{Review} Amery House by Samantha J. Moore

ASIN #: B0082OIUEY

File Size: 525 KB

Page Count: 84

Copyright: May 11, 2012

Publisher: Angelic Knight Press

Book Summary:

(Taken from Goodreads)

Set against the jazz-ridden backdrop of the 1920's, amidst the underground world of New York City burlesque, young Nadine Frost is a dancer and free spirit who thrives at the side of her club-owner boyfriend.

With the sudden and debilitating crash of the stock market in 1929, and the brutal murder of her lover and manager, Nadine is forced to travel to New Orleans where she becomes "Miss Naddy," prostitute and mistress of the old French Quarter. In the throes of The Great Depression, Nadine finds herself in a world of boot-leg liquor, sex, murder, and betrayal. With the company of the other "Showgirls," four women with their own haunted pasts, Nadine must forge a new life in the brothel on Royal Street.

Amery House is the story of five women, prostitutes and performers, who yearn to escape the dark, underground world of the sex trade. From New York City to New Orleans, this haunting tale asks how far you have to go to outrun the ghosts of your past.

Kathy's Review:

I was drawn to this story because it takes place in New Orleans in the 1920's and 30's, and Nawlins is one of my favorite cities in the world. I also find this period in history to be interesting - the Great Depression, Prohibition and the like. Although this shows the seedier side of life in those times, it was still a good historical representation of what was happening during those days.

However, this story is largely disappointing. It's so short that there is no time for the plot or characters to unfold. The main character, Old Nadine, is the narrator and begins the story by murdering her boyfriend in New York. The motive for the murder is pretty weak, and not believable. After finding her way to New Orleans she is drawn into a life of prostitution at Amery House with four other women. The idea that the women form a sisterhood is intriguing, but there's hardly any action that helps develop the bonds.

Each woman has a backstory, and each of these could have been drawn out more to establish each of them as fuller characters. Particularly the story of Margaret and Mildred, twin sisters escaping from a life of abuse.

Then there's the ending. Not to ruin it, but a ghost who has been little more than an apparition in the night begins taunting and joking during the action? This just seemed to come out of left field.

One last thing - the cover. There are two women on the cover. I'm presuming one is Nadine - who is the other woman? There's really not a second woman who is given more prominence over the others in Amery House, so this confused me.

I would encourage the author to spend more time on this story and develop it more. I thought what was there was written well, but lacking more meat.


*An ecopy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.