A German spy in Atlanta? It is 1917. The US has just entered the Great War. Two young women, bored with their place in Southern society, play a deadly game of cat and mouse to unearth a dark secret. From the well-known neighborhoods of genteel Atlanta to the seedy warehouse district they try to uncover a spy in their midst. Actual key figures, locations, and events of Atlanta 1917, documents and memoirs from that critical time in Atlanta history, intermingle with mystery, suspense, and ultimate horror of the Great Atlanta Fire in this gripping romantic suspense page-turner.
I enjoyed meeting Wilson and really appreciated her forward thinking attitude. She was quick and alert and not unpleasant as many forward thinking women are portrayed. Pearl was a lovely housewife of the 1917 era and was as sweet and cute as can be.
Her relationship with Bel the housekeeper was kind and thoughtful. Bel was another strong character that could have been written differently and not have been so wonderful. I loved the characters and the story.
The suspicious man that the women suspected of being a German spy, kept the story grounded and allowed us to see how out of tune with her inner voice Wilson was. Her inner voice was a great aspect of her personality. Just a great book. I am so glad I was able to read it for the release.
The way that the story was presented was full of suspense, humor, and realism. It was a full package. If you enjoy a book that truly takes you back in time, this would be a perfect choice.
This is a debut novel from Rose Johnson and she will be an author on my favorite list! What did I like about this book? Everything! Cover is absolutely perfect, if I had found this book in a store I would have bought it just for the cover. But wait until you start reading. The book is historical fiction, so the story seems so real. Immediately fell in love with the characters, Wilson Hurt is a very independent woman for 1917! She trades her boring comfortable life in Chicago for the promise of a mystery in Atlanta. Her best friend is convinced she has a German spy next door. Wilson is on a mission to solve the mystery. I could not put this book down.
The story follows Wilson, a rich, young orphaned woman who is looking for a bit of adventure. When her friend Pearl writes to her asking for her help in solving a local mystery, Wilson gladly boards the train from Chicago to Atlanta. Her friend is convinced their neighbor is a German spy and she enlists Wilson in her efforts to find out the truth about what he is hiding in his basement.
This is first and foremost a historical fiction novel set in Atlanta, Georgia in 1817. The city comes to life thanks to the author’s descriptions of dress, transport, social standings, mannerisms, households and race relations. The basis of the book is the Great Fire of that same year, a real occurrence that burned down much of the city.
Mystery and romance are worked into the plot yet remain secondary. The focus of the story is describing the period, major events, social movements and attitudes held.
While Enemy Fire made for an interesting historical fiction read, the descriptions of clothes and attitudes, as well as the events leading up to other events, were sometimes a bit too detailed for me. And honestly, I was caught off guard and a touch confused by the resolution to the mystery.
Still, the novel offers much historical insight into Southern life in the 1800s, Atlanta, the Great Fire, and several important historical figures. The author deserves credit for the immense amount of research involved.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of the South, and in particular in Georgian history.
[I received an ARC (pre-release review copy) in exchange for an honest review.]