I very much enjoyed the history of Bellevue and the nursing school. The rest of the book did not grab me. I did not like the main character. Just about everything she did was to benefit herself and showed no loyalty to people who helped her, such as Marm Blei. What happened to honor among thieves? I believe most readers thus far, enjoyed the book much more than I did so definitely read it if you like historical fiction, nursing and mysteries. You too NetGalley and to Kensington Publishing Corporation for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.

The Nurse's Secret by A. Skenandore, published by Kensington Publishing Corp. .
Set in the 1880 it's a historical novel, told in a third pov, is entertaining, intriguing, well written.

I found The Nurse's Secret by Amanda Skenandore to be a fabulous read. I highly recommend it . Five stars.

Set in the late 1800's, Una is a pickpocket and thief. She's very good at her job and turns over her goods to the woman who protects her (think Fagin in Oliver Twist). One night, while trying to offload some goods of higher value behind her protector's back, a man is found murdered, and only Una and her friend are discovered in the vicinity. Seen by the police as nothing but thieves and lowlifes, they are both locked up. In order to save herself, her friend says Una did it. Una is locked away and her protector abandons her after learning of her betrayal.

Using her street skills, Una manages to escape. In order to lie low and keep herself housed until she can come up with a new plan, she applies for a nursing school she reads about in the paper. This is a new kind of nursing school based on the teachings of Florence Nightingale. It's at Bellevue hospital and the work is hard. She manages to get a highly coveted spot using fake references and a manufactured background. She is expected to study, pass exams, and do all of her work without fail or she will be expelled and put back on the streets.

Over time she grows to appreciate the program and what it could mean for her future. She considers what life as an honest woman could be like. She and all the other nurses struggle as they work with male doctors who see them as useless and incompetent women. If that wasn't bad enough, there have been a number of deaths at the hospital. Deaths of the lower class and people of ill repute. Una has noticed that the deaths appear to be unnatural, but no one believes her or seems to care. With the help of her roommate, they begin an investigation of their own. The longer Una stays, the more she risks being exposed for who she is and also being noticed by the person committing these murders, but she can't give up on the promise of this potential future.

This was a very good piece of historical fiction that took a deep look at the beginning of the nursing profession as we know it today. It had a mystery, a little romance, and a main character with a double life. A lot to pack into this book but it definitely was fast paced and I finished it in one day.

The Nurse's Secret by Amanda Skenandore is a great historical fiction that is gripping and full of mystery and suspense.

I really enjoyed this historical fiction that takes us undercover into the nursing program in NY during the latter part of the 19th century. Seeing the state of medicine at this time feels like being on a tightrope. One foot teetering on the old and macabre and the other leaning towards the advancement of medicine that would take us into the 20th century. The transition is fascinating, if not sometimes a bit gruesome.

I enjoyed how this medical and historical aspect was woven together with a mystery…suspenseful throughout. Una Kelly with her troubled past, slipping into a new identity to escape the wrongful accusations, gives us a glimpse into this world. An imperfect heroine, but yet I couldn’t help but like her and her growth and change while she assumes a new role. The decisions she has to make in order to solve problems and right the wrongs which she becomes embroiled in, really drew me in and kept me coming back for more.

I really enjoyed Ms. Skenandore’s previous novels: The Second Life of Mirielle West and The Undertaker’s Assistant, so I knew I would love this…and I did.


5/5 stars


Thank you NG and Kensington for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 6/28/22.

An interesting story set in the time of Florence Nightingale and the beginning of nursing schools. A young woman who lives off her wit and survives by pick pocking is accused of murder. To escape her predicament. she has papers falsified so that she can become a nursing student. While there, she discovers more murders are
happening in the hospital where she hopes not to be discovered as an accused murderer.. A race of time to solve the murders and to clear her name follows. in this fast reading book.; Being a retired nurse, I found the early medical care in hospitals fascinating. An exiting read but some parts might be disturbing to readers.