From New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas—a sweeping, richly layered Victorian novel about a trailblazing female economist who’s determined to build Britain’s first women’s bank, but she must fight both financial corruption and a system intent on destroying the newly found family she’s created.
In Victorian England, no woman—not even a brilliant economist like Reina Martin—is allowed to open her own bank account. Men will take care of everything, women are told. But Reina knows better. As the illegitimate daughter of a Spanish immigrant mother, she’s haunted by the memory of living with unpaid grocer’s bills and no coal for the hearth.
So together with her mentor, the powerful banker William Farlow, Reina will build the first all-women’s bank, where women can manage their own financial security.
At home, Reina’s domestic staff of recently paroled prisoners are building new lives and becoming a found family. But soon Reina is shocked to discover that her enigmatic butler, John Pembroke, is an undercover police detective. He’s been assigned to investigate Farlow, who’s suspected of financial crime on a scale so massive, it could destabilize the British economy. Pembroke needs Reina’s expertise for a high-stakes nighttime heist to obtain incriminating evidence.
Now Reina faces the agonizing choice of betraying her mentor or turning her back on thousands of working-class families who stand to lose everything. Either way, her dream of the women’s bank may be over.
Based on real-life trailblazers such as Mary Paley Marshall, Britain’s first female economist, and financial titan Hetty Green, Queen of Lombard Street brings to light the hidden history of extraordinary women whose achievements should be celebrated. How can we know who we are, if we don’t know who we were?
My Thoughts After Reading:
I’ve never read a book by Lisa Kleypas but I know she’s a well known “bodice ripper” historical romance author. From my understanding, Queen of Lombard Street is her transition to historical fiction (with romance) – this feels accurate to me.
Speaking to the historical aspect of this book, I appreciated the reminder of just how hard women had it during this time period. Financial independence was nonexistant, legal rights were limited, social standing determined every aspect of their lives, and childbirth was a frightening, and often deadly, experience. The expectations surrounding marriage, motherhood, class, and a woman’s place in society were relentless. It took so much courage and determination for women to challenge those expectations and overcome numerous obstacles – to get us where we are today.
However, I will caution, if you wanted to pick up Queen of Lombard Street specifically for historical context on the first women’s bank in England, I think you’ll be disappointed. Despite the publisher’s marketing, there isn’t much on the creation of the first women’s bank. But you will get prison reform, Victorian social politics, an unconventional (and hilarious) household staff, a financial conspiracy, found family, and not one but TWO romance storylines.
The found-family storyline is really the main focus. And I loved it. The colorful cast of characters are imperfect, complicated, and so entertaining. I laughed out out loud multiple times during their antics.
Last thing to note: I respected the fact that Reina stayed a rational human when she found out about John’s deception. I really dislike the drawnout “But, he lied to me!” plot point in romance novels.
– Michelle
