Hot, and on the heels of 2017's The Wicked City, the next installment in the series from the prolific Beatriz Williams gives readers a hearty dose of Gin Kelly. Picking up nearly exactly where the first book left off, The Wicked Redhead once again splits the story between two leading ladies and would-be roommates, if only they weren't separated by time.

In 1998, Ella Dommerich seeks sanctuary from a cheating husband in a Greenwich Village apartment that the fiery Geneva Kelly (known as Ginger, or its fittingly shortened version, Gin) called home back in 1924. The previous book saw the women get acquainted, or, rather, Ella's realization that her new building may be haunted by the ghosts of roaring twenties parties past. The apartment itself still reeks of Gin.

Book two slathers more cement on the connection between Ella and Ginger, which seems to be more than a shared abode across history; Ella discovers that one of her elderly family members may have known this mysterious woman in her heyday. Intermingled with other revelations within her family sphere, Ella is on the hunt to uncover more details regarding Ginger's life and her abrupt disappearance from New York.

Meanwhile, back in 1924, Ginger Kelly is in hiding on the sunny shores of Florida after being drawn into a plot to bring down her bootlegging stepfather in the previous installment. She and her companions may have survived the brutal conclusion to that affair, but it has left scars on them all. Now self-tasked with raising her newly orphaned baby sister, Ginger begs her beloved Anson, the orchestrator of the previous mayhem, to give up his goals of being reinstated as a agent of prohibition. A recurring nightmare tells her that his return to the force will eventually be the end of the man she loves.

Though The Wicked City saw a fairly even split between the two ladies' sections, its follow-up shows a heavy bias toward the vivacious Miss Kelly. Only a few events dominate Ella's portion of this novel, and, as they are largely made up of internal struggles and quiet unraveling of family mysteries, her sections prove a stark contrast to the series of events in 1924. Making up only about a quarter of the book, Ella's contributions feel notably sparser and certainly less exciting in comparison.

The dominant portions of the book following Gin Kelly show her dealing with the consequences of not only the physical attacks from her stepfather, but also the long-reaching impacts of earlier choices, including playing with a particular man's heart. The events of the first book forced her to realize her own infallibility and although she retains her dazzling confidence in this sequel, a humbler side of Ginger emerges.

What results is a fun, if lopsided, new addition to the series. Beatriz Williams writes with the elegant breeziness of a practiced hand; the ease with which she endears her characters to readers alone makes the book praise-worthy. Ella's search not only for her familial connection to Ginger, but also for the reclamation of her own voice following her husband's heartbreaking betrayal will likely prove extremely relatable to the audience, and Ginger is finely-crafted firecracker, thrumming with life.

With such characters, it is hard not to notice the missed opportunities present in this second book. Many questions from the first book lay unanswered, their existence all noted in this installment with no hint as to whether or not they will ultimately be resolved. For instance, still lurking in the shadows is Ginger's biological father. A few more breadcrumbs are dropped on the path when Gin receives what she believes to be an unsigned letter from him. Never outright revealing his identity, his attempt at communication seems to make Ginger more uncomfortable than anything else; when asked why she wants to learn her father's identity she replies with characteristic snark, “not because I'm sentimental...only because the devil seems to know who I am, and I don't particularly enjoy the mismatch.” By the end of the book, readers, too, will likely be wondering about the dangling end to this missed connection.

One can hope that The Wicked Redhead will not be the last Wicked City novel Beatriz Williams aims to pen. The characters are downright addictive and far too enjoyable to be given up after a mere two books. Beyond that, the frustratingly unresolved storylines demand a definitive conclusion to the series. The lack of closure is bound to keep readers up at night, though such an interruption still may be preferable to the late-night clamor of a ghost speakeasy.

"The dazzling narrator of The Wicked City brings her mesmerizing voice and indomitable spirit to another Jazz Age tale of rumrunners, double crosses, and true love, spanning the Eastern seaboard from Florida to Long Island to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

1924. Ginger Kelly wakes up in tranquil Cocoa Beach, Florida, having fled south to safety in the company of disgraced Prohibition agent Oliver Anson Marshall and her newly-orphaned young sister, Patsy. But paradise is short-lived. Marshall is reinstated to the agency with suspicious haste and put to work patrolling for rumrunners on the high seas, from which he promptly disappears. Gin hurries north to rescue him, only to be trapped in an agonizing moral quandary by Marshall’s desperate mother.

1998. Ella Dommerich has finally settled into her new life in Greenwich Village, inside the same apartment where a certain redheaded flapper lived long ago...and continues to make her presence known. Having quit her ethically problematic job at an accounting firm, cut ties with her unfaithful ex-husband, and begun an epic love affair with Hector, her musician neighbor, Ella’s eager to piece together the history of the mysterious Gin Kelly, whose only physical trace is a series of rare vintage photograph cards for which she modeled before she disappeared.

Two women, two generations, two urgent quests. But as Ginger and Ella track down their separate quarries with increasing desperation, the mysteries consuming them take on unsettling echoes of each other, and both women will require all their strength and ingenuity to outwit a conspiracy spanning decades."

Odd that it's the Halifax part that really grabs my attention... I've been there and I'm interested to see how anyone could paint it interesting...

Loved this one! I couldn't put it down, which was refreshing after not feeling quite the same about Williams's previous two books. I love the strong voices of the main characters, and I loved seeing all the familiar characters from Williams's other books. Now I need to go re-read several of her books! Looking forward to the next one in this series.

Have you ever been strongly drawn to something/someone you didn’t even know but felt a “connection” anyway? In Williams’ newest book, The Wicked Redhead, Ella is just that person searching for her “connection” to a vintage photograph of a mysterious redhead. Despite knowing nothing about the woman in the photograph, Ella feels that there was something mysterious about this woman and wants to find out more. Desperate for answers about both the photograph and her own life, Ella is willing to put everything on the line. However, will Ella be able to move forward when she learns that not everything is always as perfect as it seems in a picture?

Geneva “Gin” Kelly is now ready for a quiet uneventful life with her true love Oliver Marshall. After succeeding in bringing down her prohibition law breaking step-father, Gin assumes Oliver is looking for the same. However, when Oliver is called back to the Bureau for at least one more assignment, Gin drives herself crazy with everything that could go wrong. With a gut wrenching feeling that Oliver is being sabotaged, painful memories of her past, and the ever present, Mrs. Marshall, Gin feels she has no choice but to leave the quiet life she dreamed of behind. Can Gin ever convince Oliver that leaving it all behind may just be what they actually need to move forward toward their happily ever after?

This book switches back and forth between the 1920’s (Gin’s story) and the late 1990’s (Ella’s story), and tries to intertwine the lives of two very seemingly different women, who even though they are separated by decades may just be more alike then either will ever realize. Will either of these women find what they are looking for and will they find the courage and determination to actually take the next step they both so desperately want? How much is too much when faced with past memories and unknown secrets that could put them facing a life without the security they’ve always known?

I actually did not read the first book in this series and I would really recommend doing so. While I did enjoy the book and was able to follow the storyline, I found myself wanting to know more backstory details of the characters so I could connect with them more. I also kept waiting for an “a ha” moment/connection between Ella and Gin and while there was a certain amount of this, it really left me wanting a more intertwining story with them. I would recommend this book but would strongly suggest you read The Wicked City first as I think it would be an even more enjoyable read. That being said, I am looking forward to going back and reading more of Williams’ books about these characters and have the feeling that this won’t be the last time we see Geneva Kelly...

I won't repeat the book blurb as the publisher did a fine job of describing the story. It caught my attention and the plot intrigued me. I had not read any of Beatriz Williams' books and looked forward to reading this one as I am a fan of the historical-fiction genre.

Sadly, I found myself at a distinct disadvantage for not having read the book prior to this. It soon became obvious that the story picked up where The Wicked City left off, and assumed the reader knew the characters and back-story.

I enjoyed the story, and Ms. Williams' talent, but can only rate it a "good" 3 stars. Next time, I'll look for one of her books that stands alone and makes no presumptions of the reader's familiarity with her characters.

My thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow Paperbacks for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel in exchange for an unbiased review. Opinions expressed here are my own.

The Wicked Redhead feels like an early Christmas present from Beatriz Williams to all her fans--I absolutely adored how so many characters from the Schuyler universe made an appearance in both storylines! If you haven't read The Wicked City, it's an absolute must-read before reading this sequel. I wish that I had re-read that one first because it did take me some time to get back into the swing of things with Ginger's storyline. The Wicked Redhead picks up Gin and Anson's story when they collide with the characters from Cocoa Beach, and we get some lovely scenes with Virginia and her family. Soon our Jazz Age characters are on the run again, and the reader gets a change of scenery as well as a visit with the Marshall family from A Certain Age. I especially enjoyed the continuation of Ella and Hector's story in 1998 (I can't believe how historical it feels to read about that time period!). I loved Ella's scenes with Aunt Julie when she is researching "the Wicked Redhead" and also the sections with her grandparents and parents. I really hope that we get a third installment because this book was such a treat! Thank you so much to Netgalley, William Morrow, and Mrs. Williams for the preview copy!

I wish I had known it was a sequel. Goodreads is the only place that lists it as such. Maybe it is even a 2nd in a trilogy because I was left with more questions than answers.

The Wicked Redhead is a fun story that expertly intertwines the stories of two seemingly different woman that I thoroughly enjoyed. I liked how brash Gin was, and how determined Ella was. The non-linear timeline and alternating points of view could be confusing for some people, but I think Williams does a great job intertwining the two narratives. The plot does drag on a bit at times, but I was for the most part engaged. Historical fiction fans will be excited to see this novel.

This second book in the Gin Kelly series was as much fun to read as all of Williams’ other books. Full of romance, intrigue and wonderful female characters as well as the usual dual timeline that puts the reader right back into the Roaring Twenties.

I love historical fiction but had a hard time getting into this. I really was looking forward to this because of the NYC storyline being from that area but i had a hard time connecting to Gin. Maybe because it’s been awhile since I read The Wicked City the first book in this series.

I think my problem with this book was that I didn't realize it was the second one in a series, and I didn't know the back story. I've enjoyed Ms Williams books in the past but this one was a disappointment. The age of Prohibition was very well described however.

This story picked up right where Wicked City left off and it was perfect! I loved that we didn't miss a beat in either Ella or Gin's story. I would say that Wicked Redhead is the emotional follow up to the action that was packed in the first book. We feel more of the struggles of both Gin and Ella and their current situations and learn so much more about their lives and connections. I flew through this book late in the night and early in the morning and am so ready to get my hands on the next book! Historical fiction is one of my go to genre's and learning about the struggles and drama of prohibition are such a fun turn from some of the more widely talked about parts of history. It creates a really cool and exciting atmosphere for these great characters.

Thank you so William Morrow and the author for letting me read and review!

The Wicked Redhead by Beatriz Williams is awesome, just like everything else this author writes. She is so great at historical fiction, I’ve read almost all of her books and enjoyed everything. This novel is a continuation of The Wicked City. I feel, while reading this, that maybe I was supposed to be a flapper in the 1920’s like the main character Gin. There’s something so mysterious and intriguing about this period of time!

Here’s the plot:

New York City, 1998: When Ella Gilbert discovers her banker husband is cheating on her, she loses both her marriage and the life she knew. In her new apartment in an old Greenwich Village building, she’s found unexpected second love with Hector, a musician who lives upstairs. And she’s discovered something else, just as surprising—a connection to the mesmerizing woman scandalously posed in a vintage photograph titled Redhead Beside Herself.

Florida, 1924: Geneva “Gin” Kelly, a smart-mouthed flapper from Appalachia, barely survived a run-in with her notorious bootlegger stepfather. She and Oliver Anson, a Prohibition agent she has inconveniently fallen in love with, take shelter in Cocoa Beach, a rum-running haven. But the turmoil she tried to leave behind won’t be so easily outrun. Anson’s mother, the formidable Mrs. Marshall, descends on Florida with a proposition that propels Gin back to the family’s opulent New York home, and into a reluctant alliance. Then Anson disappears during an investigation, and Gin must use all her guile and courage to find him.

Two very different women, separated by decades. Yet as Ella tries to free herself from her ex, she is also hunting down the truth about the captivating, wicked Redhead in her photograph—a woman who loved and lived fearlessly. And as their link grows, she feels Gin urging her on, daring her to forge her own path, wherever it leads.

It’s a great novel and even if you haven’t read The Wicked City first, I think you will still find it an enjoyable read.

Coming out on December 10, order now

A woman pirate you say? Beatriz Williams continues to dazzle us with strong character development and descriptive background setting. I have to say, I have never read a historical fiction about a pirate, a woman no less. The era was a big draw for me. Many of Ms. Williams' books are from the 20's. prohibition, flapper era. I also enjoyed learning about the rum runner days and the risks associated with the lifestyle. I love the then/now style that is ever so popular. I particularly liked the moral set that greed can leave you a very lonely person, if one has any morals at all. The drawback for me was in the characterization. I did not relate to any certain character or their situations. Surely, that is my opinion only, and does not necessarily reflect that of the majority.
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to review this new release. All opinions are that of my own.and have had no outside influence.
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I love historical fiction and the author is considered masterful at this genre. However, I just couldn’t get into THE WICKED REDHEAD, the sequel to THE WICKED CITY, which I haven’t read. Maybe it’s because I didn’t like main character Gin Kelly, described as a “floozy” in love with a “disgraced Prohibition agent” in 1924. The dual timeline narrative in 1998 with Ella Dommerich, who lives in the Greenwich Village apartment once occupied by Gin, also didn’t compel me. Other reviewers who have read all of Williams’ novels have been thrilled by this latest; I am clearly an outlier. As the French say, “Chacun à son goût.” 3 of 5 stars.

Pub Date 10 Dec 2019   

Thanks to the author, HarperCollins Publishers, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

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I received an e-book copy of The Wicked Redhead from NetGalley for writing an honest review. I had a hard time getting into the story. It was difficult keeping the characters Gin dealt with straight. In spite of that, I couldn't stop reading and was eager to find out what happened between her and Anson. Perhaps if I had read the first book of the series, I would have enjoyed it more. I will read the next book when it comes out for some resolution of the story.

I wanted to like this book since I loved the previous one The Wicked City SO MUCH. But this one just didn't work for me. I liked the Ella Gilbert storyline, but it seemed so short. Gin's storyline seemed much more of this book. I just didn't buy into her repeated odd choices, not asking questions, and flying down to the docks to look for Anson. I think its a fine book to read, just not a must read.

This sequel to The Wicked City did not disappoint! But I've read all of Beatriz Williams' books and none of them have ever disappointed! It was interesting to read what happened to the characters from the last book and as always her development of the story and characters is spot on. You can read this as a stand alone, but I think readers would be more apt to enjoy this one more after reading Wicked City.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy.

Gin Kelly is back in the follow up to THE WICKED CITY. Once again we follow Gin and her dashing prohibition agent lover as they try to stay one step ahead of the authorities, rum runners and Gin's horrific past. Gin now has care of her very young sister since the demise of her mother and stepfather. The parallel story is that of a young woman in modern-day New York who finds herself pregnant with her ex-husband's child but in love with someone else. She discovers a photo of the risque Gin Kelly and is fascinated with her story which allows her to find the courage to be a little bit wicked for love. Fun, witty writing and very dangerous as only Beatriz Williams can write. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

I love, love, love Beatriz Williams books. However, reading this book I forgot she was even the author. This is a rerelease of a book previously released as Wicked City. The storyline is all Williams, but you can tell the writing is still early Beatriz Williams. I found the book to be wordy. She tried to use too many big words, where a simple word would have worked much better. If you can work your way through the flaws in the writing, the storyline will grab you and leave you hanging in the end.