I loved Inga’s debut novel, this one not quite so much. It felt more disjointed, not helped by the dual timelines between the 1930’s and the 1970’s. In the 30’s women were kept in their perceived place and in the 70’s the ‘hippy movement was alien to many of the older generation.In both eras it was the women who suffered most. I felt that the characterisation was less good but as I got into the story and the hunt for the elusive mine, I enjoyed it and felt it deserved 3 *** and maybe another half!

Thanks to Bonnier Books and NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Whilst I enjoyed the premise of the book (Who wouldn't want to strike gold!) the story felt very disjointed between the two timelines with the 1930's timeline being by far the more interesting to me but perhaps the less well defined and described and the link between the two (Geraldine) being poorly explored and largely overlooked.
The characters from the 30's were interesting and rounded with lots of snippets of social history covered with race relations, the treatment of women and the financial struggles of the time and place. The 10970's cast were less engaging, with too many vague characters who never really came to life for me and too many threads all trying to tie together (murder, corruption, spousal abuse, biker gangs, drugs and the peace movement). The book felt like dropping one or two of those themes would have made it more readable and allowed greater depth of character.

This book is set in two years 1933 and 1970. In 1933,Cornelia Stover sets out to find an old timers mine in order to save her hôtel. She scandalisés her town society by taking her Native American friend with her.

In 1970, Mike is found dead at a commune party on the oroperty of his aunt Geraldine, Cornelia's daughter.

Geraldine's daughter Glitter and Joanna Riley, a ex Alberquerque cop,set out to find the mine against small town prejudice.

Another good tale from Inga Vesper


Thank you to Netgalley and Bonnier Publishing for the chance to review this book.

This just wasn't for me.
It struggled to hold my attention for more than a few pages at a time.
I left it half way through, and didn't find it any better when I went back to it..

Very sorry Inga, but I didn’t enjoy anything about this book. I found it boring and far fetched with too many characters, few of which were likeable. Halfway through I’d had enough so skipped to near the end which was also disappointing

I wasn't sure about this one. The author is German and lives in Glasgow and there is no mention of her having visited the USA where this novel is set. The setting is believable, however, although the story did not grab my interest so I skimmed a lot of it. There are many issues and themes of greed, sexism, abuse and the usual corrupt American authorities. The story is set in the 1930s and the 1970s. It is over complex and I found it difficult to follow at times.