Girl in Disguise by Greer Macallister

After reading the description of this book, I had to break my vow to not read another book with "Girl" in the title - and I'm very glad I did!

As is often the case, truth is stranger than fiction. Kate Warne was a real person and was the first female Pinkerton detective. But not a lot more than that is really known about her. A woman way ahead of her time, she lived and worked in Chicago in the early 1860's. There is documentation of some of the cases she worked on and some of the people she knew; but after all, she was a detective and a  spy, so she didn't reveal or record much about herself and her work. The author has convincingly embellished the facts that are known into an engrossing historical novel. At times tense and scary (how she escapes dangerous situations with her skill and wits), at times heartwarming and heartbreaking (she guards her heart from everyone except a very select few), at times a political thriller - this should make a fantastic screenplay!

Before the Rain Falls by Camille Di Maio

After serving seventy years in prison for the murder of her sister, Eula, Della Lee has finally returned home to the Texas town of Puerto Pesar. She is ready to set the record straight as to what really happened to put her in prison. She gradually reveals her story to a reporter who has come to town to investigate a "miraculous" painting. He crosses paths with Dr. Paloma Vega, who is in town to take care of her ailing grandmother and younger sister. The author realistically conveys the characters' budding relationship and their struggles with their identities and ambitions. She also conveys such a strong sense of place that you can almost feel the hot sun on your neck and the gritty sand in your hair.