Just months after the closure of the Chicago World’s Fair, librarian Lydia Bancroft finds herself fascinated by a mysterious dark-haired and dark-eyed patron. He has never given her his name; he actually never speaks to a single person. All she knows about him is that he loves books as much as she does.
Only when he rescues her in the lobby of the Hartman Hotel does she discover that his name is Sebastian Marks. She also discovers that he lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.
Lydia and Sebastian form a fragile friendship, but when she discovers that Mr. Marks isn’t merely a very wealthy gentleman, but also the proprietor of an infamous saloon and gambling club, she is shocked.
Lydia insists on visiting the club one fateful night and suddenly is a suspect to a murder. She must determine who she can trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian Marks—the man so many people fear—is actually everything her heart believes him to be.
My Thoughts: I enjoyed the first half better than the second. Mystery and intrigue are appealing in a stranger, but the plot didnt hold together for me. I can't say much else without giving away the turns and twists. The main character was a bit too naive for it to be believable, but perhaps people truly are that naive. The whole story was a bit "inconceivable" to quote Princess Bride. I give it 3 stars out of 5.
No comments:
Post a Comment