I listened to LCMT on the plane back from FRANCE (what a lovely time we had) and during a bit of the week back, and it was nearly as good as the first in the series, Girl Waits With Gun. There were some funny gaps in the story, almost--I could not see why Von K. . . . whatever his name is (problem of an audio: spelling!) was such a wanted criminal: without a sense of what he'd done or why, we were left with just a creepy guy. He clearly wasn't a good guy, but Stewart could have done a better job of giving us a fleshed-out crime. What she does flesh out is the atmosphere and culture of the time: especially after reading Bryson's One Summer: America, 1927, I felt like I could visualize the setting of the story (even though it was fall/winter!) and the details of the characters' lives.

I hope Stewart produces Kopp Sisters #3 soon, and I hope she opens up the basic ideas a bit: I'd love to see some character development in Constance and her sisters, and I'm rooting for a more developed conflict than we had this time out.

Another delightful and exciting installment for Constance Kopp!
I enjoy the dynamic between Constance and her sisters a great deal. It is written to be realistically supportive and nit-picky which those of us with siblings can relate to.
I appreciated hearing more about Mrs. Heath as well, allowing her character to become more three dimensional.

Kopp Sisters series is dear to my heart, as I have two sisters also, and the three of us are close. So, I can easily imagine all these female personalities sharing a household, for one thing despite tiffs and oddities. Each sister loves one another, but presents her individual personality - and a strong one at that! And, who could not love the first woman in any field – especially Deputy Sheriff? The language of this novel is indicative of its setting in both time and place which is no small thing for 1914 in New York.

Unlike many second books in the series, this one was just as strong as the first.

This was an overall fun and enjoyable read. I didn't read the debut Kopp Sisters novel Girl Waits with Gun so maybe it wasn't a good idea to read the second book. I do think that even in a series each book should be a stand-alone that anyone can pick up to read and figure out what's going on. Despite not knowing the case from the first novel which did carry over to this novel--at least in consequences for Constance Kopp and her position as deputy sheriff—I could mostly piece together what I needed. The youngest sister Fleurette confused me at first and I didn’t know if she was a daughter or niece. I absolutely admire and appreciate that Amy Stewart found clips in which to base this case and that Constance Kopp was a real person. Stewart explained, “I’m lucky enough to have a huge treasure trove of newspaper clippings covering 1914 and 1915. Constance was in the paper all the time. This book covers one particular incident that made headlines nationwide: the pursuit of a convicted criminal.” this is a delightful description of Constance's duties for the New Jersey sheriff's department: "I wasn't just a chaperone for wayward girls. I carried a gun and handcuffs. I could make an arrest, just like any deputy. I earned a man's salary. People did find it shocking and I didn't mind that one bit." Constance stands as a strong, determined female working in the male-dominated field of law enforcement. She doesn’t seem deterred when men don’t know how to speak with her or how to react to her as she carries out her varied responsibilities. She lives with her sisters, Fleurette and Norma, in the countryside in New Jersey. Norma seems content to raise homing pigeons and not venture far from home. Fleurette dreams of the stage and for now acts in a local production. The sisters look out for one another and serve as sounding boards for each other. Not having sisters it seems a wonderful thing. This case didn't quite enthrall me enough for a mystery/thriller, fortunately the strong female lead makes up for my lack of interest and sometimes confusion in the case. I rooted for Constance and her sisters to fight the system and to fight sexism.

I didn't like this one as much as the first. I'm not really sure why, and I'm debating reading the next in the series. I really appreciate the time period and the historical connections.

Love these books. More than Maisie (

So much better than book 1! I found this much more engrossing. After I finished book 1, I wasn’t sure if I was going to continue the series (plot felt a bit unrealized, pacing was slow); but I already owned this one and persevered. I’m glad I did! I imagine that if the crimes covered in book 3 are enticing, then it’ll have no issues, since the personal life of Constance is becoming progressively more interesting (re: Fleurette’s striving for fame, Cordelia’s animosity, Heath’s “favoritism” as perceived by the other deputies & his wife, etc.).