It's 1950 in Washington, DC and police are called to the Briarwood House to investigate a disturbance. When they arrive they find a body in the attic and none of the boarders are talking. I was fascinated by this look into the turbulent years when Senator McCarthy's baseless ravings against the "Red Menace" infiltrating our country and its eerie similarities to the current state of our nation. Despite the communist paranoia and racial tensions prevalent during that time, I longed to climb the stairs and attend one of the "Briar Club's" Thursday night dinners with this eclectic group who come together to form a strong sisterhood. By including the recipes from the dinners and what song should be played while eating the featured dishes, Kate Quinn allows readers to sit down and join the party. I highly recommend this wonderful book!

This is something of a departure from the author’s previous work and not what I was expecting. Still, authors are allowed to evolve – and this change was very well done. A slow burn charater driven narrative throughout until the action picks up, and then I flew through the pages.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

4.75 stars rounded up. When I started The Briar Club, it took a minute for it to click and I was a bit confused. Those things are probably related, however.

From then, I was hooked. Getting to know, and trying to keep straight, the ladies from Briarwood House. The characters mostly end up being endearing and integral to the story. The story weaves them together as we get to know them, their backgrounds and how they relate to one another.

We know from the beginning there are two dead bodies and the books built, for me, on trying to figure out who ended up dead. I definitely did not see the end coming and was pleased to have the answer unveiled.

Overall, this was both a mystery and heartwarming. It was a whodunnit and a story of friends, women and the way they make life better for each other.

Advance reader copy provided by William Morrow and NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

This was far from my favorites of her books. The characters did not really speak to me. I'm sure it will be popular

Loved this book!! I have been a Kate for years and I think this book is so different then what she is use to. I loved the multiple perspectives and the unique character back stories that we got to see through out that time period. Also the mystery woven within the story I thought added an extra layer of intrigue. Also the twist at the end was so unexpected and really made the last fourth of the book just fly by.

Kate Quinn's latest novel, The Briar Club, is a captivating historical mystery set against the backdrop of the McCarthy era's paranoia. The story unfolds in 1950s Washington D.C., within the confines of Briarwood House, a down-at-the-heels boarding house brimming with secrets.

The arrival of the enigmatic Grace March, a beautiful widow who settles in the attic room, disrupts the lives of the house's residents. Grace's warmth and hospitality draw together a group of unlikely friends: Fliss, a seemingly perfect Englishwoman with hidden struggles; Nora, a police officer's daughter caught up with a dangerous crowd; Bea, a former baseball star yearning for a return to the diamond; and Arlene, a staunch supporter of McCarthy's Red Scare tactics.

As their bond deepens through weekly attic dinners, a shocking act of violence shatters their fragile sense of security. The women are forced to confront not only the dangers lurking outside but also the hidden truths within their own midst. The mystery of who is responsible becomes a test of their loyalty and a stark reminder of the era's pervasive fear and suspicion.

Quinn excels at weaving a richly detailed historical tapestry. She brings to life the anxieties of the McCarthy era, where accusations of communism could destroy lives. The novel also explores the societal constraints placed on women during this time, highlighting their struggles for independence and personal fulfillment.

The strength of The Briar Club lies in its compelling characters. Each woman is vividly portrayed, with their own unique hopes, desires, and flaws. Their camaraderie and unwavering support for each other shine through even in the darkest moments.

If you're looking for a historical novel with a touch of suspense, The Briar Club is definitely worth a read. It's a story that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

This book was absolutely perfect and the best one I’ve read by Kate Quinn! The backdrop of the narrative is Washington D.C. in the 1950s,
commonly referred to as The McCarthy Era. The captivating story is brought to life with well-crafted chapters and impressive character
development. I found reading this book to be an enthralling and deeply engaging experience. This book comes highly recommended, particularly for those who enjoy reading Women’s and Historical Fiction novels.

Kate Quinn has a gift for engaging readers by interweaving historical elements and complex characters. It's the 1950s and Grace March, a boarder at the Briarwood House, takes action to unite the other boarders and befriend them. In doing so, Grace skillfully brings about the best in each person and shows them the kindness needed to succeed in their own lives. Unbeknownst to the other housemates, Grace harbors a dangerous secret that threatens all of their lives. A perfect read for those who love historical fiction, feminist overtones, and redemptive character arcs.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance reader copy in exchange for a review. The opinions expressed are my own.
This is a tough one for me to review. I adore Quinn’s historical fictions and it’s nearly an automatic choice for me for my book club. In fact, the last two books we did were from Quinn! I dove into this book waiting for the same rush, but for me it just wasn’t there.
I don’t want to put off anyone from reading this book. It’s well written. The characters are marvelous. It just wasn’t the right book at the right time for me. I found it slow, hard to get into, and hard to keep attentive. I have to give it stars, so I will say 4* for the writing.

Kate Quinn has done it again! As someone who has devoured many of Quinn’s books, I was captivated yet again by her writing — the vivid and complex characters, the thoroughly researched historical narrative, the suspenseful plot. I was charmed by the warmth of the strong women and their friendships, the way they exchanged meals, support and secrets.

The Briar Club felt to me like a slight departure from Quinn’s other novels. Instead of being rooted in one larger historical time period (e.g. WWII), each chapter focuses on a different tenant of a DC boardinghouse, exploring their personal lives through the lens of a number of different important historical dynamics and events in the early 1950s. The vignettes of these women were really well written, it started a little slower but came together at the end with a juicy plot twist. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Another homerun by Kate Quinn.
I love the way Kate Quinn writes female characters and relationships. This book is about the power of female friendships and the secrets that people are hiding every day. It is set in the 1950's during the Red Scare and the Mcarthy era, in Washington D.C.
These eight women live in an all female boardinghouse, and each chapter of the books follows the lives of one of these eight women.

Once again Kate Quinn delivers a smash.

The Briar Club introduces us to the women of Briarwood House, a boarding house in Washington DC. Each woman is as different as night and day, each harboring secrets of her own. Through newcomer Grace March, a hot plate, and a painted flowering vine, the women become more than just neighbors, they become friends, a family.

Set in the 1950s in DC, with McCarthyism and the Red Scare as the backdrop of their lives, Quinn divides the book up into distinct POVs from each character. The timelines overlap where they need to, but everything we need to know about each woman is doled out perfectly. You never feel like one of the other women is missing from the story, even if its not told from her perspective.

All seven women have full lives and backgrounds and reasons for their idiosincracies. Each woman could have fronted a book of her own, but the way Quinn weaves them all together is masterful and magical. In the end, they all need each other and come to rely on each other. They battle the status quo of the day, they listen to one another and make their lives better, more fulfilled.

The house, too, plays a small part, and its so ingeniously done that I would have taken MORE of the house, if offered. All in all, Quinn says a lot about many things, from being a perfect mother, to family strife and chasing your dreams even if they seem out of reach, that there is something for everyone. I don't know how she does it, but Quinn is a master of historical fiction.

The Briar Club was another winner by Kate Quinn, one of my favorite authors of historical fiction. The Briar Club itself consists of a mismatched group of women who have nothing in common except the ramshackle Washington DC boardinghouse in which they rent rooms during the early 1950's. Their intrepid leader is Grace March, who is the most recent tenant. Throughout the novel these women come to share their secrets and lives as they become a version of found family.

The structure of the book made it appealing. At the beginning we learn that a murder has taken place but we do not know the victim. Each lengthy chapter focuses on one of the women as we learn their backstory and how they came to be living at the Briarwood House. The house itself becomes a sort of narrator as we get glimpses into what happened on the fateful day of the murder in between each woman's story.

The characters are what made this book so special. I appreciated getting to each one of them in turn, as it helped to understand their actions and perspective. In addition to the boarders, the landlady's two children, Pete and Lina, are brought into the fold of the Briar Club members to receive the love and tenderness they didn't receive from their mother.

The plot had a great twist that I didn't see coming, which makes the book all the better. The resolution was fitting. I love Kate Quinn's writing, and this book ranks among her best.

I will recommend it to readers who like historical fiction about women's relationships.

Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance ecopy of this title. This novel is set in a somewhat shabby boarding house in Washington D.C. as Sen. McCarthy is whipping the country into a frenzy about communism. The cast of characters is vivid with believable quirks that make most of them human and likeable. The book is sectioned into backstories of the most important characters interspersed with descriptions of a climatic event. The pacing is perfect, and it was quite hard for me to put down. HIGHLY recommend!

Wonderful! I loved reading from each different character's perspective and hearing their stories. Love the found-family theme and the twist at the end. Highly recommend!

I feel as if I can finally call myself a devoted fan of Kate Quinn because this woman never misses.

The Briar Club follows a group of tenets in the Briar House during the time of the Red Scare, and focuses on each of their individual stories and how they all tie together. It follows their pasts and then the present which is where the whole house is being investigated for a murder.

This story is a compelling and absolutely captivating read. The story is beautifully woven and the characters are some of the most developed fictional people I have ever read. Truly Kate Quinn has such a way with words, story progression, and characters, and she excels at engaging you with the story and making you feel as if you are truly there in the house with them.

The plot was truly one of her most suspenseful yet and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book, It truly is one of the best historical fiction I have ever read.

Additionally, the historical details in this novel were meticulously researched and added a rich layer of authenticating to the story. Quinn always stays true to the real history, both commonly known and unknown.

The Briar Club is a compelling and intricately plotted novel that I would highly suggest to anyone who wants an intriguing historical fiction with mystery, love, and secrets embedded in each page.

Unputdownable!! I drank in this book like ice water on a hot day. While this isn’t your traditional Kate Quinn book you will still be carried away with spies, history, strong female characters, and loyalty to no end. Grace finds herself renting the last room of Briarwood House. As she settles in she starts to turn her room into her home. The walls are painted, a supper club is formed, and friendships are forged, and tested when a murder takes place. Each character is so beautifully written that you can’t help but identify with all of them in some way.

Phenomenal. I am a big Kate Quinn fan, and this is my favorite book I have read so far this year. I never wanted it to end; I was so wrapped up in all of the women's lives, and even Pete and Lina.

Grace, a widow, moves into the 4th floor room of a boarding house and we meet all the women that live there. Each chapter is devoted to their story, and I devoured every page. One of my favorite aspects is the House - Briarwood is it's character, and the interstitials come from the House's perspective. It made me feel like I was looking at the house as though it was a dollhouse, and I could see what was happening throughout.

The author's note at the end was exquisite, and so much was based on real people and real experiences that it really cemented the whole story in my mind. The best part is when Quinn tells us to google her inspiration for Grace's room - that room is perfection and perfectly fits the narrative.

I cannot recommend this book enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this read. All opinions are my own.
I adore Kate Quinn's previous books. The Rose Code had a plot line that broke my heart. Quinn includes strong female protagonists with sometimes complicated lives in all of her books. The Briar Club had a unique twist where the house itself was a character, leading us through the story by introducing flashbacks of cameos for each of the residents. Something I really enjoyed was the nuance each of the characters presented. They all had something going on - post-partum depression; survival after sexual assault; family pressures; and many others. The ability of the Briar Club (a unique gathering of the women residing at a boarding house) to meet the needs of the residents while simultaneously not asking them to change was inspirational.

As a massive Kate Quinn fan (hello Rose Code!), I was so excited to receive access to THE BRIAR CLUB! This novel seemed very different than Quinn's previous novels (not in a bad way -- it just took some getting used to!) Read if you enjoy historical fiction, character-development, & multiple POVs. I especially LOVED the chapters uniquely written from the perspective of the house.