A Dangerous Business: A novel
From the Pulitzer Prize-winning, best-selling author of A Thousand Acres: An amazing “mash-up of a Western, a serial-killer mystery and a feminist-inflected tale of life in a bordello” (The Washington Post).
In 1850s Gold Rush California two young prostitutes, best friends Eliza and Jean, attempt to find their way in a lawless town on the fringes of the Wild West—a bewitching combination of beauty and danger—as what will become the Civil War looms on the horizon.
“Everyone knows that this is a dangerous business, but between you and me, being a woman is a dangerous business, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise..."
Monterey, 1851. Ever since her husband was killed in a bar fight, Eliza Ripple has been working in a brothel. It seems like a better life, at least at first. The madam, Mrs. Parks, is kind, the men are (relatively) well behaved, and Eliza has attained what few women have: financial security. But when the dead bodies of young women start appearing outside of town, a darkness descends that she can't resist confronting. Side by side with her friend Jean, and inspired by her reading, especially by Edgar Allan Poe’s detective Dupin, Eliza pieces together an array of clues to try to catch the killer, all the while juggling clients who begin to seem more and more suspicious.
Eliza and Jean are determined not just to survive, but to find their way in a lawless town on the fringes of the Wild West—a bewitching combination of beauty and danger—as what will become the Civil War looms on the horizon. As Mrs. Parks says, "Everyone knows that this is a dangerous business, but between you and me, being a woman is a dangerous business, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise ..."
In 1850s Gold Rush California two young prostitutes, best friends Eliza and Jean, attempt to find their way in a lawless town on the fringes of the Wild West—a bewitching combination of beauty and danger—as what will become the Civil War looms on the horizon.
“Everyone knows that this is a dangerous business, but between you and me, being a woman is a dangerous business, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise..."
Monterey, 1851. Ever since her husband was killed in a bar fight, Eliza Ripple has been working in a brothel. It seems like a better life, at least at first. The madam, Mrs. Parks, is kind, the men are (relatively) well behaved, and Eliza has attained what few women have: financial security. But when the dead bodies of young women start appearing outside of town, a darkness descends that she can't resist confronting. Side by side with her friend Jean, and inspired by her reading, especially by Edgar Allan Poe’s detective Dupin, Eliza pieces together an array of clues to try to catch the killer, all the while juggling clients who begin to seem more and more suspicious.
Eliza and Jean are determined not just to survive, but to find their way in a lawless town on the fringes of the Wild West—a bewitching combination of beauty and danger—as what will become the Civil War looms on the horizon. As Mrs. Parks says, "Everyone knows that this is a dangerous business, but between you and me, being a woman is a dangerous business, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise ..."
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Community Reviews
I think my rating is higher than it should be. I am not sure it would have been published in its current state if it wasn’t written by Jane Smiley.
I enjoyed the reading the book and didn’t feel like quitting — but after I finished I was let down that it came together so very conveniently. And what is with all the ghosts? Is there a reason for them I somehow missed? I don’t know.
I think the locale and time period held me: main characters are prostitutes in Monterey, CA during the gold rush (which hardly touched on). It was so fun to be taken to a time and place people rarely write about. Smiley really puts you there and Eliza and Jean are just great characters. They are both content in their jobs and happy to be single and on their own. I am not sure that is such a realistic or common perspective of their situation, especially in that time period. They feel empowered to take on finding the murderer of the dead women -they just come across btw-when the men do not seem to care to get involved. They really have a lovely friendship- definitely pro women book - even though being a woman is a dangerous business.
But the mystery plot…. Um, nope. It’s all just so laid out for them as they try and solve the murders. As they stroll and stroll and stroll…And the climax? Hmmm. Again wow is that convenient. And one more time- why were there ghosts?!
I think this storyline had a lot of potential that Smiley didn’t take the time to really develop. Too bad.
Overall it was a fun ride though and a good break from what I have been reading lately.
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