To Slip the Bonds of Earth
A Riveting Mystery Based On a True History
by Amanda Flower

My Thoughts
Characters
Katharine Wright is the younger sister of Wilbur and Orville Wright. In To Slip the Bonds of Earth, Flower brings this little-known figure to life in this lively historical mystery. Katharine is a Greek teacher in Dayton’s Steele High School, runs the home she shares with her brothers and widowed father, and oversees her brothers’ bicycle shop when they are in Kitty Hawk working on their flying experiments. She’s an intelligent, independent woman. She isn’t afraid to speak her mind and is often frustrated by the constraints placed on her because she is a woman. I love this character.

Mystery
Word is out that the Wright Brothers have achieved the unthinkable-they’ve flown an airplane. Now competitors want to get their hands on brothers’ flight plans before they are patented. Wilbur takes them to a party rather than leave them unattended at home, where they are stolen. When Katharine’s chief suspect is found murdered, it is up to her to solve the case, recover the plans, and clear her brother’s name. There are plenty of viable suspects, legitimate motives, but only one solution.

Publishing Info
Publisher: Kensington
Genres: Fiction/Mystery & Detective/Historical
Pages: 288
On Sale: 03/26/24
ISBN: 9781496747662

Disclaimer: Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Such a delightful and unique story! I know very little about the Wright brother's (and you don't need to know anything to read this) let alone that they had a sister! I loved how this was very truthful in historical facts but then the fun twist of Katharine solving a mystery.

There are so many historical fiction or romance books written during the World Wars, Wild West or Victorian times, it was great to read a book from a time that isn't greatly written about.

The characters were interesting (some I liked more than others obviously).

My only negatives were that it was a little dry or dragging in some spots (sounded a little too much like a history book) & that I couldn't connect the title to the book.

I have been looking forward to reading this book as I really enjoy Ms Flower's series based around Emily Dickinson's maid. Like that series, the author does an amazing job setting up the history, the time and place, and making you see it as it was. I will be honest and say it took me a while to warm up to Katherine Wright, Orville and Wilbur's younger sister. She definitely had an interesting and demanding life, head of the household since her mother's death when she was 15, dealing with her father the Bishop, supporting her famous brothers by helping to run their bike shop while they were in Kitty Hawk working on their "flying" machine and working full time as a teacher of Latin and Greek. She was outspoken and took no nonsense. In this story, she is supporting a friend when she manages to get herself and her brother Orville in the middle of a gruesome murder at a Christmas party. Since valuable papers of her brothers experiments disappear at the same time, Katherine is convinced there is a connection between the thief and murder and she is on the case. It's definitely a multi-layered mystery. Thanks to #NetGalley and #Kensingtonbooks for the opportunity to read.

I liked the premise of this book. Wilbur and Orville Wright are well known, but what about their sister? The one who kept the family together as their father was not well, ran their business (a bicycle shop), kept the books, and taught Latin? Katherine comes to the forefront in this book, and I admired her greatly.

This book shines an unrelenting light on how women in that time were put down and kept down, no matter how talented. When the family was invited to a party, where a person was murdered, and Orville was a suspect (and also lost the improved plans for the brothers' flying machine), it is Katherine who steps up and investigates.

I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher Kensington books via NetGalley, and voluntarily read and reviewed it.

Amanda Flower writes a lively mystery. Interesting characters, not easily to guess the bad guy, but I missed some depth. The Wilbur brothers add a nice touch to this story. Katie is going great lengths to find the murderer and to retrieve that what was stolen from her brother. If you like a historical mystery then this book is for you.

I love seeing new characters in history brought to life! I've been to the Wright's house before I read this book, and this really brought it to life.

Really excited to read more from Amanda Flower. P.S. if you aren't following her on Instagram for the cute cat pictures... do it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Katharine Wright is the younger sister of Wilbur and Orville Wright and she's more excited than anyone when she receives a telegram from her brothers announcing their first successful flight. The plans they used to the build their flying machine are top-secret. If the plans fall into the wrong hands, someone else could copy the plans and patent the invention themselves. When the plans go missing and the thief turns up dead, Katharine must find the plans and save her brothers' invention.

I absolutely loved Katharine, she was the perfect combination of traditional and progressive woman. I love that she's willing to fight for equal rights, but doesn't look down her nose at taking care of her family. I love that she's a creative problem solver and willing to keep pushing to save the day for her brothers. The mystery was great, actually quite simple in the end but there were so many clues and red herrings that I had not guessed the killer correctly.

This is definitely my new favorite historical cozy series and I look forward to reading future books in the series!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

3.5 stars

This decent historical cozy featured Katharine Wright, who was Orville and Wilbur's sister. Based loosely on actual facts, the story tells that she was a teacher who graduated from Oberlin College. Katharine had a strong feminist bent, which was true as she became an active suffragette.

As the story takes place, her brothers are in Kitty Hawk and have made their first "sustained" flight. Their feat is receiving almost no attention but since the patent is not firm yet and others are working in the same field, they don't mind the lack of publicity.

Katharine and Orville are at a Christmas party when some important flying machine documents and plans are stolen. While looking for them, Orville discovers the murdered body of a man he has just had a very public scene with.

Katharine has to investigate to find the missing documents. She is a strong character, torn between her aggravation at the sexist world she lives in and her family obligations to her her patriarchal father and brothers. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a historical mystery set in 1903 in Ohio. Katharine had a hard time remembering that her goal was to find the stolen plans. She spent no time looking for them but switched to proving that her student wasn't the murderer, or maybe discovering whodunit. She asked questions, broke into buildings to poke around, read letters not meant for her, and generally annoyed people. Yet she didn't figure out whodunit or find out who had the plans. Whodunit helpfully decided to confess in front of witnesses. It's never adequately explained how everyone seemed to know that Orville had Critically Important Plans in his jacket pocket, and it's mind-boggling that he took them to a party instead of leaving them behind with Wilbur. So I found the mystery pretty disappointing and, yes, I guessed whodunit before the reveal.

Katharine certainly had courage and drive, but she's not willing to listen to anyone's advice, even the people she's supposedly helping. She just did what she wanted to do, usually very impulsively and without thinking out the consequences. She had a quick temper, which didn't make her any friends, but she felt completely justified in her behavior. She lied all the time, yet was so disappointed when she caught her maid in a lie. She wasn't especially logical. For example, she couldn't decide if she should trust the description of a man given by a servant that she knew who was familiar with the man or the besotted description of him given by her best friend. Basically, I didn't find her very likable, and none of the other characters were particularly engaging. There was no sex or bad language.

A terrific tale mingling real history with a mystery!
Katherine Wright was an amazing woman in real life. Her intelligence and tenacity for truth made her a dynamic sleuth. She was also a loyal friend and caring sister. I liked how the author used her as an amateur sleuth to solve the crime and added historical facts to make it feel authentic. It made me want to learn more about her real life after reading this and the notes at the end.
Fans of Jen Turano's books, Enola Holmes and Murdoch mysteries may enjoy this one also. It was fast paced, well written and an overall entertaining read. Clean, with just a hint of romance for a side character, it would be fine for teenagers and up who enjoy a good mystery. It would make a good series!
Recommend! 5 stars

This is a read about the famous Wright brother's sister Katharine, and it involves the people living in 1903 Dayton, Ohio. Yes, Orville and Wilbur were off at Kitty Hawk when Katharine is busy at home teaching Latin, and she ruffles a prominent citizens son.
We are there when her friend begs her to go, and she does to the son's parent's Christmas party, along with her brother Wilbur. Would you expect a murder? Well, there is one, and now we are on a journey for answers, and they do come!
It is an interesting page turner! A secret club, deception, theft, and then murder, but whom is the guilty party, and will things ever be the same, including the development of the air industry?
Now I'm look forward to the next book in this series!

We hear about Orville and Wilbur Wright, but we don't often hear about their sister Katharine. In To Slip the bonds of Earth Katharine must help her brothers find the lost plans for their flying machine. In order to do that she must solve the mystery of a murder while also navigating a very male dominated society that sets no value on a single woman, especially a strong-willed one like Katharine.

I've really enjoyed author Amanda Flower's books. Which means I've really enjoyed her novels with "real" people in them. Her Emily Dickinson Mystery series and now this Mystery in the First Days of Flight featuring the Wright brothers and their sister Katharine. I love how the author incorporates history into the mystery that she is telling. I found the mystery in To Slip the Bonds of Earth solid and believable. I enjoyed learning a bit about Orville and Wilbur, but I especially enjoyed Katharine's character. There were a few quotes throughout the book that I found interesting or harsh or downright ticked me off! The first one is,

"Miss Wright," Randolph said, "When I want your opinion, I will ask for it. I can see why you are an old maid. No man would put up with the constant second-guessing you seem determined to inflict on everyone around you. If you do ever marry, you would surely send your unfortunate husband to an early grave."

Ouch! I found that a bit harsh and was thinking seriously did men talk to women like that? But it truly fit in with Randolph's character!

"I could give her a whole host of reasons why Latin was an important language to learn. It helped students master English, for one."

I liked that one because I think the same can be said about reading, it helps a person get a grasp of the language and teaches them new things. I loved that teacher-side of Katharine's character. She truly cared about her students learning.

"Every woman had her secrets, including me."

I loved that last line of the book! Even though she was living in a male dominated society she was able to be herself and keep her own council.

To Slip the Bonds of Earth was entertaining and educational and very well researched. I enjoyed it tremendously and am hoping that we will see more of Katharine and her brothers.

I've read a number (perhaps all) of Flower's books, and they never fail to delight. Her latest, the start of a new series, is no exception!

While I am familiar with the Wright Brothers, I didn't know much about their sister Katharine. She's intelligent, opinionated, and extremely loyal to those she loves. The mystery allows Katharine to become an amateur sleuth, and the readers are able to unravel the clues with her. Pacing is perfect for the genre, and I loved the historical details woven throughout. There are enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing. Flower does a great job using real-life figures to create an engaging novel. I look forward to reading other books in this series.

This is a very well researched historical fiction book about Katherine, the sister of Wilbur and Orville Wright. When the blueprints for their flying machine come up missing the brothers are extremely concerned that someone else will claim their innovation as his own. They applied for a patent in 1903 but it was not approved until 1908. All the characters are very well described as are the surroundings. This is an excellent book in which to learn about the Wright brothers mostly unknown sisters. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in historical fiction. . I received an arc of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

An o.k. mystery with interesting historical background. Before I read this, I knew nothing about Katherine Wright, Wilbur and Orville's sister. However, I never felt like any of the characters particularly came to life, and I also didn't particularly like Katharine. Too often I felt like events were being reported; I wasn't quite able to disappear int the story. Still, I did want to finish the book. Not a bad book for light reading but I'm not going to be seeking out others by the author.

I didn't love this one but I also didn't hate this one. However I'm not sure how I feel about this one.

Not only does this cozy mystery have an interesting and intriguing cover but the story is very good too. It’s like going back in a Time Machine to the late 1800s and the early 1900s. Amanda Flower takes her readers to Dayton Ohio and into the era of the Wright Brothers, Wilbur and Orville, who are trying to be first in inventing an aircraft that will actually fly. Few people today realize that there was a sister in this family of four boys. This story focuses on that sister, Katherine Wright.
So who actually is Katherine (Kate). She is a school teacher at the Steele High School in Dayton Ohio. She also does the book keeping for Orville and Wilbur’s bicycle shop. She is an extrovert with a feisty personality and outspoken nature. At the same time she is respected as a school teacher and a Bishops daughter. Kate is well educated and is loyal and dependable. She is always passed by when it comes to promotions at the school because she is a woman. Kate is a real go getter and an achiever. That’s why when one of her students got arrested for murder Kate wasn’t afraid to go all out to prove his innocence even if he was a trouble maker in the class room.
This Author never disappoints This Reader. Amanda Flower is my favorite Cozy mystery Author. The book was well researched and I thought it was a delightful introduction of a new series. I always enjoy going back in history to my grandparents early years and enjoy reading about the lifestyle of that era.
I thought Kate’s character was cute and mischievous. She had a knack of getting herself into trouble as you will find out when you read this book.
I recommend this book to readers of cozy mystery, historical fiction and women’s fiction. This book is a clean read. To Slip the Bonds of Earth is scheduled to be released on 3/26/24.
I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed here in this review are entirely my own.
#ToSliptheBondsofEarth#NetGalley

I’m generally fond of historical novels featuring the type of woman who used to be called a ‘bluestocking.’ So this new series about Katherine Wright, who was the bluest of bluestockings, looked to be right up my alley. And it was! Good mystery, accurate to the history and to the historical personalities, and very evocative of its time and its setting. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Living in the shadow of her two upcoming famous brothers, Wilbur and Orville Wright, isn’t easy, especially for a woman at the turn of the century. Katherine is also the youngest of the Wright children in a progressive patriarchal household. Losing her mother at the age of fifteen has catapulted her into the role of household manager and caretaker as well as manager of their bicycle shop.

Her education and smarts have created a strong-willed woman at twenty-nine who is fiercely independent. She also teaches Latin at the local.

When Wilbur decides to keep his unpatented plans with his wing-warping notes with him to a party, they go missing just before the assumed culprit is found murdered.

For most of the book, Katherine is a solid intelligent woman though she becomes a bit clumsy near the conclusion. She could be both impressive and sad at the same time.

I enjoyed the historical tidbits of early flight interwoven into the storyline along with Katherine’s investigation of both the murder and the theft, drawn to a satisfying conclusion.

An easy, entertaining read, well-plotted and paced.

Amanda Fowler introduces us to Katherine Wright, the sister of Wilbur and Orville.

A talented teacher in her own right, Katherine is also forthright, intelligent, but still tasked to be the caretaker of the Wright home since the death of their mother.

Like her recent books with Emily Dickinson, Ms. Fowler, gives insight into the daily life of this talented family.

Katherine gets involved in a mystery and with grit and determination, finds the solution.

Ms. Fowler's books are well written and have great characterization.

Interesting for the mystery, the main character and anexciting era of American history.