Miss Kopp Just Won't Quit

Miss Kopp Just Won't Quit is the fourth book in the Kopp Sisters series by NYT best-selling American author, Amy Stewart. It's 1916 and Deputy Constance Kopp has been in the job for over a year. She's very satisfied with her position as Matron of Hackensack's jail, looking after the female prisoners. She also finds her role as probation officer for certain wayward girls fulfilling, although she doesn't hesitate when there's more active policing necessary. Chasing down a thief or diving into the Hackensack River to rescue an escaped lunatic are all part of the job.

But this is an election year and, while she has no interest whatever in politics, she finds herself, as the only female Sheriff's Deputy, being used as a pawn in a dirty campaign. Her boss and patron, Sheriff Heath has to vacate his position; his wife insists he run for Congress; everyone assumes Heath's predecessor, William Conklin will succeed him, but Detective John Courter of the Prosecutor's Office, the other candidate for Sheriff, denigrates Heath's achievements in every speech.

Constance Kopp is far more interested in the case of the woman she has had to transport to Morris Plains asylum. Mrs Anna Kayser has been committed by her husband, Charles, on the say-so of a doctor who has not seen her, and to Constance, does not display any traits of lunacy. Deputy Kopp smells a rat.

Readers new to the Kopp Sisters series may be surprised learn from Stewart's Historical Notes and Sources that Constance Kopp and her sisters were real people, much as described, as are quite a few of the other characters. Many of the events that form the plot also occurred, if not always when stated. Stewart takes the known historical facts and fleshes them out into a marvellous tale.

What won't amaze is the utter dependence and powerlessness of women at this time in history. Miss Kopp, though, is clever, resourceful and persistent, although not even these qualities can protect her from some adverse events, and the lump that forms in the throat at this turn may catch readers unprepared.

While this is the fourth book in the series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone. However, readers are likely to want to seek out the earlier books, and fans of Miss Kopp will not be disappointed. Let's hope that Amy Stewart has more of the Sisters Kopp up her sleeve.

This unbiased review is from a copy provided by Scribe Publications.