What do you think?
Rate this book
Katharine Wright #1
To Slip the Bonds of Earth
While not as famous as her older siblings Wilbur and Orville, the celebrated inventors of flight, Katharine Wright is equally inventive – especially when it comes to solving crimes – in USA Today bestselling author Amanda Flower’s radiant new historical mystery series inspired by the real sister of the Wright Brothers.
December 1903: While Wilbur and Orville Wright’s flying machine is quite literally taking off in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina with its historic fifty-seven second flight, their sister Katharine is back home in Dayton, Ohio, running the bicycle shop, teaching Latin, and looking after the family. A Latin teacher and suffragette, Katharine is fiercely independent, intellectual, and the only Wright sibling to finish college. But at twenty-nine, she’s frustrated by the gender inequality in academia and is for a new challenge. She never suspects it will be sleuthing…
Returning home to Dayton, Wilbur and Orville accept an invitation to a friend’s party. Nervous about leaving their as-yet-unpatented flyer plans unattended, Wilbur decides to bring them to the festivities . . . where they are stolen right out from under his nose. As always, it’s Katharine’s job to problem solve—and in this case, crime-solve.
As she sets out to uncover the thief among their circle of friends, Katharine soon gets more than she bargained She finds her number one suspect dead with a letter opener lodged in his chest. It seems the patent is the least of her brothers’ worries. They have a far more earthbound concern—prison. Now Katharine will have to keep her feet on the ground and put all her skills to work to make sure Wilbur and Orville are free to fly another day.
December 1903: While Wilbur and Orville Wright’s flying machine is quite literally taking off in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina with its historic fifty-seven second flight, their sister Katharine is back home in Dayton, Ohio, running the bicycle shop, teaching Latin, and looking after the family. A Latin teacher and suffragette, Katharine is fiercely independent, intellectual, and the only Wright sibling to finish college. But at twenty-nine, she’s frustrated by the gender inequality in academia and is for a new challenge. She never suspects it will be sleuthing…
Returning home to Dayton, Wilbur and Orville accept an invitation to a friend’s party. Nervous about leaving their as-yet-unpatented flyer plans unattended, Wilbur decides to bring them to the festivities . . . where they are stolen right out from under his nose. As always, it’s Katharine’s job to problem solve—and in this case, crime-solve.
As she sets out to uncover the thief among their circle of friends, Katharine soon gets more than she bargained She finds her number one suspect dead with a letter opener lodged in his chest. It seems the patent is the least of her brothers’ worries. They have a far more earthbound concern—prison. Now Katharine will have to keep her feet on the ground and put all her skills to work to make sure Wilbur and Orville are free to fly another day.
305 pages, Paperback
First published March 26, 2024
149 people are currently reading
19578 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Flower
61 books2,954 followersAmanda Flower is a USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award-winning author of over thirty-five mystery novels. Her novels have received starred reviews from Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Romantic Times, and she had been featured in USA Today, First for Women, and Woman’s World. She currently writes for Penguin-Random House (Berkley), Kensington, Hallmark Publishing, Crooked Lane Books, and Sourcebooks. In addition to being a writer, she was a librarian for fifteen years. Today, Flower and her husband own a farm and recording studio, and they live in Northeast Ohio with their two adorable cats.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 300 reviews
January 12, 2025
Not only does this cozy mystery have an interesting and intriguing cover but the story is very good too. It’s like going back in a Time Machine to the late 1800s and the early 1900s. Amanda Flower takes her readers to Dayton Ohio and into the era of the Wright Brothers, Wilbur and Orville, who are trying to be first in inventing an aircraft that will actually fly. Few people today realize that there was a sister in this family of four boys. This story focuses on that sister, Katherine Wright.
So who actually is Katherine (Kate). She is a school teacher at the Steele High School in Dayton Ohio. She also does the book keeping for Orville and Wilbur’s bicycle shop. She is an extrovert with a feisty personality and outspoken nature. At the same time she is respected as a school teacher and a Bishops daughter. Kate is well educated and is loyal and dependable. She is always passed by when it comes to promotions at the school because she is a woman. Kate is a real go getter and an achiever. That’s why when one of her students got arrested for murder Kate wasn’t afraid to go all out to prove his innocence even if he was a trouble maker in the class room.
This Author never disappoints This Reader. Amanda Flower is my favorite Cozy mystery Author. The book was well researched and I thought it was a delightful introduction of a new series. I always enjoy going back in history to my grandparents early years and enjoy reading about the lifestyle of that era.
I thought Kate’s character was cute and mischievous. She had a knack of getting herself into trouble as you will find out when you read this book.
I recommend this book to readers of cozy mystery, historical fiction and women’s fiction. This book is a clean read. To Slip the Bonds of Earth is scheduled to be released on 3/26/24.
I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed here in this review are entirely my own.
#ToSliptheBondsofEarth#NetGalley
So who actually is Katherine (Kate). She is a school teacher at the Steele High School in Dayton Ohio. She also does the book keeping for Orville and Wilbur’s bicycle shop. She is an extrovert with a feisty personality and outspoken nature. At the same time she is respected as a school teacher and a Bishops daughter. Kate is well educated and is loyal and dependable. She is always passed by when it comes to promotions at the school because she is a woman. Kate is a real go getter and an achiever. That’s why when one of her students got arrested for murder Kate wasn’t afraid to go all out to prove his innocence even if he was a trouble maker in the class room.
This Author never disappoints This Reader. Amanda Flower is my favorite Cozy mystery Author. The book was well researched and I thought it was a delightful introduction of a new series. I always enjoy going back in history to my grandparents early years and enjoy reading about the lifestyle of that era.
I thought Kate’s character was cute and mischievous. She had a knack of getting herself into trouble as you will find out when you read this book.
I recommend this book to readers of cozy mystery, historical fiction and women’s fiction. This book is a clean read. To Slip the Bonds of Earth is scheduled to be released on 3/26/24.
I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed here in this review are entirely my own.
#ToSliptheBondsofEarth#NetGalley
April 7, 2024
This is an entertaining, well-written, historical fiction, mystery novel which is based on actual persons. I was not aware that the Wright brothers had a sister, and I enjoyed learning about her while she solved an intriguing mystery. I listened to the audio book, and the narrator, Ms. Madeleine Maby, has a lovely voice and does a wonderful job depicting the characters and their personalities.
Many thanks to Kensington Books, which I am a member of their Between the Chapters book club, for the link that they provided of the real life figures from this wonderful novel.
https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/betwe...
Many thanks to Kensington Books, which I am a member of their Between the Chapters book club, for the link that they provided of the real life figures from this wonderful novel.
https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/betwe...
March 23, 2024
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
TO SLIP THE BONDS OF EARTH (Katharine Wright Mystery Series Book #1) by Amanda Flower is the perfect mash-up of biographical fiction and cozy mystery featuring an overshadowed and forgotten sister finally being recognized for her strengths and accomplishments and weaving into the facts of her life a smartly plotted cozy murder mystery. This is the first book in the series, and I am thoroughly hooked.
Katharine Wright is a brilliant scholar, teacher, and suffragette who also runs the family household of her reverend father since the death of her mother at the age of fifteen. Besides all these personal accomplishments, she also assists her brothers, Wilbur and Orville, with their books in their bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio. While disappointed when she is passed over for a head teaching promotion, she is very excited by a telegram received from her brothers in North Carolina stating that they have flown their motorized flying machine.
When the brothers return for the Christmas holidays, Katharine talks Orville into attending a Christmas party given by the head of the PTA. Orville’s coat goes missing and when the siblings find it, it is in the billiards room with a dead man stabbed with a screwdriver. One of Katharine’s students is in the room with blood all over his shirt and the design papers for their flying machine Orville had in his coat pocket are missing. Katharine’s student is arrested, but Katharine is not satisfied with the detective’s conclusions.
Katharine begins asking questions that lead to the prominent men of Dayton having secrets that are worthy of blackmail, but do they lead to murder? And the flying machine design papers are still missing, could they be worth killing over?
I loved this story for so many different reasons. I knew nothing about Katharine and was happy to be introduced to a strong, independent, educated woman who was so accomplished in a time when it was not common. She lends herself to being a perfect protagonist in a mystery plot with her curiosity and tenacity. The depth of research into Katharine’s life, the Wright family, and all the history of the period is evident and intertwined seamlessly throughout the book. The cozy mystery plot has all the red herrings and twists that keep the reader guessing, and it gives believable resolutions to all questions by the end.
I highly recommend this engaging historical cozy mystery and I cannot wait for more mysteries to follow in this series.
TO SLIP THE BONDS OF EARTH (Katharine Wright Mystery Series Book #1) by Amanda Flower is the perfect mash-up of biographical fiction and cozy mystery featuring an overshadowed and forgotten sister finally being recognized for her strengths and accomplishments and weaving into the facts of her life a smartly plotted cozy murder mystery. This is the first book in the series, and I am thoroughly hooked.
Katharine Wright is a brilliant scholar, teacher, and suffragette who also runs the family household of her reverend father since the death of her mother at the age of fifteen. Besides all these personal accomplishments, she also assists her brothers, Wilbur and Orville, with their books in their bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio. While disappointed when she is passed over for a head teaching promotion, she is very excited by a telegram received from her brothers in North Carolina stating that they have flown their motorized flying machine.
When the brothers return for the Christmas holidays, Katharine talks Orville into attending a Christmas party given by the head of the PTA. Orville’s coat goes missing and when the siblings find it, it is in the billiards room with a dead man stabbed with a screwdriver. One of Katharine’s students is in the room with blood all over his shirt and the design papers for their flying machine Orville had in his coat pocket are missing. Katharine’s student is arrested, but Katharine is not satisfied with the detective’s conclusions.
Katharine begins asking questions that lead to the prominent men of Dayton having secrets that are worthy of blackmail, but do they lead to murder? And the flying machine design papers are still missing, could they be worth killing over?
I loved this story for so many different reasons. I knew nothing about Katharine and was happy to be introduced to a strong, independent, educated woman who was so accomplished in a time when it was not common. She lends herself to being a perfect protagonist in a mystery plot with her curiosity and tenacity. The depth of research into Katharine’s life, the Wright family, and all the history of the period is evident and intertwined seamlessly throughout the book. The cozy mystery plot has all the red herrings and twists that keep the reader guessing, and it gives believable resolutions to all questions by the end.
I highly recommend this engaging historical cozy mystery and I cannot wait for more mysteries to follow in this series.
March 15, 2024
Katharine is the sister of the famous duo Wilbur and Orville Wright and she lives with their father in Dayton, Ohio. Her brothers still own a bicycle shop in town, Katharine does the book work for the business and she teaches Latin at Steele High School. Some people might consider her a spinster and a blue stocking, Katharine doesn’t care, and she’s the only one in her family to graduate from college.
Katharine is looking forward celebrating Christmas with her father, brothers, sister-in-law and nieces and nephews. Wilbur and Orville have been busy with developing their flying machine in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina and Katharine can’t wait to hear about their latest exploits. There’s a lot of secrecy around the brothers invention, they haven’t lodged a patent yet, and until they do their not letting the plans and drawings out of their sight.
Orville and Katharine attend a party, at Lenora and Randolph Shaw’s house and their son Benny is one of her students. After playing a game, Orville can’t find the papers in his coat and he panics. One person was making fun of Orville, many think flying isn’t possible and maybe he has something to do with the documents going missing?
Orville finds him deceased in a room, the police arrive and Katharine isn’t happy with their investigation and she’s determined to uncover the truth. Katharine starts linking the clues together and following up leads and she discovers a huge secret, maybe the man was killed and it had nothing to do with her brother’s flying machine?
I received a copy of To Slip the Bonds of Earth by Amanda Flower from Edelweiss Plus and Kensington Publishing Corp in exchange for an unbiased review. The historical mystery focuses on Katharine Wright, she’s an interesting character and very unconventional for the time, she's financially independent and hated gender inequality and curious. Katharine is a perfect choice to be a sleuth, the narrative is full of twist and turns, most I didn’t see coming and the pace of the story was a little slow for me and three and a half stars.
Katharine is looking forward celebrating Christmas with her father, brothers, sister-in-law and nieces and nephews. Wilbur and Orville have been busy with developing their flying machine in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina and Katharine can’t wait to hear about their latest exploits. There’s a lot of secrecy around the brothers invention, they haven’t lodged a patent yet, and until they do their not letting the plans and drawings out of their sight.
Orville and Katharine attend a party, at Lenora and Randolph Shaw’s house and their son Benny is one of her students. After playing a game, Orville can’t find the papers in his coat and he panics. One person was making fun of Orville, many think flying isn’t possible and maybe he has something to do with the documents going missing?
Orville finds him deceased in a room, the police arrive and Katharine isn’t happy with their investigation and she’s determined to uncover the truth. Katharine starts linking the clues together and following up leads and she discovers a huge secret, maybe the man was killed and it had nothing to do with her brother’s flying machine?
I received a copy of To Slip the Bonds of Earth by Amanda Flower from Edelweiss Plus and Kensington Publishing Corp in exchange for an unbiased review. The historical mystery focuses on Katharine Wright, she’s an interesting character and very unconventional for the time, she's financially independent and hated gender inequality and curious. Katharine is a perfect choice to be a sleuth, the narrative is full of twist and turns, most I didn’t see coming and the pace of the story was a little slow for me and three and a half stars.
October 1, 2025
The year is 1903. Katharine Wright, is at home in Dayton, Ohio. caring for her father and other family members, the house and the bicycle shop, as well as teaching Latin. Two of her brothers,, Wilbur and Orville are in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Making flight progress with their plane. Katharine is looking for a new challenge but ends up finding more than she bargained for.
When Wilbur and Orville return to Dayton, Katharine and Orville accept an invitation to a party. For reasons, known to only to himself, Orville slips the plans for their flying machine into his jacket pocket. He must protect them until their patent is approved. Then, at the party, the jacket goes missing. That is bad enough. But worse is to come when Katharine and Orville find a murdered man. Katharine is horrified to find the murder weapon is Orville’s screwdriver which he also had in his pocket. It is up to Katharine to find the real culprit especially when someone she cares about is arrested. Along the way a number of secrets emerge with some devastating results.
I enjoyed this cosy historical. I liked Katharine overall. She is independent, outspoken, feisty and manages to get into scrapes and embarrassing situations. She cares deeply about her students as well as her family.
The book is repetitive in places, largely with regard to Katharine’s attitude towards Charlie, employed by the Wright brothers, and his swearing, cigar smoking and drinking. But that was just a minor blip. An entertaining read and a nice change of pace for me.
Better to go into this without reading the publisher’s blurb as whoever wrote it, some of the information is not correct. I did see in the blurb of the large print it has the brother's name right and the other about a screwdriver being the weapon correct.
When Wilbur and Orville return to Dayton, Katharine and Orville accept an invitation to a party. For reasons, known to only to himself, Orville slips the plans for their flying machine into his jacket pocket. He must protect them until their patent is approved. Then, at the party, the jacket goes missing. That is bad enough. But worse is to come when Katharine and Orville find a murdered man. Katharine is horrified to find the murder weapon is Orville’s screwdriver which he also had in his pocket. It is up to Katharine to find the real culprit especially when someone she cares about is arrested. Along the way a number of secrets emerge with some devastating results.
I enjoyed this cosy historical. I liked Katharine overall. She is independent, outspoken, feisty and manages to get into scrapes and embarrassing situations. She cares deeply about her students as well as her family.
The book is repetitive in places, largely with regard to Katharine’s attitude towards Charlie, employed by the Wright brothers, and his swearing, cigar smoking and drinking. But that was just a minor blip. An entertaining read and a nice change of pace for me.
Better to go into this without reading the publisher’s blurb as whoever wrote it, some of the information is not correct. I did see in the blurb of the large print it has the brother's name right and the other about a screwdriver being the weapon correct.
January 20, 2024
An o.k. mystery with interesting historical background. Before I read this, I knew nothing about Katherine Wright, Wilbur and Orville's sister. However, I never felt like any of the characters particularly came to life, and I also didn't particularly like Katharine. Too often I felt like events were being reported; I wasn't quite able to disappear int the story. Still, I did want to finish the book. Not a bad book for light reading but I'm not going to be seeking out others by the author.
May 31, 2024
Orville and Wilbur Wright are the famous Wrights, but they had a brilliant, fiery, and equal rights-minded sister who in her own way would make local fame when she encounters a murder to solve. I have seen Amanda Flowers’ cozy mysteries around and meant to try her work, but I stopped shuffling my shoes and grabbed it up quickly when I spotted her new, To Slip the Bonds of Earth, was to be a historical mystery featuring Katharine Wright, a shadowy historical figure I’d actually learned about during a historical reenactment.
Katharine Wright, a college-educated woman, sister to the currently infamous tinkering Wright brothers who believe they can achieve flight, and a serious-minded scholarly bishop for a father, who teaches at the local high school, will not tolerate being fobbed off with the beginner courses by the all-male school leadership or to be disrespected by a male student and she certainly won’t take any cheek from a male acquaintance acting mysteriously.
Reluctantly, she ends up at a local wealthy family’s annual Christmas party with Wilbur, who recently succeeded in sustaining flight and has the currently unpatented plans of their successful plane in his pocket when they arrive. Cue ominous music…
Before they can get too up in anguish about the plans going missing and hunt down the would be suspected thief, the thief turns up dead and Katherine is certain the wrong people are suspected so she turns her great brain to a new conundrum- a murder mystery.
Katharine was quite the tartar and I enjoyed her sass when the school principal and other board members told her that an incompetent guy was getting the advanced Latin class over her and they pushed her off as the rep to the newly formed PTA thinking it was a woman’s job. She also made a cocky jock in her class look bad when he smarted off to her. And, that was all in a days’ work.
I appreciated how Amanda Flowers’ wrote the details of the Wright family characters- not just Katharine or Orville and Wilbur, their Dayton, Ohio town setting and brought the time period to life. The event of the first flight happened off page, but was a catalyst for the story as the events unfolded since the brothers had to keep their flight’s success low key as they awaited the, then, long patenting process otherwise others who were racing to invent flight-able planes could steal and claim it as their own. Katharine was not a lick jealous and was extremely supportive and proud of her brothers. She wanted their success as if it were her own and helped them where she could.
Katharine is progressive, but she fit right in with the historical women’s movements of the time. She was also a keen thinker and observer so made a good amateur sleuth when the murder cropped up and her own brother and a student ended up on the police’s radar.
Madeleine Maby was a new to me narrator who made Katharine and her historical setting come alive. She caught the tone of the story and handled the full cast of voices so they were distinct and done well.
Katharine’s personality was what really carried this book for me even more so than the murder mystery, but that was interesting too. I suspected a little, but there were some dark things going on under the surface in Katharine’s town and she was strong enough to ferret it out and face it. I’m so glad this will be a series. Definitely recommend to historical mystery fans who like their mysteries nearer the cozy end of the spectrum.
I rec'd an audiobook copy from Tantor Audio to listen to in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer 5.30.24.
Katharine Wright, a college-educated woman, sister to the currently infamous tinkering Wright brothers who believe they can achieve flight, and a serious-minded scholarly bishop for a father, who teaches at the local high school, will not tolerate being fobbed off with the beginner courses by the all-male school leadership or to be disrespected by a male student and she certainly won’t take any cheek from a male acquaintance acting mysteriously.
Reluctantly, she ends up at a local wealthy family’s annual Christmas party with Wilbur, who recently succeeded in sustaining flight and has the currently unpatented plans of their successful plane in his pocket when they arrive. Cue ominous music…
Before they can get too up in anguish about the plans going missing and hunt down the would be suspected thief, the thief turns up dead and Katherine is certain the wrong people are suspected so she turns her great brain to a new conundrum- a murder mystery.
Katharine was quite the tartar and I enjoyed her sass when the school principal and other board members told her that an incompetent guy was getting the advanced Latin class over her and they pushed her off as the rep to the newly formed PTA thinking it was a woman’s job. She also made a cocky jock in her class look bad when he smarted off to her. And, that was all in a days’ work.
I appreciated how Amanda Flowers’ wrote the details of the Wright family characters- not just Katharine or Orville and Wilbur, their Dayton, Ohio town setting and brought the time period to life. The event of the first flight happened off page, but was a catalyst for the story as the events unfolded since the brothers had to keep their flight’s success low key as they awaited the, then, long patenting process otherwise others who were racing to invent flight-able planes could steal and claim it as their own. Katharine was not a lick jealous and was extremely supportive and proud of her brothers. She wanted their success as if it were her own and helped them where she could.
Katharine is progressive, but she fit right in with the historical women’s movements of the time. She was also a keen thinker and observer so made a good amateur sleuth when the murder cropped up and her own brother and a student ended up on the police’s radar.
Madeleine Maby was a new to me narrator who made Katharine and her historical setting come alive. She caught the tone of the story and handled the full cast of voices so they were distinct and done well.
Katharine’s personality was what really carried this book for me even more so than the murder mystery, but that was interesting too. I suspected a little, but there were some dark things going on under the surface in Katharine’s town and she was strong enough to ferret it out and face it. I’m so glad this will be a series. Definitely recommend to historical mystery fans who like their mysteries nearer the cozy end of the spectrum.
I rec'd an audiobook copy from Tantor Audio to listen to in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer 5.30.24.
March 12, 2024
In December 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright were in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, making history by flying an airplane they had built. Back at home in Dayton, Ohio, their sister, Katharine, teaches introductory languages at Steele High School. She hopes to achieve her goal by requesting to teach Greek III to upper-level students. Not to mention that her teaching is just one aspect of Katharine’s life. She also cares for her father at their family home and ensures her brothers’ bicycle shop runs smoothly, ordering supplies, checking accounts, and balancing the books. It’s almost Christmas, her brothers are coming home, and Katharine never suspected another role, a high-stakes role, will soon take priority.
I was not aware of the Wright brothers' sister. I was fascinated to learn of Katharine Wright. To learn of the reliance by her father and brothers for her care of the family home since the loss of her mother at 15 and the brothers for their business when out of town, her intelligence, independence, and strong work ethic, her interest in moving beyond gender inequality, is inspirational and revealing of a woman moving the benchmark of men's thinking and habits forward in her quiet way.
I loved the combination of unveiling a woman in history who deserves as much respect and recognition as her brothers and a fictional mystery woven by a master storyteller, which is a delight to read. Although I had read from the start that the mystery was fictional, the author’s meticulous research of history made the mystery seem entirely plausible.
Don’t miss meeting Katharine Wright! Highly recommended.
The Author Note and Discussion Questions are available at the end of the novel.
Thank you to Amanda Flower, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book.
I was not aware of the Wright brothers' sister. I was fascinated to learn of Katharine Wright. To learn of the reliance by her father and brothers for her care of the family home since the loss of her mother at 15 and the brothers for their business when out of town, her intelligence, independence, and strong work ethic, her interest in moving beyond gender inequality, is inspirational and revealing of a woman moving the benchmark of men's thinking and habits forward in her quiet way.
I loved the combination of unveiling a woman in history who deserves as much respect and recognition as her brothers and a fictional mystery woven by a master storyteller, which is a delight to read. Although I had read from the start that the mystery was fictional, the author’s meticulous research of history made the mystery seem entirely plausible.
Don’t miss meeting Katharine Wright! Highly recommended.
The Author Note and Discussion Questions are available at the end of the novel.
Thank you to Amanda Flower, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book.
March 26, 2024
To Slip the Bonds of Earth by Amanda Flower is a great historical mystery that revolves around Katharine Wright, the younger sister of the legendary Wright Brothers.
This book takes place at the turn of the 20th century and gives Katharine Wright, the sister of the infamous Wright brothers, a chance at her own story as the main character. She becomes embroiled within a murder/mystery and takes up the reins in becoming an amateur sleuth to solve the mystery, murder, and clear her family’s name.
I really enjoyed the pace, plot, and historical points weaved within this historical fiction. I like that Ms. Flower took a real-life figure and created a story around her, giving the audience a chance to see and learn about a true historical person that finally gets her chance to shine.
This is the beginning of a new series, and I am looking forward to seeing where this goes.
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and Kensington Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 3/26/24.
This book takes place at the turn of the 20th century and gives Katharine Wright, the sister of the infamous Wright brothers, a chance at her own story as the main character. She becomes embroiled within a murder/mystery and takes up the reins in becoming an amateur sleuth to solve the mystery, murder, and clear her family’s name.
I really enjoyed the pace, plot, and historical points weaved within this historical fiction. I like that Ms. Flower took a real-life figure and created a story around her, giving the audience a chance to see and learn about a true historical person that finally gets her chance to shine.
This is the beginning of a new series, and I am looking forward to seeing where this goes.
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and Kensington Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 3/26/24.
March 8, 2024
1903 Dayton, Ohio
Orville and Wilbur Wright are well known. This novel's heroine is their younger sister Katharine. The mystery is fictional, but many details about the family are factual. Katharine was a Latin Teacher at a local high school and took care of the brothers' bicycle shop while they were away testing flight ideas.
When the Wright Brothers plans go missing and a young man is found murdered, Katharine works to find the missing plans and suss out the murder's identity. She takes a no nonsense and no hesitation approach to solving the mysteries.
It was fun to simultaneously solve the mysteries while learning more about the Wright Family. Loving the historical mysteries with a factual base the author is writing.
My gratitude to publisher Kensington Books for a complimentary NetGalley copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.
Orville and Wilbur Wright are well known. This novel's heroine is their younger sister Katharine. The mystery is fictional, but many details about the family are factual. Katharine was a Latin Teacher at a local high school and took care of the brothers' bicycle shop while they were away testing flight ideas.
When the Wright Brothers plans go missing and a young man is found murdered, Katharine works to find the missing plans and suss out the murder's identity. She takes a no nonsense and no hesitation approach to solving the mysteries.
It was fun to simultaneously solve the mysteries while learning more about the Wright Family. Loving the historical mysteries with a factual base the author is writing.
My gratitude to publisher Kensington Books for a complimentary NetGalley copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.
January 25, 2024
I wound up dnf'ing this for now. While the writing was strong I just wasn't connecting with the story. However I did enjoy it so I'll definitely be coming back to this later. 3.5 ⭐ rounded up
December 4, 2023
At the dawn of the twentieth century teacher Katherine Wright (a graduate of Oberlin College) became entangled in local politics, a theft, and a murder. Katie is the youngest of the siblings who include Orville and Wilbur Wright. The theft was of a pre-patent schematic for the flying machine they had just tested out in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and then there's the murder. She is the logical member of the family to investigate, so she does! As a history geek and more, I was impressed with the tidbits of knowledge included (evidence of deep investigation). Loved it!
I requested and received an EARC from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
I requested and received an EARC from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
September 30, 2023
Katharine Wright, sister of the Wright Brothers, is not as famous as them. Being a teacher doesn’t bring the same type of fame but it is challenging at times. At a local party for the holidays, a murder takes place. When Katharine decides the wrong person is arrested she decides to do her own investigation.
May 27, 2024
Another winner from one of my favorite authors! I was familiar with the Wright Brothers, but had no idea they had a sister until picking up, To Slip the Bonds of Earth. Katharine Wright is a fascinating, intelligent, outspoken protagonist who teaches Latin and helps run the family bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio. The historical setting was vivid and accurately portrayed as we see Katharine fight for gender equality in advancing her teaching career. Katharine's spirited personality and keen intellect made her a fantastic sleuth as she helped her brothers track down missing papers detailing their plans of flight while attending a high society Christmas party. When the suspected thief turns up dead, the pressure mounts to solve his murder. This delightful mystery was a great combination of fact and fiction, and I look forward to reading the next in the series! Highly recommend for those who enjoy cozy mysteries and historical fiction. Thanks to Kensington for selecting me as a Goodreads giveaway winner!
April 11, 2024
This was well written and easy to read. I enjoyed reading about Katharine Wright and her brothers. The mystery was good, kept me guessing and I was happy with the culprit. Part of the fun for me is that I have been to the Wright’s bicycle shop (not to mention seeing where they flew in Kitty Hawk) and other Dayton area attractions connected to them.
January 3, 2024
Read my full review on Rosepoint Publishing.
Living in the shadow of her two upcoming famous brothers, Wilbur and Orville Wright, isn’t easy, especially for a woman at the turn of the century. Katherine is also the youngest of the Wright children in a progressive patriarchal household. Losing her mother at the age of fifteen has catapulted her into the role of household manager and caretaker as well as manager of their bicycle shop.
Her education and smarts have created a strong-willed woman at twenty-nine who is fiercely independent. She also teaches Latin at the local.
When Wilbur decides to keep his unpatented plans with his wing-warping notes with him to a party, they go missing just before the assumed culprit is found murdered.
For most of the book, Katherine is a solid intelligent woman though she becomes a bit clumsy near the conclusion. She could be both impressive and sad at the same time.
I enjoyed the historical tidbits of early flight interwoven into the storyline along with Katherine’s investigation of both the murder and the theft, drawn to a satisfying conclusion.
An easy, entertaining read, well-plotted and paced. I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and publisher through @NetGalley that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.
Living in the shadow of her two upcoming famous brothers, Wilbur and Orville Wright, isn’t easy, especially for a woman at the turn of the century. Katherine is also the youngest of the Wright children in a progressive patriarchal household. Losing her mother at the age of fifteen has catapulted her into the role of household manager and caretaker as well as manager of their bicycle shop.
Her education and smarts have created a strong-willed woman at twenty-nine who is fiercely independent. She also teaches Latin at the local.
When Wilbur decides to keep his unpatented plans with his wing-warping notes with him to a party, they go missing just before the assumed culprit is found murdered.
For most of the book, Katherine is a solid intelligent woman though she becomes a bit clumsy near the conclusion. She could be both impressive and sad at the same time.
I enjoyed the historical tidbits of early flight interwoven into the storyline along with Katherine’s investigation of both the murder and the theft, drawn to a satisfying conclusion.
An easy, entertaining read, well-plotted and paced. I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and publisher through @NetGalley that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.
June 14, 2025
I won this book on good reads ! I stepped out of my box to read stuff in the past which I haven’t done in a long time. It’s hard for me to see our country go back in time with women’s rights in real life much less read about it . It was mostly enjoyable and I liked the determination and thoughts of the main character .
April 7, 2024
I enjoyed this very much! Having lived my entire life in the Dayton,OH area, I was excited to read this, and it didn't disappoint. Amanda Flower gives us a well researched story filled with vivid historical detail and a gripping mystery. She does a wonderful job bringing the time period, the city of Dayton, and the Wright family to life in this intriguing historical mystery.
Katharine Wright is the book's protagonist. She is a strong-willed, smart, and capable woman. In To Slip the Bonds of Earth, she is trying to solve a murder and at the same time help her brothers when one of them loses something of importance.
This was an entertaining read with a well plotted mystery. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery with accurate historical details.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Katharine Wright is the book's protagonist. She is a strong-willed, smart, and capable woman. In To Slip the Bonds of Earth, she is trying to solve a murder and at the same time help her brothers when one of them loses something of importance.
This was an entertaining read with a well plotted mystery. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery with accurate historical details.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
February 29, 2024
I have been looking forward to reading this book as I really enjoy Ms Flower's series based around Emily Dickinson's maid. Like that series, the author does an amazing job setting up the history, the time and place, and making you see it as it was. I will be honest and say it took me a while to warm up to Katherine Wright, Orville and Wilbur's younger sister. She definitely had an interesting and demanding life, head of the household since her mother's death when she was 15, dealing with her father the Bishop, supporting her famous brothers by helping to run their bike shop while they were in Kitty Hawk working on their "flying" machine and working full time as a teacher of Latin and Greek. She was outspoken and took no nonsense. In this story, she is supporting a friend when she manages to get herself and her brother Orville in the middle of a gruesome murder at a Christmas party. Since valuable papers of her brothers experiments disappear at the same time, Katherine is convinced there is a connection between the thief and murder and she is on the case. It's definitely a multi-layered mystery. Thanks to #NetGalley and #Kensingtonbooks for the opportunity to read.
June 23, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up to 5
I want to thank Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of To Slip the Bonds of Earth. All opinions presented here are my own.
To Slip the Bonds of Earth is a wonderfully written, historical cozy mystery. With around 300 pages, it is a quick and easy read.
I was unfamiliar with Katharine Wright until reading this book. Of course, everyone knows her brothers, Wilbur and Orville. Flower took her time researching Katharine, which is shown in this novel. Katharine is a woman who was ahead of her time in 1903. She wanted to be treated equally in her career as a teacher. She wanted to be independent of her brothers while running the Wright household after her mother’s passing at an early age.
While this book is set around the Christmas holidays, they are not the story’s focal point. They are more of an addition to the setting. I like that because I don’t always want to read a book full of Christmas. Does that make sense?
While To Slip the Bonds of Earth is not Amanda Flower’s first book, it is her first historical cozy. I am eager to visit with Katharine Wright again!
I want to thank Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of To Slip the Bonds of Earth. All opinions presented here are my own.
To Slip the Bonds of Earth is a wonderfully written, historical cozy mystery. With around 300 pages, it is a quick and easy read.
I was unfamiliar with Katharine Wright until reading this book. Of course, everyone knows her brothers, Wilbur and Orville. Flower took her time researching Katharine, which is shown in this novel. Katharine is a woman who was ahead of her time in 1903. She wanted to be treated equally in her career as a teacher. She wanted to be independent of her brothers while running the Wright household after her mother’s passing at an early age.
While this book is set around the Christmas holidays, they are not the story’s focal point. They are more of an addition to the setting. I like that because I don’t always want to read a book full of Christmas. Does that make sense?
While To Slip the Bonds of Earth is not Amanda Flower’s first book, it is her first historical cozy. I am eager to visit with Katharine Wright again!
January 28, 2024
A terrific tale mingling real history with a mystery!
Katherine Wright was an amazing woman in real life. I liked how the author used her as an amateur sleuth to solve the crime and added historical facts to make it feel authentic. Her intelligence and tenacity for truth made her a dynamic sleuth. She was also a loyal friend and caring sister. It made me want to learn more about her real life after reading this and the notes at the end.
Fans of Jen Turano's books, the Enola Holmes and Murdoch mysteries may enjoy this one also. It was fast paced, well written and an overall entertaining read. Clean, with just a hint of romance for a side character, it would be fine for teenagers and up who enjoy a good mystery. It would make a good series!
Recommend! 5 stars
(An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.)
Katherine Wright was an amazing woman in real life. I liked how the author used her as an amateur sleuth to solve the crime and added historical facts to make it feel authentic. Her intelligence and tenacity for truth made her a dynamic sleuth. She was also a loyal friend and caring sister. It made me want to learn more about her real life after reading this and the notes at the end.
Fans of Jen Turano's books, the Enola Holmes and Murdoch mysteries may enjoy this one also. It was fast paced, well written and an overall entertaining read. Clean, with just a hint of romance for a side character, it would be fine for teenagers and up who enjoy a good mystery. It would make a good series!
Recommend! 5 stars
(An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.)
April 3, 2024
I was so enthusiastic about this book, as a historical fiction novel with an aviation connection. Unfortunately, it fell far short of my expectations.
Although the book is grammatically well written, I strongly dislike the way the main character, Katharine Wright was written. She is a snobbish and arrogant young woman who believes that her way is the only way. She comes across with an air of superiority to others who are social equals, and a condescending sympathy to women of a lower class. The feminist theme is far overdone, to the point where Katharine' victim mentality eliminates any possibility of sympathy to her cause.
I’d love to share some examples but don’t want to spoil the story for others who want to read it.
Although the book is grammatically well written, I strongly dislike the way the main character, Katharine Wright was written. She is a snobbish and arrogant young woman who believes that her way is the only way. She comes across with an air of superiority to others who are social equals, and a condescending sympathy to women of a lower class. The feminist theme is far overdone, to the point where Katharine' victim mentality eliminates any possibility of sympathy to her cause.
I’d love to share some examples but don’t want to spoil the story for others who want to read it.
December 31, 2023
(Giveaway Read Review)
Absolutely amazing read from start to finish, took me two days to finish this but I'm fairly certain I could have binged this in a couple of hours. The characters were all unique and the suspense is drawn out in a way that isn't too fast nor too slow for me personally. I would definitely read again, 10/10!
Absolutely amazing read from start to finish, took me two days to finish this but I'm fairly certain I could have binged this in a couple of hours. The characters were all unique and the suspense is drawn out in a way that isn't too fast nor too slow for me personally. I would definitely read again, 10/10!
January 1, 2024
Loved this book! The pace was excellent - it was hard to put down but still easy to keep track of everything that was going on. You hear so much about the Wright Brothers so it was very interesting to read about their relatively unknown sister.
February 11, 2025
A lovely mystery about Katiharine Wright, sister of Oliver and Wilber, and her role in saving the plans of the airplane. It is historical but they mystery is completely fiction. It is interesting to learn about how first the automobile changed society and soon airplanes would become a new mode of transportation. Just as today, there was much resistance to change, while many embraced the automobile. There were many who ridiculed and mocked Katharine's brothers, and her by association, because of their crazy belief that they could create a machine that would allow man to fly. Now they criss cross our skies without even a glance upwards.
May 3, 2024
Great book for 1st in a new series
I enjoyed this book and was looking forward to reading it. Katherine is a great lead character and I also enjoyed reading about Wilbur and Orville and the lost plans.
Looking forward to book 2 in this series.
I enjoyed this book and was looking forward to reading it. Katherine is a great lead character and I also enjoyed reading about Wilbur and Orville and the lost plans.
Looking forward to book 2 in this series.
February 22, 2024
I enjoyed reading this cozy historical mystery featuring the Wright Brothers' sister Katharine. It was interesting to read about the Wright family, and there were some funny moments too. I hope there will be another book in this series.
March 30, 2024
While I found the (historically accurate) sexism annoying the mystery and characters were both interesting and informative. According to the author the characters were described accurately even though the story was made up. I’m hoping more will come.
January 13, 2024
This is a historical mystery set in the mid 19th century time of Orville and Wilbur Wright. Their sister, Katherine, is a school teacher nearing Christmas break when the two brothers come home for the holidays. Getting a much needed break from creating their flying plans, Orville and Katherine go to a Christmas party they will never forget. Someone is stabbed! The flying plans stolen and a bloody suspect. This is a first in series and was riveting. I cannot wait to read the next one! #honestreview #gotitfree #toslipthebondsofearth
January 7, 2024
I’m generally fond of historical novels featuring the type of woman who used to be called a ‘bluestocking.’ So this new series about Katherine Wright, who was the bluest of bluestockings, looked to be right up my alley. And it was! Good mystery, accurate to the history and to the historical personalities, and very evocative of its time and its setting. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 300 reviews