The Unknown Beloved is mesmerizing! I could not put this story down.

Amy Harmon has a beautiful way about her storytelling that draws you to her stories and doesn’t let go. This story is written with such passion that you feel the love for these characters on every page. The historical aspect is so compelling, and I love the follow up at the end of the story that lets us know what happened to the real characters.

Amy Harmon mixes true crime and romance poetically. Dani, Malone, and Eliot have charmed me, their characters so endearing, I loved getting to know them. I loved the mystery and suspense of trying to catch a killer as well as the romance of two people that the story made me feel were destined to be together. This story plays out like a movie before your eyes and will keep you mesmerized from start to finish. My heart is full!

This is my second book from Amy Harmon. The first one was What the Wind Knows which I picked up on a whim when it was available on Kindle Unlimited. I immensely enjoyed reading the book, so I was very glad to be sent an advanced copy of Amy Harmon's new book The Unknown Beloved by NetGalley.

I love how Harmon blends historical events with fiction and brings in various twists while remaining true to what happened in past. During the 1930s an unidentified serial killer labelled as the Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run attacked the indigent population of Cleveland and dismembered their bodies and left their body parts in rundown areas of Cleveland. This was one of the murder cases that went unsolved and Elliot Ness, the man who was primarily responsible for bringing down Al Capone and his organization, was Cleveland's Public Safety Director during this time. Ness was in charge of the investigation and he seeks the help of Michael Malone. Michael was one of the spies who infiltrated Al Capone's mob for eighteen months in Chicago and worked undercovers mostly. Michael, recently widowed, accepts the assignment in Cleveland and Ness arranges for his stay as a boarder in the Kos house.

The Kos family have been dressmakers for multiple generations and Daniela Kos has a gift for the cloth. She can touch any fabric and know about the feelings of the person who wore them or has been in contact with the cloth. Dani is a mystery and she has a shared past with Michael. So when Michael comes to Cleveland to live with Dani and her two old aunts, they become close despite their vastly varying personalities. Dani wants to help Michael in capturing the Butcher but Michael is reluctant to put her in any kind of danger.

The way Amy Harmon has weaved Dani and Michael's story with the background of the serial killer's story is marvelous. It's difficult to sieve fact from the fiction, so her author's note in the end helps. It's also better to read a little into Elliot Ness and the Cleveland Torso Murder case files(a little, not too much, because most of the facts are retained in the book, so you wouldn't want to read too many spoilers in Wiki), before diving into this book.

Any Harmon has a way with words, Dani and Michael's story proves that. Otherwise it's difficult to comprehend a sweet and optimistic person like Dani falling in love with the grouchy Michael. But by the end of the book you wish for a happy ending for both of them. Do read the book if you want to find out if Dani and Michael get the ending they deserve.

Recommended to readers of historical fiction/true crime/mystery/supernatural/thrillers/1930s America/serial killer books.

The Unknown Beloved, by Amy Harmon, is an incredible romantic, suspense novel rooted in history. I'd never heard of The Butcher/The Torso Killer before reading this book but wow! Once I realized that it was based on true events, I couldn't help but be impressed with all the research that went into writing this book, as well as all the details that were seemlessly woven into the story.
10 year old Dani Flanagan has just returned to her house when she sees police everywhere. Her parents have been murdered. The patrolman assigned to the case, Michael Malone, knows that there must be much more to this murder than the rest of the force wants to admit. Malone is ordered to keep quiet and Dani is shiped off to live with her Great Aunts in Cleveland.
Fifteen years later and Michael Malone is called to Cleveland, by his friend Eliot Ness, now Cleveland’s director of safety, to help investigate a succession of killings that no one can solve. There he finds himself reunited with Dani and introduced to her Great Aunt's. He finds that, somewhat unsurprisingly, she has a sort of calling to help the dead and destitute. Soon he realizes that she could be the key to solving this case.

Michael Malone is an undercover agent working with Eliot Ness (who is a supporting character in this book). When he goes to Cleveland to help Ness find the Cleveland Torso Murderer in 1938, he runs into a girl he'd met long ago who has special talents that can help him break the case.

This book is a little genre mash-up: it's historical fiction, mystery, romance, with a touch of supernatural. I have read and liked a few other books by Amy Harmon and this one is a little bit of a departure for her. It is most in tone like What the Wind Knows but also reminded me a little of Paula McClain's When the Stars Go Dark too. This book combines real people- Michael Malone, Eliot Nes, and the murderer are all factual people- but their actions and relationships are fictional. Make sure to read the author's note at the end of the book!

This book really worked for me, and I liked the blend of history and mystery. I didn't fully love the romance but I'm sure others will. I loved the time period and all the details- really good one I can recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance readers copy for review.

Oh my gosh. This book. This book is everything. My favorite read this year. It’s so beautifully written. Amy Harmon has this ability to write books in a way that it just flows from page to page like a melody. The characters are so well rounded and the story itself is thrilling. 5/5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an egalley in exchange for an honest review

Another author that the NetGalley platform has made me dearly love is Amy Harmon. So when I saw that The Unknown Beloved was available in the Read Now section I didn't even hesitate. The author begins the story in 1923 Chicago when ten-year-old Dani Flannagan stumbles upon the murder of her parents. That day she is shown kindness by policemen Michael Malone who makes sure the young orphan gets to the home of her mother's family in Cleveland. Fifteen years pass and Malone has been asked by Eliot Ness to assist in a murder investigation. On the day of his arrival in Cleveland, Malone soon discovers that his boarding house landlords are none other than Dani and her two great aunts. Sparks ignite between the 40-year-old hardened policemen and the 25-year-old woman with special abilities.

I did find the story enjoyable despite some of the dialogue and scenarios making me giggle here and there. I liked the two main protagonists enough to stick with the story but I wouldn't say that this would be my favourite Amy Harmon read(What the Wind Knows is the clear winner). I did find it interesting when I read the author's note that Michael Malone was as real a personage as Eliot Ness was. I do wish that Amy Harmon had told me who she was picturing as Eliot Ness when she wrote him( Robert Stack or Kevin Costner).🤣 There were parts of the plot that dragged a bit but overall I was cheering for Michael and Dani. I like the idea that they may pop up in future books.

Expected Publication Date 19/04/22
Goodreads review published 23/03/22
#TheUnknownBeloved #NetGalley

What I love is how Amy tackles the themes she does and can weave them into any time/genre---sheer brilliance.

I felt transported back to the time of the events that unfolded in the book and wished to learn more once this story was told.

I felt every emotion in these pages and am thankful for the experience.

Dani & Malone....their story spoke to me like cloth does to Dani.

5+++++++ stars

Amy Harmon should no longer be able to surprise me. I know she writes in a way that brings the words to life with such richness and beauty that you can’t help but live the story right alongside the characters. I know she’s going to transport me to another place and time and that I’m going to be changed when I close the book. This is a simplistic description of Amy Harmon’s writing and what I’ve come to expect when I open any of her books. But this book…. she has stunned me with the splendor of this book. I have no words for the beautifully complex story I just finished. Read this book. Read ALL of her books. But this one has definitely taken the top spot and I will cherish it and the beautiful reading experience she has given me with her exquisite way with words. A beautiful masterpiece indeed.

Amy Harmon has a wonderful gift of drawing the reader into well-developed stories. This is another historical fiction book by the author. A city cop and a young girl are brought together after the loss of her parents. A Mad man is on the streets mutilating innocent victims and these two are brought back together to solve the case. I always seem to lose hours of time reading Harmon's books and this one didn't disappoint.

“The truth is, the harder we are, the easier we shatter. It takes some softness to absorb life’s blows.”

The Unknown Beloved is a four way intersection of true crime, suspense, supernatural, and romance set against backdrop of Cleveland in the 1930s

As someone whose favorite things to do include reading romance novels and listening to murder podcasts, this book screamed my name when the blurb first dropped.

As with all of her historicals to date, real people and events are woven into the fictional circumstances within the pages, adding a certain depth to the story.

Dani’s ability to love with such tenacity and tenderness, especially towards people otherwise forgotten, is both encouraging and convicting to my own heart. It’s also a balm to those around her, including a jaded and reserved agent who’s seen far too much of the ugliness humanity has to offer.

Malone is has experienced plenty of danger and intrigue in his line of work and loss in his life; now he’s hunting a serial killer who keeps evading capture and leaving devastation and fear in his wake. The last thing he (thinks he) needs is a caring girl with too kind a heart to help him accomplish this, but…

As always, Amy’s writing leaps off the page and grabs onto you, her storytelling is poetic and passionate, and I always come away feeling like I’ve been emptied out and filled back up. Dani and Malone have absolutely claimed their own corner of my heart. 🖤

Whenever I see that Amy Harmon has a new book coming up, it automatically gets put on my most anticipated reads. I know she is one author that will never let me down. Amy is a writer that can literally write ANYTHING. The way she gets inside of her characters heads and creates a realistic world that I want to be a part of is a gift. The Unknown Beloved is no different.

I probably say this every time with books that Ms Harmon writes, but this book is unlike anything she's ever written before. It is historical fiction, but this one is a bit more dark. The whole story is centered around a serial killer in the 1930's. We don't get into the head of the killer much, but we get a little side of romance with the 2 characters that are working together to find this killer. But their connection started years before the majority of this book took place.

The story starts out with the connection that ties Michael the police officer with Daniela, who is a young child at this time. We get a little taste of who she is and what she can do, but we also see who Michael is as a person. He cared for that child and made it his duty to make sure she was taken care of and taken to her family. He already won my heart with the way he cared when he didn't need to within the opening pages of the book. We then fast forward many years and Dani lives with her aunts in the same city where The Butcher (the serial killer) is taking victims. Michael comes to live with these women since they have a room for rent and finding the killer is his new job. Michael and Dani soon realize that they have a past connecting them and Dani has a gift that Michael can use to find the killer.

"To not believe in her would be like not believing in the sun. The sun simply was-it shined, it set, it rose, it waned-and it had no need to please or persuade."

The time, the setting and the characters are what made this story stand out. It felt like I was transported to another time. The way Amy described the characters, their home, their clothing and even the way they talked made this book seem like someone's real life story. Not a piece of fiction (more on that later). I was fully invested in these characters and their lives.

While this story was more dark with the content and the mystery/suspense surrounding The Butcher, it was the characters that drove this story. Even with the suspense, you got a side of a slow burn romance between Michael and Dani. You could feel their pain in their pasts, but their future and feelings in the present is what drove them and their lives. What really made Dani special was her gift for connecting to people and their lives. She broke my heart a bit, but she also put it back together with what she could do. It was so unique and an integral part of the story that made it stand out from your normal mystery/suspense book.

I enjoyed reading every bit of The Unknown Beloved. To see how the investigations took place and how, even then, politics played a huge factor in the communities. This story seemed to move at a slower pace, but not once did I ever lose interest. I was just waiting to see the connection made. It gave me that feeling you get when you are watching an old black and white film. It was nostalgic. It is obviously historical fiction, but please read the author's note at the end. I think having that part added to the story was so very important and obviously made these people that I lived with over a few days become real. Amy's gift of storytelling and having us go along with her on the journey is something special.
**This book is definitely more for the suspense readers as there is more dark and brutal content, but with the time and setting, you'll also want to be invested in a piece of history. Be prepared for something different and unique and enjoy the ride.

Amy Harmon is one of my favorite historical fiction writers of all time! She has a way of creating realistic, relatable characters and shining light on parts of history that few know about. The Unknown Beloved is another enthralling novel by her! It took me two days to read it, staying up to the early hours of the morning (despite having work the next day)- I just couldn't put it down! I loved that Harmon incorporated a supernatural element that was believable, important to the story, and yet subtle. Despite one of the characters having supernatural abilities, she was incredibly HUMAN and relatable. I felt immersed in Depression-era Cleveland and drawn to each of the characters whose flaws and hopes made them so believable. The murder mystery added another addicting layer to the story because I wanted so badly to see how A) the love story played out and B) how the mystery was solved. I can't wait for Amy Harmon's next book! After reading this one, I immediately went out and bought "The Songbook of Benny Lament." Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing me for giving me a chance to read this amazing ARC!

An evocative story of two people whose paths collide against the backdrop of mystery, murder, and the Great Depression.
This was a brilliant read. Set aside plenty of time to read in without a workday. It had my head spinning…..

Thanks to NetGalley for this arc.
As a former Clevelander, I was delighted to advance read Amy Harmon’s newest novel, set in Cleveland, in the 1930’s. This is a true mystery, with actual historical characters, mixed with a fictional heroine(who possesses a psychic gift).
The characteristics of the depression era location with attention to historical detail was stunning. I felt immersed in the setting.
The developing relationship between our main characters, Michael (undercover agent) and Dani (seamstress with a family gift) grew steadily and honestly. I believed in them.
Reading The Unknown Beloved was the kind of experience I want in all my books.

It's no secret that I consider Amy Harmon to be one of my absolute favorite authors and I have loved every single one of the 14 books I've read including this one. Oh yes: I know I'm a bit biased when it comes to her work, but The Unknown Beloved was yet another story that hit me hard and left me speechless. It's a story that will stay with me for a long time, and even days later I'm still struggling to put a proper word on paper without sounding like a complete fangirl. But the fact is that while I love all of her books, The Unknown Beloved stands out even more and ended up being one of my absolute favorites. Let me try to explain why below.

First of all, this story has such a fascinating mix of genres! We have historical fiction, crime/detective, horror, paranormal and romance elements; all mixed together seemlessly to create a story that is both shocking, gritty and simply beautiful. Amy Harmon knows how to write historical fiction and I love just how many historical facts were incorporated into the story. It makes the historical setting that much more authentic and The Unknown Beloved transports you right back in time. The main focus is on the late 1930s Cleveland, a city caught in the grip of a brutal serial killer. Things can get graphic and very dark, so definitely keep this in mind when deciding if this story is for you. I've seen that some people expected romantic suspense and were shocked by just how gruesome some scenes were... This is definitely not a story for those with a weak stomach.

The paranormal element also plays a big role in the plot; it's not something I always enjoy, but I really liked how it was incorporated into the story here. Main character Dani Flanagan can see things by touching fabric, and this is something that not only affects her on a personal level, but also something that she uses for something good (giving the unknown dead a voice as she prepares them for burial). Her character in general is fascinating with her past and brutal loss of both her parents and her gift... And I liked how she complemented the other main character Michael Malone, who is more pragmatic. Both the fact that he is an undercover investigator and his past connection to Dani make you immediately intrigued by him, and he brought great things to the plot.

As always, there is also romance to be found among the darkness. It's mostly a slowburn romance and rather sweet; it's something that will give you a little respite from the death and danger and it helped balance the story as a whole. I loved seeing the connection between both characters grow and their development in general is what makes the story truly come alive and win over your heart. The writing itself is splendid, and it was a story that didn't let me go even days after I finished reading it. I loved every single minute of my time with The Unknown Beloved, and while it is a lot darker and gruesome than most of her other books, if you think you can stomach it, this story will end up blowing you away completely.

Amy Harmon has the ability to write stories that are all encompassing and absorbing in equal parts. I cannot tell you how much I love this reading experience, as I was completely hooked from the minute I picked it up. This book offered everything that it takes to hook many kinds of readers including plot driven adventures full of twists and turns in a historical setting that is imaginative and well described. This is something that I know will be such a massive hit--and I cannot wait to share it with many patrons! I highly recommend it to the fullest extent!

This continues to be a winning author for me! This is only my third book of hers, but I am reminded how much I like her writing style. She brings to life people from the past and builds a compelling story. I found this one easy to read and I got completely drawn into the story.

This time we start in Chicago in 1923 and witness the horrible loss of Dani Flanagan’s parents. She’s just 10 and moves to Cleveland to live with her aunts. There’s a young policeman, Michael Malone, who takes care of Dani in the aftermath.

Jump forward 15 years and Dani and Malone come face-t0-face again in Cleveland. Malone has just finished an undercover stint in Chicago working to bring down Al Capone with Eliot Ness. The author does an excellent job of creating the right atmosphere in this book. Describing the well-dressed Eliot and Malone, I could just picture them in their suits, ties, and hats.

As you might expect, Malone needed to get out of Chicago and Eliot Ness brings him to Cleveland to work on the Torso Murders (true case!) as they can’t seem to catch the killer who leaves his gruesome work behind, taunting the police and Eliot Ness in particular. It was fascinating to read about this early detective work and the author gives us important details about how clothing, accents, and demeanor all play a part in successfully going undercover.

Dani and her aunts are seamstresses, but work is slow during this time. I really enjoyed these female characters. Again, the author puts us in the city of Cleveland with shantytowns, soup lines, hobos on trains, and criminal activity!

Dani has a unique skill that Malone discovers and eventually he lets her help with the case. The two develop a realistic romantic relationship that deepens as they work the case to stop a serial killer. I rooted for them as a couple but wasn't sure how it could work when he finished the case.

It was fascinating to do a bit of research after reading this book to learn more about Michael Malone (he’s real) and Eliot Ness. I can’t wait to visit the Mob Museum in Las Vegas again now that I know more about Michael Malone.

The Unknown Beloved by Amy Harmon

Before I picked up this book, I was already aware of Eliot Ness's involvement in the "Torso Murders". Years earlier he'd been involved in bringing down Al Capone with the help of his agents, The Untouchables. I knew nothing about one of those agents, Michael Malone, but read about him before starting the story.

Harmon does a great job of blending real people and real events into a fictional story that stays true to history. Mike Malone is a young police officer when he meets ten year old Dani Flanagan, in 1923. Her parents have just been murdered and Dani is understandably upset, while Mike has his own sadness, and this murder just jades him even more. The next day Mike takes a train ride with Dani, from Chicago to Cleveland, so Dani can be with her remaining relatives.

Fifteen years later, Ness needs Malone's help in Cleveland because there is a serial killer on the loose and Ness needs someone to infiltrate the poor and homeless since those people seem to be the target of the murderer. The unknowns who are made known by their deaths. The rooming house that Ness finds for Malone is owned by Dani and her elderly aunts.

Malone is all business, cold and hard, not about to let anyone in after his failed marriage and the death of his two children, long ago. Dani has no pretense and she recognizes Malone immediately. Thus starts a reluctant friendship on the part of Malone, as he spends some of his time helping Dani clean and dress the indigent dead as part of her way to supplement the income of her tailoring business. Dani has a special talent of being able to feel the cloth belonging to a person and know them. By doing so for these dead and forgotten people, she is able to write obituaries for them, to be seen by no one but to insure that they are remembered by her.

I became so caught up in the work of Malone and Ness and also in the relationship between Malone and Dani. This story reminds me of old timey black and white movies. The time, the place, the dress, the atmosphere is so real I could feel it. And the back and forth between Malone and Dani rings true. A man backing away from being close to someone and a woman who won't chase but won't accept less than all.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.

When I think about my favorite books and authors, Amy Harmon always comes to mind. I’m telling you, Amy writes the VERY BEST historical fiction.

Her next book “The Unknown Beloved” drops in April and it’s everything a reader could want in a true crime historical fiction novel. Based on a 1938 crime spree in Cleveland, Ohio readers spend time with Dani and Michael as they hunt down The Butcher of Kingsbury Run.

The cast of characters in this novel include a set of helicopter aunts, Eliot Ness, and a slew on misfits and drifters. The romance in the novel is done well and is what you would expect from the times. Nothing too forward, which I appreciate. Harmon doesn’t sacrifice what is deemed historically accurate for the sake of steam and angst.

Overall, I found myself drawn to the magical realism in this novel. The true crime mixed with historical moments was an added bonus for your girl; I love reading both. “The Unknown Beloved” proves that Harmon can write anything… perfectly.

Please don’t take my rating as an indication this is not a good book. It is a very good book, well written with a great story. But it just wasn’t for me. A lot of the story is based on real people and real events. There WAS a Michael Malone who is thought to have worked with Elliot Ness in Chicago. Elliot Ness DID go to Cleveland to head up public safety. There WAS a Torso Killer or Butcher of Kingsbury Run operating in Cleveland in the 1930s. And the descriptions of the crimes echoed the real killings.

So great writing, great story and the characters were wonderfully rendered. This was a very character driven book and the author really brought them to life. Unfortunately, for me, the second half the book devolved into a love story which simply didn’t work me. I don’t read romances but sometimes it does work. In this case it didn’t because Malone was too pig headed to follow his heart. It annoys the h*ll out of me when characters don’t think they are good enough for their beloved, or their ‘duty’ gets in the way or think they are doing them some sort of favour by leaving.

No! Don’t go there! If you want to know about regret watch The Bridges of Madison County with Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep. It had me in floods of tears and that simply does not happen! The other problem, for me, was that because of the romance, the story became kind of predictable. I’d never read a book by this author but I now see that she has quite quite a few books. Maybe if I’d read an earlier one I’d have had a clue.

So ignore my review and read the others by people who loved this very good story. Many thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.