Review: Relative Fortunes by Marlowe Benn

Relative Fortunes

by Marlowe Benn

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Pages: 320

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  In 1924 Manhattan, women’s suffrage is old news. For sophisticated booklover Julia Kydd, life’s too short for politics. With her cropped hair and penchant for independent living, Julia wants only to launch her own new private press. But as a woman, Julia must fight for what’s hers—including the inheritance her estranged half brother, Philip, has challenged, putting her aspirations in jeopardy.

When her friend’s sister, Naomi Rankin, dies suddenly of an apparent suicide, Julia is shocked at the wealthy family’s indifference toward the ardent suffragist’s death. Naomi chose poverty and hardship over a submissive marriage and a husband’s control of her money. Now, her death suggests the struggle was more than she could bear.

Julia, however, is skeptical. Doubtful of her suspicions, Philip proposes a glib wager: if Julia can prove Naomi was in fact murdered, he’ll drop his claims to her wealth. Julia soon discovers Naomi’s life was as turbulent and enigmatic as her death. And as she gets closer to the truth, Julia sees there’s much more at stake than her inheritance…

Kritters Thoughts:  I am typically a huge fan of mystery/thrillers and a huge fan of historical fiction, so when I was pitched this book where both are in one book I was very excited to read and review it.  Unfortunately, putting both in this book didn't work and I think maybe the author was trying to accomplish too much between these covers.

For me the mystery didn't hold up, but I enjoyed the historical aspects of it much better.  Every time the book took more of a focus on the mystery, I lost interest and had a hard time paying attention.  I wish that there was more of a plot driver than the mystery in this book.  I was glad to read I wasn't in the minority when I finished reading the book and went to go check out some reviews and many agreed with me.  

The characters were great and they were what drove me through this book.  They made me care enough to know what was going to happen and got me to finish the book.  I loved learning about the lack of rights women had beyond just the vote but the ability to manage their own futures, especially when they didn't have a husband and were trying to just live and let live.  

I hate to be a negative nancy about a book and try to avoid it in general, but this book just didn't cut it for me and even put me in a reading rut, which rarely happens to me!


Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Little Bird Publicity.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.