This story of an unassuming young woman in Jazz Age New York City started off well enough. It's a time period and setting I love to read about, and Rose's life as a working woman (a typist at a police precinct) was interesting. When a new woman joins the typing pool, Rose quickly falls under her spell, desperate for friendship and connection. The relationship upends Rose's carefully constructed, quiet life.

Ultimately, this novel didn't hang together well for me. It got a bit more ludicrous with every chapter and the denouement beggared belief. My experience was not helped by a very pedestrian narration of the audio book by the actress Gretchen Mol.

3 stars ( )

Well-written. Rose Baker is a plain-looking stenographer at a police precinct. Raised in an orphanage; its not surprising that she is vulnerable and lonely.

In Odalie she sees the sister, the best friend she always wanted but never had. She is easily manipulated by Odalie as most people who meet her are. Strong emotions compel Rose to make a series of poor decisions and take bold risks.

Okay read.

narrator: im not gay
keira knightley reading this: *actually believes her* ( )

The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell is set in the mid-1920s in New York during Prohibition. The story is narrated by Rose, who becomes obsessed with another typist at their workplace, the local police precinct. The other typist is Odalie who is beautiful, charming, alluring and mysterious. In a sense this story acts as Rose’s confession, yet I couldn’t help but wonder if Rose was being truthful about everything as during the course of the tale, there were a number of discrepancies that led me to realize that Rose is an unreliable narrator.

An orphan, raised by nuns, Rose is a play-it-safe and follow the rules type of girl and at first she is unsure about Odalie, but at the same time she watches her closely and takes notes on her behavior. When Odalie drops a valuable broach, Rose calmly picks it up and keeps it. Eventually the two women become friendly and before too long Rose moves into Odalie’s apartment and adjusts her lifestyle to fit in with her world of speakeasys, jazz and bathtub gin. Men are never far away from Odalie and soon one comes to Rose with a story of murder and betrayal.

The Other Typist is a twisty, riveting story about two unreliable women that keeps the reader involved and questioning what exactly is going on. One starts the book thinking they are in for a read about young women entering the workplace in the 1920s, but instead find yourself reading a page turner that is eerie, compelling and confusing. It’s a fun read but the bizarre and confusing end has kept me from rating it higher. ( )

En 1922, la jornada laboral en la comisaría del distrito del Lower East Side, en Nueva York, transcurre al ritmo impuesto por una nueva ley que prohíbe la producción, venta y transporte de bebidas alcohólicas.
El trabajo se va acumulando, pero Rose Baker no se queja: es mecanógrafa de profesión y su tarea consiste en escuchar y reproducir fielmente las palabras de los criminales que cada día desfilan por el edificio. Robos, sobornos y delitos de sangre son su pan de cada día, así que parece una mujer difícil de impresionar, pero todo cambia la mañana en que Odalie entra a formar parte del equipo: mientras Rose lleva el pelo castaño recogido en un discreto moño, Odalie se atreve a estrenar melena a lo garçon, a fumar y a frecuentar los mejores restaurantes, sin preocuparse demasiado por la cuenta. Su mirada fascina a hombres y mujeres, y Rose cae en sus redes, viviendo con ella los placeres ocultos que reserva la ciudad de Nueva York a quien sabe disfrutar de lo bueno. ¿Qué es mentira y qué verdad en la vida de Odalie?