Shrine Gaiety

 By: Kate Atkinson

Location: FIC ATK

Genre: Historical Fiction

"I loved everything about this book. The dialogue is sharp, quick-paced, and witty. There are a ton of subtle literary references mixed in. I would describe Shrines of Gaiety as a bit of Peaky Blinders combined with Gatsby. Atkinson brings to the table exquisite writing and captivating characters." Meredith

OK here is the worst line in any book I have ever read!

“The library had not been a career choice. After all, who would choose to be a librarian?”

London 1926. Roaring Twenties.
Corruption. Seduction. Debts due.

In a country still recovering from the Great War, London is the focus for a delirious nightlife. In Soho clubs, peers of the realm rub shoulders with starlets, foreign dignitaries with gangsters, and girls sell dances for a shilling a time.

There, Nellie Coker is a ruthless ruler, ambitious for her six children. Niven is the eldest, his enigmatic character forged in the harsh Somme. But success breeds enemies. Nellie faces threats from without and within. Beneath the gaiety lies a dark underbelly, where one may be all too easily lost. 

Meredith review

Glitz, Glamor, and Gangsters!

Shrines of Gaiety is a witty romp of a novel that takes place in the dark underbelly of London during the Roaring 20s.

Nellie Coker is at the forefront of the story. She isa cut-throat nightclub owner recently released from prison who finds her hands full battling with her 6 duplicitous children, a librarian, a detective, and two missing teenage girls.

The narrative alternates primarily between Nellie, night club proprietress; Detective Frobisher investigating the Coker family; former librarian Gwendolen Kelling; and Freda, a 14-year-old runaway searching for stardom. There are a few more voices mixed in. There are many characters to keep track of, but each has a distinct voice making it easy to not get confused. What is a little confusing in the beginning is how the characters connect.

All of the characters are multilayered and unique. Gwendolen was my favorite, but I could have used more chapters from ruthless Ma Coker’s POV. It isn’t often that one reads the portrayal of a female gangster in the 1920s.

I loved the setting, as Atkinson captures the feeling of 1920s London. From the gritty streets to the posh clubs to the dirty underbelly of the elite, I was transported. In addition, there are drugs, mob wars, the sex trade, the chase of fame and fortune, and murder to contend with.

I loved everything about this book. The dialogue is sharp, quick-paced, and witty. There are a ton of subtle literary references mixed in. I would describe Shrines of Gaiety as a bit of Peaky Blinders combined with Gatsby. Atkinson brings to the table exquisite writing and captivating characters.