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
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
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
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
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
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.
jenilyn's review
1.0
I actually tossed this book on the floor once I forced myself to finish it. I really like Bowen's mystery-lite novels; I just really, really don't like Daniel and Molly. Gah! So frustrating. ENGAGED?!? I was hoping she'd come to her senses.
nutti72's review
4.0
The Molly Murphy series keeps getting better. In this latest episode Molly meets a group of Vassar girls working to earn women the right to vote. One of the young ladies in the group asks Molly to find out more about her parents who were missionaries in China who died in a cholera epidemic. Tragedy happens when several more of the young ladies die of the flu. Although Molly who had the flu recently finds their deaths suspicious. Can she find the truth?
thenia's review
4.0
Molly is becoming quite good as a detective and in this part of her story she solves two more cases.
She is very forward-thinking for her time and she faces quite a few issues due to that, her role in a future marriage with her young man, Captain Daniel Sullivan being one of them.
The book ends in a hopeful note and I'm looking forward to her next adventure in [b:The Last Illusion|6966407|The Last Illusion (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #9)|Rhys Bowen|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1311989782s/6966407.jpg|7204938].
She is very forward-thinking for her time and she faces quite a few issues due to that, her role in a future marriage with her young man, Captain Daniel Sullivan being one of them.
The book ends in a hopeful note and I'm looking forward to her next adventure in [b:The Last Illusion|6966407|The Last Illusion (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #9)|Rhys Bowen|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1311989782s/6966407.jpg|7204938].
scmaley's review
4.0
I particularly liked this installment of the series because the mysteries were intricately woven together. I guess the murderer from the beginning, but it did not make the story any less exciting – because in typical Molly fashion, she didn't quite think out the ending and got into a scrape!