It is 1934, two years after Pamela and Frank Dorset's wedding, a young couple from two wealthy families in St. Louis, Missouri. Pamela is expecting and is almost due with her first child. However, she wants Miss Minnie, the Black midwife who had attended to her own birth in 1911, and with whom her family had lost contact, to help with the delivery. Both families strongly disagree with her request, and her husband wants her to deliver in the hospital. But, stubborn and perhaps obsessed with the idea, Pamela manages to make contact, through her maid, with Miss Minnie. Unknown to her, she may have opened a Pandora's box of dark family secrets, which are about to destroy her family and her marriage. What exactly has Mr. Lucas, her father, been hiding all these years? Find out in Long Lost Midwife by Skye Smith.

Long Lost Midwife by Skye Smith is the perfect pick for lovers of literary drama and psychological thrillers. Smith weaves a compelling tale that explores and exposes, through a diverse cast, the sociological landscape of early twentieth-century America, with a tight focus on the intricate domestic dynamics of the midwestern USA. Through the perspectives of Pamela and Minnie, Smith paints a clear picture of the staggering disparities between the privileged and the marginalized. Even though Pamela appears to see people for more than their color, her lifestyle, expectations, and troubles show the deep-seated classism and stereotypes inbred in her, which are somehow "compromises" she can live with. The cinematic depictions made me feel like I was back in time, experiencing the lives of the well-crafted, layered, and authentic cast. Smith blurs the lines between reality and imagination, deepening the suspense and uncertainty accompanying the narration. I loved this book.

In Long Lost Midwife by Skye Smith, Pamela and Frank fall in love and get married. At the beginning of their marriage, Pamela refuses to be intimate with Frank. This confuses Frank a lot, but he is patient with her and doesn’t force himself on Pamela. They overcome this challenge, and Pamela becomes pregnant with their first child, which brings hope for their marriage. Pamela asks her mother about her birth, and when she is told she was delivered at home by a doctor with Miss Minnie assisting, she considers delivering her child at home. Frank is totally against the idea, but it doesn’t deter her from starting her search for Miss Minnie. The child is delivered at the hospital, but Pamela's obsession with finding Minnie doesn’t end. One day, she goes to a dangerous neighborhood and finds Miss Minnie, who is badly hurt. She brings her home, which causes a huge fight with her husband. How is Miss Minnie connected to Pamela’s family?

Long Lost Midwife by Skye Smith is wonderfully written, and once you start reading it, there is no putting it down. It takes readers on a gripping journey filled with unexpected twists and moral dilemmas. I loved the themes explored, such as how race influenced events in the 1930s and how women navigated a time when the world was male-dominated. This thought-provoking work also gets one thinking about major historical events happening at the time, like the rise of Hitler. The plot flows seamlessly, leaving no room for confusion, and Skye also ensured the events are vividly described, which helps to capture the imagination of the reader. The characters are well-developed, and readers will also appreciate the excellent narration, which adds to the overall beauty of the work. This was a good read, and I look forward to reading more by Skye Smith.