I almost walked away from this one several times, but in the end stuck with it because of the overwhelmingly positive reviews it had gotten. I’m so glad I did, as I really enjoyed the story once it really started rolling… The initial bits establishing the family dynamic were very interesting, as was the fire itself – but I lost the feel for the characters and story on its immediate aftermath. I found it again with the asylum and rebuilding angles and the mystery about the shooting though, and from there I was catapulted directly into the sisters’ world and stayed there until the very end. Despite that oddly uneven blip for me, I found this an engaging and interesting tale that covered several issues in American history that I wasn’t all that familiar with, and that also offered a solid mystery and family storyline that combined into a complex and richly descriptive tale that I quite enjoyed.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
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