The Whispering woman by Trish MacEnulty

1913 Louisa finds herself in a peculiar position. once part of the rich, upper class welcomed everywhere now after her fathers financial ruin the family are barely tolerated in society but Louisa is happy doing what she feels she has a knack for. She writes a society column for The Ledger and though it is not the journalism she seeks, it is the family's bread and butter. Forced to face head on the unspoken subject of abortion and the death of a young maid at the hands of an unscrupulous doctor - not a backyard abortionist but a suave well spoken of high society, Louisa sets on a course of investigation which literally turns society upside down. not just abortion, abduction of young women, trafficking them into forced prostitution, a murder of a young female police investigator and corruption in the Police itself and cover ups galore. Louisa puts herself in grave danger and though rescued the story she uncovers shows Manhattan society at its worst, with those at the top equally involved at least some of them in the unsavory machinations of high society. An eye opener at behind the scenes of society - the division between the rich and the poor, the class consciousness and the condescension and discrimination shown to the Irish, the Jews and to those involved in 'trade' are all featured here. The struggle for the female vote is also a small part of the book. Very well written keeping the reader focussed on the story of Louisa as well as the history of the time. Sent by BooksGoSocial for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.