Sisters Three

Though like LITTLE WOMEN this is a chronicle of the lives of sisters and their mother in wartime, the resemblance virtually ends there. The setting is pre WWII Glasgow, Scotland. Although most of us imagine that mafia stories will be set in Italy or perhaps a major U.S. city such as New York, organized crime is rampant in this pastoral town, and two of the three sisters are married to mob heirs. Polly, the eldest, lives a pampered life, yet despite this, she dances dangerously on the edge, having an affair with another man, who is in turn tempted by yet another woman. Babs is also married to a criminal, and their real father is suspected of crimes, though to all appearances he is dead. The most peaceful of the sisters is the youngest, Rosie, a deaf girl who works in, ironically, a florist's shop. However, when love enters her life, the sisters' world is rocked because he is a policeman. Young Kenny finds himself caught between two worlds, as he is falling in love with his assignment, the daughter of a criminal, though he is sworn to uphold the law. On top of that, with war with Germany looming like an advancing storm, he may be called up for active duty before he can convince Rose of his love. The sisters also face the reality that war could mean that they suffer the same fate as aliens in Scotland, since Italians have become part of their family in marriage. ***** Realistic and gritty, this novel reads like a mini series, interweaving multiple plotlines skillfully to form a whole tapestry. Like Dickens, Ms. Stirling does not scimp on the grimness of the world she has created in order to make a light read. Rosie is the most admirable of the sisters, perhaps because of her handicap that has shielded her from some of life's ugliness, making her a bit more unspoiled than they. If you want a fun read, look elsewhere; if you want something with depth and great historical value, this one is for you. ***** Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.