Una chica con pistola (Girl Waits with a Gun)

Escrito por Amy Stewart

Narrado por Irma Bello

"«Constance Kopp, la enérgica heroína de Una chica con pistola, está hecha de la misma pasta que los grandes personajes de las novelas policiacas. Una mujer formidable, tan capaz de empuñar sin miramientos el revólver para atrapar a un criminal, como de soltar un exaltado alegato en favor de la condición de las mujeres». Washington Post
Cuando Amy Stewart se topó con un artículo de 1914 que contaba cómo el coche del propietario de una fábrica había embestido la calesa en la que viajaban las hermanas Constance, Norma y Fleurette Kopp, y la manera en que la disputa por los daños causados había derivado en una escalada de amenazas y disparos, que terminaría con Constance convertida en ayudante del sheriff, este captó de inmediato su interés.
La absoluta falta de información sobre sus protagonistas se convirtió en un incentivo más para que la autora, tras bucear en un intrincado universo de certificados de nacimiento, testamentos y escrituras, percibiera enseguida que las lagunas de esa fascinante historia pedían a gritos escribir una novela. Y así lo hizo."

• Idioma: Español
• Editorial: BookaVivo
• Fecha de lanzamiento: 9 mar 2021
• ISBN: 9781638111405

Amy Stewart

AMY STEWART is the New York Times best-selling author of the acclaimed Kopp Sisters series, which began with Girl Waits with Gun. Her seven nonfiction books include The Drunken Botanist and Wicked Plants. She lives in Portland, Oregon. 

Comentarios para Una chica con pistola (Girl Waits with a Gun)

[rdra1962 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

This is a story based on historical facts. The author has taken her research, including interviews, and filled in the rest with her wonderful imagination. She gives us a cast of interesting, lovable characters in unusual - yet not unrealistic- circumstances. I read the novel with no preconceptions or info and preferred that experience. I could not put this book down! It is very light reading and the historical setting is handled very well. We see the place, values, dress, manners, emotions, fashion etc, all in perfect context. There is humor and tension, character development and learning. Highly recommended!

[comicgirl178 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

meh. It was enjoyable.

[toobusyreading · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

This book would have been pretty darn good if it were pure fiction, but the fact that it is based on real people with real stories to tell makes it exceptional.Three sisters, all very different than one another, live together in on an old, isolated farm despite their brother's wish that they would stay with him. Fleurette is the spoiled, flighty, much younger sister. Norma is most comfortable with her pigeons. And Constance tries her best to keep the family afloat. And it was working, sort of, until a motorcar smashed into their horse-and-carriage, and Constance tried to collect damage. From A Bad Guy.The story moves along nicely, all from the point of view of Constance. I loved the characters, and the writing sounded as though Constance were really the one speaking.The author's notes explain that a good deal of the personal details were fictionalized, but she also states what people are real. This was a story in itself, but the very ending cries out for a sequel, which I am expecting. If (when?) it comes, I'm going to be standing in line, metaphorically speaking, to get it.I was given an advance reader's copy of this book for review.

[mariacapaldi · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

I enjoyed this. A friend recommended the author and series.

[john_warner-1 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

When the Kopp sisters traveled to town in a horse-drawn carriage, the last event they expected to happen would be for their carriage to be hit broadsided by a horseless carriage driven by Henry Kaufman, a ruthless factory owner. Their carriage, completely destroyed, has left them without transportation from their family farm to the nearest town. The eldest sister, Constance, sends him a letter detailing the damages and expectation of reimbursement. However, when he refused to pay, she has no other recourse but to seek reimbursement through the court. This leads to threats against the sisters by Mr. Kaufman and a group of henchmen. What transpires next is how the "girl" becomes armed and eventually leads to her becoming the nation's first female detective. If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, you might enjoy this historical fiction set in early 20th century America.

[brangwinn · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

I'm ready for more of the Kopp girls historical fiction. Who would have guessed that a spunky single woman in 1914 could take on a crook and Bing him to justice? Constance Kopp really did and landed a job as a sheriff's deputy. This is s fun, very engaging story. Among the traits I like in stories are well-developed characters, and nearly every character in this book has depth.

[mrslee_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Amy Stewart is an amazing woman. She read a few newspaper articles, and became inspired by the three Kopp sisters. Then she dove headlong into research and ended up writing a delightful story about them; especially Constance, the first female deputy sheriff of Bergen County, New Jersey. Not only that, but when I went to her website to see some photos, I discover that she is a talented artist as well. I wish I knew her, but reading her books is a fine alternative. This book focuses on the sister's run-in with a silk mill owner. He runs into them with his automobile when they are in their buggy to be precise. They submit a bill for damages, which he refuses to pay and Constance won't take no for an answer. Drawn from research of the records of these events, the author gives these women a place to live again, perhaps to be noticed and admired for their courage and strength rather than for the sensationalism of the day.Stewart does a fine job of reflecting the attitudes of the day. I know this because my grandmother grew up in that time and told me about them. Women didn't live on their own. It wasn't done. When it was done, they were exceptional women. The mistrust of strangers, journalists, lawmen and basically everyone was a real thing. These were years of great transition for women, although it hadn't happened yet, and this story reflects that awakening in the sister's lives. That isn't to say that there are no problems with it. It felt a bit stretched out at the end, but never so much that I lost interest, always there were the descriptions of places, clothing, and such that made it feel as if you were there.There are to be sequels, I'm assuming having to do with the career of Constance, and I am looking forward to them.

[bereanna · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Based on some historical people without knowledge of personalities. 3 sisters live on a farm alone in 1914-ish time in New Jersey. A wealthy but reckless and spoiled gentlemen wrecks their horse drawn carriage and the sisters attempt repayment for the carriage, unwittingly going up against a gang. This book dragged for me. The heroine wasn’t well -fleshed and I do t need to read future Koop sisters novels.

[carriewuj · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

3.5 Interesting historical fiction on a topic/scenario I knew nothing about. In 1914, Paterson, New Jersey had become a mill boom town. It was also exceedingly corrupt and the mill owners basically ran everything and bullied everyone into complying with their standards and requirements, not only in their factories, but often in their workers' personal lives. Henry Kaufman was one such Boss and he and his gang of thugs (the Black Hand Gang or one modeled on it) often resorted to kidnapping, violence and extortion. Then they came up against the trio of Kopp sisters. "We don't scurry away when we're in trouble, or when someone else is. We don't run and hide." 239 Constance (30-something), Norma (also early 30s?) and Fleurette (16)were riding into town in their horse-drawn buggy when Kaufman plowed into them with his automobile and attempted to flee the scene. The sisters and onlookers prevented this from happening and Constance insisted he pay for their damages -- which she then had to follow-up with at least 2 letters and a visit to his factory. Kaufman did not appreciate this pursuit and began a harassment campaign against the 3 of them, threatening their lives and safety with appearances at their isolated farm, shots fired against them, and extortion letters. The ladies triumphed with the help of Sheriff Heath and Constance in particular showed proclivity toward police work -- also true -- becoming the region's first female deputy in the process. Period details are captivating as is the side-story about Constance's past and her relationship with her sister. There is a strictly fictional subplot also about a mill worker, her illegitimate child (by Henry) and the child's subsequent disappearance. It is a good illustration of the seriousness of the issues at hand at the time and the gang's power over those they employed. A good girl-power feel good read -- with sequels to follow.

[lorelai2_1 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Based on a true story set in Patterson,NJ in 1914, Constance Kopp, the eldest of three sisters, finds herself taking charge of a most unlikely situation. After a road accident involving the family horse and buggy, she seeks payment for the damages from Henry Kaufman, the driver who is also a spoiled rich sociopath. Instead of paying the asked for fifty dollars, Kaufman and his crew embark upon a campaign of harassment that includes violent threats delivered via a brick through the window, attempted arson and warnings to back off or risk having younger sister Fleurette kidnapped.Constance doesn't wish for such a turbulent force to disrupt her life or her sisters' but she will also not be easily intimidated by Kaufman and his pack of thugs. Upon learning about another victim of Kaufman's wrath in search of her missing child, Constance teams up with local law enforcement to find true justice for all concerned. For a first novel, Amy Stewart really has hit a home run here. She's better known for nonfiction(The Drunken Botanist, in which some of the research for that book lead to GWWG) but I hope this is the beginning of a beautiful fictional friendship with readers.

[nwieme-1 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Great historical fiction from Bergen County (where I grew up!) An interesting look back at the justice system of the early 1900s. Totally enjoyed the sisters!

[tututhefirst_1 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

This is one of the most innovative detective stories I've read in a long time. Portraying strong women as protagonists in a decidedly non-feminist setting made for some interesting situations. I kept seeing early silent film reels running through my mind with Al Capone style gangsters, tin lizzies, fainting flappers, and stereotypical "Little House on the Prairie" homemakers. But......these women were far from stereotypes. They were strong (and headstrong), competent, organized, innovative and at times able to be quite stubborn in their quest for justice. Several reviewers commented that they were able to guess the outcome from the "spoiler" printed on the book's cover. Since I read this as an e-galley, I didn't pay attention to the cover, and it was only at the end that I realized the story is based on a true but long forgotten adventure. That said, I won't add anything else to spoil the fun. I will say though that I look forward to more adventures of the Kopp sisters.<

[hardlyhardy · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Constance Kopp doesn't think of herself as a detective until the very end of Amy Stewart's engaging 2015 novel "Girl Waits with Gun," and if not for messages conveyed by the title and cover drawing, readers wouldn't either for much of the book. Constance is an unusually tall, unmarried woman in her mid-30s who lives on a New Jersey farm with her two sisters, Norma and Fleurette. It's 1914. She just wants to collect the money she thinks she is owed by Henry Kaufman, a business owner, after he and his carousing friends damage the sisters' farm wagon with their car.Kaufman doesn't think he should have to pay, even maintaining at one point that the horse and buggy ran into his car. Soon the sisters get threats, some delivered by bricks thrown through windows. The threats usually has to do with Fleurette, an alluring, overly-dramatic teenager. Constance will do anything to protect Fleurette, including learning how to use that gun mentioned in the title.Meanwhile there's a girl whose baby boy, Kaufman's son, is missing, and an overworked sheriff who takes Constance's complaint seriously but is handcuffed by lack of evidence and the fact that Kaufman has a business (even if it is his sister who is actually running it.).All this, a mostly true story, may not sound like enough plot to power a 400-page novel, especially one as compelling as this one, but Stewart keeps her focus more on character than plot, and her characters are wonderfully rich and always fascinating. Constance has a deep, dark secret. Steady Norma wants only to run a farm and raise her pigeons. Fleurette seems like a typical teenage girl, but then much, much more. These three, plus the sheriff and a few other characters, are sufficient to support the novel, as well as bring us back for the others in the series.

[literaryfeline · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Source: Review copy provided by the Publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed Girl Waits With Gun. This historical mystery set in 1914, features the Kopp sisters, each one of them a force to be reckoned with all their own. It was hard for me not to set aside my particular interest in this novel because of its roots. It's based on the real life Kopp sisters, one of whom becomes one of the first female sheriff deputies in the country. It made the events that played out in Girl Waits With Gun all the more intriguing to me.

Author Amy Stewart does take some liberties with history, which she spells out at the end of the book. Even so, I am in awe of Constance Kopp and am glad Stewart made her the focus of her novel. Much of the events described are taken straight out of the headlines. I would love to have been the author's research assistant for a book like this!

Constance Kopp and her sisters have lived a quiet life. Their mother had never been particularly trusting of the government or the authorities, and as a result. neither had the Kopp children. Their older brother, Francis, lives in a nearby town with his wife and children. He often worries about his sisters, living on the farm all by themselves. They live in a time before women have the right to vote and men are responsible for their women kin. Constance, Norma and Fleurette are all very independent and have been for quite some time. Constance and Norma may not always agree, but they are determined to take care of sixteen year old Fleurette on their own and protect her from the dangers of the world outside.

Their relative obscurity is destroyed when their buggy is hit by the automobile of a factory owner, Henry Kaufman. Constance's simple request for payment got unmet, and when she confronts him in person, he takes offense and decides to make an example of the Kopp sisters. Bricks through windows and threatening notes put the sisters on edge. The local sheriff does what he can to help, knowing what a no good person Kaufman is, but his resources are limited.

During her visit to the silk factory to visit Kaufman, Constance encounters an employee of Kaufman's who begs her for her help. Constance doesn't believe she can help, but eventually she finds herself in the middle of that mystery too, despite her sister Norma's reservations.

I loved Constance's grit--and Norma's too. Both women are forces to be reckoned with. I imagine Fleurette will be too as she grows older. She may like her pretty dresses and putting on a show, but she was raised by two very capable and resourceful women. She's already got a big heart and good eye for right and wrong.

I found this book to be quite entertaining and especially intriguing because of its basis in fact. I hope the author has more adventures planned for the Kopp sisters. I cannot wait to read more about them.

[jennybeast · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

This is a great story -- excellent, no nonsense, strong women with eccentric interests fall into a detective story during a really interesting time in US history. It is not, however, hilarious (as some other reviews have said) except in that the sisters zing with personality and don't seem to be willing to let the outside world change them overmuch. I found it fascinating, frightening -- truly the escalation of violence and threats because the main characters are women is extreme and chilling, and all too like the headlines today. At the end of the book we discover that this is based on a true story -- most of the headlines are quotes from newspapers at the time, many of the letters are from the trial. What an astonishing thing -- I did not see that coming at all. It makes me even more intrigued about what's next for Constance Kopp.

[pennykaplan · Calificación: 1 de 5 estrellas]

Although I was intrigued by the setting in Paterson, and Bergen county and the time period early 20th century, the characters were caricatures and the humor too broad for me.

[vnesting-1 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

It all started on the day factory owner Henry Kaufman crashes his car into the Kopp sisters' buggy, injuring the sisters and demolishing their buggy. Kaufman laughs when Constance Kopp demands that he reimburse them for the damages, but Constance is not most women. Taller than most men and unconcerned with the domestic issues that occupy most women of the day, she becomes dogged in her pursuit of justice and fairness. While Kaufman tries threats and intimidation, Constance works with the local sheriff to protect her family and bring Kaufman to justice. Set in New Jersey in 1914-15, this historical novel based on actual events is completely engaging. I hope this is the start of a new series. Constance Kopp is a great character!

[sensitivemuse · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

It's a good start to the series, a little slow moving. I did enjoy reading the backstory on Fleurette. The way the chapters went back and forth from their past to present was seamless and it flowed perfectly. Although Fleurette was to be portrayed as the humor aspect in the book I found her annoying and exasperating. It was certainly off putting and at time it was fun, but at other times it just wasn't (author certainly did a good job as portraying her as the annoying younger sister!)Certainly worth reading, I enjoyed the setting and the characters.

[ashleytylerjohn · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Absolutely terrific. Manages to satisfy those who love a good genre mystery as well as those who love a good literary novel, without sacrificing anything for either camp. There were even unexpected twists and turns which wrung a few tears from me (something almost entirely unheard of when reading your average mystery).

I'm always a little worried when I embark upon a book that has received such high praise (surely it's overrated) but this lived up to the hype and then some. A real winner

(Note: 5 stars = rare and amazing, 4 = quite good book, 3 = a decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. There are a lot of 4s and 3s in the world!).

[klockrike · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

I read this book as a free give-away book before its publication. It is a great book, very different, and based on a true story filled in with fiction. At times the language in the dialogue becomes a bit stilted, and there are some things that are not clearly explained, but it didn't bother me much. The character of the woman that will become a sheriff's deputy at the end is the best formed, and after reading the book I wanted to know more about her and her sisters. It was hard to know what was made up and what was based on real history. It was also nice to read a book where the ending was not predictable and sugarsweet, but realistic (and real). Great job, Amy!

[rmarcin-630843 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Enjoyable fictionalized story about the real life Constance Koop who with her sisters were run down in their buggy by an automobile owned by Henry Kaufman, of Kaufman Silk Dyeing Company. Constance demands that he pay for their buggy repairs, and in doing so, gains an enemy in Kaufman. The book deals with the attempts that Kaufman made to terrorize Constance and her sisters, and how they fought back.
It will be interesting to read more about Constance Koop and her next adventure.

#GirlWaitsWithGun #AmyStewart

[queencersei · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Constance Kopp lives on an isolated farm in rural 1914 New Jersey with her two younger sisters. While traveling to the small industrial town of Paterson, their horse drawn wagon is hit by a car, which was driven by a local silk mill owner, Hugh Kaufman.The independent Constance peruses damages, unleashing a series of attacks on the sisters by Hugh and his thuggish associates. Bullets fly and threatening notes are hurled through windows by bricks. Instead of being fearful, the Kopp sisters rise to the challenge and prove to their tormentors that they are more than a match for a spoiled rich drunkard and his bullying friends. Girl Waits with Gun is a fun and refreshing read and is well worth checking out.

[mishker-1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

The three Kopp sisters, Constance, Norma and Fleurette live a quiet, reserved life on a farm in New Jersey in 1914. Most of their life they have been guarded and warned away from the outside world by their deceased mother. Now, they must deal with the outside world in a big way when one Henry Kaufman crashed his vehicle into the Kopp sister’s buggy. Intent on receiving payment for the damages, Constance demands that Henry pay her back, but Henry is a silk factory owner and with his team of brutes, he feels that he is entitled to intimidate through the Kopp’s through bricks, threats and guns. When Constance enlists the local police force, Henry does not expect a woman to be able to stand up for her family like Constance Kopp.This story began a little slow for me, but ended up being a wonderful historical story about a strong woman that is seemingly out of place for her time. Constance’s character really did grab me from the start, she is strong both mentally and physically, determined and a fierce caregiver to her sisters. As her backstory unfurled, she only became more intriguing and her relationship with Norma and Fleurette became concrete. Each of the sister’s personalities were very distinct and they each had very complex relationships. The conflict that emerged between the Kopp’s and Kaufmann seemed very cut and dry at first, but as time went on more layers of depth emerged in a masterful way. I was also very pleased to know that the story is based on real history and that these real people have been brought to life once again. This story was received for free in return for an honest review.

[majkia · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Beyond my usual rant about infantilizing women by using GIRL in titles about grown women, otherwise the book was fairly good. Although I thought it dragged a bit in parts.

[wagner5sarah35 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Constance Kopp and her sisters Norma and Fleurette live a quiet and very independent life at their rural farm, until they have a run-in with a shady crook on a trip into town one day. As Constance and her sisters pursue justice, they uncover a dangerous and ruthless man, who's machinations begin to threaten their own lives. The story is so perfect for fiction that it was something of a surprise to reach the end and find a historical note explaining that much of the novel was based on real events. This engaging novel is perfect for those who enjoy history and a mystery.

[dougj110 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Got through over 150 pages, then the story felt like it was repeating itself: another brick through the window, another threatening note from the same people - time to move on. I did enjoy the first 150 pages however.

[librarygeek33 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

This book could have been called Horse and Buggy meets Automobile but Girl Waits With Gun, I think, is much catchier. The author, Amy Stewart is known for her popular non-fiction books about plants and poisons. This, her first work of fiction, is based on real events and real people. The story was pieced together from newspaper articles and information in the public record and embellished upon with an eye toward historical authenticity. The main characters, Constance Kopp and her sisters – Fleurette and Norma - were not your typical early 20th century farm girls. After an unfortunate and fateful accident, necessity, and a good measure of stubbornness, gets the girls mixed up with members of the Black Hand. If you like quirky characters, suspense, humor and stories with a very strong sense of time and place, this may be a good choice for you.

[berly_4 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

"From the New York Times best-selling author of [The Drunken Botanist] comes an enthralling novel based on the forgotten true story of one of the nation’s first female deputy sheriffs."Constance Kopp doesn’t quite fit the mold. She towers over most men, has no interest in marriage or domestic affairs...One day a belligerent and powerful silk factory owner runs down their buggy, and a dispute over damages turns into a war of bricks, bullets, and threats as he unleashes his gang on their family farm. When the sheriff enlists her help in convicting the men, Constance is forced to confront her past and defend her family — and she does it in a way that few women of 1914 would have dared."Loved this story and the three sisters! It's a fun read, not only because of the confrontation with the silk lord and all the drama that follows, but also the historical background of the 1910s: economics, women's roles, the justice system, horse vs. car, etc. I think it is even cooler that the story is based on an actual real-life female person and her family! Can't wait to start the second in the series later this year.

[undermyappletree · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

I am familiar with Amy Stewart's writing from her non-fiction books, The Drunken Botanist and Wicked Plants, so I wasn't sure what to expect when I first picked up her first novel. In Girl Waits With Gun, what I discovered was an engaging and entertaining novel based on real people and a real event. Set a century ago, the story is based on a real person, Constance Kopp and her two sisters, and a buggy vs car traffic accident. The buggy was driven by an unsavory character who refused to pay for the damages to Constance's car, but the ladies don't back off, despite his threats and attempts at intimidation. The story is fun, fast-paced, and filled with historical detail. There is also a little bit of mystery and family secrets/drama thrown in.

[jenzbaker · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

This is a very unusual book -- the main character, who waits with gun, is an unattractive understated woman of 1920s vintage, lives with women on the farm. Decides to be the protector and winds up working with the police. Unexceptional mystery, but cool premise and characters. Reviewed for Booklist.