THE NURSE'S SECRET by Amanda Skenandore will be published June 28th 2022 by Kensington Publishing Corporation.
After her mother's tragic death and her father's descent into alcoholism and opium addiction, Una Kelly has had to make a life for herself as a con-woman and pickpocket in the slums of New York City. After being accused of murder, Una is forced to go into hiding as a trainee nurse Bellevue Hospital. At first, Una does not take the nursing school seriously. It is only after she is threatened with expulsion that she commits herself to the program. Caring for the patients gives Una self-respect and a new purpose in life. When a former acquaintance unexpectedly dies at the hospital, Una becomes convinced that the young woman was murdered. Una risks exposure—and her life—as she works to draw out the killer.
THE NURSE'S SECRET is a captivating, well-written historical novel with secondary romance and mystery plotlines. Reader beware that the novel can be very explicit at times—after all, it is set in a hospital in the 1880's when medical care was still rather primitive. There is a lot of body fluids and gruesome injuries to keep Una and the other nurses busy. Skenandore does a great job showing the medical profession and procedures of the time period.
Una Kelly isn't always the most likable of protagonists—she's crass and very self-centered—but she is a character who is worth cheering for. As she gets more involved in the nursing program and finds that she enjoys the work, she really grows as a character. It was interesting to watch her develop throughout the novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.