Charlene Reviews: Willow Pond by Carol Tibaldi

ISBN #: 978-1468111729

Page Count: 324

Copyright: March 8, 2012

Publisher: CreateSpace

Description:

(Taken from Amazon)

As the Roaring Twenties crumble into the Great Depression, Virginia Kingsley, New York's toughest and most successful speakeasy owner, is doing just fine; with the whole world falling apart for so many, bootlegging is a flourishing business.

But when a former lover, Rudy, attempts to coerce his way into her business, Virginia sends him packing and her entire family pays the price: Her niece, Laura, is devastated when her infant son vanishes without a trace. Speculation and rumors abound in the media circus that follows the abduction, and the police have few leads, most of which point straight back at Virginia and her fellow bootleggers.

Suspicious of Rudy but unable to go to the police, Virginia pursues her own investigation, shaking down, threatening, and killing one petty crook after another as she races against time to find her missing great-nephew. In the meantime, Laura's lover and Herald Tribune reporter, Erich, tries to convince Laura that Virginia knows more than she is telling ... and may be behind the boy's disappearance.

With time flying past and hope thinning, Virginia, Laura, and Erich must set aside their differences and work together in one last, desperate bid to find the missing child and whoever really abducted him.

Charlene's Review:

Set during Prohibition, Ms. Tibaldi gives us a believable and colorful look at the time period. She paints a stunning picture of the people and styles of the late 20's/early 30's. Laura, the estranged wife of a famous movie star, is the niece of speakeasy owner, Virginia, and mother to a young son. When he is kidnapped, the authorities have several avenues in which to search, but Virginia and her mob contacts soon become their main focus. When reporter, Erich, enters the story, he is looking for a sensational byline, but soon falls in love with Laura, and together, they continue the search for her son.

Filled with drama, action, colorful characters, and plenty of twist and turns, Willow Pond is a delight to read. I especially enjoyed the "underground" characters, and references to historical mobsters. It gave the novel a very real feel. Adding in the abduction of the child, and the romance aspect, and this is pretty much an "all-in-one" story. Virginia is, by far, my favored character, as she is a gutsy broad with a big heart. This novel would make a wonderful movie, with all its intricacies. I am hoping there is a sequel!


*A physical copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.