Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⬜⬜
Title: The Seamstress of New Orleans
Author: Diane C. McPhail
Genre: Historical Fiction
Setting: Chicago, Illinois / New Orleans, Louisiana
Month Read: July 2022
Book Type: Hardcover
Publication: 2022
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Company
Pages: 304
*Thank you to Goodreads for the giveaway! In no way does this influence my review for this novel.
TRIGGER WARNING-
Infant Death / Murder / Blackmail / Polygamy / Abuse
"Howard Butterworth? I'm sorry, miss. We have no one by that name in this office. Could someone else be of assistance to you?"
No Spoiler Summary (Goodreads):
The year 1900 ushers in a new century and the promise of social change, and women rise together toward equality. Yet rules and restrictions remain, especially for women like Alice Butterworth, whose husband has abruptly disappeared. Desperate to make a living for herself and the child she carries, Alice leaves the bitter cold of Chicago far behind, offering sewing lessons at a New Orleans orphanage.
Constance Halstead, a young widow reeling with shock under the threat of her late husband’s gambling debts, has thrown herself into charitable work. Meeting Alice at the orphanage, she offers lodging in exchange for Alice’s help creating a gown for the Leap Year ball of Les Mysterieuses, the first all female krewe of Mardi Gras. During Leap Years, women have the rare opportunity to take control in their interactions with men, and upend social convention. Piece by piece, the breathtaking gown takes shape, becoming a symbol of strength for both women, reflecting their progress toward greater independence.
But Constance carries a burden that makes it impossible to feel truly free. Her husband, Benton, whose death remains a dangerous mystery, was deep in debt to the Black Hand, the vicious gangsters who controlled New Orleans’ notorious Storyville district. Benton’s death has not satisfied them. And as the Mardi Gras festivities reach their fruition, a secret emerges that will cement the bond between Alice and Constance even as it threatens the lives they’re building . . .
Review:
I took entirely too long to read this book (turns out I can't read in my first trimester, surprise!), but I did enjoy a lot of aspects of this novel, but also felt like something was missing and couldn't get past that.
I liked the characters, I think the threads of the feminist/suffragette movement woven throughout the novel was wonderful, and you see these women taking control of their lives, finances, and families. I guessed the 'twist' insanely early, and I think that took a lot away from the novel because I kept waiting for it to be discovered and it took almost the entire novel to happen. I did stay very interested learning about Benton, and honestly wished we had a little more of his villainy in the novel, but ultimately the book isn't really about him at all. I just didn't feel connected enough to really care about where he was?
I felt like a lot of subplots were discarded and picked up a lot in the novel, and then everything got tied up too nicely. Everyone ends up getting what they want, there's no tension left, and ultimately not a lot of tension woven throughout the novel to keep you turning the pages. I found it very easy to set this book down for a few days and come back to it. I never wanted to stay up getting to the end.
If you're a fan of historical mysteries, I'd give it a shot. I did love learning about the time period, and do want to look at more books about female Mardi Gras Krewes as well- this part I found fascinating (and ultimately such a small part of the novel.) I definitely would love a spin off book about Dorothea- one of the most fascinating and fun characters in the book.
Recommendation:
My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray
Booth by Karen Joy Fowler
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