Et cetera : What We're Reading: Fallen Women

Review of ‘Fallen Women’ by Sandra Dallas

When New York socialite Beret Osmundson kicks her sister Lillie out of their home, she never wants to see or hear from her again. Beret gets her wish; just a year later, she receives word from her uber-wealthy aunt and uncle in Denver that Lillie is dead.

Even with Aunt Varina Stanton insisting that Beret need not make the trip to Denver, Beret feels somewhat responsible for Lillie’s fate, and arrives to help, even though the funeral has passed. As soon as the older sister rests up a bit, she marches down to the police station to demand answers. The first information that she gleans is that her sister, 10 years her junior, had been murdered while employed in a house of prostitution.

At the police station, Beret makes the acquaintance of a seasoned Irish police officer, Detective Sergeant Michael McCauley, known as ‘Mick’ by all. Did I mention that Beret’s uncle is Judge John Stanton, who has his sights set on a Senate appointment? Well, now you know!

This book really has it all: the rich and powerful, the down and out, a smattering of politics, the police and the evildoers, plus alcohol, gambling and even drugs. It reads a lot like a book fresh off the press but is set in 1885! Although the book has the seamy underside of early Denver, there are no steamy sex scenes or bad language; however, nearly every evil known to man is mentioned. I thought I had all of the various plots worked out, but near the end of the book I started to doubt my conclusions – so, hang in there until the very conclusion. This one was a good read; I say 4/5, goodreads says 3.5/5. It’s available at the Vinton Public Library, and on the Libby app as an ebook and as an audio book. Relax and read!

Love,

Connie