“Richly drawn characters, the vibrant historical setting, and a suspenseful mystery create a strong current that pulls readers into this delightful novel. But it's the women's issues—as relevant today as they were in the early 1900s—that will linger long after the last page."
-- Donna S. Meredith, The Southern Literary Review
Can two women get the lowdown on high society?
“Two powerless young women must navigate a soul-crushing class system and find the levers of power they wield when they combine their strengths. These women may have been taught to whisper, but when their time comes, they will roar.”
– 5 Star Amazon Review
Louisa Delafield and Ellen Malloy didn’t ask to be thrown together to bring the truth to light. But after Ellen witnesses the death of a fellow servant during an illegal abortion, Louisa, a society columnist, vows to help her find the truth and turn her journalistic talent to a greater purpose.
Together, these unlikely allies battle to get the truth out, and to avenge the wrongful death of a friend.
What will our heroes do when their closest allies and those they trust turn out to be the very forces working to keep their story in the dark? They’ll face an abortionist, a sex trafficking ring, and a corrupt system determined to keep the truth at bay.
“If you like historical fiction and if you like mysteries, this one is for you!”
– 5 Star Amazon Review
Was change possible in 1913?
To find out, read THE WHISPERING WOMEN today!
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MY THOUGHTS
Louisa Delafield has been struggling to scrape by. The wealth her family once had is gone, and she is barely making enough money writing columns for a newspaper to pay the bills. When her job is threatened, she must start writing less about the dresses and events of the upper class, and try to dig up some dirt, something that will draw more readers to her columns.
Ellen Malloy was simply trying to make her way in America, working as a ladies' maid, when a fellow servant, Silvia, ends up pregnant. Ellen goes with her Silvia to an illegal abortion, arranged by one of the people they work for, but things go sideways when Silvia dies, and Ellen finds herself running from people who would capture her for Heaven knows what purpose.
When Louise and Ellen find their paths entwined, a solution reveals itself – Louisa can help to ensure Ellen’s safety by exposing the people that did such things in the paper, but even with the two working together to protect each other, there are many dangerous obstacles in their way, and the way forward is not quite as easy to find as it may seem.
This is a novel I thoroughly enjoyed reading, and I just simply could not put it down. Louisa and Ellen are absolutely fabulous characters, and I loved following their stories. The mystery behind who the doctor is, and what the plans were for Silvia and, after her death, for Ellen, remains mostly unsolved until very near the end of the book. If the wonderful characters weren’t enough to keep me reading, not knowing the truth made it very difficult to put the book down. The story has been laid out perfectly, with just enough information given as you read to keep you hooked, and not enough revealed to let you leave the world within the pages until you knew the truth.
This book deals with some issues that are, unfortunately, still prevalent in today’s society. Topics of the legality of abortions, and women’s rights, are covered in great detail, as Louisa and Ellen delve into trying to find out the truth. Certain things in particular are highlighted, especially how, even though Silvia’s pregnancy was forced upon her, and she had no choice in stopping it, she would’ve been the one punished for ending it. The men face no consequences, even when it is them who are the cause of the problem. The way this book covered such topics was, in itself, tactful, although these things were still very real in the telling. The things Louisa writes about in her column are still pressing issues, over 100 years later, and such parallels show just how important these things are in society now, when we see the layout of society in the past as barbaric.
I loved the inclusion of Louisa’s columns as the story progresses, so the reader knows exactly what information has been revealed and what hasn’t. Louisa is among the women of high society, who all want their names in her column to show off who has the best dresses of the season while living like the lower classes. The inclusion of the column helps to show the difference between the classes as well, catering to both the higher and lower classes by showing off the higher-class ladies to those of the lower classes.
The gangs that lurk in the undergrounds of the streets were an excellent addition that I really enjoyed. The seedy underground has connections that not many can achieve, so if you are after some information, and are not too concerned about safety, that is the place to go. Louisa and Ellen both find themselves in the midst of the Gophers, in the presence of Owney the Killer, in some very different scenarios, and I did creep forward to the edge of my seat while I was reading. Louisa and Ellen find themselves in some incredibly dangerous situations, and I definitely feared for their lives at some points in this novel. If you are after a book that will keep you perched precariously on the edge of your seat throughout the entire book, this is definitely one to go on the to-read list.
This is an absolutely amazing book, that gives a real insight into life for a woman in the early 1900s, and the kind of political and social divides that existed. The entire topic of illegal abortions, and the way the book has been laid out, draws some scary parallels between the past and some present events, which makes this book an even more interesting read. I couldn’t stop reading, it is certainly a great novel, and one I would highly recommend.
Trish MacEnulty is a bestselling novelist. In addition to her historical fiction, she has published novels, a short story collection, and a memoir. A former Professor of English, she currently lives in Florida with her husband, two dogs, and one cat. She writes book reviews and feature articles for the Historical Novel Review. She loves reading, writing, walking with her dogs, streaming historical series, cooking, and dancing.
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Thank you so much for your fabulous review of The Whispering Women by Trish MacEnulty. I'm so delighted you loved the story. xx
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