Book description
Inspired by a true unsolved crime, Frog Music is a gripping historical novel by Emma Donoghue, author of the multi-million-copy bestseller Room.
San Francisco, 1876: a stifling heat wave and smallpox epidemic have engulfed the City.
Deep in the streets of Chinatown live three former stars of the Parisian circus:…
Why read it?
1 author picked Frog Music as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
I enjoy stories about unsolved crimes, and Emma Donoghue starts with a murder in 1876 San Francisco and builds a story around a character trying to solve the crime.
The main characters, Burlesque dancer Blanche and frog catcher Jenny, quickly drew me into the story. When Jenny is murdered, Blanche believes she knows who murdered Jenny—and thinks she is responsible. I loved how Donoghue captured the rough and gritty San Francisco of the times.
I’m a great fan of author’s notes at the end of historical novels, and Donoghue’s lengthy afterword reveals much about what parts of the novel are…
From Maryka's list on puzzling true crimes from history.
If you love Frog Music...
Margery and Me
In the 1920s, famous psychic Margery Crandon astounds her followers and confounds scientists and magician Harry Houdini.
Will Houdini be her undoing? At a time when spiritualism draws many wishing to commune with their dearly departed, medium Margery Crandon entertains Boston society and intrigues psychic researchers. Her deceased brother, Walter,…
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