Atkinson transports us to 1926 London, diving deep into the vibrant nightlife and the exclusive clubs where the wealthy, the influential, and the criminal underworld mingled. We're introduced to Nellie Coker, fresh out of prison, the owner of five of these glamorous nightclubs, all established with ill-gotten gains. She's a truly remarkable character. The book is brimming with fascinating characters, and it takes a little time to meet them all and become fully immersed in their lives. But once ...

I'm honestly not sure what the point of 70% of this book was. Shrines of Gaiety could easily have been a short story instead of a 400-page tome filled with detailed (and are they ever detailed!) backstories, thoughts, and opinions of what feels like 23 different characters (none of whom are particularly compelling or distinct, mind you). Yes, Kate Atkinson's imagery is vivid, and her writing is undeniably rich, but it's a bit like slathering delicious, decadent frosting on a cake made of sawdust...

If you're curious about London's nightlife scene in the roaring twenties, then "Shrines of Gaiety" is an enjoyable read. While the characters and their choices might be a tad predictable, remember that this isn't a deep psychological exploration, but a glimpse into the mob's influence during that era. "Gaiety" truly captured the spirit of the time!
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"Crime never sleeps — it was quite easy to be killed on the streets of London either by accident or design."My favorite book by Kate Atkinson was "A God in Ruins" ….I just loved it. "Life After Life" drove me batty…(most everyone in my local book club loved it) — but me — I couldn’t wait for the main protagonist to die….for finally the last time! But Bruce Katz (Goodreads great guy) is absolutely right —this book is certainly more like "A God in Ruins" than "Life After Life"…..So….If I HAD to ch...

The year is 1926, and eight years after the end of the Great War, England is still picking up the pieces. But in London, the dazzling nightlife has become a magnet for everyone from lords and ladies to gangsters and bent coppers, and everything in between. In Soho, London, Nellie Coker reigns supreme – the successful owner of a string of nightclubs, she’s a ruthless character who knows what she wants and gets it! She’s incredibly shrewd, has a sharp business mind, and is determined and ambitiou...

Glitz, Glamour, and Gangsters!Shrines of Gaiety is a witty romp of a novel that plunges you into the dark underbelly of London during the Roaring Twenties. Think flapper dresses and illicit gin!Nellie Coker is at the heart of the story. She's a cut-throat nightclub owner, fresh out of prison, who's got her hands full dealing with her six two-faced kids, a bookish librarian, a determined detective, and two missing teenage girls.The story bounces between Nellie, the nightclub queen; Detective Frob...

If a new book by Kate Atkinson can't drag me out of this post-COVID slump, then just consider me a goner, folks... Seriously, if "Shrines of Gaiety" can't do it, nothing will. Looking for a great book review? Look no further.

Kate Atkinson's historical novel, set in the 1920s, is utterly captivating as it paints a Dickensian picture of London: the grime, the poverty, the sleazy criminal gangs, streetwalkers, corrupt cops, gambling, and murder. It's a city desperate to shake off the terrors, pain, suffering, grief, death, and darkness of the war, and to passionately embrace a culture of dancing, drink, drugs, and debauchery, as if there's no tomorrow. The roaring twenties have well and truly arrived. Filling this need...

Why has a crowd of well-dressed toffs and some early shift workers gathered outside Holloway Prison so early one morning in 1926? It’s for ‘her’ - the her in question being Ma (Nellie/Ellen) Coker, the Queen of Clubs, the shrines of post-war gaiety as she’s released from a six-month stint inside. Watching Ma leave and the crowd disperse is DCI John Frobisher, and he has a plan. Gwendolen Kelling, a librarian from York, finds herself in the midst of it all. Kate Atkinson is a magical writer and h...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ It’s 1926, and eight years after the end of the Great War, England is still recovering. But in London, the dazzling nightlife has become a magnet for all sorts, from lords and ladies to gangsters, crooked cops, and everyone in between.In Soho, London, Nellie Coker reigns supreme – the successful owner of a string of nightclubs, she’s a ruthless character who knows what she wants and gets it! She’s incredibly shrewd, a savvy businesswoman, and ambitious enough to want the best educati...