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

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

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

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

Book Quiz (Jan 6)

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.

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

•  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.

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

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

Can you:

~ Name the author?

~ Name the title of this book?

~ Name another book title by this author?

Answer to Book Quiz (Dec 30)

Answer to Book Quiz (Dec 30)

Here is the answer for this weeks quiz. 

~Nemesis~

 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0076F14ES/ref=dv_dp_ep2

This is the movie based on the story, which slightly more accurate than some of the stories. The link will take you to Amazon Instant Video if you Prime its free to watch.

Book Quiz (Dec 30)

For the month of December, this Agatha Christie book will be used.

Agatha Christie ~ Five Complete Miss Marple Novels

ISBN: 0-517-321777

Agatha Christie - Five Complete Miss Marple Novels

Which of the complete stories from this book are the quotes from:

• Miss Marple frowned in some slight puzzlement. She got up rather more slowly thinking about the letter she had received. She was escorted downstairs by Cherry, who was meticulous in hanging about in the hall so as to make sure that Miss Marple did not come to grief walking by herself down the stair case, which was of the old-fashioned kind that turned a sharp corner in the middle of it run.

• “It just reminded me of something,” said Miss Marple, “or rather of someone I once knew. Order Inch for me, will you? To come here about half-past eleven.”

• Miss Marple, resting on a comfortable bench outside the tearoom, reflected on what she planne to do next and whether it would be wise to do it or not.

• Miss Anthea's long hair flapped in the wind, shedding from time to time a vague hairpin on the path or the grass. She talked rather jerkily.

• “My red scarf. I asked if you'd seen it. You said tat you'd seen a green one somewhere and you brought me the red one. I'd left it in the dining room. But you didn't really know it was red.”

Book Quiz (Dec 30)

Book Quiz (Dec 30)

For the month of December, this Agatha Christie book will be used.

Agatha Christie ~ Five Complete Miss Marple Novels

ISBN: 0-517-321777

Agatha Christie - Five Complete Miss Marple Novels

Which of the complete stories from this book are the quotes from:

• Miss Marple frowned in some slight puzzlement. She got up rather more slowly thinking about the letter she had received. She was escorted downstairs by Cherry, who was meticulous in hanging about in the hall so as to make sure that Miss Marple did not come to grief walking by herself down the stair case, which was of the old-fashioned kind that turned a sharp corner in the middle of it run.

• “It just reminded me of something,” said Miss Marple, “or rather of someone I once knew. Order Inch for me, will you? To come here about half-past eleven.”

• Miss Marple, resting on a comfortable bench outside the tearoom, reflected on what she planned to do next and whether it would be wise to do it or not.

• Miss Anthea's long hair flapped in the wind, shedding from time to time a vague hairpin on the path or the grass. She talked rather jerkily.

• “My red scarf. I asked if you'd seen it. You said tat you'd seen a green one somewhere and you brought me the red one. I'd left it in the dining room. But you didn't really know it was red.”

Answer to Book Quiz (Dec 23)

Answer to Book Quiz (Dec 23)

Here is the answer to this weeks book quiz.

~A Caribbean Mystery~

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000I67MDE/ref=wtls_list_pr_65?ie=UTF8&redirect=true

This another movie based on the story, again there are a few changes from the story to movie. The link will take you to Amazon Instant Video if you Prime you can watch the movie for free.

Book Quiz (Dec 23)

For the month of December, this Agatha Christie book will be used.

Agatha Christie ~ Five Complete Miss Marple Novels

ISBN: 0-517-321777

Agatha Christie - Five Complete Miss Marple Novels

Which of the complete stories from this book are the quotes from:

• Miss Marple accepted the propriety of the relationship with an understanding nod and the Canon remarked:

• It was a long speech for her. Miss Marple looked thoughtfully down at the top of her dark head.

• Miss Marple drew her chair a little closer. It had been some time before she had been able to get together with Miss Prescott for a heart-to-heart chat. This was owing to the fact that clergymen are very family men so that Miss Prescott was nearly always accompanied by her brother, and there was no doubt that Miss Marple and Miss Prescott found it less easy to take their back hair down in a good gossip when the jovial Canon was of their company.

• "I don't know that I'd even call it that. I doubt if the girl would even understand that word. Payment for being discreet isn't thought of as blackmail. You see, some the people who stay here are the rich playboy lot and their morals won't bear much investigation." His voice was slightly scathing.

• "That would be a very interesting question," said Miss Marple. "I have not yet had the pleasure of sufficient conversation with you to evolve a theory as to that."