New York City in the early twentieth century was a busy tumultuous place where wealth could be made, but for many, moving to the land of opportunity only resulted in fighting a tough survival existence and a lifetime of hot and smelly tenement buildings. Yet, for all that, they had their pride and if they could look down on someone else, they would and the Chinese were considered the lowest of the lot. Immigration laws even barred Chinese men from bringing Chinese women to America to marry. So, when poor Irish women found comfort in the lace curtains, good furniture and plentiful food that their Chinese husbands paid for, they were forced into an isolated existence between two worlds. A world made even harsher for their mixed blood children!

Midwife Sarah Brandt lives less than a mile away with her newly adopted daughter, Catherine, in a smartly appointed home, however, had not entered into Chinatown until she was called to help Cora Lee with her baby's delivery. Once there, she very quickly understood the situation and tough choices that these women faced. Them just as she is leaving, she meets "Angel", the beautiful half-Chinese niece of Cora. Angel was crying and screaming that she would not marry the old and ugly Mr. Wong, a friend of her father's, no matter how much money he had!

When Harry, Angel's brother, notices that Minnie Mae Angel is missing and all her clothes are gone, she vows to help her mother find her. They both know going to the police is useless as Angel is not a "missing white girl", but Sarah knows someone on the force who will help. She calls on her friend, Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy, for assistance. But when Angel is found dead behind an old tenement building, is there any chance at all that the killer can be found?

Victoria Thompson breathes compelling life and realism into this historical mystery which is her ninth and latest novel in this Edgar®-nominated series. Highlighting the early prejudices of the day, Thompson has crafted a gripping tale with intriguing character interplay that will delight her fans, both existing and new, especially with its surprising ending. I particularly enjoyed the dialogue between Sarah and her allies and the shy, but helpful hints from Maeve, Catherine's nursemaid, that move Sarah in the right direction in her investigations. A great read -- enjoy!

Book Summary

Sarah Brandt has made her uneasy way to Chinatown to deliver a baby. There she meets a group of Irish women who, completely alone at Ellis Island, married Chinese men in the same predicament. But even as a new century dawns, New Yorkers still cling to their own kind, scorning children of mixed races.

When the new mother's half-Chinese, half-Irish niece goes missing, Sarah knows that alerting the police will accomplish nothing, and seeks the one person she can turn to-Detective Sergeant Malloy.

And when the missing girl is found dead in a Chinatown alley, Sarah and Malloy have ample suspects in her murder- from both sides of Canal Street.