I
will admit that it took me several chapters to get into this book,
but once the mystery was revealed I was hooked. I am glad that my
past experiences with this author gave me the motivation to keep
reading knowing the hook would come.
Set
in 1871 Chicago, the story gives the reader the insight into what we
now would refer to as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) both from
the perspective of survivors of the Great Conflagration and of Civil
War veterans, especially prisoners of war, and their families. The
author's extensive historical research into the treatment of burns
and of mental illness in the setting of this story is quite evident,
and it plays a huge part in the story. Recent research shows that
fiction readers tend to be more empathetic than those who don't spend
much time reading fiction. I would venture to say that it is books
like Veiled in Smoke
and authors like Jocelyn Green that contribute to this. One's heart
cannot help but go out to the characters in this story, even to those
who are on the wrong side of the law.
I
highly recommend this book and am happy to have received a copy from
Bethany House via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was
under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no
monetary compensation.
No comments:
Post a Comment