The strength of this story is in its historical perspective and atmosphere -- the warring factions, the high-running emotions and tensions of the time. Inspired by true events, this is a story about corruption, rampant anti-Semitism, fascism, domestic terrorism, sexism and disinformation about Jewish Bostonians which lead to violence in the streets.
Where the book faltered for me was its characters and pacing. I loved the idea of reporter Anne Lemire and FBI agent Devon Mulvey, who are both outsiders in their fields, but the execution of their characters fell flat with a forced feel to their bond and a superfluous romance. The very large secondary cast and slow pace added to a muddled feel and despite brief bits of tension, the story was too slowly paced to be suspenseful and I found myself skimming pages.
I continue to be a fan of Mullen's and regularly recommend his Darktown series and while I loved the atmosphere and appreciated learning a new perspective of the impact of WWII and how it affected people on this side of the Atlantic, the suspense fell a little short for me in this book.
Disclaimer: Thanks to Minotaur and St. Martin's Press for the complimentary advanced copy of this book which was provided in exchange for my honest review.
My Rating: 3 stars
Author: Thomas Mullen
Genre: Historical Suspense
Type and Source: eBook from publisher via NetGalley
Publisher: Minotaur Books (SMP)
First Published: February 27, 2024
Book Description from GoodReads: A determined reporter and a reluctant FBI agent face off against fascist elements in World War II-era Boston.
Reporter Anne Lemire writes the Rumor Clinic, a newspaper column that disproves the many harmful rumors floating around town, some of them spread by Axis spies and others just gossip mixed with fear and ignorance. Tired of chasing silly rumors about Rosie Riveters' safety on the job, she wants to write about something bigger.
Special Agent Devon Mulvey, one of the few Catholics at the FBI, spends his weekdays preventing industrial sabotage and his Sundays spying on clerics with suspect loyalties—and he spends his evenings wooing the many lonely women whose husbands are off at war.
When Anne’s story about Nazi propaganda intersects with Devon’s investigation into the death of a factory worker, the two are led down a dangerous trail of espionage, organized crime, and domestic fascism—one that implicates their own tangled pasts and threatens to engulf the city in violence.
With vibrant historical atmosphere and a riveting mystery that illuminates still-timely issues about disinformation and power, Thomas Mullen delivers another powerful thriller.
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