Book Review - The Diviners by Libba Bray

The Diviners by Libba Bray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"Naughty John, Naughty John does his work with his apron on." It is the year 1926: Prohibition is in full swing, the streets run with gin and speakeasies are everywhere. Evangeline O'Neill, or Evie to her friends, embraces the life of the flapper with her whole being - bobbed hair, drinking gin and good times. Evie hides a secret from the world however. She can divine - when she touches an object she can see into the owner's past. When a "party trick" goes too far, Evie finally wears out her parents' patience and is shipped off to live with her Uncle Will as punishment. To Evie this is not punishment, this is freedom. Uncle Will lives in New York City - Manhattan to be exact. She plans to spend her days shopping and her nights going to Broadway shows and dancing at the Cotton Club. What Evie doesn't plan for is the serial killer who is stalking New York, leaving chilling occult sigils branded on his victims. Now Evie must use her gift to help find the killer before he kills again.
I loved this book. At first glance it looks very long but once I started, it was a fast paced read that took no time at all (mainly because I did not want to put it down.) I enjoyed the setting of 1920's New York with all the references to speakeasies and Ziegfeld Follies. I also appreciated the several different character story lines that weave through the plot. While they don't exactly come completely together, you know that eventually (maybe the next book) they will be ganging up to fight the evil and right the wrongs. Not all the secrets were revealed in this book and not all the ends were tied up so it does leave you wanting the next one.
I would recommend this book for ages 13+ due to some of the more gruesome murder scenes.

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