The Briar Club: A Novel

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars | 10,078 ratings

Price: 1.99

Last update: 12-20-2024


About this item

“Quinn evocatively balances the outward cheerfulness of the 1950s with historical observations exploring racism, misogyny, homophobia and political persecution in this sharply drawn, gripping novel.” - People Magazine


The New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye and The Rose Code returns with a haunting and powerful story of female friendships and secrets in a Washington, DC, boardinghouse during the McCarthy era.

Washington, DC, 1950. Everyone keeps to themselves at Briarwood House, a down-at-the-heels all-female boardinghouse in the heart of the nation’s capital where secrets hide behind white picket fences. But when the lovely, mysterious widow Grace March moves into the attic room, she draws her oddball collection of neighbors into unlikely friendship: poised English beauty Fliss, whose facade of perfect wife and mother covers gaping inner wounds; policeman’s daughter Nora, who finds herself entangled with a shadowy gangster; frustrated baseball star Beatrice, whose career has come to an end along with the women’s baseball league of WWII; and poisonous, gung-ho Arlene, who has thrown herself into McCarthy’s Red Scare.

Grace’s weekly attic-room dinner parties and window-brewed sun tea become a healing balm on all their lives, but she hides a terrible secret of her own. When a shocking act of violence tears the house apart, the Briar Club women must decide once and for all: who is the true enemy in their midst?

Capturing the paranoia of the McCarthy era and evoking the changing roles for women in postwar America, The Briar Club is an intimate and thrilling novel of secrets and loyalty put to the test.

A beautiful, foil cover, first edition.



From the Publisher

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For Fans of Kristin Hannah and Taylor Jenkins Reid
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The Alice Network The Huntress The Rose Code The Diamond Eye The Phoenix Crown The Briar Club
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Nancy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved the Characters and Storyline
    Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2024
    This historical fiction book keeps you reading. You grow to care about the characters. So many parallels to what is happening today. Lived the whole book with the exciting ending. Would highly recommend
  • Mary Bailey
    4.0 out of 5 stars Character driven page turner with light comedic writing.
    Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2024
    Easy read. Good characters. A lot packed into the historical time frame here but not unrealistic. Loved the dialogue of Bea.
    Good description of DC and women working there, even into the 70`s as a small town ,southern feel, yet transient working populace.
  • Sarah
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well told and well crafted!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2024
    Crafting a narrative constructed from the point of view of so many characters is difficult, but Kate Quinn does it masterfully. Her narrative stays fresh and interesting as readers get to know each character intimately, unfurling the larger storyline, and yet keeps the suspense up to the very last moment. This is a topic and period in history few historical fiction writers touch upon because it is difficult to capture the multiple sentiments of the time. The story expertly documents an era struggling with currents of post war polarization and racist misogyny. An excellent read that is unlike any of the author’s other books.
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars An Absorbing adventure through the 50’s
    Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2024
    I really enjoyed this book! It had me from the beginning, wondering how the story was going to unfold. I loved the flashbacks, as they gave so much life to the characters, all of which were so different and fascinating. A few times, I looked up from reading and felt like I had been in the book. Ms. Quinn is such a talented writer. I love her books.
  • Debra L. Drummet
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2024
    Excellent read. Every character was expertly fleshed out. Such an interesting time in our history,and fitting in today’s happenings. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel!
  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet
    Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2024
    Sweet, thoughtful book. A lot of details seemed irrelevant but made the story extra sweet and there are Easter eggs from her other books!
  • Helen
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Briar Club
    Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2024
    This was an awesome book! I loved all the characters. It was wonderful to see how these strangers became family.
    The book was funny at times and of course there was some mystery involved!
  • Ann M Schreiber
    4.0 out of 5 stars A glimpse into 1950s America
    Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2024
    So, I have a physical copy of this book, but I decided to listen to it on Audible. At 423 pages, I thought the Audible version would allow me to get through it a bit faster. That said, I wish this is one I had chosen to read the old-fashioned way. Based in the 1950s, Washington D.C., this book is true historical fiction and talks about a lot of the things that were going on in our country at that time (the cold war, civil rights, the introduction of the birth control pill). So, reading the book visually might have helped me better take time to look up some of the references to refresh my memory.
    That said, I absolutely loved the characters and how they all came together. I appreciated the chapters being told from one character's perspective at a time. It was a great way to see what she was all about.
    And for lovers of historical fiction, this one will not disappoint.

    Note: The Audible version does spend some time at the end with an interview between Kate Quinn and Saskia Maarleveld (the narrator), which was quite interesting.
    Customer image
    Ann M Schreiber
    4.0 out of 5 stars A glimpse into 1950s America
    Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2024
    So, I have a physical copy of this book, but I decided to listen to it on Audible. At 423 pages, I thought the Audible version would allow me to get through it a bit faster. That said, I wish this is one I had chosen to read the old-fashioned way. Based in the 1950s, Washington D.C., this book is true historical fiction and talks about a lot of the things that were going on in our country at that time (the cold war, civil rights, the introduction of the birth control pill). So, reading the book visually might have helped me better take time to look up some of the references to refresh my memory.
    That said, I absolutely loved the characters and how they all came together. I appreciated the chapters being told from one character's perspective at a time. It was a great way to see what she was all about.
    And for lovers of historical fiction, this one will not disappoint.

    Note: The Audible version does spend some time at the end with an interview between Kate Quinn and Saskia Maarleveld (the narrator), which was quite interesting.
    Images in this review
    Customer image

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