Actually one of the best books I have read this year. It was a surprise…a literary mystery that slowly unfurled and encompassed a bit of American history as well; albeit, not a period Americans are proud of today. This is very well written, and I am reminded of the sign I recently saw in a bookstore’s window: “I’m going to clean the house now…ooh, look, a book.” This novel was engrossing and compelling and beautifully written. All of my plans fell by the wayside. The prose was lovely and the author made it seem effortless, never forced. Just enough was revealed about the characters to make me want to know more, but I was never bored with unnecessary minutiae. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more by this author.
– Robyn Lee, Goodreads
“Quillen’s prose drips with atmosphere, quirky characters, and a deep sense of foreboding.”
– Carmen Amato, Author of The Emilia Cruz Mysteries
“This book was wildly entertaining. I am a sucker for a good literary mystery, bonus points if it also deals with literary people (as it does here), and this was one hell of a good literary mystery. … Overall, I would definitely recommend this book. The setting was very fun, the scenery rich, and the characters great.“
— Lindsay Heller, Goodreads
“I did not see the ending coming. A great summer mystery.“
– Doreen Thomas, Amazon
“A well-written who-done-it mystery with plenty of humor throughout. The most notable thing about this book, for me, was the level of detail that was taken with each character. There are plenty of academic types, artistic types that run the gamut from passionate to quirky and each felt very authentic. Recommended.
— Angie West, Goodreads
“Abby Quillen creates an intriguing world in her literary mystery about iconic figures, academia, and the world of secrets, lies, and identity. This book mixes light-hearted playfulness with heavier undertones that arise as the novel progresses.“
— Aaron, Goodreads