For the last two years, New York Police Department Lieutenant Jonathan Birch has been escorting dentist Dr. Katherine Schnieder to the nearest subway station when her shift ends at midnight, even though that isn’t part of his official duties. Katherine would like to take the relationship further but has no idea how Lt. Birch feels.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that there is something undeniably attractive about a man who can cook.
Give him the ability to bake flawless focaccia or chocolate biscotti and … well, I’m sold on Jonathan and can see why Katherine is so taken with him. Meanwhile, she enjoys her work as a dentist, treating those who would not be able to afford care from New York’s more mainstream dentists. Their personal and professional lives coincide when Katherine realises one of her recent late-night patients might have been involved in a bomb attack, so she contacts Jonathan … an action which has consequences.
One of the things I like most about Elizabeth Camden’s novels is her ability to create intelligent female characters and place them in a story in a way that feels both progressive and entirely natural. Dentist Dr. Katherine Schneider is no exception. But the novel isn’t all about dentistry (great news for the squeamish). It’s more a historical romantic suspense that takes two not-quite-ordinary people and gives them a gripping story.
If I had to find fault with While the City Sleeps, it would be that Nonna’s secret recipe for chocolate biscoti remains a secret …
One of the things I like best about historical fiction is the opportunity to learn something new—like the fact Dr. Edgar Parker really did legally change his given name to “Painless” in order to win a lawsuit. Dr. Parker was decades ahead of his time in hiring dentist who reflected the diversity of his customer base—including female and Black dentists. I also appreciated the way he kept his prices affordable (because everyone deserves decent dental care), and kept his clinics open beyond the normal nine-to-five to give working people the chance to receive treatment.
I didn’t especially enjoy Elizabeth Camden’s last series (I didn’t even read the final book), but While the City Sleeps takes us back to what I most like about her work: her ability to weave a fascinating novel around real-life history, and to inject that with a strong yet understated Christian element.
Recommended for fans of Christian historical fiction, especially those featuring women in non-traditional occupations.
Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
About Elizabeth Camden
Elizabeth Camden is a research librarian at a small college in central Florida. Her novels have won the coveted RITA and Christy Awards. She has published several articles for academic publications and is the author of four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing fascination with history and love of literature have led her to write inspirational fiction. Elizabeth lives with her husband near Orlando, Florida.
Find Elizabeth Camden online at:
About While the City Sleeps
Amid the hushed city, two hearts must navigate danger and deception, bound by a love that outshines the stars.
Katherine Schneider’s life as a dentist in 1913 New York is upended when a patient reveals details of a deadly plot while under the influence of laughing gas. As she is plunged into danger, she seeks help from the dashing Lieutenant Jonathan Birch, a police officer she has long admired from afar.
Jonathan has harbored powerful feelings toward Katherine for years but never acted on them, knowing his dark history is something she could never abide. Now, with her safety on the line, he works alongside her through the nights as they unravel the criminal conspiracy that threatens her . . . even as he keeps his deepest secrets hidden at all costs.
Find While the City Sleeps online at:
Amazon | BookBub | ChristianBook | Goodreads
Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!
