A different Twist on Historical Fiction

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The Rib King covers some very interesting topics that I found got bogged down in too much story. August Sitwell is a servant for the Barclays, a no-longer-so-well-to-do white family, in the early 1900s. He takes pride in his job and wants to do right by his employers while also trying his best to protect the others who work in the house, including the cook Mamie, housemaid Jenny and three orphan boys who are kitchen apprentices.

Eventually Sitwell needs cash to help one of the kitchen boys and sells a sauce to a local businessman as well as the use of his likeness for the bottle, becoming "The Rib King." Sitwell's choice leads to tragedy, showing how race, class, exploitation and rage can lead to an explosion.

There are a lot of layers to get through before the sauce storyline comes into play (I wondered about the title for chapters) and midway through the book, the focus shifts from Sitwell to Jenny. While I found a lot of their experiences interesting and the overall concept really compelling, it was hard to keep track of all of the characters and storylines, between Sitwell's youth, his boarding house, the Barclay house, the book the boys find, Jenny's story, etc. I also found Sitwell frustrating - there are times he makes assumptions that don't seem logical and while they propel the action in the direction the author needs, were frustrating to me as a reader.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4