There is a certain charm to this novel, especially with the endearing nature of our heroine, Anna Blanc. At the turn of the century, before the world hears of gender diversity and women in leadership, Anna Blanc was the epitome of a lady of proper upbringing. Boring, but proper. Respected. When she decided to use her brains rather than be a pawn to her father's business dealings, it looked like the men's going to get a good education of what the fairer sex can actually do. This is such a promising start to the story. It reminded me of Peggy Carter from the Marvel, also a lady of this era, born out of turn. What Anna lacks is the gusto, wits and intelligence of Peggy. I missed the resourcefulness and sharp insights that you see in Peggy. In many sense, Anna is the untrained Peggy, lots of potential, but just not there yet. Entertaining nonetheless, but left more to be desired of a stronger plot, unforgettable character and the intelligence of a clever crime.
