Michelle Cox (1)
Author of A Girl Like You
For other authors named Michelle Cox, see the disambiguation page.
Series
Works by Michelle Cox
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Other names
- Cox, Michelle (Historical fiction writer) (Library of Congress heading)
- Gender
- female
- Education
- Mundelein College (BA|English)
- Occupations
- writer
- Awards and honors
- CIBA Book Series Awards First in Category (The Henrietta & Inspector Howard Mystery Series, Mystery, 2020)
- Agent
- Crystal Patriarche (Booksparks)
- Short biography
- Michelle Cox is the author of the multiple award-winning Henrietta and Inspector Howard series as well as “Novel Notes of Local Lore,” a weekly blog dedicated to Chicago’s forgotten residents. She suspects she may have once lived in the 1930s and, having yet to discover a handy time machine lying around, has resorted to writing about the era as a way of getting herself back there.
Coincidentally, her books have been praised by Kirkus, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist and many others, so she might be on to something. Unbeknownst to most, Michelle hoards board games she doesn’t have time to play and is, not surprisingly, addicted to period dramas and big band music. Also marmalade. - Nationality
- USA
- Places of residence
- Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- Illinois, USA
Members
Reviews
I have been a fan of Michelle's since the beginning. So, I am familiar with her writing and know she can write. However, can I say that I was blown away by this book. I literally could not stop reading it and stayed up through the night and early morning to finish this book! Michelle, you are an amazing storyteller.
I was so emotionally invested in Nora, Patsy, and Gertie that I felt their highs and lows with them. Where Patsy and Nora are concerned in regard to their relationship with their show more mother, I could relate to both women. Patsy being upbeat and connecting with Gertie being the younger daughter, whereas Nora feeling resentment towards Gertie for feeling abandonment when they were younger.
Reading Gertie's story and everything she endured as well was heartbreaking. Yet, it drew me closer to her. Sometimes the best we can do is just love. This book will wreck you in the best way! An absolute, priceless, must read! show less
I was so emotionally invested in Nora, Patsy, and Gertie that I felt their highs and lows with them. Where Patsy and Nora are concerned in regard to their relationship with their show more mother, I could relate to both women. Patsy being upbeat and connecting with Gertie being the younger daughter, whereas Nora feeling resentment towards Gertie for feeling abandonment when they were younger.
Reading Gertie's story and everything she endured as well was heartbreaking. Yet, it drew me closer to her. Sometimes the best we can do is just love. This book will wreck you in the best way! An absolute, priceless, must read! show less
Thanks to BookFunnel, Woolton Press and author Michelle Cox for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own unless otherwise noted.
This is the second book in Michelle Cox’s Jane Austen-inspired “Merriweather” series. I’ve read the first ("Matched in Merriweather: Jane Austen in Wisconsin," a retelling of Austen’s "Emma") but you could easily jump right in with this one and not feel lost.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read Austen’s books, and even show more without remembering much of the plot or characters, this well-written novel is enjoyable all on its own. It was a treat to have the story set in 1930s Wisconsin, since neither the location nor timeline has been overdone as have others in the historical fiction genre.
This witty and charming novel alternates between two young women, Melody Merriweather and Kate Kerwyn. Focusing on the importance of family, juxtaposing misunderstandings and the courtship traditions of the period, the novel explores themes of identity and belonging, independence and romance. I enjoyed the humor, a bit of mystery, and the cliffhanger ending. I can’t wait for book #3 to find out what happens next. show less
This is the second book in Michelle Cox’s Jane Austen-inspired “Merriweather” series. I’ve read the first ("Matched in Merriweather: Jane Austen in Wisconsin," a retelling of Austen’s "Emma") but you could easily jump right in with this one and not feel lost.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read Austen’s books, and even show more without remembering much of the plot or characters, this well-written novel is enjoyable all on its own. It was a treat to have the story set in 1930s Wisconsin, since neither the location nor timeline has been overdone as have others in the historical fiction genre.
This witty and charming novel alternates between two young women, Melody Merriweather and Kate Kerwyn. Focusing on the importance of family, juxtaposing misunderstandings and the courtship traditions of the period, the novel explores themes of identity and belonging, independence and romance. I enjoyed the humor, a bit of mystery, and the cliffhanger ending. I can’t wait for book #3 to find out what happens next. show less
Thanks to author Michelle Cox and She Writes Press for an advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.
This was a book I’m still thinking about, even a few days after reading it. It’s a page turner containing a dual storyline, a mystery with plot twists and suspicious characters, and a honeymoon interrupted for the second time. Although this was #6 in the series, it was my first of the Henrietta and Inspector Howard novels, and I had no trouble following it.
Cox skillfully show more blends historical facts, an intriguing mystery, and a charming romance when Henrietta and Clive Howard return to Europe just before the Second World War. While on their honeymoon, they agree to stop at Chateau du Freudeneck in Strasbourg, France. They say it is to reconnect with Henrietta’s distant relatives. But more importantly, they plan to stealthily search for a missing panel of the Ghent Altarpiece, a famous Renaissance painting, of which Hitler is also in pursuit. And they’re searching for a missing M15 agent as well.
The European intrigue alternates with the story of a young couple back in Chicago. Elsie, Henrietta’s younger sister, is in love with Gunther, against her family’s wishes. A third romance is brewing when Julia, Clive’s sister, who is married to a brute, seems to be falling for a handsome Texas millionaire. And Clive’s mother, a recent widow, is attracted to the family lawyer. All of these relationships hinge on elements of class as well as romance. In addition, Cox presents the perspective of women’s rights – the culture of the time prevents a woman from having liberty and autonomy apart from her husband or father.
But this novel is more of a thriller than a romance, with likeable characters involved in espionage, murder, guns, and a deadly car chase throughout the French countryside. I highly recommend it, and plan to go back and read the earlier books in the series.
I have to point out though, that I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 because I found it exasperating that Henrietta, who was portrayed as an intelligent, forward thinking woman, needlessly put herself in jeopardy - more than once - with dangerous characters. show less
This was a book I’m still thinking about, even a few days after reading it. It’s a page turner containing a dual storyline, a mystery with plot twists and suspicious characters, and a honeymoon interrupted for the second time. Although this was #6 in the series, it was my first of the Henrietta and Inspector Howard novels, and I had no trouble following it.
Cox skillfully show more blends historical facts, an intriguing mystery, and a charming romance when Henrietta and Clive Howard return to Europe just before the Second World War. While on their honeymoon, they agree to stop at Chateau du Freudeneck in Strasbourg, France. They say it is to reconnect with Henrietta’s distant relatives. But more importantly, they plan to stealthily search for a missing panel of the Ghent Altarpiece, a famous Renaissance painting, of which Hitler is also in pursuit. And they’re searching for a missing M15 agent as well.
The European intrigue alternates with the story of a young couple back in Chicago. Elsie, Henrietta’s younger sister, is in love with Gunther, against her family’s wishes. A third romance is brewing when Julia, Clive’s sister, who is married to a brute, seems to be falling for a handsome Texas millionaire. And Clive’s mother, a recent widow, is attracted to the family lawyer. All of these relationships hinge on elements of class as well as romance. In addition, Cox presents the perspective of women’s rights – the culture of the time prevents a woman from having liberty and autonomy apart from her husband or father.
But this novel is more of a thriller than a romance, with likeable characters involved in espionage, murder, guns, and a deadly car chase throughout the French countryside. I highly recommend it, and plan to go back and read the earlier books in the series.
I have to point out though, that I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 because I found it exasperating that Henrietta, who was portrayed as an intelligent, forward thinking woman, needlessly put herself in jeopardy - more than once - with dangerous characters. show less
I've jumped into this series a little late, but thoroughly enjoyed meeting Henrietta and Clive Howard and the rest of their families. Historical fiction is my go-to genre followed by mysteries and thrillers, so a book that combines both is right up my alley. Once I figured out the characters and their connections, I loved how the mystery developed. The author stayed true to the historical era, but she wrote women characters that were not just flies on the wall. Henrietta, Elsie, and Julia show more follow their passions and desires and are strong female characters which I enjoy reading. For the characters that were written to be horrible people, i.e. Randolph, I had very strong feelings about his despicable actions which means the author did a great job in her character development. I will be finding the earlier books in the series because I have come to really like these characters. If you are looking for a page-turning historical mystery, I highly recommend this book!
Possible trigger warnings: suicidal thoughts (but not carried out), haunting episodes (later debunked with rational explanations), one instance of gun use
Thanks to the author for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own. show less
Possible trigger warnings: suicidal thoughts (but not carried out), haunting episodes (later debunked with rational explanations), one instance of gun use
Thanks to the author for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own. show less
Lists
Florida (1)
Awards
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 11
- Members
- 392
- Popularity
- #61,821
- Rating
- 3.9
- Reviews
- 65
- ISBNs
- 49