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In 1931 Chicago, and the rest of the United States, jobs are hard to come by. Elodie Browne and her friend Bernice are fortunate to be working in one of the newest, most modern buildings in Chicago. Ellie is a copywriter at an ad agency; Bernice works for the mysterious Mr Lee Chang, an importer of jade and antiques. When Bernice recruits Ellie to earn some extra money by helping as a server at one of Mr Chang's lavish parties she jumps at the chance. Unfortunately, Ellie and all the others are witness to a shooting. Before he died, the wounded man uttered the words "ming dao". Archie Deacon, probably one of the few honest cops left in Chicago, investigates the shooting. He is impressed by Ellie, and refers to her as one of the smartest people present. She is very observant, but he believes she is not telling him all she knows. Ellie doesn't trust the police and feels that she has to find out what the strange Chinese words mean. Ellie sets off on a dangerous path that could mean trouble not only for her, but also for her family as well. Ellie is a spirited, intelligent and refreshing protagonist. Together with her family of three sisters and their widowed mother, they try to keep the family together and solvent. There is much love and care in the home, and each of them looks out for the other. The book paints a very vivid picture of the privations that were rampant in the dark days of the Depression. Another theme is the criminal element that was prevalent in the big cities, but especially Chicago. Ellie sometimes feels that no one is honest anymore, that the greed and lawlessness she sees and reads about is infecting everyone. One of the subplots deals with Mr Chang's jade business. The author has included a lot of facts about jade and the beautiful items carved from it. Some Chinese gangsters were also a factor in the lawlessness of the era; however, Mr Chang is a reputable businessman. Through his eyes, we see his devotion to the country of his birth and the devotion to his new country, the United States. Holly Baxter is an award-winning author who is launching this new, cozy series set in the Chicago of the 1930s. Her characters are fresh and interesting, the family dynamics are refreshing and the whole Browne family is extremely attractive. I think Ellie and her family will be a big hit.
Reviewed by Lorraine Gelly, April 2005
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