Publishers Weekly
06/28/2021
In this entertaining thriller set in the past, presumed-white Zuretta, 17 and Mormon, leaves Utah farm life and her physically abusive father behind to search for her younger sister Ruby, who ran away to Chicago ahead of the World’s Fair. After Ruby’s letters stop arriving and Etta begins having vivid nightmares of Ruby in distress, she hops a train for Chicago, determined to enlist the famous Pinkerton detectives in the search. But quickly robbed of her belongings and dismissed by the Pinkertons, Etta must embark on her own search. The narrative hits a lively pace once Etta starts a job as a maid at H.H. Holmes’s mazelike hotel, The Castle, where Ruby last worked and where women seem to frequently disappear. Moore (The Memory Thief) deftly captures the bustle of 1890s Chicago, as well as the near-claustrophobic feel of The Castle and its mysteries, using chapter openings pulled from a real-life document to convey the horrors that happened there. Though true crime aficionados will foresee the last-minute plot twist, and initially obedient Etta’s development into a savvy detective feels surprisingly rapid, watching her close in on her suspect is satisfying. Ages 14–up. Agent: Eddie Schneider, JABberwocky Literary. (Aug.)
From the Publisher
"Fans of true-crime murder mysteries won’t want to miss this one." — Booklist, STARRED Review
"True crime buffs will appreciate the passages at the beginning of each chapter, which are excerpts from serial killer H.H. Holmes’ published confession." — School Library Journal
"[This] novel will appeal to readers excited about an account of gruesome historical events steered by an intrepid young woman. " — Kirkus Reviews
"Zuretta’s gumption makes the heroine easy to root for, as she faces off with a murderer and also confronts the powerful men who don’t see missing working class girls as a problem." — The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"[An] entertaining thriller...Moore deftly captures the bustle of 1890s Chicago, as well as the near-claustrophobic feel of The Castle." — Publishers Weekly
"An entertaining blend of historical fiction, thriller and an earnest look at how tough it was for women to get ahead in this era. Zuretta cracks it in the end though. Go girl!" — Ginger Nuts of Horror
"Bryce Moore does a fantastic job at delivering suspense, mystery, and both lovable and horrific characters." — Tori Danielle, PopHorror
School Library Journal
06/01/2021
Gr 8 Up—A thrilling historical novel set during the Chicago World's Fair. Zuretta and Ruby are sisters living in Utah with their mother and abusive father. After seeing terrible bruises on Zuretta, Ruby decides they need to leave home for good. Zuretta chooses to stay for her mother, and Ruby goes off on her own. Ruby consistently writes to her sister about her adventures and her new job as a maid, but suddenly letters back stop coming. Zuretta is afraid something terrible happened to Ruby, so she travels to Chicago to find her. With some help from new friends and months of searching, Zuretta gets a job as a maid at a hotel called the Castle, a place she discovers her sister was working before her disappearance. Unbeknownst to Zuretta, she's hot on the trail of one of the world's most infamous serial killers. This story takes time to build, but readers who stick around will not be disappointed. Zuretta is a determined young woman who continues her search regardless of the many male characters who doubt her. While this story is historical, this trait is still important for readers to observe. The vocabulary and dialogue fit with the time period, although younger teens may need help defining some words or phrases. True crime buffs will appreciate the passages at the beginning of each chapter, which are excerpts from serial killer H.H. Holmes' published confession. Race of characters is not mentioned. VERDICT Purchase where true crime and horror fiction circulate well.—Lisa Buffi, Sterling M.S., VA
Kirkus Reviews
2021-06-01
A twist on disturbing historical events.
Sisters Zuretta and Ruby want to escape their abusive Utahn family, but Ruby manages to leave home first. When her letters abruptly stop coming, Zuretta heads east to Chicago to discover why. The teenager is immediately beset by grifters, but she has plenty of pluck: When police refuse to help her locate Ruby, she finds work as a maid in the hotel where her sister was last employed. That building, the Castle, is an ominous warren of hidden rooms and false doors populated by sinister employees—and the charming Dr. Henry Holmes. Holmes, a real mass murderer active during the Chicago World’s Fair, published writings after his conviction, and excerpts open each chapter. Zuretta’s involvement in the case is fictionalized, but the story’s true origins add suspense and excitement. Zuretta’s dreams of her sister as a moldering, ambulatory corpse don’t quite match the realistic events of the rest of the novel, and certain characters and events (the Pinkerton heir who helps her on her first day in Chicago, a hotel worker whose appearances stop once she’s less useful for the protagonist) are more convenient than is satisfying, but this novel will appeal to readers excited about an account of gruesome historical events steered by an intrepid young woman. The setting seems to include almost exclusively White people, including the main characters.
Slightly educational, mostly fun. (author's note) (Historical thriller. 13-17)
