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Kopp Sisters #4
Miss Kopp Just Won't Quit
Trailblazing Constance's hard-won job as deputy sheriff is on the line in Miss Kopp Just Won't Quit, the fourth installment of Amy Stewart's Kopp Sisters series.
After a year on the job, New Jersey's first female deputy sheriff has collared criminals, demanded justice for wronged women, and gained notoriety nationwide for her exploits. But on one stormy night, everything falls apart.
While transporting a woman to an insane asylum, Deputy Kopp discovers something deeply troubling about her story. Before she can investigate, another inmate bound for the asylum breaks free and tries to escape.
In both cases, Constance runs instinctively toward justice. But the fall of 1916 is a high-stakes election year, and any move she makes could jeopardize Sheriff Heath's future--and her own. Although Constance is not on the ballot, her controversial career makes her the target of political attacks.
With wit and verve, book-club favorite Amy Stewart brilliantly conjures the life and times of the real Constance Kopp to give us this "unforgettable, not-to-be messed-with heroine" (Marie Claire) under fire in Miss Kopp Just Won't Quit.
After a year on the job, New Jersey's first female deputy sheriff has collared criminals, demanded justice for wronged women, and gained notoriety nationwide for her exploits. But on one stormy night, everything falls apart.
While transporting a woman to an insane asylum, Deputy Kopp discovers something deeply troubling about her story. Before she can investigate, another inmate bound for the asylum breaks free and tries to escape.
In both cases, Constance runs instinctively toward justice. But the fall of 1916 is a high-stakes election year, and any move she makes could jeopardize Sheriff Heath's future--and her own. Although Constance is not on the ballot, her controversial career makes her the target of political attacks.
With wit and verve, book-club favorite Amy Stewart brilliantly conjures the life and times of the real Constance Kopp to give us this "unforgettable, not-to-be messed-with heroine" (Marie Claire) under fire in Miss Kopp Just Won't Quit.
309 pages, Hardcover
First published September 11, 2018
392 people are currently reading
6401 people want to read
About the author
Amy Stewart
25 books2,517 followersAmy Stewart is the New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen books, including Girl Waits with Gun, Lady Cop Makes Trouble, The Drunken Botanist, and Wicked Plants.
She lives in Portland with her husband Scott Brown, a rare book dealer.
Stay connected with Amy via her newsletter , where she offers cocktail recipes, creative inspiration, book recommendations, and more!
She lives in Portland with her husband Scott Brown, a rare book dealer.
Stay connected with Amy via her newsletter , where she offers cocktail recipes, creative inspiration, book recommendations, and more!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 628 reviews
August 8, 2018
"Insane is such a mean word. I prefer mentally creative." (Unknown)
Constance Kopp, the first female deputy sheriff in Hackensack, has one challenging assignment. She and Deputy Morris must accompany two individuals to the local insane asylum. The male prisoner sits in the front seat of the vehicle reacting with wide eyes as the rain storm lets out its fury. The female patient must be picked up at her home after a judge has committed her. As they enter into Anna Kayser's home, Constance notices that it's neat and tidy and Anna is in the midst of cooking a meal. Her husband stands to the side with a drink in his hand. Something smells rotten in Hackensack this night........and it's not Anna's cooking.
But it's 1916, folks, and many a woman has been committed based solely on a husband's convoluted story. After speaking with Anna, Constance realizes that Anna is no more insane than the rest of them in that room. As an agent of the law, she has no other recourse but to accompany Anna to the asylum per the judge's order. But Constance Kopp is one dedicated, determined woman. Ol' Charles Kayser will lock eyes with Constance and her iron will very soon.
Miss Kopp Just Won't Quit is the fourth book in the series. It can be read as a standalone as Amy Stewart fills in enough backstory to set you on course. The Kopp Sisters (Constance, Norma, and Fleurette) are based on real persons of the day. The series follows the career of Constance and the sweeping changes that visit this family and the local community. The Author's Notes at the end of the book are filled with interesting tidbits that Stewart found in her research. She dabbles in truth and in creative fiction here.
Stewart has added many layers to her storyline with emphasis on historical inequality of women, a pending sheriff election that may change her position soon, and the heaviness that will foreshadow the onset of WWI. Stewart wraps this story in the arms of reality. We seem to forget what a hard and treacherous road women traveled previous to present times. A lot of ground covered, but far more to go. But Stewart also includes the genuine light of people caring for one another when times are bad......a sometimes lost art of the past.
I received a copy of Miss Kopp Just Won't Quit through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Houghton Mifflin Hartcourt and Amy Stewart for the opportunity.
Constance Kopp, the first female deputy sheriff in Hackensack, has one challenging assignment. She and Deputy Morris must accompany two individuals to the local insane asylum. The male prisoner sits in the front seat of the vehicle reacting with wide eyes as the rain storm lets out its fury. The female patient must be picked up at her home after a judge has committed her. As they enter into Anna Kayser's home, Constance notices that it's neat and tidy and Anna is in the midst of cooking a meal. Her husband stands to the side with a drink in his hand. Something smells rotten in Hackensack this night........and it's not Anna's cooking.
But it's 1916, folks, and many a woman has been committed based solely on a husband's convoluted story. After speaking with Anna, Constance realizes that Anna is no more insane than the rest of them in that room. As an agent of the law, she has no other recourse but to accompany Anna to the asylum per the judge's order. But Constance Kopp is one dedicated, determined woman. Ol' Charles Kayser will lock eyes with Constance and her iron will very soon.
Miss Kopp Just Won't Quit is the fourth book in the series. It can be read as a standalone as Amy Stewart fills in enough backstory to set you on course. The Kopp Sisters (Constance, Norma, and Fleurette) are based on real persons of the day. The series follows the career of Constance and the sweeping changes that visit this family and the local community. The Author's Notes at the end of the book are filled with interesting tidbits that Stewart found in her research. She dabbles in truth and in creative fiction here.
Stewart has added many layers to her storyline with emphasis on historical inequality of women, a pending sheriff election that may change her position soon, and the heaviness that will foreshadow the onset of WWI. Stewart wraps this story in the arms of reality. We seem to forget what a hard and treacherous road women traveled previous to present times. A lot of ground covered, but far more to go. But Stewart also includes the genuine light of people caring for one another when times are bad......a sometimes lost art of the past.
I received a copy of Miss Kopp Just Won't Quit through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Houghton Mifflin Hartcourt and Amy Stewart for the opportunity.
December 14, 2020
5★
“‘It hardly costs anything extra to feed it, and it won’t take up any room at first. We used to put Fleurette in a drawer.’
‘You did not!’ Fleurette gasped. ‘I’d still be having nightmares about it! That’s like sleeping in a coffin!’
‘We didn’t close the drawer,’ Norma said, ‘except when you had the colic. It was the only way any of us could sleep.’”
I am a big fan of the Kopp Sisters series. Here, the older two are speaking about a friend’s impending baby and reminiscing about Fleurette, who is still in her late teens. The three live together on a small farm outside Hackensack, New Jersey, in the US. The time is 1916, Europe is at war, and many Americans are beginning to prepare in case they are called to help.
Meanwhile, Constance Kopp, the deputy sheriff whose exploits were real, narrates the story in her own voice. Of course, the author has had to use plenty of poetic licence to fill us in on the day-to-day activities and the descriptions of the characters. She does it so well, I think I’d know some of these people if I bumped into them on the street.
Constance and a ‘lady lawyer’ have called on this man together, and he is understandably a bit nonplussed.
“Joseph Townley was a jowly man with a prominent chin and the expressive eyes of a family dog. He had a thick head of hair that rose up from his forehead in a smooth wave and flopped over to one side. He wore heavy eyeglasses and an agreeably rumpled suit. In fact, he was, in every way, an agreeably rumpled man in the middle of life, with a pleasantly deep voice and a ready smile. Even in the face of whatever news might be coming to him, he was considerate and friendly. He seemed, in other words, too trustworthy to be involved in a scandal.”
In this instalment, our Miss Kopp is still chasing escaped criminals, hauling them out of the river, handcuffing them when necessary, and trying to stay out of trouble and out of the paper. Sheriff Heath is a good man and reminds her of their limitations.
“Sheriff Heath had always found something heartening, something spine-straightening, in the notion that our work was never done. ‘We’re just here to hold the line against lawlessness,’ he would tell me, enlivened by the prospect. ‘I can promise you right now that you’ll never rid this world of crime or trouble or turbulence. All you can do is to take a stand against it.’”
The sheriff is running for Congress, since his term as sheriff will expire. He is her greatest champion, but the men in power are critical of his having a lady deputy / matron at the jail. Her exploits have made the newspapers around the country (which is all true!), because at 6 feet tall, talented and unafraid, she certainly stands out. She has a German name, as well, which is stirring some ill-feeling in town.
The author does quote some of the news articles, which is great fun, and she also gives us a good look at life in 1916, the changeover period from horses to motorcars and from more widespread use of telephones. We get a feeling for the temperament of the times – women belonged behind the table, serving tea and cakes at meetings – and for the lack of power wives had in their marriages. A husband could send his wife to the lunatic asylum for whatever reason he chose. Yikes!
Class distinctions are also very distinct. When a prominent woman is arrested, she complains and wants special treatment. She doesn’t want to be put with common criminals! Deputy Kopp is fair but firm.
“‘It’s a jail, Mrs. [X]. They’re all either convicted criminals, or they’re awaiting trial, just like you are.’
‘Oh, but I’m only here as the result of a terrible misunderstanding! I never meant to do anything but offer my services on behalf of the less fortunate, and once it’s all explained …’ She sputtered and ran out of steam.
We were on the fifth floor now. [The women’s floor] ‘Nobody means to do the things they did,’ I said, ‘or at least, they didn’t mean to get caught. In here, it amounts to the same thing.’”
Just delightful. This is one of my favourite historical fiction series.
I’ve enjoyed all of them so far. If you’re interested, here are the previous books and my reviews.
Girl Waits with Gun
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Lady Cop Makes Trouble
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Miss Kopp's Midnight Confessions
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
“‘It hardly costs anything extra to feed it, and it won’t take up any room at first. We used to put Fleurette in a drawer.’
‘You did not!’ Fleurette gasped. ‘I’d still be having nightmares about it! That’s like sleeping in a coffin!’
‘We didn’t close the drawer,’ Norma said, ‘except when you had the colic. It was the only way any of us could sleep.’”
I am a big fan of the Kopp Sisters series. Here, the older two are speaking about a friend’s impending baby and reminiscing about Fleurette, who is still in her late teens. The three live together on a small farm outside Hackensack, New Jersey, in the US. The time is 1916, Europe is at war, and many Americans are beginning to prepare in case they are called to help.
Meanwhile, Constance Kopp, the deputy sheriff whose exploits were real, narrates the story in her own voice. Of course, the author has had to use plenty of poetic licence to fill us in on the day-to-day activities and the descriptions of the characters. She does it so well, I think I’d know some of these people if I bumped into them on the street.
Constance and a ‘lady lawyer’ have called on this man together, and he is understandably a bit nonplussed.
“Joseph Townley was a jowly man with a prominent chin and the expressive eyes of a family dog. He had a thick head of hair that rose up from his forehead in a smooth wave and flopped over to one side. He wore heavy eyeglasses and an agreeably rumpled suit. In fact, he was, in every way, an agreeably rumpled man in the middle of life, with a pleasantly deep voice and a ready smile. Even in the face of whatever news might be coming to him, he was considerate and friendly. He seemed, in other words, too trustworthy to be involved in a scandal.”
In this instalment, our Miss Kopp is still chasing escaped criminals, hauling them out of the river, handcuffing them when necessary, and trying to stay out of trouble and out of the paper. Sheriff Heath is a good man and reminds her of their limitations.
“Sheriff Heath had always found something heartening, something spine-straightening, in the notion that our work was never done. ‘We’re just here to hold the line against lawlessness,’ he would tell me, enlivened by the prospect. ‘I can promise you right now that you’ll never rid this world of crime or trouble or turbulence. All you can do is to take a stand against it.’”
The sheriff is running for Congress, since his term as sheriff will expire. He is her greatest champion, but the men in power are critical of his having a lady deputy / matron at the jail. Her exploits have made the newspapers around the country (which is all true!), because at 6 feet tall, talented and unafraid, she certainly stands out. She has a German name, as well, which is stirring some ill-feeling in town.
The author does quote some of the news articles, which is great fun, and she also gives us a good look at life in 1916, the changeover period from horses to motorcars and from more widespread use of telephones. We get a feeling for the temperament of the times – women belonged behind the table, serving tea and cakes at meetings – and for the lack of power wives had in their marriages. A husband could send his wife to the lunatic asylum for whatever reason he chose. Yikes!
Class distinctions are also very distinct. When a prominent woman is arrested, she complains and wants special treatment. She doesn’t want to be put with common criminals! Deputy Kopp is fair but firm.
“‘It’s a jail, Mrs. [X]. They’re all either convicted criminals, or they’re awaiting trial, just like you are.’
‘Oh, but I’m only here as the result of a terrible misunderstanding! I never meant to do anything but offer my services on behalf of the less fortunate, and once it’s all explained …’ She sputtered and ran out of steam.
We were on the fifth floor now. [The women’s floor] ‘Nobody means to do the things they did,’ I said, ‘or at least, they didn’t mean to get caught. In here, it amounts to the same thing.’”
Just delightful. This is one of my favourite historical fiction series.
I’ve enjoyed all of them so far. If you’re interested, here are the previous books and my reviews.
Girl Waits with Gun
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Lady Cop Makes Trouble
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Miss Kopp's Midnight Confessions
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
August 29, 2019
In this latest episode our intrepid lady cop faces losing her job as her current Sheriff ends his three year time in office.
Along the way Deputy Constance Kopp helps several women improve their lives especially one who is regularly committed to an asylum every time her husband wants to bring home another woman. Apparently this is based on a real case which is one of the things I love the most about this series. Constance and her sisters were real people too as were many of the characters in this story.
By the end of the book Constance is preparing for a change in her life and the reader is left wondering what next? Thank goodness I have the next book sitting waiting for me to find out.
Along the way Deputy Constance Kopp helps several women improve their lives especially one who is regularly committed to an asylum every time her husband wants to bring home another woman. Apparently this is based on a real case which is one of the things I love the most about this series. Constance and her sisters were real people too as were many of the characters in this story.
By the end of the book Constance is preparing for a change in her life and the reader is left wondering what next? Thank goodness I have the next book sitting waiting for me to find out.
August 25, 2019
Constance Kopp loves her job as Deputy Sheriff and prison matron and is highly effective at chasing criminals and taking care of the female prisoners. She knows she's lucky that Sheriff Heath has some progressive ideas about prison reform and sees the value in having a female deputy. However, it's 1916 and an election year, Sheriff Heath's term is up and he will soon be replaced by either John Courter, a lawyer who dislikes Constance intensely or William Conklin, who served as Sheriff before Heath and sees women more as decoration than capable colleagues. Courter is running a dirty campaign critical of Heath and particularly Constance, so she is doing her best to keep a low profile and stay out of the news. In the meantime she's more concerned about a woman she was asked to transport to the asylum, committed by her husband, who doesn't seem the least bit insane. With no funds of her own to engage a lawyer, she will be left in the asylum until her husband deigns to let her come home.
Based on the real characters of the Kopp sisters, Constance, Norma and Fleurette, using actual news reports, this series is an atmospheric snapshop of the US in the months prior to its entry into WWI. The powerless of women in this era is highlighted in the cases that Constance deals with as well as her own position, dependent on male approval. The rumblings of war are getting louder as America starts preparing its people to go to Europe to fight. Can't wait to read the next instalment in the lives of Constance and her sisters.
Based on the real characters of the Kopp sisters, Constance, Norma and Fleurette, using actual news reports, this series is an atmospheric snapshop of the US in the months prior to its entry into WWI. The powerless of women in this era is highlighted in the cases that Constance deals with as well as her own position, dependent on male approval. The rumblings of war are getting louder as America starts preparing its people to go to Europe to fight. Can't wait to read the next instalment in the lives of Constance and her sisters.
Read
June 27, 2018Miss Kopp won't quit and neither will you as you continue turning the pages in this fourth captivating episode of Amy Stewart's popular Kopp Sisters Novels. Look for it at your favorite book vendor or library September 18, 2018. Thank you Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Edelweiss, and Author, Amy Stewart for the opportunity to read Miss Kopp Just Won't Quit prior to its publication.
The strong female characters and historical accuracy in era, mores and locale continue to make this series engaging reading. As the series takes you back to the early years of the twentieth century you can't help but note the differences in time with sprinklings of things that remain. Only woe is we'll have to wait a bit for the next adventure, but some interesting changes seem on the horizon for Constance and her sisters, Norma and Fleurette.
There are several story lines to follow as Constance Kopp goes about her daily business as the only female deputy and matron in the Hackensack, NJ jail. My primary interest and seemingly most important theme this outing was the order of a judge to commit the wife of a prominent citizen to an asylum without due cause let alone an examination by a physician. This issue, a way to lock up unwanted women has been explored in other fiction. Deputy Kopp takes this malpractice to the another level when she intervenes on the woman's behalf. You know this is not going to sit well with the powers that be. The political aspirations not so much of Sheriff Heath, but of his wife, Cordelia, were a close second in keeping me entertained.
My interest in genealogy was piqued when reading an article that explains the inspiration for this series based on fact but woven smartly into fiction. While fact checking information about a gin smuggler, Henry Kaufman for her novel The Drunken Botanist. Finding an article in the NY times about a Henry Kaufman leads her to the Kopps. Using an Ancestry.com account she beings to research the Kopp family tree and the rest is history and historical fiction about the sisters is born. You can read the whole article Publisher Weekly-Finding Fiction in Facts: Amy Stewart
. You never know where genealogy will take you.
The strong female characters and historical accuracy in era, mores and locale continue to make this series engaging reading. As the series takes you back to the early years of the twentieth century you can't help but note the differences in time with sprinklings of things that remain. Only woe is we'll have to wait a bit for the next adventure, but some interesting changes seem on the horizon for Constance and her sisters, Norma and Fleurette.
There are several story lines to follow as Constance Kopp goes about her daily business as the only female deputy and matron in the Hackensack, NJ jail. My primary interest and seemingly most important theme this outing was the order of a judge to commit the wife of a prominent citizen to an asylum without due cause let alone an examination by a physician. This issue, a way to lock up unwanted women has been explored in other fiction. Deputy Kopp takes this malpractice to the another level when she intervenes on the woman's behalf. You know this is not going to sit well with the powers that be. The political aspirations not so much of Sheriff Heath, but of his wife, Cordelia, were a close second in keeping me entertained.
My interest in genealogy was piqued when reading an article that explains the inspiration for this series based on fact but woven smartly into fiction. While fact checking information about a gin smuggler, Henry Kaufman for her novel The Drunken Botanist. Finding an article in the NY times about a Henry Kaufman leads her to the Kopps. Using an Ancestry.com account she beings to research the Kopp family tree and the rest is history and historical fiction about the sisters is born. You can read the whole article Publisher Weekly-Finding Fiction in Facts: Amy Stewart
. You never know where genealogy will take you.
June 15, 2019
3.5 stars
Another cute caper by the Kopp Sisters. This is book #4 in the series. This series started out based on a real story about Constance Kopp, first female deputy sheriff in Hackensack New Jersey. I believe now, into the fourth book, that maybe fiction has totally taken over.
As we come to the end of Robert Heath's reign as Sheriff we are left with a less than fulfilling ending. Constance is up in the air as to what her future will be. The new man voted in as Sheriff does not believe that there is any need for a female matron at his jail.
After a heroic rescue of a hand cuffed man in the river, helping to release a wronged wife from the insane asylum, and suffering through her sisters building of a traveling pigeon coop, many things are changing for Constance.
I fear that one of the main characters of the book may on his way out - which would be a shame. But book #5 Kopp Sisters on the March is already published - so off to the library to see how this series will continue....
Another cute caper by the Kopp Sisters. This is book #4 in the series. This series started out based on a real story about Constance Kopp, first female deputy sheriff in Hackensack New Jersey. I believe now, into the fourth book, that maybe fiction has totally taken over.
As we come to the end of Robert Heath's reign as Sheriff we are left with a less than fulfilling ending. Constance is up in the air as to what her future will be. The new man voted in as Sheriff does not believe that there is any need for a female matron at his jail.
After a heroic rescue of a hand cuffed man in the river, helping to release a wronged wife from the insane asylum, and suffering through her sisters building of a traveling pigeon coop, many things are changing for Constance.
I fear that one of the main characters of the book may on his way out - which would be a shame. But book #5 Kopp Sisters on the March is already published - so off to the library to see how this series will continue....
December 5, 2018
First Sentence: On the day I took Anna Kayser to the insane asylum, I was first obliged to catch a thief.
Deputy Constance Kopp is a target of politicians who don't believe women belong on the police force. With her boss, Sheriff Heath, running for higher office, she is in a precarious position. Jumping into a river at night to save a prisoner who escaped from another officer is bad but becoming personally involved in the case of a wife whose husband repeatedly commits her to the local mental asylum puts her at risk of losing her job.
What a wonderful character is Constance Kopp. At one moment she's chasing down a thief, saving a man from a raging river, making the female prisoners as comfortable as she can, and worried about a woman being taken against her choice, to an insane alyssum for the fourth or fifth time. However, the most important thing one must know about Constance Kopp is that she was a real person, 6 feet tall, and believed that--"A woman should have the right to do any sort of work she wants to, provided she can do it.” Many other characters in the book were also real people. [https://www.amystewart.com/characters/] One may find that this, and that the newspaper stories, too, are real, makes the book even more fascinating. They are a true look at both life during this period and a woman's life during this time.
How nice to have an opening which makes one smile. Even better is how distinct is Stewart's voice. Not every author can give the impression that the story is being told just to one personally, and with such clarity that perfect visual images are created—"…there I happened to be, in my uniform, equipped with a gun, handcuffs, and a badge. I did what any officer of the law would do: I tucked my handbag under my arm, gathered my skirts in my hands, and ran him down." That wonderful combination is further topped by a touch of humor'—"The boy was too engrossed or slow-witted to step out of the way. I'm sorry to say I shoved him down to the ground, rather roughly. I hated to do it, but children are sturdy and quick to heal."
One doesn't often think about the women who would be in jail and the various reasons why they would be there. This was a time of unions and workers' strikes, but it was also a time when a man could have his wife committed for long periods of time, for "nervous hysteria," with only his words and the substantiation of a friendly doctor. Stewart so captures the sexism and pomposity of some of her characters, it's difficult for one not to be incensed. This was also the period leading up to World War I with anti-European sentiment, particularly against Germans, Poles and Austrians, and Constance's sister Norma designing a traveling cart for homing pigeons, and Fleurette wanting to entertain the those learning to be soldiers.
Stewart is very good at weaving together the numerous threads of the story. They mesh beautifully, yet each is distinct, and the finished cloth only adds to the reality of the story. The twist may have been anticipated, but it was nonetheless effective when it came. It does lead to a very interesting turn of events that is even relevant today. The use of actual newspaper stories is both interesting to see for the journalistic style of the time, and for the reality it brings to the story.
There really are some brilliant lines—"I wish I could say that we left Mr. Courter speechless, but an incompetent man is never without another terrible idea." The secondary characters of Constance's family add both veracity and richness to the story. One can't help but like Bessie, the blunt and pragmatic sister-in-law.
"Miss Kopp Just Won't Quit" is another wonderful book within a fascinating series. The ending and the promise of the next phase of life for the Kopp sisters is perfect and enticing. Don't forget to read the Historical Notes and Sources.
MISS KOPP JUST WON'T QUIT (HistMys-Constance Kopp-New Jersey-1916) – VG+
Stewart, Amy – 4th in series
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt – Sept 2018
Deputy Constance Kopp is a target of politicians who don't believe women belong on the police force. With her boss, Sheriff Heath, running for higher office, she is in a precarious position. Jumping into a river at night to save a prisoner who escaped from another officer is bad but becoming personally involved in the case of a wife whose husband repeatedly commits her to the local mental asylum puts her at risk of losing her job.
What a wonderful character is Constance Kopp. At one moment she's chasing down a thief, saving a man from a raging river, making the female prisoners as comfortable as she can, and worried about a woman being taken against her choice, to an insane alyssum for the fourth or fifth time. However, the most important thing one must know about Constance Kopp is that she was a real person, 6 feet tall, and believed that--"A woman should have the right to do any sort of work she wants to, provided she can do it.” Many other characters in the book were also real people. [https://www.amystewart.com/characters/] One may find that this, and that the newspaper stories, too, are real, makes the book even more fascinating. They are a true look at both life during this period and a woman's life during this time.
How nice to have an opening which makes one smile. Even better is how distinct is Stewart's voice. Not every author can give the impression that the story is being told just to one personally, and with such clarity that perfect visual images are created—"…there I happened to be, in my uniform, equipped with a gun, handcuffs, and a badge. I did what any officer of the law would do: I tucked my handbag under my arm, gathered my skirts in my hands, and ran him down." That wonderful combination is further topped by a touch of humor'—"The boy was too engrossed or slow-witted to step out of the way. I'm sorry to say I shoved him down to the ground, rather roughly. I hated to do it, but children are sturdy and quick to heal."
One doesn't often think about the women who would be in jail and the various reasons why they would be there. This was a time of unions and workers' strikes, but it was also a time when a man could have his wife committed for long periods of time, for "nervous hysteria," with only his words and the substantiation of a friendly doctor. Stewart so captures the sexism and pomposity of some of her characters, it's difficult for one not to be incensed. This was also the period leading up to World War I with anti-European sentiment, particularly against Germans, Poles and Austrians, and Constance's sister Norma designing a traveling cart for homing pigeons, and Fleurette wanting to entertain the those learning to be soldiers.
Stewart is very good at weaving together the numerous threads of the story. They mesh beautifully, yet each is distinct, and the finished cloth only adds to the reality of the story. The twist may have been anticipated, but it was nonetheless effective when it came. It does lead to a very interesting turn of events that is even relevant today. The use of actual newspaper stories is both interesting to see for the journalistic style of the time, and for the reality it brings to the story.
There really are some brilliant lines—"I wish I could say that we left Mr. Courter speechless, but an incompetent man is never without another terrible idea." The secondary characters of Constance's family add both veracity and richness to the story. One can't help but like Bessie, the blunt and pragmatic sister-in-law.
"Miss Kopp Just Won't Quit" is another wonderful book within a fascinating series. The ending and the promise of the next phase of life for the Kopp sisters is perfect and enticing. Don't forget to read the Historical Notes and Sources.
MISS KOPP JUST WON'T QUIT (HistMys-Constance Kopp-New Jersey-1916) – VG+
Stewart, Amy – 4th in series
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt – Sept 2018
July 4, 2019
I have come to greaty enjoy Amy Stewart’s extremely well-researched historical fiction series about kick-ass lady deputy Constance Kopp and her sisters during the era of World War I. They were real people, and the story is based on newspaper accounts and records of the time. The stories of the inmates were based real stories of people of this era. The election, the attacks on Miss Kopp and Sheriff Heath, who hired and stood by her, are all real, as the judge, John Coulter, and most other supporting characters. She also drips in many interesting details of contemporary life, such as the full description of a society lady’s wardobe, complete with undergarments, during the equally detailed description of the bathing and de-lousing regimen to which the Hackensack jail subjected all new inmates. Hats off to Amy Stewart for her incredible research!
The story of this installment centers around the election, which will significantly change the life of all major characters. Sheriff Heath is leaving the office and running for Congress. John Coulter launches a vicious campaign against him, using Constance as a weapon. Constance is a remarkably good and very brave deputy - never fails to chase down a suspect; she risks her life and the soiled waters of the river to save an inmate, for which a male deputy would have received a medal, but she is denied, and the Sheriff is chastized over letting an inmate escape and having a lady deputy. Miss Kopp is excellent at her job - only to find each of her accomplishments turned against her and the Sheriff. As a woman in a profession dominated by men (software development), I can very much relate to the situation. The sad truth is that the more competent a woman is in her job, the more men hate and undermine her. Not the self-assured, empathetic men - usually the insecure, incompetent, or disaffected men. Misogyny is a way to channel self-hatred or resentment outwards.
The other storyline, as in the previous books, follows a case illustrating how vulnerable and defenseless were women to the malice of men. Miss Kopp is charged to escort Anna Kayser to the insane asylum - and immediately smells something amiss. Mrs. Kayser does not look the least bit insane. Apparently at that time a woman could be committed by her husband just by going to a judge and having a doctor say the woman is insane. This particular doctor did not even examine Anna, and she did not even know she was going to be committed. Asylums themselves were terrible places, where once you were in, you were treated as insane, no matter of your actual mental state. Being upset over being locked up was a sure sign of insanity - and being subjected to horrrendous “treatments”, patients ended up going mad eventually. In this particular case (also based on a true story) Miss Kopp manages to prove the husband’s wrongdoing, but in the vast majority of cases the husband’s word was the only proof needed. This reminded me of The Woman in White, which also centers around a woman in an asylum, completely subjugated to men, who could, and did, destroy them physically, financially, mentally, morally. A woman had no recourse against a man’s word.
As reading experience, the Kopp sisters book are all easy reads, with an engaging plot and lovingly drawn characters, rich in historical and personal detail. The writing, like Constance, is competent but no frills. Amy Stewart clearly loves the Kopp sisters and spends quite a bit on character development - however I feel that the characters, while not flat, have each significant blind spots - they are somewhat lopsided. The sisters and Sheriff Heath all seem rather naive in certain areas. Constance and Sheriff Heath are too good-natured and wanting always to do the right thing. Norma’s character is dominated by pidgeons and stubborn determination. Fleurette does quite a bit of growing up, but still, mostly a charming but flighty girl. John Coulter is the embodiment of mean-spiritedness. While Stewart does an ok job in drawing enjoyable characters, I can’t help wishing they were more rounded.
Overall, this was the hardest read in the series for me because of the constant mean attacks on Constance, especially when she received unfair criticism for truly heroic behavior, or when the sheriff was attacked for being lenient with the prisoners because they were kept in humane conditions and received medical assistance. It seems too close to politics today - meanness, name-calling, and good deeds labelled as failures, humanity as weakness. It hit a bit too close to home.
I am looking forward to the next one.
The story of this installment centers around the election, which will significantly change the life of all major characters. Sheriff Heath is leaving the office and running for Congress. John Coulter launches a vicious campaign against him, using Constance as a weapon. Constance is a remarkably good and very brave deputy - never fails to chase down a suspect; she risks her life and the soiled waters of the river to save an inmate, for which a male deputy would have received a medal, but she is denied, and the Sheriff is chastized over letting an inmate escape and having a lady deputy. Miss Kopp is excellent at her job - only to find each of her accomplishments turned against her and the Sheriff. As a woman in a profession dominated by men (software development), I can very much relate to the situation. The sad truth is that the more competent a woman is in her job, the more men hate and undermine her. Not the self-assured, empathetic men - usually the insecure, incompetent, or disaffected men. Misogyny is a way to channel self-hatred or resentment outwards.
The other storyline, as in the previous books, follows a case illustrating how vulnerable and defenseless were women to the malice of men. Miss Kopp is charged to escort Anna Kayser to the insane asylum - and immediately smells something amiss. Mrs. Kayser does not look the least bit insane. Apparently at that time a woman could be committed by her husband just by going to a judge and having a doctor say the woman is insane. This particular doctor did not even examine Anna, and she did not even know she was going to be committed. Asylums themselves were terrible places, where once you were in, you were treated as insane, no matter of your actual mental state. Being upset over being locked up was a sure sign of insanity - and being subjected to horrrendous “treatments”, patients ended up going mad eventually. In this particular case (also based on a true story) Miss Kopp manages to prove the husband’s wrongdoing, but in the vast majority of cases the husband’s word was the only proof needed. This reminded me of The Woman in White, which also centers around a woman in an asylum, completely subjugated to men, who could, and did, destroy them physically, financially, mentally, morally. A woman had no recourse against a man’s word.
As reading experience, the Kopp sisters book are all easy reads, with an engaging plot and lovingly drawn characters, rich in historical and personal detail. The writing, like Constance, is competent but no frills. Amy Stewart clearly loves the Kopp sisters and spends quite a bit on character development - however I feel that the characters, while not flat, have each significant blind spots - they are somewhat lopsided. The sisters and Sheriff Heath all seem rather naive in certain areas. Constance and Sheriff Heath are too good-natured and wanting always to do the right thing. Norma’s character is dominated by pidgeons and stubborn determination. Fleurette does quite a bit of growing up, but still, mostly a charming but flighty girl. John Coulter is the embodiment of mean-spiritedness. While Stewart does an ok job in drawing enjoyable characters, I can’t help wishing they were more rounded.
Overall, this was the hardest read in the series for me because of the constant mean attacks on Constance, especially when she received unfair criticism for truly heroic behavior, or when the sheriff was attacked for being lenient with the prisoners because they were kept in humane conditions and received medical assistance. It seems too close to politics today - meanness, name-calling, and good deeds labelled as failures, humanity as weakness. It hit a bit too close to home.
I am looking forward to the next one.
November 4, 2018
Miss Kopp Just Won’t Quit is the fourth book in the Kopp Sisters series by NYT best-selling American author, Amy Stewart. It’s 1916 and Deputy Constance Kopp has been in the job for over a year. She’s very satisfied with her position as Matron of Hackensack’s jail, looking after the female prisoners. She also finds her role as probation officer for certain wayward girls fulfilling, although she doesn’t hesitate when there’s more active policing necessary. Chasing down a thief or diving into the Hackensack River to rescue an escaped lunatic are all part of the job.
But this is an election year and, while she has no interest whatever in politics, she finds herself, as the only female Sheriff’s Deputy, being used as a pawn in a dirty campaign. Her boss and patron, Sheriff Heath has to vacate his position; his wife insists he run for Congress; everyone assumes Heath’s predecessor, William Conklin will succeed him, but Detective John Courter of the Prosecutor’s Office, the other candidate for Sheriff, denigrates Heath’s achievements in every speech.
Constance Kopp is far more interested in the case of the woman she has had to transport to Morris Plains asylum. Mrs Anna Kayser has been committed by her husband, Charles, on the say-so of a doctor who has not seen her, and to Constance, does not display any traits of lunacy. Deputy Kopp smells a rat.
Readers new to the Kopp Sisters series may be surprised learn from Stewart’s Historical Notes and Sources that Constance Kopp and her sisters were real people, much as described, as are quite a few of the other characters. Many of the events that form the plot also occurred, if not always when stated. Stewart takes the known historical facts and fleshes them out into a marvellous tale.
What won’t amaze is the utter dependence and powerlessness of women at this time in history. Miss Kopp, though, is clever, resourceful and persistent, although not even these qualities can protect her from some adverse events, and the lump that forms in the throat at this turn may catch readers unprepared.
While this is the fourth book in the series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone. However, readers are likely to want to seek out the earlier books, and fans of Miss Kopp will not be disappointed. Let’s hope that Amy Stewart has more of the Sisters Kopp up her sleeve.
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by Scribe Publications.
But this is an election year and, while she has no interest whatever in politics, she finds herself, as the only female Sheriff’s Deputy, being used as a pawn in a dirty campaign. Her boss and patron, Sheriff Heath has to vacate his position; his wife insists he run for Congress; everyone assumes Heath’s predecessor, William Conklin will succeed him, but Detective John Courter of the Prosecutor’s Office, the other candidate for Sheriff, denigrates Heath’s achievements in every speech.
Constance Kopp is far more interested in the case of the woman she has had to transport to Morris Plains asylum. Mrs Anna Kayser has been committed by her husband, Charles, on the say-so of a doctor who has not seen her, and to Constance, does not display any traits of lunacy. Deputy Kopp smells a rat.
Readers new to the Kopp Sisters series may be surprised learn from Stewart’s Historical Notes and Sources that Constance Kopp and her sisters were real people, much as described, as are quite a few of the other characters. Many of the events that form the plot also occurred, if not always when stated. Stewart takes the known historical facts and fleshes them out into a marvellous tale.
What won’t amaze is the utter dependence and powerlessness of women at this time in history. Miss Kopp, though, is clever, resourceful and persistent, although not even these qualities can protect her from some adverse events, and the lump that forms in the throat at this turn may catch readers unprepared.
While this is the fourth book in the series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone. However, readers are likely to want to seek out the earlier books, and fans of Miss Kopp will not be disappointed. Let’s hope that Amy Stewart has more of the Sisters Kopp up her sleeve.
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by Scribe Publications.
December 9, 2019
Constance Kopp has been a deputy sheriff for a year now. Being the only female deputy in Hackensack is no easy feat but Constance loves her job. Along with being deputy, Contance is also the matron of the jail and she looks after the female inmates. Between chasing down criminals and attending to the women, Constance feels at home but its 1916-election year. Sheriff Heath's term will come to an end and Constance can only hope his successor will keep her job. As the opposittion has never liked her or her appointment as deputy (by Sheriff Heath), Constance must try to keep a low profile and make no noise - something much easier said than done.
I have been a fan of the Kopp sister series since I read book number one. I absolutely love the cover art, the monochromatic scheme, bold lettering and layout give them a classic/vintage apperance while still making these book stand out. In the fourth installment we follow Deputy Kopp as the first (and only) female deputy in Hackensack. She is well aware that her appointment is not good news for many but the trust Sheriff Heath has placed in her makes up for all of that. Constance is driven, independent and bold - qualities frowned upon in a woman in 1916. Constance witnesses first hand how the word of a father or husband can land a woman in jail or in the insane asylum. Such is the case with her most recent detainee as Contance is tasked with bringing this woman to the asylum. She sees no signs of lunacy whatsoever and simply can not stand back and follows her instincts. But its election year and while Constance is not the one running, she is a key player. Any misstep on her part and Sheriff Heath will pay, dearly.
This installment was just as good that the ones that came before. I loved the way in which the story unfolded and how the characters shine on these pages. Based on real people and events, Amy Stewart weaves a narrative that is entertaining & fun and also informative & compelling. If I did not know that the Kopp sisters are real, I would say that they are easily among the most fascinating characters in literature. The interactions among the sisters is, without a doubt, one of the best aspects of the book. Man, I just love Norma and her no-nonsense attitude. And what is not to be admired about Sheriff Heath, a man that was well ahead of his contemporaries in his thought. This book shines as much for the historical context as it does for its characters. The writting style is one that feels cozy and well thought-out. The prose flows nicely together and the narrative is one that is certainly memorable. I can not wait to read the next book in the series. As for this one, it was a most worthy read. If you have not read this series yet, what are you waiting for?
I have been a fan of the Kopp sister series since I read book number one. I absolutely love the cover art, the monochromatic scheme, bold lettering and layout give them a classic/vintage apperance while still making these book stand out. In the fourth installment we follow Deputy Kopp as the first (and only) female deputy in Hackensack. She is well aware that her appointment is not good news for many but the trust Sheriff Heath has placed in her makes up for all of that. Constance is driven, independent and bold - qualities frowned upon in a woman in 1916. Constance witnesses first hand how the word of a father or husband can land a woman in jail or in the insane asylum. Such is the case with her most recent detainee as Contance is tasked with bringing this woman to the asylum. She sees no signs of lunacy whatsoever and simply can not stand back and follows her instincts. But its election year and while Constance is not the one running, she is a key player. Any misstep on her part and Sheriff Heath will pay, dearly.
This installment was just as good that the ones that came before. I loved the way in which the story unfolded and how the characters shine on these pages. Based on real people and events, Amy Stewart weaves a narrative that is entertaining & fun and also informative & compelling. If I did not know that the Kopp sisters are real, I would say that they are easily among the most fascinating characters in literature. The interactions among the sisters is, without a doubt, one of the best aspects of the book. Man, I just love Norma and her no-nonsense attitude. And what is not to be admired about Sheriff Heath, a man that was well ahead of his contemporaries in his thought. This book shines as much for the historical context as it does for its characters. The writting style is one that feels cozy and well thought-out. The prose flows nicely together and the narrative is one that is certainly memorable. I can not wait to read the next book in the series. As for this one, it was a most worthy read. If you have not read this series yet, what are you waiting for?
August 30, 2018
I was really sad when this book was over because I really wanted to know what is going to happen next to the Kopp sisters, Constance, Norma and Fleurette. They were at such an interesting turning point in their lives and I can't wait to see what happens next. What makes this such an interesting series is that it is based on a real life character who was the first female deputy sheriff in New Jersey in 1916 before women had the right to vote.
They were raised by their reclusive mother in the country with little contact with the outside world. The older girls, Constance and Norma, have troubles interacting with society niceties. Fleurette, budding actress, singer and dressmaker, more than makes up for their short comings. Still, it's Constance who is the deputy sheriff who makes a difference.
She saves an escaping prisoner from drowning, sets up a woman's parole system, and rescues a woman whose husband has send her to the mental institution. Apparently postpartum depression and menopause are good reasons to lock up women for 20 years and give them truly terrible treatments including lobotomies. Still her job is on the line as it's election time. The law only allows the sheriff to only serve one term and then must leave office. One of the candidates has taken a violent dislike to Miss Kopp, mostly because she's a woman.
This is such a depiction of the times and really spells out the terrible things women endured. It reminds us how far we've come in a hundred years thanks to real life pioneers like Miss Kopp. It's not just a great history lesson but tells a rollicking good story.
Even though it's number 4 in the series, it can easily be read as a stand alone and, frankly, I think it's the best one so far. I can barely wait for the next one. Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book. It was a delight.
They were raised by their reclusive mother in the country with little contact with the outside world. The older girls, Constance and Norma, have troubles interacting with society niceties. Fleurette, budding actress, singer and dressmaker, more than makes up for their short comings. Still, it's Constance who is the deputy sheriff who makes a difference.
She saves an escaping prisoner from drowning, sets up a woman's parole system, and rescues a woman whose husband has send her to the mental institution. Apparently postpartum depression and menopause are good reasons to lock up women for 20 years and give them truly terrible treatments including lobotomies. Still her job is on the line as it's election time. The law only allows the sheriff to only serve one term and then must leave office. One of the candidates has taken a violent dislike to Miss Kopp, mostly because she's a woman.
This is such a depiction of the times and really spells out the terrible things women endured. It reminds us how far we've come in a hundred years thanks to real life pioneers like Miss Kopp. It's not just a great history lesson but tells a rollicking good story.
Even though it's number 4 in the series, it can easily be read as a stand alone and, frankly, I think it's the best one so far. I can barely wait for the next one. Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book. It was a delight.
April 4, 2018
Another excellent book about Constance Kopp, a ground breaking woman deputy in Hackensack, NJ at the beginning of the 20th century. Using the historical record about the real Miss Kopp, Amy Stewart continues a fiction series aiming to flesh out Deputy Kopp and draws her readers in with every book. Deputy Kopp is starting to feel like she knows what she is doing and is expanding her duties into ways that she feels is helping women who need help. The one problem is that Sheriff Heath (who hired her) is coming to the end of his term. He can't succeed himself so he is running for Congress and the former sheriff is running to take his place. Deputy Kopp will miss him but she feels that she has made a place for herself and that she will continue on with the new sheriff. However, she does feel the need to try and stay out of the newspapers until the election which is a very hard thing for her to do. The local press treats her as good copy and they are always on the lookout for a story about the lady deputy. All of the books about Deputy Kopp have been good but this one seems to be the best so far.
April 25, 2018
I love this unique and clever series loosely based on the real Constance Kopp. However in this installment, there are numerous plot lines, and I struggled to follow some of them and was not particularly intrigued by others. The story is set during 1916 which is an election year for Kopp’s boss Sheriff Heath, and I felt the portion of the story devoted to the election was the least interesting and the most detailed. Every series has its ups and downs, and I look forward to the next book in the series and hope the focus is back on Constance Kopp and her sisters and less on other smaller characters.
August 28, 2018
In book four, Constance is busy kicking butt and taking names as usual! One evening she's sent with Deputy Morris to accompany two people being committed to the Morris Plains Asylum.
She arrives at the home of Anna Kayser, who is being committed to the asylum by her husband and physician, and immediately feels that something isn't right; Anna is clearly not insane and Constance's instincts tell her that she needs to look deeper into the woman's story.
When a storm prevents Deputies Kopp and Morris from making it to the asylum, they return to the Hackensack jail to detain Mrs. Kayser and their inmate Tony Hajnacka until the next day. Tony takes off and jumps into the river and Constance follows, saving him from drowning.
Constance's bravery puts her name in the headlines once again to the dismay of Sheriff Heath's wife who doesn't want too much attention on the sheriff's office during the election season.
Sheriff Heath is running for congress and Constance feels her job as deputy is uncertain since most men are unable to pull their heads out of their butts and realize women can do the same job as a man.
The escape of another inmate on Constance's watch draws criticism from the opposing party. Her arch nemesis, prosecutor John Courter, is running for sheriff and is hellbent on dragging the reputations of Sheriff Heath and Constance through the mud.
When Sheriff Heath requests a medal to acknowledge Constance's heroic act, Courter is front and center to accuse the female deputy of being unable to control those in her custody, putting the focus on the escape and not the bravery in saving the mentally incompetent man from drowning.
Shaking off the continued criticism, Constance enlists the help of Geraldine, a female attorney she met during a previous case (in book two, Lady Cop Makes Trouble) to look into Anna Kayser's story. Anna's husband has had her committed to Morris Plains multiple times over the years, each time bringing in a different housekeeper to look after his children. Constance and Geraldine's detective works pays off, leading to a strong case against Mr. Kayser.
Constance is busy looking out for the women who have no voice and little power over their lives. She's working new cases while continuing to check up on those on probation, hoping to make a difference in their lives. The future of her career is uncertain and the validity of her work is continuously questioned by men who refuse to see a woman as deserving basic human rights.
When the ballots are counted on election night, who will be the new sheriff of Hackensack County? Will Constance have a job to return to?
I'm not giving any spoilers in this review, I'll only say I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!
And what Kopp sisters novel would be complete without the adventures of Norma and Fleurette? Norma has plenty of ideas on how to help in the war effort (involving her pigeons, naturally) and Fleurette still maintains a brush with show business, employed as a seamstress for a movie studio thanks to her connection with May Ward (from book three, Miss Kopp's Midnight Confessions).
This was another excellent historical fiction meets cozy mystery novel loosely based on actual events and the lives of the real Kopp sisters. Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Edelweiss for providing me with a DRC in exchange for my honest review. Miss Kopp Just Won't Quit is scheduled for release on September 11, 2018.
For more full reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
She arrives at the home of Anna Kayser, who is being committed to the asylum by her husband and physician, and immediately feels that something isn't right; Anna is clearly not insane and Constance's instincts tell her that she needs to look deeper into the woman's story.
When a storm prevents Deputies Kopp and Morris from making it to the asylum, they return to the Hackensack jail to detain Mrs. Kayser and their inmate Tony Hajnacka until the next day. Tony takes off and jumps into the river and Constance follows, saving him from drowning.
Constance's bravery puts her name in the headlines once again to the dismay of Sheriff Heath's wife who doesn't want too much attention on the sheriff's office during the election season.
Sheriff Heath is running for congress and Constance feels her job as deputy is uncertain since most men are unable to pull their heads out of their butts and realize women can do the same job as a man.
The escape of another inmate on Constance's watch draws criticism from the opposing party. Her arch nemesis, prosecutor John Courter, is running for sheriff and is hellbent on dragging the reputations of Sheriff Heath and Constance through the mud.
When Sheriff Heath requests a medal to acknowledge Constance's heroic act, Courter is front and center to accuse the female deputy of being unable to control those in her custody, putting the focus on the escape and not the bravery in saving the mentally incompetent man from drowning.
Shaking off the continued criticism, Constance enlists the help of Geraldine, a female attorney she met during a previous case (in book two, Lady Cop Makes Trouble) to look into Anna Kayser's story. Anna's husband has had her committed to Morris Plains multiple times over the years, each time bringing in a different housekeeper to look after his children. Constance and Geraldine's detective works pays off, leading to a strong case against Mr. Kayser.
Constance is busy looking out for the women who have no voice and little power over their lives. She's working new cases while continuing to check up on those on probation, hoping to make a difference in their lives. The future of her career is uncertain and the validity of her work is continuously questioned by men who refuse to see a woman as deserving basic human rights.
When the ballots are counted on election night, who will be the new sheriff of Hackensack County? Will Constance have a job to return to?
I'm not giving any spoilers in this review, I'll only say I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!
And what Kopp sisters novel would be complete without the adventures of Norma and Fleurette? Norma has plenty of ideas on how to help in the war effort (involving her pigeons, naturally) and Fleurette still maintains a brush with show business, employed as a seamstress for a movie studio thanks to her connection with May Ward (from book three, Miss Kopp's Midnight Confessions).
This was another excellent historical fiction meets cozy mystery novel loosely based on actual events and the lives of the real Kopp sisters. Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Edelweiss for providing me with a DRC in exchange for my honest review. Miss Kopp Just Won't Quit is scheduled for release on September 11, 2018.
For more full reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
April 23, 2022
Review pending
September 17, 2018
Miss Kopp
Keep ‘em coming, Amy! I couldn’t read this fast enough. Loved it all, and I’ve loved the whole series. Wonderful historical fiction that combines social issues of the day (some of which have persisted for the past 100 years) as well as a spunky, no-nonsense heroine — a woman well ahead of her time with respect to women’s rights and abilities. I’m crazy about Constance Kopp!
I’m sure, from the way this one ends, that a #5 is on the way. Fingers crossed. I read most books (especially fiction) on the Kindle these days. But I’ve bought all of the Miss Kopp books in hardcover and will keep pre-ordering any future titles.
Several readers here have provided a synopsis. And it’s fairly easy to find more information about how Amy Stewart found the Kopp sisters’ story and came to write these books. For starters, take a look at Carol Kubala’s review here. And see Finding Fiction in Facts: Amy Stewart.
Or listen to the interview with Amy Stewart on The Avid Reader podcast.
Keep ‘em coming, Amy! I couldn’t read this fast enough. Loved it all, and I’ve loved the whole series. Wonderful historical fiction that combines social issues of the day (some of which have persisted for the past 100 years) as well as a spunky, no-nonsense heroine — a woman well ahead of her time with respect to women’s rights and abilities. I’m crazy about Constance Kopp!
I’m sure, from the way this one ends, that a #5 is on the way. Fingers crossed. I read most books (especially fiction) on the Kindle these days. But I’ve bought all of the Miss Kopp books in hardcover and will keep pre-ordering any future titles.
Several readers here have provided a synopsis. And it’s fairly easy to find more information about how Amy Stewart found the Kopp sisters’ story and came to write these books. For starters, take a look at Carol Kubala’s review here. And see Finding Fiction in Facts: Amy Stewart.
Or listen to the interview with Amy Stewart on The Avid Reader podcast.
September 29, 2018
Four books in, the Kopp Sisters series is going strong! Constance Kopp is an independent, strong, career woman -- at a time when these were not considered desirable attributes for a female. She works as a deputy sheriff at the Hackensack jail, where she essentially does double duty, both capturing criminals and carrying out deputy funtions, and serving as the jail's matron for female inmates, whom she views as her charges.
Both Sheriff Heath -- a fair-minded man who treats Constance as a colleague and professional, a rarity in the law-enforcement world -- and Constance believe in prison reform, the idea that treating prisoners as people with options for redemption will actually lead to less crime overall. Constance takes a particular interest in the young women who often find themselves incarcerated for being wayward or otherwise uncontrollable, working with a sympathetic judge to get them released on probation, under her supervision, and finding them safe living situations, opportunities for decent work, and the chance to educate themselves and improve their lives.
All this is threatened by the 1916 elections. Sheriff Heath has termed out of his role and is running for Congress, and the sheriff's position is hotly contested beween a man who detests Constance and a man who sees her as a cute affectation. In describing the tone of the campaign, author Amy Stewart adeptly shows how dirty politics isn't new to today's political climate. Sheriff Heath, perhaps naively, believes that elections can be won or lost on the merits of a candidate:
If only.
As always, Constance Kopp -- who is a real person, and whose history Amy Stewart draws upon for the events of the novel -- is a stunningly strong, honest, and dedicated woman. She believes in her purpose, and constantly puts her own interests second to her duty to the public and to her inmates. In Miss Kopp Just Won't Quit, we spend a bit less time with Constance's sisters Norma and Fleurette, who feature much more prominently in earlier books. Still, their home life and interesting personality dynamics are always entertaining to read about.
By the end of the novel, circumstances have changed dramatically for the Kopp sisters, and it would appear that their lives are about to enter an entirely new phase. And while I'm sad to see the partnership between Constance and Sheriff Heath reach an ending of sorts for the moment, I'm still as invested as ever in these people and their lives, and can't wait to see where they go and what they do next.
PS - I listened to the audiobook, and highly recommend it! The narrator is terrific.
Both Sheriff Heath -- a fair-minded man who treats Constance as a colleague and professional, a rarity in the law-enforcement world -- and Constance believe in prison reform, the idea that treating prisoners as people with options for redemption will actually lead to less crime overall. Constance takes a particular interest in the young women who often find themselves incarcerated for being wayward or otherwise uncontrollable, working with a sympathetic judge to get them released on probation, under her supervision, and finding them safe living situations, opportunities for decent work, and the chance to educate themselves and improve their lives.
All this is threatened by the 1916 elections. Sheriff Heath has termed out of his role and is running for Congress, and the sheriff's position is hotly contested beween a man who detests Constance and a man who sees her as a cute affectation. In describing the tone of the campaign, author Amy Stewart adeptly shows how dirty politics isn't new to today's political climate. Sheriff Heath, perhaps naively, believes that elections can be won or lost on the merits of a candidate:
"Miss Kopp, Don't you see that it's better for us this way? He's putting all his worst qualities right out on display for the public to see. You notice that he hasn't said a word about what a sheriff's actual duties might be, or why he's best qualified to carry them out. A man who does nothing but cast out hate and blame couldn't possibly be elected to office."
If only.
As always, Constance Kopp -- who is a real person, and whose history Amy Stewart draws upon for the events of the novel -- is a stunningly strong, honest, and dedicated woman. She believes in her purpose, and constantly puts her own interests second to her duty to the public and to her inmates. In Miss Kopp Just Won't Quit, we spend a bit less time with Constance's sisters Norma and Fleurette, who feature much more prominently in earlier books. Still, their home life and interesting personality dynamics are always entertaining to read about.
By the end of the novel, circumstances have changed dramatically for the Kopp sisters, and it would appear that their lives are about to enter an entirely new phase. And while I'm sad to see the partnership between Constance and Sheriff Heath reach an ending of sorts for the moment, I'm still as invested as ever in these people and their lives, and can't wait to see where they go and what they do next.
PS - I listened to the audiobook, and highly recommend it! The narrator is terrific.
September 27, 2018
This might be my favorite book I've read all year, and it's book FOUR in a series. That's unheard of. But, I love these books.
The inter-dynamics between the three sisters, Constance, Norma and Fleurette continues to be a delight and also very sweet how they love and annoy each other. I'd love to live next door to these sisters and snoop on their conversations about pigeons and dresses and who ate all the roast beef. What I love about them, among other things, is how it is never that Fleurette, or any of them, should find a husband to give them financial security. I've read all the books and that makes perfect sense, and it's so refreshing they have each other for support (even if their brother wants to put them into a tiny cottage to sit and molder).
Constance's dedication to her job, despite having to deal with sexist men at every damn turn, yes girl. These books are resonating with women today by reminding us of the long history of undervaluing women. Heck, I don't enjoy posting on social media because random dudes feel like every app should be a dating site, even when you make it really clear that you're married and not interested. And then they try to make you feel like an asshole because they were just 'being nice.' Whatever, dude, trying being a woman on the internet and see how you enjoy being followed and friended by every "nice guy" out there. Reading this book reminds me that these are minor irritations, as I don't have men telling me every day I'm not good at my job because of my gender. Now getting respect on my check is another matter, but at least I can do my job.
The dialogue in this book is spectacular. I listened on audiobook, again. The reader does an amazing job, and I nearly drove off the road laughing several times. For a book brimming with hardships and tough social commentary, it never fails to give me a smile as well. My favorite line was something like, "If I had to stop to scold every masher on the street, I'd never get anything done." So true. I want that on a t-shirt.
The inter-dynamics between the three sisters, Constance, Norma and Fleurette continues to be a delight and also very sweet how they love and annoy each other. I'd love to live next door to these sisters and snoop on their conversations about pigeons and dresses and who ate all the roast beef. What I love about them, among other things, is how it is never that Fleurette, or any of them, should find a husband to give them financial security. I've read all the books and that makes perfect sense, and it's so refreshing they have each other for support (even if their brother wants to put them into a tiny cottage to sit and molder).
Constance's dedication to her job, despite having to deal with sexist men at every damn turn, yes girl. These books are resonating with women today by reminding us of the long history of undervaluing women. Heck, I don't enjoy posting on social media because random dudes feel like every app should be a dating site, even when you make it really clear that you're married and not interested. And then they try to make you feel like an asshole because they were just 'being nice.' Whatever, dude, trying being a woman on the internet and see how you enjoy being followed and friended by every "nice guy" out there. Reading this book reminds me that these are minor irritations, as I don't have men telling me every day I'm not good at my job because of my gender. Now getting respect on my check is another matter, but at least I can do my job.
The dialogue in this book is spectacular. I listened on audiobook, again. The reader does an amazing job, and I nearly drove off the road laughing several times. For a book brimming with hardships and tough social commentary, it never fails to give me a smile as well. My favorite line was something like, "If I had to stop to scold every masher on the street, I'd never get anything done." So true. I want that on a t-shirt.
Read
December 3, 2018Suspenseful … boasts a deeper emphasis on character, politics, and social issues. A must for Constance’s growing fan base.
Booklist, starred review
Stewart's intrepid deputy sheriff is back, this time enmeshed in a 1916 local election with uncomfortable contemporary resonance … Constance may just have turned 40, but this tough-minded, generous-hearted believer in second chances and equal rights for women looks set for many more adventures. A welcome addition to this sui generis series, always fresh thanks to its vividly imagined characters firmly grounded in historical fact.
Kirkus, starred review
Stewart skillfully builds nail-biting suspense … The blend of practicality, forthrightness, and compassion in her first-person narration is sure to satisfy series fans and win new admirers.
Publishers Weekly
Miss Kopp Just Won’t Quit is everything I look for in solid historical fiction … Constance Kopp makes a fierce and lively heroine who stands out as a “strong female character” in all the
best ways.
Dee Carey, Half-deserted Streets
The talented author has made a well-researched, rollicking story out of the three of them and Sheriff Heath, so that the reader can experience a flavour of life for women in the early 1900s in New Jersey just before the war.
Caitlln Hicks, New York Journal of Books
The books are based on actual events with characters and deeds embellished to create marvellous historical novels. The present book finds Constance as both deputy and matron of the female prisoners at the Hackensack county jail in the autumn of 1916. Though she often sleeps at the jail, she still lives on the farm with her sisters ... the novel excels in revisiting a vanished time, place and sensibility.
Katherine A. Powers, The Washington Post
Booklist, starred review
Stewart's intrepid deputy sheriff is back, this time enmeshed in a 1916 local election with uncomfortable contemporary resonance … Constance may just have turned 40, but this tough-minded, generous-hearted believer in second chances and equal rights for women looks set for many more adventures. A welcome addition to this sui generis series, always fresh thanks to its vividly imagined characters firmly grounded in historical fact.
Kirkus, starred review
Stewart skillfully builds nail-biting suspense … The blend of practicality, forthrightness, and compassion in her first-person narration is sure to satisfy series fans and win new admirers.
Publishers Weekly
Miss Kopp Just Won’t Quit is everything I look for in solid historical fiction … Constance Kopp makes a fierce and lively heroine who stands out as a “strong female character” in all the
best ways.
Dee Carey, Half-deserted Streets
The talented author has made a well-researched, rollicking story out of the three of them and Sheriff Heath, so that the reader can experience a flavour of life for women in the early 1900s in New Jersey just before the war.
Caitlln Hicks, New York Journal of Books
The books are based on actual events with characters and deeds embellished to create marvellous historical novels. The present book finds Constance as both deputy and matron of the female prisoners at the Hackensack county jail in the autumn of 1916. Though she often sleeps at the jail, she still lives on the farm with her sisters ... the novel excels in revisiting a vanished time, place and sensibility.
Katherine A. Powers, The Washington Post
December 21, 2019
All the stars! This is one of my favorite series ever, and this is the best installment yet. Constance Kopp is one of the best characters out there and we get to see her in a somewhat different light in this book. In general I would describe the series as somewhat serious romps as Constance follows a case and has humorous interactions with her sisters, but there are also important and weighty reflections on issues women faced at this time in history. But this book, THIS BOOK. Besides the usual storylines, a major theme in this book is grief and depression following a loss of something that had been central to one's identity. It's so tender and emotional and raw, that I can't really think of anything intelligent to say about it because I am still so deep in my feelings, having just finished it. I just want to yell at everyone to read this series, but certainly don't start with this one--it's best appreciated in order. Thank you Amy Stewart for bringing us this character, both for shedding light on a little-known historical figure and for everything that's wonderful about the fictional version of Constance (and her sisters) that you have brought to life. 💜💜💜
(And as I listen to this series on Audible, a shout out to Christina Moore for her superb narration!)
(And as I listen to this series on Audible, a shout out to Christina Moore for her superb narration!)
March 20, 2023
I loved this spirited novel, the fourth in what must be an excellent adventure of a series featuring female cop, Constance Kopp and her sisters as well as a colorful cast of characters. This historically accurate series is great for fans of Maisie Dobbs and Stephanie Plum - I love the fearless female who stops at nothing to solve the mystery and overcomes all odds to be the heroine of her own story. Amy Stewart is a best-selling author (The Drunken Botanist), and this is her fourth Constance Kopp installment. I highly recommend this suspenseful, adventurous historical fiction that is based on true events. Go to Amy Stewart's website https://www.amystewart.com/, to read all about how she came up with the Kopp stories and for really interesting materials if you would like to add her titles as book club selections.
February 26, 2020
A fun and light mystery even if it seems I did start with the 4th one in the series. So it was easy to follow regardless and can be read as a stand alone. I personally think this should have a lot more ratings then it currently does as its highly entertaining.
I think I'll read more by this author.
I think I'll read more by this author.
October 5, 2018
I hope this isn't the last one of these books, but if I follow the actual biographies of Constance Kopp and Sheriff Heath, I'm afraid it is. I so look forward to these episodes. It's ironic how what happens in a book of fiction parallels what is happening in real life.
October 8, 2018
Thank you to the author, Amy Stewart and The Kopp Sisters Literary Society for an advance reading copy of this fourth novel in the series. This novel takes place in the Fall as the election for Sheriff and Congress looms closer. Sheriff Heath is term limited and is now running for Congress which leads to much stress for Constance Kopp, the first female Deputy in Hackensack, New Jersey. The men both running for Sheriff are not happy with the idea of a female Deputy and the cases and situations in this book, do not always help her cause. The newspapers treat her in a very sensational manner, making news out of situations that would not even be reported if a male deputy was involved. Constance's sisters continue on their paths; Constance working with her homing pigeons, working on making them part of the US was effort and Fleurette continuing to work as a seamstress with huge plans for the future. This book moved with more pace than book 3 and now I have to wait until next year for book 5 in the series.
May 16, 2020
This was such a fun, fast read! I am happy to report that I liked it MUCH better than book three in this series, Miss Kopp's Midnight Confessions. Largely because this was once again written in first person in Constance Kopp's voice, which is so delightful.
I'm so glad this book returned to the fun, engaging form set by the first two books. I don't think I liked it quite as well as book two, Lady Cop Makes Trouble, but I might have liked it just as much as book one, Girl Waits with Gun. Book five is sitting on my TBR shelves, and I'm now very much looking forward to reading it!
I'm so glad this book returned to the fun, engaging form set by the first two books. I don't think I liked it quite as well as book two, Lady Cop Makes Trouble, but I might have liked it just as much as book one, Girl Waits with Gun. Book five is sitting on my TBR shelves, and I'm now very much looking forward to reading it!
July 12, 2024
I always enjoy Amy Stewart's tales of the Kopp Sisters and I become more attached to them with each installment. I especially appreciate the historical notes included at the end of each book.
Ratings:
Writing 4
Story line 4
Characters 5
Impact 4
Overall rating 4.25
Ratings:
Writing 4
Story line 4
Characters 5
Impact 4
Overall rating 4.25
October 18, 2018
The fourth novel in the Miss Kopp series by Amy Stewart is a strange story. It is promoted as a mystery (all the series is), but it is hardly one. I mean, there is a mystery - not a very mysterious one - but that’s not the main plot. In fact there are a few threads running alongside each other and in the end they do all come together, but so late in the story that for the most part I kept wondering what was this story I was being told all about.
This is not to say I didn’t enjoy it. It’s a good one, with a great pace, a fantastic historical reconstruction (in the acknowledgements at the end, Stewart tells about the actual history behind these events. I was very impressed). The characters are nice and relatable. There’s everything that a story should have, but that separate threads gave me a sense of “unfocusness”, if this makes any sense.
This is the only novel I’ve read in this series, but my impression is that this is a story of passage from one stage of Constance’s life to another, and so it seems to serve the overarching structure of the series rather than the single novel. As a first time reader, this baffled me, but I’m sure if I had followed the story from the start, it would make a lot more sense.
I really really like the historical setting. It is clear that the author is completely at ease in it. There are so many details about Constance’s everyday life that help the setting come to life in a way not many historical writers ever achieve.
I’m also quite impressed with how Stewart uses the historical characters and events. It is apparent that most which is in these stories is true, and the author strived to put as little fiction as possible in it. Basically all the main characters are people who really lived in that time and place, their lives and sometimes their dialogue reconstructed through speeches, newspaper articles, official documents and all a host of primary sources – which is fascinated in itself, if you ask me. The secondary characters and their arcs are based on true events when the facts of the lives of true people are not available. It’s a huge historical undertaking.
But it’s also a good story. Stewart manages to morph the historical facts that she has into a compelling tale, something we do want to read because we care for the characters and because the plot is good.
It's a truly enjoyable read.
This is not to say I didn’t enjoy it. It’s a good one, with a great pace, a fantastic historical reconstruction (in the acknowledgements at the end, Stewart tells about the actual history behind these events. I was very impressed). The characters are nice and relatable. There’s everything that a story should have, but that separate threads gave me a sense of “unfocusness”, if this makes any sense.
This is the only novel I’ve read in this series, but my impression is that this is a story of passage from one stage of Constance’s life to another, and so it seems to serve the overarching structure of the series rather than the single novel. As a first time reader, this baffled me, but I’m sure if I had followed the story from the start, it would make a lot more sense.
I really really like the historical setting. It is clear that the author is completely at ease in it. There are so many details about Constance’s everyday life that help the setting come to life in a way not many historical writers ever achieve.
I’m also quite impressed with how Stewart uses the historical characters and events. It is apparent that most which is in these stories is true, and the author strived to put as little fiction as possible in it. Basically all the main characters are people who really lived in that time and place, their lives and sometimes their dialogue reconstructed through speeches, newspaper articles, official documents and all a host of primary sources – which is fascinated in itself, if you ask me. The secondary characters and their arcs are based on true events when the facts of the lives of true people are not available. It’s a huge historical undertaking.
But it’s also a good story. Stewart manages to morph the historical facts that she has into a compelling tale, something we do want to read because we care for the characters and because the plot is good.
It's a truly enjoyable read.
April 26, 2018
Don't expect any murders in this series, let alone mysteries. The only mystery in this book is who will win the election for a congressional seat and for sheriff of Bergen County, New Jersey. We already know that Woodrow Wilson will win his bid for reelection as President with a campaign slogan of "He kept us out of war."
I love this series of historical novels about a woman who becomes a sheriff's deputy before women even had the vote nationally. They are based on real people and Amy Stewart explains in an afterword how she uses newspaper articles and census reports, etc. to make the stories as authentic as possible. In this installment of the story of the family of the three Kopp women, there is the threat of America's involvement in the war in Europe, as well as Sheriff Heath's coming departure due to term limits. Norma Kopp, who has been skulking in the background for the series, emerges as quite a character in this story, and although she does not rank high on the charm scale, I have to admire her gumption and her get-on-with-it attitude.
Despite a worrying number of obstacles, Deputy Kopp manages to see to her duties, look after her family, and get a woman released from a mental institution --she had been committed by her husband, who seemed to Constance suspiciously untroubled by his wife's health. Looking forward to the next in the series!
(Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Edelweiss for a digital review copy.)
I love this series of historical novels about a woman who becomes a sheriff's deputy before women even had the vote nationally. They are based on real people and Amy Stewart explains in an afterword how she uses newspaper articles and census reports, etc. to make the stories as authentic as possible. In this installment of the story of the family of the three Kopp women, there is the threat of America's involvement in the war in Europe, as well as Sheriff Heath's coming departure due to term limits. Norma Kopp, who has been skulking in the background for the series, emerges as quite a character in this story, and although she does not rank high on the charm scale, I have to admire her gumption and her get-on-with-it attitude.
Despite a worrying number of obstacles, Deputy Kopp manages to see to her duties, look after her family, and get a woman released from a mental institution --she had been committed by her husband, who seemed to Constance suspiciously untroubled by his wife's health. Looking forward to the next in the series!
(Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Edelweiss for a digital review copy.)
September 19, 2019
I continue to love Constance Kopp. Her passion for saving Anna Kayser in this volume really connected for me, but it also made me happy as it revealed how much she's grown over the years and what a support system she's developed of determined women. I love all of them and the ways in which they have worked together over the last couple of books. Surprisingly, I also really enjoyed how Fleurette has grown since her adventure with May Ward. She's becoming a young adult, even if she's still kind of foolish and naive sometimes. Norma remains the thorn in my side, but she started winning me back with her perfectly delightful way of helping Constance with her probation duties, not to mention her support of her sister throughout her post-election struggle.
What didn't always work for me was how little we actually got to see Constance do her job in this story. There was a lot about politics, which I find exhausting even without the constraints of 1919's dated views of women, not to mention Cordelia and Courter lecturing Constance every other chapter. The story also involved a great deal of Constance sneaking around behind Sheriff Heath's back, which really bummed me out. I thought his response was gracious and perfect when he finds out what she's done, but in a way, that just made it worse. Like, why not just tell him?!
So overall, it was a quick read and a nice visit to Bergen County, but I have to say I didn't leave it with my usual Kopp sisters feeling of delight (given the last few events of the book, I think that's fair). I'm eager to go right into the next to bring that back though! Can't keep those Kopps down for long.
What didn't always work for me was how little we actually got to see Constance do her job in this story. There was a lot about politics, which I find exhausting even without the constraints of 1919's dated views of women, not to mention Cordelia and Courter lecturing Constance every other chapter. The story also involved a great deal of Constance sneaking around behind Sheriff Heath's back, which really bummed me out. I thought his response was gracious and perfect when he finds out what she's done, but in a way, that just made it worse. Like, why not just tell him?!
So overall, it was a quick read and a nice visit to Bergen County, but I have to say I didn't leave it with my usual Kopp sisters feeling of delight (given the last few events of the book, I think that's fair). I'm eager to go right into the next to bring that back though! Can't keep those Kopps down for long.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2018
How come I never heard of The Kopp Sisters? Of all the years of browsing the bookstores, I still haven't heard of these books until my request was approved to read this. I'm mighty glad I read this book. I intend to read the previous 3 books before this one.
Even though, it's a 4th book in the Kopp Sisters series, I was able to get the hang of everyday going on in this story with Constance Kopp. It can be a stand alone book in my opinion.
This story starts out in 1916 where she's a deputy sheriff in a town in New Jersey. By the way, Constance happened to be the very first female for that position. However, the election is coming up where her position is on the line thanks to Sherriff and Congress.
This story isn't really a mystery because there are several plots and threads happening at the same time.
I truly enjoy this novel very much. Very entertaining and amusing strong willed woman who can take anything in stride and come out as an underdog champion. I was rooting for her all the way!
I'm going to give this a 4 stars and I WILL most definitely read the previous 3 books.
I received this awesome ARC from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt through Net Galley in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. Thank you!
Even though, it's a 4th book in the Kopp Sisters series, I was able to get the hang of everyday going on in this story with Constance Kopp. It can be a stand alone book in my opinion.
This story starts out in 1916 where she's a deputy sheriff in a town in New Jersey. By the way, Constance happened to be the very first female for that position. However, the election is coming up where her position is on the line thanks to Sherriff and Congress.
This story isn't really a mystery because there are several plots and threads happening at the same time.
I truly enjoy this novel very much. Very entertaining and amusing strong willed woman who can take anything in stride and come out as an underdog champion. I was rooting for her all the way!
I'm going to give this a 4 stars and I WILL most definitely read the previous 3 books.
I received this awesome ARC from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt through Net Galley in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. Thank you!
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