The Briar Club - Kate Quinn

The Briar Club

By Kate Quinn

  • Release Date: 2024-07-09
  • Genre: Mysteries & Thrillers
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 649 Ratings

Description

“Quinn evocatively balances the outward cheerfulness of the 1950s with historical observations exploring racism, misogyny, homophobia and political persecution in this sharply drawn, gripping novel.” - People Magazine

The New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye and The Rose Code returns with a haunting and powerful story of female friendships and secrets in a Washington, DC, boardinghouse during the McCarthy era.

Washington, DC, 1950. Everyone keeps to themselves at Briarwood House, a down-at-the-heels all-female boardinghouse in the heart of the nation’s capital where secrets hide behind white picket fences. But when the lovely, mysterious widow Grace March moves into the attic room, she draws her oddball collection of neighbors into unlikely friendship: poised English beauty Fliss, whose facade of perfect wife and mother covers gaping inner wounds; policeman’s daughter Nora, who finds herself entangled with a shadowy gangster; frustrated baseball star Beatrice, whose career has come to an end along with the women’s baseball league of WWII; and poisonous, gung-ho Arlene, who has thrown herself into McCarthy’s Red Scare.

Grace’s weekly attic-room dinner parties and window-brewed sun tea become a healing balm on all their lives, but she hides a terrible secret of her own. When a shocking act of violence tears the house apart, the Briar Club women must decide once and for all: who is the true enemy in their midst?

Capturing the paranoia of the McCarthy era and evoking the changing roles for women in postwar America, The Briar Club is an intimate and thrilling novel of secrets and loyalty put to the test.

A beautiful, foil cover, first edition.

Reviews

  • A delightful read!

    5
    By ECC4812
    A nice departure from Kate Quinn’s usual WWII novels. Don’t get me wrong - I thoroughly enjoy them. Fall in love with the characters and embrace friendship and community.
  • Fair

    5
    By Dogcat@1
    Household of women, all with own secrets. Nice story. No need to read again.
  • One of the best

    5
    By Serene 2023
    I loved this book and its characters ; loved the historical context and will read many more by the author. Absolutely wonderful characters
  • A Great Read

    5
    By Ribbiesmom
    I really enjoyed this book. I want to live in that little green room and have Grace as my friend.
  • Wow

    5
    By LAMaui
    The ending was quite a surprise. Couldn’t put the book down!
  • Briar Club

    5
    By Julian JP Norwich
    It took me two chapters to get the drift and then I couldn’t put it down. Intriguing, endearing, compelling, surprising - so good I left a review about how good it is.
  • the Briar Club

    5
    By Readingbythesea
    One of the better books I have read in a long time . Keeps you guessing.
  • Loved it!

    5
    By Mimi M. 56
    Thoroughly enjoyable read with memorable characters and a wonderful plot! Read it!
  • ❤️

    5
    By Jlcreech
    What my heart needed ❤️
  • Page Turner

    5
    By G'ma Gig
    Amazing writing style and unique perspective give this piece a unique view into a murder mystery. Thoroughly engaging and well- thought out characters provide the backdrop for the troubles of the day. A must read!