Free Love

Annette Meyers

But it's not what you think. It's Free Love, by Annette Meyers

While I don't normally go for historical fiction, and mysteries especially, this one seemed intriguing and having now plowed through it, I'm not sure why I don't read more of this stuff.

Our heroine? Olivia Brown, poet Place and time? Greenwich Village, 1920

The murder happens in the first 3 pages, and isn't solved until the last 3. A rarity for today's "mysteries." Brown doesn't solve the mystery - but she does (and charmingly so) give it her best shot - in between flitting around the Village and running into ex and future lovers. Poems pop up here and there and Olivia and her bohemian friends are a great cast of characters. The writing is warm and cozy, but eery - almost creepy - in places. Meyers does a wonderful job of recreating 1920 NYC, creating a dark mood that pulls the reader in and doesn't let go easily.

I would especially recommend this for those barners who like turn of the century stories about NYC streets and subways. :-)

Kim, off to begin the Firey Goblet............