Friday, November 22, 2019

Cozy Mystery #Book #Review ~ City of Scoundrels (Counterfeit Lady, Book #3) by Victoria Thompson ~ #Cozy #Mystery @BerkleyMystery


Book Details:

City of Scoundrels
Series: A Counterfeit Lady Novel (Book 3)

Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Publish Date: November 5, 2019

ISBN-10: 1984805657
ISBN-13: 978-1984805652


About the Book:

Elizabeth Miles finds herself in a position no con can help her escape. Her beloved fiancé, Gideon Bates, is awaiting his turn in the draft to fight in the Great War. Elizabeth is finding it hard to think of anything else, but Gideon has thrown himself into his work, preparing wills for soldiers before they ship out. Corporal Tom Preston is part owner of Preston Shoes, a company that is making footwear for the army, so he has a rather large estate. He needs a new will, however, because he has just been secretly married to a woman whom his family would never approve. He wants to make sure she and their unborn child are provided for if he does not return.

When Tom is later reported killed, Elizabeth and Gideon learn that the new will has gone missing after Tom's bride revealed her identity to his family. Unless the new will is found and validated, the original will, which leaves everything to Tom's brother, will prevail and the wife and child will get nothing. If Tom's new bride survives, that is. Some terrible threats have been leveled against her, and Elizabeth and Gideon must figure out a way, legal or not quite, to secure Tom's fortune for his wife and child while saving her life in the process.


City of Scoundrels is the third book in the Counterfeit Lady series. This book continues through World War I and Elizabeth and Gideon are waiting for Gideon’s draft summons to fight. Both characters are anxious and Gideon’s too honorable to try to find a way to finagle his way out of his duty. While awaiting his turn, Gideon and the law firm for whom he works, are treating soldiers with kindness and preparing wills in case of the unfortunate actions of war. One will, in particular, is that of Tom Preston, an industrialist who co-owns a shoe factory with his brother and stepmother. Tom is recently married to a woman his family would never approve of, let alone support if something were to happen to him. He takes it upon himself to have a new will drawn up to supersede one his brother insisted upon not too much prior. 

After receiving word of Tom’s unfortunate death, Gideon learns Rose, Tom’s widow, is robbed of both the marriage certificate and the new will. She was also attacked in her own home. Fearing for her safety, Gideon involves Elizabeth to help keep Rose safe. Now, Gideon and Elizabeth must figure out who’s behind the theft and assault and Gideon must figure out how to help Rose secure the part of the shoe factory’s fortune Tom wanted her to have. Unfortunately, what Elizabeth and Gideon encounter goes further than Tom’s scandalous marriage to Rose. 

City of Scoundrels is my favorite book in the Counterfeit Lady series so far. Don’t get me wrong, the first two books are absolutely amazing, but City of Scoundrels has so many emotional moments, plot twists, and truly spectacular moments. The author did a wonderful job with this book in the series and I couldn’t put the book down. I love how the author weaves truly historic events into this series in such a way that I feel like I’m there. The character development continues, and I love the strength written into Elizabeth and Gideon. I highly recommend this series. 

I was given a hardcover copy of this book to read.

My Rating:


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