The Seamstress of New Orleans
Books | Fiction / Historical / General
3.4
Diane C. McPhail
Set against the backdrop of the first all-female Mardi Gras krewe at the turn-of-the-century, the acclaimed author’s mesmerizing historical novel tells of two strangers separated by background but bound by an unexpected secret—and of the strength and courage women draw from and inspire in each other.“An undercurrent of New Orleans’s dark side propels the story, heightening the tension and supplying McPhail with a wealth of evocative details.” – Publishers Weekly 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 controled 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 . . .
AD
Buy now:
More Details:
Author
Diane C. McPhail
Pages
304
Publisher
Kensington
Published Date
2022-05-31
ISBN
1496738152 9781496738158
Community ReviewsSee all
"I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.<br/><br/>Alice Butterworth and Constance Halstead are two women from different states who have a lot in common. They are both recent widows (or at least presumed to be widows), they have both experienced the loss of a child, and they both had to grow up in a man’s world, where women need to stay in their “place.”<br/><br/>But it’s the turn of the century. Alice’s mother gave her a gift when she taught her to sew and sent her away from their prairie home to make a better life for herself. When Alice’s husband fails to return from business, she believes he abandoned her, and she just knows her mother would be disappointed in how her life turned out. Alice soon discovers she is expecting a baby and knows she can’t wait for her husband to appear.<br/><br/>Alice soon discovers that her husband is not who he said he was and goes to New Orleans on a whim, in search of new opportunities. She is quickly paired up with Constance, who needs a dress for Mardi Gras, and who can offer Alice a place to stay. They soon find a sisterhood in one another that they’d never got to experience before. But Constance has a secret she wants to keep hidden, all while dealing with the Black Hand, who keeps threatening her and her family. Alice, too, will find herself keeping a secret.<br/><br/>This was an enjoyable read. It was easy to figure out what was going on (with the help of a few errors in the writing, but it really wouldn’t have mattered either way) and what the big secret would be. I kept waiting for the ball to drop and for both women to uncover the secret. <spoiler> There were also a couple of plot holes that should have revealed the secret or at least lead to some suspicion. It didn’t. </spoiler> <br/><br/>I did love the friendship that developed between the two women and the mutual respect they had, but it took forever for the two women to meet. I wish it would have happened earlier so we could have gotten more out of this found family. <br/><br/>I was disappointed in the ending, but I think that this was a great book overall."
K M
Kara Mowery
