leavingsealevel's review against another edition
3.0
Seriously how long can you drag out Molly and Daniel's pre-engagement.
gwen87's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
liliales's review against another edition
4.0
I liked how the mystery became a bit intricate, and the solution was somewhat obvious but for unobvious reasons!
leebill's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
firefly062's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
This series continues in a fun, quick manner and sometimes that's all you need.
msbohlander's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
nitabee's review against another edition
3.0
Molly gets off to a bit of a slow start in In a Gilded Cage, having fallen victim to the influenza that's sweeping New York City, and unfortunately, Daniel's not much help to her, being that he's very busy now that he's finally been reinstated as police captain. Once she starts feeling better, she goes off with Gus and Syd to a march for women's voting rights with their former Vassar classmates, where she meets Emily Boswell. Emily was raised by her aunt and uncle, since her missionary parents died shortly after her birth, but once her aunt died as well, her uncle threw her out to make her own way. Emily wants to hire Molly to find out .
Spoiler
the truth about her parents, and if her uncle had stolen her inheritance. Emily introduces Molly to an old classmate of hers, Fanny Poindexter, who winds up hiring Molly to investigate if her husband is cheating on her. Fanny's family is the one with the money, and she plans to leave her husband if he is being unfaithful. Unfortunately, Fanny dies shortly after hiring Molly, with people believing she was a victim of the flu, and Molly believing her no-good husband did her in. Another one of Emily and Fanny's old Vassar classmates dies as well, and Molly keeps on searching for the truth, finally realizing Emily's betrothed, Ned, is behind it. Ned grew up with a single mother and believed that Fanny's father was also his father, and he murdered her out of jealousy when he saw how she'd grown up compared to his meager circumstances. Ned tries murdering Emily as well, but luckily Molly realizes what's going on and saves her just in time. Also, Emily was right about something being off with the story of her parents' death. Her aunt was really her mother, and her father had been a handsome Italian gardener. Her uncle, who I guess was really her stepfather, couldn't handle the fact Lydia had cheated on him and once she died, just cast Emily asidepkadams's review against another edition
2.0
It took me a couple of weeks to finish this book. I keep trying these novels hoping for another Dorothy Sayers or Margery Allingham. Alas not to be. This mystery was in essence a poison mystery and not a very interesting on at that. However, the setting was as always the best part of the story. I enjoyed the Vassar characters and the women who were active trying to secure the vote for women.
erinstjames's review against another edition
5.0
I'm glad Molly was more sensible in this one. The last one had me worried about the series.
Of course all the mysteries are some how intertwined but it was a a fun journey unraveling it all.
I'm excited for what's next!!
Of course all the mysteries are some how intertwined but it was a a fun journey unraveling it all.
I'm excited for what's next!!
luffy79's review against another edition
3.0
Yet another solid entry to the Molly Murphy series. It is visibly not as good as the previous one. I'm beginning to wonder if any book in this series will get the elusive 5 stars that I reserve for outstanding books. The trouble with this book's story is that there are no real twists but rather well meaning stabs at misdirection. Without giving much away, I'll mention the reasons for putting Molly's life in danger, the breaking into her house, the name and purpose of a particular poison...
The skimming over of details in the last third of the book - as if the author was getting impatient and wanted to finish before the deadline - is the freshest calling card of this mystery. More often it's the reverse that's true, generally speaking. The Molly Murphy mysteries haven't set my world alight but I've never been tempted to ditch one single book. Why throw the baby out with the bathwater?
Sometimes this book made me think somewhat about different opportunities regarding gender and context. There has been (perhaps one time too many) a lot of references to the women's suffrage movement in In A Gilded Cage. Even I get the purpose of naming landscapes and landmarks, newly minted cars that have to be cranked by sturdy hand, new fads, dreams of a better future. I understand that these tales are taking place in the 1910's. Could it be possible that the timeline will make Molly Murphy cross into the 50's? Molly would be about seventy then. It is doable. She would be in a different world. Maybe Elena and Augusta, Sid and Gus for short, and Molly's beloved (now betrothed) will have departed the world. If Richard Nixon could have lived to see the nineties in our real world, then Molly and all her friends may well tarry long enough to see even the 1960's in the fictional world. I dearly wish for that.
The skimming over of details in the last third of the book - as if the author was getting impatient and wanted to finish before the deadline - is the freshest calling card of this mystery. More often it's the reverse that's true, generally speaking. The Molly Murphy mysteries haven't set my world alight but I've never been tempted to ditch one single book. Why throw the baby out with the bathwater?
Sometimes this book made me think somewhat about different opportunities regarding gender and context. There has been (perhaps one time too many) a lot of references to the women's suffrage movement in In A Gilded Cage. Even I get the purpose of naming landscapes and landmarks, newly minted cars that have to be cranked by sturdy hand, new fads, dreams of a better future. I understand that these tales are taking place in the 1910's. Could it be possible that the timeline will make Molly Murphy cross into the 50's? Molly would be about seventy then. It is doable. She would be in a different world. Maybe Elena and Augusta, Sid and Gus for short, and Molly's beloved (now betrothed) will have departed the world. If Richard Nixon could have lived to see the nineties in our real world, then Molly and all her friends may well tarry long enough to see even the 1960's in the fictional world. I dearly wish for that.