04/04/2022
In 1928, Ruby Newhouse—the 18-year-old daughter of an anticorruption state’s attorney—likes to pretend she’s a flighty flapper, but she’s actually a shrewd vigilante who reads minds to identify and then poison “killers, monsters, abusers.” Ruby usually targets women-harming men whom few will miss, but when someone tries to assassinate her father, she shifts her focus to Chicago’s power players. Evidence points to mob boss Herman Coward, but Ruby suspects he’s being framed by a crooked politician angling to run the city. After she discovers that a morgue employee known as Guy Rosewood, 18, can morph his appearance to resemble nearly anyone, she agrees to keep his secret—and then solicits his assistance. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Ruby, Guy is investigating a string of poisonings to curry favor with medical examiner and cellular metamorphosis expert Gregory Keene, hoping to learn more about his own abilities. Ruby and Guy co-narrate, tension mounting as they work at cross-purposes while falling in love. Several characters are Prohibition-era stereotypes, and the inclusion of 1920s slang can feel a bit shoehorned, but on the balance, Kulper (the Salt & Storm series) delivers a glitzy, adrenaline-fueled crime novel brimming with formidable women. All characters cue as white. Ages 14–up. Agent: Sara Crowe, Pippin Properties. (May)
★ "An exciting, slightly supernatural romp through the glitzy, glamorous Chicago of the Roaring Twenties. . . . Kendall Kulper (Salt & Storm) upends the conventions of a traditional noir caper with a story of a femme fatale heroine who kills to protect vulnerable women. . . . Guy is a romantic lead who embodies non-toxic masculinity; his relationship with Ruby is both swoon-worthy and built upon mutual respect. Fans of Libba Bray's The Diviners series should enjoy this feminist and fantasy-tinged historical mystery."—Shelf Awareness, Starred Review
★ "This supernatural noir thriller is serving up the very best the genre has to offer: unsavory characters, dark humor, sordid secrets, and an intrepid femme fatale anti-heroine who charms as a red-headed, murderous flapper version of Legally Blonde’s Elle Woods. . . . The historical world-building is immersive, with the slang-filled narration and dialogue being a highlight. . . . The gripping plot escalates with the thrills, culminating in a violent whirlwind of a happy ending."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Starred Review
"An effervescent champagne cocktail of a novel that packs a delightful punch."—Booklist
"Noir turned merrily upside down."—Kirkus Reviews
"An interesting blend of historical fiction, crime drama, and fantasy, steeped in danger and scheming."—School Library Journal
"As the bodies pile up, readers will be breathless to witness the final showdown. Fast-paced; glamorously chaotic; and, with its grisly undertones, somewhat uncomfortably unforgettable."—The Horn Book
"Kulper (the Salt & Storm series) delivers a glitzy, adrenaline-fueled crime novel brimming with formidable women."—Publishers Weekly
"An engaging, page-turning mystery that crackles with the wit and shimmering style of the 1920s. Shiny and dark, funny and grim, and populated by lovable, charming characters that leap off the page, grab you by the hand, and lead you onto the dance floor. The most fun book about murder you'll ever read." —Mackenzi Lee, New York Times bestselling author of The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue
"Kendall Kulper’s whip-smart romp through 1920s Chicago has it all—mystery, romance, a killer wardrobe, and a vibrant cast headlined by the indomitable, irresistible Ruby Newhouse. A deliciously dazzling page-turner you’ll devour in one sitting." —Claire Legrand, New York Times bestselling author of Furyborn
"A devilishly plotted page-turner that sparkles with wit and romance. Murder and mayhem have never been so fun!" —Lisa Maxwell, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Magician
05/01/2022
Gr 8 Up—Ruby Newhouse, living in Chicago in 1928, uses her reputation as a carefree flapper and her ability to read minds to hide her secret life—she kills men who mistreat women. Ruby's father is Cook County's state attorney. He's been combating corruption in City Hall and, after several attempts on his life, Ruby is focused on finding out who's behind it. Guy Rosewood can shape shift, changing all aspects of his physical appearance, which had devastating consequences in the past. He takes a job in the Cook County morgue to connect with a doctor there who's done research on his condition. Ruby and Guy cross paths when Ruby visits the morgue in search of information, discovering his ability in the process. Ruby enlists him to help her unravel the conspiracy against her father. As they work together and grow closer, they struggle to decide if they can trust each other with their secrets. The plot is an interesting blend of historical fiction, crime drama, and fantasy, steeped in danger and scheming. However, it lacks strong worldbuilding. Characters tend to be clearly good or bad with little depth. Ruby's murders are presented without question. Ruby is cued as white; most characters aren't described and are assumed white. VERDICT The intriguing premise of this genre-bending novel would benefit from stronger worldbuilding to add life and cohesiveness to the narrative.—Carla Riemer
2022-03-02
Is she a glam, airhead flapper—or a serial killer of wicked men?
It’s 1927, and 18-year-old Ruby, the daughter of the state’s attorney, is known as someone who’s always up for a good time, a gorgeous party girl who dances with all the fellows. Nobody knows that Ruby can read minds, so none of her many casual beaus can guess that Ruby knows exactly who the unredeemable characters are. Certainly nobody has any idea that sometimes Ruby dons a wig and secretes about her person some arsenic (or cyanide, strychnine, belladonna, or chloroform—she’s not choosy!) in order to remove some extremely dangerous character from the scene. Enter Guy, 18, a morgue employee who can transform his appearance to look like anyone. All he wants is to learn enough about his special ability to control it, but in order to do that, he might have to solve a string of mysterious poisoning murders across the city. Can the would-be detective, doomed to perpetual disguise, have a romance with a sexy murderess? In a vivacious, corrupt, Prohibition-era Chicago where everyone appears to be White, characters speak in smart-alecky slang, and tropes collide chaotically to diverting effect. At times, the dependence on genre conventions results in stereotyping, for example around weight and social class.
A femme fatale heroine, a crime that mustn’t be solved: noir turned merrily upside down. (Noir paranormal. 13-17)
Valerie Rose Lohman and Max Meyers make a dynamic narration team as they portray two curiously gifted young people in 1920s Chicago. Lohman’s portrayal of 18-year-old Ruby Newhouse is bright, confident, and lively. She appears to be a cheerful flapper, but she’s also a mind reader who uses her ability to rid the world of corrupt men. In alternate chapters, Meyers portrays 18-year-old Peter, who is confused, depressed, and worried about his inability to control his shape-shifting. Nonetheless, he’s determined to solve a series of murders. There is an instant attraction when Ruby and Peter meet, but can they overcome their opposite temperaments and conflicting goals? These elements add tension to this fast-moving audio, as does the combination of mystery, romance, history, and fantasy. S.W. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
Valerie Rose Lohman and Max Meyers make a dynamic narration team as they portray two curiously gifted young people in 1920s Chicago. Lohman’s portrayal of 18-year-old Ruby Newhouse is bright, confident, and lively. She appears to be a cheerful flapper, but she’s also a mind reader who uses her ability to rid the world of corrupt men. In alternate chapters, Meyers portrays 18-year-old Peter, who is confused, depressed, and worried about his inability to control his shape-shifting. Nonetheless, he’s determined to solve a series of murders. There is an instant attraction when Ruby and Peter meet, but can they overcome their opposite temperaments and conflicting goals? These elements add tension to this fast-moving audio, as does the combination of mystery, romance, history, and fantasy. S.W. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
