it had postponed it to the next year.) I love the way Thompson integrates her characters into the scene, having long ago laid the stage for this story on the progress of the 19th amendment. I didn't happen to know whether or not Tennessee ended up ratifying it. I made a point of not looking it up. Regardless of the outcome, the story of this week in Tennessee/U.S. history is incredibly entertaining. I learned a lot. Our favorite characters play fun roles throughout. Recommend for sure!

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

About fifty pages too long and got boring.

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the book contains a lot of details most don't know about in the fight for women's rights to vote, I found the book difficult to get through and it took longer than normal for me. The problem was that it dragged on, back and forth, almost like she was trying to fill in to fill space. I found it some agonizing, though I wanted to love it. I almost quit reading it a few times, but kept on, taking long breaks in between for relief.

[Glenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Terrible. Read like nonfiction. Very little character development. Unless you want to know everything about the right for women to vote, don’t bother.

[BEVERLY · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually enjoy all the authors books I could not finish this one. Too much information on the legislative process and not enough story with the characters.

[Mallissa Daniels · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too political, couldn't get into subject. Was not able to finish

[Brenda Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth and her mother in-law are still working for women’s rights. They are asked by their local branch to Tennessee and help get the legislation passed in that state. If Tennessee doesn’t pass the bill, then women will still not have the right to work. The opposite groups are working to defeat the bill by unlawful means(of course it is politics, so anything goes). Elizabeth’s father and brother are also there running a scam, so trouble can’t be far away.

[Donna Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The move to pass the Susan B Anthony Amendment to give women voting rights in the United States in 1920 boiled down to passing the amendment in Tennessee. Thirty-five states had already approved the amendment, but without Tennessee, the measure would not become law.

Elizabeth Miles Bates, along with her husband and mother-in-law, joined many of the suffragettes traveled to Nashville in order to help pass this monumental bill.

Much of the book details the numerous tactics that the anti-suffragettes used to try to kill the amendment, such as bribes, threats, horrible lies, getting legislators too drunk to vote, and public humiliation. Arguments against the bill included: fear that innocent women would be damaged by the sordid business of politics; passing the bill would lead black men to marry white women; disgust that Northerners had forced the south to give up their slaves, and they were still trying to rule their lives; women were too emotional and sentimental to vote; and this “would drag the womanhood of Tennessee down to the level of the Negro woman!”

Reading about the days of votes and speeches felt like months…very tedious. But, nonetheless, this was certainly a momentous event.

[Donna Pfeiffer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tedious to read, especially in the beginning. The narrative did convey what the suffragists went through, especially at the end, with awaiting Tennesee as the final state to ratify. The main characters were fictional but the struggle to ratify was accurate in its representation. Politics hasn't changed much, sad to say, with the threats and manipulation to work the end result according to the ideology of the powerful.

[Elyse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Last one? Feels like it with that ending. Would be good to be the last one.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is great. Read how tough it was to get ladies to vote. It's crazy with dirty tricks.