Girl Waits with Gun

By: Amy Stewart

Narrated by: Christina Moore

In 1914 collisions between motor cars and horse-drawn carriages are an everyday occurrence on the streets of Paterson, New Jersey. But when an out-of-control driver smashes into a buggy driven by Constance, Norma, and Fleurette Kopp, their lives change forever. Constance, the oldest, demands payment for the damages but quickly realizes that she is dealing with a madman - Henry Kaufman, a silk manufacturer with a drinking problem and a dangerous group of associates.

Soon the Kopp home is under siege. The sisters face threats of arson, kidnapping, and white slavery. Bricks come flying through their windows, and shots are fired at their house late at night. Even the sheriff can't solve the case on his own. He issues revolvers to the Kopp sisters, posts guards at their house, and enlists Constance's help in catching Kaufman. In the process Constance finds herself pulled into an underworld of abused factory workers, missing children, and dirty dealings.

Her attempts to help another woman in trouble forces her to confront her own past and imagine a different future for herself and her sisters. Before the collision, she was just a bored 35-year-old woman living at home with her sisters in the New Jersey countryside, stuck in a life she didn't want but couldn't escape. But the minute Constance is issued a gun, she finds her calling.

Set against the backdrop of the famous Paterson Silk Strike and based on actual events, Girl Waits with Gun is the first in a series of novels based on the real life adventures of Constance, Norma, and Fleurette Kopp. Drawing on extensive research into newspaper reports, courthouse files, genealogical archives, and letters, this intriguing story remains true to the historical record.

©2015 Amy Stewart (P)2015 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"Christina Moore is simply spectacular narrating Amy Stewart's story of one of the country's first female deputies.... Stewart is telling a fascinating story, and Moore makes listening an immersive experience." (AudioFile)

1914, New Jersey and three Spunky Sisters

Based on TRUE events, and real people, Girl Waits with Gun, is the story of Constance, Norma, and Fleurette Kopp .. beginning with their unfortunate collision with a motor car, driven by a drunken Henry Kaufman . . . local silk factory owner . . . who boastfully proceeds to threaten the girls in front of his no-good rabble rousing friends . . . the situation only escalates when Constance, taking the sensible approach, goes to the Paterson silk factory to meet Mr. Kaufman face to face and present him with a bill for the repairs to their carriage . . . there she meets Lucy, a mill worker, who has also been used by Kaufman, borne his child and had the boy taken from her . . . Constance also meets Kaufman's sister, at the factory to try and keep Kaufman in line, but more apt to clean up his messes . . . at the mill, Constance, a robust and tall woman, loses her temper and hits the small, cocky man . . . in front of his cohorts . . . bringing on a tirade of more threats from the menacing man . . . I loved the "back story" on the sisters, their mother and how they came to live in New Jersey . . . the unfortunate tale of the Singer sewing machine man . . . and how Norma set out to find her sister . . . and I especially loved how they stuck together, resisting their brother's urging to come live with him and his wife . . . I looked up the history of Paterson, New Jersey and the silk strike, as well as the Kopp sisters . . . and the notorious Henry Kaufman . . . and I had to laugh . . . little did the low life know, he would go down in history as the one who would be the making of America's female sheriff . . .

Interesting but slow

Would you try another book from Amy Stewart and/or Christina Moore?

Christina was a very good narrator. I felt the story lagged and I wanted to quit at the beginning, but I'm not sure what would have been taken out to make the first half move faster.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The ending was good. Wish maybe there had been a narration summery like they do in movies. So and so did such and such.

Do you think Girl Waits with Gun needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

I think it needs a short follow up book. With stories done the same manner as Agatha's couple Tommy and Tuppence in Partners in Crime.

Great story

The story of the Kopp sisters gives a wonderful portrait of life at the start of the 20th century. Based on actual persons, the tale is well told and I can't wait to see what's next for our intrepid trio.

what a great tale of independent women.

you'll love these women and their grit. wonderful supporting characters. a great history lesson as well recommended for sure.

a good blend of fact and fiction

an enjoyable listen and an interesting blend of actual facts and fiction. above average narrator

Good book & reader, set

Bought the book on a daily sale & put off starting (VERY backleveled!) Reader had nice voice & clear. No struggle to hear as occasionally happens but no Barbara Rosenblatt.
Henry Kaufmann, a silk factory owner, plows his car (new tech) into the Kopp sisters horse drawn buggy. He subsequently refuses to pay to fix it and when Constance Kopp goes to his factory after he ignores two bills mailed to him, he and a crew of roughnecks start harrassing and terrorizing the sisters (bricks with messages give way to attempted arson). Sheriff Heath runs the jail too and is a good guy. He assigns Deputies to help guard the farm. He gives the sisters revolvers and they learn to use them. A subplot is Henry got a factory girl pregnant (he owns the buildings where workers live & has all the keys--how the pregnancy occurred isn't specified.) During the strike, strikers sent their children away because they couldn't feed them. Lucy never got her son back. Constance tries to help Lucy find her son in addition to protecting her sisters. The story is supposed to be historical fiction. I didn't check the details. I was dismayed to hear that someone who does acts like those in the book have the OPTION of going to prison OR PAYING A FINE. That's not my idea of "justice." The comments about how the factory owners treated the strikers should be engraved on public buildings. "Right to work" laws are union-busting laws, and unions are what helped ALL workers get safer working conditions, better pay, 5 day work week, 8 hour day, health insurance, vacation days, sick days, pension plans, and a lot more); I fear we are going back and it's good to get a glimpse of exactly how bad things were. The book is well written, full of details, and enjoyable. The last words of the book felt like falling off a cliff, though. REALLY abrupt end.

I can't wait for the next one

I hadn't heard of this before and listened to it because I found it at a good price and it was well recommended. If you like the Miss Fischer TV series you will probably love this. I am glad there are more of these because I really want more.

Experience Greatly Enhanced by Audiobook

I started reading 'this book in large print, although it was good I found it slow paced. When my book club announced we were meeting online, I had to hurry to finish, so I used my credit to get an audiobook. What a difference, the narrator took the story to a whole new level and I throughly enjoyed the story. Constance Kopp sets her world on fire when she tries to get recompense from a wrong done to her and her sisters by a prominent businessman. Surprising sub-plots arise and Constance finds a bit of help along the way.

Great book, fantastic audiobook

I am a huge Kopp Sisters fan, I have read all the books. I wanted to re-read them and decided to try listening to the first one. What a treat! Christina Moore really brings the characters to life. I love her grumpy Norma. She is also
fabulous at accents and even does a few French and German phrases with ease.

fun story

witty, interesting characters, overall keeps your attention and waiting to see how it turns out.