Reviews

The Third Mrs. Galway, by Deirdre Sinnott

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garbutch's review against another edition

2.0

The book itself was okay but I feel complicated about it. Mainly in that it's a white author making slavery a central plot, and having a lot of AAVE dialogue. I personally wouldn't feel like it's my lane to write something like this as a white person. I haven't actually looked into the level of help that was gotten from AAVE speakers, or if there was at all, but it isn't something the average white audiobook listener would notice anyway.
(I also want to disclaim that I didn't check if the author was Black until after I finished. In future I'll probably check before reading things with these topics though.)

I also felt like the writing was very hard to follow when almost every character was treated as a POV character at some point. The audiobook did kind of help because the characters had different dialogue voices. But overall it was difficult and I didn't feel like I could predict it.

TWs:
You should also be warned before reading of pretty much all the genocide stuff relating to enslavement, in particular rape and CSA, whipping and so on. The sexual violence against Black folks happens offscreen.
Helen is assailed by the doctor a bit. There's also just the fact that Helen is 19 and her husband is significantly older (grey age). The stuff between them is largely offscreen as well.

ellenjoannecampbell's review against another edition

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3.0

Overall, this is an entertaining story but can't really be considered a serious look at slavery, abolition, or the underground railroad. The constant "coincidences" are unbelievable. Still, there are many likeable characters and an action-packed story.

ragnhild's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

4.75

leisinger's review against another edition

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emotional informative medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

viveelan's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

** spoiler alert ** This is an amazing book! Diedrich Sinnott did an amazing job job developing characters and plot. Helen started out a weak, confused child but she grew into a strong woman. I loved Maggie's underlying love story. The varying plots. I'm so glad the unscrupulous doctor got his. The story of Imari and Elymas was devastating but that was the story and history of slavery in our country. I have also read about the abolition movement in the Utica, NY area and how it was so divided between abolitionists and those who wanted to send freed slaves to Liberia. It felt almost like our current time, like a time without hope and yet good people do bring hope, I'm not sure if truth and justice win, but maybe hope.
I loved reading about the history in this area, it helps me feel connected to the past of my community.
The writing was absolutely incredible!