wayfaring_witch's review against another edition
4.0
Ah good old Molly is back. Daniel is loosening his leash a little and we have hope that Molly will still be up to her ways now that she is a married woman. I look forward to developing Molly and Daniel's relationship as man and wife since there will be less of Daniel being too busy to show his face.
Anyways, this book was cool because we dove into Chinatown and Bowen meticulously placed some fantastic research about the community. I enjoyed the flow of mystery, and I enjoyed a larger than usual amount of Sid and Gus in this book.
Anyways, this book was cool because we dove into Chinatown and Bowen meticulously placed some fantastic research about the community. I enjoyed the flow of mystery, and I enjoyed a larger than usual amount of Sid and Gus in this book.
beckyreads2's review against another edition
4.0
This was another good story in the series. I am enjoying the Molly Murphy Mystery series. I really like Molly's independence, willingness to accept others for who they are, and her keen observations when solving mysteries.
ncrabb's review against another edition
Molly Murphy came to the United States near the turn of the 20th century under what were hair-raising circumstances at best. She fled her native Ireland under erroneous suspicion of murder. This is a great series, especially if you want to learn about immigration in the late 1800s and early 20th century and about the culture and life of New York City.
As book 10 in the series opens, Molly is preparing for her wedding day. She is at last going to marry Captain Daniel Sullivan, a New York City cop. Ah, but the thing is, Molly has accrued a significant following as a private detective, and everyone insists that she must give up her business once she is married. But she’s privately not so sure she wants to do that.
Just days before the ceremony, Molly pays a call on her two lesbian friends. They encountered a man who insisted Molly could handle his case, and he wanted no one else to do it. But should Molly in good conscience take the case just days before her wedding? Because her innate curiosity won't fade away, she embarks on a journey to find a missing bride.
This is a search that will take Molly into the murky opium-laden depths of Chinatown, and it's a story that has relevance to our human-trafficking time. This is a historically rich tale of murder, gang wars, and a time when men were sure women were merely possessions. At one point, the killer very nearly ends Molly's life.
This is an excellent historical fiction series with plenty of mystery and suspense. I've been reading it for years and enjoying it.
As book 10 in the series opens, Molly is preparing for her wedding day. She is at last going to marry Captain Daniel Sullivan, a New York City cop. Ah, but the thing is, Molly has accrued a significant following as a private detective, and everyone insists that she must give up her business once she is married. But she’s privately not so sure she wants to do that.
Just days before the ceremony, Molly pays a call on her two lesbian friends. They encountered a man who insisted Molly could handle his case, and he wanted no one else to do it. But should Molly in good conscience take the case just days before her wedding? Because her innate curiosity won't fade away, she embarks on a journey to find a missing bride.
This is a search that will take Molly into the murky opium-laden depths of Chinatown, and it's a story that has relevance to our human-trafficking time. This is a historically rich tale of murder, gang wars, and a time when men were sure women were merely possessions. At one point, the killer very nearly ends Molly's life.
This is an excellent historical fiction series with plenty of mystery and suspense. I've been reading it for years and enjoying it.
valeehill's review against another edition
4.0
Mollie is such a likable character. I find her to be genuine, curious, intelligent, and loyal. She has an innate goodness even when she’s doing something she shouldn’t – like keeping things from her fiancé. I enjoyed Bless the Bride immensely! The historical aspect was fascinating, as were all the characters. I couldn’t be more pleased with the ending. It was fabulously romantic with just a hint of things to come. Marriage can’t tame Molly completely no matter how much she loves Daniel. She will remain true to her basic nature by continuing to get into difficult situations and solving cases; assuring us fans of future adventures in this delightful series.
nitabee's review against another edition
3.0
Bless the Bride opens with Molly visiting Daniel's mother out in the country, where she's supposed to be helping prepare her trousseau. Unfortunately, Molly is not so good with a needle, which brings Mrs. Sullivan to much despair. Molly is thrilled to hear from Sid and Gus with the news that not only do they wish to throw her a bridal party, but a man was recently at Patchin Place looking to hire her for a job, so Molly rushes back to NYC. She decides to stay with Sid and Gus, since Daniel's having her house redone for their marriage, and Molly's less than anxious for Daniel to know of her return, fearing his disapproval of her taking on another case. This case leads Molly to Chinatown, at a time in history when the Chinese are much discriminated against in our country. Lee Sing Tai, a rich and powerful man, wishes Molly to retrieve a piece of jade jewelry he says is missing. Although Molly visits all of the nearby pawnbrokers, she comes up empty handed, and it turns out Lee Sing has an ulterior motive for hiring Molly - .
Spoiler
he really wishes her to find his bride that's gone missing. It turns out he's paid for a child bride, a girl no older than 16, to come over illegally (Chinese woman are forbidden from entering the States, in the hopes that Chinese men will return to China to be with the women) and give him a son. The girl, Bo Kei, has completely disappeared, and Lee Sing is beside himself with anger. Molly finally locates her hiding in a nearby church but is reluctant to return her to Lee Sing after hearing of the suffering Bo Kei has endured in his home, so she hides her at Gus and Sid's house. Lee Sing ends up dead, and it's a bit convoluted, but the culprit is an English lord named Monty who was set to marry Sarah, a nice young lady Sid and Gus introduced Molly to. I knew Monty was guilty somehow, and I knew he was addicted to opium, but I couldn't determine his motive (he was being blackmailed by Lee Sing, who knew of his addiction and threatened to tell Sarah's family). Bo Kei is free from Lee Sing's torture and can be with his secretary, an American-Chinese man named Frederick who she fell in love with when he came to China to escort her to America. The book ends with Molly marrying Daniel in a lovely service, with Gus and Sid as her bridesmaids. Oh, and she's reunited with Bridie, the young girl she first came to America with, as Seamus, Bridie's father, is leaving the city to help build the Panama Canal. He pleads with Molly to find a home for Bridie, and she sets her up with Mrs. Sullivan, who has been lonely since losing her husbanderinstjames's review against another edition
3.0
I knew who the murderer was like 1/4 way through the book that it was annoying how obvious it was.
BUT Daniel and Molly had the best banter in this book and I am glad they finally married!
BUT Daniel and Molly had the best banter in this book and I am glad they finally married!
luffy79's review against another edition
4.0
Sometimes I underestimate the tightrope that authors of historical fiction have to tread. So many expressions that are off limits. I was made aware of this when Molly Murphy made use of the word 'shock', meaning 'culture shock'. Yet that expression wasn't part of the vernacular in 1903. The author, Rhys Bowen, draws inspiration from actual events and real persons that were alive back then. Sometimes the resulting book is mediocre, but that doesn't apply to Bless the Bride. Rhys Bowen has got her groove back. I just wish that these books didn't end with the new Molly Sullivan nee Murphy putting her life on the line. I just don't see this being vital to the plot. But this is a time for relief and thankfulness, for a job well done. I can add more, but with this watershed of a book, I don't need to.
thenia's review against another edition
4.0
Molly is restless after a few days in the country with Daniel's mother, doing needlework and feeling inadequate and returns to the city with the excuse of attending a party her good friends want to throw for her.
Another reason for her return is her curiosity over a curious message she received about a case someone wants her to undertake and despite Daniel's wishes, she figures it will be her last case before she retires to wedded life and that what he doesn't know can't hurt him.
Of course things don't go as she plans and she gets involved with the Chinese people of the city, who are very guarded and keep to themselves. She gets to learn a few things about them in the course of her investigation, not all of which are good.
She is a bit prideful and reckless at times, preferring to postpone asking for help even when she needs it and it gets her into some trouble once again, but as always she manages to use her skills to solve another case she shouldn't have been working on in the first place.
Daniel tends to be a little high-handed, but she's strong enough that she doesn't let him walk all over her and makes it clear to him that the role of quiet housewife is not for her.
The story ends with their wedding and some foreshadowing for what's to come, with Molly.
Let's see how that works out for her in the next book in the series, [b:Hush Now, Don't You Cry|12325918|Hush Now, Don't You Cry (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #11)|Rhys Bowen|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327940572s/12325918.jpg|17304524].
Another reason for her return is her curiosity over a curious message she received about a case someone wants her to undertake and despite Daniel's wishes, she figures it will be her last case before she retires to wedded life and that what he doesn't know can't hurt him.
Of course things don't go as she plans and she gets involved with the Chinese people of the city, who are very guarded and keep to themselves. She gets to learn a few things about them in the course of her investigation, not all of which are good.
She is a bit prideful and reckless at times, preferring to postpone asking for help even when she needs it and it gets her into some trouble once again, but as always she manages to use her skills to solve another case she shouldn't have been working on in the first place.
Daniel tends to be a little high-handed, but she's strong enough that she doesn't let him walk all over her and makes it clear to him that the role of quiet housewife is not for her.
The story ends with their wedding and some foreshadowing for what's to come, with Molly
Spoiler
being approached by the Head of the Secret Service for some more undercover workLet's see how that works out for her in the next book in the series, [b:Hush Now, Don't You Cry|12325918|Hush Now, Don't You Cry (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #11)|Rhys Bowen|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327940572s/12325918.jpg|17304524].
alexecho's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0