What happened? The House is on Fire (by Rachel Beanland)

#TheHouseIsOnFire #NetGalley

Readers who remember Florence Adler will want to take a look at Rachel Beanland’s new book of historical fiction. She tells a complex story that takes place in 1800s, Richmond, Virginia.

Many people are attending a theater performance when the unthinkable happens and a catastrophic fire breaks out. This incident will inform the lives of this book’s characters, both those who are white and those who are Black.

Two of the women in the theater are Sally and Cecily, one of whom takes in the show from the “colored gallery.” Readers follow them and also Jack and Gilbert. How will their lives entwine and what will happen to each?

What and who cause the conflagration? What narrative will be told about this and will it be the truth? Read this novel based on real events to learn more.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this title. All opinions are my own.

This book was published in April2023.

Note: This book earned a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly.

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

A Good Morning America Buzz Pick


THERE ARE SPOILERS BELOW:
“The Richmond Theatre fire of 1811 was, at the time, the deadliest disaster in U.S. history, killing seventy-two. This historical novel examines the event and its aftermath through four figures: the stagehand who accidentally starts the fire; a well-to-do widow in a box seat; an enslaved young woman, attending with her mistress but confined to the colored gallery; and a blacksmith, also enslaved, who rushes to the scene and rescues patrons jumping from windows. The bad behavior of the powerful becomes a theme: the theatre company attempts to pin blame on a fabricated slave revolt, and men in the audience trample their wives in making their escape.”—The New Yorker

“Beanland’s gripping fictional account delves into this tragedy [the Richmond Theater Fire], examining the aftermath, the stories that were told and the blame that was unfairly laid on people without the means to defend themselves.” —Washington Post

“The House Is on Fire is wildly entertaining and it deals with touchy subjects very well. [The characters] all have unique voices and their stories are treated with equal care and attention, which speaks volumes not only about Beanland’s research skills but also the empathy she has for the people she writes about. This novel is a fictionalized slice of history, but in a time when so many treat teaching history as a taboo, it is also a stark reminder of how privilege, sexism, and racism have been in this country’s DNA since its inception, and that makes it necessary reading.”—NPR

Would you want them to be working for you: The Housekeepers (by Alex Hay)

#TheHousekeepers #NetGalley

I saw a lot about this book before I began reading it myself. I wondered if it could possibly live up to the hype-the good news is that it does. This title will be enjoyed by readers who like a somewhat quirky premise, interesting characters, a well-portrayed time and place, and, of course, a good (if outrageous) plot.

I don’t want to give much away but will say that the housekeepers have quite a scheme in mind. Readers will long remember them; they include Mrs. King who was dismissed from her job and Mrs. Bone who runs some dodgy enterprises. Rounding out the group are Jane and Jane (really), Hephzibah and Alice. Each of these woman has a backstory and a needed skill set; these may well intrigue the reader.

In addition to the housekeepers, there is the owner of an ostentatious home and his daughter. Wilhelm recently died and his daughter is not really mourning. Who was he? What does she want? Readers will discover some surprising connections.

There are many twists and turns in this story and suspension of disbelief is called for. What will happen on the night of a very big ball in Edwardian England? Who are the guests and how will they be affected? Will the housekeepers get their revenge? Read this one to find out!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 04 July 2023