by Lyndsay Faye
Reviewed by Janet:
Fleeing from the New York Mafia during Prohibition, Alice James arrives in Portland with a fresh bullet wound and suitcase full of money. Brought to the Paragon Hotel by the Pullman porter for medical care on the down low, she is caught up in the racial tensions and increasing Klan activities that threaten her new friends. Alice is a wonderfully drawn irreverent and irresistible character in a book full of interesting characters. A wonderful romp exploring social issues that – sadly – still haunt us today.