The Briarwood is a "ladies only" boarding house in Washington DC run by Mrs. Nilsson, with many restrictive rules for her tenants, who all keep to themselves. It's 1950 and the post-WWII country is gripped by the Red Scare and the Korean War is about to begin. When Grace March, a lively widow, rents the very small apartment 4B, things start to change. She wants to get to know the women in the house and starts a dinner gathering on Thursdays, the night Mrs. Nilsson plays bridge. We learn from the start that on Thanksgiving, 1954, a murder has taken place. As the story goes back and forth in time, the lives and secrets of the "Briar Club" women come to light. Fliss, a British mother awaits the return of her doctor husband serving overseas. Nora, who comes from a family of policemen, is career-driven and works for the National Archives. She gets involved with a local gangster. Bea, a former baseball player. Claire, a loner saving up to be able buy her own house. Arlene, from Texas, is an unhappy, unlikeable woman, fearful of the threat of communists. Reka, an older woman who is a Hungarian refugee. Mrs. Nilsson's sweet, neglected son Pete, along with his sister Lina, are taken under the wings of the women. As details of the Thanksgiving event are revealed, it becomes clearer that anyone in the house could be a murderer.
While there is a murder to be solved in The Briar Club, Kate Quinn's compelling book is about friendship during an interesting historical period. The book provides a glimpse into the Red Scare years, when the country was poisoned by the views of Senator McCarthy. The mystery of who has been murdered and who is guilty, is an important and intriguing part of the story but doesn't overshadow the stories of the unique, complicated characters and their evolving relationships. While different from Quinn's other books, it was a satisfying read from a talented storyteller.
Rated 4 out of 5 stars.
Historical Fiction | Mystery.
Publication Date: July 9, 2024.
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