The Wicked Redhead (The Wicked City series)
The Wicked Redhead is the second book in the Wicked series (after The Wicked City), but it is not necessary to read them in order, or indeed to have read the first one at all. The novel weaves together two timelines, one during the mid-1920s, and one during the late 1990s.
In 1924, at the height of the jazz age, redheaded flapper Ginger Kelly has relocated to Florida with her lover, Prohibition Agent Oliver Marshall. His new mission entails apprehending bootleggers on the high seas, a dangerous and difficult mission. When he disappears, Ginger sets out to find him, and she meets Oliver’s mother, who is desperate to find her son. Ginger’s quest to find him takes her north to Manhattan, where danger lurks and the truth is elusive.
In 1998, Ella Gilbert has left her cheating banker husband and moved to her own apartment in Greenwich Village. It turns out that this is the same apartment that Ginger Kelly lived in, and Kelly makes herself known to the current occupant. When Ella quits her job at an accounting firm, she finds herself obsessed with a vintage photo of Kelly. As Ella now has plenty of time on her hands, she decides to piece together the history of the redheaded flapper.
This is well-written historical fiction that steams along admirably. The setting description is nicely done for both timelines, but especially for 1920s New York City. I found myself equally engaged in both protagonists’ timelines, something that is no easy feat. This is an engaging read with surprising twists and interesting characters. Highly recommended.
