City of Betrayal

October 9, 2023
The seventh entry in Thompson’s Counterfeit Lady historical crime series (following 2022’s City of Fortune) is the best yet. In 1920, antihero Elizabeth Bates—an accomplished con artist who learned the tricks of the trade from her father—has devoted herself to helping the suffragettes’ campaign to get the 19th Amendment passed. The effort is at a turning point: although 35 states have approved the amendment, one more is still needed, and Tennessee, the only plausible prospect, seems likely to join the other Southern states in opposition. Bates travels to Nashville to offer the campaign whatever help she can, only to learn that her father is in the city as well, running a scheme to circumvent Prohibition by supplying drugstores with alcohol, which patrons can purchase with a prescription. With the Tennessee legislators divided over the women’s vote, Bates must use all her charm and ingenuity to get one state representative to support the cause. Luckily, her familiarity with scams helps her see through some of the shady political tactics being used to sway key votes. Thompson roots much of the narrative in historical fact (helpfully outlined in an afterword) and manages to maintain suspense despite the story’s foregone conclusion. This fiercely feminist historical adventure goes down smoothly. Agent: Nancy Yost, Nancy Yost Literary.

November 1, 2023
As ratification of the 19th amendment approaches, there's nothing opponents won't do to keep women from getting the vote. Elizabeth Miles Bates may come from a family of grifters, but she's used her skills only for good since she married Gideon Bates, a respected New York lawyer. Along with the rest of the nation, she watches the massive push to get the amendment approved in Tennessee, the only state needed to get the suffragists to victory. To that end, Elizabeth, her husband, and his mother all head to Nashville to work for the cause. Much to her surprise, Elizabeth's father, aka the Old Man, is there, too, working on a con in the city. Teams on the ground are trying to convince the legislators to vote yes, but opponents known as the Antis are pushing to defeat the bill. The Antis and the wealthy interests backing them, determined to keep women from the ballot box, are using every dirty trick they can think of: bribery, blackmail, fearmongering, and racist rhetoric, since they particularly don't want Black women to get the vote. Although they have pledges from what they think are just enough men to pass the amendment, Elizabeth and company watch in horror and despair as a few defect to the other side and spend every minute fighting to change minds. Elizabeth can't think of a con that will help, and the Old Man is busy with his own misdeeds. So while working in the soul-sapping heat, Elizabeth must use her brains to counter every attack the other side launches. A fascinating exploration of the battle for suffrage, whose historical events drive an exciting thriller.

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November 10, 2023

As a former grifter, Elizabeth Bates knows how to talk around any man, a skill that comes in handy when she joins a team seeking to persuade Tennessee to ratify the 19th Amendment (already rejected by other Southern states). But things are turning ugly, and she must devise a surefire con to protect her suffragist friends and their mission. From Edgar finalist Thompson. Prepub Alert.

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