After reading THE WICKED CITY a couple of weeks ago, I couldn’t wait to get my hands (and eyes) on the second installment of Beatriz Williams’ Wicked City series, THE WICKED REDHEAD. Luckily for me, it did not disappoint in the slightest.

In 1924, Geneva Kelly (aka Ginger/Gin for her red hair) has recently and hastily left New York City with Prohibition agent Oliver Anson Marshall after getting into serious trouble with powerful bootleggers. Meanwhile, in 1998, Ella Dommerich is newly separated from her husband, Patrick, after she caught him cheating on her. She also is investigating a sexy, suggestive and decades-old photograph of a mysterious redhead. Could it be Gin?

"As in THE WICKED CITY, THE WICKED REDHEAD is chock full of adventure, intrigue and suspense, and I was drawn in completely by the unique writing style, both storylines and Gin’s often sardonic character."

The book alternates between the two women/time periods, and I was absolutely immersed in the story from beginning to end. These characters are so vivid and real, and I love that Gin speaks in the first person directly to the reader. Her tongue-in-cheek attitude and sense of humor are vastly amusing, and at times made me laugh out loud with glee.

Early in the story, super fans will be thrilled when Gin and Anson greet beloved characters from one of Williams’ previous novels. Do the names Virginia and Simon Fitzwilliam ring any bells? They won’t be staying there long, however. First of all, have you ever known Gin and Anson to remain idle for an extended period of time? And secondly, “houseguests are like milk. After a week or two, they start to turn sour on you.”

The love affair between Gin and Anson is powerful, romantic, passionate and completely unexpected. For instance, when Gin first moved to New York City, “I was never going to bury myself under six feet of any man. I was going to live. And how.” Once she met Anson, though, she fell fast and furious.

As in THE WICKED CITY, THE WICKED REDHEAD is chock full of adventure, intrigue and suspense, and I was drawn in completely by the unique writing style, both storylines and Gin’s often sardonic character.

While it would work as a stand-alone, I highly recommend reading its predecessor first. Doing so will make you much better acquainted with the characters, their personalities and their backstories. This sequel tied up a few loose ends from the first book, but I am left wanting more and hoping for a third, especially since there are still some unanswered questions.

In the meantime, since I’ve only read these two books, you can find me on the couch cuddling with my dog and greedily devouring Williams’ entire backlist.