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Mary Sutter #2
Winter Sisters
New York, 1879: An epic blizzard descends on Albany, devastating the city. When the snow finally settles, two newly orphaned girls are missing. Determined not to give up hope, Dr. Mary Sutter, a former Civil War surgeon, searches for the two sisters. When what happened to them is finally revealed, Dr. Sutter must fight the most powerful of Albany's citizens, risking personal and public danger as she seeks to protect the fragile, putting at risk loves and lives in her quest to right unimaginable wrongs.
As contemporary as it is historic, Winter Sisters is part gripping thriller, part family saga, and ultimately a story of trauma and resilience that explores the tremendous good and unspeakable evil of which humans are capable.
As contemporary as it is historic, Winter Sisters is part gripping thriller, part family saga, and ultimately a story of trauma and resilience that explores the tremendous good and unspeakable evil of which humans are capable.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published February 27, 2018
1103 people are currently reading
7585 people want to read
About the author
Robin Oliveira
5 books454 followersRobin Oliveira grew up just outside Albany, New York in Loudonville. She holds a B.A. in Russian, and studied at the Pushkin Language Institute in Moscow, Russia. She is also a Registered Nurse, specializing in Critical Care and Bone Marrow Transplant. She received an M.F.A. in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and is the fiction editor for the literary magazine upstreet and a former assistant editor at Narrative Magazine. She was awarded the James Jones First Novel Fellowship in 2007 for her then novel-in-progress, THE LAST BEAUTIFUL DAY, an excerpt of which appeared in the 2008 issue of Provincetown Arts. She lives in Seattle, Washington with her family."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 755 reviews
March 8, 2018
4.5 stars!
This book takes place in Albany, New York in 1879.
Emma and Claire are stuck at school during a blizzard. They have to wait there for three days and the teacher finally let's the students go home when the blizzard is over. There was so much snow. Four feet of snow fell, killing 400 people. Their parents never picked them up at school so they walked home. Bonnie and David O'Donnell are the parents of Emma and Claire and their parents died in the blizzard and the two sisters suddenly disappear, they just vanish, without a trace. Dr. Mary and Dr. William Still are very close to the family and they are searching for them. The girls are only seven years old and ten years old. Dr. Mary was a former Civil War Surgeon.
What happens to these girls is so gut wrenching and its dark and disturbing.
The age of consent was 10 years old in New York in 1879.
This is a historical mystery and it is a sequel to My Name is Mary Sutter. I didn't read the first book but I was able to follow the story very well, and I was never lost. I eventually will read the first book since I really loved this book. This book was a really tough read, with dark subject matter. It hooked me straight from the beginning and didn't let go until the very end.
The title of the book and the book cover was what enticed me to read this book. It was a huge surprise of how good it was. It was so suspenseful and held my breath several times and had to take lots of deep breaths. It was so gripping.
I loved the characters in this book, they were all done so well. I also loved the strong character of Mary Sutter, and my heart really went out to the sisters, Emily and Claire. Everything they went through was so gut wrenching. I am looking forward to reading My Name is Mary Sutter.
I want to thank Edelweiss, the publisher and the author, Robin Oliveira for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 17, 2017
This is a straightforward historical novel and the follow-up to My Name is Mary Sutter. Since I haven’t read Mary Sutter I chose to skip a a paragraph here and there to prevent spoiling that book should I choose to read it. Nevertheless, Winter Sisters may be read as a stand-alone.
Winter Sisters takes place fourteen years after the Civil War as two young sisters become lost during the mother of all blizzards in Albany, New York. You do find out what happens to the sisters about midway through the book and the remaining portion deals with what exactly took place, by whom and the ensuing courtroom drama.
While it isn’t difficult to figure out who the culprit is, I did find the role of women during this time to be eye opening. We all know that women were considered to be secondary to men remnants of which can still be felt today. Anyway, this makes Dr. Mary Sutter’s profession all the more admirable. For example, she illegally treats prostitutes who were unable to receive medical attention due to their profession. Further, Dr. Sutter endures a brutal review by an all male medical board which put my teeth on edge.
Clearly, I found the depiction of women’s issues to be more compelling than the story itself.
Winter Sisters takes place fourteen years after the Civil War as two young sisters become lost during the mother of all blizzards in Albany, New York. You do find out what happens to the sisters about midway through the book and the remaining portion deals with what exactly took place, by whom and the ensuing courtroom drama.
While it isn’t difficult to figure out who the culprit is, I did find the role of women during this time to be eye opening. We all know that women were considered to be secondary to men remnants of which can still be felt today. Anyway, this makes Dr. Mary Sutter’s profession all the more admirable. For example, she illegally treats prostitutes who were unable to receive medical attention due to their profession. Further, Dr. Sutter endures a brutal review by an all male medical board which put my teeth on edge.
Clearly, I found the depiction of women’s issues to be more compelling than the story itself.
March 5, 2018
I loved Mary Sutter when I read it and this picks up a little further along in time. While it would be helpful to have read that one first I think it would be okay to read this without having done so. It is 1879 in New York, a massive snow storm hits, causing many deaths, and the strange disappearance of two young girls. Mary and her husband were friends of their parents, family connections and they search, but the girls are not to be found. What happens next is the stuff of nightmares, the sexual abuse and rape of a young child, a trial, police corruption , and the untold greed of man.
I started this, and it started out with a bang, the snowstorm and it's aftermath, but then it lagged for quite a while, thought of putting it aside, but it took off again and this time I couldn't look away. Had to find out if Emma and Claire, ten and seven respectively, would be okay. Hard to read, the abuse of a young girl, and hard to believe the age of consent at that time was only ten. Appalling is an understatement. A man's world for sure, but some women, strong women like Mary thrived, found men who loved them for their spirit and intelligence, but too few. In this book though there are some strong women characters and they were a joy to behold. Good men too, Jakob, William, loving men, who put right before wrong.
Upon finishing I had to look to now, and how much has changed, but at the same time how little. Crooked politicians, corrupt police officers, sexual harassment, rape trials where woman are painted as being at fault, where some lives still matter more than others. I do think that we are progressing, but so slowly. Another book that makes one think, of times past and present. One of the sisters slower reads, but as always enjoyed the thoughts this book generated.
ARC from Edelweiss.
I started this, and it started out with a bang, the snowstorm and it's aftermath, but then it lagged for quite a while, thought of putting it aside, but it took off again and this time I couldn't look away. Had to find out if Emma and Claire, ten and seven respectively, would be okay. Hard to read, the abuse of a young girl, and hard to believe the age of consent at that time was only ten. Appalling is an understatement. A man's world for sure, but some women, strong women like Mary thrived, found men who loved them for their spirit and intelligence, but too few. In this book though there are some strong women characters and they were a joy to behold. Good men too, Jakob, William, loving men, who put right before wrong.
Upon finishing I had to look to now, and how much has changed, but at the same time how little. Crooked politicians, corrupt police officers, sexual harassment, rape trials where woman are painted as being at fault, where some lives still matter more than others. I do think that we are progressing, but so slowly. Another book that makes one think, of times past and present. One of the sisters slower reads, but as always enjoyed the thoughts this book generated.
ARC from Edelweiss.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2020
***FOR ANYONE WHO IS IN WINTER SEASON NOW, THIS IS A GOOD ONE! ***
I absolutely loved “My Name is Mary Sutter” and was anxious to read this book. While I ended up liking it, it was completely different from her first book. The first book was very historically significant because Ms. Sutter was one of the first female surgeons allowed to operate during the Civil War and it was largely about the war. This book is very good but I would consider it a historical “mystery”, because that is at the heart of this book.
The story takes place about 14 years after the civil war, during the reconstruction era in Albany New York. We open with the introduction of a family with two young daughters. They set off for work and school and then a terrible blizzard hits and everyone is stranded where they are. When people begin to dig out of the snow, it’s is found that the mom and dad died in the snowstorm and the two young daughters, Claire and Emma, are missing.
The plot involves the missing children and all that is done to find them. It also tells us of the continued disdain for Ms. Sutter as a doctor by many even though she proved herself in the war and has a medical license. She practices with her husband and also runs a charity clinic for “ladies of the night”.
**SPOILER ALERT**
What happens to the children is catastrophic, terrible and very hard to read. The Sutter family and friends are a very close knit group and ultimately the girls are found and taken in by the Sutter family including their niece Elizabeth who plays a large part in helping to heal the girls from their tragedy.
It’s a difficult book to read for several reasons. First, what happened to the little girls. Second, the corruption of the police department and third, the continued lack of justice for women and girls. The laws are cruel and outdated, the “age of consent” for girls is ten, can you imagine, ten years old and a man would not be convicted of rape, the ten year old is considered to be able to defend herself or it was decided she consented to the sexual encounter.
The writing in this book is as good as the first. In the author’s note Ms. Oliveira states some of the reasons why she wrote the book. “In 1888 a blizzard engulfed the entire Northeast, killing four hundred people. In 1879 the age of consent in New York State was 10 years old. It wasn’t until 1886 that the state raised the legal age for females from 10 to 16.” These are important facts to base a novel on and she did a great job of research and constructed an engrossing mystery.
I would recommend this book with a caution that the book contains narrative of child molestation that can be very hard to handle.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss, thank you.
I absolutely loved “My Name is Mary Sutter” and was anxious to read this book. While I ended up liking it, it was completely different from her first book. The first book was very historically significant because Ms. Sutter was one of the first female surgeons allowed to operate during the Civil War and it was largely about the war. This book is very good but I would consider it a historical “mystery”, because that is at the heart of this book.
The story takes place about 14 years after the civil war, during the reconstruction era in Albany New York. We open with the introduction of a family with two young daughters. They set off for work and school and then a terrible blizzard hits and everyone is stranded where they are. When people begin to dig out of the snow, it’s is found that the mom and dad died in the snowstorm and the two young daughters, Claire and Emma, are missing.
The plot involves the missing children and all that is done to find them. It also tells us of the continued disdain for Ms. Sutter as a doctor by many even though she proved herself in the war and has a medical license. She practices with her husband and also runs a charity clinic for “ladies of the night”.
**SPOILER ALERT**
What happens to the children is catastrophic, terrible and very hard to read. The Sutter family and friends are a very close knit group and ultimately the girls are found and taken in by the Sutter family including their niece Elizabeth who plays a large part in helping to heal the girls from their tragedy.
It’s a difficult book to read for several reasons. First, what happened to the little girls. Second, the corruption of the police department and third, the continued lack of justice for women and girls. The laws are cruel and outdated, the “age of consent” for girls is ten, can you imagine, ten years old and a man would not be convicted of rape, the ten year old is considered to be able to defend herself or it was decided she consented to the sexual encounter.
The writing in this book is as good as the first. In the author’s note Ms. Oliveira states some of the reasons why she wrote the book. “In 1888 a blizzard engulfed the entire Northeast, killing four hundred people. In 1879 the age of consent in New York State was 10 years old. It wasn’t until 1886 that the state raised the legal age for females from 10 to 16.” These are important facts to base a novel on and she did a great job of research and constructed an engrossing mystery.
I would recommend this book with a caution that the book contains narrative of child molestation that can be very hard to handle.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss, thank you.
March 6, 2018
4.5 emotional loving eye opening stars
Having read Robin Oliveria's previous novel, My Name Is Mary Sutter and enjoying it greatly, I was ever so anxious to delve into her sequel. I was not in the least bit disappointed.
In this book, we learn of Mary's marriage to William and how they now practice medicine together. It is the winter of 1879 in upstate New York and a blizzard is raging. Two young sisters go missing and are presumed dead, taken by the snow, the cold, and the river close by. Everyone seems to accept this theory. Everyone that is except, Mary, William, Elizabeth, Mary's niece, and Mary's mother. They wonder how the girls could have vanished.
The story is built around the search that Mary and William conduct for the girls, the daughters of very close friends of Mary and William's. Where did the girls go? Are they alive? Were they taken? Can Mary and William's hope for the girls be just a dream or can that hope become a reality.
There was so much going on in this well written historical book. It tore at one's heartstrings and made one aware of what life was like for women and young girls in 1879. It also pointed out that women of that time were definitely second class citizens and that Mary's choice of a profession was filled with bigotry, hate, and misogyny. This book was definitely a page turner and although it did present the absolutely gruesome nature of some, it also pointed out the goodness and love that lie within each of us.
I recommend this book most highly for ability to make one realize how far we have come in the way women are viewed and treated today.
Having read Robin Oliveria's previous novel, My Name Is Mary Sutter and enjoying it greatly, I was ever so anxious to delve into her sequel. I was not in the least bit disappointed.
In this book, we learn of Mary's marriage to William and how they now practice medicine together. It is the winter of 1879 in upstate New York and a blizzard is raging. Two young sisters go missing and are presumed dead, taken by the snow, the cold, and the river close by. Everyone seems to accept this theory. Everyone that is except, Mary, William, Elizabeth, Mary's niece, and Mary's mother. They wonder how the girls could have vanished.
The story is built around the search that Mary and William conduct for the girls, the daughters of very close friends of Mary and William's. Where did the girls go? Are they alive? Were they taken? Can Mary and William's hope for the girls be just a dream or can that hope become a reality.
There was so much going on in this well written historical book. It tore at one's heartstrings and made one aware of what life was like for women and young girls in 1879. It also pointed out that women of that time were definitely second class citizens and that Mary's choice of a profession was filled with bigotry, hate, and misogyny. This book was definitely a page turner and although it did present the absolutely gruesome nature of some, it also pointed out the goodness and love that lie within each of us.
I recommend this book most highly for ability to make one realize how far we have come in the way women are viewed and treated today.
May 24, 2018
The saga of Mary Sutter continues in this brilliant historical novel by Robin Oliveira. Of course, you absolutely do not have to read My Name is Mary Sutter to fall in love with her in this tale but it will help you to fully understand her strength and character. Winter Sisters works fine as a stand alone novel.
In a harsh blizzard two sisters go missing. While everyone in the small community believe them to be dead, Dr. Mary Sutter and her family never give up the search for the girls - despite the loss of other family members. Ultimately a horror is discovered, the truth of what happened to girls, and it breaks the town apart. I won't reveal more because it is the crux of the story but the courage of Mary Sutter and the women in her family shine as an example for all women.
Oliveira has, once again, shown us the strength that we all possess and can muster when necessary.
I admit, there were times that the book bogged down for me, particularly in the very beginning, which is why I have not rated it a 5. That does not and should not detract from the fact that this is a marvelous, must-read book.
Thank you to Edelweiss for my copy of this book....
In a harsh blizzard two sisters go missing. While everyone in the small community believe them to be dead, Dr. Mary Sutter and her family never give up the search for the girls - despite the loss of other family members. Ultimately a horror is discovered, the truth of what happened to girls, and it breaks the town apart. I won't reveal more because it is the crux of the story but the courage of Mary Sutter and the women in her family shine as an example for all women.
Oliveira has, once again, shown us the strength that we all possess and can muster when necessary.
I admit, there were times that the book bogged down for me, particularly in the very beginning, which is why I have not rated it a 5. That does not and should not detract from the fact that this is a marvelous, must-read book.
Thank you to Edelweiss for my copy of this book....
March 10, 2018
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Penguin Group Viking
Pub. Date: Feb. 27, 2018
“Winter Sisters” is historical fiction. We see life in Albany, New York, during 1879 as clearly as if we have been walking down the street with the main characters.
“Winter Sisters” is a family saga, with a poignant feminist narrative. One character is a midwife who becomes a surgeon. The author models the surgeon after, Elizabeth Blackwell, M.D. (1821-1910), America's first female doctor.
“Winter Sisters” is a mystery. A historical blizzard blasts the city and in its chaotic wake, two young girls go missing. Her family spends weeks searching for them in case they survived. This blizzard is not fiction. It occurred in 1888 and took the lives of four hundred people. The author moves the year back in time for a legal matter in her story.
“Winter Sisters” is a courtroom drama. This occurs later in the book and brilliantly portrays a sensational trial that has the local newspapers working around the clock and the residents arguing over their dinner tables. Here is where the reader discovers the reasons for pushing back the year of the storm. (Next sentence is a possible spoiler.) In 1879, the age of female sexual consent was ten years old. Learning this fact made this reviewer physically ill. The law was changed in 1886. The legal age for female consent went from ten years of age to sixteen years of age.
One can argue that although the book is marketed as historical fiction, it is actually a thoughtful thriller hidden within a historical fiction tale with a feminist theme. The only flaw takes place in the first few chapters. There is a difficulty in following just who is who in the story's many protagonists. This may be so because “Winter” is the follow up tale to “My Name Is Mary Sutter,” who is the female surgeon. The book is engaging as well as politically profound with matters that are still present in today times. Simply look at current cable news channels.
I received this Advance Review Copy (ARC) novel from the publisher at no cost in exchange for an honest review.
Find all my book reviews at:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list
Leave Me Alone I am Reading & Reviewing: https://books6259.wordpress.com/
Twitter: Martie’s Book Reviews: https://twitter.com/NeesRecord
Publisher: Penguin Group Viking
Pub. Date: Feb. 27, 2018
“Winter Sisters” is historical fiction. We see life in Albany, New York, during 1879 as clearly as if we have been walking down the street with the main characters.
“Winter Sisters” is a family saga, with a poignant feminist narrative. One character is a midwife who becomes a surgeon. The author models the surgeon after, Elizabeth Blackwell, M.D. (1821-1910), America's first female doctor.
“Winter Sisters” is a mystery. A historical blizzard blasts the city and in its chaotic wake, two young girls go missing. Her family spends weeks searching for them in case they survived. This blizzard is not fiction. It occurred in 1888 and took the lives of four hundred people. The author moves the year back in time for a legal matter in her story.
“Winter Sisters” is a courtroom drama. This occurs later in the book and brilliantly portrays a sensational trial that has the local newspapers working around the clock and the residents arguing over their dinner tables. Here is where the reader discovers the reasons for pushing back the year of the storm. (Next sentence is a possible spoiler.) In 1879, the age of female sexual consent was ten years old. Learning this fact made this reviewer physically ill. The law was changed in 1886. The legal age for female consent went from ten years of age to sixteen years of age.
One can argue that although the book is marketed as historical fiction, it is actually a thoughtful thriller hidden within a historical fiction tale with a feminist theme. The only flaw takes place in the first few chapters. There is a difficulty in following just who is who in the story's many protagonists. This may be so because “Winter” is the follow up tale to “My Name Is Mary Sutter,” who is the female surgeon. The book is engaging as well as politically profound with matters that are still present in today times. Simply look at current cable news channels.
I received this Advance Review Copy (ARC) novel from the publisher at no cost in exchange for an honest review.
Find all my book reviews at:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list
Leave Me Alone I am Reading & Reviewing: https://books6259.wordpress.com/
Twitter: Martie’s Book Reviews: https://twitter.com/NeesRecord
October 20, 2023
This novel is sometimes billed as a sequel to the wonderful My Name is Mary Sutter; but it is a completely different type of story. A few of the same characters are there, but it can definitely be read as a stand-alone novel. The indominable Mary Sutter is still front and center but this story revolves around the tragic circumstances surrounding the disappearance of two young girls during a terrible blizzard in Albany, NY and how what happened to them impacted the families involved and the community at large.
The novel is set in 1879 when women were still subjugated to second class citizenship at best. There are many feminist themes, the most horrifying to me was the knowledge that the age of consent for a girl was 10 years old! I know there are still some countries and states in the U.S. that still have on the books that the age of consent is as young as 13, but few really support that idea. It was one of the things the author learned while doing research for the book that led her to write this particular story.
We also see the patriarchal society that resents any woman who succeeds outside the proscribed roles for women whether it be as a doctor or a talented musician; and the hypocrisy of those men who patronize brothels but see those women as not deserving even basic services such as health care.
My favorite character was of course Mary Sutter, but Jakob, who rose above his difficult family dynamics, became a heartwarming and courageous character for me. I had ambivalent feelings about Mr. Harley, disgust but also pity about how he was manipulated.
The novel is set in 1879 when women were still subjugated to second class citizenship at best. There are many feminist themes, the most horrifying to me was the knowledge that the age of consent for a girl was 10 years old! I know there are still some countries and states in the U.S. that still have on the books that the age of consent is as young as 13, but few really support that idea. It was one of the things the author learned while doing research for the book that led her to write this particular story.
We also see the patriarchal society that resents any woman who succeeds outside the proscribed roles for women whether it be as a doctor or a talented musician; and the hypocrisy of those men who patronize brothels but see those women as not deserving even basic services such as health care.
My favorite character was of course Mary Sutter, but Jakob, who rose above his difficult family dynamics, became a heartwarming and courageous character for me. I had ambivalent feelings about Mr. Harley, disgust but also pity about how he was manipulated.
Read
March 4, 2018DNF @ 24% I cannot stomach what is happening to the young girls in this book.
January 18, 2019
I seem to be one of the few people who came into this book without having read the prequel (My Name is Mary Sutter) and without knowing anything about the author. Perhaps if I had, I would have been prepared for what was to come, but alas as it was, what I read was not in the least what I expected (ie a magical fairytale or a cozy mystery). No, indeed: this was a gritty, dark, meticulously researched work of historical fiction that covered some incredibly challenging themes: child abduction, rape, devastating natural events (floods, blizzards), bribery and corruption at the highest levels of local politics, and more.
Considering that I was expecting (and in the mood for) a light and magical tale, it speaks to the excellence of this novel that I was quickly pulled in and enthralled to the point I was staying up long past my bedtime to find out what happened next. Oliveira builds a rich atmosphere depicting late 19th century Albany in great detail, and she examines the sensitive themes she does with tastefulness that does not brush over their horrific nature.
The story is essentially about two girls, orphaned in a blizzard, who are kidnapped and held against their will, while the 10 year old one is raped. Some chapters in and several weeks later, the girls are able to escape the basement where they are held because of another natural disaster - a flood caused by melting ice and snow. The remainder of the story is about the aftermath of their travails - about the trail, both legal and public opinion, about the difficulty of healing from such traumatic and horrific crimes, about the power of familial support.
But what makes this an excellent historical work is that Winter Sisters is not just a story of individual overcoming of hardship, it is also an expertly woven political tale about city machinations and crony relationships within the governmental and business spheres, and about corruption at the highest levels. And finally, it is a searing depiction of and commentary on the historical oppression of women, not only by the literal letter of the law, but also by public opinion. In 1879, the age of consent in NY was ten years, and the vast majority of rape victims (who even made it to trial, as rape trials were incredibly rare) - were accused of "wanting it" and "asking for it" and as long as they were 10 years old or over, usually this defense worked. So many of these themes held on for at least a century, though to an extent we are finally now emerging out of this era of traditional debasement and devaluing of women.
This novel is not for the faint of heart and also not for those who do not wish to read about such horrific acts as child rape (which is implied only, not described). But if you can bear that, I highly recommend this to anyone interested in historical fiction, especially that set in the United States around the period of industrialization and urbanization, and especially to those interested in women's history.
Considering that I was expecting (and in the mood for) a light and magical tale, it speaks to the excellence of this novel that I was quickly pulled in and enthralled to the point I was staying up long past my bedtime to find out what happened next. Oliveira builds a rich atmosphere depicting late 19th century Albany in great detail, and she examines the sensitive themes she does with tastefulness that does not brush over their horrific nature.
The story is essentially about two girls, orphaned in a blizzard, who are kidnapped and held against their will, while the 10 year old one is raped. Some chapters in and several weeks later, the girls are able to escape the basement where they are held because of another natural disaster - a flood caused by melting ice and snow. The remainder of the story is about the aftermath of their travails - about the trail, both legal and public opinion, about the difficulty of healing from such traumatic and horrific crimes, about the power of familial support.
But what makes this an excellent historical work is that Winter Sisters is not just a story of individual overcoming of hardship, it is also an expertly woven political tale about city machinations and crony relationships within the governmental and business spheres, and about corruption at the highest levels. And finally, it is a searing depiction of and commentary on the historical oppression of women, not only by the literal letter of the law, but also by public opinion. In 1879, the age of consent in NY was ten years, and the vast majority of rape victims (who even made it to trial, as rape trials were incredibly rare) - were accused of "wanting it" and "asking for it" and as long as they were 10 years old or over, usually this defense worked. So many of these themes held on for at least a century, though to an extent we are finally now emerging out of this era of traditional debasement and devaluing of women.
This novel is not for the faint of heart and also not for those who do not wish to read about such horrific acts as child rape (which is implied only, not described). But if you can bear that, I highly recommend this to anyone interested in historical fiction, especially that set in the United States around the period of industrialization and urbanization, and especially to those interested in women's history.
February 9, 2018
Mansplaining, misogyny, and #metoo in the late 1800's
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Robin Oliveira's historical novel is a sequel of sorts to My Name is Mary Sutter, and picks up about 15 years after the end of the Civil War. (Note: Winter Sisters can be read as a stand-alone without any loss of context).
Following a devastating blizzard, two young girls are missing and presumed dead. Months later, the girls reappear. Their aunt, Dr. Mary Stipp (nee Sutter), discovers they have experienced unspeakable trauma. What follows is Oliveira's interpretation of how an investigation and court case might have been conducted in an era when the authority of female doctors wasn't taken seriously, and the age of consent was 10 (yes, you read that correctly, and it is historically accurate).
While the story is interesting in its own right, Oliveira includes a few modern-day references to enterain readers.
"I will gladly hear what you have to say, Dr. Stipp, but only after I speak to Emma. I do not want to contaminate my impressions with yours."
"They are not impressions. They are facts."
"There are facts and then there are alternate facts."
"That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard anyone say."
That's but one example, so keep your eyes peeled and enjoy.
4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Robin Oliveira's historical novel is a sequel of sorts to My Name is Mary Sutter, and picks up about 15 years after the end of the Civil War. (Note: Winter Sisters can be read as a stand-alone without any loss of context).
Following a devastating blizzard, two young girls are missing and presumed dead. Months later, the girls reappear. Their aunt, Dr. Mary Stipp (nee Sutter), discovers they have experienced unspeakable trauma. What follows is Oliveira's interpretation of how an investigation and court case might have been conducted in an era when the authority of female doctors wasn't taken seriously, and the age of consent was 10 (yes, you read that correctly, and it is historically accurate).
While the story is interesting in its own right, Oliveira includes a few modern-day references to enterain readers.
"I will gladly hear what you have to say, Dr. Stipp, but only after I speak to Emma. I do not want to contaminate my impressions with yours."
"They are not impressions. They are facts."
"There are facts and then there are alternate facts."
"That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard anyone say."
That's but one example, so keep your eyes peeled and enjoy.
4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 27, 2018
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2018/02/27/...
I picked up Winter Sisters thinking it would be a mystery-thriller, when in fact it turned out to be more of an atmospheric historical drama. That said, this was a poignant and fantastic novel; its plot, which started as a slow-builder, quickly saw its tensions rise to become a series of heart-pounding events, eventually culminating in a courtroom scene of epic proportions. Even better, this second installment of the Mary Sutter series can be enjoyed as a standalone without having to read the first book.
It is 1879, and the city of Albany, New York finds itself pummeled by one of the greatest blizzards of the century. Tragedy strikes the O’Donnells as both parents are killed, and in the whiteout conditions, their daughters 10-year-old Emma and 7-year-old Claire go missing. Mary Sutter, who is close to the family, is devastated by the deaths of her friends and the disappearance of their two little girls. Determined to find them, Mary writes to her mother and niece in Paris, who quickly return to America to join in the search effort.
For weeks, Mary and her relatives continue to ask questions and look around, refusing to give up on Emma and Claire despite pushback from members of their community. The police are no help either, having long since declared the girls dead, and a funeral was even held for them with their parents. A tip from an unexpected source, however, gives Mary a different but disturbing new perspective on her search. The more she digs, the more she discovers about the dirty secrets and corruption in her city.
Well, if you’ve read the book, then you’ll know what happened to the girls. If not, I’m not going to say, but I will warn that the details are awful and tough to read. This book is not for the faint of heart and if you know reading about terrible atrocities committed on innocents (especially children) will upset you, I would recommend against picking this up. The story is told in roughly three parts: first, the set-up with the blizzard and the disappearance of Emma and Claire; second, the search for the girls and the result of those efforts; and finally, the aftermath along with the criminal trial. The first part is probably the slowest, with the pacing picking up around halfway through the second. I won’t deny getting through the first half of the book was at times a struggle, but the courtroom drama at the end made it all worth it.
As stated above, you do not need to read the first book, My Name is Mary Sutter, in order to follow the story of Winter Sisters. As a matter of fact, the prime focus appears to be on the case of the missing girls, with all the characters involved feeling almost incidental. Mary, however, is like the glue that holds everything together; everyone has a connection to her in some way, so that readers get a wider and more detailed perspective. A former Civil War surgeon, Mary now operates a clinic with her husband, though she also defies the laws by giving treatment to those who would not otherwise have access to medical attention, such as prostitutes. As I have a soft spot for historical characters who are female doctors, Mary was a joy to read about, and I loved her fierce passion for her job and her conviction to do what’s right. In an era where the medical profession (and society in general) was dominated by men, our protagonist rebelled against social norms and fought hard to give girls and women a voice. It made me want to pick up the first book for a chance to get to know her better, as well as to read about her experiences in the Civil War.
Winter Sisters was also a gut-wrenching read at times, and there were certainly moments of anger, horror, or frustration where I just wanted to squeeze my eyes shut and scream myself hoarse. But there were also plenty of tender, touching scenes involving family and friendship, not to mention the role of love in healing from trauma. I thought the author treated all her characters with the sensitivity and patience they deserved throughout their personal and collective experiences, allowing us to connect to them on a deeply emotional level.
All told, Winter Sisters was a powerful, richly written novel. Robin Oliveira transports readers to post-Civil War era New York, delivering a historical drama that is both heart-rending and full of suspense. With the caveat that some of the more horrific and disturbing details can make this one too unbearable to read at times, I still think fans of courtroom intrigue will especially enjoy the book’s plot and the way it ends. If you’re anything like me though, you’ll probably find the characters and their relationships to be the novel’s greatest strengths. Overall, I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it with all my heart.
I picked up Winter Sisters thinking it would be a mystery-thriller, when in fact it turned out to be more of an atmospheric historical drama. That said, this was a poignant and fantastic novel; its plot, which started as a slow-builder, quickly saw its tensions rise to become a series of heart-pounding events, eventually culminating in a courtroom scene of epic proportions. Even better, this second installment of the Mary Sutter series can be enjoyed as a standalone without having to read the first book.
It is 1879, and the city of Albany, New York finds itself pummeled by one of the greatest blizzards of the century. Tragedy strikes the O’Donnells as both parents are killed, and in the whiteout conditions, their daughters 10-year-old Emma and 7-year-old Claire go missing. Mary Sutter, who is close to the family, is devastated by the deaths of her friends and the disappearance of their two little girls. Determined to find them, Mary writes to her mother and niece in Paris, who quickly return to America to join in the search effort.
For weeks, Mary and her relatives continue to ask questions and look around, refusing to give up on Emma and Claire despite pushback from members of their community. The police are no help either, having long since declared the girls dead, and a funeral was even held for them with their parents. A tip from an unexpected source, however, gives Mary a different but disturbing new perspective on her search. The more she digs, the more she discovers about the dirty secrets and corruption in her city.
Well, if you’ve read the book, then you’ll know what happened to the girls. If not, I’m not going to say, but I will warn that the details are awful and tough to read. This book is not for the faint of heart and if you know reading about terrible atrocities committed on innocents (especially children) will upset you, I would recommend against picking this up. The story is told in roughly three parts: first, the set-up with the blizzard and the disappearance of Emma and Claire; second, the search for the girls and the result of those efforts; and finally, the aftermath along with the criminal trial. The first part is probably the slowest, with the pacing picking up around halfway through the second. I won’t deny getting through the first half of the book was at times a struggle, but the courtroom drama at the end made it all worth it.
As stated above, you do not need to read the first book, My Name is Mary Sutter, in order to follow the story of Winter Sisters. As a matter of fact, the prime focus appears to be on the case of the missing girls, with all the characters involved feeling almost incidental. Mary, however, is like the glue that holds everything together; everyone has a connection to her in some way, so that readers get a wider and more detailed perspective. A former Civil War surgeon, Mary now operates a clinic with her husband, though she also defies the laws by giving treatment to those who would not otherwise have access to medical attention, such as prostitutes. As I have a soft spot for historical characters who are female doctors, Mary was a joy to read about, and I loved her fierce passion for her job and her conviction to do what’s right. In an era where the medical profession (and society in general) was dominated by men, our protagonist rebelled against social norms and fought hard to give girls and women a voice. It made me want to pick up the first book for a chance to get to know her better, as well as to read about her experiences in the Civil War.
Winter Sisters was also a gut-wrenching read at times, and there were certainly moments of anger, horror, or frustration where I just wanted to squeeze my eyes shut and scream myself hoarse. But there were also plenty of tender, touching scenes involving family and friendship, not to mention the role of love in healing from trauma. I thought the author treated all her characters with the sensitivity and patience they deserved throughout their personal and collective experiences, allowing us to connect to them on a deeply emotional level.
All told, Winter Sisters was a powerful, richly written novel. Robin Oliveira transports readers to post-Civil War era New York, delivering a historical drama that is both heart-rending and full of suspense. With the caveat that some of the more horrific and disturbing details can make this one too unbearable to read at times, I still think fans of courtroom intrigue will especially enjoy the book’s plot and the way it ends. If you’re anything like me though, you’ll probably find the characters and their relationships to be the novel’s greatest strengths. Overall, I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it with all my heart.
May 21, 2018
A historical story about two young girls who disappear during a horrific blizzard in Albany in the late 1800’s. Many lives were lost and many catastrophes occurred because of the heavy blizzard and then its after effects of snow/ice melt and flooding.
In this town, there are very good hearted normal and hard working people and as always, there are also some dark souls.
The story is heart breaking and emotionally stirring with the hope that these innocent little girls are found and are unharmed and alive. The plot escalates onward and the reader gets taken in with fingers pointed at possible suspects and eventually goes into a heated court trial with a small town judge and jury. Some other juicy scandals and social injustices are revealed along the way.
It was a good read. I am going backwards tho to read the first book “I am Mary Sutter” by the same author. She also wrote “I Always Loved You.” I really don’t think it mattered that I read this book out of author sequence because I was able to follow it along as a stand alone.
In this town, there are very good hearted normal and hard working people and as always, there are also some dark souls.
The story is heart breaking and emotionally stirring with the hope that these innocent little girls are found and are unharmed and alive. The plot escalates onward and the reader gets taken in with fingers pointed at possible suspects and eventually goes into a heated court trial with a small town judge and jury. Some other juicy scandals and social injustices are revealed along the way.
It was a good read. I am going backwards tho to read the first book “I am Mary Sutter” by the same author. She also wrote “I Always Loved You.” I really don’t think it mattered that I read this book out of author sequence because I was able to follow it along as a stand alone.
January 13, 2025
The story starts in 1879 with a dramatic snow storm in Albany, New York. Two young girls Emma and Claire disappear and are presumed dead. Their parents, close friends of Mary and William, are killed in the blizzard. But Emma and Claire are not dead. They have been kidnapped, held prisoners and Emma is subjected to horrific abuse as she seeks to protect Claire from being similarly abused.
This is book 2 in a series, but I read it quite happily without having read book 1. It stands alone fine.
Dr Mary Sutter, a former civil War Surgeon, is a strong, determined, compassionate woman who cares deeply about the needs of others, and that includes prostitutes who are turned away and not treated by other doctors because of their profession. Her husband William is a lovely man who supports his wife in all her activities. Mary is determined to find and care for Emma and Claire when police seem to want to give up.
Mary’s mother and Louise come home when they learn the girls are presumed dead but Elizabeth, the niece, is also battling great disappointment from her time studying violin in Paris. It has destroyed her confidence. However, in their own way, she becomes a help after they find the girls and learn of the horrific circumstances.
This is not an easy read given some of the subject matter and I don’t deal well with books about abuse of children in particular. 1879 it was unbelievable to me that the age of consent for sex was 10 years old. So much for childhood. According to the author’s note at the end of the book this age of consent was finally changed New York in 1886 from 10 to16.
There were several times I debated about continuing to read because of the topic and I often put it aside when I couldn’t take any more, but in the end, I simply had to know what happened to Emma and Claire. Perhaps not quite what I expected at the end.
So not an enjoyable book, but an interesting read. Worth persevering with,
This is book 2 in a series, but I read it quite happily without having read book 1. It stands alone fine.
Dr Mary Sutter, a former civil War Surgeon, is a strong, determined, compassionate woman who cares deeply about the needs of others, and that includes prostitutes who are turned away and not treated by other doctors because of their profession. Her husband William is a lovely man who supports his wife in all her activities. Mary is determined to find and care for Emma and Claire when police seem to want to give up.
Mary’s mother and Louise come home when they learn the girls are presumed dead but Elizabeth, the niece, is also battling great disappointment from her time studying violin in Paris. It has destroyed her confidence. However, in their own way, she becomes a help after they find the girls and learn of the horrific circumstances.
This is not an easy read given some of the subject matter and I don’t deal well with books about abuse of children in particular. 1879 it was unbelievable to me that the age of consent for sex was 10 years old. So much for childhood. According to the author’s note at the end of the book this age of consent was finally changed New York in 1886 from 10 to16.
There were several times I debated about continuing to read because of the topic and I often put it aside when I couldn’t take any more, but in the end, I simply had to know what happened to Emma and Claire. Perhaps not quite what I expected at the end.
So not an enjoyable book, but an interesting read. Worth persevering with,
March 8, 2018
The thing that caught my eye about this book was that the protagonist was a Civil War surgeon–and a woman. My masters is in American History but my speciality is women in Civil War nursing so seeing a book with a female Civil War surgeon as the main character totally made me want to read this book even more!
This is the second book in the series but I hoped not much had transpired where I needed to read the first book, though I will admit that the first book sounds wonderful and I was temped to pick it up before this one but I got distracted with something else entirely.
So this book hit a lot of marks for me when the pick came through–Civil War surgeon, disappearance, beautiful cover art, and the promise of dark secrets revealed. I was totally in on this one!
First let me say this. While this book is the second in a series, I think it would read ok as a standalone, though reading the first book would be helpful, it’s not necessary to the plot so don’t fear that you will be lost in the plot on this one.
This was a difficult novel to read for one reason alone…the abuse of the girls. As a parent I found it really hard to read about what the girls endured but at the same time it propelled the novel forward because I needed to know that they would be ok or get some justice. The things these girl endure are horrifying so just be ready for some feelings when you read this book.
The book had it’s slow moments somewhere in the middle and it started to drag a little for me. It starts out fast like jumping right into the snow storm fast, but then it starts to drag a little but picks up eventually and it’s full steam ahead until the ending. Even though the abuse sections were hard to read, I think they actually helped move the story along to the resolution.
The main characters were well suited in their roles within the book. I liked Mary and thought she was a compelling and interesting character with an interesting life. Hence why I want to read the first book in the series. Each character and the historical content clearly had been thought through, researched, and sketched. I loved seeing not just the characters but the historical elements leap off the page. Oliveria writes with a daft hand—history, interesting characters, and an emotional plot–all winning concepts and well executed.
So why the four star review? For me the middle lost a little steam. I would love to see some of the middle sections pared down a little so that the main plot could move more quickly. This book will appeal to a certain kind of reader. If you love historical fiction and historical thrillers this will be an outstanding read but you just need to be ready for the graphic content. It’s not your typical historical fiction read–it’s something much darker and gritty than one would expect but for that I was completely into it. I loved reading something not in the same mould as all the other historical fiction or historical thrillers. This was different in so many ways and it was fantastic!
One final note…..the cover art is stunning. It doesn’t exactly scream thriller but it is so lovely and stands out. If I saw it in a book store I would pick it up right away and buy it. I love the snow and the horse and sleigh on the front. It’s eye catching. It doesn’t scream thriller but it doesn’t scream ‘run of the mill historical fiction’ either. Perhaps it’s the red of the sleigh, but something makes this stand out and I love it!
See my full review here
This is the second book in the series but I hoped not much had transpired where I needed to read the first book, though I will admit that the first book sounds wonderful and I was temped to pick it up before this one but I got distracted with something else entirely.
So this book hit a lot of marks for me when the pick came through–Civil War surgeon, disappearance, beautiful cover art, and the promise of dark secrets revealed. I was totally in on this one!
First let me say this. While this book is the second in a series, I think it would read ok as a standalone, though reading the first book would be helpful, it’s not necessary to the plot so don’t fear that you will be lost in the plot on this one.
This was a difficult novel to read for one reason alone…the abuse of the girls. As a parent I found it really hard to read about what the girls endured but at the same time it propelled the novel forward because I needed to know that they would be ok or get some justice. The things these girl endure are horrifying so just be ready for some feelings when you read this book.
The book had it’s slow moments somewhere in the middle and it started to drag a little for me. It starts out fast like jumping right into the snow storm fast, but then it starts to drag a little but picks up eventually and it’s full steam ahead until the ending. Even though the abuse sections were hard to read, I think they actually helped move the story along to the resolution.
The main characters were well suited in their roles within the book. I liked Mary and thought she was a compelling and interesting character with an interesting life. Hence why I want to read the first book in the series. Each character and the historical content clearly had been thought through, researched, and sketched. I loved seeing not just the characters but the historical elements leap off the page. Oliveria writes with a daft hand—history, interesting characters, and an emotional plot–all winning concepts and well executed.
So why the four star review? For me the middle lost a little steam. I would love to see some of the middle sections pared down a little so that the main plot could move more quickly. This book will appeal to a certain kind of reader. If you love historical fiction and historical thrillers this will be an outstanding read but you just need to be ready for the graphic content. It’s not your typical historical fiction read–it’s something much darker and gritty than one would expect but for that I was completely into it. I loved reading something not in the same mould as all the other historical fiction or historical thrillers. This was different in so many ways and it was fantastic!
One final note…..the cover art is stunning. It doesn’t exactly scream thriller but it is so lovely and stands out. If I saw it in a book store I would pick it up right away and buy it. I love the snow and the horse and sleigh on the front. It’s eye catching. It doesn’t scream thriller but it doesn’t scream ‘run of the mill historical fiction’ either. Perhaps it’s the red of the sleigh, but something makes this stand out and I love it!
See my full review here
July 3, 2019
A blizzard in the late winter of 1879 paralyzes upstate New York, and in the city of Albany, two young sisters flounder alone in the swirling winds and snowdrifts, trying to reach home. Like a fairy tale, a cherry-red sleigh appears and a kind man pulls them to safety, promising to take them someplace warm and safe until their parents can be found. But Emma O'Donnell, ten, and her little sister, six-year-old Claire, vanish like two tiny snowflakes.
Dr. Mary Sutter and her husband William were trauma surgeons during the Civil War, where they met, but live a more stable life in Albany now, working together at a local hospital and running a clinic from their home. Mary also operates a clandestine clinic on a side street, treating prostitutes and their children for free. Mary is something of an outcast herself, a woman in a man's profession, constantly having to outmaneuver those who would see her dismissed or set aside or even punished for the work she does, daring to challenge the system that treats all woman as less worthy and suspect.
Mary and William are friends of the two little girls' parents and when it's revealed that Bonnie and David O'Donnell perished in the freak blizzard, and their daughters are missing, the Sutters begin a door-to-door search for the children, pushing the police to continue their investigation until, a few weeks after the girls' disappearance, the police declare them dead, drowned in the river, trapped beneath the ice.
Six weeks after the blizzard and the disappearance of the O'Donnell sisters, disaster strikes Albany again: the Hudson river thaws and floods the city, with devastating consequences. The fate of the young girls is suddenly revealed. In the aftermath, the Sutters undertake a determined search for the truth and become embroiled in a tabloid-frenzied courtroom drama. Exposing dark secrets hidden behind the facade of vast fortunes and social capital could tear apart families, political establishment, and a very new and fragile love.
Robin Oliviera has crafted as fine a historical thriller as I've read. Beautifully written, richly detailed in fact and period atmosphere, layered with nuanced characters, and deeply political with themes that resonant in modern day, Winter Sisters is an outstanding, tense, compelling read. Highly recommended!
Dr. Mary Sutter and her husband William were trauma surgeons during the Civil War, where they met, but live a more stable life in Albany now, working together at a local hospital and running a clinic from their home. Mary also operates a clandestine clinic on a side street, treating prostitutes and their children for free. Mary is something of an outcast herself, a woman in a man's profession, constantly having to outmaneuver those who would see her dismissed or set aside or even punished for the work she does, daring to challenge the system that treats all woman as less worthy and suspect.
Mary and William are friends of the two little girls' parents and when it's revealed that Bonnie and David O'Donnell perished in the freak blizzard, and their daughters are missing, the Sutters begin a door-to-door search for the children, pushing the police to continue their investigation until, a few weeks after the girls' disappearance, the police declare them dead, drowned in the river, trapped beneath the ice.
Six weeks after the blizzard and the disappearance of the O'Donnell sisters, disaster strikes Albany again: the Hudson river thaws and floods the city, with devastating consequences. The fate of the young girls is suddenly revealed. In the aftermath, the Sutters undertake a determined search for the truth and become embroiled in a tabloid-frenzied courtroom drama. Exposing dark secrets hidden behind the facade of vast fortunes and social capital could tear apart families, political establishment, and a very new and fragile love.
Robin Oliviera has crafted as fine a historical thriller as I've read. Beautifully written, richly detailed in fact and period atmosphere, layered with nuanced characters, and deeply political with themes that resonant in modern day, Winter Sisters is an outstanding, tense, compelling read. Highly recommended!
February 12, 2018
I read My Name is Mary Sutter when it first came out and was utterly entranced by Robin Oliveira's depiction of the character of Mary, a midwife intent on becoming a surgeon in an era where women were totally blocked from pursuing such a thing. She was unable to achieve her ideal through formal channels, so she went to war, to the civil war, and there had the kind of experience few would wish her, unless, like Mary, you were being excluded from pursuing your desired profession and were driven to break through the irrational barriers by equally irrational means.
Now it is 1869 in Albany, New York, Mary Sutter is now Dr Mary Sutter Stipps, living in Albany, New York, where she practices in a local hospital, despite most of her male colleagues despising her (because she is a woman), she also runs a home practice with her husband William Stipp and less known, a lantern hangs outside illuminated on Thursdays when she runs a clinic for ladies of the night, who are refused treatment elsewhere.
These are the conservative years after the civil war, the period of the tumultuous struggle and emergence of women's suffrage, which meant that any freedoms women were attempting to gain were often fiercely and damagingly opposed, and ridiculed. Mary faces opposition at every turn, but she won't give up and she will stand up for what she believes is right.
One evening, when this story begins, there is a severe winter blizzard, that disrupts the city, children are locked in schools for two days, businesses close, the Doctors must house their patients overnight, accidents happen - two days later when people begin to reappear, Mary learns of the deaths of close family friends, the hatmaker Bonnie and her labourer husband David and the strange disappearance of their two daughters, Emma(10) and Claire(7).
Mary and William search for the girls everywhere, implore the police to help and eventually must accept they've gone. At the graveside, they become acquainted with lumberlord Gerrit Van de Veer and his wife Viola, and their son Jakob. From that day on the lives of the two families become intertwined, as Mary continues her relentless pursual of the lost girls, leading her to begin to become exposed to manipulations of the city, by those who are out to benefit themselves and will do anything to stop those like her who are trying to help and heal, without discrimination.
Book One sets up the story, introducing us to Elisabeth, Mary's niece, a violin protegé who has been studying in Paris in the company of her grandmother Amelia, who have swiftly returned on hearing the terrible news, but come laden with their own troubles.
By Book Two the story has become riveting, complex, there are elements of the mystery to resolve, a pending court case, perceived betrayals, all set against the legal and societal background of the times they lived in, there are aspects of the law that will shock the reader, we read about the 1800's and yet we are reminded of the same treatment of victims today, regarding police procedure, questioning and the law.
It's too good a read to give away anything that happens from Book Two onwards, but I could not put this down, I was up late finishing it and thought it was brilliantly woven together. It's commentary on the hardships of women and girls, of all ages and from all classes is insightful and outrageous. Women are blocked in so many directions, in particular when they possess talent, controlled, commented on, kept by men in positions of power. Mary Sutter oversteps the demarcated line of acceptable professions for women, she breaks the mould, though not without challenge and William and Jakob show themselves to be different kind of men, demonstrating the potential of working alongside women, not excluding them.
When asked what made her return to the character of Mary Sutter, Robin Oliveira said:
Highly recommended, one of the best historical novels of the year.
Now it is 1869 in Albany, New York, Mary Sutter is now Dr Mary Sutter Stipps, living in Albany, New York, where she practices in a local hospital, despite most of her male colleagues despising her (because she is a woman), she also runs a home practice with her husband William Stipp and less known, a lantern hangs outside illuminated on Thursdays when she runs a clinic for ladies of the night, who are refused treatment elsewhere.
These are the conservative years after the civil war, the period of the tumultuous struggle and emergence of women's suffrage, which meant that any freedoms women were attempting to gain were often fiercely and damagingly opposed, and ridiculed. Mary faces opposition at every turn, but she won't give up and she will stand up for what she believes is right.
One evening, when this story begins, there is a severe winter blizzard, that disrupts the city, children are locked in schools for two days, businesses close, the Doctors must house their patients overnight, accidents happen - two days later when people begin to reappear, Mary learns of the deaths of close family friends, the hatmaker Bonnie and her labourer husband David and the strange disappearance of their two daughters, Emma(10) and Claire(7).
Mary and William search for the girls everywhere, implore the police to help and eventually must accept they've gone. At the graveside, they become acquainted with lumberlord Gerrit Van de Veer and his wife Viola, and their son Jakob. From that day on the lives of the two families become intertwined, as Mary continues her relentless pursual of the lost girls, leading her to begin to become exposed to manipulations of the city, by those who are out to benefit themselves and will do anything to stop those like her who are trying to help and heal, without discrimination.
Book One sets up the story, introducing us to Elisabeth, Mary's niece, a violin protegé who has been studying in Paris in the company of her grandmother Amelia, who have swiftly returned on hearing the terrible news, but come laden with their own troubles.
By Book Two the story has become riveting, complex, there are elements of the mystery to resolve, a pending court case, perceived betrayals, all set against the legal and societal background of the times they lived in, there are aspects of the law that will shock the reader, we read about the 1800's and yet we are reminded of the same treatment of victims today, regarding police procedure, questioning and the law.
It's too good a read to give away anything that happens from Book Two onwards, but I could not put this down, I was up late finishing it and thought it was brilliantly woven together. It's commentary on the hardships of women and girls, of all ages and from all classes is insightful and outrageous. Women are blocked in so many directions, in particular when they possess talent, controlled, commented on, kept by men in positions of power. Mary Sutter oversteps the demarcated line of acceptable professions for women, she breaks the mould, though not without challenge and William and Jakob show themselves to be different kind of men, demonstrating the potential of working alongside women, not excluding them.
The price women pay when they overstep that societal and male control, is the story of the Gilded Age, and continues to play out one hundred and fifty years later. Indeed, the changing role of women in society, and what men will accept, remains one of the essential conflicts of our time.
When asked what made her return to the character of Mary Sutter, Robin Oliveira said:
Over the last few years, readers have often asked me to include Mary Sutter in a new book, but I could not think of a single circumstance that would challenge her as much as the obstacles she had faced in the Civil War. Then I learned about the age of consent. I simply couldn't leave Mary Sutter out of it, for I had finally discovered something of equal importance for her to battle.
Highly recommended, one of the best historical novels of the year.
March 30, 2018
WARNING: This review is far from my typical reviews and includes what may be considered a spoiler, so if you want to go into this one blind, do not continue.
A snowstorm rages in Albany, New York rendering many killed, and two small children lost among the large piles of snow. Mary Sutter, now Mary Snipp, exhausts all available remedies to locate the girls. After yet another environmental disaster, and as the Snipps are to bury them, Claire and Emma miraculously appear on the Snipp’s doorstep. More unexpected was the unspeakable trauma Mary uncovers that occurred to them.
I wouldn’t necessarily say you need to read Book #1, but it would most certainly help to better familiarize yourself with the main characters, especially at the start of this novel. That aside, reading this as a standalone would work out nicely. This novel also lacked in the mystery or thriller aspect for me and I would not have labeled it as such. Unfortunately for me, this story failed to grasp my full attention until I veered on ‘Book Two’ (second half of the story), at which point it was all hands-on deck and I particularly enjoyed the court room aspect in this novel. The details of life in the 1800s came as a huge shock. One aspect in particular being the age of consent. Did you know in 1879 the age of consent in New York was ten-years-old? TEN!? The treatment of woman during this time was less shocking, but not any less revolting.
The biggest gripe I had with this novel was the sexual assault of a minor child and how this became such a large discussion in this novel. As a mother, I had an extremely difficult time with this and there were many time where I did not want to press on. This novel was not what I expected after having read My Name is Mary Sutter, or the blurb for that matter. Its main topic was unexpected and created a large struggle for me to really get into this story. Ultimately, had I previously known of this inclusion I would not have opened this book.
While this inclusion was disturbing to read, the story itself was very well-written and well researched. Robin Oliveria kept true to My Name is Mary Sutter in offering her reader concise and accurate information on the time period. I also appreciated the inclusion of Elizabeth's character as a violinist. This I found beautiful and could relate being a violinist, while amateur, in my early years. Overall, this novel is not for the faint of heart. If you can stomach the inclusion of child molestation, and the graphic medical telling of the same, I would give this novel a go as Robin Oliveria does offer a well written historically factual novel.
Many thanks to Robin Oliveira and Viking Publishers for an advanced reader’s copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
November 8, 2018
Wow, just wow! What a powerful story. I've enjoyed quite a few historical fiction books lately and this was one of the best. Set in Albany NY in 1879 it tells of the two O'Donnell sisters - Emma aged 10 and Claire aged 7 who were abducted after a blizzard that locked down the area for two days. They were trapped at school. When the blizzard abated and they were let out, they waited in vain for their parents to collect them and finally started walking home. They didn't know their parents had been tragically killed trying to reach their children.
The girls were finally picked up by a man in a sleigh. But he did not take them home, instead they were taken to a house near the river and imprisoned and forced to endure unspeakable deprivations. The Stipp family, Mary and William, both doctors, were close friends of the O'Donnells and spent weeks searching for the girls to no avail. Finally, six weeks after the blizzard, all that snow started to melt and the Hudson River began to flood. The girls managed to escape at this time and were taken to the home of the doctors Stipp in a terrified and traumatised state. Later a court case would be brought to seek justice for the girls but no-one could have envisaged the dramatic revelations that would transpire and would cause a prominent family to be torn apart.
It was a haunting tale of tragedy and corruption, bravery and redemption. The characters really spoke to me, they were so real I couldn't help getting invested in this harrowing story. I particularly liked the feisty Mary Stipp, her struggle to have credibility as one of the nation's first female doctors was awesome. I was also shocked to learn that, at that time, the age of consent for girls was ten. Ten! In a few years it would be raised to 16. I was also shocked to learn that a rape conviction would be difficult to obtain if the victim survived. It reminded me of the witch trials where accused witches were dunked in the river. If they survived they were guilty and burnt at the stake, if they drowned they were innocent. Heads I win, tails you lose. Oh dear, thank goodness we have made SOME progress.
The girls were finally picked up by a man in a sleigh. But he did not take them home, instead they were taken to a house near the river and imprisoned and forced to endure unspeakable deprivations. The Stipp family, Mary and William, both doctors, were close friends of the O'Donnells and spent weeks searching for the girls to no avail. Finally, six weeks after the blizzard, all that snow started to melt and the Hudson River began to flood. The girls managed to escape at this time and were taken to the home of the doctors Stipp in a terrified and traumatised state. Later a court case would be brought to seek justice for the girls but no-one could have envisaged the dramatic revelations that would transpire and would cause a prominent family to be torn apart.
It was a haunting tale of tragedy and corruption, bravery and redemption. The characters really spoke to me, they were so real I couldn't help getting invested in this harrowing story. I particularly liked the feisty Mary Stipp, her struggle to have credibility as one of the nation's first female doctors was awesome. I was also shocked to learn that, at that time, the age of consent for girls was ten. Ten! In a few years it would be raised to 16. I was also shocked to learn that a rape conviction would be difficult to obtain if the victim survived. It reminded me of the witch trials where accused witches were dunked in the river. If they survived they were guilty and burnt at the stake, if they drowned they were innocent. Heads I win, tails you lose. Oh dear, thank goodness we have made SOME progress.
March 20, 2018
Let me start by saying this novel was not at all what I expected after having read My Name is Mary Sutter. Mary Sutter was a very good historical novel while this is more of a suspense story in an historical setting. It didn't require the painstaking research that Mary Sutter did. Add to that the main topic of Winter Sisters is one that is very difficult for me personally to read. Add to that what I consider to be some unlikely developments. Add to that the ending which ties the whole package into a tidy bow with a little happily ever after thrown in.
Now you understand my rating. It is well written in that it flows well, has good pacing, and is an interesting story but not my favorite kind of book at all.
This author will be at Booktopia in May so I jotted down questions while I was reading. Coincidentally she answered them all in the Author's Note at the end.
Now you understand my rating. It is well written in that it flows well, has good pacing, and is an interesting story but not my favorite kind of book at all.
This author will be at Booktopia in May so I jotted down questions while I was reading. Coincidentally she answered them all in the Author's Note at the end.
April 24, 2018
You’ll have this one figured out pretty early on but it’s still a great read.
April 29, 2018
A novel made for the era of Me Too, this book is a richly-told story of a time when no woman’s reports of rape were believed, when sex workers were scorned by the very men who most frequented their services, and paternalism in all its forms abounded. (To be fair, this sounds exactly like today, except more overt.)
This novel was tightly plotted and filled with well-developed characters. Rather than being cartoonish, the villains were all-too-familiar to any woman.
I listened on audio, which I found to be especially effecting.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This novel was tightly plotted and filled with well-developed characters. Rather than being cartoonish, the villains were all-too-familiar to any woman.
I listened on audio, which I found to be especially effecting.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read
August 27, 2017When facing fear or a truly difficult trial, one must "choose who you are, choose who you'll be."
Something unspeakable happened to 10-year-old Emma and 7-year-old Claire in the aftermath of a devastating blizzard in Albany, New York in 1879. Although they were initially thought to be dead in the wake of the storm and the flooding, they are reunited with close friends who try to provide comfort and strength as the girls face the ensuing aftermath and ordeals to follow.
This historical mystery novel has a hopeful tone despite the absolute revulsion for the circumstances that the girls experienced.
SPOILER
The period details were authentically related and I could really get a feel for the time period and the sentiments of society during that era. The main characters were believable -- if a bit ahead of social norms -- with Mary Sutter being one of the first woman doctors and her extended family very close knit and kind. I found it fairly easy to see thru obvious red herrings and solve the "mystery" but the journey through the narrative was compelling and very enjoyable. I like the author's writing style and the conclusion was satisfying. The end note by Robin Oliveira demonstrated that she had done quite a bit of research on all facets of the book. I'd definitely read another by her and want to go back and read her first novel as it is about Mary Sutter.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Viking Penguin Group for the e-book ARC to read and review.
Something unspeakable happened to 10-year-old Emma and 7-year-old Claire in the aftermath of a devastating blizzard in Albany, New York in 1879. Although they were initially thought to be dead in the wake of the storm and the flooding, they are reunited with close friends who try to provide comfort and strength as the girls face the ensuing aftermath and ordeals to follow.
This historical mystery novel has a hopeful tone despite the absolute revulsion for the circumstances that the girls experienced.
SPOILER
The period details were authentically related and I could really get a feel for the time period and the sentiments of society during that era. The main characters were believable -- if a bit ahead of social norms -- with Mary Sutter being one of the first woman doctors and her extended family very close knit and kind. I found it fairly easy to see thru obvious red herrings and solve the "mystery" but the journey through the narrative was compelling and very enjoyable. I like the author's writing style and the conclusion was satisfying. The end note by Robin Oliveira demonstrated that she had done quite a bit of research on all facets of the book. I'd definitely read another by her and want to go back and read her first novel as it is about Mary Sutter.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Viking Penguin Group for the e-book ARC to read and review.
March 11, 2018
This was fantastic I could not tear my eyes away from it and now have a serious book hangover.
Oliveira dedicated this book "For girls and women everywhere."
Oliveira dedicated this book "For girls and women everywhere."
February 2, 2018
Albany, New York of 1879, an apocryphal unexpected blizzard, missing sisters, and an unspeakable act is set in motion.
Winter Sisters is the follow up tale to My Name Is Mary Sutter. The events take place fourteen years after the end of the previous book. I had not read book one, but I did just fine starting with Winter Sisters. That said, this one would no doubt be spoilerish for My Name Is Mary Sutter as it recaps some of the past to set up for the events of Winter Sisters. I still plan to go back for Mary Sutter's earlier story because I want to know and feel that one after this one.
So, Winter Sisters!
Wooboy, this was something. It is historical fiction and it is mystery. It paints a vivid picture of the times and the people of Albany, New York. The author's love for her home town and her research shine through in this one. She brought this place to life, warts and all.
The story has an ominous tone as it slowly sets up for what is to come (be patient at the beginning). As a reader, my interest was given a gentle tug at first that grew and grew until I was gripped tight in this story. I don't think I even breathed a few times near the end as I waited to see the culmination of all that had come before. It's not heart-pounding danger and action, though there are moments of that, but just the build of a plot to its climax point that was deftly achieved.
The main plot centers around the disappearance of two young girls during a blizzard and then eventually what happened to them later during the spring thaw of the river and the subsequent flood. There are other plots circling around the central mystery. Mary's ongoing fight for women's health issues, Elizabeth's private crisis over her musical talent, the Van Der Veer's home situation, and more. They weave together quite well and the transitions were gentle between so I was not taken out of the story.
The mystery doesn't happen in a vacuum. I loved how the historical setting and societal norms play a strong role. The author shows how things were thought about and handled back then from Mary's reception by a misogynist police captain, to the reaction of the city's privileged, to the light shone on the lowly world of the prostitutes, to a woman's lot in general from privileged wealth, and to children in that day. The real eyeopener for me was the take on medicine, mental health, and criminal law regarding the elements around the mystery. Let's just say we have come far since then. Though, I know there are parallels of needed reform still in modern times. I'm deliberately being cagey about the plot because there are some real shockers and I don't want to ruin it for potential readers.
The characters are vivid and colorful, but are drawn with humanity in its strengths, weaknesses, good and terrible evil. The narrative shifts about from an unknown omniscient narrator to specific characters thoughts.
Mary is a central figure though she shares the limelight with others. I can't address how far she has come since the earlier part of her story in book one, but I imagine existing fans will be delighted to encounter a middle-aged Mary and how she has stayed true to herself. She is a female doctor with high intelligence, drive, and unapologetic. She earns respect, but also fear wherever she goes. People, like the police chief, the head surgeon at the city hospital, and Gerrit Van der Veer bristle and try to dominate her when she inadvertently holds up a mirror where they see their weakness and inferiority in the face of her spirit, heroism, and drive. Mary is a voice for those who have no voice. She was an amazing character as were those who were close to her for loving her and wanting her just the way she was.
In some books, multiple narrators can feel dizzying and confusing, but for Winter Sisters, it really was a good choice. Getting the different points of view and how they saw the events didn't diminish or distract, but added so many layers. I think it made the story more visceral so I felt the punch of it, but it also gave me a break at times from the harsher and darker element. Elizabeth and Jakob's courtship was sweet and I loved seeing Mary and William partnering in a more mature relationship.
All in all, I thought Winter Sisters was a fabulous and lush example of historical fiction and mystery blended well. I highly recommend it for those who enjoy strong female leads and American history of the late nineteenth century.
My thanks to Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Winter Sisters is the follow up tale to My Name Is Mary Sutter. The events take place fourteen years after the end of the previous book. I had not read book one, but I did just fine starting with Winter Sisters. That said, this one would no doubt be spoilerish for My Name Is Mary Sutter as it recaps some of the past to set up for the events of Winter Sisters. I still plan to go back for Mary Sutter's earlier story because I want to know and feel that one after this one.
So, Winter Sisters!
Wooboy, this was something. It is historical fiction and it is mystery. It paints a vivid picture of the times and the people of Albany, New York. The author's love for her home town and her research shine through in this one. She brought this place to life, warts and all.
The story has an ominous tone as it slowly sets up for what is to come (be patient at the beginning). As a reader, my interest was given a gentle tug at first that grew and grew until I was gripped tight in this story. I don't think I even breathed a few times near the end as I waited to see the culmination of all that had come before. It's not heart-pounding danger and action, though there are moments of that, but just the build of a plot to its climax point that was deftly achieved.
The main plot centers around the disappearance of two young girls during a blizzard and then eventually what happened to them later during the spring thaw of the river and the subsequent flood. There are other plots circling around the central mystery. Mary's ongoing fight for women's health issues, Elizabeth's private crisis over her musical talent, the Van Der Veer's home situation, and more. They weave together quite well and the transitions were gentle between so I was not taken out of the story.
The mystery doesn't happen in a vacuum. I loved how the historical setting and societal norms play a strong role. The author shows how things were thought about and handled back then from Mary's reception by a misogynist police captain, to the reaction of the city's privileged, to the light shone on the lowly world of the prostitutes, to a woman's lot in general from privileged wealth, and to children in that day. The real eyeopener for me was the take on medicine, mental health, and criminal law regarding the elements around the mystery. Let's just say we have come far since then. Though, I know there are parallels of needed reform still in modern times. I'm deliberately being cagey about the plot because there are some real shockers and I don't want to ruin it for potential readers.
The characters are vivid and colorful, but are drawn with humanity in its strengths, weaknesses, good and terrible evil. The narrative shifts about from an unknown omniscient narrator to specific characters thoughts.
Mary is a central figure though she shares the limelight with others. I can't address how far she has come since the earlier part of her story in book one, but I imagine existing fans will be delighted to encounter a middle-aged Mary and how she has stayed true to herself. She is a female doctor with high intelligence, drive, and unapologetic. She earns respect, but also fear wherever she goes. People, like the police chief, the head surgeon at the city hospital, and Gerrit Van der Veer bristle and try to dominate her when she inadvertently holds up a mirror where they see their weakness and inferiority in the face of her spirit, heroism, and drive. Mary is a voice for those who have no voice. She was an amazing character as were those who were close to her for loving her and wanting her just the way she was.
In some books, multiple narrators can feel dizzying and confusing, but for Winter Sisters, it really was a good choice. Getting the different points of view and how they saw the events didn't diminish or distract, but added so many layers. I think it made the story more visceral so I felt the punch of it, but it also gave me a break at times from the harsher and darker element. Elizabeth and Jakob's courtship was sweet and I loved seeing Mary and William partnering in a more mature relationship.
All in all, I thought Winter Sisters was a fabulous and lush example of historical fiction and mystery blended well. I highly recommend it for those who enjoy strong female leads and American history of the late nineteenth century.
My thanks to Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 9, 2018
This is a haunting and unforgettable book. I could not put the novel down, so proud of characters in certain chapters and filled with utter loathing in others. A perfect read for International Women's Day for sure. I look forward to chatting with the author about what inspired her to write this series at Booktopia in May of 2018.
February 20, 2019
This was a heartbreaking story. I had not read the first book in this series and it did not detract from this novel in any way. I loved that this novel was set in Albany, NY. It was interesting to read about Albany set in the 1800s as many of the places were familiar to me. I also deeply cared about many of the characters. I also feel so strongly for the plight of women everytime I read historical fiction. I feel like all men should read historical fiction about what women have had to endure throughout time. I don't want to go into too many details and give anything away but some facts presented in this book about what happened just blew my mind. This story did capture my attention and I did want to know what happened. I did guess who the real culprit was very early on but it did not deter my reading. It was a good book but it also made me so angry for the many injustices that women had to face.
September 17, 2017
It's 1879, Albany New York, and former Civil War surgeon Dr. Mary Sutter is frantic when two young sisters of close friends go missing during a deadly blizzard. When the girls don't show up and are not found by local authorities, everyone fears the worst. This is a tale of remarkable courage and survival. The story fell a bit short for me, although the courtroom scenes were a tad more meatier.
November 27, 2019
This book was captivating and I had a hard time putting it down. The author webbed together many characters with a storyline that is horrendous. It starts out in 1879 with a snowstorm in Albany NY. The lives of a family are changed forever one day when a surprise storm hits. Emma and Claire, Bonnie, her husband, Drs Mary and William Stipp, Amelia, Viola, Jakob, Gerritt, Harley are just some of the characters you meet in this story. A good fast moving book that I would recommend.
June 20, 2018
3.5 stars.
I didn’t realise there was a book before this and while it may not be vital to have read the other first ,I think it may have given me a greater insight into the main character.
This was well written though a little wordy and the beginning. I was unaware of the “topic” of this book before I started and there were some confronting issues .
I didn’t realise there was a book before this and while it may not be vital to have read the other first ,I think it may have given me a greater insight into the main character.
This was well written though a little wordy and the beginning. I was unaware of the “topic” of this book before I started and there were some confronting issues .
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