Shrines of Gaiety is a novel by Kate Atkinson set in 1920s London. The novel follows Nellie Coker, the notorious queen of Soho, as she navigates the complexities of her glittering empire in the aftermath of the Great War.
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Book Blurb
1926, and in a country still recovering from the Great War, London has become the focus for a delirious new nightlife. In the clubs of Soho, peers of the realm rub shoulders with starlets, foreign dignitaries with gangsters, and girls sell dances for a shilling a time.
The notorious queen of this glittering world is Nellie Coker, ruthless but also ambitious to advance her six children, including the enigmatic eldest, Niven, whose character has been forged in the crucible of the Somme. But success breeds enemies, and Nellie’s empire faces threats from without and within. For beneath the dazzle of Soho’s gaiety, there is a dark underbelly, a world in which it is all too easy to become lost.
Shrines of Gaiety Book Review
Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson is an atmospheric dive into 1920s London, filled with glitz, glamour, and intrigue.
Nellie Coker, the notorious queen of Soho is tough, savvy, and ruthless. She’s flawed but fascinating, and you can’t help but be drawn into her glittering yet dangerous world. I loved her chapters and the portrayal of a female gangster in the 1920s, a character type you don’t see too often.
There’s a large cast of characters that ranges from police detectives to runaway girls, and I did find it a bit confusing at first to keep track of how all the characters were connected. However, once I got into the flow, the connections started to come together and the story really picked up.
Kate Atkinson does a fantastic job of capturing the decadent, post-war nightlife with all its escapism and excess, but she also shows the seediness lurking beneath the glamour. There’s crime, corruption, and mystery woven throughout the story.
It’s quite slow paced at times but I honestly didn’t mind that. With so many characters and storylines, the slower pace gives everything room to breathe and lets you really get to know everyone. It’s definitely not a quick read and it does demands your attention but the payoff is worth it.
Overall I really enjoyed Shrines of Gaiety and I’m looking forward to reading more books by Kate Atkinson.
Has Kate Atkinson written any other novels?
Kate Atkinson has written several novels, novellas and short story collections. A full list can be found on the link below.
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