Challenge Corner discussion

A haunting and powerful story of female friendships and secrets in a Washington, D.C. boardinghouse during the McCarthy era.

Washington, D.C., 1950. Everyone keeps to themselves at Briarwood House, a down-at-the-heels all-female boardinghouse in the heart of the nation’s capital, where secrets hide behind white picket fences. But when the lovely, mysterious widow Grace March moves into the attic, she draws her oddball collection of neighbors into unlikely friendship: poised English beauty Fliss whose facade of perfect wife and mother covers gaping inner wounds; police officer’s daughter Nora, who is entangled with a shadowy gangster; frustrated baseball star Bea, whose career has ended along with the women’s baseball league of WWII; and poisonous, gung-ho Arlene, who has thrown herself into McCarthy’s Red Scare.

Grace’s weekly attic-room dinner parties and window-brewed sun tea become a healing balm on all their lives, but she hides a terrible secret of her own. When a shocking act of violence tears apart the house, the Briar Club women must decide once and for all: Who is the true enemy in their midst?

Anyone reading this in August?

Just in case anyone else wants to join in reading this! I just started a few minutes ago and Wow this book has started out with a bang! We have a murder and pretty intense character development. A love affair/flirt with a gangster. This looks like it’s going to be good!

Really enjoying the characters and how they are so different. Reka has an amazing story and made my heart feel good when she put that hat on in New York and became Professor Mueller again with the respect of her knowledge that she obviously deserved. I was shocked but made me feel bad that I was.

Love how she adds a recipe with a song choice to go with it. This is an interesting detail I have not seen before. I’m about half way through and just love Grace. She is just amazing!

Sure wish someone else would join, would love to really discuss this one. I do have a bookclub later this month that is featuring it. Excited about it. THe character developments are outstanding and I sure didn't see where Grace was going. I knew there was some secret but not that one.

absolutely fantastic book! Highly, highly recommend!