Escaping Reality
Whispers In The Reading Room by Shelley Gray is a fabulous end to the Chicago World’s Fair Mystery series. It is a compulsive read that had me hooked from the start. It can be read as a stand-alone as there were just references to previous crimes, and the reader once again meets the two detectives from book two.
Lydia earns her living as a librarian and loves her job. Every day a mysterious man spends a couple of hours in the library reading. At first, neither speak to each other but both are watching the other. Whispers In The Reading Room deals with the theme of escapism. Lydia escapes from the reality of her life with her widowed mother by hiding behind her books. Likewise, Sebastian (the mysterious gentleman) hides behind his books. He wants to escape from his past. Both will be stuck in a void if they cannot face reality.
Lydia’s mother, too, refuses to face reality. She hides from the world, as she no longer has a fortune. Her only hope is that Lydia will marry well, and rescue them both from a life of poverty. Money motivates. Lydia’s mother is not so much concerned with a man’s character, but more with the size of his wallet. A fortune is to be pursued even at the risk of her daughters welfare and happiness.
Shelley Gray demonstrates in the novel, how the love of money is the root of all evil. Pursuing money brings unhappiness and ugliness of character. Where more money is the soul motivation, man can do horrendous things. Money can be used for good. Where characters are open handed about money and happy to give it away, they can do much good and bring happiness. Money can be used for good or evil.
The theme of friendship and family runs throughout the novel. Friendships between the most unlikely of characters emerge. The friendships can become so deep that they become like family, sticking together in all circumstances.
God permeates the novel, as characters look to Him. Even though at times Sebastian is on the wrong side of the law (at the time, the 1890’s), he makes sure that he is never on the wrong side of God. If God urges you to do something, ignore Him to your detriment.
I loved the character of Lydia. She was good, hard working and kind. I found her and her situation easy to empathise with. Shelley Gray drew all her characters well. They became more than just descriptions in a book, they became vividly alive in my head.
I am sad to see this wonderful series draw to a close. I have enjoyed traversing the streets of 1890’s Chicago with all its hidden dangers. Shelley Gray really draws the reader in. If you love murder, mystery and romance, then this is the series for you.
JULIA WILSON
I was given a free copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.