Sunday, November 20, 2016

Bookish Thoughts: Lady Cop Makes Trouble by Amy Stewart

I handed the newspaper back to Mrs. Headison. ~ Lady Cop Makes Trouble



Lady Cop Makes Trouble (Kopp Sisters #2) by Amy Stewart
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016
Crime Fiction (Historical); 310 pgs

After reading and enjoying Amy Stewart's Girl Waits With Gun, I was eager to read Lady Cop Makes Trouble, the second in the series based on one of the first female deputies in American history. In 1915, women had very limited roles in law enforcement agencies, and Sheriff Heath took a big chance deputizing Constance Kopp. He's slow to making it official, however, given the political climate of the day. As a result, she's been relegated to the role of prison matron, where she cares for and watches over the women in the jail. When a prisoner she had been guarding escapes, Constance worries her chance of becoming a full-fledged deputy is behind her. Encouraged by her sisters to go in search of the man, Constance begins to dig into the escaped con man's life.

Lady Cop Makes Trouble is a strong sequel in the series, and Constance is determined and tenacious as ever. While the Sheriff and his deputies stake out the obvious places in hopes of finding their German-speaking escapee, Constance decides to look into his past, revisiting his crime and those involved, hoping to catch a lead. Night time stake outs and questionable neighborhoods aren't exactly where you would expect to find a woman in that time period, but Constance is out to prove she can do the job just as well as any man. Along the way, she makes some interesting friends, one a female reporter who is anxious to tell Constance's story.

The novel is set during an interesting time in history, and author Amy Stewart captures well the tension of the times as tradition and progress war against each other. It comes through in all aspects of the novel, including in the female prisoners Constance looks after, counsels and helps, as well as in her own personal life. None of the Kopp sisters are very traditional. As Constance longs to become an official sheriff's deputy, her sister Norma has found her niche as the founder and leader of an organization the New Jersey Society for Deployment of Messenger Pigeons to Aid in Civic Affairs. The youngest, eighteen year old Fleurette, is independent minded and her interest in the theater perplexes Norma and Constance. They want to protect Fleurette and keep her sheltered, but she has other ideas. 

Lady Cop Makes Trouble was an entertaining historical mystery. I am really enjoying this series, and look forward to seeing what the Kopp sisters are up to next.

To learn more about Amy Stewart, and her books, please visit the author's website.


 © 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

12 comments:

  1. I've seen several great reviews of this series and it has definitely piqued my curiosity. I'm glad you enjoyed the two books and I'll make sure to add them to my to-read list.

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    1. Melody - It's a fun series from an interesting time in U.S. history. I hope you will give this series a try, Melody!

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  2. I'm interested in this series; the time period interests me and so do your comments about the sisters!

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    1. Jenclair - I would be curious to know what you think if you do give this series a try. The author does take some liberties with real life events, but, overall, I think it's a good series. Just not to be taken too seriously.

      The sisters are the best part of the series. :-)

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  3. I'm not sure I've ever read a western and am very curious about this series. I think I'd like it.

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    1. Kathy - I think you might like this series if you decide to give it a try!

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  4. This series sounds like a lot of fun; I'm going to have to add Amy Stewart to my list of new authors to try. :)

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  5. These sounds really cool. I love reading about women in male dominated roles like that.

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    1. Christy - I do too! I think that's part of why I love this series so much.

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  6. This would make an interesting, fun series if it were entirely fiction. The fact that most of it is based on real events and people makes it so much more interesting.

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    1. Lisa - I agree! The fact that it is based on real life people makes it all the more interesting.

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