The Shrine of Gaiety – Kate Atkinson

London is roaring back to life after the First World War. The streets of Soho glitter with jazz, nightlife and opportunity, while behind the scenes crime, corruption and ambition thrive in equal measure. At the centre of it all stands Nellie Coker, a formidable nightclub owner who has turned a string of struggling venues into a thriving empire, and who will do whatever it takes to protect her family and her power.

But beneath the glamour lies danger. Young women are disappearing, rival gangs are circling and the authorities are taking an interest in Soho's underworld. As the lives of performers, detectives, aristocrats and lawbreakers intertwine, secrets surface that threaten everything Nellie has built. Richly atmospheric and beautifully observed, it's a compelling portrait of London's Jazz Age.

Goodreads readers praise the vivid 1920s setting, the colourful cast and Kate Atkinson's trademark wit. The large ensemble takes a little attention in the opening chapters, but the immersive historical detail pays off.

Perfect for readers who love

• Roaring Twenties glamour
• Historical crime and mystery
• A strong female anti-heroine
• Family loyalty and ambition
• Atmospheric historical fiction with literary appeal

If you liked these, you'll love this

• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid
• The Paris Library – Janet Skeslien Charles
• Novels by Sarah Waters and Maggie O'Farrell

A trade paperback (2022) in Very Good condition: minor shelf wear, pages clean and intact, binding tight.