I am already a fan of the “Counterfeit Lady” series and am surprised to realize “City of Betrayal” is the seventh entry. One thing I like about Victoria Thompson as a historical fiction mystery series writer is that I don’t get bored with either of her series. I appreciate that she knows the periods she writes about well. Her plots and settings and themes are interesting and original. And authentic to their periods. She always paints a picture of the everyday life of multiple kinds of people. The Counterfeit Lady series started with “City of Lies.” Then, Elizabeth Miles was a single woman con artist from a line of con artists and she is in trouble with one of her victims. She blends in with some protesting suffragists to evade him and is arrested and imprisoned with them. She befriends a matriarch from the group, Mrs. Bates. There is a hunger strike, Their imprisonment goes on far too long. Mrs. Bates’ rather strait-laced lawyer son Gideon helps out. A great introduction to the art of the con and the odd meeting of two families from distinctly different walks of life.
“City of Betrayal” takes place primarily in Tennessee, where the state legislature has been called into session to vote on the 19th Amendment. Prohibition was recently put into place. The two factions of the suffragist movement, separated by their approach to securing women’s right to vote and the anti-suffragists are there in large numbers. The women are individually buttonholing one legislator after another, gaining and losing their pledges to take their sides, sometimes through drink and bribery. So many little facts arise about the methods used by the players that are amusing and shocking. Thompson takes us through the on the scene legislative battles and the behind the scene machinations where there appear to be no rules. Elizabeth, is now married to Gideon and bound to a promise not to engage in grifting for monetary gain ever again. (Faithful readers know he lets her use her skills for good). She is at the hotel in the center of the action with Mother Bates and Gideon. Elizabeth soon finds her father, who is still in the game, is at the hotel, working a scam. He was attracted to the crowds of people that would be there, many with money. Naturally, this adds to the fun of the book because each one must include some con artistry.
In addition to an insight into 1920s Tennessee politics, we learn about about the national stage at the time. The arguments made against ratification are often offensive. For example, to support their viewpoints, the opposition notes that the rolls of black voters will increase exponentially as being a terrifying prospect for the South. Most pretend women need to be protected from the filth of politics. Wilson is president. Harding is running. Each is involved. With the last possible state to take up ratification at this moment in history all eyes are on Tennessee. (Other states that might have ratified it had postponed it to the next year.) I love the way Thompson integrates her characters into the scene, having long ago laid the stage for this story on the progress of the 19th amendment. I didn’t happen to know whether or not Tennessee ended up ratifying it. I made a point of not looking it up. Regardless of the outcome, the story of this week in Tennessee/U.S. history is incredibly entertaining. I learned a lot. Our favorite characters play fun roles throughout. Recommend for sure!
They Called me Bookworm 