Set against the backdrop of the first all-female Mardi Gras krewe at the turn-of-the-century, the acclaimed author's mesmerizing historical novel tells of two strangers separated by background but bound by an unexpected secret--and of the strength and courage women draw from and inspire in each other. "An undercurrent of New Orleans's dark side propels the story, heightening the tension and supplying McPhail with a wealth of evocative...