I was drawn to this book because it sounded intriguing: in 1923, a New York woman is found dead and the possible suspects range from a hoodlum to a wealthy Philadelphia businessman. Based on a true story, this historical fiction read is riveting.When Dot King is found murdered in her apartment by her housekeeper, Ella Bradford, all of her jewels and furs missing, her scandalous lifestyle becomes a gold mine for the newspapers of the time, and pressure is placed on New York homicide detective John Coughlin to solve the murder. What Coughlin quickly finds out is that the politics of the case--going all the way up to President Harding's cabinet--is outweighed by his gut instinct that Dot's gigolo lover is the culprit. Besides getting political pressure to close the case, Coughlin is also held accountable by the only woman on the crime beat, reporter Julia Harpman who is determined that justice be done for Dot.
Told mostly from Harpman's perspective, the book explores the many suspects and their motives as well as Coughlin's reasoning to narrow the field. This is a well-researched book that shines the light on a notoriously corrupt Harding presidency and brings the Roaring Twenties to life through Dot and her lovers and acquaintances. It's a fast-paced and well-written recounting of the murder and its subsequent investigation that kept New York riveted for years.
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