Description (from cover):'From the ballrooms and mansions of Denver's newly wealthy to the seamy lives of desperate women, Fallen Women, illuminates the darkest places of the human heart...
It is the spring of 1885 and wealthy New York socialite Beret Osmundsen has been estranged from her younger sister, Lillie, for a year when she gets word from her aunt and uncle that Lillie has died suddenly in Denver. What they do not tell her is that Lillie had become a prostitute and was brutally murdered in the brothel where she was living. When Beret discovers the sordid truth of Lillie's death, she makes her way to Denver, determined to find her sister's murderer. Detective Mick McCauley may not want her involved in the case, but Beret is resolute, and the investigation soon takes her from the dangerous, seedy underworld of Denver's tenderloin to the highest levels of Denver society. Along the way, Beret not only learns the depths of Lillie's depravity but also exposes the sinister side of Gilded Age ambition in the process.
Sandra Dallas once again delivers a page-turner filled with mystery, intrigue, and the kind of intricate detail that truly transports you to another time and place.'
My thoughts:
I picked this book up from the library as it seemed so fascinating. I was not disappointed. I really enjoyed this one. Sandra Dallas really has a way with words and creating a story that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat. Beret Osmundsen is a character that the reader can't help but love and the intrigues of the plot will keep you captivated from the very first page to the very last. I simply couldn't put this one down. The only problem that I had with this one was that the ending was pretty predictable. Maybe it's not that way for everyone who reads this book, but I pegged out the solution about three-fourths of the way through. In my eyes, that makes me rate the book a little lower than books that simply leave me surprised. I didn't get that with this one, but still it was a great read.
Beret has learned that her sister, Lillie, has died under mysterious circumstances. Ignoring her family's pleas to stay in New York and not to travel to Denver, she decides to go anyways. This showcases the stubborn and strong-willed character Beret is. That will play a huge part in this book as she must struggle with her own heart and ambitions. Once, Beret arrives in Denver, she seeks out the investigator on her sister's case and learns that her sister was a prostitute in one of Denver's upper-class brothels and that her sister was murdered brutally in cold blood. Despite the detective not wanting her to assist him with the investigation, she is determined to bring her sister's killer to justice. Only she doesn't realize just how deep her sister was in the underworld and Beret soon finds herself in over her head.
Like I said before, this was a great read, albeit a tad predictable. I think that a lot of followers of this blog would enjoy the mystery set in 1885 Denver. I recommend that you give this book a try and make your own determination. While I found it to be somewhat predictable, it might catch you in a different way. I really liked the way this author writes and I am curious to read her other novels. Any recommendations from you guys on which books of Sandra Dallas are worth reading. I would love to hear your input on her other books and what you think about this one.
Overall Rating: 4
Title: Fallen Women
Author: Sandra Dallas
Series: N/A
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: October 22, 2013
Pages: 352
Genre: Historical Mystery
Get It: Amazon; Barnes & Noble
Disclaimer: This book was selected from the library by myself and I reviewed this book without compensation of any kind. All thoughts and opinions are solely mine.
