Beatriz Williams is a go-to author for me, as far as historical fiction is concerned. This book, set in the roaring twenties, was the epitome of that era with the gutsy protagonist and her amazing motley crew of friends and associates. Loved it!

It took a number of chapters to wrap myself into this story. I especially enjoyed the 1920s storyline. I did feel it ended quite abruptly and would have liked more tying up of loose ends. How Billy Marshall's life proceeded or not...etc. what was the scene at the speak easy that caused it to shut down. What ties did Aunt Julie have to Ginger...etc Good book and happy to have had the opportunity to experience this story!

I loved watching as these women’s lives intertwined across time. There is a degree of fantasy in this book, but it’s not a major theme. It might be in the two books that follow in this series.

The book is filled with remarkable, snappy dialogue in both time periods. In my opinion though, Ginger’s is the best. It’s filled with sharp, fast-paced retorts and time appropriate slang that slides into the dialogue perfectly. Also, Ginger offers the perfect dialect for who she is and where she’s from.

There are men in this story too, good ones and bad ones, even a set of brothers. At this point, I think I have figured out which is which, but until I read the other two books, I won’t be certain. That gives me something to look forward to.

While this book ties up all the current thread for this book, it does leave a cliffhanger for what comes next for Ginger and Ella. I guess I should be grateful that the author tied up as much as she did. Still, I dislike having to hang on to see everything resolved for another two books. It’s not a big thing, just something that I find annoying.

A wonderful book, well-written, with exceptionally well crafted characters and engaging dialogue. I recommend it.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley. I thank all involved for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.

First in a series, and I definitely want to read the rest! Set in the 1920's, Gin Kelly aids detectives in flushing out moonshiners during the prohibition days. A fast-paced plot, with dialogue so believable you hear the characters talking in your head. Great book!

The Wicked City was a fascinating story about Gin Kelly and the Prohibition Era. Gin escapes Western Maryland to NYC in search of a different life and certainly finds herself intertwined with quite the cast of characters.
Meanwhile, Ella Gilbert is finding her self in the late 1990s in the same location that Gin frequented in the 1920s. There must be a connection between them, but where will they find it?

I love Beatriz Williams and haven't been led wrong with one of her books yet. I love this one. It has dual timelines. The past is set in Prohibition with flappers and bootleggers. I havent read many books with that theme. Definitely recommend.

After the initial pages, I found myself not connecting with the story or characters, so I decided to pass on this book. Did not finish

The Wicked City is the first book in a series and I can't wait for more! I love Beatriz Williams and her characters are so well written especially the strong women who don't put up with anything they don't want to. Geneva or "Gin" lived in New York City in the 1920's where jazz music and prohibition seem to go hand in hand. In the 1990's we have Ella who is recently separated from her cheating husband. We find how these two characters share a connection and in the next book we will find out where that leads! Highly recommend!

The Wicked City, by Beatriz Williams, is a totally engrossing, 1st of a trilogy novel that will not disappoint. The story is presented in a dual timeline that is easy to follow and includes the Roaring 20's, with all the excitement of speakeasies, shootouts, fun-loving women, and romance, and the present day 1990's.. Once I started reading this book, I realized I'd read it before. It didn't bother me at all to read and enjoy it again. I've skimmed the second one and am now eagerly anticipating getting my hands on the recently released 3rd novel in this trilogy, The Wicked Widow.
If you read this one, prepare to be hooked. Go ahead and get the other two!

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley, courtesy of the Book Club Girls. I requested a copy, then put off reading it after reading several mediocre reviews. But once I got started on it, I really enjoyed it, and looked forward to reading it every night. It's a quick read, an interesting time period (prohibition), and a variety of characters - good guys, evil doers, and an interesting heroine - in both of the 1920's and the present (ok, late 1990's). I have already put book 2 in the series on hold at the library. Not a perfect novel, some of the characters could be more fleshed out - and not all the personal mysteries are resolved - but still a great read.

What a wonderful dual timeline mystery. We have Ella in 1988 who moved into an apartment building on Christopher Street after leaving her husband. She is drawn to a mystery in the laundry room despite warnings to stay away. We also have Gin Kelly in 1920 who frequents a certain speakeasy on Christopher Street.

I really enjoyed this book, the plot, the setting, the characters and how the two timelines intertwined together.

Another great book by Beatriz Williams. Two timelines, two strong female characters, one wonderful story, looking forward to the next book in the series to see what is next for Ginny and Ella.

Thank you to The Book Club Girls, NetGalley, William Morrow, Harper/Collins Publishers and the wonderful Beatriz Williams. #TheWickedCity #NetGalley.

I love Beatriz Williams' books, and this one did not disappoint!
Very imaginative duel time line story based upon a mysterious speakeasy in the 1920's that use to be in the basement of the apartment building Ella moves to after she finds her husband has been unfaithful. Shes been warned to stay away from the basement, despite strange party noises that seem to come from there at night. of course Ella is curious, and can't resist.......
4 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher and author for an ARC of this book.The opinions expressed are my own.

Oh, Beatriz Williams has done it again. I’m hooked on yet another series and isn’t it strange how the name Schuyler has just popped up out of thin air! LOL You have to love it.

In 1998 Ella leaves her husband and moves into a funky ancient apartment building on Christopher Street with ties to the shuttered building next door. An assortment of tenants seem friendly enough but it’s the mystery in the laundry room that really draws her and us into this story or more correctly, as we have come to expect, stories.

It’s the 1920’s Gin Kelly haunts a certain speakeasy on Christopher Street in the Village. During the day she is a hardworking girl but at night in the wicked city she is all fun and games until it stops being fun and the games have just begun.

Loved this book and of course I have added the next one in the series to my Wish List. Beatriz Williams writes characters that live on the page and in your mind the entire time you are reading her book and even for a while after you are done. Oh, and the Schuyler connection is Viv and Julie and the next two generations for those of you have read the author before.

Thank you to The Book Club Girls, NetGalley, William Morrow, Harper/Collins Publishers and the wonderful Beatriz Williams.

This was a great book. I liked both the characters ,the setting and the plot. Can’t wait to read more in the series.

Small town girl escapes to the “Wicked City” of New York to escape her evil step father. I enjoyed this glimpse into this well researched world of bootlegging and speakeasies. I did have a hard time getting into the beginning of this book with some of the long rambling narratives. The timelines were separated by so many pages that when the new timeline resumed, I had a difficult time picking up the new thread of the story. I did not feel the two timelines were well connected nor were they even needed. Despite those negatives, I stuck with it and still really enjoyed this book. I am looking forward to the next installment of this trilogy.

I am a fan of Beatriz Williams. I was excited to receive a copy of The Wicked City the first book in a series. I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading the other two books. I loved the narrators' voices and how they draw the reader into the story and keep the plot moving. There was lots of action that included bootleggers, gangsters, speakeasies, and gilded homes. It was indeed a 'film noir' novel. Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to read this thrilling book!

The Wicked City is a wonderful action story that takes place both in the Roaring 20's and in the late 1990's. The story has a speakeasy, bootleggers, Federal Agents, and the woman who loves them. It has shootouts, car chases, and romance. It intertwines the history of the past with the modern day residents who share the haunted building.
I loved this book. I sped through it as I became wrapped up in the adventure and the love story. I cheered for Ginger and sympathized with Ella. I'm not sure that the book needed to include the modern day story because the Ginger Kelly story was so good I could have read about her forever. I was a little disappointed by the abruptness of the ending but will look into reading books two and three of the series.
Thanks to Netgalley, William Morrow, and HarperCollins publishers for the advanced copy of the book. The opinions are my own.

The Wicked City is another engrossing story by Beatriz Williams! I really enjoyed the characters and loved the dual timelines. Looking forward to the next book.

I like books about the early 20th century. I like books with magicical realism. This book had both and did not disappoint. The story of a young woman trying to make her way in New York City during the Roaring Twenties reminded me of Amor Towles' Rules of Civility, which I loved. Wicked City was more plot driven but characters were well developed and the pacing was excellent. The author did a good job transitioning between 1924 and 1998, but I needed a bit more of an ending. There is a sequel, which I'll dive into next.