My Reaction in a Nutshell: 
 And the Worst Mother of the Year Award goes to...Josie's mom. 
 The Long Version: 
 Yeah, Jo's mom is complete shit. She's an alcoholic, verbally and physically abusive, neglectful, cruel, and a thief. Also she's a prostitute. 
 I originally bought this book last year because I heard so many good things about Ruta's books. I thought it was going to be a murder mystery and focus on more historically significant events. I was wrong. Yes, there is a murder. Yes, Jo wants to find the truth. But she does not go on a wild goose chase to catch the killer. There are no heart pounding chase scenes. No brainstorming clue sessions. It was not what I was expecting. This book revolves around a murder, but it's not the story's main focus (if that makes sense). 
 I loved the characters in this book. Each and every one (even the ones I hated I enjoyed reading about (view spoiler)[except for Cincinnati and Mr. Lockwell. There is a special place in hell for them. And Jo's mom too because she was horrible (hide spoiler)]). No one ended up being like what I thought they were going to be. I loved it. In such a short book that spans half a year, there is a lot of character development. I especially loved Willie and Cokie's characters (and yes, I did read his name as "Cookie" for the entire book...now I really want to eat a cookie). 
 Not going to lie, I kind of groaned after both Jesse and Patrick had been introduced. I was so not in the mood for another love triangle. But I surprisingly enjoyed it. Although Jo likes both, her relationship with each doesn't overwhelm the story. It's done tastefully. (view spoiler)[although it was pretty convenient that one of the boys up and left kind of forcing her to choose the other (view spoiler)[also I'm confused on if Patrick like Kitty or Kitty's boyfriend...? (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)] Not going to lie, I totally was rooting for Jesse. Now maybe it's because (okay it's totally because) he reminded me of Jess from Gilmore Girls. So every scene I could only picture Jesse as Jess and it made me so happy. (view spoiler)[I also really liked how Jesse wasn't portrayed as an unhealthy and creepy love interest. When he went to visit her at the cottage it was at Willie's request, not because he stalked her. When he went to pester her from the street to come down, it was because he knew she wasn't really sick and just needed someone to be with. He didn't make her do anything she didn't want to. He didn't judge her for her mom's profession. He understood her crappy childhood because he too had a crappy childhood. (hide spoiler)] 
 I enjoyed this book, but it isn't a book that I'm dying to reread anytime soon. Maybe 3 or 3.5 stars if I'm being honest. But I'm feeling generous today which is why I'm giving it 4 stars. 
 I liked the plot and the characters. Everything ended up being wildly different from what I imagined it to be, but in a good way. 
 If you like historical fiction, good supporting characters, blackmail, secrets, and surprises, then I highly recommend this book to you. 
 ***TRIGGER WARNINGS: abuse, neglect, prostitution, drugging a person, blackmail, self harm, terminal illness, alcoholism, adultery, murder, death