The plot had some minor trouble with pacing, but I never lost interest. Although I thought this book would be more plot driven, for me, it seemed more character driven as the characters pushed the story forward. This book packed a lot of witty, smart, sneaky and unreliable characters within its pages. If the tunnel closes, you’re stuck there…end of story. Can you say claustrophobic mystery? One entrance in the town, one entrance out.

The way in which the title relates the book worked quite well.Ĭity Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita offered a crazy good mystery set in a fictional town where everyone lives in one building. These three women were the nucleus of the story and I enjoyed getting to know them. Birdie was an amazing side kick and a perfect example of not judging a person’s skill and smarts based on her financial or living situation. I wish I learned more about Doctor Kathleen Lynn and that she played a more prominent place in the story.

Although they are dealing with the Spanish Flu, the book takes place in Ireland, which shows the breadth of disease. Supplies were limited at best and one person cannot work 24/7, especially in these conditions. She was likable, relatable and was stuck between a rock and a hard place in trying to care for these pregnant women. The main protagonist, Julia, was one to root for. The overwhelming sense of death, sickness and dread did nothing to help me escape, which is one of my favorite reasons to read. I’m not sure if reading this during a pandemic kept me at a distance from the story or not. The Pull of the Stars makes this the fifth book by this author that I’ve read.

Pull of the stars review