jhadler's review against another edition
4.0
Like most good lady detectives, Molly Murphy is brave, optimistic, and having difficulty doing the job she's most interested in: investigating mysteries. Edwardian cultural constraints slow her down only occasionally, however. In this mystery, three seemingly unrelated circumstances come together in a brutal way, and Molly must be quick to find the common denominator to prevent further harm to others.
nitabee's review
3.0
Molly finds herself involved with multiple cases in Tell Me, Pretty Maiden. Blanche Lovejoy, an aging stage actress, hires Molly to help out with her latest production, as she claims a ghost is causing mishaps that will frighten the audience away. Molly also stumbles across an unconscious woman in the middle of Central Park (did I mention it's wintertime?) while she's on an outing with Daniel. When the woman awakens, she can't communicate with anyone, and Molly ultimately takes on her guardianship, as she feels responsible for her. Finally, an older woman Molly befriended previously whose name is escaping me, who is the aunt of Arabella Norton, pleads with Molly to locate her missing nephew. Molly winds up asking Daniel for his assistance, as he still hasn't been reinstated to the police department, and the cases are all eventually solved. Molly is a bit thick, . Molly's friends, Syd and Gus, are a delight as always, and they introduce her to the famous reporter Nelly Bly, who goes undercover in dangerous situations.
Spoiler
as I thought it was obvious Blanche was somehow involved with the accidents on stage, wanting to drum up some publicity. The unconscious woman turns out to be an actress whose mystery is tied in with the missing nephew - they were waylaid by some bad guys who wanted to rob a mansion the nephew, Jacob I believe, was visiting, and they killed him off. The woman had temporary amnesia after a car accidentjenpsz's review
4.0
I enjoyed the plot although Molly occasionally takes her time working out blaringly obvious puzzles. however, if this audiobook is to be believed nearly every male in NYC sounds like Daniel Sullivan.
Lara Hutchinson did a much much better job reading. I will keep listening because I enjoy the books but old probably be better reading.
Lara Hutchinson did a much much better job reading. I will keep listening because I enjoy the books but old probably be better reading.
thenia's review
3.0
Another case for Molly, this time involving undercover work as a theater actress.
I find myself annoyed with some of Molly's decisions that are reckless and unnecessary,. As usual, Molly's cases tend to somehow connect and by the end everything's wrapped up in a neat little bow.
I might need to take a break before listening to the next part of her story in [b:In a Gilded Cage|4283208|In a Gilded Cage (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #8)|Rhys Bowen|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1312061685s/4283208.jpg|4330761] if I am to enjoy it fully.
I find myself annoyed with some of Molly's decisions that are reckless and unnecessary,
Spoiler
a glaringly stupid one being her decision to pretend to be an insane asylum's inmate because she felt guilty for her role in the admittance of a girl she felt responsible forI might need to take a break before listening to the next part of her story in [b:In a Gilded Cage|4283208|In a Gilded Cage (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #8)|Rhys Bowen|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1312061685s/4283208.jpg|4330761] if I am to enjoy it fully.
erinstjames's review
3.0
Hmm, I think this is the first Rhys Bowen book that I am giving less than 5 stars.
I knew all the cases would somehow connect, they always do but this time it almost was eyerolling that everything was somehow connected...even Mr. Roth was conveniently tied to the theater.
Spoilers-
Molly has done very unwise things before but admitting herself to a mental institution was so rash and the whole stunt lasted like 4 pages there HAD to be a better way to wrap up the Jessie thing.
Also as a detective WITH Daniel with her WHY would she cut off a man that is giving her details about Annie. Molly has never cut anyone off before so suddenly she does right BEFORE he's about to tell her about Jessie missing. AND as a detective she literally only looks at the picture on the wall for second before leaving. Molly was being stupid in this book and I think she is anything but stupid. She also just gave Jessie away after she clawed for the neighbor lady- just no, I don't see Molly giving Jessie away if she is clearly not comfortable going with the men.
The end was so quickly thrown together it felt like Rhys was over this story so she wrapped it up without a bow.
I am hoping the next one will be better as I do love Molly but she is almost too rash it borders stupid.
I knew all the cases would somehow connect, they always do but this time it almost was eyerolling that everything was somehow connected...even Mr. Roth was conveniently tied to the theater.
Spoilers-
Molly has done very unwise things before but admitting herself to a mental institution was so rash and the whole stunt lasted like 4 pages there HAD to be a better way to wrap up the Jessie thing.
Also as a detective WITH Daniel with her WHY would she cut off a man that is giving her details about Annie. Molly has never cut anyone off before so suddenly she does right BEFORE he's about to tell her about Jessie missing. AND as a detective she literally only looks at the picture on the wall for second before leaving. Molly was being stupid in this book and I think she is anything but stupid. She also just gave Jessie away after she clawed for the neighbor lady- just no, I don't see Molly giving Jessie away if she is clearly not comfortable going with the men.
The end was so quickly thrown together it felt like Rhys was over this story so she wrapped it up without a bow.
I am hoping the next one will be better as I do love Molly but she is almost too rash it borders stupid.
luffy79's review
4.0
As time goes on, the previous Molly Murphy books fade into the mysterious and the unknown, forget that I do about them. The series of books, is in essence, something unique in its making. I've never seen a disparity and an unevenness in the writing prowess of the author. The result is a jagged writing style, as if the meaning of the prose has being written during an earthquake.
Rhys Bowen probably needs to keep adding ingredients to the mixture. She wants to overload us with information. She might be fearful of losing her reader's attention. For such an upbeat style, there are surprisingly lots of deaths in this series. There are victims, there are people whom you want to die yet they come back from the dead. Just ask Harry Potter.
The author's bane has always been a confusing finale. Here the trials of Jessie are the key to solving a couple of mysteries that are interrelated somehow. You forget or buy it nevertheless because the readers care about the stakes and the sympathetic characters. The villains do not - most times - appear before the heroine. Some of the original characters are absent, while new ones pop up without being overbearing. There's a nice balance to the story and I can't put my finger on what made this book more successful(IMHO of course) than the others. Not a bad book to burn the midnight oil with.
Rhys Bowen probably needs to keep adding ingredients to the mixture. She wants to overload us with information. She might be fearful of losing her reader's attention. For such an upbeat style, there are surprisingly lots of deaths in this series. There are victims, there are people whom you want to die yet they come back from the dead. Just ask Harry Potter.
The author's bane has always been a confusing finale. Here the trials of Jessie are the key to solving a couple of mysteries that are interrelated somehow. You forget or buy it nevertheless because the readers care about the stakes and the sympathetic characters. The villains do not - most times - appear before the heroine. Some of the original characters are absent, while new ones pop up without being overbearing. There's a nice balance to the story and I can't put my finger on what made this book more successful(IMHO of course) than the others. Not a bad book to burn the midnight oil with.
lisaebetz's review against another edition
4.0
This book pulled me vividly into the New York city of a hundred years ago. Filled with interesting characters, some fictional, some real, the story moves from icy winter streets to the backstage of a theater. How are three seemingly different cases intertwined? That's what Molly must figure out, choosing to risk her safety more than once in the process.
This book is not as stand-alone as some mysteries, making many mentions of characters and plot of previous stories, but was enjoyable all the same.
This book is not as stand-alone as some mysteries, making many mentions of characters and plot of previous stories, but was enjoyable all the same.
jenilyn's review against another edition
2.0
Gah! Daniel is sooo annoying. And Molly's dealings with him are passive and aggravating
thenia's review against another edition
3.0
Another case for Molly, this time involving undercover work as a theater actress.
I find myself annoyed with some of Molly's decisions that are reckless and unnecessary,. As usual, Molly's cases tend to somehow connect and by the end everything's wrapped up in a neat little bow.
I might need to take a break before listening to the next part of her story in [b:In a Gilded Cage|4283208|In a Gilded Cage (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #8)|Rhys Bowen|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1312061685s/4283208.jpg|4330761] if I am to enjoy it fully.
I find myself annoyed with some of Molly's decisions that are reckless and unnecessary,
Spoiler
a glaringly stupid one being her decision to pretend to be an insane asylum's inmate because she felt guilty for her role in the admittance of a girl she felt responsible forI might need to take a break before listening to the next part of her story in [b:In a Gilded Cage|4283208|In a Gilded Cage (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #8)|Rhys Bowen|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1312061685s/4283208.jpg|4330761] if I am to enjoy it fully.