Veiled in Smoke

(The Windy City Saga #1)

by Jocelyn Green

Description

Meg and Sylvie Townsend manage the family bookshop and care for their father, Stephen, a veteran still suffering in mind and spirit from his time as a POW during the Civil War. But when the Great Fire sweeps through Chicago's business district, they lose much more than just their store.

The sisters become separated from their father and make a harrowing escape from the flames with the help of Chicago Tribune reporter Nate Pierce. Once the smoke clears away, they reunite with Stephen, only to learn soon after that their family friend was murdered on the night of the fire. Even more shocking, Stephen is charged with the crime and committed to the Cook County Insane Asylum.

Though homeless and suddenly unemployed, Meg must not only gather the pieces of her shattered life, but prove her father's innocence before the asylum truly drives him mad.

Biography

Jocelyn Green is a former journalist who puts her investigative skills to work in writing both nonfiction and historical fiction to inspire faith and courage.

The honors her books have received include the Christy Award in historical fiction, and gold medals from the Military Writers Society of America and the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.

Complex and nuanced characters, rich historical detail and twisting plots make her novels immersive experiences. Her fiction has been praised by Historical Novel Society, Romantic Times, Library Journal, historians specializing in her novels’ time periods, as well as popular and acclaimed authors Laura Frantz, Lori Benton, Jody Hedlund, Sarah Sundin, Joanne Bischof, Julie Lessman, and more.

Jocelyn loves Broadway musicals, the color red, strawberry-rhubarb pie, Mexican food, and well-done documentaries. She lives in Iowa with her husband, two children, and two cats she should have named Catticus Finch and Purrman Meowville.

Visit her at jocelyngreen.com.

My Perspective ~

Veiled in Smoke is by far Green's best work yet! This novel depicting the Townsend family during Chicago's Great Fire and the early rebuilding of the city is impressive! If you enjoy the works of Lynn Austin and Kristin Hannah you'll love this novel! 

I found the characters to be true to life and personalities are detailed in depth. Their life challenges are believable and include circumstances that are well described and realistic. This is history related through fiction. The author researched her topics to the point of bringing the past to the present in a very impassioned manner. Details from the prison camps of the Civil War and the affect they left with survivors are disturbing. What was considered insanity at that time is now looked upon as a condition resulting from great trauma. PTSD is a more recent and appropriate description.

Relationships throughout this novel are poignant and natural. How family members relate to one another is a strong point in this heart wrenching and revealing story. Romance enters the picture as young people reach out to one another in a very difficult time. My heart ached as I read how this inferno destroyed everything in its path, and interesting information was shared regarding the rebuilding of the city. The compassion shared with neighbors affected by great tragedy is so encouraging. Our misfortunes many times bring out the best in people as described here.

For a more detailed description of Veiled in Smoke, please read the description above which I won't repeat in this review. I must repeat that this book is an impressive and detailed portrayal of a historic event through fictional characters. If you enjoy historical fiction, I highly recommend this book. I will be reading it again!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All expressed opinions are honest and my own.