\’Shrines of Gaiety’ by Kate Atkinson   (2022) – 390 pages

At the center of ‘Shrines of Gaiety’ is fictional character Nellie Coker, owner of five successful nightclubs in London during 1926 including her flagship, The Amethyst. Her six children are all involved in running the clubs. After the brutal World War I, nearly everyone in London wanted to go out again and enjoy themselves.

“Men were not unwelcome, but women often partnered each other – something that was not unusual in the wider world either, as the war had taken so many men from the dance floor and never returned them.”

Each of the nightclubs had young women available to dance with the male patrons for a drink or a small amount of money.

“Nothing was free in Nellie’s world, not even love. Perhaps especially not love.”

Meanwhile out on the streets, Detective Chief Inspector Frobisher is concerned about the number of young women who are disappearing only to be found floating dead in the water later.

“It was the girls. Girls were disappearing in London. At least five he knew about had vanished over the last few weeks.”

Thus we have the contrast of the spectacular sparkle and gaiety of the nightclubs versus the brutal murders of young women.

Frobisher hires the intrepid young woman Gwendolen Kelling to go underground to investigate Nellie Coker’s nightclub operations. Frobisher knows that besides the always-present crime element in London, some on the police force are also on the take.

Meanwhile 15 year-old girls Freda and Florence decide to run away from their homes in York together to London. After her money runs out, Freda lies about her age and gets a job dancing with the men at one of Nellie’s clubs.

As you can tell from the above, there are a vast number of characters, both major and minor, in ‘Shrines of Gaiety’, and it is indeed remarkable how Kate Atkinson gives each character his or her due. This novel is teeming with interesting lives; one could say that it is Dickensian.

The many scenes support the various plot threads, and each scene is presented in a manner that was fascinating to this reader. It’s like a large jigsaw puzzle where each little piece fits into its place to make an almost perfect whole. The stories of so many characters come alive on the page and all somehow fit together.

‘Shrines of Gaiety’ is a superior entertainment.

Grade:    A