City of Lies by Victoria Thompson Narrator: Kate Forbes
Series: Counterfeit Lady #1
Published by Recorded Books on November 7, 2017
Genres: Mystery
Length: 11 hours, 7 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Every woman plays a part—but some are more dangerous than others…
Like most women, Elizabeth Miles assumes many roles; unlike most, hers have made her a woman on the run. Living on the edge of society, Elizabeth uses her guile to relieve so-called respectable men of their ill-gotten gains. But brutal and greedy entrepreneur Oscar Thornton is out for blood. He’s lost a great deal of money and is not going to forgive a woman for outwitting him. With his thugs hot on her trail, Elizabeth seizes the moment to blend in with a group of women who have an agenda of their own.
She never expects to like or understand these privileged women, but she soon comes to respect their intentions, forming an unlikely bond with the wealthy matriarch of the group whose son Gideon is the rarest of species—an honest man in a dishonest world. She knows she’s playing a risky game, and her deception could be revealed at any moment, possibly even by sharp-eyed Gideon. Nor has she been forgotten by Thornton, who’s biding his time within this gilded orbit, waiting to strike. Elizabeth must draw on her wits and every last ounce of courage she possesses to keep her new life from being cut short by this vicious shadow from her past.
So no doubt you remember when I read the first book in the Gaslight Mysteries and proceeded to devour them all over the next couple months, all 20+ books. I enjoyed the original narrator who was in my head so I couldn’t listen to the second one. Anyway, the author died a couple years ago and I was very sad there would be no more books. I really appreciated her use of actual events or issues of the time in her books.
But there is a new book coming out in her other series, Counterfeit Lady, started in 2017 AND it has a crossover of some of the Gaslight Mystery characters about 20 years later! So it appealed to me to start this series.
City of Lies features Elizabeth Miles, who is part of a family of grifters and confidence men. She is quick witted and reads people well. She and her brother Jake, are on a scheme with Oscar Thornton where they get the money but Thornton goes after them.
Elizabeth manages to get arrested with suffragists and is impressed with the wonderful and passionate women. They are equally enthralled with her and take her in after they are released from jail. But Thornton is still after her. With her family she comes up with a new scheme for Thornton which will utilize the men in the new friend’s families. It’s not just money now, it’s her life. Also the lives of US soldiers, since the guns he is selling are dangerous in battle situations.
Men are besotted with Elizabeth, and a fake romance helps her cause. Thornon wants her but only to violate her. He’s all about vengeance and abusing women He’s scary. Elizabeth loves her new female friends and doesn’t want to disappoint them that she is not the upstanding lady she appears. I love seeing the schemes and the relationships play out. I’ll have to read on to find out what happens with her next.
Narration:
I enjoyed the narration of Kate Forbes who I don’t think I have heard before. Most of our time is spent with Elizabeth’s point of view and voice which felt right. The other voices were also well performed with the appropriate emotions. I was able to listen at my newer 1.75x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Victoria Thompson
Victoria Thompson is the USA Today bestselling author of the Edgar® and Agatha nominated Gaslight Mystery series and the Sue Grafton Memorial Award nominated Counterfeit Lady Series. She was nominated for an Edgar Award from Mystery Writers of America in 2001, and in 2012 she received a Career Achievement Award in Mystery Writing from RT Magazine. Six of her Gaslight Mysteries were nominated for an Agatha Award. She also contributed to the award winning writing textbook MANY GENRES/ONE CRAFT and authored a short story for the anthology, SHERLOCK HOLMES IN AMERICA. In her previous life, Victoria Thompson was the bestselling author of twenty historical romances. She earned her Master of Fine Arts degree in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University in 2012, where she has been a mentor and lecturer for 20 years.
“I became enchanted by New York City, and Greenwich Village in particular, while one of my daughters attended NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. After reading many books about the village, and spending many pleasant hours dining, shopping, and just wandering the streets, I was permanently hooked!”
Victoria Thompson has also written 20 historical romances.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 26-Audio
- 26-COYER
I can see why you wanted to read this, I’m glad it was good! I love the idea of a female grifter and the friendships as well.
Thanks. This author just had a way of bring in really history to her stories also.
Always sad when a good author passes and there are no more books in a series. Neat that you got a crossover and another good series to pursue.
Thank you Sophia. I was excited to learn about the crossover.
I was thinking about starting this series for the same reasons as yours. So glad to see it’s a win and great review, Anne💜
Thanks Jonetta. I recommend it if you liked the Gaslight Mysteries. I had to shift after the beginning of those to ebook but these I can do audio again and it looks like the same narrator throughout. It’s also a newer and shorter series.
This one sounds good. It’s sad when a favorite author passes away, it’s good you still get to read her work. The first time I read cozy mysteries around 1999 they were by Anne George and I had no idea she had passed until I started looking for new books by her.
These are very well done with accurate details of historical aspects.
Oh, I remember when you devoured those books. Both series sound very good. I’m sorry to hear the author passed.
yes the ones I devoured there are like 27 books and I listened to the first 8-12 and then they changed narrator so I was reading the ebooks. This newer series has 8 books and the narrator is the same so that’s easier on me. I don’t know why that sometimes bothers me and sometimes I am fine with changing narrators.
I feel your pain when learning about the death of a favourite author – what a treat that you discovered this other series. I’m always awed at your ability to read books with such a quick narration speed! Thank you for an informative review:).
You’re welcome Sarah. I used to not be able to talk fast enough to get my ideas expressed and would occasionally skip words when I was much younger. So I think the speed comes naturally for me.
Sounds like you’ll have another great series to read and enjoy!
yes if I could only ignore everything else.
I read several books in her other series and enjoyed them. Didn’t know she passed away. So very sad!
yes there won’t be more books unless her daughter takes over. I have this series all new to me though to enjoy. I hope to fit some in but this months the books are long books both listening and the ebooks.