Thank you Brilliance Audio, #partner for the ALC of The Unknown Beloved in exchange for my honest review. I purchased the print copy.
Publisher: Brilliance Audio / Lake Union Publishing
Published: April 19, 2022
Summary:
From the bestselling author of Where the Lost Wander and What the Wind Knows comes the evocative story of two people whose paths collide against the backdrop of mystery, murder, and the Great Depression.
Chicago, 1923: Ten-year-old Dani Flanagan returns home to find police swarming the house, her parents dead. Michael Malone, the young patrolman assigned to the case, discovers there’s more to the situation—and to Dani Flanagan herself—than the authorities care to explore. Malone is told to shut his mouth, and Dani is sent away to live with her spinster aunts in Cleveland.
Fifteen years later, Michael Malone is summoned to Cleveland to investigate a series of murders that have everyone stumped, including his friend and famed Prohibition agent Eliot Ness, now Cleveland’s director of safety. There, in a city caught in the grip of a serial killer, Malone’s and Dani’s paths cross once again.
Malone is drawn to Dani and her affinity for the dead and compassion for the destitute. It doesn’t take long for him to realize that she could help him solve his case. As terror descends on the city and Malone and Dani confront the dark secrets that draw them together, it’s a race to find the killer or risk becoming his next victims.
My thoughts:
I still consider myself a newbie when it comes to Amy Harmon, having only read two of her books so far, but I knew as soon as I heard about this one that I had to read it, plus my bookclub picked it and I’m so glad we did because I ended up loving it! I definitely need to go back and explore her backlist – her ability to tell a story is just amazing!
Of the books I’ve read by Amy Harmon they have fallen into historical fiction with a little romance thrown in and this one I would say is more historical thriller with a little romance and magical realism added to the mix. I love that when I pick up a book by this author I know it is not going to fall into just one genre but be a mash-up of many and I think it always works so well.
This one really grabbed me from the get-go and even though I read it back in the Spring (let’s not talk about how late I am in getting this review written!) I am still thinking about these characters, especially Dani and Michael. The connection that develops between the two of them was crafted so well and even though I am not usually a fan of big age difference in love interests, it just works so well here. They have a very layered story and it is built and developed just right.
This story is based on historical facts and I love that. In fact, it sent me down quite the rabbit hole and had me requesting a book on Elliot Ness, a book that I never would have requested had it not been for reading this historical fiction book. I love when that happens. I had never heard of the Cleveland Torso Murders, but I was fascinated by all this – I love true crime and love any opportunity to learn more about cases from the past.
I loved this book and cannot recommend it enough. I definitely plan on checking out Amy’s backlist to see what other historical fiction books she has written. Have you read anything by her yet? If so, what is your favorite?
Audio thoughts:
This was an amazing audiobook. Rob Shapiro does a great job bringing this book to life and giving the characters individual voices and personalities. I have listened to all of the books I have read by Amy Harmon and find that they always translate very well to audio and this one was no exception.
