Are you a day or a night person? I am a night person that is forced to live a daytime
existence.
Katherine Schneider works as a dentist in 1913 at Painless
Parker Dentistry in Times Square, New York City. Her work shift ends at midnight and for the
past two years, the dashing Lieutenant Jonathan Birch from the police force has
been there to walk her safely to the subway.
She lives in the Martha Washington, a hotel with apartments that serves
only professional women. Katherine and
Jonathan seem to have feelings for each other, but their relationship has not
progressed. Jonathan harbors secrets from
his past and he is not willing to open up to another.
When one of Katherine’s patients spills secrets while he
is under the influence of laughing gas, Katherine soon realizes that the
secrets seem to align with bombings that are taking place around the City. With the help of Jonathan, the two
investigate the crime. Will they be able to solve it before the criminals
silence Katherine forever?
I greatly enjoyed this historical mystery. As soon as I started reading this story, I
was riveted and could not put it down.
What I liked about this book:
- Great romantic tension between the two lead characters.
- Riveting history as part of the setting in 1913 New York City.
- Strong female character living an independent life as a professional dentist.
- Strong male lead who must come to terms with his past in order to move on with his future.
- Diverse characters who are professionals that are able to help other people in the City.
- Engaging mystery story that kept me guessing.
- Great historical notes and discussion questions at the end of the novel.
- Also, at the end of the novel, a first glimpse at the next book in this Women of Midtown series. I will be reading it when it comes out in 2025!
I also must add that
there was one section of the book that was my very favorite. This is a Christian book. Most Christian books don’t really have any
Christian themes in them but are just clean reads. This book has a section in the first part of
the novel where Katherine and Jonathan have a great discussion about
forgiveness. Here is a snippet of the
discussion:
“’I know they’re bad men,
but I’d like to think they can be redeemed.’
He slanted her a look,
but she kept staring through the window, the outline of her profile as pure and
refined as the statues of the saints he saw in church each Sunday. ‘Do you really believe that?’
‘Of course,’ she said
automatically. ‘If someone gives
themselves over to Christ, all things are possible.’
He smothered a cynical
laugh. Her innocence was delightful but
a bit naïve. ‘What about Nero? Judas?
John Wilkes Booth?’
She shrugged. ‘No person is so lost they can’t be forgiven.’
‘Let me get this
straight,’ he said. ‘If John Wilkes Booth,
the man who shot Lincoln and derailed the reunification of our nation, managed
to choke out an apology on his deathbed, you would say it’s okay. . . . that
all is forgiven?’
She lifted her chin. ‘God would. Jesus would.’”
I loved this entire
conversation and there is even more to it in the book. It’s a great plot point as Jonathan and his
family are not perfect either. I feel
like this is the start of him thinking about, can he and his family be forgiven
for things they have done in the past?
Or does the stain of their sins make it so that he cannot be forgiven
and move on with his life?
Overall, While the City
Sleeps by Elizabeth Camden was a captivating and engaging historical mystery
novel. It is one of my favorite books this year so far.
Book Source: Review copy from author Bethany House
Publishing as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Thank-you! Opinions expressed in this review are
completely my own.
QUICK FACTS
·
Series: The Women of Midtown (Book
1)
·
Author: Elizabeth
Camden
·
Genre: Historical Mystery, Historical Romance, Gilded
Age Fiction
·
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
(February 13, 2024)
·
Length: (352) pages
· Format: Hardcover,
Trade Paperback, eBook, & Audiobook
· ISBN: 978-0764241710
·
Tour Dates: February 12 – 26, 2024
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Amid the
hushed city, two hearts must navigate danger and deception, bound by a love
that outshines the stars.
Katherine Schneider's life as a dentist in 1913 New York is upended
when a patient reveals details of a deadly plot while under the influence of
laughing gas. As she is plunged into danger, she seeks help from the dashing
Lieutenant Jonathan Birch, a police officer she has long admired from afar.
Jonathan has harbored powerful feelings toward Katherine for years but never
acted on them, knowing his dark history is something she could never abide.
Now, with her safety on the line, he works alongside her through the nights as
they unravel the criminal conspiracy that threatens her . . . even as he keeps
his deepest secrets hidden at all costs.
Join award-winning author Elizabeth Camden for a sweeping and romantic adventure of dangerous secrets and wounded hearts, fighting to overcome the darkness while the rest of the city sleeps.
PRAISE FOR WHILE THE CITY SLEEPS
- "History, mystery, and romance
set against the backdrop of New York City at night--a must-read!"—
Gabrielle Meyer, bestselling author of When the Day Comes, and In
This Moment
- "Elizabeth Camden brings the
bustling metropolis to living color like no one else. . . A novel that
will keep readers up late into the night."— Jocelyn Green, Christy
Award-winning author of The Metropolitan Affair
- “I loved the historical details
that make the story feel authentic.”— Kim Prudhoe, All the Lovely
Pages
PURCHASE LINKS
AMAZON | BARNES
& NOBLE | PUBLISHER | BOOKSHOP
| BOOKBUB | GOODREADS
Elizabeth
Camden is best known
for her historical novels set in gilded age America featuring clever heroines
and richly layered storylines. Before she was a writer, she was an academic
librarian at some of the largest and smallest libraries in America, but her
favorite is the continually growing library in her own home. Her novels have
won the RITA and Christy Award, and she lives in Florida with her husband who
graciously tolerates her intimidating stockpile of books.
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | BOOKBUB | GOODREADS
I like the setting and the era too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this review with the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
ReplyDelete