The Butterfly Cage

This is entertaining reading for all adults who enjoy good fiction. The main protagonists are an intelligent and feisty female journalist and her equally competent and protective assistant. We see that they have their own histories to contend with. Part murder mystery and part journalistic detective story this book is set in 1930s America. Touching on Government, money, Suffragettes, debutantes, Native Americans, the Wild West and slavery and prostitution. This second book in a series can be read as a stand alone. I haven’t read the first or other books in the series, but I definitely want to now. Thank you to Trish MacEnulty, BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Set in America in the early 20th century the story is told by two strong willed women - Louisa and Ellen. A journalist and her secretary. The chapters alternate between them. The story revolves around abduction of young vulnerable women, mostly Caucasian and Asian but some Native American, to sell into prostitution. Locations move around the country from the East Coast cities to Montana and the west, Buffalo Bill and other historical figures feature. The thrust is the position of women in society and how that varies by their birth; suffragettes are in there as are politicians with the occasional one being in favour of equality (to a degree at least). An interesting read, sensitively written given the subject matter. Some aspects of travel seemed rather far-fetched but, if you had the money and the status, you may well have managed. 3.5 rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy..

Louisa is a journalist with an assistant. A blind older woman asks them to look into the disappearance of her companion. Women of all ages and ethnic background are being grabbed. Some of being shipping out of America. So let the research begin. Actually a good storyline and a well worth the time to read this book.