The Briar Club: A Novel: A Thrilling and Powerful Story of Female Friendships and Secrets

Kate Quinn is a great writer. No doubt about it. This novel takes places in a women's rooming house in the 1950s. Combining historical accuracy, interesting characters and a plot that is both multifaceted but easy to follow. From page 1 you are intrigued and want to read more.

I usually enjoy the Kate Quinn historical novels full of women centric roles and empowerment but this book felt too forced and lacked the connection. I had trouble engaging in the chapters as this time it was dedicated to each character and their development instead of a plot as a whole. I often felt the urge to abandon the book and leave it DNF. It isn't until the end that everything sort of ties together and gives you any feeling of minor attachment.

Good book about the 50’s

This review is submitted upon completion of the novel received as a free gift from the publisher via goodreads .

Enter Mrs. Nillsen's 1954 Briarwood House. Home to a diverse group of young ladies who, for any number or reasons find themselves trying to make it as independent women in the country's capital city. Each has her own talent and her own secrets. The story begins with a Thanksgiving Day murder. There are two bodies...
Family is not always defined by marriage or blood, and Mrs. "Doilies" Nillsen runs a tight ship. There are rules for socializing (no men allowed), breakfast is from 7- precisely 7:29 a.m., and no one is allowed to eat anything from her prized garden (actually tended by her 12 y.o. son, Pete. All this begins to gradually drift out the windows once Mrs. Grace March comes to stay.
The other boarders find themselves drawn to Grace, who initiates the Thursday night supper club from her tiny "kitchenette" - a tiny fridge and hot plate. Gradually over the next two years, most of the women begin to open to one another, revealing their talents and some of their fears.
I cannot do justice to the excellent writing and researching done by the author. She masterfully weaves history and fiction into compelling characters, leading to a tense culmination and final revelation of deep secrets. Beautifully told. The characters and their stories will stay with you long after you've finished the book. A great tale for book club discussion groups!

This was my first Kate Quinn book and it did not disappoint. This book was a mix of historical fiction and also read like a murder mystery. Set in 1950-1954 Washington DC at a woman's boarding house on the corner of Briar and Wood. This time in history is fascinating and makes me want to take a deep dive. Post WWIl, during the Korean War and McCarthy's Red Scare where there was much distrust and paranoia amongst Americans about communism. You realize how many American and world events happened between the years of 1940s-1960s when each character of this book is introduced and has experience with some of these key events. This story introduces the women of the boarding house that are brought together by the mysterious, new tenant, Grace March, who seems to have a history of her own. Each woman has a chapter dedicated to their story and I didn't want these chapters to end but then the next woman's story was even more gripping. A story of friendship, healing, second chances and explores the changing roles for American women post war. This was a great first read for the new year! * "Happiness is a choice as much as anything. Or you could choose to be angry, and if you stay angry long enough, it will become comfortable, like an old robe. But eventually you'll realize that old robe is all you've got, and there isn't anything else in the wardrobe that fits. And at that point, you're just waiting to trade the robe for a shroud."