Vera Kelly Is Not A Mystery

Not much of a mystery/espionage buff but I really enjoyed this one! Second book in a sleuth-centric series of which I haven't read the first one, so i don't know how it compares to WHO IS VERA KELLY? but this is a good solid spy story with a hint of the noir. I like the unusual choice of a female ex-CIA-turned-PI, and i appreciated the realistic depiction of how persecuted women in general were at this time, but particularly queer women. Pulpy, but entertaining well-written pulp. And, having recently read a "traditional" spy novel absolutely steeped in the male gaze (female characters often appraised for their cup size, an assumption that every woman is thrilled to be groped by a rando, etc), it was refreshing to read a story of that sort free of chop-licking sexism. It's not that Vera is sexless--she meets pretty girls and hooks up with them. She just doesn't treat them like sexual Kleenex. Thumbs up!

Loved this book, just as good as the first and I hope there are many more to come. Vera Kelly is complicated, gutsy, insecure and just a fascinating character. The other characters in the book are just as interesting and the story is interesting in itself. More please!

This book was meant to be enjoyed on a long weekend day when you can sit and read for hours. It furthers the story of Vera Kelly, a woman torn between who she wants to be and who she really is. When her new business turns into more than a job, she must reach deep inside her and find the woman she never knew she was and save a young man who has no one else to count on. Rosalie Knecht builds the story one brick at a time until you are surprised by how far Vera has taken you into her confused life. This is a reader's book, not meant for those who skim a story and move on.

This is the second book about Vera Kelly, a twenty-something gay woman trying to make a life in 1960's NYC. I hadn't read the first book--and hadn't even realized that there was a first book-- so it's safe to say that this works as a stand-alone. In 1967, homosexuality is not accepted in mainstream society, and Vera's outing after her girlfriend moves out costs Vera her job. She decides to fall back on the skills learned as a CIA agent and open a private investigator agency.

As might be expected, both her sex and her sexuality work against here, but Vera is undaunted. When she takes a case looking for a Dominican couple's missing nephew, she finds a lot more than she bargained for. This is good mix-up of a missing person mystery and a spy thriller, and I was ro0ting for Vera all the way.

Recommended for those looking for a strong female lead in a setting that's out of the ordinary.

I received a digital ARC from the publisher (WW Norton) via NetGalley.

[This review will be posted on Goodreads and my blog on the publication date in June.]

What can I say about this Vera Kelly book except "wow?" Well, a bit more than that, but I'd say that's a start. All the things I loved about Vera from the first novel shine here: the intrigue, the wry self-awareness, the snappy dialogue, and the international stakes-- they all heighten in this second novel. We see Vera more at home, especially in her personal relationships, as she tries to figure out the next step of her career. This time, her investigations lead her to the case of a disappeared teen boy, and from there, she finds not only leads for the case, but all the danger you could want.
Vera is one of those narrators you love to spend time with-- for all her intelligence and guile, she self-sabatoges in ways that keep you nervous for her. I won't spoil anything, but there are some wonderful side characters introduced here that I hope will make an appearance in a third book.
Please let there be a third book?
Nevertheless, if you haven't checked out WHO IS VERA KELLY?, start there, then immediately double back (as I did) to read this second volume. You'll thank me later, as well as wonder what other mysteries Vera might have in store for her later on.

I hadn’t realized this was the second in a series, so I’ll go back and read the first for sure, but this stood alone fairly well! Vera is an ex-CIA agent and a wonderful main character in a time when men usually would take the forefront! Easy read- great book to spend your weekend curled up with.

Thank you to Tin House Books & NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

Available June 16th 2020

A surprisingly emotional story, Rosalie Knecht's "Vera Kelly Is Not A Mystery" is the second installment of the Vera Kelly series which follows a lesbian ex-CIA agent-turned-private-investigator as she solves crimes and muddles through love affairs in 1960s New York. I know, it sounds like a lot to take in, especially if you are just starting with the series like me. Luckily, Knecht has a knack for building a scene with emotion as Vera works to track down the missing child of an illustrious Dominican family. What starts out as an innocent project quickly develops into sinister intent as Kelly is forced to revisit her own past. Knecht's twisting plotline will keep you up until 3 in the morning waiting to see what happens.