As someone who lives for niche biographical fiction, this book was right up my alley 9 (!) years ago. ...and remains a quintessential 'me' book to this day. I'm absolutely kicking myself for sitting on it and sitting on it and letting it gather digital dust all these years.

While the story does dig into Mary's past, it puts the reader right in the midst of the action with the arrest and trial - WAS she responsible for the deaths of so many families she worked for? If so, was it intentional? Mary herself never exhibited any signs or symptoms of typhoid; what exactly was New York to do with her?

I was completely captivated with FEVER and tore through it. Having lived through 2020 put an interesting perspective on this one too.

I LOVE historical fiction! It's worth noting that I read and reviewed this book on Amazon and Goodreads but somehow neglected to leave a NetGalley review (which I'm doing now), and it was incredible when I first read it. But NOW, in light of a global pandemic that has been highly-politicized and has left (really ignorant) people screaming about "Mah rights!" this book becomes even more poignant.

As a healthy carrier of typhoid, Typhoid Mary has always been painted as a horrible, selfish, stupid person who willfully ignored both medical advice and the law to infect others needlessly. In this retelling, we see her side of the story. Moreover, we see absolutely stunning depictions of the setting that make you wonder if the author has, indeed, discovered time travel.

With the state of current events, this is one to reread and enjoy again.

Reading about Mary Mallon, you feel the injustice that was done to her. Yet, if it were my child or relative that died, I certainly would feel differently.
She was stripped of her life, literally, and put on an island in the Hudson River, North Brother Island. Left with very little contact, to the outside world. How could they do that to her? Written up in the press as Germ Lady, Typhoid Mary. Yet a dairyman who also is a carrier of the germ, is allowed to stay at home. He killed over a hundred people. Yes, Mary is credited with about 20 deaths.
Mary is a spunky Irish immigrant, and pulls herself up from being a laundress to an exceptional cook. She wins raves from everyone who tastes her food. It is Mary's downfall. It is her passion, and yet people she has loved die.
Mary Beth Keane has brought Mary Mallon to life, we meet the love of her life Alfred. Mary is content to live as Alfred's mistress, back in the late 1800's. That in itself had to be difficult. She was a woman before her time, living on the edge. Yet the people who loved Mary, really loved Mary, for who she was to them.
When Mary, after three years, is finally let to return to her life, she is admonished to never take a job as a cook. Her passion is taken from her! Can she ever completely give cooking up? Her reasoning says that she has cooked for so many, and none of her friends have gotten sick?
You are going to find this to be a very compelling historical read, and not going to put it down, until it is done. You will root for Mary, even though, we find her breaking the law?? What law? Don't miss this excellent story.

I received this book through the Publisher Scribner, and Net Galley, and was not required to give a positive review.