University of Minnesota Press, 2021 Paperback: 15.95
Reviewed by Ailee Slater
Mary Logue’s The Streel follows 16-year-old Brigid Reardon who leaves behind her family in famine-stricken Ireland to seek out new opportunities in America. Upon arriving, she quickly secures a servant position with a wealthy family in Minnesota, where the warm baths and well-appointed library nearly make up for the unsuitable – but not completely unwanted – advances of her employers’ son. Soon, however, Brigid is compelled to journey further to meet her brother in the rough-and-tumble Dakota boomtown of Deadwood, where he is seeking fortune in the gold rush. She arrives to the Black Hills just in time for Christmas, but the joyful family reunion is cut short when a woman is found murdered and the prime suspect is Brigid’s brother. Now, separated from her family once more, Brigid must clear her brother’s name and consider her own future, in a place where women are few and the rules don’t apply.
The plot moves along at a clipping pace, taking readers on a whirlwind tour through life in the Midwest at the start of the Gilded Age. There’s absolutely none of the stuffiness a reader might expect from historical fiction, but history buffs will no doubt appreciate the research that’s clearly gone into this novel. Logue deftly peppers the landscape with vivid historical details that pull readers into the textured world of Brigid and all the people she meets; from the gold-rimmed china and lemon cake in St. Paul, to the biting cold and gold-dust scales in Deadwood. Particularly engaging is the cast of supporting characters – you’re desperate to spend more time with every one of them, even though you’re never quite sure who to trust. And while the characters do have a habit of making snap decisions without the most complex of motivations, all in all the no-nonsense prose only contributes to the pleasant readability of this book.
Readers who prefer their murder mysteries heavy on character and light on fright will find just the right balance in The Streel. Like the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ride at Disneyland which is set against a similar backdrop, this novel offers twists and turns without too much tension – making it a great choice for cozy bedtime reading, especially when there’s snow on the ground.