The Wicked City

A Novel

By: Beatriz Williams

Narrated by: Julie McKay, Dara Rosenberg

Length: 13 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author Beatriz Williams re-creates the New York City of A Certain Age in this deliciously spicy adventure that mixes past and present and centers on a Jazz Age love triangle involving a rugged Prohibition agent, a saucy redheaded flapper, and a debonair Princetonian from a wealthy family.

When she discovers her husband cheating, Ella Hawthorne impulsively moves out of their SoHo loft and into a small apartment in an old Greenwich Village building. Her surprisingly attractive new neighbor, Hector, warns her to stay out of the basement at night. Tenants have reported strange noises after midnight - laughter, clinking glasses, jazz piano - even though the space has been empty for decades. Back in the Roaring '20s, the place hid a speakeasy.

In 1924, Geneva "Gin" Kelly, a smart-mouthed flapper from the hills of Western Maryland, is a regular at this Village hideaway known as the Christopher Club. Caught up in a raid, Gin becomes entangled with Prohibition enforcement agent Oliver Anson, who persuades her to help him catch her stepfather, Duke Kelly, one of Appalachia's most notorious bootleggers.

Headstrong and independent, Gin is no weak-kneed fool. So how can she be falling in love with the taciturn, straight-arrow revenue agent when she's got Princeton boy Billy Marshall, the dashing son of society doyenne Theresa Marshall, begging to make an honest woman of her? While anything goes in the Roaring '20s, Gin's adventures will shake proper Manhattan society to its foundations, exposing secrets that shock even this free-spirited redhead - secrets that will echo from Park Avenue to the hollers of her Southern hometown.

As Ella discovers more about the basement speakeasy, she becomes inspired by the spirit of her exuberant predecessor and decides to live with abandon in the wicked city, too.

©2017 Beatriz Williams (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Great..but

Any additional comments?

I felt that after such a long book the end seem too end to fast...like a funnel. Left me wanting more questions answered. Sequel?

Too many things unfinished

There were too many unanswered questions left from the book. The ending was weak and I actually went back and listened to the last chapter because I thought I must have missed something. I did live the narration-great performance.

Couldn’t stop listening.

Great story though there are a few holes. As in what about the buttons? I loved the stories and the way they go back and forth from 1998 to 1924. Geneva Rose’s story is excellent and couldn’t wait to return. Ella’s story was also great and not too far fetched. It could happen. I love how they intertwine a bit and settle at the end. Though I would like to know more of what happens to them but that is left to our imaginations.

Ummm, did it end?

I really didn’t care for the narration. Having been born and raised in MD, I’ve never heard anyone with such a southern accent who is a native here (altho maybe there are some in far, far western MD?). I also thought Ella’s voice was whiny and annoying. Ugh. I loved the other two Beatriz Williams books I’ve read. I think I may have enjoyed this one more if I had read it. It’s difficult for women to do men’s voices and vice versa and some voice actors can do it and others can’t. These two did okay but couldn’t convey the masculinity of the male characters which I really wanted. Like other reviewers, the story just seemed to stop with an ending that didn’t seem to solve much.

Enjoyable read

This was an interesting book. I wish there were more to the end of the story.

So many squestions unanswered.

Loved the Ginger story but so many plot questions left unanswered. the Ella story is completely unnecessary.

So engaging, amazing performances!

Absolutely loved this book! The 1920s characters and storyline is so much fun: Ginger is such an engaging POV character and Dara Rosenberg does an AMAZING job bringing her to life. The modern-day part of the story warms to you after a few chapters, too- especially once you meet Hector. I think we all could use a Hector in our lives!

Not her best

I have always loved this author, but this was my least favorite of her books so far.

THE WICKED CITY

Saw this novel, realized it was written by one of my favorite authors, and I IMMEDIATELY DOWNLOADED IT! WOW WAS I DISAPPOINTED! The story dragged, and most important of all was the narrators! They were terrible! I think this is the first time I ever criticized a narrator, however, these two were horrible. One whined and the second, drowned on and on. SAVE YOUR CREDIT!

One of my favs from this author

Great detail and story, but ends with a bit of a rushed cliffhanger. It turns out, however, that there will be a sequel released in December. I cannot wait!