Winter Sisters: A Novel by Robin Oliveira

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

From the New York Times bestselling author of My Name Is Mary Sutter comes a rich and compelling historical novel about the disappearance of two young girls after a cataclysmic blizzard, and what happens when their fate is discovered

New York, 1879: After an epic snow storm ravages the city of Albany, Dr. Mary Sutter, a former Civil War surgeon, begins a search for two little girls, the daughters of close friends killed by the storm who have vanished without a trace.

Mary's mother and niece Elizabeth, who has been studying violin in Paris, return to Albany upon learning of the girls' disappearance--but Elizabeth has another reason for wanting to come home, one she is not willing to reveal. Despite resistance from the community, who believe the girls to be dead, the family persists in their efforts to find the two sisters. When what happened to them is revealed, the uproar that ensues tears apart families, reputations, and even the social fabric of the city, exposing dark secrets about some of the most powerful of its citizens, and putting fragile loves and lives at great risk.

Winter Sisters is a propulsive new novel by the New York Times bestselling author of My Name Is Mary Sutter.

my thoughts:

I love, love, loved Winter Sisters! This story is historical fiction at its best!

Its 1879 in Albany, NY.  A massive snow storm sets in.  A family gets separated.  The mother and father die.  Their daughters go missing.  The town believes the girls are dead and do not search for them.  Mary is a friend of the family and decides to look for the girls, with the help of her niece, Elizabeth.  Eventually, the girls reappear.   To Mary, it is evident that they have endured unspeakable traumas.  She sets out to get justice.  However, female doctors are not taken seriously, so Mary is not taken seriously.  The more she investigates, the more she learns about the corrupt and despicable nature of the men around her.  The laws are designed to protect powerful men, and men in general.  In NY during 1879, the age of consent is 10, therefore what crimes have been committed?  Talk about a sickening fact that left me numb and outraged.  I wanted justice for these girls and all of the other girls, who have endured unspeakable horrors.  Of course, its 1879, so I knew that justice would not be meted out the way I would like.  Regardless, I cheered on the "good guys" and kept on reading.  Mary's story was gripping and I was hooked.  The way she fought against every obstacle put before her was inspiring and eye-opening.  This is a strong, determined woman who provides a voice for those too frightened to speak.  I absolutely LOVED Mary Sutter!!

Talk about a must-read book! Chock full of historical details about women's issues, an unforgettable set of characters, and a suspenseful mystery to solve, this book was unputdownable. I would happily recommend Winter Sisters to fans of Robin Oliveira and anyone looking for their next great read.



Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!