I really enjoy Amy Harmons historical fiction. And the fact that this time this historical fiction centered on a true crime story of the 1930s only made me want to read it more. I enjoyed the mystery, the romance, and even the paranormal element that I have seen her use in other books. I was worried, because I know the story of the Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run and without any spoilers, the result of the case. I was sufficiently happy with how the book tied up loose ends. I was happy to see that she used historical facts to weave in the fictitious elements that made me believe in Dani and Malone and their integral part in the story. I gave the book 5 stars for the way she had me hooked from the very first page. I’m extremely thankful to netgalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Another beautiful books by Amy Harmon.

I think it's not one of her "typical" works.
This book includes detective and well thought through mystery.

I did guess who the perpetrator was in the end.

4.5 Stars

Michael Malone lived his life the way it currently demands. As a government agent, his job required anonymity and discretion. His latest job took him to Cleveland, in the heart of a high-profile investigation and the woman of his past, Daniela (Dani) Flanagan. The situation pulled them deeper the way neither of them expected.

I started this one blind and was pleasantly surprised by the storyline. I enjoyed the mystery aspect and how the author weaved facts and fiction into the story.

I loved both the main characters, and the supporting characters added heart and amusement. Michael was methodical and detached, while Dani was direct and sassy without being pushy. My favorite aspect of this book was the sentiment in Dani’s particular action and to a degree, the villain’s as well.

The Unknown Beloved is a story of unraveling the truth. It would appeal to readers who enjoy a depression-era Historical Mystery with a splash of Romance.

𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺!

Amy Harmon did it again, she is one of my favorite Historical Fiction authors, and this story was unique and mesmerizing. Her stories are always magical and beautifully written and I loved that this one had a bit of suspense in it.

Thank you Lake Union Authors for this gifted copy.

The Unknown Beloved by Amy Harmon released April 19, 2022.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcoffeemx/

Dani Flanagan is no stranger to death, and neither is Michael Malone. They first meet at the scene of Dani's parents' murder when Dani is 10 years old and Michael is a young patrolman just beginning his career. 15 years later, Michael is sent to Cleveland to help investigate a serial killer prowling the city. His boardinghouse ends up being run by Dani's aunts and he reconnects with Dani who has grown up into a compassionate woman with a special ability to know a person's story by feeling their clothing. Dani and Michael are entirely different people, but as the case becomes more complicated, it's clear that Dani may be the key to catching the killer before more people are hurt.

I'm sure I say this every time I write a review for Harmon's work--I'm a big fan of Amy Harmon and her writing. I have not found a book of hers yet that I haven't loved. That being said, I was afraid this book might be that book for the first third of the story. It was a slow start, and it doesn't have a happy beginning. What hooked me was learning more about Dani's special ability and seeing Dani and Michael grow closer. Once I was invested in Dani and Michael, everything else clicked into place for me and I ended up loving the book by the end. I didn't know I wanted to read a mashup of mystery, romance, and magic, but I really did!

As with many of her other works, the atmosphere is wonderful. The characters really come alive, and once I got past the slow start, the plot moved quite quickly and it was hard to put the book down. This is a great read for anyone who loves historical fiction or magical realism, but it might not work for someone who loves crime fiction or complicated murder mysteries. The story is set against the backdrop of a serial killer, and solving the mystery is a major plot point, but it's also not what the plot focuses on. This will not be the most complicated mystery every written, but its charm and beauty in all the other areas make it a joy to read.

Thank you to Amy Harmon, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Well you all know I hopped on the Amy Harmon train towards the end of last year and with a few titles under my belt I can’t pick a favorite but I can tell you they are all five stars! So I was not surprised at all to add this one to my favorites. Just when I’m like what else can Amy write bam… a murder mystery braided with true crime & romance… it was incredible! Her characters are always so vividly written that it’s beyond easy to vision them as you read. Which also makes it easy to get attached to them. I don’t know how she does it but she delivers every time and I just need more!

Historical Fiction

There is no question that Amy Harmon knows how to write a great story. I loved this dip into Cleveland's history in the 30's.

Michael Malone is on leave from his work as a tax man for the federal government. His estranged wife had just died and he is home visiting family, when Eliot Ness requests his help to solve the Torso Killings in Cleveland. Malone and Ness had worked together a bit taking down Al Capone in Chicago years earlier.

When Malone arrives at his boarding house in Cleveland he is surprised to discover that he knows the proprietress - Daniella. He was charged with taking care of Daniella after her parents were killed. He was a patrolman at the time and helped look after her until her nearest relatives could be located.

She and her aunts live in the family home and have just begun taking on a boarder to help with expenses. The economy is still suffering from the crash in 1929. She and her aunts are tailors. She has a unique sensibility, much like other members in her family. She can gain impressions of people by the clothing they have worn.
As Malone and Dani's friendship deepens, he cannot help but wonder if she could gather any information from the murder victim's personal items, but he wants to protect her from all of that simultaneously.

The pairing of Dani and Malone is wonderful! They both feel out of place in the world around them, but together they fit. The development of the relationship alongside the murder mystery made for such a compelling read. I was drawn in right away and stayed hooked throughout.

Reading the author's notes - I loved what she did. Not much was known about Michael Malone, so she created a happy ending for him. She also kept true to the actual historical events and sparked my interest in learning more about these crimes. I really loved everything about this story!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

I am always an Amy Harmon fan and once again this masterpiece was stunning and gripping. I love all of it. I adore Dani and Malone very much!

This book is part historical fiction and part mystery.

I don't love historical fiction. But somehow Amy Harmon managed to make me thoroughly enjoy this book.

I had absolutely no idea that any of the people or events in this book were real. But somehow the author uses these real people and events and incorporates them into her fictional story.

The main part of the book takes place in 1938. There are two narrators (Dani and Michael - 3rd person POVs).

The mystery aspect of this book was so good! Plus Dani has a paranormal ability. And honestly that was my favorite thing about this book.

I really liked the beginning. And I could not wait to see if the serial killer mystery would be solved. I absolutely adored Dani and Michael. They were such incredible characters. And the ending was so good! I'd definitely recommend this book!

Author Amy Harmon is probably the only author I would follow down the path to a serial killer/murder mystery book. I was so torn as to whether I wanted to read this one but ultimately I decided that yes, I would. Because, well, Amy Harmon. I'm not really a fan of these kinds of books, they tend to freak me out. Yeah, I'm a lightweight. I was a bit freaked out with this story, if I'm being honest, but only because it really did happen. The author did a good job of creating characters and adding humanity for me to connect to.

Dani is my favorite. Such a unique individual with a big heart and a clear head. I loved her every movement, word and thought in this book. What a powerful message came through her.

The details of the murders in this book were true to actual reports. Such a gruesome, horrible thing to read about. That was probably the worst part of it all for me. The details. I had such a hard time with it because creating a movie in my head with things like that is not where I want to be. That is in no way the author's fault. It's just my personal preference. If this author writes in this particular genre again, I might not go there with her but I'm pretty much game for anything else she writes!

Content: death, violence, details of murders including dismemberment and beheading. Kissing, some sexual content (fade to black). Frequent mild swearing.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

***BOOK REVIEW***

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Unknown Beloved
Author: Amy Harmon

I loved this book so much. It was a good blend of romance, historical fiction, and mystery/thriller in one book!

Dani was a great main character, she was strong and determined no matter the obstacles set in front of her. And she’s someone that’s easy to cheer for and admire.

After reading I wanted to do a deep dive into the Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run! I absolutely loved the author’s note where Amy talked about the real life characters and what was true and what was fiction in her book

Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for a copy of The Unknown Beloved in exchange for an honest review

What a strange vortex it is to read a book by @amy.harmon.author !
It sucks you in and make you travel through different worlds.
It sucks you in and blurs the lines between fiction and reality.
It blurs the lines when truly it’s about fiction. A fiction steeped deep into true facts but a fiction nonetheless. So yeah to quote one of the characters from #theunknownbeloved, “what a strange vortex it is.”

🍂I knew this book would suck me in! I just didn’t know how far.
I knew I don’t like #truecrimes I just didn’t know how obsessed I would be with this one.
I knew the love story would make my heart sing. I just didn’t know how loud.
I knew Amy would shine a light on the “unseen”. I just didn’t know how bright it would be.

🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂

🍂This is the story of Dani Flanagan and Michael Malone. The first time they meet, it’s because 10-year-old Dani’s parents just died and Malone is on the case. The second time they meet, it’s a mere coincidence, fifteen years later when Malone is undercover. He’s been tasked by #eliotness to help in the case of the dreaded #torsokiller. And while Malone is mandated by Eliot Ness, Dani is not. Yet without her, Malone just can’t make the dead talk. So queue in an unlikely partnership which will allow love to blossom despite the #agegap and despite the fact that Malone is reluctant.

🍂I loved this book so much so that I wish it never stopped. Amy’s penmanship is just so flawless I just knew from the first pages I would be devouring this book both for the #romance and the #whodunnit .
I spent days researching the true #torsomurderer, Eliot Ness and all things related to this fascinating case, separating the facts from the fiction because Amy always weave them seamlessly.
On my picture, anything related to fiction is in plain black and white and all the rest are the results of my research.

I love everything I have read by Amy Harmon and this book does not disappoint! It’s got mystery, intrigue, and romance. There’s a serial killer terrorizing the poor in Cleveland and Dani Kos might be able to help using her ability to pick up information from cloth. Set in the 1930s this book weaves Dani story with real historical figures (hello Elliot Ness). It shines the light on dirty politics and the privilege of the rich.
Dani is one of those characters who is good and believable. She cares for those around her and wants to help even though she is treated differently due to her ability.
Trigger warnings: violence and body mutilation (there is a serial killer)

This is my favorite genre and one of my favorite authors! Her books are completely engrossing, and her characters are fully developed, and complex Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book! I love that it was based on real people and real events! The Unknown Beloved is so much more than a “who done it”. I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters and the storyline was unfolded beautifully! So much going on and an added unusual love story. The writing was perfect for the timeline and very old fashioned "ganstery" feeling!

You can’t go wrong with Amy Harmon. I haven’t read many books that take place during the Great Depression. It made this one unique. Enjoyed the mystery and it was written well enough I didn’t guess the details. Thanks NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Amy Harmon is a master of weaving a story in a time period that we have never seen and makes you feel as if you were right there. I had never heard of the Butcher of Cleveland and I appreciate the time she spent investigating the details of his crimes. There is a magical story placed in such an ugly time and you feel the fear of the community, the hard times the nation is facing, and the love that blossoms between Dani and Michael Malone. Dani possess a unique ability and Michael has his own unusual gift and they create a captivating duo set out to uncover a serial killer. Although true crime is not my usual genre, this author never disappoints and this is another favorite from her.

Amy Harmon never disappoints! This novel held me captive from start to finish. Absolutely fantastic.

I started this one completely blind and haven’t read any of Amy Harmon’s previous successes. I just saw historical mystery and saw that @mommaleighellen was already raving about it and decided to just give it a try - needless to say I was very pleasantly surprised by the book. I loved the mystery and the romance even the tiny bit of magical realism sprinkled in and how the author weaved facts and fiction making it a well-rounded story.
I read up on “The Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run” and since I am not a true crime reader I never would have thought I’d enjoy a book centered on a famous depression era serial killer. The crimes were gruesome but this book and it’s depiction of those crimes is not, this book is definitely readable by anyone who enjoys crime fiction.

I loved both the main characters, their backstories and their current story. Michael Malone the undercover agent was methodical and detached, while Dani, the seamstress who had her very own way with cloth, was direct and sassy without being pushy.
The Unknown Beloved is a story of unraveling the truth. I think the book will appeal to all readers who enjoy their historical fiction with some mystery and romance.

❝Our burdens give weight to everything we do. They shed light on all that we are. And the moment we lose them … we lose everything.❞

From the blurb: “evocative story of two people whose paths collide against the backdrop of mystery, murder, and the Great Depression.”

Yes, a mystery, from Amy Harmon, about a serial killer!

The Unknown Beloved depicts historical, real-life events which took place in Cleveland, Ohio during the 1930’s. While creative license was used in order to develop captivating characters, it was clear Harmon did much research into the actual events that served as the foundation of this story.

While the brutal murders were the foundation of the story, the beautiful relationship between Dani and Michael serviced as pillars for the story. They both cared about the ‘unknowns’, the ones that people ignore, don’t help, don’t give a second thought to; the victims, the helpless, the powerless. These two fit perfectly together, and I’m not ready to have their story end.

The Unknown Beloved was unlike anything I’ve ever read from Harmon. When I finished reading it, my head was spinning and I sat, shocked that she wrote this story! Now before your feathers get ruffled, know that this isn’t a criticism of her abilities, but admiration for her abilities as a story-teller, and I cannot praise this book enough, it was brilliant!

The Unknown Beloved was a work of historical fiction based on true life events that was magical, poetic, suspenseful, romantic, and absolutely fantastic!

For the past several years an Amy Harmon book or two has ended up in my top reads of the year. It looks like 2022 won't be any different.

The Unknown Beloved was completely riveting and all consuming from page one. It is quite fascinating to me that an author can take important events and people from history; mix in some fiction and take us on one wild journey as we get lost in the pages.

I was fully invested in Michael and Dani's investigation and hopeful apprehension of The Butcher. I was perched on the edge of my seat as they felt a closing in, of making sure they stayed out of his cross hairs and that they wanted to stop him before he struck again.

Throw in a touch of romance, a couple meddling aunts and you have the recipe for one heck of a read.

**Received ARC through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed**