The Nurse's Secret

by Amanda Skenandore, Vanessa Johansson (Narrator)

Listening Length 10 hours and 47 minutes

The Alienist meets The Light of Luna Park in a fascinating historical novel inspired by the little-known story of America's first nursing school, as a young female grifter in 1880s New York evades the police by conning her way into Bellevue Hospital's training school for nurses...

In the slums of 1880s New York, Una Kelly has grown up to be a rough-and-tumble grifter, able to filch a pocketbook in five seconds flat. But when another con-woman pins her for a murder she didn't commit, Una is forced to flee. Running from the police, Una lies her way into an unlikely refuge: the nursing school at Bellevue Hospital.

Based on Florence Nightingale's nursing principles, Bellevue is the first school of its kind in the country. Where once nurses were assumed to be ignorant and unskilled, Bellevue prizes discipline, intellect, and moral character, and only young women of good breeding need apply. At first, Una balks at her prim classmates and the doctors' endless commands. Yet life on the streets has prepared her for the horrors of injury and disease found on the wards, and she slowly gains friendship and self-respect.

Just as she finds her footing, Una's suspicions about a patient's death put her at risk of exposure, and will force her to choose between her instinct for self-preservation, and exposing her identity in order to save others.

Amanda Skenandore brings her medical expertise to a page-turning story that explores the evolution of modern nursing--including the grisly realities of nineteenth-century medicine--as seen through the eyes of an intriguing and dynamic heroine.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Book Club, Historical, Audiobook, Thriller

11 pages, Audible Audio

First published June 23, 2022

About the author

Amanda Skenandore is an award-winning author of historical fiction and a registered nurse. Her books have been translated into multiple languages and garnered accolades from the American Library Association, Reader’s Digest, Silicon Valley Reads, and Apple Books. She is a 2024 Nevada Arts Council’s literary fellow. Amanda lives in Las Vegas with her husband and their pet turtle, Lenore.

Reviews

[MarilynW · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Nurse’s Secret by Amanda Skenandore
Narrated by Vanessa Johansson

It's the 1880s and the slums of New York are Una Kelly's stomping ground. Una is a liar, a thief, and a grifter and she puts herself first in all things. There is no room for compassion, honesty, and morals here. It's each man or woman for themselves because no one will save you from trouble when trouble hits.

When someone Una is meeting with is killed, the cops pin the murder on her. Una has to use all her street skills to escape custody because she knows where she will be sent will be worse than death and it will kill her in the end anyway. Her skills in deceit allow her to finagle her way into Bellevue's new nursing program, which is based on Florence Nightingale’s nursing principles. Being in the program gives her a bed to sleep in and a life to live as she lays low, hiding from the law. Hopefully she can at least last the thirty day probationary period as Una can't imagine making it the two years to graduation. It's not like she plans to listen in class, study, or put any effort into learning to be a nurse, all she's interested in doing is just enough not get kicked out of the program for now.

Lister's theories on how to prevent the spread of germs were still scoffed at, leaches were a mainstay for treatment, and people were dying of ailments that would be nothing now. I cringed listening to the treatments that patients endured and it seems that often a nurse or a nurse in training might be the only thing saving a patient from the coldness and arrogance of doctors who thought women were too stupid to make medical decisions for patients. A hospital seemed to be a house of horrors back then.

During this time, Una mostly stays Una, when push comes to shove, Una will steal, Una will lie, and Una will let a person who considers her a friend take the blame for something Una may or may not have done. Una is really good at pulling the wool over most peoples' eyes but her nursing training does actually bring out a compassionate side in her. Maybe she can really make this work, become a honest (mostly) person in society. Her hard edges start to soften but she's always in danger. And Una realizes that there may be a murderer among them. If she can't do anything else, she wants to bring the murderer down. Finally, maybe Una is willing to sacrifice herself to save others from harm. I like how realistic the story is in that Una doesn't magically turn into something she is not but, instead, gradually inches toward someone better than she was in the past.

Publication: June 28, 2022

Thank you to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Rosh ~catching up slowly~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: Pretty interesting. Historical fiction plus medical fiction plus crime mystery all rolled in one. Does justice to the historical and medical elements. The mystery part is guessable.

Story Synopsis:

New York City, 1883. Una is a petty thief who grifts for a living. She is independent and bold, and not shy of manipulating her way of trouble. However, when she ends up getting accused of a murder she didn’t commit, she has no choice but to escape. With limited funds and no friends, Una has just one option – join the nursing school at Bellevue Hospital pretending to be from a wealthier family. The rest of the story mainly follows Una’s experiences as a nursing trainee at Bellevue, but the background also has a series of murders occurring in the city, which Una finds difficult to ignore as some of the targets involve her slum acquaintances.
The story comes to us in a limited third person perspective.

Where the book worked for me:
💜 Last year, I had read “The Second Life of Mirielle West” by this same author and came away with mixed feelings. While I loved the historical content, the main character left me so irritated that I couldn't enjoy the book. Thankfully, none of the complaints that I had made in my review for that book are applicable this time around. (I am making the comparison not just because of the author. The theme in both books is somewhat similar. Both have unlikely characters ending up as nurses, and both books pay homage to an old and unknown American institution.)

💜 While reading the book, I had no idea that the nursing school in the story was based on an actual American institution. Bellevue Hospital's training school for nurses was America's first nursing school and used Florence Nightingale's nursing principles to ensure a disciplined and well-trained nursing staff. It is a nice way of reminding modern day readers of historical institutions.

💜 The author is a registered nurse, and her expertise shows. The medical details are comprehensive and enlightening. I liked the glimpse the book provided not just into the medical and nursing practices of the late 1800s but the misogyny of the male doctors towards the mostly female nurses.

💜 The historical angle is well-tackled. The writing seems very true to the era and one can almost feel the grime of the slums and the general lifestyle of the poor in 1880s NYC. At the same time, it also shows the condescending behaviour of the wealthier people towards the underprivileged.

💜 The murder mystery is not so strong because the writing reveals the possible culprit quite clearly. So if you read this mainly as a crime mystery, you might be disappointed. Go for it as a historical fiction with a hint of mystery. I wasn’t looking for a mystery in this story, so this was not a problem for me.

💜 The main character won my heart this time around. I simply loved how unapologetic Una was about her circumstances. Her character doesn’t have any sudden or abrupt turnaround, but grows realistically through the course of the story. She lives by her “rules” and the entire story has her quoting one of her rules when she is in a quandary. Her life as a nursing trainee is not over the top but quite realistic. Of the rest of the characters, the amiable and geeky Drusilla was amazing. I would totally read a spinoff version with her character leading the plot.

Why did I not go higher in my rating?
💔 The rest of the characters are okay, not bad but not outstanding as well; most were fairly predictable.

💔 I didn’t get any reading high after reading this story. It went as I had expected, with no surprises in the plot and no depth to the other characters. There was no punch to keep me captivated. I could easily stop the audio whenever I wanted and get back to it many hours later without a tinge of curiosity or eagerness.

💔 One thing I definitely hated was the title. It is so bland and boring.

The audiobook experience:
The audiobook, clocking at almost 11 hours, is narrated wonderfully by Vanessa Johansson. She nails the personality of the characters and I would highly recommend trying this book out by audio.

Overall, a pretty satisfying experience. Excellent on historical & medical details. Recommended to historical fiction fans.

3.75 stars.

My thanks to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of “The Nurse’s Secret”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.


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[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been reading Amanda Skendandore’s books since her debut. If you enjoy well-written, engaging hist fic, I highly recommend them.

About the book: “The unflinching, spellbinding new book from the acclaimed author of The Second Life of Mirielle West. Based on the little-known story of America’s first nursing school, a young female grifter in 1880s New York evades the police by conning her way into Bellevue Hospital’s training school for nurses, while a spate of murders continues to follow her as she tries to leave the gritty streets of the city behind…”

Bellevue was founded on the principles developed by Florence Nightingale. It’s hard to wrap my head around this, but prior to this training experience, nurses were viewed as unskilled and lacking in knowledge. Not just anyone could apply, and some of the qualifications have include your background and moral character.

That does not stop Una, though. She’s been living on the streets, and she knows how to survive. She sees the nursing program as a way out of her circumstances. A thread of the story has to do with a possible murderer, and this is when Una begins to change as she wants the murderer to be caught.

I loved all the layers to the story, and Una’s character grew on me as I came to understand her better. Just because she didn’t have the high society background and education did not mean she wasn’t clever and capable. The murder mystery added some nice tension to the story. Overall, another solid, entertaining historical with a touch of mystery from Amanda Skenandore.

I received a gifted copy.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[Marilyn (not getting notifications) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 shiny stars! The Nurse’s Secret by Amanda Skenandore was an engrossing and captivating historical fiction novel that centered around America’s first training school for nurses. Bellevue Hospital was the home for the first nursing candidates of good intellect, cultivated discipline and good upbringing to be trained as upstanding and well trained nurses. The Nurse’s Secret took place in New York City during the 1880’s. The characters and setting were vividly drawn and imagined. It was fast paced and held my attention throughout. The Nurse’s Secret was cleverly plotted as well.

Life for Una Kelly was difficult at best. Her mother had tragically died when Una was younger. She was left to live with her alcoholic father who later became addicted to opium. Una had to grow up fast and learn to fend for herself. She learned the art of becoming a pickpocket. This was how she survived. She lived in a rundown tenement that she shared with other girls similar to herself. One day, Una was meeting someone and she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. She and another con woman friend stumbled upon a murdered victim in a back alley. It was the person Una was meant to meet. The police were all over it before Una could take off and run. The police charged Una with the murder and she was carted away to jail. Una knew that she had to find a way to escape. She could not be imprisoned. It was then that Una saw an article about Bellevue’s nursing school. Una got a reporter friend of hers to falsify documents and references for her so she could request an interview at the Nursing School. What a perfect hiding place! No one would suspect that she was hiding there. Una managed to escape from police custody and conned her way into the program. Little did Una realize at the time but this admission would change and shape the rest of her life.

While Una immersed herself into the nursing training program, her roommate Dru, a chatty and goodie goodie woman, was slowly becoming a very important person in Una’s life. There was also one particular young doctor who inched his way into Una’s life. One day, after Una had been training at Bellevue for a while, an old acquaintance was brought in by ambulance. When Una went to check on her, she discovered that this acquaintance had died. Una had a hard time accepting that information and requested to see her body. After seeing her acquaintance’s corpse, Una believed strongly that she had been murdered. Who could have gotten into the hospital to accomplish this feat? Una became obsessed with finding the killer. Could it be someone who was employed by the hospital? Una believed that this acquaintance was murdered in the same way as others in the city had been. She was determined to catch the killer.

This was Amanda Skenandore’s second novel but the first one that I had the privilege of reading. The characters were believable and the settings authentic. Having a daughter in the nursing profession, I found it fascinating to read about how nursing schools first developed. I believe that Amanda Skenandore’s experience as a registered nurse only added to the accurate descriptions of the nurse’s daily routines and lives. The Nurse’s Secret was about friendships, looking out for one’s self, choices, life, opportunities.and how circumstances can alter one’s life. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook that was performed very well by Vanessa Johansson. I highly recommend this audiobook.

Thank you to Highbridge Audio for allowing me the opportunity to listen to the ARC of the audiobook of The Nurse’s Secret in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Publication is set for June 28,

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Una never lingered in one place too long. Never snatched more than she could easily hide. A good thief had her rules and kept to them."

Don't be fooled by the prim and proper cover on this one. Said nurse with her frilly cap and starched uniform. For beneath all that professionalism beats the heart of a con artist...a thief that knows the streets of New York as well as the streets knowing her.

But Una is on the run now. All of her finesse in pickpocketing and pilfering gold watches and fancy cufflinks are behind her. Una was in the midst of shaking down a local buyer of stolen goods when she was arrested and thrown in jail. Before the dust even settled, Una's backer had her out on the streets once again.

Not so fast, Una. When Traveling Mike, the fence last in her company, is found dead in the same alley, Una is arrested for murder. She's abandoned by her former supporters. But our gal is known for her wits and she escapes while being transported to prison. Broke and on the run, Una seeks the opportunity of hiding out while being a nursing student at Bellevue Hospital.

Amanda Skenandore has created quite the character in Una. She's far from an angel of mercy now walking the hospital corridors. Skenandore's use of street dialogue and toughness brings into play that Una is a hard product of her environment. She's not willing to leave her cleverness and survival skills at the hospital door. Una is hardly the sweet girl gone wrong.

When an unusual death occurs at Bellevue, Una is fully aware that murder may be at the core. Usually working on her own, Una changes gears and incorporates the help of a young doctor. She's now putting her identity in jeopardy.

The Nurse's Secret has it all. It's hardly a piece of fluff. As readers, we're exposed to survival on the streets of New York City in the slums of the 1880's from desperate adults to wayward children. Skenandore gives us a bird's eye view of medical procedures that caused more deaths than recoveries. And we have a mystery/thriller in the making as well.

The Nurse's Secret is a worthy read for sure as well as the excellent writing skills of Amanda Skenandore. Will be checking out her other offerings soon.

[Sharon Orlopp · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Nurse's Secret moved too slowly for me. I listened to it on audiobook and after about 30% it went into my DNF pile.

I encourage Goodreads readers to read many reviews on this book because many readers enjoyed it.

I recently read Amanda Skenandore's book, The Second Life of Mirielle West, and gave it three stars.

[Miya (severe pain struggles, slower at the moment) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect for historical fiction lovers who like a bit of mystery. I really liked this book. It kept me engaged the whole way through. I like that it is a little dark. Nice twist. All around good read.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: I received a free copy of this book. In exchange here is my honest review.

A pretty good historical fiction mystery. 👍 It had a Sherlock Holmes feel. 🥸

[Constantine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ ½
Genre: Historical Fiction

Set in New York in the 1880s is the story of Una Kelly a thief who gets accused of a murder that she has no part in. When things get complicated for her, the only solution is to escape. Una finds the nursing school at Bellevue Hospital an excellent place to remain hidden from the police. There she builds some friendships and finds a romantic interest in Dr. Edwin. Then another murder happens that seems to be connected to the earlier one. Una finds it a chance to clear her name, which also means risking revealing her real identity to the new people she cares about.

This historical fiction has mystery elements to it towards the second half after Una joins the nursing school. The medical information in the nursing school especially for that era was something interesting to read about. As a story, the concept is simple and could happen in any timeframe even in our modern days. Yes, it is also predictable but still an enjoyable one. For historical fiction, I do need sometimes a story with more punch. At times I felt the plot was lacking the depth I am looking for in historical stories even though the author has done a good job with the characters. The mystery element sometimes felt more fun and at other times was more like a distraction. Overall it was an enjoyable read.

Many thanks to the publisher Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-written, entertaining historical fiction novel set in 1880's NY. It is fast paced, interesting and informative, with vividly described settings, a likable female protagonist, murder, mystery, intrigue, and a touch of romance. I listened to the audio version of this novel and the narrator, Vanessa Johansson, does an outstanding job depicting the characters and their personalities.

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a period of history I have read much about which made it all the more interesting to me. I found the characters to be realistic and likable. I was drawn into this story instantly and had a hard time putting it down. Una Kelly grew up in the slums of New York in the late 1800’s and survives with her skills as a pickpocket at thief. When she finds herself in some trouble with the police she notices an advertisement for nurse training at Bellevue and sees it as the perfect cover. But when she starts to piece together suspicious things she realizes that Bellevue may also have a murderer. I liked this historical fiction/medical mystery quite a bit and I will definitely be reading more from this author.

["Avonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com

THE NURSE’S SECRET by Amanda Skenandore is a historical fiction novel with romantic elements featuring a young female protagonist set in 1880’s New York City’s Bellevue Hospital. This is a standalone novel with great characters, a bit of sweet romance and a suspense murder mystery plot intertwined throughout.

New York City’s Bellevue Hospital is the first hospital in the U.S. to initiate a nursing school based on the principles of Florence Nightingale. The young ladies must be of high moral character, educated and from upper class homes. There is a strict code of decorum, discipline and work ethic that must be followed to remain in the program. Una Kelly is none of these things. Una is a con artist, pickpocket and thief who is found at the scene of a murder, arrested, and then escapes. She cons her way into the nursing program with the help of a friend to hide from the police.

With the help of her roommate, Una finds she is capable of pulling off this deception and even finds she is good with the patients. A young doctor in training is interested in the unique nurse probationer, but Una is afraid to admit she is not who she seems. But when a woman from her past shows up and threatens Una’s ruse, she is killed in the same method as the man Una is accused of killing.

Una knows someone is killing in Bellevue and it is like the murder she is accused of. She sets a trap, but she may end up the victim of this serial killer.

I loved this book and all the characters. Una is street smart and thick skinned due to her upbringing, but she also knows how to use her natural intelligence to get along in her ruse and she begins to really care about her patients. Una’s gradual change in caring for her roommate, Dru and the step-by-step acceptance of her friendship really emphasized her emotional changes. The sweet romantic elements worked to also show a side of Una where she is slightly vulnerable. I felt all the secondary characters were fully fleshed and believable for the historical period. The descriptions of 1880 New York display the research involved in this story along with all the historical medical treatments and techniques for both doctors and nurses. The suspense plot of this story is paced well throughout and has a believable ending.

I highly recommend this engaging historical fiction!

[Greta Samuelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amanda Skenandore was recommended to me by a friend that worked with her.
I will definitely check out her other books!

Una is a swindler/pickpocket in late 19th century NY and gets herself in some trouble that leads to the “coppers” looking for her as a murderer (by the way-she is not).

She finds out Bellevue Hospital has a nursing program. What a perfect place to hide out! No one will look for her there! She lies her way into being accepted and so begins the story of her training as a nurse - all while keeping true secret of who she truly is (a girl from the slums without a “proper” upbringing).

During this time more murders are taking place and Una suspects she knows who is the real killer.

I enjoyed reading about what it was like to be a nurse over 100 years ago and at the same time, Skenandore mixed in a murder mystery.

Great writing and an engaging story.

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una Kelly lives in a New York tenement building in Mulberry Street and she shares a flat with three other women. Una is a grifter or a pickpocket and scammer, she works for Marm Blei and she provides her with some protection. Two murders have been committed, Una’s in the wrong place at the wrong time, when she stumbles across the third victim and now she’s on the run from the police.

Una needs to go into hiding, she applies to be a nurse at Bellevue Training School for Nurses and be a member of it's first class. Based on Florence Nightingale’s nursing principles, they only accept single women, with good breeding and morale character, with some fast talking and false documents Una manages to secure a place.

Una struggles to fit in at first, she has never lived in such a nice building as the nurse’s dormitory, she doesn't trust the indoor plumbing and she shares a room with the perfect Miss. Drusilla Lewis. She has no idea what the doctor is talking about in her first lecture, it’s all new to Una and she needs to pay more attention. What Una has in her favor is due to her impoverished upbringing, she's been exposed lice, dirt, vomit, blood and sweat, unlike her fellow probationers and she understands the patients. Much to her own surprise, Una enjoys her training and has all the attributes to make a good nurse.

When a patient dies unexpectedly Una has her suspicions, how can she tell anyone at the hospital she thinks the person was strangled and without exposing her flawed past? The serial killer might work at Bellevue and she finds herself snooping around the wards, ambulance bay and morgue looking for clues.

I received a copy of The Nurse’s Secret from both NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and Edelweiss and Kensington Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. The author Amanda Skenandore is a qualified nurse, her book takes you back to a time when nurses weren’t treated well by doctors and some doctors laughed at new ideas and discoveries in medicine. Gilded age nurses thoroughly cleaned hospital wards, infection rates decreased and patient care improved. I found the medical information included in the story really interesting and despite her obvious flaws Una’s character is spirited, her heart is in the right place and she makes an excellent detective and nurse.

Five stars from me, I highly recommend this book if you like historical fiction stories about nurses, the medical treatment at the time and with a thrilling plot twist.
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[Taury · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Nurse’s Secret by Amanda Skenandore is a book about a woman of the streets in the 1880s that is accused of murder. She decides to hide in a nursing school. She goes through as a student in constant fear of being exposed. During that time she slowly goes from thief, liar and accused murderer into a new, transformed lady. Slowly becoming upstanding. Just as Una becomes a woman with a little integrity and a bit of morals, even falling in love, her world falls out under her again

It was a nice story. But just a story it what the book is. Characters are out of a movie and predictable. But an entertaining story.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on Florence Nightingale's nursing principles, Bellevue is the first school of it's kind in the country. Where once nurse's were assumed to be ignorant and unskilled, Bellevue prizes discipline, intellect and moral character, and only women of good breeding need apply. At first Una balks at her prim classmates and the doctors endless commands. Yet life on the streets has prepared her for the horrors of injury and disease found on the wards, and she slowly gains friendship and self-respect. Just as she finds her footing, Una's suspicions about a patients death put her at risk of exposure, and will force her to choose between her instinct for self-preservation and exposing her identity in order to save others.

This story is set in New York City, 1883. The story is slow to begin with but it soon picks up it's pace. Una has a interesting backstory. She doesn't quite like the prim and proper, no-nonsense behaviour of Bellevue. A well written story that covers: murder, romance, friendship, and nursing with historical fiction. I was rooting for Una all the way. This was my first read by the author but it won't be my last.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #AmandaSkenandone for my ARC of #TheNursesSecret in exchange for an honest review.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Una, what’s the meaning behind all this? You can’t expect me to believe you’ve had a sudden change of heart and mean to go from a slum dweller and a grifter to a nurse.”

This was a SPECTACULAR read! I was thoroughly hooked from the first page and, thankfully, managed to ignore my to-do list long enough to finish this compelling five-star novel.

Una Kelly is a grifter who has managed to evade capture. While on the run and looking for someplace to hide, she spots a newspaper article recruiting nurses. A con her whole life, she figures that pretending to be a nurse can’t be too difficult a gig so she scams her way into America’s first nursing school at New York City’s famous Bellevue Hospital in 1883. The onsite training school is renowned for following Florence Nightingale’s nursing principles, the first school of its kind in the country. Eager to fit in, Nurse Kelly surprises everyone, even herself, with her ability to care and assist. Just as she’s about to graduate, she uncovers a sinister plot within the hospital. Can Una play her role long enough to evade capture? Long enough to uncover the identity of the villain hiding within the hospital?

I absolutely loved Una and her list of rules to survive life on the streets! She was such a rich, compelling character. She immediately drew me in and offered me a peek at her authentic self. She was flawed and years on the streets had hardened her, but as she dealt with the challenges in her path she unfurled her underlying personality. Because I was privy to her growth, her achievements were as exciting for me as they were for her. I cheered Una along throughout the book.

In addition to Skenandore’s splendid characterization, she dazzles readers with memorable dialogue! I found myself picking out Una’s expressions and word choices with a smile and before long, I was reading along in my head with an accent! Not only is Skenandore able to showcase her character’s unique personalities through memorable dialogue, but she is also able to advance the plot via dialogue. It clearly highlights the characters’ voices. I appreciate an author who can show not tell as much as I appreciate one who can insert meaningful dialogue; I got both in Amanda Skenandore!

Along the way, Skenandore will open your eyes to the vast separation between the classes in Gilded Age New York, the qualifications for nursing school in the 1880s, Lister’s germ theory, and the constraint by prejudices that early nurses experienced.

In addition to a great story paralleling the history of American nursing, readers are treated to a great romance and compelling mystery.

I hope the author isn’t finished with Una’s story as I really wasn’t ready to say goodbye to her yet!

I was gifted this advance copy by Amanda Skenandore, Kensington Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Merry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about the main character. Una has had to lead a hard life since she was a child. She is a con artist, and I had a bit of trouble rooting for her. There is a mystery that does not come into play till later in the book and it wasn't difficult to figure it out. Dru was my favorite side character, and I would like a book about her. She is smart, kind and a good friend. A romantic interest is sprinkled throughout the story. I rate it 3.5*

[Books Just 4 Me · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story! Skenandore took us back to the 1880s after the first US nursing hospital was opened, Bellevue in New York City. I was captivated by the atmosphere of the rough streets, nursing history, murder mystery and love story. Una Kelly had a rough life and makes ends meets by being a skilled grifter. However, Una finds herself in a wrong place at the wrong time scenario and winds up on the run from the police. Bellevue is the perfect hiding spot and with a bit of resume fudging she gets accepted into the nursing program. We learn of her background and follow Una on her emotional roller coaster as she starts to actually enjoy her con. The story had depth and drew me in. I greatly enjoyed this piece of historical fiction!

[Nakia's Hideaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5!

What I Liked:

- Main character, Una & her hustle
- Setting
- Pacing/Action
- Una's friendship with Dru
- The mystery/suspense
- Learning about late 1800's medical practices
- The love story (shocking, I know!)
- The ending


What I Didn't Like:

A couple chapters made me feel like I was in nursing school, and not in a good way. Though I wouldn't take them out, I would just shorten them.


Full Thoughts in Recent Wrap Up Video: https://youtu.be/RIEre2Kma6I

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a good historical mystery. I don't even mind if it is on the unembellished side as this story was. In fact, its strength was its candidness and plain-speaking.

Mind you, the heroine had lived a complicated and suspicious life. In a nutshell, she was a thief and spent quite a bit of time on the streets. When greed surfaced, she got herself in trouble.

Una Kelly managed to escape to Bellevue's teaching hospital. She was falsely accused of murder and needed a safe place and some time to form a plan of action. A lie here, a fabrication there and she was in. What she wasn't expecting was friendship and to fall in love.

This was a gritty story. You'll read about vomit, unsanitary conditions and filth. It is hard to imagine comparing hospitals with today and what nurses had to contend with in the 19th century.

The mystery itself came about slowly and I wasn't hard-pressed to figure out the villain. Rather than go into so much of Una's background, I wish there was more action. I wanted a page-turner.

The romance that eventually came about was nice, but it felt odd because of Una's personality. Don't get me wrong, she deserved someone nice to court her, but when things mattered most, she ran into some problems. And the ending? I wanted a definitive HEA. It left itself open.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amanda Skenandore and Kensington Books for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[MAP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una Kelly is a conwoman who is falsely accused of murder and hides in a nursing school/hospital to keep herself from being arrested. She then discovers she actually likes the work and that the murderer is still at large and targeting people.

This was a good robust historical fiction grounded in history and science and built around an engaging mystery and interesting characters. The best type of historical fiction.

[Cindy aka "The Book Fairy" · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Fantabulous" book! This was one of those that I just didn't want to put down with the fascinating historical accounts of the time period, the intrigue alone kept me riveted, and the nursing aspects! I loved Una's spunky inside her head replies at least as she didn't dare say them out loud to make a pompous doctor appear less than perfect...heaven forbid, she would have been fired. Our nursing profession has improved thankfully compared to the utter foolishness called requirements back then. No dating while in training, had be single or widowed, (not in this book but they were subject to being thought of as less than credible character wise if they frequented a beauty salon no less!) yup, seriously. The dismaying aspect for me was the g damm use here n there, but otherwise nothing crude nor gruesome etc thankfully. Having to appease some pigheaded doctors who regarded themselves too knowledgeable to ever be told by a junoir doctor nor especially a lowly nurse as "women didn't the intellect to become a surgeon" !! hhmm....I'm not a man hater whatsoever( I admire the male species ;) ha, but even today, SOME of those men have carried over that arrogance in their mindsets, for it still happens as I have been, and still am ,working as an RN. I think this is probably the longest review I ever wrote but this book was captivating and relatable, it riled me up! ;) ha.... a keeper and one I don't mind recommending at all.

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

TITLE: THE NURSES SECRET: A Thrilling Historical Novel of the Dark Side of Gilded Age New York City
AUTHOR: Amanda Skenandore
PUB DATE: 06.28.2022 Now Available

I love reading historical fiction, and even more so when it’s about a nurse and a murder mystery combined! I love Una Kelly - she has a troubled past, has the street smarts, and has found herself in nursing school where one of the requirements is to be of good breeding and of morale character. Una’s resiliency, her keen sense, and survival skills actually makes her an exceptional nurse. I just love how exciting this book is and it’s just full of tidbits about medical history that I just absolutely devoured.

This is the perfect book for anyone that loves a gripping mystery, an intriguing historical medical fiction, and an amazing heroine you won’t soon forget!

I highly recommend!

["Avonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com

THE NURSE’S SECRET by Amanda Skenandore is a historical fiction novel with romantic elements featuring a young female protagonist set in 1880’s New York City’s Bellevue Hospital. This is a standalone novel with great characters, a bit of sweet romance and a suspense murder mystery plot intertwined throughout.

New York City’s Bellevue Hospital is the first hospital in the U.S. to initiate a nursing school based on the principles of Florence Nightingale. The young ladies must be of high moral character, educated and from upper class homes. There is a strict code of decorum, discipline and work ethic that must be followed to remain in the program. Una Kelly is none of these things. Una is a con artist, pickpocket and thief who is found at the scene of a murder, arrested, and then escapes. She cons her way into the nursing program with the help of a friend to hide from the police.

With the help of her roommate, Una finds she is capable of pulling off this deception and even finds she is good with the patients. A young doctor in training is interested in the unique nurse probationer, but Una is afraid to admit she is not who she seems. But when a woman from her past shows up and threatens Una’s ruse, she is killed in the same method as the man Una is accused of killing.

Una knows someone is killing in Bellevue and it is like the murder she is accused of. She sets a trap, but she may end up the victim of this serial killer.

I loved this book and all the characters. Una is street smart and thick skinned due to her upbringing, but she also knows how to use her natural intelligence to get along in her ruse and she begins to really care about her patients. Una’s gradual change in caring for her roommate, Dru and the step-by-step acceptance of her friendship really emphasized her emotional changes. The sweet romantic elements worked to also show a side of Una where she is slightly vulnerable. I felt all the secondary characters were fully fleshed and believable for the historical period. The descriptions of 1880 New York display the research involved in this story along with all the historical medical treatments and techniques for both doctors and nurses. The suspense plot of this story is paced well throughout and has a believable ending.

I highly recommend this engaging historical fiction!

[Chris St Laurent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una is a thief on the streets of NYC in the late 1800’s, who ends up being accused of murder. She flees to of all places the new nursing program at Bellevue hospital and lies her way in to hide and gain shelter. She ends up enjoying being a nurse she is kind, supportive and empathetic to her patients but the murders continue, she and her fellow student are on a mission to solve the crime.
Well since I am a nurse I probably enjoyed this book more than most.
I found it interesting learning about one of the first nursing schools in the US offering formal training for nurse’s was at Bellevue NYC in 1873. The often barbaric medicine practiced at the time, applying leeches and the surgeries were performed without asepsis a bit shocking, germ theory was new and certainly had its critics at the time. Saying health care was patriarchal at that time is bit of an understatement, nurses did what they were told and speaking up was very frowned upon. I felt the author captured the setting of NYC in the late 1800’s nicely. This book was a little slow at the beginning but it picked up, the ending was satisfying.

[Nur · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been a long time since i read historical fiction. And wow i love it! There’s mystery and romance included and you won’t get bored! Such a fun read!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

After her mother died in a fire and her father became lost to drink and the opium dens, Una Kelly takes to the streets of the Five Points in New York. She is picked up by Marm Blei who teaches her to be an expert pickpocket. When a deal goes wrong, a murder is pinned on Una. She escapes the police but has lost Marm Blei's protection. When Una sees an advertisement for nurse trainees at Bellevue Training School, she takes the opportunity to lie low for a while. In her new position, Una not only makes friends, but finds she might actually be good at nursing once she puts some effort into it. A life on the streets around a variety of different people as well as sickness, blood and filth has prepared her well. However, the strange murders that happened in the Points seem to be following her to the school. Una may be able to catch the killer, but she will have to expose her true self.

The Nurse's Secret is a beautifully written historical fiction story set in 1880's New York City. The characters were all intriguing and I was engrossed with Una's story from the beginning where she was observing people to steal from and then helping a younger thief at the same time. The vivid descriptions brought the Five Points neighborhood to life as well as Bellevue Training School and the medical procedures there. I enjoyed seeing Una change as well as excel in Bellevue. With her roommate, Dru, Una was able to see what true friends are like and finally trust someone as well as have them trust her back. I found it interesting that Una was able to relate to all the patients there better than some of the other nurses due to her time on the streets. The incorporation of the mystery carried suspense throughout the story even though I had a good idea of who the culprit might be. The romance was well done and did not detract from the story. Overall, The Nurse's Secret is an immersive story of 1880's New York with strong characters and a great mystery.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

[Miniikaty · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

Reseña completa en el blog Letras, Libros y Más próximamente

Este libro se sale un poco de mi zona de confort, no es una lectura que de primeras elija pero quería algo diferente para variar y la premisa me pareció interesante. Debo de recordar salir más de vez en cuando de mis gustos lectores porque esta novela me ha atrapado desde el principio y la he disfrutado un montón.

Es un libro de ficción histórica que nos habla de las primeras mujeres que se formaron para ser enfermeras y de las cosas que tenían que aguantar, de la pobreza, las pocas oportunidades y todo esto trasladándonos a la época de manera brillante; a la vez nos da una trama secundaria apasionante, pues tenemos un poco de romance, familia encontrada, superación, sueños y esperanzas y lo más importante… una trama policiaca/misterio con un asesino en serie.

La pluma es sencilla pero con buenos recursos, descripciones de todo tipo y sin cortarse, personajes potentes y una ambientación de 10. El ritmo es ágil y no se detiene en ningún momento, pasan un montón de cosas y aunque no sean giros de la leche el desarrollo de personajes es brutal y te mantiene atenta. Eso si, me ha resultado un poco previsible (vi venir varias cosas desde la mitad de la novela) pero eso no quita que disfrutara del viaje.

Una histórica de ficción histórica con todos los ingredientes para engancharte sin remedio.

[Pancha Mantilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am officially amazed.
I've always liked historical dramas but this one is simply amazing. The characterization of the main character, Una, is simply perfect. I don't even know which words to use to start praising this book.
The story occurs in New York in the 1880s, a woman lives as a thief, using her wits to get through the complications of life. Until she gets dragged into something bigger than she expected. Then as a last resource, she goes to the first nursing school for women in New York. Not for vocation, not because she wants to be a better person, but to hide in plain sight from the police. There she meets a whole new world of people that will change her life forever. An amazing story about finding yourself, the difficulties of the class breach, and the importance of being true to who you are.