City of Shadows

Counterfeit Lady #5

by Victoria Thompson

Elizabeth Miles is back in this all-new Counterfeit Lady Novel from USA Today bestselling author Victoria Thompson.

Elizabeth Miles Bates has returned from her honeymoon cruise and is taking great pride in having completely forsaken her past life as a con artist. Then her friend, Anna Vanderslice, begs her to use her talents to help save her widowed mother from a disreputable medium. Since the war and the flu epidemic left so many families bereaved, interest in contacting the dead has experienced a revival. Once quite popular, s�ances have come back into vogue as desperate families mourn their loved ones and long to communicate with them.

Anna's mother has been attending s�ances in an attempt to contact her son, David, who died of influenza. Anna had thought it a harmless activity, though a heartbreaking one, but she has just learned that Mrs. Vanderslice is paying the medium ever-increasing sums of money in her eagerness to make contact with her deceased son. Since David's death has caused Anna and her mother financial hardship already, Mrs. Vanderslice's obsession is in danger of ruining them.

Madame Ophelia is part of a group of con artists working together to fleece as many New Yorkers as possible before moving onto another city. Several of Mrs. Vanderslice's friends as well as some of Gideon's clients have already been victimized. Elizabeth knows that simply exposing the medium as a fraud will not be enough, and the only way to get at least some of the stolen money back is to con the medium and her cohorts. But will Elizabeth's family help her when it means betraying other con artists? And who can they trust? No one, as it happens, so Elizabeth turns to her aunt, Cybil, and Cybil's partner, Zelda, for help. Although Cybil disapproves of her family's shady profession, she is more than happy to lend a hand. Can Elizabeth and her gang of amateurs fool the professionals?

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

336 pages, Hardcover

First published December 7, 2021

About the author

Victoria Thompson was a beloved authoress of 'standard mystery' novels.

This middle of the road tone is not violent like a 'thriller' but unsanitized (NOT light like a 'cozy mystery'), is unflinchingly adult, serious, and dark.

Humour, romance, family, and compassion balance out the crime part of dear Victoria's unforgettable mysteries.

Reviews

[Mark Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Newlywed Elizabeth Miles Bates is enjoying her new life in 1919 New York City, but she has to call upon her conman roots when her friend Anna Vanderslice comes to her for help. Anna’s mother has started going to a medium, spending money they don’t have in their budget to do so. Elizabeth quickly confirms that the medium is a fake, and her husband, Gideon, figures out that there is more to the plot than Elizabeth originally thought. Can she figure out how to stop the medium?

I enjoy this series since the caper storylines are a break from the mysteries I normally read. This one was a bit more straightforward than some of the others, but I still enjoyed every page, and there were a few branches to the plot I didn’t expect. Another draw to this series is the characters. They are their usual charming selves here. The multiple viewpoints add to the fun since some of the reactions to the events are funny. Yet, the characters have some real depth to them and I love seeing how they are growing as the series progresses. If you are looking for a little something different in a crime novel, this is one you’ll enjoy.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Merry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read all the books in this series and have enjoyed them. The "con" is always the main part of the story. I would like a little more character development, but this is just a personal choice. After the flu pandemic and the end of WWI people are trying to get in touch with lost loved ones and this story shows how unscrupulous mediums were stealing money from victims. Not my favorite in the series but a light read.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now that I am caught up on this series (which does not feel like that much of an accomplishment after consuming Thompson's entire Gaslight series in the span of about ten weeks this spring but caught up is caught up!), I feel very comfortable with my assessment that this series is not ever going to be a top favorite of mine but it's different enough from most of the mystery series I read that I'll keep up with it for sure.

The characters don't have that same magic and the relationships aren't as well-built as the characters in Gaslight (I think in part based on the speed at which they initially developed). But they're still fun to read about, and I'm enjoying the growing universe. The thing that really has kept my interest in the series, though, is the way the mystery aspect of these books is always something along the lines of "Elizabeth is presented with a problem for which the law has no satisfactory remedy, and she engages in a con of the person causing that problem in order to fix it." Again, this appeals to the Mentalist fan in me, but also it's just a different look at a mystery story. We know who did it essentially from the start, but the mystery is how is it going to get fixed. Gideon being a trusts and estates lawyer is also fun for me. So far nothing that's been said on that front has been so egregiously wrong that it's caused me to, say, yell about the tax code. A low bar, I know, and yet!

[A Tiny Reader | Sharfin Islam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, fine the books are growing on me

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite of the series so far. Everything just synced well and the characters are getting stronger and stronger with each entry. Jake's inclusion in this one was particularly great, especially his stint as a ghost.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

City of Shadows is the fifth book of Victoria Thompson's Counterfeit Lady series. I started this series with book four and had no problems following along, though I found myself wanting to learn more about these fun characters. This story stands alone, so jump on in without hesitation.

Former con artist Elizabeth Miles Bates has just returned from her honeymoon cruise with attorney husband Gideon. She's proud of herself for giving up her past, but fate intervenes once again! Elizabeth's best friend Anna Vanderslice needs her help: Her widowed mother is being scammed by an unsavory medium. After the Great War and deadly flu epidemic, many people are going to séances to contact their lost loved ones, and Anna's mother is no exception. The cost is increasing, but she is so desperate to contact her deceased son David that the family is in danger of losing everything. Madame Ophelia, the medium, is part of a group that is conning the bereaved for all they can before they leave New York. Some of Mrs. Vanderslice's friends are also being scammed, as well as some of Gideon's clients. Elizabeth knows it's not enough to expose the medium and her team; they must also try to get back some of the victims' money. So can Elizabeth, her family and friends con the cons and win?

I really enjoyed the last book, and I enjoyed this one, too...just not as much. I do admit there's been a bit of stress in my life as of late, so that may have contributed to my reading enjoyment. It just took me a while to get into the groove of the story. I got a bit confused about the con vs. con storyline, trying to keep everything straight. What I absolutely loved, however, were the characters! They were funny and charming, all doing their best to help each other. Elizabeth, of course, was the central character. She was proud to have left her past behind her, but you could see how much she enjoyed getting into the game again. She was quite the actress when her "visions" overcame her at the séances, predicting death. Her family and friends all wanted to help expose Madame Ophelia and her cohorts, and even Gideon was getting into it. Yes, her normally straight-laced husband showed pride in her antics, and he actually played a large role in part of the con. I loved the relationship Elizabeth had with her mother-in-law, Mother Bates. So often stories portray mothers-in-law has horrible meddling people, but not here. There was much affection between the two, and I was amused as she wanted to be included in the séances. Other members of Elizabeth's family helped out, with brother Jake, father the "Old Man", aunt Cybil and her partner Zelda all being a big part of the...let's call it the counter-con. Best friend Anna and her dear friend(?) Freddie also took part. I enjoyed all of them. I also found the rise of séances at that particular time in history quite interesting and hearbreaking as to why. I am looking forward to more adventures with Elizabeth and the gang.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and Edelweiss. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm such a fan of Victoria Thompson's writing in general and the Counterfeit Lady series does not disappoint. For one thing, Thompson's research is excellent and she brings the periods she writes about alive. Lizzie, our "former" con artist is now married to Gideon Bates. She met his mother quite by accident when Mrs. Bates was protesting for women's votes in Washington, DC and they became great friends. Lizzie is supposed to stay out of her old man's and half brother's ways, but she gets caught up in doing good by conning bad people, without remuneration for her. In City of Shadows, the "mark" is a con artist herself, a post WWI medium who cons wealthy widows and gold star mothers into investing their money in "sure things" that will never materialize. Lizzie's family initially won't get involved helping her, because of a code among con artists but soon, multiple, intricate cons involving out of town specialists, inexperienced but talented "extras," a fake office with Harriet, who answers all the fake phone numbers on fake business cards, culminating in a dramatic and oddly believable spur of the moment con that satisfies. While Thompson's imagination could make it hard to believe the things that happen, I find I just do believe her stories. That takes care as a writer in being consistent, making everything plausible with sufficient background and creating terrific characters.

[Aditi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series and this book didn't disappoint. Madam Ophelia kept invoking visions of Madam Cleo from the 90s infomercials and looked to be styled similarly with the big turban. Cybil and Zelda played a much bigger role in this book which was wonderful to see. Anna didn't have a much bigger role but I look forward to seeing a lot more of Freddie, she was amazing. I hope she will be amazing for Anna too.

It was great to see prominent and accepted LGBTQ characters. There was mention of the suffrage movement.

The con and heist were wonderful, though I thought they believed Elizabeth a bit too easily. I do wonder about a world where they can repeatedly play characters and con ppl and it never collides.

I can't wait for the next one.

[Linda Smatzny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is set after WWI and the flu of 1918. It takes place in New York City and features Elizabeth Bates who takes on a fake medium who is bilking older women out of their money thru seances. It involves various cons by Elizabeth, her family and her friends to out con a con artist. The book was an easy read.

[Kathleen Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say I really enjoyed this book, it was a quick read. I think this series gets better with every book or maybe I am just getting to know the characters better but I loved how each character got a role to play in this story. I look forward to the next in the series.

[T. Rosado · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Not my favorite story in the series, but always good writing. I wasn’t a fan of the premise. Psychics aren’t my thing, whether or not it’s a con. The resulting mystery and its unraveling wasn’t as satisfying, either. Overall, an okay read for me.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as engaging as the author’s Sarah Brandt’ series. Somewhat repetitive or maybe scams are not that interesting to me.

[Camila · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Adele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent tale! Already looking forward to the next one. :)

[Megan Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's always good to visit an old 'friend'...Elizabeth Miles has returned from her honeymoon and although she 'promised' Gideon she was going straight, she finds herself involved in a con to help a friend. It's a great 'con' involving mediums and seances and gullible people. The history of this 'con' is wonderful. The only thing that struck me as a 'sour' note was Elizabeth's nod to the mores of the time. In the other books she always successfully skirted the 'expectations' put on women but in this outing it seemed like she was always apologizing for what she was and then explaining WHY she was apologizing.

[Sharon Kallenberger Marzola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good story in the series.

Now that Elizabeth is married to the NY aristocrat, Gideon Bates, she needs to be careful running her scams. She doesn't runs cons for friends now not for personal gain. She still relies on her old team to help her, but a con doesn't interfere with another con. She is on her own this time without her backup. It is a fun story.

[Ruth Barrineau-Brooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first books in this series and was excited to read this one; however, I was extremely disappointed. There were too many cons, con artists and switches to be slightly believable. I found it challenging to continue reading it, but the end was satisfying though predictable. I can’t recommend it and doubt I’ll read any more in this series.

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

After getting married at the end of the last book one of my favourite heroines Elizabeth Miles now Bates vows to to try to be a proper society lady. She's helping her mother in law get the vote for women and all is sort of domestic bliss. All that changes when her good friend Anna comes to visit. She is distressed that her mother is being taken in by a medium Madame Ophelia. Madame claims to be able to talk with the dead and Mrs. Vanderslice is missing her son David who died of influenza. Anna smells a con and so does Elizabeth. In the aftermath of the war and the pandemic many people are desperate to contact lost loved ones. I'm just glad our current pandemic isn't quite as brutall as that one. People bleeding out of their eyes and ears and dropping dead almost instantly. Covid is terrible but hopefully we don't reach that point but the way things are going nothing will surprise me any more. Anyway Anna and Elizabeth attend a seance and Elizabeth immediately calls bullshit when Madame gets the details of her engagement to David wrong. The next seance she attends she pretends to get her own vision about a race horse after one if the men complained about not getting a tip. Of course no one else knows she overheard some of her other con men's friends talking about it. Then she recruits Cybil and makes another prediction that also comes true. Soon Madame is intrigued and decides to take Elizabeth under her wing as a protégé. With Cybil and Jake also in on it they can only hope that they can con the con artists and save a lot of people money. As always these are very fun enjoyable reads. Not a traditional murder mystery in fact I think there was only one book where someone was murdered but instead an intricate con is run. My only quibble was that Anna and her new friend Freddie were kind of annoying butting in or trying to butt into the con. They just came across as spoiled whiny brats looking for an amusing adventure to talk about instead of people who actually wanted to help. In fact Freddie was so annoying I thought she was a mole for Madame Ophelia. Kind of sad she wasn't. That would've been a cool plot twist. But other than that this was quite fun. Despite how long it took me to get through it, once I sat down it was hard to put down at times. From the cheeky brother sister rivalry and affection between Elizabeth and Jake, Cybil and Zelda playing dumb, they remind me of Sid and Gus from the Molly Murphy Sullivan series I love how accurate it is to have two lesbiens living together as "rooommates" instead of some books that have them openly in love. Still not sure about Freddie but with any luck she'll get better in the next book. Otherwise an excellent addition to this unique series.

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://openbooksociety.com/article/c...

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

In this delightful historical set in New York City 1919, City of Shadows finds former con artist Elizabeth back in the game trying to help her friend Anna expose medium Madame Ophelia’s and save her clients from financial ruin.

In the wake of so much loss from World War I and the devastating flu epidemic, séances have come back in vogue as people attempt to communicate with deceased family and friends. Newlywed Elizabeth has sworn off her former con artist life, but when her best friend Anna comes to her for help, how can she say no? Anna’s mother is spending increasing amounts of money in hopes of hearing from her son David through medium Madame Ophelia. In addition to the emotional toll it is taking, Anna and her mother do not have the money to spare. Elizabeth suddenly develops the gift of spiritual communication in an effort to get close to Madame Ophelia. With the help of her friends, brother, aunt, and even her straight laced estate attorney husband Gideon, Elizabeth does her best to con a con.

City of Shadows is my favorite Counterfeit Lady book to date. There is something so amusing about the protagonist Elizabeth’s goal of one-upping someone who is taking advantage of others. Author Victoria Thompson succeeds at weaving a complicated, yet easy to follow, deception that reminds me a bit of movies like Ocean’s Eleven. Elizabeth has a wonderful heart, is smart as a whip, and is an excellent con artist despite her best efforts to keep away. Since her father and brother are in the business, she has learned many tricks of the trade. With the cooperation of Gideon, Jake, Aunt Cybil, and other connections, she lays out a plan to convince Madame Ophelia that Elizabeth is the real deal, and every one of her predictions comes to fruition. It all is so charming and entertaining; I was engaged in the story from the first page to the last.

As fun as the plot is, it is the characters’ relationships that are so compelling. I particularly enjoy Elizabeth’s relationship with her mother-in-law. So often MILs are portrayed as evil ogres, but here Mother Bates and Elizabeth are great friends and co-conspirators. Elizabeth and her brother Jake’s exchanges offer diverting sibling banter. I love that law abiding, exceedingly honest Gideon not only supports Elizabeth in her endeavors but gamely has his own important part to play.

City of Shadows is quite enjoyable. Highly recommended to mystery readers looking for a change of pace (no murder) and any historical fiction fan.

[Kimberly Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

City of Shadows: Victoria Thompson
👍👍 ♥

From Amazon: "Elizabeth Miles Bates has returned from her honeymoon with Gideon and is taking great pride in having completely forsaken her disreputable past. Then her friend Anna Vanderslice begs her to use her talents to save her widowed mother from an unscrupulous medium. Since the war and the flu epidemic left so many families in mourning, séances have come back into vogue as desperate families long to communicate with their loved ones.

Anna's mother has been attending séances in hopes of connecting with her son, David, who died of influenza. Anna had thought it a heartbreaking but harmless activity, but she's just learned that Mrs. Vanderslice is paying the medium ever-increasing sums of money in her eagerness to make contact. Since David's death has already caused Anna and her mother financial hardship, Mrs. Vanderslice's obsession is in danger of ruining them.

Madame Ophelia is working with a group of con artists to fleece as many grieving New Yorkers as possible before moving on to another city. Several of Mrs. Vanderslice's friends, as well as some of Gideon's clients, have already been victims. Elizabeth knows that simply exposing the medium as a fraud will not be enough to recoup the stolen money; the only way is to con the medium and her cohorts. But will Elizabeth's family help her when it means betraying other con artists? Elizabeth recruits Gideon, her aunt Cybil, and her partner, Zelda, to lend a hand. Can Elizabeth and her gang of amateurs fool the professionals? Or will speaking to the dead lead to deadly consequences?"

I liked this book and I liked the characters; there was a hint of humor which I haven't found in Thompson's midwife mysteries. The book was easy to read, and I loved the storyline, as I am very much into mediumship. The book held my interest & I read it almost straight through.

[Kate Baxter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Counterfeit Lady historical mystery series by Victoria Thompson is such a fun story. This fifth in series finds our plucky heroine, Elizabeth Bates, affronted by her dear friend Anna Vanderslice. It seems that Anna's mother has fallen prey to a seance medium, Madame Ophelia. This woman claims that the spirits of deceased loved ones communicate through her to those in the living world. Anna's mother has been paying exorbitant fees to Madame O. in order to stay connected to her deceased son (Anna's brother). Anna fears that her mother will squander the limited means they have to survive on. Surely, Elizabeth can help fix this situation. Meanwhile, Elizabeth's lawyerly husband, Gideon, is badgered by a trust client demanding the release of an extraordinary sum of money for an investment without being willing to provide details for which the sum is needed. She states that it was her deceased husband's recommendation that she do this. Yet another victim of Madame Ophelia?

Obviously the medium and her cadre of conning partners are taking advantage of naive widows living by fixed means. Elizabeth is well aware of a con's arsenal of shenanigans and is on task to help her friend. But can she turn the tables on Madame fast enough before the cons take their ill-gotten cash and bolt out of town. At any rate, there are cons a-plenty as Elizabeth's family gets in on the action. Ms. Thompson has done her research and added historical elements of the day, which are spot on. She even provides a few notes regarding the historical record at the end of the book. It's an action-packed story with never a dull moment.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yippee. Finished another counterfeit lady novel. Read two back-to-back. I really like the continuity and plan to not read #6 until #7 is published.

I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and their antics. Thompson takes us to the time before the flappers take center stage and many are suffering from the losses caused by WWI and the influenza pandemic. This explains why the popularity of seances takes hold. Many have lost loved ones, and want to communicate with them. It is interesting to get a glimpse of how this all worked. Thompson has a way of addressing relationships not accepted in mainstream society that are still prevalent today. The relationship of Cybil and Zelda, and the attraction of Anna and Freddie to one another could not be showcased 100 years ago. In her novels, Thompson treats these relationships in a way that allow them to exist amongst close friends but not publicly acknowledged. Glad that we have seen progress a century later, and feel for those that had to hide it years ago.

I have followed Thompson's writing from the Gaslight series. As I read the last chapter of City of Shadows, I felt the presence of the Gaslight series with Frank and Sarah. At the end, the conversation of the characters tie up the loose ends and make the outcome of the book more clear.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"City of Shadows" is a historical set in 1919 in New York City. This is the fifth book in the series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this book didn't spoil the previous novels. The historical details were woven into the story to create a sense of the specific time and place as well as bring the story alive.

Elizabeth is a reformed con artist married to Gideon, an honorable lawyer who refuses to lie. Elizabeth and her family has learned how to use his honesty to help in their right-a-wrong cons, and Elizabeth's friends were more than happy to be a part of the fun. The reader isn't told the plans before they happen, so there's an element of mystery and suspense. But we see events as they happen and know the overall goal, so it's fun guessing how the cons are going to go. It was very entertaining and humorous to see each of the interconnected cons being pulled off.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this entertaining historical novel.

I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. I actually started this series a whole TWO weeks ago and devoured my way to this title. Love it! Love all of it. Wonderful story, love seeing Elizabeth using her skills for good. I keep hoping for a crossover of her other series (even if it's just a minor character!) but I don't think the timelines overlap properly.
I'm always fascinated by the idea of séances and conning and mysticism during this time period. Thompson did a wonderful job of creating the atmosphere and desperation that so many people faced after the Great War and the flu, to be able to communicate with their loved ones. People were so frantic and willing to believe anything, just to feel some closure or relief. I love seeing all of the overlapping parts of the cons come together, and I've loved seeing the various characters develop over the series. Having Anna and Jake be close friends and NOTHING more is refreshing and sticks to the true character/person that Anna is. Loved this, can hardly wait for the next one!!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

CITY OF SHADOWS by Victoria Thompson
I wonder if I should worry, as honest-to-a-fault Gideon does, that I find the ins and outs of con schemes so fascinating. It’s like solving a puzzle or watching a well done magic show. In fact, I once owned a “magic bag” that I used for storytelling, only for good, as Elizabeth uses her skills and “gifts.” She has sworn to give up cons, but when a friend’s mother is being impoverished by a ruthless medium, what else can she do? The Old Man says he and Jake won’t help, as cons don’t interfere with other cons, but to help Anna? How can he resist? What a lovely, intricate, interwoven plot, cons for the greater good. There are also most admirable efforts to forward the cause of Women’s Suffrage. After all, the daughter of con artists became the wife of a respected lawyer by meeting her future MIL when they were arrested in front of the White House. Votes for Women!
. . . but she swears (again) that she’s finished with cons for good . . . wanna bet? 
I read the end of this during a storm, waiting out over a dozen short power outages, and it was a perfect distraction, a lesson in courage.

[Diane Rapport · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series, but I have to admit this wasn’t my favorite in it. Still, it’s a fun read, and interesting to learn more about “the art of the con”. In this volume, Elizabeth and Gideon are settling in as newlyweds. Elizabeth is certain she is finished with the life of a con artist. Unfortunately, her best friend Anna Vanderslice needs her help. Anna’s mother - in her grief over the death of her son to influenza - has fallen victim to Madame Ophelia. The fake medium is bilking Mrs Vanderslice - as well as other well-to-do women suffering loss - with promises of communication with their loved ones. She needs to be stopped, and Elizabeth is the one with the skills to stop her.

The author did a great deal of research on this subject, and it’s fascinating to understand how and why it worked so well. But there’s almost too much of the “how”, and I would have like a bit more of the secondary scams, and character interaction. Minor complaints though, in a series that I’ve quickly come to look forward to. Best news - there is a new book coming out this fall. Hooray!

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

How do you con a con? Elizabeth Bates and her merry band of relatives and friends know just how to do it.

Just after the Spanish Flu epidemic many people sought seances to commune with a deceased loved one. Exploitation of this grieving was a money maker for hucksters.

After Elizabeth learns that her best friend's mother is being conned into giving their funds to Madame Ophelia, they institute a con to put them out of business. However, she isn't supposed to use her "family" as there is honor among thieves...or is there?

I smiled throughout most of this book after knowing the characters, through five books, and how the fix was on.

This was my favorite of the five in the series I've read so far.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how Victoria Thompson jumps right into conflict in this book. A character comes running in with a problem, and it’s all hands on deck and away we go! I suppose each book in the series could be read as a standalone, but it’s so much easier (and more fun!) to follow the series. I also appreciate that Thompson doesn’t gloss over major events from previous books. The suffragist movement has truly become an active part of Elizabeth’s life, and people are still recalling the events of both the 1918 flu epidemic and WWI.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss. All opinions are my own.

[Joanne Pascoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first encounter with the series, so I didn't know the relationships among the characters -- not a big obstacle. Seems to be set shortly after The Great War, in New York City, but the many of the characters feel more contemporary. Basic plot: how do you con a con artist? A couple of different threads slowly come together, for a satisfying conclusion. A pleasant diversion from a more serious book I was reading at the time. I am likely to go back to the beginning of the series to learn more about these characters, as I enjoy series where there is a continuing storyline among major characters.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, learning that seances became very popular after the many deaths from the Spanish Flu and WWI, was one of the most interesting facets of this book. Jake is Elizabeth's right hand man in this case and she is the brains behind the con that is perpetrated on the medium preying on elderly women. It's hard to believe how gullible people are. I don't think we've seen the last of Persephone, though. Another enjoyable entry in this series. This takes place immediately after their return from their honeymoon and I am sorry we don't get a glimpse of that event--where they went and what sights they saw (besides each other!).