I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review -
Elizabeth and Gideon are planning their wedding -
Logan their friend, has met a woman in France but because he is engaged feels nothing can happen - until he receives a letter from her asking for money
Elizabeth worries this is a conwoman and must help Logan.

Terrific book. I was not able to put it down. How they worked all the cons needed was great and kept it interesting on how they were going to get everything resolved. I can't give this enough stars.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

City of Schemes by Victoria Thompson
A Counterfeit Lady Novel
ARC - Net Galley -
published date 1/5/21

A delightful, readable tale involving a con - The Spanish Prisoner in three different versions. Elizabeth is getting married to her Gideon. Their wedding announcement was ‘accidentally’ published in the gossip column of the newspaper by Rosemary, a self-serving fiancé of Logan, Gideon’s friend. This brings the villain, Thornton, back into town. He finds out Elizabeth is not dead and now wants either Elizabeth actually dead or his money back or both.

Fans of The Sting will enjoy this book. Taking place after WWII in NYC - the story involves high society.

I will give it 5 stars. Kept me interested throughout and did not read ahead to find out who did what.
#CityofSchemes #NetGalley

This title of this book is so appropriate - the schemes within the schemes are brilliant - WOW! It kept me reading late into the night and wondering how everything was going to end. This book is a MUST read - it will not disappoint you. I didn't think it was possible for this series to get any better because I have enjoyed it since the first book. You can read this as a stand alone book, but you wouldn't have the backstory. It is much more interesting with the backstory. So if you are just getting into this series, I recommend starting at book #1. You will not be sorry.

Victoria Thompson's CITY OF SCHEMES stole a whole day from me, and I don’t want it back. I didn’t want to do a single other thing, so captivated was I by the wheels within wheels and schemes within schemes . . . all (or almost all) in aid of good people and in retribution of the bad. Justice, if a bit unorthodox, was administered cleverly, leveling a playing field, unfair especially to women. The least thing could ruin a woman’s reputation and social standing, as women are held to “higher standards,” but men can weather scandals, at least to a point.
I’d like a friend like Elizabeth if I were in trouble, and I’d welcome help from her team of disreputable allies, “the Old Man” and Jake and Spuds, and her honest, beloved Gideon, who won’t lie, but is learning the language and rules of the game. Anna is growing in beauty and confidence (and agility in the confidence game), and even the gossip columnist, I mean “society news” reporter, can become a friend, with just a little understanding conversation.
It was fun to watch it all play out, and a joy to read well-written prose. This is fourth in the series, and I hope there will be many more. <3
* (Pub. date January, plenty of time to read or reread the first three ;-)

There’s a reason Victoria Thompson is a best selling novelist, and this latest mystery is a prime example. I cannot give this book enough praise. I loved it. The book had me hooked by page ten. There are so many twists and turns that you just want to keep reading. The writing is top notch and the plot and dialogue is expertly woven throughout the different chapters. It’s an excellent addition to a great series, highly recommend!

What a great read! I really enjoy this author, and this one is no different. First I've read in this particular series, and I believe this is book 4, but didn't matter. A fun and quick read that is hard to put down. Fun keeping up with the con games, and poking fun at the New York society ladies. Highly recommend this book and author.

City of Schemes by Victoria Thompson kept the pace moving! This is the first book I have read in the Counterfeit Lady series and the author did a great job of weaving in the back story from the previous book, and firmly establishing the relationships between each character. The story and plot of this book was refreshing and new to me. For some reason, I was expecting this book to be a murder mystery, but instead the main character is a con artist, and a woman, and it is set in New York City right after WWI, which is one of my favorite eras. Many of my reviews are on murder mystery books because it is my favorite genre, but I am trying to venture out into other genres and this was a good story that didn't have murder in it! Elizabeth Miles, the main character, has been a con artist most of her life because of her father, whom she calls "The Old Man." In this book, she has found the love of her life and is getting married to Gideon Bates. Unfortunately, Oscar Thornton, a man from Elizabeth's dark past, comes back to retrieve money he believes he had lost to her in one of her so-called schemes. In order to get rid of him once and forever, Elizabeth goes to her father, The Old Man, in seek of help, and the con her father cooks up is one that will leave Thornton down and out for good. Thompson did her research well while writing this story and scheming up the plot. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the "Spanish Prisoner" and how many cons, back in the day before the internet, were easily done, especially to those who craved money and power. I will definitely go back and read the first book in this series. It was delightful!

This is the latest installment in the Victoria Thompson's Counterfeit Lady series, although you do need to have read the previous books to enjoy it.

Following WW,I Elizabeth Miles and Gideon are preparing for a quiet wedding. One of Gideon’s old friends, Archie Carstens, an heir to the Knickerbocker fortune, receives a letter from Noelle, a woman he fell in love with in France, asking for money to get to America. Archie had left Noelle there because he was already engaged. Archie is concerned but Elizabeth and Gideon are suspicious of the letter and think it may be a scam. As they try to find out about the letter, they are also confronted by an old enemy who had thought Elizabeth was dead and is now out for revenge.

Another great entry in Elizabeth Miles. The book ably advances this story of the individual stories of the characters as well gives them a problem to work on together. I love that Thompson has framed the book entirely around the classic con of The Spanish Prisoner and spins it out in three different directions. At times it has a Scooby Gang feeling with each character doing their part to bring down the bad guys. Elizabeth never loses! That might be the part that was disappointing. In previous volumes, Elizabeth falters or has setbacks before she wins but in this one there were no setbacks and therefore no cliffhanger. How would she save the day? It all felt telegraphed. Even though she will fix whatever problem comes along there should be some doubt how it works out. However, I continue to be big fan. I really want to see the wedding and see how Elizabeth is as becomes a wife and mother. And now I finally understand the nuances of a classic con.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of City of Schemes.

I always love Victoria Thompson’s books and this one did not fail to entertain! Elizabeth is back and planning her wedding, while trying to stay out of trouble. As always, there is an elaborate con, (or two!) Jake is fabulous, (he’s my fav!) and Gideon has no idea what’s happening. I adored the ending and I’m excited for the next in this serious.

If you are looking for a fun cozy mystery, I highly recommend this series! Set in the early 1900s in New York, Thompson’s books are always an easy read!

City of Schemes by Victoria Thompson

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on October 27th, 2020.

Writing: 3/5 Characters: 4/5 Plot: 4/5
I’m really enjoying Thompson’s newer “Counterfeit Lady” series. Post WWI, Elizabeth Miles — who grew up in a family of extremely successful con artists — has given up that life to marry the ultra-honorable gentleman, Gideon Bates. Just because she has given it up for profit, however, doesn’t mean that she can’t use her skills to help her friends and family. In this book, the (very bad news) victim of a previous scam has come back with a vengeance; meanwhile some society types are suffering from an excess of duty and / or manipulative intent, which Elizabeth deals with handily.

A very gratifying, fun, read.

A familiar scam and a gold-digging society girl are no match for reformed (mostly!) con artist Elizabeth Miles. With the help of her family and best friends and the loving support of fiancee Gideon, Elizabeth entangles the love life of Gideon's best friend, escapes from a blackmail scheme designed to destroy her, and manages to plan her own society wedding., all with charm to spare! The usual characters and satisfactory ending make this another delightful adventure.

An enemy from Elizabeth’s past returns just as Gideon and Elizabeth are planning their wedding. While Elizabeth’s father works a scheme on her enemy the engaged duo try to help a friend find out about his girlfriend from Paris. Great series by Victoria Thompson.
Goodreads

A light hearted mystery in Victorian times. Con schemes with postive outcomes. A few turns in the mystery of a couple getting married and their friends connections. I enjoyed it.