Author Amy Harmon has been on my reading wishlist for quite some time and the premise of her latest novel, The Unknown Beloved, had me intrigued with the title and hooked by the premise. Starting in 1923, then picking up 15 years later during the Great Depression, this story of an undercover operative and the woman he had met while a police officer when her parents had been murdered is firmly rooted in the history of Chicago, Eliot Ness, and the hunt for a depraved killer.

This story that does not flinch from the brutality of the “torso killer” is very much the story of the growing relationship between 40 year old Michael Malone and 25 year old Daniela Flanagan. He’s damaged and closed off, intent on completing his assignment and catching the elusive killer. Telling himself that the young and beautiful Dani is off-limits, her persistence and her talent at seeing too much set them on a collision course with each other and the killer.

I was unsure, going in, about Michael as a main character, their history and the age difference. As the story unfolded, however, all of that fell away and I was simply fascinated by the characters, the relationships, and the pursuit of an elusive killer by honorable people in a city rife with corruption.

While The Unknown Beloved has all the ear-marks of a romance - though at times I questioned if it was one - it will also appeal to those who enjoy fiction based on historical true crime with real historical figures, a Depression Era setting, or a mystery/thriller with characters to root for.

Highly recommended with a note that this is general market with fade-to-black intimacy and suicidal thoughts.

I voluntarily downloaded a Read Now NetGalley digital galley. A positive review was not require and all opinions expressed are my own.

Amy Harmon has a lot going on in this book - historical fiction, a love story, a bit of paranormal, and it all mixed together to make a very satisfying read for me. It's centered around the all-too-real serial murders commited in the 1930s by the "Mad Butcher", who dismembered his victims before leaving their bodies around Kingsbury Run, a poor neighborhood in Cleveland Ohio.
Dani Flanagan works with her aunts as a seamstress. Most of the Butcher's victims are among those who Dani calls the "unknown beloved", those who died during the Depression era and weren't identifiable. Dani happens to have a gift, the ability to know something about people through their clothing, which absorbs certain strong impressions from the person wearing the articles.
Eliot Ness is working in Cleveland as the Public Safety Director after his famous take-down of Al Capone. As the Butcher's victim list grows, Ness approaches one of the men who'd helped gather information about Capone, Michael Malone, asking him use his unique capability to blend in wherever he goes to pick up whatever rumors he can about the case. It happens that Ness has arranged for a rented room for Malone in Dani's house. Coincidentally, Dani and Michael have a history from 15 years prior, when she was 10 and he was a young cop who met her when her parents were murdered. Now Dani is an adult and they find themselves attracted to each other.
People who want their endings tied up in a neat bow might not enjoy the ending here - despite strong suspicions, this series of murders was never solved. The murders were certainly gruesome, and some details are given, but we don't see the murders actually happening. But the details may be a bit much for some readers.
Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

3.5*'s. This was an interesting one, very nicely written and I was invested in the romance and the mystery but I was also confused about what it was trying to achieve - did it want to be a true crime historical retelling? Did it want to be a romance? Did it want to be fantastical? It was all of these things but not like in a way that it felt like it reached its potential? Was interesting enough but I think I will stick to Amy Harmon's fantasy books in the future. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for providing me with a review copy.

Amy Harmon did it again!!!
This books is one of my favorite, a beautiful romance with a little bit of supernatural touch!

I can't find my review that I know I posted earlier...
I loved this book from start to finish! I loved the characters, setting-- Danny's Aunts, the suspense-- and just say Amy Harmon's books are a must read for me!

If you love historical reads-- this is the book for you, trust me- you will LOVE it!!!

Wish I could find my original review but this will have to do! ;)

Thanks to Netgalley for letting me get a copy to read/review.

*Recv'd a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

In a Nutshell: I went in with no expectations, and came away enthralled. A wonderful blend of fact and fiction, written in the typical Amy Harmon style of blending multiple genres. Character-oriented story, so it is slow-paced. But the writing was enough to keep me satisfied.

Story Synopsis:
The prologue set in 1923 Chicago tells us of ten year old Dani, whose parents are found dead the day before her birthday. Michael Malone, a young police officer on the site, feels sorry for the little girl and ensures she is delivered safely to her spinster aunts’ house in Cleveland.
Fifteen years later, Dani and Michael’s paths cross once again as Michael is assigned to assist agent Eliot Ness in investigating a series of gory murders. Unknown to Michael, Dani has a special ability that might help him crack the case. How will things move from here? Read and find out.

Where the book worked for me:
💜 Harmon nails the historical aspect of the story. The 1930s era with the post-depression slump and gangsters and unemployment and slums feels so authentic!
💜 Harmon is excellent at sketching characters, and this is no exception. Dani and Michael’s personalities reveal themselves bit by bit and you understand them and their decisions very well as the story progresses. I loved how Dani holds her own rather than being a victim of the circumstances. Dani’s aunts, Eliot Ness and even minor characters such as Darby O’Shea are written such that you will never wonder about their behaviour.
💜 Cleveland is also almost like a character in the story. The city is brought alive with Harmon’s words. I love it when a story uses its location setting well.
💜 I am not a fan of the way age-gap romance is written in fiction. Plus, I didn’t expect the Dani and Malone track to go the romantic way because she was just a child when she first met him. BUT their relationship develops gradually and realistically and doesn’t feel shoehorned or awkward at any stage. I was quite surprised to see myself enjoying the romantic track in a non-romance genre book. This hardly ever happens.
💜 I hadn’t previously heard of the mysterious “Torso Killer” of Cleveland and was wondering whether to research info about him before beginning the book or go into it blind. I chose the former option and didn’t regret it. I was as worried as the residents of Cleveland about the unknown serial killer. (I guess this depends on the reader – no harm even if you go in blind. But better be prepared for the gruesomeness.)
💜 The author’s note at the end reveals clearly to what extent her story contained facts and where she needed to incorporate fictitious elements. She also states why she chose an ending that varied from the facts. Her line about “giving them the ending they deserved” won my heart. I LOVED the ending! How I wish the ending in real life had been the same!



Where the book still worked for me but might not work for others:
⚠ The book is a mishmash of various genres that don’t necessarily work well together. It has some or many elements of historical fiction, crime, police procedural, literary fiction, magical realism (the odd one out!), drama, and romance. If you expect it to adhere to a singular agenda, you will be mighty disappointed because it seeks to do justice to all of these. I love genre-blending books, so this wasn’t an issue for me.
⚠ When the serial killer is infamous as the “Torso Killer”, you can expect grisly crime in the book. While none of the crimes happen on the page, the way the bodies of the victims are found is not for the squeamish. If this weren’t based on a true crime, I would have been disgusted at the author’s attempt to sensationalise killings. But sadly, this is how the torso killer actually functioned and I can’t hold the horrendous depiction of the butchery against the author. From what I read online about the murders, the author has been faithful in her depiction.

Where the book did not work for me:
💔 It was really slow, especially in the first half. You don’t see where the plot is going until about a third into the story. I should have been better prepared for this as it was a character-oriented book.
💔 I wish it had a different cover. While the cover makes perfect sense once you know the story, it doesn’t scream “Pick me!” in a bookshop and doesn’t prepare the reader for what’s in the content.

Overall though, I am very pleased with this book. It focussed on “slow and steady” rather than “fast and breathless”. But this works wonderfully because of the layered characters, complex plot and imaginative resolution. If you go in mentally prepared for the triggers and are ready to “go with the flow”, this story will work its magic on you.
4.25 stars.

My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Unknown Beloved”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Title: The Unknown Beloved
Author: Amy Harmon
Publisher: Lake Union
Genre: Historical Fiction

The Unknown Beloved is the genre bending book you didn’t know you needed! Part historical fiction, part true crime, part love story and part magical realism. Each part is fully fleshed out leaving you to simultaneously enjoy the part of the story you’re in while having you crave more of the part you’re not. My gosh is this so well done!

“Just because it doesn’t make sense to you, doesn’t mean it doesn’t make sense.”

This story starts with a bang and ten year old Dani tragically losing both of her parents. That was her first meeting with officer Michael Malone. Her second meeting is fifteen years later when Malone is summoned to Cleveland to investigate a series of murders (otherwise known as the serial killer “The Butcher”) that has everyone stumped, including famed prohibition agent Eliot Ness.

Now, at 25 and 40 there is an undeniable draw to each other for Dani and Michael. Dani is a very compassionate person and she might just have an extra “supernatural” ability to help Michael with his case.

“But perhaps your heart is too hard. The truth is, the harder we are, the easier we shatter. It takes some softness to absorbs life’s blows.”

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I am not a true crime junkie, so I had never heard of this case before. I was so invested in this story. But I was equally invested in Michael and Dani. Dani’s extra magical abilities added to the story for me. I enjoyed reading about the depression era. It’s not an area I feel like I’ve read much. But I’ll read anything Amy writes. I also loved the way Dani cared for her Aunts in the story. Those Aunts were a hoot! I always think that’s the sign of a great author when even the secondary characters are just as good as the main characters!!

Thank you netgalley + publisher. I'm overdue with my review because my book club read this (yay!).

4.5 Stars

Living with her two aunts, Daniela “Dani” Flanagan is a seamstress who has a touch for textiles and for telling stories. Amidst strained economic times, the city is being terrorized by a serial killer known as the Butcher. When investigation into the case is escalated, Michael Malone arrives in town bringing the past to the present.

“It will hurt me more to know I could have done something, and I did nothing. You have given your whole life to your work. Surely, you can understand me wanting to do this one, small thing.”

Between Dani and Michael, there is a remarkable bond that connects them and it continues to uniquely flourish as the story progresses. Given that Michael is fifteen years older than Dani, he adheres to the society’s proprieties partly to protect himself, but Dani knows how to penetrate his guarded exterior.

The sense of loss that Dani and Michael had experienced changed their lives. Together, they regain their hearts in this slow burn and I couldn’t help but to wait patiently for them. Though the crime investigative is a significant part of the narrative, some twists and more development would have strengthened the Butcher’s role. That said, I enjoyed the journey for Dani and Michael, especially how her gift was embraced.

Amy Harmon writes from the heart, and this book is no different. I am not one who loves reading historical fiction, but the connection between present day and history is so well done in this book that you often forget that you are re-living history. Transporting readers to a place and time that somehow seems relatable today is one of Amy's very special gifts. I would highly recommend this book to lovers of historical romance, and the non lovers like myself!

A masterpiece.
Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Do you like age gap romances? Do you like 1930s noir and unsolved true crimes? Do you like a slow-burn and supernatural talents that make it hard not to touch? Then honey, have I got a book for you.

Amy Harmon, her historicals, and me… a love story. One of the ARCs I was most excited to get into this spring, and the one that didn’t disappoint. Once again written at an excruciatingly slow pace, I still couldn’t put the book down. Because the characters and their motivations make sense. I can’t help but feel that this author thoroughly researches (and loves) her early 20th century settings, because that’s where she truly shines, in my opinion. From mentalities to medical care to politics to the actual torso killings, I felt thoroughly transported.

I took screenshots of almost every romantic scene in this novel, because almost all of them have earned a place in my romance hall of fame. Harmon just does something with words that makes me yearn right along with her characters. Motivations are clear, inhibitions are clearer. Speaking of which! If you’re not into the idea of the male love interest having first met the much younger heroine during her childhood, I can at least say that the encounter was very short and does not carry any romanticism or (god beware) eroticism. That trope can get icky if not carefully handled, but the cringe was expertly avoided in this case.

Glimpses of the supernatural were once again perfectly woven into the tapestry of romantic suspense by Miss Harmon here. If I could have a whole series of this content, I would devour it one novel right after the other. I hope The Unknown Beloved becomes successful enough to coax more stories like it from the author's brilliant mind!

This book!!! 🤩💯😁🔥

Amy Harmon is a must read author for me, and as usual, this one didn't disappoint. The supernatural twist was very intriguing, I really like how it was incorporated into the mystery aspect of the novel. I stayed up all night finishing this one, excellent work 👏👍💯

Thanks netgalley for giving me the advanced pdf so that I can share my thoughts and opinions with y'all 🧡

I usually love everything Amy Harmon writes but I just was not impressed by this book at all. It wasn't bad, it was just average and I expected more. It may be because I am not a big fan of mystery or this time period.

This book grabs you from the beginning! It does slow down some but not enough for the reader to want to put it down. I loved the characters! This author has a gift for mixing fiction and fact seamlessly into a fantastic story. I would definitely recommend!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy in exchange for an ho eat review.

Wow. I hadn’t realized how much I missed Amy Harmon’s magical realism. Although no one can quite compare to Harmon’s Moses in Law of Moses, Dani can definitely hold her own. She has her own mystical power knowing things simply by touching cloth. A strange and specific power but is is definitely a gift and a curse.

I appreciate the fact that the author does her research and really dives into the time period she writes about to create well-rounded and three-dimensional characters.
This story is essentially a murder mystery with our heroine brought back to to the city to help solve her family‘s case. Her path crosses with the detective she met when she was younger, and they collaborate. The tone of this book is quite dark and though it does not reach anything gruesome, this is not a topic to be read lightly. The time period is important, but the story does hold its own structurally by engaging the audience and moving into some unexpected territories. Again, I love this author’s writing style and I find that she really creates a world, for me. I do get a little impatient at times and I find my mind wanting to advance, but ultimately the story is well told. This is definitely a book for those who are fans of the author, specifically Historical Fiction.

Amy Harmon is a "must read" author for me.

It is a wonder to me how often she is able to write a book as her books are so authentic and the story grips you and pulls you in so that you feel like you are living the book. I find her books facinating and very hard to put down.

It is an easy recommend for anyone who loves a Historical Fiction book.

Bravo.

Amy Harmon's writing is exquisite, and that factor alone deserves 5 stars. The fact that she included real historical people in her newest book is fascinating, and there were a few surprises along the way, such as Dani's "gift" that really added to the layered development of the book. My biggest concern is just that there were long slogs of pages that felt so slow I might not push through, but nevertheless, I'm glad I did. This one does have some gory details related to "The Butcher", so if you're squeamish you may want to give this one a pass.

This book had a little bit of everything in it; romance, historical fiction, mystery, suspense, and a bit of a paranormal aspect. The murder descriptions were a bit graphic and there was more focus on the mystery aspect of the book compared to other books Amy Harmon has written in the past that had focused more on romance. I will say that this book was one of the most unique books I've ever read, if not the most. It was unlike anything else with the different genres and synopis. Overall I really enjoyed this one!

After the initial pages, I found myself not connecting with the story or characters, so I decided to pass on this book. Did not finish