Girl Waits With Gun (Kopp Sisters Novel)

I have no idea how this book was recommended to me (Amazon email/facebook/other email) but I am so very glad I bought it. It truly is a classic historical novel that I hope will be read for generations. I'm not into spoilers so I'm not going to repeat the plot. What I'd like to point out is:1) The author is a really exceptional writer regarding historically written prose. Even from a modern perspective, a great combo of dialog and description. She knows how to build a story while keeping it in historical context (which can be off-setting to readers who are into action/action/action). This is so refreshing after reading my favorite genre -- action/adventure where the only redeeming factor is the action packed plot and I cringe over the writing and (sometimes) water-thin character development (but still continue to read those authors!).2) This book does NOT have an action-packed plot but it does have the most wonderful development of characters. It also has enough action/mystery/drama to make it a page turner for those who love historical cozy mysteries.3) For the early 1900s buff (story takes place in 1914) or the early feminist lit (suffragette) buff this is MUST reading. Though fiction, the author does extraordinary well in keeping the character reactions to the many and varied unique situations encountered by three sisters 'in character' (not to mention the blossoming of the main character, Constance, as a true strong woman). To me this was the most wonderful part of this historical novel. The initial premise: three sisters living together after their mother died and they have no marketable skills to make money and how they survived in their encounter with an evil and rich/privileged thug who was determined to destroy (kill?) them. It may have a very different outcomes based on what generation it is written (1920s, WW2, 50s, 60s today). This would make interesting study in some 'special topic' university feminine studies course.4) If I haven't lost you yet, all I have to say is that I actually stayed up 3 hrs past my normal bedtime for two nights reading this book. It may not be the action/adventure page turner but it is the story that is infinitely engaging as are the characters. The author has exposed the resilience of woman raised during that time period, their struggles and their ability to overcome adversity. THAT is what makes this an awesome book in addition to the 'cozy' mystery.READ THIS BOOK.

Constance Kopp was a real life woman who also happened to be the first female deputy. Amy Stewart discovered this fascinating woman while researching Henry Kaufman for a different book and had to write about this woman and how Henry Kaufman harassed her and her sisters, until the Kopp sisters won their day in court.Sounds fascinating, right? It sure does, because that's the reason I bought the ebook and then the audible book when it was the daily deal. I love reading about extraordinary women in history - the innovators, the way-pavers, and so on.The unfortunate thing is that this book was far too long and bloated for the story it had, and the characters and writing were not good enough to make me forgive it for being long and bloated and boring. And that's a crime right there - being a boring book. Crappy books, even silly dorky ones like Tinker aren't so bad because at least they can amuse me with their silly dorkiness. Boring books just make me somnolent.Although the book begins by immediately leaping into the altercation that starts off this series of events - Henry Kaufman colliding with the Kopp buggy - the book just wanders and piddles around until the bitter end of the trial. (It turns into Perry Mason for a bit at the end, in a weird turn of events.) And good lord, the kidnapped baby subplot! What a waste of time and a source of obvious padding! I got so infuriated that I considered skipping these pitiful sections every time Lucy and her dumb baby came up.While all this is going on, we the readers learn the Kopp Sisters "Big Secret" - something I figured out by the 18% mark. I won't go into it, because I try to avoid spoilers at all cost, but it's not hard to figure out and if you are clever, you can even just google it and discover the secret. The problem with this "Big Secret" - it doesn't build Constance's character and is irrelevant in the end. There is no "big revelation" at the end, nor is there a "Come to Jesus" moment with all the sisters. Instead, it was just a way to pad things out - and once again showing sex happening to a woman instead of a woman being an active participant.That's the other thing that bugs me about this book - so much of this book, I felt Constance just let stuff happen to her, or other people act instead of taking charge. Sure, she does pursue repayment despite Norma's insistence to "Let It Go" - but the way she talks about Eugene having sex with her is just so distant! I get women of the 1910's were women of a different era, but it was effing creepy! Also, I was SO UPSET when Norma tells Constance she should be a detective - why couldn't CONSTANCE have thought that and then discussed it with Norma?! Oh noooooo, we can't have women deciding things about their lives! It has to be handed to them! And then the final sentence of this book made me want to ragequit - if it wasn't the final sentence! Again, I won't reveal what it is, but it's basically the whole reason Constance Kopp was interesting to me - and the way Sheriff Heath said it at the very end was so infuriating!Constance isn't the only character I felt was tepid in this book. Norma and Fleurette, the other two major characters, felt like caricatures - Norma is a recluse who likes pigeons! Fleurette is a spoiled brat who acts like she's 12 instead of almost 17! (I read one reviewer who was confused about her age - how Constance says she's 13 and then Fleurette later turns 17. No wonder because Fleurette ACTS like a 12/13 year old!!) Henry Kaufman is EVIL! Lucy is a hardworking loving mom! Sheriff Heath works hard! His wife is a mean harpy (how dare she care about her husband and worry for him working so hard, the witch with a b!). No one really grows and changes. No one is beyond the couple of adjectives and attributes that are hastily attached to them. They were all flat, boring people whom I didn't care about and who wouldn't exist in real life.Taking a step back, this isn't a horrible book. It certainly has better morals than many others and isn't egregiously bad. It's just the problems I found with it really pushed all my buttons in that bad way. I like female protagonists who actually take charge - don't call our protagonist "gutsy" if she basically takes a back seat and lets life happen to her all the time! I don't like unnecessary, cheesy plots meant only to pad the story. And why bother having a Big Family Secret when it does NOTHING to the characters or the story???Moral of the Story: I got a refund for this through Audible. Thank you Audible, for being so kind and giving refunds, even for things I ordered some time ago. This makes me even more pleased that I signed up for your service. I wish I could do the same with my Kindle ebook but oh well.That said, you may like the book. It seems like most of the reviews are overwhelmingly positive, and I've been called a Negative Nancy before, so you make the call. Take charge of your life and decide what you want to do - don't be like Constance and let life happen to you!

This was something different. A period and place and characters deftly handled. 1914 rural New Jersey with not very bright criminals protected by idle politicians. Superb heroine and her sisters.

A pleasant light read. Nice lively characters, a reasonably busy plot and a satisfactory ending.

I enjoyed every element of this book. I loved the characters, the interweaving of past and present, the laying bare of women's oppression.The narrative voice is authentic and had me hooked. The fact it is based on a true story just added to the beauty of it. Highly recommend.

Recommended by a friend, this book was a thoroughly enjoyable read. It ends with the first few pages of the next book, and I shall certainly be purchasing that shortly.

I raced through this book and loved it. This review is short because I'm impatient to start reading the next book in the series!