It was an average read. I was attracted by the twenties setting and being absorbed in Gatsby's world again. But the middle half of the book had little happening. There is no real sense of intrigue. I think the author may have got away with it, if the characters had been drawn a bit deeper, but they came across as wooden. The book did redeem itself in the later quarter, as the plot is poured out of the perpetrator's mouth at brace neck speed. So I think the story as it is revealed was good enough for a decent book, but needed a bit more oomph with the writing. I'd like Grace to have another drama to absorb herself in and I'd be keen to give that a shot.

GIFTED a free e-ARC from Dialogue Books via @netgalley Publishing date 3 April 2025

The reviews and book cover made this novel appealing but I’m not convinced it lived up to my expectations. The heroine of this thriller, Greta, came across as a young, slightly immature, dreamer who risked her life and high-society reputation to solve a murder. A fairly straightforward novel without the thrill of twists and turns. To its credit the story did flow well and the characters were quite engaging with the final historical notes very informative.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Dialogue Books for this ARC in return for an honest review.