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This Wild, Wild Country
Three women. An isolated town. A decades-old mystery.
They hate me down there, in Boldville. I can read it in their eyes, smell it on their noxious breaths. That dreaded little town hates everything about me: not just my personality and form, the clothes I wear, but the way I think.
The things that I know.
1933. Cornelia Stover is headstrong and business-minded - not the kind of woman the men of Boldville, New Mexico, expect her to be. Then she stumbles upon a secret hidden out in the hills . . .
1970. Decades later, Joanna Riley, a former cop, packs up her car in the middle of the night and drives west, fleeing an abusive marriage and a life she can no longer bear. Eventually, she runs out of gas and finds herself in Boldville, a sleepy desert town in the foothills of the Gila Mountains.
Joanna was looking for somewhere to retreat, to hide, but something is off about this place. In a commune on the outskirts a young man has been found dead and Joanna knows a cover up when she sees it. Soon, she and Glitter, a young, disaffected hippie, find themselves caught up in a dark mystery that goes to the very heart of Boldville, where for too long people have kept their eyes shut and turned their heads away. A mystery that leads them all the way back to the unexplained disappearance of Glitter's grandmother Cornelia forty years before . . .
A captivating, atmospheric new novel from the lauded author of The Long, Long Afternoon, This Wild Wild Country simmers with secrets, lies and terrible betrayal, unravelling the lives of three women at the mercy of their times.
Praise for Inga Vesper
'Thrilling, haunting and darkly beautiful. This Wild, Wild Country enchants as mysteries deepen and secrets echo over the harsh realities of the American Dream' Chris Whitaker, bestselling author of We Begin at the End
'Remarkably assured. A tale of inequality, broken dreams and quiet desperation behind a picture-perfect facade' Guardian
'A clever and absorbing debut' The Times
'Beguiling and evocative. This vivid and atmospheric pageturner will keep readers guessing all the way to its satisfying finale' Sunday Express
'Beautifully crafted, claustrophobic and compelling. As delicious as a long drink on a hot day' Stacey Halls, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Familiars and The Foundling
'Such a vivid atmosphere of stifling LA heat and stifling 50s domesticity' Clare Chambers, author of Small Pleasures
'Breathtakingly stylish, hypnotic and masterfully gripping' Chris Whitaker, author of We Begin at the End, Waterstones Thriller of the Month
'A triumph. What a pleasure to read something fresh and original. For once the hype is justified and Inga Vesper's gripping page turner must surely now be bound for Netflix' Evening Standard
'A tasty, tense, page-turning combo of James Ellroy and Kate Atkinson with a bit of Mad Men thrown in'
Liz Hyder
'An atmospheric tale of repression and style at the heart of the American Dream' Stylist
They hate me down there, in Boldville. I can read it in their eyes, smell it on their noxious breaths. That dreaded little town hates everything about me: not just my personality and form, the clothes I wear, but the way I think.
The things that I know.
1933. Cornelia Stover is headstrong and business-minded - not the kind of woman the men of Boldville, New Mexico, expect her to be. Then she stumbles upon a secret hidden out in the hills . . .
1970. Decades later, Joanna Riley, a former cop, packs up her car in the middle of the night and drives west, fleeing an abusive marriage and a life she can no longer bear. Eventually, she runs out of gas and finds herself in Boldville, a sleepy desert town in the foothills of the Gila Mountains.
Joanna was looking for somewhere to retreat, to hide, but something is off about this place. In a commune on the outskirts a young man has been found dead and Joanna knows a cover up when she sees it. Soon, she and Glitter, a young, disaffected hippie, find themselves caught up in a dark mystery that goes to the very heart of Boldville, where for too long people have kept their eyes shut and turned their heads away. A mystery that leads them all the way back to the unexplained disappearance of Glitter's grandmother Cornelia forty years before . . .
A captivating, atmospheric new novel from the lauded author of The Long, Long Afternoon, This Wild Wild Country simmers with secrets, lies and terrible betrayal, unravelling the lives of three women at the mercy of their times.
Praise for Inga Vesper
'Thrilling, haunting and darkly beautiful. This Wild, Wild Country enchants as mysteries deepen and secrets echo over the harsh realities of the American Dream' Chris Whitaker, bestselling author of We Begin at the End
'Remarkably assured. A tale of inequality, broken dreams and quiet desperation behind a picture-perfect facade' Guardian
'A clever and absorbing debut' The Times
'Beguiling and evocative. This vivid and atmospheric pageturner will keep readers guessing all the way to its satisfying finale' Sunday Express
'Beautifully crafted, claustrophobic and compelling. As delicious as a long drink on a hot day' Stacey Halls, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Familiars and The Foundling
'Such a vivid atmosphere of stifling LA heat and stifling 50s domesticity' Clare Chambers, author of Small Pleasures
'Breathtakingly stylish, hypnotic and masterfully gripping' Chris Whitaker, author of We Begin at the End, Waterstones Thriller of the Month
'A triumph. What a pleasure to read something fresh and original. For once the hype is justified and Inga Vesper's gripping page turner must surely now be bound for Netflix' Evening Standard
'A tasty, tense, page-turning combo of James Ellroy and Kate Atkinson with a bit of Mad Men thrown in'
Liz Hyder
'An atmospheric tale of repression and style at the heart of the American Dream' Stylist
416 pages, Hardcover
First published August 4, 2022
27 people are currently reading
454 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
September 14, 2025
A fantastic read.
August 2, 2022
Although neither of the dual timelines in this novel feature the Old West, it really does have that feel to it. Perhaps it’s because, even though Joanna is living in the 20th Century, the town of Boldville really isn’t. Even in the 1970s, the men still hold sway and the old American ways are refusing to make way for the new.
When Glitter returns to her home town with her friends and attempts to set up a commune, bad things start to happen including the death of her cousin – are the authorities too quick to write it off as a tragic accident?
As Joanna’s cop-sense starts to tingle, she and Glitter delve into a decades-old mystery that has its roots in the Gold Rush and led to the disappearance of Glitter’s grandmother. A wall of silence, the Wheeler-Howard act and Glitter’s distrust of Joanna as one of the ‘Pigs’ all stand in the way of the truth…
I love a dual timeline novel and this one handles the switch between timelines really well. There are similarities between the two time periods that Inga Vesper has chosen, and the spirit and determination of the women in these time periods really shines through.
I really liked Glitter as a character – she has left home at the earliest opportunity to find a new way to live, and she’s returned home still determined to live her own life, but disillusioned with much of what she’s experienced. I felt she really grew as a character as she discovered more about her grandmother and her determination.
There are some really tricky subjects covered in the book, and they are very sensitively handled. Domestic violence is a big part of Joanna’s story and, although she is in a better place after the novel is finished, I would love to know how she fares after the final chapter.
A thoroughly enjoyable book, and a group of strong, inspirational women – highly recommended.
When Glitter returns to her home town with her friends and attempts to set up a commune, bad things start to happen including the death of her cousin – are the authorities too quick to write it off as a tragic accident?
As Joanna’s cop-sense starts to tingle, she and Glitter delve into a decades-old mystery that has its roots in the Gold Rush and led to the disappearance of Glitter’s grandmother. A wall of silence, the Wheeler-Howard act and Glitter’s distrust of Joanna as one of the ‘Pigs’ all stand in the way of the truth…
I love a dual timeline novel and this one handles the switch between timelines really well. There are similarities between the two time periods that Inga Vesper has chosen, and the spirit and determination of the women in these time periods really shines through.
I really liked Glitter as a character – she has left home at the earliest opportunity to find a new way to live, and she’s returned home still determined to live her own life, but disillusioned with much of what she’s experienced. I felt she really grew as a character as she discovered more about her grandmother and her determination.
There are some really tricky subjects covered in the book, and they are very sensitively handled. Domestic violence is a big part of Joanna’s story and, although she is in a better place after the novel is finished, I would love to know how she fares after the final chapter.
A thoroughly enjoyable book, and a group of strong, inspirational women – highly recommended.
August 15, 2022
This dual timeline with multiple narrators occurs in 1933 and 1970.
Cornelia owns a hotel - struggling to pay the bills after the stock market crash. The bank lost her savings, her husband's pension but threatens eviction due to lack of payment. A single mother raising her teenage daughter, Cornelia certainly creates much gossip in her small town. When she starts searching for gold in the mountains, the community hate grows.
Joanna runs from her abusive cop husband - several fresh bruises and baby growing. Desperate for freedom, she finds herself in Boldville.
Glitter attempts to create her own commune - but struggles with the commune concept. If they share their possessions, reject monogamy and capitalism, doesn't she still have a right to her own body? Respect from her man?
Her cousin's suspicious death brings up Cornelia's legend; Joanna agrees something weird is going on. Together with Glitter, she tries to find answers.
Cornelia owns a hotel - struggling to pay the bills after the stock market crash. The bank lost her savings, her husband's pension but threatens eviction due to lack of payment. A single mother raising her teenage daughter, Cornelia certainly creates much gossip in her small town. When she starts searching for gold in the mountains, the community hate grows.
Joanna runs from her abusive cop husband - several fresh bruises and baby growing. Desperate for freedom, she finds herself in Boldville.
Glitter attempts to create her own commune - but struggles with the commune concept. If they share their possessions, reject monogamy and capitalism, doesn't she still have a right to her own body? Respect from her man?
Her cousin's suspicious death brings up Cornelia's legend; Joanna agrees something weird is going on. Together with Glitter, she tries to find answers.
August 3, 2022
This just wasn't for me.
It struggled to hold my attention for more than a few pages at a time.
I left it half way through, and didn't find it any better when I went back to it..
It struggled to hold my attention for more than a few pages at a time.
I left it half way through, and didn't find it any better when I went back to it..
August 4, 2022
"They hate me down there, in Boldville. I can read it in their eyes, smell it on their noxious breaths. That dreaded little town hates everything about me: not just my personality and form, the clothes I wear, but the way I think. The things that I know."
It's 1970 in the small town of Boldville, New Mexico. At the Stover Hotel, run by Geraldine Stover and recently returned hippy daughter Lauren (AKA Glitter) and her commune firneds, have a new guest. Joanna, a former cop from Alberque, has fled her abusive husband. When Glitter's cousin Mike is found dead from an apparent overdose, Glitter and Joanna discover Boldville's residents are hiding so very old secrets. In 1934, widowed yet determined Cornelia (Nellie) Stover is broke, struggling to run the Stover Hotel. She gets the scent of gold in the hills and sets off with her indigenous American worker, Lonan, hoping to solve her money worries. But Lonan doesn't return and soon Nellie has disappeared too, leaving daughter Geraldine. Will Glitter and Joanna uncover the town's dirty secrets in time?
With three strong female protagonists and two time periods, the focus is on the dilapidated, former mining town of Boldville, with its racism, misogyny, its fear of 'hippies' and its sinister and controlling sheriff. Atmospheric and simmering with the heat and the dust of the mountains and the lies and desperation of the townspeople, there is a mystery to be revealed. As with the author's debut, The Long Long Afternoon, I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in the characters, the setting and the beautifully written plot.
It's 1970 in the small town of Boldville, New Mexico. At the Stover Hotel, run by Geraldine Stover and recently returned hippy daughter Lauren (AKA Glitter) and her commune firneds, have a new guest. Joanna, a former cop from Alberque, has fled her abusive husband. When Glitter's cousin Mike is found dead from an apparent overdose, Glitter and Joanna discover Boldville's residents are hiding so very old secrets. In 1934, widowed yet determined Cornelia (Nellie) Stover is broke, struggling to run the Stover Hotel. She gets the scent of gold in the hills and sets off with her indigenous American worker, Lonan, hoping to solve her money worries. But Lonan doesn't return and soon Nellie has disappeared too, leaving daughter Geraldine. Will Glitter and Joanna uncover the town's dirty secrets in time?
With three strong female protagonists and two time periods, the focus is on the dilapidated, former mining town of Boldville, with its racism, misogyny, its fear of 'hippies' and its sinister and controlling sheriff. Atmospheric and simmering with the heat and the dust of the mountains and the lies and desperation of the townspeople, there is a mystery to be revealed. As with the author's debut, The Long Long Afternoon, I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in the characters, the setting and the beautifully written plot.
September 9, 2022
Honestly? loved this book! It’s unlike anything else I’ve read recently, so it really stood out to me.
I got caught up in the adventures of Glitter immediately. It was so well written, the characters had really been thought about and their personalities revealed themselves as the book went along. The atmosphere the author created was just….electric! I hadn’t expected to be so invested in this book yet, here I am.
It does, at times, require a bit more concentration as it’s easy to lose the narrative of who’s speaking when. (But that’s just being a bit picky and it seems to be a common thread with readers), it doesn’t detract from the story and doesn’t change the fact that I loved it.
I also didn’t realise that the author had a previous novel, so I’ve now ordered that for myself also, cannot wait to read more from this author.
Thanks to the author, the public and Netgalley for my arc.
5 out of 5!
I got caught up in the adventures of Glitter immediately. It was so well written, the characters had really been thought about and their personalities revealed themselves as the book went along. The atmosphere the author created was just….electric! I hadn’t expected to be so invested in this book yet, here I am.
It does, at times, require a bit more concentration as it’s easy to lose the narrative of who’s speaking when. (But that’s just being a bit picky and it seems to be a common thread with readers), it doesn’t detract from the story and doesn’t change the fact that I loved it.
I also didn’t realise that the author had a previous novel, so I’ve now ordered that for myself also, cannot wait to read more from this author.
Thanks to the author, the public and Netgalley for my arc.
5 out of 5!
October 22, 2022
I did not care for this book at all.
The hippies were incredibly annoying. Glitter says in the same paragraph that the USA is a fascist state, and “it’s a free country, man”. Well, which is it ?
I did not care about whodunnit, not one little bit, not in the slightest.
A boring old slog.
The hippies were incredibly annoying. Glitter says in the same paragraph that the USA is a fascist state, and “it’s a free country, man”. Well, which is it ?
I did not care about whodunnit, not one little bit, not in the slightest.
A boring old slog.
July 31, 2023
I luved this book. Captivating all the way through and spoke volumes on so many different subjects! Also just super entertaining deffos worth the read!
December 2, 2023
What an amazing story. Another fabulous 5 ⭐ read!
Dual timelines- 1933 and 1970 and enjoyed them both.
Beautifully written.. Loveable characters and descriptive throughout.
New to me author and borrowed from the library purely based on the cover.
The writing flowed so well and honestly had me captivated from page 1.
Would highly recommend 💕
Dual timelines- 1933 and 1970 and enjoyed them both.
Beautifully written.. Loveable characters and descriptive throughout.
New to me author and borrowed from the library purely based on the cover.
The writing flowed so well and honestly had me captivated from page 1.
Would highly recommend 💕
August 11, 2022
Featuring two timelines, the gold mining 1930’s and the flower power, free love of the 1970’s. A forty year gap but not much has changed, there is still prejudice running through Boldville’s dusty heart along with unsolved mysteries.
I love women who defy the rules of what is expected of them and this book gave me the pleasure of three of them. We start the story in 1934 with Cornelia fleeing the town, which in her mind hides dark hearts and minds, while a confession is trapped in hers.
Then it is 1970 and we are in Glitter’s world, a commune on the land surrounding her mother’s hotel, with a startling introduction of her coming down from an acid trip to discover her cousin Mike’s cold stiff corpse. The tensions are immediately apparent between the town folk and the members of the commune as is evidence of the pressure to conform to society’s idea of normality. Then in rolls Joanna a former cop fleeing an abusive marriage and they form an unlikely friendship as they partner up to get to the bottom of the secrets this town is keeping.
The dual timelines meant we could see the present characters when they were younger and this gave the story a wider scope. I must admit that Cornelia was a woman I instantly warmed to and as the town’s hate grew so did my respect for her. She is a fighter who refuses to kowtow as the bank threatens eviction from her hotel and instead associates herself with an Indian and goes looking for gold.
The setting of Boldville, New Mexico gave it a feeling of dusty abandonment. Where they do what they have to, to survive and just like in the Wild Wild West of westerns the baddies are bad and the lure of gold in the hills can easily corrupt and it is down to the good guys to bring justice.
Dominated by strong minded women this book was as evocative as it was intriguing. The characters are magnificent while the story was well researched and plotted and it has put me in the mood to rewatch Bandidas.
Is there gold in them thar hills? That is for Cornelia to know and Glitter and Joanna to discover.
I love women who defy the rules of what is expected of them and this book gave me the pleasure of three of them. We start the story in 1934 with Cornelia fleeing the town, which in her mind hides dark hearts and minds, while a confession is trapped in hers.
Then it is 1970 and we are in Glitter’s world, a commune on the land surrounding her mother’s hotel, with a startling introduction of her coming down from an acid trip to discover her cousin Mike’s cold stiff corpse. The tensions are immediately apparent between the town folk and the members of the commune as is evidence of the pressure to conform to society’s idea of normality. Then in rolls Joanna a former cop fleeing an abusive marriage and they form an unlikely friendship as they partner up to get to the bottom of the secrets this town is keeping.
The dual timelines meant we could see the present characters when they were younger and this gave the story a wider scope. I must admit that Cornelia was a woman I instantly warmed to and as the town’s hate grew so did my respect for her. She is a fighter who refuses to kowtow as the bank threatens eviction from her hotel and instead associates herself with an Indian and goes looking for gold.
The setting of Boldville, New Mexico gave it a feeling of dusty abandonment. Where they do what they have to, to survive and just like in the Wild Wild West of westerns the baddies are bad and the lure of gold in the hills can easily corrupt and it is down to the good guys to bring justice.
Dominated by strong minded women this book was as evocative as it was intriguing. The characters are magnificent while the story was well researched and plotted and it has put me in the mood to rewatch Bandidas.
Is there gold in them thar hills? That is for Cornelia to know and Glitter and Joanna to discover.
September 2, 2022
Set mainly in the 1970s, this is a mystery set out in the American West - think rugged gold-rush scenery.
Joanna is running away from her abusive husband, but her training as a police officer launches her on the trail of a mystery in the mountains. Following the lead from the corpse of a young man, she soon finds herself drawn back into the past and into danger.
This is a story of powerful women - Joanna herself, brave and fighting for independence; Cornelia from the 1930s, feisty and breaking out against the traditional female role; and Glitter and her hippy community who grow to love and protect Joanna.
Another enjoyable read from Inga Vesper.
Joanna is running away from her abusive husband, but her training as a police officer launches her on the trail of a mystery in the mountains. Following the lead from the corpse of a young man, she soon finds herself drawn back into the past and into danger.
This is a story of powerful women - Joanna herself, brave and fighting for independence; Cornelia from the 1930s, feisty and breaking out against the traditional female role; and Glitter and her hippy community who grow to love and protect Joanna.
Another enjoyable read from Inga Vesper.
August 4, 2022
Saddle up - we're heading to Gold mining country and taking a trip to the 1930s and the 1970s in Inga Vesper's latest novel - This Wild Wild Country.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a wonderful distraction during a spell of covid and a chance to escape with Joanna, Glitter, and Cornelia and join them on their quest to find gold.
I loved Inga's first book, The Long Long Afternoon, and was excited to read her latest offering. It was fun dipping into the 70s vibes and language of the book, although naturally, there's a serious tone in relation to some of the issues faced by her characters.
Joanna unexpectedly finds herself in small town USA, and also in the role of investigator after the death of a boy living in a hippie commune when everyone else puts his death down to an accident. As the story unravels, we find some secrets won't lay hidden, and we discover betrayal and who you can trust and who you can't.
I could see this playing out as a movie - it's colourful, rich in setting and would make a great adventure movie.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a wonderful distraction during a spell of covid and a chance to escape with Joanna, Glitter, and Cornelia and join them on their quest to find gold.
I loved Inga's first book, The Long Long Afternoon, and was excited to read her latest offering. It was fun dipping into the 70s vibes and language of the book, although naturally, there's a serious tone in relation to some of the issues faced by her characters.
Joanna unexpectedly finds herself in small town USA, and also in the role of investigator after the death of a boy living in a hippie commune when everyone else puts his death down to an accident. As the story unravels, we find some secrets won't lay hidden, and we discover betrayal and who you can trust and who you can't.
I could see this playing out as a movie - it's colourful, rich in setting and would make a great adventure movie.
August 20, 2022
You can find this review and all my others over at www.readbookrepeat.wordpress.com
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Allen & Unwin, all views are my own.
Actual rating of 3.5
In 1933, Cornelia Stover was a woman apart from the rest. She was headstrong and had a good mind for business - she was everything the men of Boldville disliked in a woman. When she stumbles upon a mystery that leads her up into the hills, she disappears, no one knowing what became of her, not even her daughter Geraldine.
1970 sees the rise of free love, and those against the war. Joanna Riley, a former cop, packs up her car in the middle of the night, and flees her home, and her abusive husband. Eventually she finds herself in Boldville, New Mexico. A town that if you blinked while driving through, you'd miss. Here she meets Glitter, a free love advocate, who's cousin has been found dead. The thing is, Joanna can smell a cover up when she sees one. Together, her and Glitter begin to try and track down the truth of what really happened at the commune. This begins to uncover a dark mystery surrounding Boldville, one that leads straight back to Glitter's grandmother - Cornelia Stover.
When I read the synopsis for this one, I just had to request it. It's different to something that I'd normally pick up, but I do love a good mystery, and one that spans decades just had me super intrigued. I was super excited when a copy appeared on my doorstep, and it didn't disappoint.
The story itself is told through alternating timelines of 1933 from the point of view of Cornelia Stover, and 1970 told between Joanna and Glitter. Most of the story is told in the 1970s, with the 1933 storyline peppered throughout, giving the reader juicy little morsels that help tie everything together. Normally I'll gravitate to one timeline over another if there's multiple in a story, but this one, I actually really enjoyed both which is rare. I feel like both timelines really had something important to share, and there wasn't a dull moment between them. In saying that, while nearly everything was pertinent to the story itself, sometimes I felt like the pacing did drop off a little bit when it came to Glitter's point of view. Whether this is because she had a more airy fairy feeling to her character, I feel like it might have been in order to really make her fit with the stereotypical 70s flower child hippie vibe, and honestly, it really did work, but sometimes things went a little off track and I feel like not everything that went on was entirely necessary to the plot. I'm not sure if it was to paint a fuller picture, but there were a few secondary storylines that I don't think we actually got any clear answers on. One being Ziggy and what he was off doing with the bus. It took up a bit of time, especially when Glitter was worrying, but it never really eventuated to anything. Either that, or I totally missed something, which honestly, it's possible.
The mystery itself was definitely a slow burn and reveal, but it worked so well for the story itself. there was a lot going on in this book and it covered so many different things - honestly, it was great. I loved that it wasn't just solely about the disappearance of Cornelia or what she went off to find in the mountains. It also take s a look at the Hippie movement in the 70s and really gave a realistic look into a commune that knows what it wants to be, but just doesn't know how to get there. I enjoyed getting a look into an era that I've only seen movies about. I also really enjoyed the storyline following Joanna. I think hers was my favourite. She's a woman who is trying to escape a life that she knows can never change, but being the 70s, who's going to listen to her? Women were still considered second class citizens even then and I feel like this book did a fantastic job of really exploring this through different channels. I will admit, I kinda wanted to know what happened after everything was said and done, but I guess Vesper left the ending open enough for the reader to interpret it how they wanted. And sometimes that's better, because we don't always end up with the ending we envisioned. Back to the mystery!! It was so convoluted (in a good way) and complex and I didn't pick ANY of it. None. And for a mystery novel to be able to surprise me with it's reveals, that's no mean feat! Everything twisted and turned so much that I think I didn't even attempt to try and guess what was going on. The reveals were shocking, yet believable at the same time. A really well thought out mystery and I have no idea how Vesper was able to construct such a beast!
The characters were well written and really fleshed out. They were three dimensional and I really felt for all of them. The main focus in this story was the female characters, and it had a very strong feminist feel to it. Even if one of the characters was struggling with recognising her own power, I feel like the other characters really helped to lift the message up and really make it hit home, it was done beautifully and tastefully and I really enjoyed it. As said above, even though Glitter came across as a bit of an air head sometimes, deep down she was intelligent and she just wanted a better world, I ended up really taking a shine to her. I loved Joanna's character and her struggles and triumphs, I felt them every step of the way and I was seriously rooting for her. She was probably my favourite. And the character of Cornelia, even though we didn't get to see a whole lot of her, what we did see was a beautiful illustration of a woman far ahead of her time. Strong willed and clear headed, she knew what she wanted, what she needed, and she didn't let anyone stand in her way. All such strong female characters that were believable and real.
All in all, this was a great read that really gives the reader a strong look at a time not so long ago where women still had to fight tooth and nail just to be seen and heard. A story that is so full of strong women that will not back down. And a mystery that really shows how dark the past can be. If you like a mystery with so many twists and turns you get dizzy, and great characters that really drive the story forward, pick this one up!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Allen & Unwin, all views are my own.
Actual rating of 3.5
In 1933, Cornelia Stover was a woman apart from the rest. She was headstrong and had a good mind for business - she was everything the men of Boldville disliked in a woman. When she stumbles upon a mystery that leads her up into the hills, she disappears, no one knowing what became of her, not even her daughter Geraldine.
1970 sees the rise of free love, and those against the war. Joanna Riley, a former cop, packs up her car in the middle of the night, and flees her home, and her abusive husband. Eventually she finds herself in Boldville, New Mexico. A town that if you blinked while driving through, you'd miss. Here she meets Glitter, a free love advocate, who's cousin has been found dead. The thing is, Joanna can smell a cover up when she sees one. Together, her and Glitter begin to try and track down the truth of what really happened at the commune. This begins to uncover a dark mystery surrounding Boldville, one that leads straight back to Glitter's grandmother - Cornelia Stover.
When I read the synopsis for this one, I just had to request it. It's different to something that I'd normally pick up, but I do love a good mystery, and one that spans decades just had me super intrigued. I was super excited when a copy appeared on my doorstep, and it didn't disappoint.
The story itself is told through alternating timelines of 1933 from the point of view of Cornelia Stover, and 1970 told between Joanna and Glitter. Most of the story is told in the 1970s, with the 1933 storyline peppered throughout, giving the reader juicy little morsels that help tie everything together. Normally I'll gravitate to one timeline over another if there's multiple in a story, but this one, I actually really enjoyed both which is rare. I feel like both timelines really had something important to share, and there wasn't a dull moment between them. In saying that, while nearly everything was pertinent to the story itself, sometimes I felt like the pacing did drop off a little bit when it came to Glitter's point of view. Whether this is because she had a more airy fairy feeling to her character, I feel like it might have been in order to really make her fit with the stereotypical 70s flower child hippie vibe, and honestly, it really did work, but sometimes things went a little off track and I feel like not everything that went on was entirely necessary to the plot. I'm not sure if it was to paint a fuller picture, but there were a few secondary storylines that I don't think we actually got any clear answers on. One being Ziggy and what he was off doing with the bus. It took up a bit of time, especially when Glitter was worrying, but it never really eventuated to anything. Either that, or I totally missed something, which honestly, it's possible.
The mystery itself was definitely a slow burn and reveal, but it worked so well for the story itself. there was a lot going on in this book and it covered so many different things - honestly, it was great. I loved that it wasn't just solely about the disappearance of Cornelia or what she went off to find in the mountains. It also take s a look at the Hippie movement in the 70s and really gave a realistic look into a commune that knows what it wants to be, but just doesn't know how to get there. I enjoyed getting a look into an era that I've only seen movies about. I also really enjoyed the storyline following Joanna. I think hers was my favourite. She's a woman who is trying to escape a life that she knows can never change, but being the 70s, who's going to listen to her? Women were still considered second class citizens even then and I feel like this book did a fantastic job of really exploring this through different channels. I will admit, I kinda wanted to know what happened after everything was said and done, but I guess Vesper left the ending open enough for the reader to interpret it how they wanted. And sometimes that's better, because we don't always end up with the ending we envisioned. Back to the mystery!! It was so convoluted (in a good way) and complex and I didn't pick ANY of it. None. And for a mystery novel to be able to surprise me with it's reveals, that's no mean feat! Everything twisted and turned so much that I think I didn't even attempt to try and guess what was going on. The reveals were shocking, yet believable at the same time. A really well thought out mystery and I have no idea how Vesper was able to construct such a beast!
The characters were well written and really fleshed out. They were three dimensional and I really felt for all of them. The main focus in this story was the female characters, and it had a very strong feminist feel to it. Even if one of the characters was struggling with recognising her own power, I feel like the other characters really helped to lift the message up and really make it hit home, it was done beautifully and tastefully and I really enjoyed it. As said above, even though Glitter came across as a bit of an air head sometimes, deep down she was intelligent and she just wanted a better world, I ended up really taking a shine to her. I loved Joanna's character and her struggles and triumphs, I felt them every step of the way and I was seriously rooting for her. She was probably my favourite. And the character of Cornelia, even though we didn't get to see a whole lot of her, what we did see was a beautiful illustration of a woman far ahead of her time. Strong willed and clear headed, she knew what she wanted, what she needed, and she didn't let anyone stand in her way. All such strong female characters that were believable and real.
All in all, this was a great read that really gives the reader a strong look at a time not so long ago where women still had to fight tooth and nail just to be seen and heard. A story that is so full of strong women that will not back down. And a mystery that really shows how dark the past can be. If you like a mystery with so many twists and turns you get dizzy, and great characters that really drive the story forward, pick this one up!
November 13, 2022
A dual narrative framed around twin mysteries forty years apart that explores gender dynamics in the 1930s and 1970s in New Mexico. No cliche is left unturned with grizzled prospectors, sassy dames, crooked cops, smelly hippies, vicious bikers and stoic Native Americans thrown into the mix.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2
September 9, 2025
Loved the vibes so much. Kinda thought we’d spend more time actually solving the main murder and once the other mystery was solved I lowkey didn’t really care after that - wasn’t sure really where the story could go and it just felt like it got convoluted with too many characters and I feel like I wasn’t keeping up.
February 6, 2025
I liked the note of the author
July 15, 2025
a great book!
August 6, 2022
An interesting read, with a decent exploration of the limits of female emancipation from 1930 to 1970. I found that despite wanting to express themselves fully, people still wanted to control the women in the story. The story had a few good twists and turns as well
August 27, 2022
Absolutely loved this book and got very invested in the respective characters' fate. Lots of twists and turns keep you guessing and the story packs lots of little side plots which serve to enhance the overall feel. Really loved the setting and the many complications in the women's lives. Absolutely tragic to think how women were under the thumb of men and how little agency they had. This book really serves to show how women strained against society but despite their efforts often didn't succeed to free themselves.
July 23, 2023
A bit clumsy and confused.
August 5, 2022
This Wild, Wild Country takes us to a small town in the New Mexico desert, with three protagonists telling the story in a dual timeline. In 1933, Cornelia is no spring chicken but she’s plucky and tenacious and no man (or woman for that matter) will tell her what to do. Almost forty years later, everyone in town still talks of mad Cornelia, the Indian she associated with, her mysterious disappearance. Her granddaughter Glitter is just as scrappy as she was. Tired of conformity and capitalism, Glitter is a flower power girl, looking for peace, love and freedom, but lately she’s been having this funky feeling, like things are not as groovy as she first thought. Our third protagonist is Joanna, an outsider who inadvertently ends up in the thick of things but is perhaps best suited to see things clearly in this dusty little town.
This Wild, Wild Country takes its reader to two very interesting time periods in American history. From the aftermath of the gold rush to the hippie movement, I can’t say I was very familiar with either and I felt that I learnt quite a few things along the way. For example, I had never considered that the idea of free love might be harmful to women in the hippie community, but Glitter’s story made me reconsider. Abuse and domestic violence are definitely a theme, as well patriarchal condescension, but the manner in which our female main characters deal with it all is admirable and despite the heavy themes, This Wild, Wild Country did not feel like a heavy read.
Let’s not beat about the bush further: I bloody loved everything about this novel! I had pretty high expectations but they were exceeded. The atmospheric small town setting, the Zeitgeist that was rendered so well, the well-rounded characters, the intriguing mystery, the satisfying ending, the evocative writing, … I could go on and on, but why don’t you just find out for yourself? Need I say it? Highly recommended!
This Wild, Wild Country takes its reader to two very interesting time periods in American history. From the aftermath of the gold rush to the hippie movement, I can’t say I was very familiar with either and I felt that I learnt quite a few things along the way. For example, I had never considered that the idea of free love might be harmful to women in the hippie community, but Glitter’s story made me reconsider. Abuse and domestic violence are definitely a theme, as well patriarchal condescension, but the manner in which our female main characters deal with it all is admirable and despite the heavy themes, This Wild, Wild Country did not feel like a heavy read.
Let’s not beat about the bush further: I bloody loved everything about this novel! I had pretty high expectations but they were exceeded. The atmospheric small town setting, the Zeitgeist that was rendered so well, the well-rounded characters, the intriguing mystery, the satisfying ending, the evocative writing, … I could go on and on, but why don’t you just find out for yourself? Need I say it? Highly recommended!
August 6, 2022
This is a story told from three points of view.
Three women.
Each with their own story to tell.
All entwined together by various threads of their journeys.
We as the reader are taken on this journey with them. Travelling from past to present and back again as secrets are revealed and lies are turned into truths.
Murderous.
Atmospheric.
Vesper has a way of keeping the tension immensely high with every single turn of the page.
Every chapter bought certain things to light, but also bringing more betrayals. Each reveal had me open mouthed. I just didn't know which characters I could truly trust. And I liked this very much.
Guilty until proven innocent I guess you could say.
My favourite cast member has to be Glitter (Lauren), a hippie child, all about free love. Well she was a feisty one and for someone that didn't like to conform, she sure knew how to handle herself and really had her wits about her.
The author doesn't shy away from tough themes.
Talk of abuse, racism, drug taking to name a few. What is explored within this story isn't perhaps for the faint hearted but it is all written with honesty and care.
What's shown within this book is that the best laid plans and good intentions can still end in heartache and death.
The behaviours displayed by all the characters really made me think about how I would react if faced with similar situations.
This Wild, Wild Country is extremely well plotted and brilliantly described. I could imagine all of the settings, the simmering heat of the deserted mountains and all with just the right amount of mystery and drama to provide the ultimate impact for the reader.
Just as good as her first novel, I cannot wait to see what Inga has to offer next.
Three women.
Each with their own story to tell.
All entwined together by various threads of their journeys.
We as the reader are taken on this journey with them. Travelling from past to present and back again as secrets are revealed and lies are turned into truths.
Murderous.
Atmospheric.
Vesper has a way of keeping the tension immensely high with every single turn of the page.
Every chapter bought certain things to light, but also bringing more betrayals. Each reveal had me open mouthed. I just didn't know which characters I could truly trust. And I liked this very much.
Guilty until proven innocent I guess you could say.
My favourite cast member has to be Glitter (Lauren), a hippie child, all about free love. Well she was a feisty one and for someone that didn't like to conform, she sure knew how to handle herself and really had her wits about her.
The author doesn't shy away from tough themes.
Talk of abuse, racism, drug taking to name a few. What is explored within this story isn't perhaps for the faint hearted but it is all written with honesty and care.
What's shown within this book is that the best laid plans and good intentions can still end in heartache and death.
The behaviours displayed by all the characters really made me think about how I would react if faced with similar situations.
This Wild, Wild Country is extremely well plotted and brilliantly described. I could imagine all of the settings, the simmering heat of the deserted mountains and all with just the right amount of mystery and drama to provide the ultimate impact for the reader.
Just as good as her first novel, I cannot wait to see what Inga has to offer next.
August 9, 2022
This wild, wild country by Inga Vesper
One of the things I love about taking part in these tours is discovering new authors and delving into books that I wouldn’t normally choose as they’re outside my comfort zone.
This Wild, Wild Country is beautifully written from three POV’s and it really made me think.
The book is set between the 1930’s and the early 1970’s - at times I found myself thinking how far we’ve come in terms of how we treat women and racism, at other times I could have cried at how not enough has been done, in some cases we’ve gone backwards. There’s a particular paragraph, just a simple paragraph about a girl having to travel to get an abortion - how are we back there?!
The story is so thought provoking and really opened my eyes to so much - I never knew how hard getting a divorce was or even a bank loan for a woman.
Then there’s the gold … the greed … the corruption. The story is brilliant, well paced and really keeps your interest zinged!
Towards the end, a little sub plot really broke my heart - for all the hippies talked of free love - there was a pain behind it too. Glitter was my favourite character, such a sweet girl just wound up in youth and confusion, not sure where she belonged, and when her true pain became apparent, I felt it with her.
One of the things I love about taking part in these tours is discovering new authors and delving into books that I wouldn’t normally choose as they’re outside my comfort zone.
This Wild, Wild Country is beautifully written from three POV’s and it really made me think.
The book is set between the 1930’s and the early 1970’s - at times I found myself thinking how far we’ve come in terms of how we treat women and racism, at other times I could have cried at how not enough has been done, in some cases we’ve gone backwards. There’s a particular paragraph, just a simple paragraph about a girl having to travel to get an abortion - how are we back there?!
The story is so thought provoking and really opened my eyes to so much - I never knew how hard getting a divorce was or even a bank loan for a woman.
Then there’s the gold … the greed … the corruption. The story is brilliant, well paced and really keeps your interest zinged!
Towards the end, a little sub plot really broke my heart - for all the hippies talked of free love - there was a pain behind it too. Glitter was my favourite character, such a sweet girl just wound up in youth and confusion, not sure where she belonged, and when her true pain became apparent, I felt it with her.
October 31, 2022
I wasn't sure that I would like this when I first started to read it. It was a bit of a slow burner but it soon started to pick up. An interesting setting and both timelines were ones I knew nothing about. I learnt a lot as well as enjoyed the story. I can see where the term 'gold fever' came from. This book is really well written. The tension builds and things are revealed as you read on. Recommended. Many thanks for the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.
August 18, 2022
I first encountered Inga Vesper at the Bloody Scotland crime fiction festival last year when the author spoke assuredly about very her first novel The Long, Long Afternoon. I found something very adventurous and appealing about a Scottish based German author discussing in such an authentic way about a missing housewife set in California in the late 1950s. While I’ve not yet read that particular book, nor followed up her recommendation to read The Pledge by cult Swiss author Friedrich Durrenmatt, I listened carefully as she discussed the creation and research, both historical and geographical, behind her second novel during lockdown of another period within another location in the USA. This sparked my interest and so I very keenly took up the opportunity to read her new novel This Wild, Wild Country.
In Vesper’s afterforward she states her view that her second novel is in many ways the logical sequel to her first, despite the fact that it is a very separate story due to the cultural changes that have taken place in the 1960s. To further emphasise those changes This Wild, Wild Country is set over two different periods, 1933 just at the ending of prohibition and post Woodstock and Altamont in 1970.
The rural isolated town of Boldville, New Mexico is the claustrophobic setting of this story where we encounter Cornelia Stover. Widowed before her time, Stover is struggling her raise her daughter while also keeping the hotel she had been running her late husband afloat. Unafraid to court controversy in a town with conservative views she employed a native American assistant – in reality she could not afford to pay enough to satisfy a white man – would take in an aging ‘good-for-nothing’ and serve alcohol upon the abolishment of prohibition while the town’s main establishment would refuse to do so. Many of the townsfolk would disapprove of her behaviours considering her as immoral or having lost her mind. They would be reluctant to aid her in any way despite her loss and dependent child. Without wishing to quote a famous song by one time country and vaudeville musician Frankie Marvin, Stover receives a string indication that she may be able to find the riches to get herself out of her financial predicament thus securing a stable upbringing for her daughter. She then vanishes from the town, leaving her daughter, while her assistant is understood to have died.
The sequences of Cornelia Stover’s story are intermittently told through the more contemporary story of Joanne Riley. Once a trainee police woman she has left her home in despair to escape her physically and psychologically abusive policeman husband Dwayne and finds herself in Boldville which by 1970 is now a town in social conflict. While many of the same families are running that town that did so 40 years earlier, a hippie commune has set up in the village. This has led to a culture clash between the hippies who believe in free love, peace and often perceive the authorities to be fascist while the town’s elders are patriots generally supportive of their government, including the war in Vietnam. As Riley arrives in the town, there is the shock discovery that one of the hippies, Mike has been found dead, following a party at the commune. His cousin Lauren, who goes by her hippie name of Glitter is convinced that Mike’s death was no accident, particularly as the drugs found in his possession were not those used in the hippy movement. Together with newcomer Riley she starts to ascertain the final actions of her cousin to try to determine any possible motives for his death. When she discovers he had been developing an interest in the town’s history Glitter’s eventually begins to resolve the mysteries of her grandmother Cornelia Stover disappearance and other occurrences from early 40 years earlier.
Vesper use of social history ensures that this novel is a rich story. Her depiction of the hippies, their beliefs and their use of language feels very realistic. In the USA by 1970 the hippie zeitgeist was somewhat on the wane following the deaths at Altamont where an 18 year old was murdered by the Hells Angels provided security and the murders caused by Charles Manson and his followers and I believe the author subtly latches onto this. Her depictions of the differences between the hippies and the other residents of the village are very convincing, creating a tinderbox fraught with tension and suspicion. In particular the introduction of a group of bikers cause great concern for the residents, and even the hippies wonder if they actually share the same ethos. Indeed this also leads to some questions about the drawbacks to free love. Having already informed her old police chief of the suspicious death, Riley keeps her informed on developments in the town.
This Wild, Wild Country explores themes including historical misogyny, prejudice to native Amercans as well as the enduring allure of the gold rush, a slight dissolutionment in the hippie subculture and and exploration of ancient folklore. The regular switches to the narrative between Glitter and Joanne Riley reveals their contrasting perspectives on three subjects while keeping the story flowing fluidly. I found the sections focussed on Cornelia Stover are quite fascinating and just knew there will be greater significance to some of these sections. It’s a case of sitting back, imagining life in the deep and dry south and enjoying how the plot unfolds; while admiring the atmospherics, the scenery and overall sense of mystery. This is not a simple read but it is engrossing, exemplary researched with a wide range of compelling characters and it's hghly recommended by me.
In Vesper’s afterforward she states her view that her second novel is in many ways the logical sequel to her first, despite the fact that it is a very separate story due to the cultural changes that have taken place in the 1960s. To further emphasise those changes This Wild, Wild Country is set over two different periods, 1933 just at the ending of prohibition and post Woodstock and Altamont in 1970.
The rural isolated town of Boldville, New Mexico is the claustrophobic setting of this story where we encounter Cornelia Stover. Widowed before her time, Stover is struggling her raise her daughter while also keeping the hotel she had been running her late husband afloat. Unafraid to court controversy in a town with conservative views she employed a native American assistant – in reality she could not afford to pay enough to satisfy a white man – would take in an aging ‘good-for-nothing’ and serve alcohol upon the abolishment of prohibition while the town’s main establishment would refuse to do so. Many of the townsfolk would disapprove of her behaviours considering her as immoral or having lost her mind. They would be reluctant to aid her in any way despite her loss and dependent child. Without wishing to quote a famous song by one time country and vaudeville musician Frankie Marvin, Stover receives a string indication that she may be able to find the riches to get herself out of her financial predicament thus securing a stable upbringing for her daughter. She then vanishes from the town, leaving her daughter, while her assistant is understood to have died.
The sequences of Cornelia Stover’s story are intermittently told through the more contemporary story of Joanne Riley. Once a trainee police woman she has left her home in despair to escape her physically and psychologically abusive policeman husband Dwayne and finds herself in Boldville which by 1970 is now a town in social conflict. While many of the same families are running that town that did so 40 years earlier, a hippie commune has set up in the village. This has led to a culture clash between the hippies who believe in free love, peace and often perceive the authorities to be fascist while the town’s elders are patriots generally supportive of their government, including the war in Vietnam. As Riley arrives in the town, there is the shock discovery that one of the hippies, Mike has been found dead, following a party at the commune. His cousin Lauren, who goes by her hippie name of Glitter is convinced that Mike’s death was no accident, particularly as the drugs found in his possession were not those used in the hippy movement. Together with newcomer Riley she starts to ascertain the final actions of her cousin to try to determine any possible motives for his death. When she discovers he had been developing an interest in the town’s history Glitter’s eventually begins to resolve the mysteries of her grandmother Cornelia Stover disappearance and other occurrences from early 40 years earlier.
Vesper use of social history ensures that this novel is a rich story. Her depiction of the hippies, their beliefs and their use of language feels very realistic. In the USA by 1970 the hippie zeitgeist was somewhat on the wane following the deaths at Altamont where an 18 year old was murdered by the Hells Angels provided security and the murders caused by Charles Manson and his followers and I believe the author subtly latches onto this. Her depictions of the differences between the hippies and the other residents of the village are very convincing, creating a tinderbox fraught with tension and suspicion. In particular the introduction of a group of bikers cause great concern for the residents, and even the hippies wonder if they actually share the same ethos. Indeed this also leads to some questions about the drawbacks to free love. Having already informed her old police chief of the suspicious death, Riley keeps her informed on developments in the town.
This Wild, Wild Country explores themes including historical misogyny, prejudice to native Amercans as well as the enduring allure of the gold rush, a slight dissolutionment in the hippie subculture and and exploration of ancient folklore. The regular switches to the narrative between Glitter and Joanne Riley reveals their contrasting perspectives on three subjects while keeping the story flowing fluidly. I found the sections focussed on Cornelia Stover are quite fascinating and just knew there will be greater significance to some of these sections. It’s a case of sitting back, imagining life in the deep and dry south and enjoying how the plot unfolds; while admiring the atmospherics, the scenery and overall sense of mystery. This is not a simple read but it is engrossing, exemplary researched with a wide range of compelling characters and it's hghly recommended by me.
January 3, 2023
It crafted a sinister atmosphere and kept me intrigued. I liked the strong female friendships in this. I didn't like how some parts of the plot felt undeveloped and the ending could have been stronger.
March 30, 2024
Struggled to get through
Found this quite confusing with so many timelines. Didn't engage fully with any off the large cast of characters. Liked her 1st book a lot which is why I picked this but fear it was 2nd book syndrome for me.
Found this quite confusing with so many timelines. Didn't engage fully with any off the large cast of characters. Liked her 1st book a lot which is why I picked this but fear it was 2nd book syndrome for me.
Read
October 19, 2022Not for me
March 24, 2023
Pretty ambivalent about this. It just didn’t grab me. Couldn’t connect with any of the characters - they all felt a bit two dimensional I think. Ultimately forgettable.
August 10, 2022
Thank you to @manilla_press and Inga Vesper for this advanced copy of This Wild Wild Country in return for an honest review.
Description 🔖
In 1933, Cornelia Stover lives in the small town of Boldville in New Mexico. She’s not the usual kind of lady found in the town. She’s head strong, independent and business minded. When she stumbles upon a secret up in the hills, things change for Cornelia drastically.
In 1970, Joanna isn’t in a good place. She’s an ex-police officer in an abusive marriage and when things go too far one evening, she jumps into her car and flees her home. She finds herself in Boldville at a small hotel where she thinks she can lay low for a while.
Whilst in Boldville, Joanna finds out that a young man died just the night before she arrived and the police officer in her can’t resist questioning what happened. She ends up on an investigation with local girl, Glitter, trying to find out what happened to Mike. What they end up finding out is that the town has covered many secrets over the decades and they are determined to unveil them.
General Thoughts 🤔
I’m struggling to make my mind up about this book. On the one hand, I really enjoyed the story and the general feeling of the book. Although it wasn’t technically Old West, it definitely had that vibe to it with some hippy seventies stuff thrown in there. I loved all of that and I think mostly because it’s different to something I would usually read. On the other hand, the story felt a little bit slow at times. I wanted to want to devour the book, but I found it difficult to keep my attention focused for long periods of time.
Characters 👫👭👬
I loved that females dominated this book, especially as it was set in a time (both timelines) when females definitely weren’t considered equal. Glitter was probably my favourite character. I didn’t agree with her all of the time but I respected her. She was committed to her commune and wanted to create a peaceful and loving environment for her family, but I think that she let this cloud her judgement at times and overlooked certain things in the name of keeping the peace.
I felt the most sorry for Glitter’s mother. Though she didn’t feature in the book a lot, something about her made me feel really sad. She was the opposite to Glitter in that she focused a lot on what other people thought of her and was happy to bury her head under the sand, keep secrets secret and pretend that all is swell. I imagined that that must’ve been exhausting to carry around every single day.
Writing Style ✍️
I remember reading The Long, Long Afternoon and being swept away with the writing so I have to admit that this second book was just a touch of a disappointment for me personally. I didn’t feel as absorbed in the story and as I mentioned, I struggled to keep focused whilst reading.
However, I did very much enjoy the subject matter of this book. Again, I can appreciate how much research and digging (pun intended) would have gone into writing this book and I feel like this may be a special feature of Inga Vesper’s work. The way that she took me back in time and made me feel like I was in the mountains whilst also sucker punching me with social issues was sometimes quite special.
Conclusion & Scoring 🎖
I started off this review by saying I couldn’t make my mind up about how I felt about this book and I’m finishing it a little bit more certain. I did enjoy this book and it did have a feeling about it unlike any book I’ve read before. Rather than trying to make it feel fast and exciting, I think I should have accepted it as a slower burn and purposely taken my time with it. It’s a book I think I would like to read again in the future and would likely have a very different experience.
Description 🔖
In 1933, Cornelia Stover lives in the small town of Boldville in New Mexico. She’s not the usual kind of lady found in the town. She’s head strong, independent and business minded. When she stumbles upon a secret up in the hills, things change for Cornelia drastically.
In 1970, Joanna isn’t in a good place. She’s an ex-police officer in an abusive marriage and when things go too far one evening, she jumps into her car and flees her home. She finds herself in Boldville at a small hotel where she thinks she can lay low for a while.
Whilst in Boldville, Joanna finds out that a young man died just the night before she arrived and the police officer in her can’t resist questioning what happened. She ends up on an investigation with local girl, Glitter, trying to find out what happened to Mike. What they end up finding out is that the town has covered many secrets over the decades and they are determined to unveil them.
General Thoughts 🤔
I’m struggling to make my mind up about this book. On the one hand, I really enjoyed the story and the general feeling of the book. Although it wasn’t technically Old West, it definitely had that vibe to it with some hippy seventies stuff thrown in there. I loved all of that and I think mostly because it’s different to something I would usually read. On the other hand, the story felt a little bit slow at times. I wanted to want to devour the book, but I found it difficult to keep my attention focused for long periods of time.
Characters 👫👭👬
I loved that females dominated this book, especially as it was set in a time (both timelines) when females definitely weren’t considered equal. Glitter was probably my favourite character. I didn’t agree with her all of the time but I respected her. She was committed to her commune and wanted to create a peaceful and loving environment for her family, but I think that she let this cloud her judgement at times and overlooked certain things in the name of keeping the peace.
I felt the most sorry for Glitter’s mother. Though she didn’t feature in the book a lot, something about her made me feel really sad. She was the opposite to Glitter in that she focused a lot on what other people thought of her and was happy to bury her head under the sand, keep secrets secret and pretend that all is swell. I imagined that that must’ve been exhausting to carry around every single day.
Writing Style ✍️
I remember reading The Long, Long Afternoon and being swept away with the writing so I have to admit that this second book was just a touch of a disappointment for me personally. I didn’t feel as absorbed in the story and as I mentioned, I struggled to keep focused whilst reading.
However, I did very much enjoy the subject matter of this book. Again, I can appreciate how much research and digging (pun intended) would have gone into writing this book and I feel like this may be a special feature of Inga Vesper’s work. The way that she took me back in time and made me feel like I was in the mountains whilst also sucker punching me with social issues was sometimes quite special.
Conclusion & Scoring 🎖
I started off this review by saying I couldn’t make my mind up about how I felt about this book and I’m finishing it a little bit more certain. I did enjoy this book and it did have a feeling about it unlike any book I’ve read before. Rather than trying to make it feel fast and exciting, I think I should have accepted it as a slower burn and purposely taken my time with it. It’s a book I think I would like to read again in the future and would likely have a very different experience.
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