With the United States on the verge of entering World War I, tensions run high in Chicago in the Spring of 1917, and the city simmers with anti-German sentiment mixed with virulent patriotism. Shockingly, amateur sleuth Emily Cabot is present when a young Chicago woman, who is about to make a brilliant society marriage, is murdered. Was her death retaliation for her pacifist activities, or was it linked to her romantic entanglements? Emily has a personal connection to the woman, but she's torn between her determination to solve the murder and her deep need to protect her newly adult children from the realities of a new world. As the country's entry into the war unfolds, Emily watches with trepidation as her sons and daughter make questionable choices about their own futures. Violent worker unrest and the tumultuous arena of automobile racing provide an emotionally charged backdrop for this compelling mystery.
"McNamara's outstanding eighth Emily Cabot mystery... explores themes that will resonate with readers—notably, jingoism masquerading as patriotism and the gulf between the entitled rich and the dispensable poor. McNamara packs in fascinating and edifying period details while never losing sight of the riveting mystery plot. Historical fiction fans won't want to miss this one." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
