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One Night, New York    by Lara Thompson Amazon.com order for
One Night, New York
by Lara Thompson
Order:  USA  Can
Little, Brown & Co., 2021 (2021)
Hardcover, Softcover, CD, e-Book
* * *   Reviewed by Barbara Lingens

Frances escapes from Kansas, and on the train she meets Jacks and Dicky from the big city. They are nothing like what she has seen before so she knows New York holds great promise for her. For their part, Jacks and Dicky are somewhat taken with this dirty country girl, who nevertheless knows how to stand up for herself.

Author Thompson has made New York in the 30s come alive. From the mayor to the homeless, from glitzy society parties to a cup of coffee at the automat, and with lots about photography thrown in, we get a wonderful view of the city. But there is also the puzzle that is Frances' brother, with his involvement in the underworld, and Frances' determination to help him, no matter what she has to do.

The time sequence is especially challenging in this story. I had to keep referring back to when the last chapter took place. But the author deftly unfolds the mystery step by step until we finally know who Frances is after. Even then, though, we still wonder whether she will succeed. A many-faceted story.

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