City of Lies is one of the best books I have read in awhile. This historical mystery by Victoria Thompson, brings to life the struggles of suffergist women in the early 1900s. 

Elizabeth Miles is a con-woman operating in Washington, D.C. When a con goes bad, she is forced to hide from her mark among a group of suffergists protesting outside the capital. The group is arrested and instead of being held in D.C. as the law requires, they are secreted to a workhouse in Virginia.

At first, Elizabeth is grateful for the jail time to better hide from her mark, but she doesn’t anticipate developing friendships with the suffergists. When her mark helps free the women from the deplorable conditions in order to get to Elizabeh, she continues to hide with her new friends. Complication comes from Gideon, the son of one of the women, who has a nose for the truth, and eyes for Elizabeth.

In a final turn, Elizabeth is forced to run a long-con in exchange for her life. However, it might just cost her the love of her new friends.

City of Lies was a fantastic story. Victoria Thompson brought to life the truly horrendous conditions of the women fighting for women’s rights. The tension Elizabeth felt between not wanting to disapoint her new friends and being a con-artist added suspense throughout the book. And the multi-dimensional relational drama between the characters was well done.

I highly reccommend City of Lies. It is just the right mix of historical perspective and the intrique of The Sting. Just be prepared to read well past your bedtime.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I borrowed this book from the library. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”