Basically a book about how the backstory of one woman's death was the massive culmination of the entirety of the growth of Iowa in terms of the politics of transportation, slavery and emancipation, temperance and prohibition, the rise of the Klan and the ethics of those who had a hand in fully forming the state. It was a fascinating history as much of the time these issues aren't discussed in terms of the western midwest -- it's mostly about the big cities or the entirety of the south.
Not sure that it was the history or story I thought I was going to be reading when I picked this up but I feel better for having read it.

This was interesting and informative. The pacing is good and I never got bored or uninterested. This is well-written and researched. If you enjoy history, then I think you might like this. I would recommend this! Special Thank You to Tom Chorneau, University Of Nebraska Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.75 stars)
**A Compelling but Uneven True Story**

*Mrs. Cook and the Klan* by Tom Chorneau tells the gripping true story of Helen Cook, a California schoolteacher who took a courageous stand against the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s. Chorneau does an excellent job uncovering a lesser-known piece of history, and Cook’s bravery is both inspiring and thought-provoking. The book shines in its historical detail and relevance, but at times, the pacing drags, and the writing can feel a bit dry. Still, for those interested in hidden stories of resistance and early 20th-century American history, this is a worthwhile read.

An Engaging but Scattered Read

There were a lot of parts of Mrs. Cook and the Klan that I truly loved—the historical details, the storytelling, and the fascinating subject matter. However, the book often felt like it was jumping around, making it hard to stay focused on what the central theme was supposed to be. And the ending? Incredibly abrupt. I’ve never experienced a more sudden conclusion in a book. It left me wanting more, but not necessarily in a good way. Overall, an interesting read, but the structure and pacing could have been much stronger.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with and advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is an intriguing deep dive into the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan in the Midwest. The true crime angle of this book really analyzes how this resurgence came to be. A thought provoking book.

Mrs. Cook and the Klan by Tom Chorneau is a fascinating piece of American history. It blends true crime with a deep dive into the volatile social and political landscape of the 1920s. Myrtle Underwood Cook’s unsolved murder and its eerie connection to the Ku Klux Klan provide a compelling backdrop for exploring Prohibition, racism, and organized crime in small-town Iowa.

The book does a good job of setting the scene and providing historical context. Chorneau vividly describes the time, from the rise of the KKK to the shifting tides of the temperance movement, and the connections to figures like Al Capone and Billy Sunday add intrigue. However, the narrative often feels bogged down by dense historical detail, which can detract from the emotional weight of Myrtle’s story.

While the subject matter is undeniably compelling, the pacing felt uneven at times. The book spends a lot of time on the broader historical forces and less on the people, which makes it harder to connect with Myrtle as a central figure. Her story deserves to be front and center, but it often gets lost in the shuffle of background information.

For fans of true crime and historical nonfiction, there’s still a lot to appreciate here. Chorneau’s research is thorough, and the book sheds light on a lesser-known piece of history. However, readers looking for a gripping narrative might find themselves wading through the details instead of being swept up by the story. It’s an interesting read, but it left me wishing for a tighter focus and a stronger emotional connection to its central mystery.

The title and blub of "Mrs. Cook and the Klan" will undoubtedly appeal to History and true crime lovers. The book takes a dive into the temperance movement in the Midwest and the Klan's power there. Were the text fails is in threading the Iowa cold case effectively throughout the book, which results in an unbalanced narrative that lacks enough devotion to Mrs. Cook and contains many details that only distract the reader.

The book attempts to unravel the dark, complicated history of the Ku Klux Klan's resurgence in the early 20th century, particularly in the American Midwest. While it promises to uncover fascinating details about a woman’s role in the Klan’s rise, it ultimately struggles to provide a balanced or nuanced exploration of the subject.

The focus on Mrs. Cook, a seemingly ordinary woman with ties to the Klan’s activities, is intriguing. The author aims to highlight her involvement as both a reflection of the larger social context and a way to humanize the dark, violent world of the Klan. However, despite the promising premise, Mrs. Cook’s character often feels underdeveloped, and her personal motivations remain somewhat unclear. She’s framed as a somewhat passive figure, and the book doesn’t dive deeply enough into her psychology or the societal pressures that may have influenced her actions.

The historical background of the Klan’s influence in the Midwest is where Chorneau offers solid insight. He does well to contextualize the broader political climate of the time, explaining the conditions that allowed the Klan to gain a foothold in areas far from its traditional Southern base. The book shines in outlining the Klan’s rise, from its ties to the temperance movement to its violent enforcement of racial and moral purity, but this historical material is often buried under lengthy, sometimes tedious, accounts of smaller events and personalities that don’t contribute much to the central narrative.

However, Chorneau often lingers on details that don’t add much to the central story, and at times, the narrative feels disjointed. The early chapters, which deal with the Klan’s political strategies and the social atmosphere of the time, are, in my opinion, more engaging than some of the later sections. This uneven pacing detracts from the book's impact, making the story feel both sprawling and disconnected.

Overall, the book offers valuable historical insights into the rise of the Klan in America's Heartland, but it falls short of being a deeply engaging narrative. Chroneau's attempt to focus on a central figure like Mrs. Cook has promise but ultimately doesn’t pay off in a way that is satisfying.

Mrs. Cook and the Klan is a really well-researched and thoroughly captivating real life story of Myrtle Cook, a temperance activist and elderly woman who was murdered in cold blood as a storm of events were occurring around her. The infamous attendants of her services became big news, and the reasons why are a supremely interesting aspect of the story. The small town in Iowa reflects larger trends at work in American society and culture, as Chorneau shows, where racism, drunkenness, illegality and local politics created pressures that ignited into a larger flame, showing how prevalent and raw all of the emotions attached to the larger institutions are. Political instability seems to be a way of American life, and Ms. Cook and her story serve as a snapshot of the larger forces at play.

A big thank you to Tom Chorneau, the publisher, University of Nebraska Press - Bison Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to be able to read Mrs. Cook and the Klan. I will share my review to Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble as well. Best regards!

This is a great summary based on a true story. Very informative, hit the points appropriately, and kept the reader engaged.