Girl Waits with Gun (Stewart) - Book Reviews

Book Reviews
A fine, historically astute novel…. The sisters' personalities flower under Stewart's pen, contributing happy notes of comedy to a terrifying situation…. Stewart integrates the beliefs and conditions of a vanished way of life into the story, enriching it without playing the intrusive docent. Transportation, domestic arrangements, dress, food, the place of women and the lot of the worker are neatly stitched in, as are the isolation of the country and the public glare of the city, and, most entertainingly, sensational, inaccurate newspaper accounts of events. And then there is Constance: sequestered for years in the country and cowed by life, she develops believably into a woman who comes into herself, discovering powers long smothered under shame and resignation. I, for one, would like to see her return to wield them again in further installments.
New York Times


Constance Kopp, the feisty heroine of Amy Stewart’s charming novel Girl Waits With Gun, sounds like the creation of a master crime writer. At nearly 6 feet tall, Constance is a formidable character who can pack heat, deliver a zinger and catch a criminal without missing a beat. Based on the little-known story of the real Constance Kopp, one of America’s first female deputy sheriffs, the novel is an entertaining and enlightening story of how far one woman will go to protect her family.
Washington Post


The Kopps are the stars of Stewart's new zippy, winsome novel, Girl Waits With Gun. Filled with historical detail without being weighed down by it, the novel is a cinematic story of the women, the siege instigated by their powerful enemy, and their brave efforts in the face of real violence.
Los Angeles Times


Well-written with sharply drawn characters and the occasional plot twist, Girl Waits With Gun is an absorbing throwback to a bygone era.
Associated Press


[A] confident, charming, sure-footed debut—a fresh, winning and delightful mystery with a warm heart, impish humor and a heroine who quietly shatters convention.
Dallas Morning News

Stewart gives us three sisters whose bond—scratchy and well-worn but stronger for it, as can happen with family ties—is unspoken but effortless. Girl Waits With Gun might sometimes be a story in which truth is stranger than fiction, but it also makes for pretty charming fiction.
NPR

 
This rollicking western about a woman who'll do anything to save her family is based on the true tale of one of the country's first female deputy sheriffs.
People


[A]n unforgettable, not-to-be-messed-with heroine—one of the nation’s first female deputy sheriffs. It all begins circa 1910 when an earnest request entangles a family with the town thug. The rest is kickass history.
Marie Claire

Fans of strong female characters will find their new favorite heroine in Constance Kopp, who takes a bold stand against a gang that is threatening her family. Debut novelist Amy Stewart's Girl Waits With Gun is a historical thrill ride, racing through funny, tragic, and terrifying scenes. Even better, it's based on the true story of one of the United States' first female deputy sheriffs and her brave, amazing sisters.
Cosmopolitan


If fictional accounts of real women are your thing, then settle in with Girl Waits With Gun and you won't be let down. Amy Stewart recreates one of the world's first female deputy sheriffs, set in the early 1900s, and you will be cheering Constance Kopp on through every page. The race to catch a murderer is thrilling in itself, but the powerful woman driving the book is what will really keep readers turning pages!
Bustle


(Starred review.) Hardened criminals are no match for pistol-packing spinster Constance Kopp and her redoubtable sisters in this hilarious and exciting period drama by bestseller Stewart (The Drunken Botanist).... A surprising Kopp family secret, a kidnapped baby, and other twists consistently ratchet up the stakes throughout, resulting in an exhilarating yarn.
Publishers Weekly


(Starred review.) [E]ngaging.... Stewart...creates a welcome addition to the genre of the unconventional female sleuth. Colorful, well-drawn characters come to life on the page, and historical details are woven tightly into the narrative. —Sarah Cohn, Manhattan Coll. Lib., Bronx, NY
Library Journal


(Starred review.) A sheer delight...[Girl Waits with Gun] packs the unexpected, the unconventional, and a serendipitous humor into every chapter. Details from the historical record are accurately portrayed by villains and good guys alike, and readers will cross their fingers for the further adventures of Constance and Sheriff Heath.
Booklist


(Starred review.) Stewart crafts a solid, absorbing novel based on real-life events—though they're unusual enough to seem invented.... Stewart deftly tangles and then unwinds a complicated plot with nice period detail.... More adventures involving gutsy Constance...and a lively cast of supporting characters would be most welcome.
Kirkus Reviews