The Other Typist discussion

Okay no doubt about it, this a great read. The end is a bit of a mystery or maybe the correct term is open ended. I am guessing, it is up to the intepretation of the reader.

Here are my guesses:

Version 1: Odalie/Ginerva sets ups poor Rose for the murder.

Version 2: Odalie, Rose, and Ginerva are all personalities of the same person.

Version 3: Rose has a history being obsessed with young woman, she gradually becomes their friend, takes on their personality and this time it ended badly. (hence the letter she receives from that girl at the orphanage telling her to leave her alone).


What do you guys think???? How does the broach tie in?

Version 2 fits in with my perception best. But version 3 definitely gives me something to ponder. I'm not so sure about version 1 because Odalie disappeared after the murder.

I think the brooch was symbolic. She was squirreling it away and keeping it hidden, and I think that symbolized her effort to keep this side of her personality under wraps. Obviously she wasn't successful. Rose continually talks about how the things Odalie is doing are bad, yet she can't seem to resist the allure of her lifestyle.

Suzanne wrote: "Version 2 fits in with my perception best. But version 3 definitely gives me something to ponder. I'm not so sure about version 1 because Odalie disappeared after the murder.

I think the brooch w..."

Version1: Yes odalie disappears which is the same thing that happened to ginerva after that guy met with foul play. If she was in fact sinister, that is her pattern to leave and change her name.

I do think its supposed to be up the reader's interpretation.

Version 3 is the one that I kept thinking as I read. It's pretty obvious something happened with that girl at the convent and I am not sure rose is honest about the letter explanation.

Denise wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "Version 2 fits in with my perception best. But version 3 definitely gives me something to ponder. I'm not so sure about version 1 because Odalie disappeared after the murder.

I th..."
We definitely can't trust Rose's version of whatever happened with the girl at the convent.

Suzanne wrote: "Denise wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "Version 2 fits in with my perception best. But version 3 definitely gives me something to ponder. I'm not so sure about version 1 because Odalie disappeared after the..."

Agreed, I actually just sent the book to my mom. After a couple of chapters, she thinks Rose is crazy

I think Odalie set up Rose as the fall girl, if you will. That is the only explanation that makes sense. However the author's plot isn't bulletproof. How is it explained that Rose could have afforded the posh hotel suite on her salary? She mentioned it to her interrogators but it was apparently for naught. And if Odalie lied about that, what else did she lie about?

Steven wrote: "I think Odalie set up Rose as the fall girl, if you will. That is the only explanation that makes sense. However the author's plot isn't bulletproof. How is it explained that Rose could have afford..."

The hotel costs are not explained. I mean throughout the book it was clear that Odalie is just as big of a liar is Rose. They are both untrustworthy. Odalie's past is completely made up/embellished. And I am pretty sure Rose's taints her impressions to suit herself. Throughout the book, I wondered several times who was getting the better of whom. I think the obvious interpretation of the ending is Odalie set Rose up. But the ending also left me wondering if Rose hadn't gotten the better of Odalie and she was the one pulling the strings. Either way, it's an eery book.

Wouldn't Rose have had a reasonably good alibi for Teddy's death? She would have been seen exiting the hotel by the staff, notably prior to his fall and of course the conveiance store clerk down the street.

Also, while Rose was most certainly an unreliable narrator, I do think she was genuine, if flawed and compromised. She wasn't alone in her infatuation for Odalie. She wasn't the only one suceptable to her charms.

Steven wrote: "Wouldn't Rose have had a reasonably good alibi for Teddy's death? She would have been seen exiting the hotel by the staff, notably prior to his fall and of course the conveiance store clerk down th..."


I agree the thing about Rose's alibi is kind of weird. However we don't know that everyone was suceptable to Odalie's charms. We only know that was the way Rose perceived it. Rose also thought that they had a connection because she picked up the accidentally dropped broach. Before Rose and Odalie even have a relationship she creates a fictitious one based Odalie's mannerisms and gestures that she thinks are intended specifically for her. Rose describes the version of Odalie we see through the text. We don't if that is what she is like or that is just how she appeared to Rose.

I think it is reasobaly safe to say both the Sargent and Gib were susceptible to Odalie's charms, and to a degree even Teddy. While we learn of it through Rose's flawed prisim, there surely was some truth to her observations.

I agree there is probably some truth to her observations. However, it's difficult to know where.

I like the theory where Odalie set Rose up best, because if they're all the same person that throws out most of the story. And I enjoyed the story and its characters. And why would the author write this story about obsession and corruption only to negate it all by having one of the two protagonists not really exist?

But if Rose was Odalie, I think the hotel costs are explained the same way as if she isn't--the money comes from the bootlegging operation. It just doesn't make sense to me to think Rose was running the bootlegging operation all along.

But then, if they are two different people, I can't see how the Rose-as-Ginevra thing would last. Okay, Ginevra's parents are dead, but there are lots of other people who would know her. As well as people who would know Rose (what was up with the orphanage?)--she attended some kind of public school and then the typing school after that.

I'm pretty convinced the simplest explanation holds the most truth. Odalie was really Ginerva, the femme fatale from Newark, escaped to obscurity in NY, befriended Rose as someone she saw as useful, was uncovered by Teddy, subsequently murdered him and then managed to switch identities with Rose; the authorities none the wiser it seems. Rose's own sycosis is what it is.

Emma wrote: "I like the theory where Odalie set Rose up best, because if they're all the same person that throws out most of the story. And I enjoyed the story and its characters. And why would the author write..."

I agree that is probably the most obvious ending. The others appear to have plot flaws.

Steven wrote: "I'm pretty convinced the simplest explanation holds the most truth. Odalie was really Ginerva, the femme fatale from Newark, escaped to obscurity in NY, befriended Rose as someone she saw as useful..."

If this is true, I wonder if the prostitution story is also true or just made up.

Well Gib told Rose that story. Unflattering as it was I don't know from where else he could have learned of that but from Odalie herself. They were obviously close, however turbulent their relationship was. It would explain Odalie's behavior to a degree, a troubled childhood.

Steven wrote: "Well Gib told Rose that story. Unflattering as it was I don't know from where else he could have learned of that but from Odalie herself. They were obviously close, however turbulent their relation..."

you're right, it would. I just wondered because she indicated when she shared the bracelet with Rose that it wasn't true.

Well I'd be even LESS inclinded to believe Odalie than Rose! Almost nothing Odalie told Rose was true.

true:) I think I am going to re-read this one.

The prostitution story doesn't fit with Ginevra's debutante story at all, though. I think Odalie made it up and told Gib to tell it to people who were curious about her background.

Emma wrote: "The prostitution story doesn't fit with Ginevra's debutante story at all, though. I think Odalie made it up and told Gib to tell it to people who were curious about her background."

She probably also used the debutante story at ginerva

Here's my take on the ending:

Rose was someone who "followed the rules" to her advantage. She was able to get special treatment by the nuns and a pat on the head by the Seargent. She's superior, hungry for recognition, but completely clueless how to get it. When we meet her, she's not happy with the current rules about men and women in the workplace. But she puts the Sergeant on a pedestal--her father figure.

Then she's mesmorized by Odalie, who seems to make her own rules and live an exciting life. Rose deludes herself that she still follows the rules, but she's really learning Odalie's and that's why she's willing to give up her former moral way of life. Simply put, she's a quick learner and wants what Odalie has even if it's as her shadow. The fact her hero, the Sergeant, has let her down with his corruption, helps speed the process.

Her obsession with Odalie is real, and she's constantly "proving" herself as the relationship wears on. I believe Odalie and Ginerva are the same person--as the story is written--but I think Rose killed Teddy to show Odalie how devoted she was. The catch? Rose thought this would clinch her spot as Odalie's second-hand-man, not dreaming Odalie would betray her.

It's easy to see how Odalie could bribe the police dept. to switch Rose's past with her own. Rose had few people in her past.

The real kicker is the final pages. Rose hasn't ever truly believed she could be alluring the way Odalie is. She's truly seen herself as plain--but she has taken so many steps to be like Odalie, wearing her clothes, learning her every move, going so far as putting both bracelets on at the crime scene.

When Lieutenant Detective shows up at the asylum, Rose "see a soft, vulnerable spot somewhere deep within the dark of his pupils. Something vaguely malicious comes over me." She then kisses him, unleashing the realization she, ROSE, can be a woman of the 20's--a self-centered, user--not the old-fashioned woman she thought. Rose chops her hair (remember how she chronicled LD's fascination with Odalie's hair when it was bobbed), and LD sees her in a different light--she knows he'll never come see her again because she has finally killed her old, moral self.

"How about that Odalie, I think, and take another drag of the cigarette. Two can play at that game."

This is the point where she decides she can have Odalie's way of life, even if she can't have Odalie with it.

I see Rose taking all the lessons she learned in manipulation from Odalie and getting out of the asylum. She's going to follow in Odalie's footsteps and create the life she wants, no matter who she hurts in the process.

Jill wrote: "Here's my take on the ending:

Rose was someone who "followed the rules" to her advantage. She was able to get special treatment by the nuns and a pat on the head by the Seargent. She's superior, h..."

Ohh I like this assesment and I think it makes a lot of sense. I also think you are right about Rose's character.

Denise wrote: "Ohh I like this assessment..."

It's fun to guess! I analyzed it on my walk last night--so many ways to go with it, right? :)

Jill wrote: "Denise wrote: "Ohh I like this assessment..."

It's fun to guess! I analyzed it on my walk last night--so many ways to go with it, right? :)"

I love open endings for this reason:) There really are a lot of ways to view it. Can't wait to see what this author writes next!

I remain unconvinced Rose killed Teddy but everyone is entitled to their own interpretations. It is fiction after all :)

Steven wrote: "I remain unconvinced Rose killed Teddy but everyone is entitled to their own interpretations. It is fiction after all :)"

I honestly think with this type if book you can make argument for both:)

Steven wrote: "I remain unconvinced Rose killed Teddy but everyone is entitled to their own interpretations. It is fiction after all :)"

I understand, Steven! Rose had the alibi down pat AND the elevator kid pointed the finger at Rose in the lobby makes a compelling argument. Maybe Odalie pushed the kid, but I do think, at the very least, Rose was there when it happened. The fact she drew blood on the serial killer convinced me. :)

One thing I DO know for certain...I'd snap up this author's next book without hesitation.

Steven wrote: "One this I DO know for certain...I'd snap up this author's next book without hesitation."

Agreed! Loved her voice and how she brought New York during the Prohibition to life! :)

Rose, Odalie, Teddy, the lieutenant detective, Adele and Violet are all the same person. The broach did not exist. It is Rose's mental symbol to represent Odalie. The various personalities war within her and have weaknesses, Achille's Heels, which is why Odalie feared Teddy, who knew her history and which is why Rose was unsettled by the lieutenant detective, who brought her the broach and news of Odalie. She knows he won't be coming back because she took his knife and cut her hair, so she won't let him come back. At the very least, the epilogue is all in Rose's head, along with large parts, if not all , of the rest of the book.

Lorraine wrote: "Rose, Odalie, Teddy, the lieutenant detective, Adele and Violet are all the same person. The broach did not exist. It is Rose's mental symbol to represent Odalie. The various personalities war with..."

I love this interpretation as well:) Sort of like the movie Identity...

I kept thinking of Fight Club, too -- is Rose just Odalie but because of her mental illness she tells the stroy as 2 people? But then when Liutentant Detective brings the brooch and says Odalie knew Rose would want it, my theory of Rose/Odalie being one in the same was destroyed. Unless that's just how Rose tells it. It's just so up in the air because Rose is not credible. Jill - I think your idea makes a ton of sense. Maybe Rose did kill Teddy to solidify her relationship with Odalie, but then when Odalie turns on her and tells the police the Generva story (which really how would that hold up? wouldn't they bring in Ginerva's boyfriend/finace's family to see this Ginerva and they would say Rose isn't Ginerva? Or other people who knew Ginerva to confirm her identity?) Rose realizes that she's in it alone but can get herself out of the asylum using the skills she learned from Odalie.

Hmmm... lots of think about.

Jill wrote: "Steven wrote: "I remain unconvinced Rose killed Teddy but everyone is entitled to their own interpretations. It is fiction after all :)"

I understand, Steven! Rose had the alibi down pat AND the e..."

true! she felt no fear when alone with Vitalli which definitely shows she is unbalanced

Jill wrote: "Here's my take on the ending:

Rose was someone who "followed the rules" to her advantage. She was able to get special treatment by the nuns and a pat on the head by the Seargent. She's superior, h..."

Jill wrote: "Here's my take on the ending:

Rose was someone who "followed the rules" to her advantage. She was able to get special treatment by the nuns and a pat on the head by the Seargent. She's superior, h..."

Yes. My take exactly. This will give me something to think about for a day or two. A very good story, especially for a first published novel!!

You have nailed it! This is a book about the changing roles of women. Neither of them will ever be "ROSE" again. Odalie may try to take on Rose's past, but that is impossible. It will be a more seamless transition for Rose to be Odalie because women are moving toward sexual freedom and independence. Even the role of typist is going to be obsolete. Odalie is a survivor and yes, Rose will be one too.

Rose became a pawn of Odalie/Genevra, who set Rose up from the start as a fall guy. Rose had some type of needy obsessive disorder that was her downfall. She bought into the whole switched personality in the end because of her love for Odalie/Genevra.

I'm inclined to believe that Odalie set Rose up.. but what about the passage about the broken mirror? Rose, in a fit of rage from seeing Odalie tainting the Sergeant with her seductive touches, blacks out in the bathroom and is later told that she was responsible for the smashed mirror.

I wish I hadn't already returned the book to the library! I would love to look back and see if she blacked out just before Teddy's death.

The lieutenant detective obviously found Rose attractive all along, perhaps she wasn't very plain after all. Maybe Odalie was what she told the police-- an orphan who lived on a typist's salary. Rose could have adopted Odalie's personality and believes that she was really the orphan.

But... now Gib's character gets me confused. At the end it was implied that he was the switch operator that could have helped Ginevra kill her fiance. They supposedly ran away together after the murder. So why did Gib tell Rose the child-in-a-whorehouse story? Even if he made that up to cover themselves, why not just go along with Odalie's cover that her "father" paid for the apartment? And how would Rose have slipped Gib the lethal alcohol if she was entertaining Teddy?

Agggggh, this plot has so many loose ends, my brain is knotted.

The read was good, the attention to detail and the ending was cheap and unsatisfying. WHERE WAS YOUR EDITOR????

I think I will have to try and read this book again to make sense of it. I wanted to enjoy it. I can see what the author was trying to do..to inject some hitchcock/suspense. But to do this I think you need a great control and skill & do a lot of fine tuning. It shouldnt be so difficult for the READER to put the pieces together.

Adrienne, I could not agree more. Felt like she did not map out story well enough. Frustrating, but not enough to invest more time in rereading! On to the next one!

I suppose you are right Stephanie. So many great books out there! Time to move on. Just a bit frustrating not to get fully to the bottom of this story! There were really too many scenarios floating around about Odalie for a definite outcome to who she was. Rose was needy, looking for love and stability and found it in the wrong place! End of story.

After a day of reflection, the only scenario that satisfies me is that O, R, G are all the same person...a split personality. Whenever Rose is encountered by another" real" person, O is absent.

The fact that Rose is telling this story while incarcerated and under a doctor's care adds credence to this theory.

I read this book on audible, so I can't go back and scan for details, but I would look very carefully at all the bracelet references. I think the bracelets are the key.

I may have to reread the book to test my theory but I feel there is one woman in this book (except landlady). Rose is one of the multiple personalities and the men in the story reveal to her the acts of her other personalities. Rose is intrigued by the glamorous life of Odalie and distances herself from her murderous personality. Rose lives a life of confusion and the reader experiences that confusion in the end.

Mbuka wrote: "I may have to reread the book to test my theory but I feel there is one woman in this book (except landlady). Rose is one of the multiple personalities and the men in the story reveal to her the a..."

Mbuka wrote: "I may have to reread the book to test my theory but I feel there is one woman in this book (except landlady). Rose is one of the multiple personalities and the men in the story reveal to her the a..."

I agree.

I guess I expect more of my storyteller. The novel did not lend itself to ambiguity in any other scenario. Just seemed like the author got to the end after manipulating the audience, then did not know how to wrap it up. Didn't seem to be part of any master plan and the theory that it Rose and Odalie were one and the same can be proved or disproved, depending. Does anyone remember the TV series St. Elsewhere and the last scene of the last show? That was pretty cool because it was definitive. This was the lame, YOU GO FIGURE IT OUT version.

Adrienne wrote: "I suppose you are right Stephanie. So many great books out there! Time to move on. Just a bit frustrating not to get fully to the bottom of this story! There were really too many scenarios floatin..."

What about when Teddy introduces both R and O to the hosts on vacation? He says that he has "some ladies her who've been hunting about for their hosts."

I'm so puzzled by the ending!

Laura wrote: "I'm inclined to believe that Odalie set Rose up.. but what about the passage about the broken mirror? Rose, in a fit of rage from seeing Odalie tainting the Sergeant with her seductive touches, bl..."



I had to re-read the part when Rose left Teddy & Odalie alone in the hotel, and yes, she mentions leaving in a kind of daze, going down the elevator, etc. My take is that she pushed Teddy or watched Odalie push him just before she left, hence the foggy state.
What a great novel.

Stephanie wrote: "I guess I expect more of my storyteller. The novel did not lend itself to ambiguity in any other scenario. Just seemed like the author got to the end after manipulating the audience, then did not k..."


I think that some people do not like open endings. It feels like you have made an investment in the story and then you get short changed without a definitive conclusion. I used to be the same way and get really annoyed, but in the last few years I have learned to appreciate this type of ending more. I am not sure what happened. With books like this, I found that you appreciate them more the second time around when you aren't expecting a conclusion (you know there isn't one) and can enjoy the book for what it is. The fun is in the speculation.

I think I loved this book partly because I could identify with both Rose and Odalie...thankfully not so much with Ginerva, hahaha...I wonder if other women felt this way too. The 20s were a time of deeply conflicting norms for women, and women really had to think about and decide just how "modern" they wanted to be. I think this was at the bottom of the split personality issue of the protagonist, whether or not you think Rose and Odalie are the same person. The thing is, though, our current era is a confusing one for women as well...you shouldn't be too "prudish", but be careful not to be a brazen slut either...sex and risque behavior are all over the place, but if you are caught involved in it, you are potentially dirtying your reputation...just look at Monica Lewinsky or Madonna in her time, etc. Interesting to think about, at least for me.
That being said, however, I do think for certain that Rose and Odalie and Ginerva were th same person...like someone said above, wouldn't Warren's family have come to identify Ginerva and seen that it wasn't her?