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melissasbookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
I really like Victoria Thompson's Gaslight series. This has been my least favorite so far. Perhaps, it is because this seems like more of a filler book. The evolving relationship between Sarah and Malloy is there. We find a few more clues about Aggie or now Catherine as she is called. The mystery was rather easy to figure out. I had the murderer and the reasons worked out from a third of the way through so that was the reason for the three stars. I will definitely be reading the next book as I hope we will finally get answers to Dr. Brandt's murder.
johnw613's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
In 1890s New York, the Irish and the Italians are deeply distrustful immigrant groups. So when a young Irish woman marries an Italian man, has his baby, and then turns up murdered, tensions run high. Sarah Brandt and Frank Malloy untangle deep family secrets, battle blind pridefulness, and eventually uncover the truth. The intrigue in this novel perfectly mirrors the teeming tenement community in which it is set.
dmchurch's review against another edition
A simple delivery immediately reveals that what everyone was assumed was an early baby was full term leaving who the father is in question. However, when Sarah returns the next day to check on mom and baby, mom is dead, suffocated with a pillow. Sarah immediately calls for Malloy, but the murder and custody battles ramp up Italian-Irish tensions, especially with Tammany Hall fueling the fires. When the baby's Irish grandmother is found with her throat cut, the case grows increasingly dangerous and tense. As Malloy works with an Italian police officer, Gino, the learn of infidelities and family feuds that complicate the case while Sarah tries to provide support and care for the baby.
In more domestic realms, Sarah finally hears Aggie speak to Brian who is deaf noting that her name is Catherine. However, she remains mute with those how can hear. More is revealed when Catherine smells whisky and becomes hysterical. And, Malloy receives permission from Roosevelt to add Tom's murder to case load.
In more domestic realms, Sarah finally hears Aggie speak to Brian who is deaf noting that her name is Catherine. However, she remains mute with those how can hear. More is revealed when Catherine smells whisky and becomes hysterical. And, Malloy receives permission from Roosevelt to add Tom's murder to case load.
jonetta's review against another edition
4.0
Sarah Brandt is summoned to attend to the birth of a supposedly premature baby in Little Italy but she’s amazed when she ends up delivering a healthy and robust boy. It’s obvious that the gestation date is off by a couple of months, which sets off a firestorm in the Ruocco family as the baby’s paternity is now in question. When she returns to check on the mother and child the next morning, she walks into chaos as the mother’s death is discovered. It’s murder when Sarah determines her death isn’t related to the childbirth.
I figured out the baby’s paternity rather quickly but it was terribly entertaining to follow Frank Malloy and Sarah as they try and untangle this mess. It took me a little longer to figure out the identity of the killer as the clues were murky and the list of potential suspects was just about everyone in the family! I loved the ease in which Frank and Sarah now operate with each other and there are a couple of really tender moments. We’re getting close....!
The author gets so much right about turn-of-the-century (early 1900s) New York. Every book is an educational experience nestled in between an interesting mystery. This one shines a light on the prejudices against the Irish and Italian immigrant communities, a sad commentary on how little has changed in over a century.
Still loving this series.
I figured out the baby’s paternity rather quickly but it was terribly entertaining to follow Frank Malloy and Sarah as they try and untangle this mess. It took me a little longer to figure out the identity of the killer as the clues were murky and the list of potential suspects was just about everyone in the family! I loved the ease in which Frank and Sarah now operate with each other and there are a couple of really tender moments. We’re getting close....!
The author gets so much right about turn-of-the-century (early 1900s) New York. Every book is an educational experience nestled in between an interesting mystery. This one shines a light on the prejudices against the Irish and Italian immigrant communities, a sad commentary on how little has changed in over a century.
Still loving this series.
ambergold's review against another edition
4.0
No one captures turn-of-the-century New York lower class society like Victoria Thompason. And very few mystery writers know how to write both compelling characters (investigators and suspects alike) and a gripping, twisty plot, but Thompson dishes up both with ease. A thorough-going delight. My only quibble is t hat the ongoing romantic tension between Sarah and Frank needs to be resolved, STAT.
thesubwayreader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I particularly liked this installment of the Gaslight Mystery series even though I guessed who the murder was pretty quickly. The author did an excellent time depicting the times in Little Italy, the role of the Black Hand in the neighborhood, the importance of family to Italians, and the hatred between the Irish and the Italians which was palpable. Riots between the two could be set off with a matchstick or, in this story, when an Irish girl who married into an Italian family is murdered. Meeting Teddy Roosevelt was a nice touch and I hope we see Officer Donatelli again.
tlsouthard's review against another edition
3.0
Liked this much better than previous book in series. Highlights the tensions between rival groups in New York. I figured out the murderer too soon, but the series is still worth reading.
pltavormina's review against another edition
5.0
This was a fun and easy read, a breezy mystery which is a standalone within a series.
I picked it up as part of my goal to start reading more stories set in the early 20th century in NYC, ideally with an Italian angle. It met my expectations--I learned a few facts and felt the setting nicely.
Story-wise, I was fairly certain of the 'whodunnit' early on, but I still enjoyed reading through. I had one or two quibbles with certain details, but they were minor.
Beach read. Fun.
I picked it up as part of my goal to start reading more stories set in the early 20th century in NYC, ideally with an Italian angle. It met my expectations--I learned a few facts and felt the setting nicely.
Story-wise, I was fairly certain of the 'whodunnit' early on, but I still enjoyed reading through. I had one or two quibbles with certain details, but they were minor.
Beach read. Fun.
amoderndaybelle's review against another edition
4.0
Sarah Brandt visits a new mother to do a check up only to find her dead in her bed. Nainsi was an Irish girl living with her Italian husband and family. She had managed to alienate pretty much all of them with her ways and behaviors. She was not the average Italian wife and had no intention of being so.
The murder was obviously motivated by the fact that the baby was not her husbands and his family's anger over it. Sarah contacts Frank Malloy and soon they are swimming in suspects. Now with Tammany Hall whipping up the Irish to start riots and control the Italians, time is running short. They must find the killer before there is another murder.
The murder was obviously motivated by the fact that the baby was not her husbands and his family's anger over it. Sarah contacts Frank Malloy and soon they are swimming in suspects. Now with Tammany Hall whipping up the Irish to start riots and control the Italians, time is running short. They must find the killer before there is another murder.