ARC Review: City of Fortune by Victoria Thompson

City of Fortune
Author: Victoria Thompson
Series: A Counterfeit Lady Novel (Book 6)
Publication: Berkley (December 6, 2022)

Description: When a day at the races reveals sabotage and subterfuge, Elizabeth Miles must use every ounce of her craftiness to even the score in this all-new Counterfeit Lady novel from USA Today bestselling author Victoria Thompson.

Wealthy but uncouth Sebastian Nolan has invited his lawyer, Gideon Bates, and his lovely new wife, Elizabeth, to attend the famous Belmont Stakes. Nolan is anxious for Gideon and Elizabeth to help his daughter, Irene, acquire a bit of polish, now that his venture into thoroughbred racing has allowed them entry into society. He is also hoping to find her a rich potential suitor. Elizabeth is not exactly the society girl Nolan believes her to be, but she is eager to attend the races. Her con artist family has made a lot of money at racetracks, although not from betting on the horses, and she enjoys the excitement of the track.

Irene Nolan seems more interested in horses than husbands, and she jumps at the chance to show Elizabeth her horse, Trench, and introduce her to his rider, Cal Regan. Elizabeth soon realizes there is more than just a working relationship between Irene and Cal. But she also knows that Irene’s father would never allow his only daughter to marry a jockey. When Cal takes a terrible tumble injuring both himself and Irene’s beloved Trench, Elizabeth and Gideon learn that the mishap was not simply bad luck—the horse and rider are victims of sabotage.

It turns out that Sebastian Nolan has more than a few skeletons in his closet and someone is out to get their long sought-after revenge. Elizabeth knows that to help Irene and Cal, she is going to need some help in creating the quintessential con. With the ever honest Gideon at her side, she enlists those closest to her to come up with a scheme that will either ensure young Irene and Cal a first-place finish or have disastrous consequence....

My Thoughts: City of Fortune was an excellent addition to the Counterfeit Lady series. I loved the 1919 setting and the information about both horse racing and Womens' rights that were woven into the story.

Elizabeth Bates and her husband Gideon have been invited to the Belmont Stakes by Sebastian Nolan who is one on Gideon's clients. Elizabeth meets Nolan's daughter Irene who is extremely knowledgeable about horse racing and who happens to be in love with her father's jockey. 

When chicanery happens which injures both horse and jockey, Elizabeth decides to run a con on Nolan to make things right for the young couple. 

Luckily, she isn't the only one with a con in mind. Her father has arrived at the races with a woman who looks amazingly like Irene's mother and Nolan's first love. Only Irene's mother died in childbirth which created a bitter rivalry between Nolan and Daniel Livingston who was engaged to Irene's mother before Nolan swept her away. 

Since the look-alike is also a con woman, it isn't hard to enlist her help in running a con on both Nolan and Livingston and a good part of the unsavory elements of New York Society too. 

This story was a lot of fun to read. I loved the twists and turns and plots.

Favorite Quote:

Gideon knew he had crossed some invisible line he never even knew existed when he realized he'd agreed to invite a female con artist to dine with is mother. How had this happened? And the worst part was, his mother was thrilled.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.