Monday, September 29, 2014

Book Review: Victoria Thompson - Murder on Marble Row







~ Victoria Thompson: Murder on Marble Row (Gaslight Mystery series, #6)~




My Rating: Three out of four
(1=didn't like it, 2=it was ok, 3=I liked it, 4=Really like it)




Cover:
When an explosion kills wealthy industrialist Gregory Van Dyke, Police Commissioner Teddy Roosevelt presumes that anarchists are responsible and personally asks Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy to track them down. Malloy is up to the challenge – but he faces a different kind of challenge when he encounters Sarah Brandt paying a condolence call on the Van Dykes. Faced with the impossibility of ever expressing his true feelings for Sarah, Frank had vowed never to see or work with her again...

For her part, Sarah is glad to working with Malloy again – though they clash over his conviction that the murder was politically motivated. Frank would like to dismiss her concerns, but whether he likes it or not he needs Sarah's help, because she knows the marble facades of Fifth Avenue hide as many dark and twisted secrets as any tenement on the Lower East Side...


My take:
The murder of millionaire Gregory Van Dyke and the crime solving duos of Malloy and Sarah, will they find the person responsible for the death?

Police Commissioner Roosevelt wants it solved to everyone's satisfaction. He assigns Malloy to the case, hoping to have it solved quickly, quietly and without any scandal for the newspapers to find.

Finding Sarah's mother at the Van Dyke's making a condolence call is a surprise, finding Sarah there is something worse. Forbidding her to become involved has never worked before and doesn't work this time.

Sarah does help him find some important information about the case, information that points to one of the family being responsible for the death of the senior Van Dyke. With four family members and the business partner, Malloy has his hands full. Of Van Dyke's sons, the oldest would seem to have good reason for his father's death. The second son would seem to not have a motive, the daughter also seems to have no motive, till her secret comes out... Their step-mother would have everyone believe she is the grieving widow of the much loved senior Van Dyke, till more is uncovered about her personality, along with her lack of constraint.

During the story Malloy meeting both of Sarah's parents, which is something of a surprise for him. Will there be any future for Sarah and Malloy?

I believe the author did another fine job on this novel. The using of real events to make a story come alive and let those reading know what, to a certain extent, things were like at a certain time in history is rewarding and challenging.

I look forward to the next book in the series. To seeing how Malloy and Sarah continue on their own personal journey.




Warning: Contains sexual themes and violence that may be uncomfortable for sensitive readers.

Disclaimer: This book review was not paid for. The opinions and review are my own.

Author: Victoria Thompson
Book: Murder on Marble Row (Gaslight Mystery #6)
ISBN: 978-0-425-19870-4
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group, The
Copyright: 2004
Pages: 310, Paperback
Genre: Historical Mystery

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Book Review: Victoria Thompson - Murder on Mulberry Bend


~ Victoria Thompson :  Murder on Mulberry Bend (Gaslight Mystery #5) ~




My Rating:  Three out of four
(1=didn't like it, 2=it was ok, 3=I liked it, 4=I really like it)



Cover:
     The Prodigal Son Mission on Mulberry Bend stands as a refuge for girls who otherwise would have to live by by selling the only thing they have of value - themselves. The work being done there so impresses Sarah that she volunteers to help out however she can - with clothes, with medical assistance, with the organization of a benefit dinner. And when on of the girls is found dead and refused burial because of her former life, Sarah's passion for justice is aroused.

     Reluctantly, Sergeant Frank Malloy agrees to look into the death, if only to keep Sarah from endangering herself by pursuing the matter. But Sarah cannot be kept out of the investigation - and just as Malloy feared, her attempts to find the cause of the unfortunate girl's death in the circumstances of her life put her in deadly danger - from an unexpected source...


My take:
     In this novel Frank and Sarah investigate the death of a young girl from a mission on Mulberry Bend, Emilia. It would seem that someone hated her and didn't want her to bother them any more, but was that the truth.

     As the story unfold, Frank and Sarah find that all is not what it seems on the surface at the Prodigal Son Mission. Someone there is trying to save the girls, but from themselves.

     They do find the murderer just in time to stop another death from happening, it wasn't who they thought and for reasons they can't completely understand.

     Victoria Thompson has done a wonderful job with the Gaslight Mysteries series, the finding of the materials for the stories wouldn't seem to be easy for rest of us, using history to make a novel come to life, with events that could have happened and a story line with characters that make you want to read the next installment, is in all a good thing.


Warning:  Contains violence that may be uncomfortable for sensitive readers.
Disclaimer: This book review was not paid for. The opinions and review are my own.

Author:  Victoria Thompson
Book:  Murder on Mulberry Bend (Gaslight Mystery #5)
ISBN: 978-0-425-18910-8
Publisher:  Berkley Publishing Group, The
Copyright:  2003
Pages:  343, paperback
Genre:  Historical Mystery

     

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Book Review: Victoria Thompson - Murder on Washing Square





~ Victoria Thompson: Murder on Washington Square (Gaslight Mystery series, #4)~




My Rating: Three out of four
(1=didn't like it, 2=it was ok, 3=I liked it, 4=Really like it)



Cover:
To Sarah Brandt, the mere thought of mild-mannered banker Nelson Ellesworth murdering his mistress seemed absurd. But to the police, it made perfect sense. Especially since the woman was allegedly carrying his child. But Sarah met the young woman the day before the incident. And something in her eyes made it quite clear that she was neither as poor nor as innocent as she would have people believe.

Now it will take the seasoned skill of Detective Frank Malloy to help clear Mr. Ellsworth's good name. And to determine if Sarah's suspicions are correct – that the victim may have been the victimizer...


My take:
“The truth was that doctors knew very little about many things, and medicine was as much intuition and guesswork and luck as it was skill and knowledge.”, (quote 'thought' by Sarah Brandt in Murder on Washington Square.) In this and the previous novels with Sarah and Frank they are investigating the death of a young woman found in Washington Square.

The beat cops know the woman's name and where she lives. Can Malloy solve the case of why she was found in Washington Square and keep the wrong persons from being convicted of the crime?

I found myself wanting to skip ahead to see what would happen next in the story line. Overall the story will hold your attention while reading, you can finish and still come back for a second read through at a later date and still be satisfied with the story and characters.

There are some plot twists that might take a few readers by surprise, but not all readers. And for the relationship between Malloy and Sarah is advancing, there are obstacles.

In all this was another good book in the series, and I look forward to the next installment of Gaslight mysteries.





Warning: Contains violence that may be uncomfortable for sensitive readers.
Disclaimer: This book review was not paid for. The opinions and review are my own.

Author: Victoria Thompson
Book: Murder on Washington Square (Gaslight Mystery #4)
ISBN: 0425184307
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group, The
Copyright: 2002
Pages: 306, Paperback
Genre: Historical Mystery

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Book Review: Victoria Thompson - Murder on Gramercy Park



~ Victoria Thompson: Murder on Gramercy Park (Gaslight Mystery series, #3)~







My Rating: Three out of four
(1=didn't like it, 2=it was ok, 3=I liked it, 4=Really like it)


Cover:
     As a summons from Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy, Sarah arrives at the elegant home of famed magnetic healer Edmund Blackwell to find his wife in labor – and the good doctor dead from an apparent suicide. Only Malloy sees what no one else wants to: that Blackwell was murdered in his own home...

     After a successful delivery, the Blackwell baby falls mysteriously ill. Relying on her nurse's training and woman's intuition, Sarah discovers the source of the baby's sickness – and discovers a scandal that leads Malloy's investigation down a gilded path paved with greed, deception, and desire...


My take:
     In this third book of the Gaslight Mystery series, Frank and Sarah are back and into the tangle of the everyday world of New York, to untangle another mystery.

     With the death of Dr. Blackwell, and Mrs. Blackwell needing the help of a midwife. Frank calls on Sarah for help, bringing them a little bit closer to understanding themselves and each other.

     Finding who killed Dr. Blackwell will take time, as the story unfolds we see a different side of Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy, his handling of this case and the comparison his makes of it to his previous cases and how other 'cops' would handle the case.

     I do believe that with each book the author does even better with defining the main characters, making the reader wish to become more interested in the next book to see the reaction of them in their worlds and themselves.


Warning: Contains sexual themes and violence that may be uncomfortable for sensitive readers.
Disclaimer: This book review was not paid for. The opinions and review are my own.

Author: Victoria Thompson
Book: Murder on Gramercy Park (Gaslight Mystery #3)
ISBN: 9780425178867
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group, The
Copyright: 2001
Pages: 329, Paperback
Genre: Historical Mystery

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Book Review: Victoria Thompson - Murder on St. Mark's Place






~ Victoria Thompson: Murder on St. Mark's Place (Gaslight Mystery series, #2)~








My Rating: Three out of Four
(1=didn't like it, 2=it was ok, 3=I liked it, 4=Really like it)


Cover:
Thinking she has been summoned by German immigrant Agnes Otto to usher a new life into the world, Sarah Brandt is greeted by the news of an untimely death instead. It seems that Agnes's beautiful younger sister, Gerda, had fallen into the life of a “Charity Girl”. Caught up in the false glamour of the city's night life, she would trade her company – and her favors – not for money, but for lavish gifts and an evening's entertainment. And now she was dead, victim, no doubt, of one of her “gentlemen friends”.

No one cares much about the fate of girls like Gerda; but Sarah does. And she vows to find her killer. To do so, she turns to Sergeant Frank Malloy. As the two pursue an investigation that leads from the bright lights of Coney Island to the stately homes of Fifth Avenue, they find their shared passion for justice may cost them dearly...


My take:
In this second book of the series, Sarah Brandt and Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy are back in another Gaslight Mystery.

As in the first book of the series, the author has the main pair of characters just being barely tolerable to each other. While they do work well together in finding the truth of why so many girls are murdered and by whom, finding in the process that the number of girls is more than was previously thought.

I do like how the author has slowly developed the characters of Sarah and Frank in this second title. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series to see how the relationship continues between the two main characters.

The only draw back to the series so far seems to be the shocking bits of history that the author has found when researching this time period in New York.




Warning: Contains sexual themes and violence that may be uncomfortable for sensitive readers.
Disclaimer: This book review was not paid for. The opinions and review are my own.

Author: Victoria Thompson
Book: Murder on St. Mark's Place (Gaslight Mystery #2)
ISBN: 0425173615
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group, The
Copyright: 200
Pages: 277, Paperback
Genre: Historical Mystery

Friday, January 24, 2014

Answer to Book Quiz (Jan 20)

Answer to Book Quiz (Jan 20)


Agatha Christie ~ Death Comes As the End

Can you:
~ Name the author?  Agatha Christie
~ Name the title of this book?  Death Comes As the End
~ Name another book title by this author?  Five Classic Murder Mysteries





Book Quiz (Jan 20)



  • Avenel Books
  • Crown Publishing, Inc
  • Copyright 1980
  • First printing: 
  • 650 pages


Quotes from Book:
  • Her father's exhortation had brought him vividly before her eyes - his pompous, slightly fussy manner; his continual exhortations and instructions.  pg 553

  •  "Insolent boy - to speak like that to your father. Be careful or I will say that this is no longer your home - and you can go elsewhere!"   pg 565

  • "No, indeed. My father is a merchant in Memphis. It is gay and amusing in  Memphis. There are music and singing and dancing. Then my father travels a good deal. I have been with him to Syria - to Byblos beyond the Gazelle's Nose. I have been with him in a big ship on the wide seas."   pg 579

  • She repeated his name insistently - but for once no image came before her eyes. Khay was in another world. He was in the Field of Offerings...   pg 603


Can you:
~ Name the author?
~ Name the title of this book?
~ Name another book title by this author?

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Book Review: Victoria Thompson - Murder on Astor Place

Book Review

My Rating: Three out of Five 
(1=didn't like it, 2=it was ok, 3=I liked it, 4=Really like it, 5=it was amazing)

~ Victoria Thompson: Murder on Astor Place (Gaslight Mystery series, #1)~



Cover:
After a routine delivery, Sarah visits her patient in a rooming house – and discovers that another boarder, a young girl, has been killed. At the request of Sergeant Frank Malloy, she searches the girl's room. She discovers that the victim is from one of the most prominent families in New York – and the sister of an old friend. The powerful family, fearful of scandal, refuses to permit an investigation. But with Malloy's help, Sarah begins a dangerous quest to bring the killer to justice – before death claims another victim.


My take:
I'm a fan of a good written mystery novel, as most you will know from my blog. While this book held my interest, it did feel a little slow in making the reader 'like' the two main characters.

To be fair the life in New York couldn't have any easy one, even a good day, so writing about a time period from a few hundreds years ago would be challenging, I do believe that the writer did pull it off, the story plot was believable and executed rather well.

While Sarah Brandt is reluctant to believe that Malloy can do his job, she starts asking questions herself to find the person responsible. She does find that its not as easy she would have thought. Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy is working the case and has a few problems with the midwife, mostly her career choice.

However, the feeling of 'sexual tension' between the main characters did seem to run on a predictable schedule and felt as those the author couldn't decide if she wanted the main characters to always be stand-offish to each other or have them decide to let the 'past be the past' and get together.

With that being said, I do think I will see if I can find the next book in the series, just to see if the author continues the same way with the main characters and if the next gaslight mystery, still set in New York, is good.


Warning: Contains sexual themes and violence that may be uncomfortable for sensitive readers.
Disclaimer: This book review was not paid for. The opinions and review are my own.

Author: Victoria Thompson
Book: Murder on Astor Place (Gaslight Mystery)
ISBN: 978-0-425-22972-9
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group, The
Copyright: 1999
Pages: 278, Paperback
Genre: Historical Mystery

Monday, January 20, 2014

Book Quiz (Jan 20)

Book Quiz (Jan 20)



  • Avenel Books
  • Crown Publishing, Inc
  • Copyright 1980
  • First printing: 
  • 650 pages


Quotes from Book:
  • Her father's exhortation had brought him vividly before her eyes - his pmpous, slightly fussy manner; his continual exhortations and instructions.

  •  "Insolent boy - to speak like that to your father. Be careful or I will say that this is no longer your home - and you can go elsewhere!"

  • "No, indeed. My father is a merchant in Memphis. It is gay and amusing in  Memphis. There are music and singing and dancing. Then my father travels a good deal. I have been with him to Syria - to Byblos beyond the Gazelle's Nose. I have been with him in a big ship on the wide seas."

  • She repeated his name insistently - but for once no image came before her eyes. Khay was in another world. He was in the Field of Offerings...


Can you:
~ Name the author?
~ Name the title of this book?
~ Name another book title by this author?

Friday, January 17, 2014

Answer to Book Quiz (Jan 13)

Answer to Book Quiz (Jan 13)

Agatha Christie ~ The Moving Finger

Can you:
~ Name the author?    Agatha Christie
~ Name the title of this book?  The Moving Finger
~ Name another book title by this author?  The Classic Murder Mysteries



Book Quiz (Jan 13)


  • Avenel Books
  • Crown Publishing, Inc
  • Copyright 1980
  • First printing: 
  • 650 pages


Quotes from Book:
  • She looked, I decided this morning, much more like a horse than a human being. In fact, she would have been a very nice horse with a little grooming.   pg 451

  •  And not one I couldn't match from other cases! This one here is as near as nothing to one written by that milliner woman. This one is the dead spit of an outbreak we had up in Northumberland - written by a school girl, they were. I can tell you, gentlemen, I'd like to see something new sometimes, instead of the same old treadmill.   pg 473

  • Partridge drew herself up again. "No, I did not, Miss! No, indeed. If Agnes like to behave rudely that's her look out, but I shall give her a piece of my mind when we meet."   pg 487

  • "That's sensible of you, sir. And Let me tell you, the person we're after is dangerous. She's about as dangerous as a rattle snake and a cobra and a black mamba rolled into one."   pg 497

  • I stood there a moment hesitating. What was I really doing there? I didn't know, and then, suddenly, just near at hand, I caught the sound of a rustle. Is sounded like a woman's dress.   pg 517

Can you:
~ Name the author?
~ Name the title of this book?
~ Name another book title by this author?

Monday, January 13, 2014

Book Quiz (Jan 13)

Book Quiz (Jan 13)


  • Avenel Books
  • Crown Publishing, Inc
  • Copyright 1980
  • First printing: 
  • 650 pages


Quotes from Book:
  • She looked, I decided this morning, much more like a horse than a human being. In fact, she would have been a very nice horse with a little grooming.

  •  And not one I couldn't match from other cases! This one here is as near as nothing to one written by that milliner woman. This one is the dead spit of an outbreak we had up in Northumberland - written by a school girl, they were. I can tell you, gentlemen, I'd like to see something new sometimes, instead of the same old treadmill.

  • Partridge drew herself up again. "No, I did not, Miss! No, indeed. If Agnes like to behave rudely that's her look out, but I shall give her a piece of my mind when we meet."

  • "That's sensible of you, sir. And Let me tell you, the person we're after is dangerous. She's about as dangerous as a rattle snake and a cobra and a black mamba rolled into one."

  • I stood there a moment hesitating. What was I really doing there? I didn't know, and then, suddenly, just near at hand, I caught the sound of a rustle. Is sounded like a woman's dress.

Can you:
~ Name the author?
~ Name the title of this book?
~ Name another book title by this author?

Friday, January 10, 2014

Answer to Book Quiz (Jan 6)

Answer to Book Quiz (Jan 6)


Agatha Christie ~ Five Classic Murder Mysteries



Can you:
~ Name the author?    Agatha Christie
~ Name the title of this book?  The Boomerang Clue
~ Name another book title by this author?  Five Classic Murder Mysteries






Book Quiz (Jan 6)

  • Avenel Books
  • Crown Publishers, Inc
  • Copyright 1980's
  • First printing: 
  • 650 pages


Quotes from Book:
  • They were blue, a clear deep blue. They looked straight at Bobby. There was nothing uncertain or hazy about them. They seemed completely conscious. They were watchful and at the same time they seemed to be asking a question.   pg 307

  • He lay back again, having tossed the empty beer bottle into a clump of heather.  pg 326


  •  The rendezvous for the great accident party was fixed at a spot about a mile from Staverley village where the road to Staverley branched off from the main road to Andover.  pg 344


  • Strangely enough, she received confirmation of this theory no later than the following day, and it came from Roger.   pg 351

  • The next five minutes were spent in genuine hard work. At the end of ten minutes Badger could repeat his instruction by heart.   pg 361

Can you:
~ Name the author?
~ Name the title of this book?
~ Name another book title by this author?