Synopsis

In the glittering world of 1920s New York, the seven Ridley heirs seem to have it all: wealth, status, and protection as the city’s most powerful family. But when notorious gossip columnist Dale Caimen is found dead during their family’s renowned summer soiree, their carefully constructed world begins to crack.

Behind the champagne and jazz, each adopted Ridley sibling harbors secrets that could destroy them. There’s Amelia, the responsible eldest trying to hold it all together; Adesua, whose artistic ambitions in the Harlem Renaissance threaten her family’s expectations; wild child Kavita, whose dangerous nights in speakeasies may have finally caught up with her; Wei, the eldest brother who takes the spotlight any chance he gets; Omar, the stoic and empathetic mediator; Diego, Columbia college student who secretly dreams of being a chef; and Henrik, musically inclined baby brother.

As the murder investigation intensifies, long-buried tensions surface for the diverse Ridley family, who were adopted from their native lands of France, Illinois, India, China, Egypt, Argentina, and United Kingdom family loyalties unravel. Someone knows the truth about the Ridleys―and they’re willing to kill to expose it. In a world where appearance is everything and power comes at a deadly price, the siblings must decide what matters more: protecting the family name or each other.

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Review

Set in New York in the 20s, this novel focuses on a well-to-do family – the Ridleys. They were made famous for adopting seven children from across the globe from various ethnic backgrounds. The story is told from the three daughters’ points of view. The story jumps back and forth in time, and we learn a little more about their background and how they came to be orphaned and adopted by this family. While we learn a little about the sons, the focus is primarily on the women.

There is a little bit of a mystery tied to the death of a gossip columnist for the local paper. Who did it and why? There are mysterious notes sent to the siblings, but is it tied to the death or other secrets? While the siblings are on the hunt for the killer, it is a minor part of the story. I expected more if this is labeled as a mystery.

There is a fair amount of research for this book on Harlem and the events of that time, including an appearance by Josephine Baker. However, the likelihood that a white family would adopt children from other ethnic groups is highly unlikely, no matter how rich they are. But it was an intriguing twist, and I thought it was interesting that the siblings all kept their native languages and learned their siblings’ languages. I don’t know how many that might have included, but at least a couple.

It was intriguing to see how the story ended and to learn that there were more secrets than they had imagined. However, it didn’t become interesting until the end. The dialogue was choppy, and the book lacked a good flow, even with its different points of view. Things happened that were never explained or circled back to. The book has a lot of potential, but it was not one of my favorites.

We give the book 3 paws up.

About the Author

K.M. Colley writes thrillers, contemporary mysteries, and cinematic stories that explore legacy and ambition. Her work often centers around powerful families, glamorous settings, and complex characters. She is also known as Keturah Maree for her online presence and for her appearances in The Other Black Girl, Queen Sugar, Atlanta, New Amsterdam, along with other hit shows, and is a member of SAG-AFTRA.

Born in Mobile, Alabama, she’s currently based in Tampa and Philadelphia. When not writing or reading, K.M. enjoys traveling, learning new languages, and building a creative legacy. She’s also passionate about raising her autistic daughter, who dreams of creating her own comic book one day.

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