Dear Miss Kopp By: Amy Stewart

A book that follows the journeys of three sisters that are very forward thinking independent individuals during the first world world. The eldest of the three sisters is doing intelligence work for the the bureau of investigation , The middle sister works for the army signal corps in France and the youngest sister is in a travelling theatre troop entertaining the troops.

The book is in the format of letters between the sisters during wartime. I found this book a tad difficult to read as it is very slow in the beginning and there is no real storyline followed just letters covering real life events of woman in war time. Having read fictional books in this format before I was optimistic about this book but unfortunately overall it is found wanting. It is a bit of a slog to read until the later chapters of the book though it gives incite to women’s roles in the First World War . Sorry not to my taste 2.5/5

I love the Kopp Sisters mysteries! This story did not disappoint! The Kopp sisters shine as always! The mystery itself was very fascinating! Thus, this is really a solid mystery series based on a real historical figure! I recommend this for fans of Karen Odden!

I absolutely LOVED this book, the 6th in the Kopp sisters' series. WWI has arrived and the Kopp sister's involvement plays out across their letters to each other and friends, in this very unique format of storytelling. I recommend this book series to everyone I know. The author uses great vocabulary and I feel smarter reading her books. Although I was given both this book and the 7th by NetGalley, I purchased the hard copies at my local bookstore. Love supporting a terrific author.

First sentence: May 2, 1918 Dear Norma, You’re a terrible correspondent and there’s no excuse for it. Fleurette and I are left stateside while you march off to France. We had a few decent letters when you were in Paris and a passable selection when you arrived at your secret location, but lately you’re sending us nothing but an occasional “I am well” to let us know that you’re alive. Are words also being rationed overseas, even short ones?

Premise/plot: Dear Miss Kopp is the sixth book in the series starring the three Kopp sisters: Constance, Norma, and Fleurette. World War I has the sisters separated--but they are able to keep in touch via letters. This sixth installment is the wartime correspondence of the sisters. Constance is working for the Bureau of Investigation; Norma is overseas in France; and Fleurette is touring the nation still with May Ward. The book has two primary mysteries--one in France, and one in the United States. A few new characters are introduced--as you'd expect. Notably, Norma's friend, Aggie, a nurse. Readers are treated to her letters because she is a much better correspondent than Norma. And the sisters rely on her to keep them up to speed on Norma's adventures and misadventures. Laura--the parrot--is also introduced.

My thoughts: I really LOVE this series. I do. Reading them in order is a must however. If this was your first introduction to the series it would probably be a confusing mess! But if you've read and enjoyed them all, this one is a treat. I don't normally "love" epistolary novels, but it makes sense in this context.

My favorite quotes:
If you ever meet a woman who hasn’t carved out some tiny hiding place in a desk or drawer, be very suspicious. It doesn’t mean she has no secrets: it means her secrets are too large or dangerous to be hidden in her bedroom or sitting-room. Look for a gun under the floor boards in that case, or a body buried in the garden. ~ Constance

Please remember that only in novels do investigations run smoothly, with a new clue turning up in each chapter until the whole is finally revealed. In fact, the usual progress of an investigation is something more like this: Day One: Nothing out of the ordinary. Day Two: Nothing out of the ordinary. Day Three: An idea! The idea is pursued, but leads nowhere. Day Four: A witness is interviewed, but they know nothing. Day Five: Nothing. And on it goes, until one day, you find the answer. And the reason you find it is that you’ve been looking. I promise you that discouragement, boredom, and the questioning of one’s own sanity are the workaday characteristics of any investigation. ~ Constance

3.5★
“Dear Miss Kopp, I appreciate, as always, the lively report. We had a look into our files concerning [XX]. British citizen, immigrated in 1914, never been in any trouble to our knowledge, but he deserves a closer look.”

Yes, a lively report. I’ve been enjoying this series with the “Kopp sisters”, three very different women but a tight, loyal family group. The author based the first stories on the real women, especially Constance Kopp, who was a lady cop.

A 6-foot-tall, formidable physical presence, she could chase and bring down criminals as well as her male counterparts. (This is 1918, so she would have been a head-turner, but not in the same way as the very pretty, much younger Fleurette Kopp.)

There’s not much said about the past in this book, but it certainly helps to know the background. The story moves so slowly in the beginning that if I weren’t already a committed fan, I might have quit. But then it picked up markedly and became quite entertaining.

It is told in letters, an epistolary format, which I enjoy but many don’t. The sisters have all done a form of military training in preparation for war, and each are contributing in different ways. Norma is in France with her pigeons, trying to get the army to take them seriously. She is as forceful and direct as ever. They live in dreadful quarters, and she’s had some settling-in issues.

“About these notes: When I first arrived at Fort de la Bonnelle, Captain Buscall mistook me for his secretary and asked me to take minutes of his meetings. You can be sure I corrected him without delay. I do nonetheless keep my own records of my meetings with him. This he objects to, for reasons I cannot fathom, as he was the one who wanted me taking notes in the first place.”

Norma is the adult version of those annoying children who take everything literally. Whether she’s on the autism spectrum, a bit obsessive-compulsive, who knows? She really does give her superiors some curry!

She keeps meticulous notes. This is her argument with Captain Buscall about why the pigeons the soldiers finally released with test messages didn’t behave as intended. She had laboriously typed up extensive instructions (which nobody reads, of course).

“buscall: ‘That wasn’t the only problem.’

kopp: ‘It’s also possible that they released the males and females together.’

buscall: ‘What?’

kopp: Didn’t you think to ask?

(Buscall shifts around in his chair but makes no reply.)

kopp: ‘A male and female, released together, will not return to the loft but will go off to mate. They must be starved for both food and companionship if they are to return faithfully home.’

buscall: ‘I’ve been starved for food and companionship since I left Fort Monmouth, but nobody’s letting me return home.’

kopp: (This, too, seemed a frivolous remark and not in need of a reply.)”

Later Norma writes:
“but the young men running things over here have never been to war and have no appreciation for the tried and true. If it’s new and electric-powered, they believe it will defeat the Germans through its sheer novelty. If that were the case, we could show them a moving picture and be done with it.”

Fleurette is performing around the country, entertaining people in a musical show. She writes:

“I’m just not sure that by putting on our little show, we do a thing to lighten their burdens or relieve their cares. So many of these boys are marking time — another evening in the auditorium, another day, another week, another month — and then they’re off to France, to live in a waterlogged trench and shoot at Germans.”

Meanwhile, Constance is living in town with the family’s farmhouse closed up for the duration. She writes to Norma, apologising a bit for how secretive she must be.

“How I wish I could tell you the particulars of the assignments I’m given, the cases I’m pursuing, and the small victories we can claim. But I’m not allowed to utter a word beyond the most general statements, even to my family, even to the girls here at the boarding-house. (Fleurette, when she’s home, finds out more than she should — I don’t know how she gets it out of me.)

Suffice it to say that I’m once again crawling around in the dark and disreputable corners of our city and those nearby. The other agents call it the’“sight-seeing tour of the underworld’ because we only glance at most criminal enterprises and then move on. For a souvenir we might pick up an odd scrap that leads to an investigation, but we leave the rest for the local police.”

Slow start, better finish. On to the next one! Thanks to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the copy for review from which I’ve quoted.

I enjoy the Kopp Sisters and their adventures, this story had a great twist with it being told through letters rather than in person interactions.

I could feel Norma's frustration with the resistance she was experiencing in regards to her carrier pigeons and ultimate victory... I couldn't help think if they military had just listened to her the first time around, so much loss could have been avoided. I loved Fleurette's adventures with May Ward and having to deal with diva like behavior, always try to branch out even when those in control are trying to reign you in (i.e. the American Protective League). It was interesting to notice the level of respect Constance receives among those who work with her versus her sisters... or I should say the lack of respect the others receive.

I'm looking forward to reading the next in this series, and highly recommend!

It’s not often that today readers come across an epistolary novel. We’re not accustomed to this kind of narration anymore, and I will admit that it took me some time to get into the story. But once I got a sense for the unfolding of time, for the continuous shifting of perspective and the broken up stories, I started to really enjoy the narration.
I can’t say that this is a real novel. There is not one direction of the story, but rather is a very peculiar anthology of short stories, if anything. Which is its little downside, because the narration didn’t keep me in one place and one plot. All plots were nice, in the end. I might have ended up liking the story at the front in France more than the other, but that’s a personal preference, but all in all, all stories had interesting characters and certainly had a lot of heart, which makes up abundantly for the fragmented narration.
The three sisters Kopp had very difference experiences of the war – Norman in France, on the front; Constance battling war spies; Florette working in the entertainment industry trying to keep up the soldiers’ morale – and putting everything together, the author managed to create quite a comprehensive picture of WWI as it was lived by Americans.
I really liked the depiction of that world, it felt so real, not only because it was told always in the first person, but also for the many details that made it very rich.
I enjoyed it.
Towards the end, there’s a strong sense that things will be very different in the next novels. The Twenties are coming up. I get the impression that Florette will turn into a flapper and give us a taste of that new age.
We will see.

3.5 stars Book #6 in the Kopp Sisters series

Not sure that this book was my style. I have enjoyed the Kopp sisters books so far, but this one was a bit unusual. I will say that this book probably included all three sisters, and bit of the brother, more so than probably any other book except the first one in the series. However, this book was written all in letters. Letters back and forth between the sisters and between their respective bosses.

Norma was in France trying to get the military to engage her pigeons. Fleurette, the youngest, is planning to take a loaned parrot on a one woman show. And Constance is still in policing as an Intelligence Agent. This is all going on during the first World War.

What makes these books so interesting is that they are based on real-life women.

Dear Miss Kopp
By: Amy Stewart

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Mariner Books

Historical Fiction

Publish date January 12, 2021

#DearMissKopp#NetGalley

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I am grateful that NetGalley gave me a chance to read and review this book. Unfortunately I ended up DNFing it. I had forgotten that the book was told in letter format so it took me awhile to get my mind set on reading that format. I have read books in letter format and have enjoyed them. I also have read books by this author before and have enjoyed them. For some reason I just couldn't get into this book. I had to give up at 17% which is around 55 pages. The letters jumped around and I couldn't get them straight in my mind. I did enjoy the letters from Norma who was in France with her pigeons. This book is about the first world war and I was hoping to get more out of it than I did because you don't get much about that time period. The letters were dry and hard to enjoy.

Story of three sisters through writing of letters on what is going on in their lives,three different stories. Kopp sisters have their own personally that you see through the writing of their letters. Very well written where you can follow each sister's life. Research on this period of time you can tell through the letters that they were very well written. Grab some tissues and I know you will enjoy this story of the sisters and their friends and what and where these three ended up doing and the mystery,the excitement loves and losses they went through and shared with us in the letters.. Amy Stewart did a excellent job in not only her style of writing but bringing her characters to life where they are sending the letters to you!! Received from Net Gallery. Will be reading more!

Dear Miss Kopp is unlike any book in the series. First it is entirely fictions since it is not known what the Kopp sisters did during the US involvement in WWI. Second this book is entirely written in letter format. You have each sister in different locations doing different things so the story is told through letters between the three of them as well as between some other characters. After the last book Constance was going to DC to find a job to help the war effort. Well she succeeded and is working to hunt down German sympathizers. Norma took up the work with the army to create a carrier pigeon program. All while Fleurette entertained the troops with May Ward.
I really enjoyed the format and the three different story-lines were nice to have. It really gave voice to all of the characters and moved each of the sisters' stories forward. Stewart did a great job of making a completely fictional story for the Kopp sisters.

"Dear Miss Kopp" continues the adventures of the Kopp sisters. In this book, they take on different roles during World War 1. The book is written in epistolary form, alternating among the letters written by the sisters to each other and to various individuals with whom they work or are otherwise acquainted.

The Kopp sisters definitely had different personalities, which were displayed in each sister's unique writing style and activity. While excessive detail bogged down the storyline at some points, the novel moved along well for the most part. The action created suspense and drama that helped move the story forward. The historical aspects of the story also added interest and substance to the novel.I especially liked the author notes at the end which detailed the background for the novel.

It took me awhile to get used to the constant changing between the writers of the letters. This might prove frustrating for other readers like me, who had not read the previous novels in this series. However, the interest generated by this novel might encourage readers to go back and read other stories in this series.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

I received a copy of the book from Netgalley to review. Thank you for the opportunity.
A fascinating yet relatable read that was definitely a page turner. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the sisters.
A good read.

Amy Stewart takes the Kopp sisters to World War I in Dear Miss Kopp. In a series of letters from the French war front to undercover spying in the United States the Kopp sisters survive a series of misfortunes as they try to maintain pigeon messenger services in France and uncover German spies in New York. Interesting view of American women in their roles in the last months of the first world war.

Dear Miss Kopp
By Amy Stewart
Mariner Books (January 12, 2021)

Book cover:

The U.S. has finally entered World War I is and Constance is chasing down suspected German saboteurs and spies for the Bureau of Investigation while Fleurette is traveling across the country entertaining troops with song and dance. Meanwhile, at an undisclosed location in France, Norma is overseeing her thwarted pigeon project for the Army Signal Corps. When Aggie, a nurse at the American field hospital, is accused of stealing essential medical supplies, the intrepid Norma is on the case to find the true culprit.

The far-flung sisters—separated for the first time in their lives—correspond with news of their days. The world has irrevocably changed—will the sisters be content to return to the New Jersey farm when the war is over?

Told through letters, Dear Miss Kopp weaves the stories of real life women into a rich fiction brimming with the historical detail and humor that are hallmarks of the series, proving once again that “any novel that features the Kopp Sisters is going to be a riotous, unforgettable adventure” (Bustle).

My thoughts:

I loved, loved, loved this sixth book about the Kopp sisters and was super excited to win a digital copy from NetGalley and Mariner Books. I read the first book in the Miss Kopp series last year but haven’t got around to reading two through five, though they are definitely in my TBR stack.

The story begins in mid-1918 and, as the title suggests, is written as a series of letters, mostly between sisters Constance, Norma, and Fleurette. Constance, a former deputy sheriff, is now working for the government, helping search for German spies. Norma is in France with her pigeons, and Fleurette is traveling the country, performing with a vaudeville show.

While Constance, the “German-speaking lady agent,” is working to uncover a dangerous plot, Norma has a mystery of her own to solve. As for Fleurette, well, Fleurette acquires parrot. All three women are determined to do their best to improve soldier moral and help the Allies win the war.

I love when authors find previously obscure people and make their stories known. Such was the case with the Kopp sisters. The first Kopp sisters’ book, Girl Waits With Gun, took place in 1914, a time when police matrons were common but female police officers were not. Author Amy Stewart accidentally discovered the story of Constance Kopp, the first female deputy sheriff in the country, and has given Constance the notoriety she deserves.

Any Stewart has done an excellent job of adding World War I history, such as mentions of the Five-Minute Men and the Signal Corps women, adding depth and realism to the story. And I particularly enjoyed Norma’s letters about village life in France. This sixth installment of the Miss Kopp series is a must-read for mystery lovers.


Favorite lines: From Fleurette, remembering something her mother said: “If you ever meet a woman who hasn’t carved out some tiny hiding place in a desk or drawer, be very suspicious. It doesn’t mean she has no secrets: it means her secrets are too large or dangerous to be hidden in her bedroom or sitting-room. Look for a gun under the floor boards in that case, or a body buried in the garden.”

For more about the Kopp series, visit the author's website here: https://www.amystewart.com/

Dear Miss Kopp
Amy Stewart has taken on a difficult challenge and pulled it off with aplomb. Writing a novel all in letters seems like a complicated way to write a plot. In this novel the correspondence is mainly between the three Kopp sisters as each of them go off in different directions during World War One.

This is the first time each of the three sisters are living apart and have all left their family farmhouse. Constance is following true to form and has found work as a corrections officer for army. She is sent on assignments mainly to route out Germans here in NJ and NY who may be working for Germany and against the United States. Of course she does find trouble and her letters are between her and her superior officer explaining the case she is working on. They are detailed letters that set out all the details of the exploits she encounters as she brings and an end corruption and justice prevails.

Constance also writes to Norma and Fleurette sharing information about her life and the life of their brother and his family. Norma is off in France and trying to make her carrier pigeon program work for the War effort. She writes short letters home, but her roommate is there to elaborate about the exciting innovations and award winning successes that Norma is having. Between Norma and her roommate, Anna they also send letters telling of an encounter with a German spy who has been stealing medicine for the local field hospital to send to German soldiers in another area.

Of course Fleurette is traveling around the United States, performing with a troupe of dancing girls to entertain the troops before they go off to battle in Europe. She is using her talents to help the war effort. She gets into some minor scrapes along the way. She writes home with news, but the important information she has to share she does with her friend Helen. Those letters detail the daily life of girls who really traveled around the country entertaining the troops.

Each of the Kopp sisters, though sharing letters that seem to be made up of their daily exploits are really also historic recounting of the life women were really living during the war. They may not be exact details of the what the Kopp sisters were doing but they are actually what was happening to women during this time period. So that adds to the interesting aspects of this novel. Again you are learning as you are reading and enjoying this complicated writing style of reading a novel written completely as letters.

I loved all the books in this series and loved this one.
It is told using letters and it's a gripping and highly entertaining read.
Excellent character and plot development, a well researched and vivid historical background.
It was a fascinating and highly entertaining read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

In the sixth installment of the Kopp Sister chronicles, Stewart shows the women at war. The last book highlighted the American homefront on the brink of entering World War I. Here we see the adventures of the Kopps at war recounted via a series of letters written to one another, rather than a straight narrative. It was, at first, slightly difficult for me to find the rhythm of the story. Once I got a sense of what each sister/writer was up to, I found it to be a really clever way to tell their tale.

As a reminder for those new to the series, the Kopp Sisters were real, though these book are largely fictional (but based on real events). Constance Kopp, in this book, is a detective for the Bureau of Investigation, tracking down potential spies and saboteurs. Fleurette has joined a proto-USO group and is criss-crossing the country entertaining the soldiers. Norma is in France, trying to convince the Allies to invest in her homing pigeon program.

Stewart manages to capture the individual personality of each sister, as well as the other writers. And while the situations are serious — trench warfare, spy catching, codebreaking, grueling travel — the book maintains humor and levity.

Please view the link for my full review.

Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
I have followed this series from the beginning, and I really like it! I like these stories because the women are strong and stand up for what they believe in. I also enjoy them because most of the characters are real people and the stories are based on history. This installment is told through letters between Constance and Norma, as well as their younger sister Fleurette. There is also letters from Aggie, a nurse and friend of Norma's. I hope author Amy Stewart continues to write these stories about the Kopp sisters!

Amazing detailed reading, one of those books you feel you are in all the characters "shoes" A must read