The Other Typist; Suzanne Rindell

Title: The Other Typist
Author: Suzanne Rindell
Publication Year:  2013
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Edition: audio / eGalley Reader: Gretchen Mol (very good)
Source: library and Net Galley
Setting:
Date Completed: June - 2013
Rating: 4.5/5

The Other Typist takes readers back to the "roaring 20s" and Prohibition, a time when speakeasies, often run by organized crime, were an opportunity for fast money. Illegal booze, gambling and fast women were big business. 

Rose Baker was not one of these "fast women". She was a police stenographer, a lady who takes pride in her job, by carefully recording the confessions of criminals each day. She thinks that she is a pretty good read of people. She grew up in an orphanage run by nuns, she's very quiet, plain looking, very naive, and has no social life to speak of, but deep down she longs for companionship.

Odalie Lazare is "the other typist" who works with Rose. Odalie is everything that Rose is not. She's outgoing, has beautiful clothes, is noticed by men everywhere and she knows where to go to have fun when she isn't working. Rose notices quickly that some of the stories Odalie has been telling do not seem to add up. Rose becomes more and more obsessed with finding out more about Odalie, especially after she gets a glimpse into Odalie's life after work hours.

I really enjoyed this terrific debut novel. The writing is vivid, scenes memorable and characters that will stick with you. Rose initially comes off as a somewhat sympathetic character, but there is more to Rose than meets the eye, but there is also more to Odalie. Readers who enjoy stories with unreliable narrators, or readers who would like to read more about the roaring 20s, should enjoy this story. I'll definitely be looking for more books by the promising new author.