nataliewright1995's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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
5.0
susanatwestofmars's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Other than the one spot I found where the editor really dropped the ball for Ms. Bowen, this was a FUN read, as the Molly Murphy stories always are. They're not too dark, not too demanding, and the setting is just alive and wonderful.
beckyreads2's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this mystery! Rhys Bowen writes well, and the book does not have any boring parts that I wanted to skim through. Hooray! This is the first book in the Molly Murphy Mystery series, and I know I missed some details about the characters, but I don't think it hurt my understanding of the book at all.
One flaw that I noted was on page 277. The ladies wanted Molly to sit and have some lemonade. On page 277, they handed her punch, and on the next page, it was back to lemonade. Maybe at the turn of the century punch and lemonade were the same?
At first I wasn't sure I liked Molly because she was so fiercely independent. I love me an independent woman, but she was also a bit brash. I'm not sure when it changed, but it may have been about the time she went to Adare. I saw a softer yet observant side of Molly. I do suspect the Flynn mystery will continue to be solved in an upcoming novel, and I'm excited to hopefully find out the ending to that portion of the mystery. It appears that the Justin Hartley mystery was further solved in this reading, so I know there is a solid connection amongst the books.
If you like mysteries, stories about strong, independent Irish women, and stories about the early 1900s, you will enjoy this book.
One flaw that I noted was on page 277. The ladies wanted Molly to sit and have some lemonade. On page 277, they handed her punch, and on the next page, it was back to lemonade. Maybe at the turn of the century punch and lemonade were the same?
At first I wasn't sure I liked Molly because she was so fiercely independent. I love me an independent woman, but she was also a bit brash. I'm not sure when it changed, but it may have been about the time she went to Adare. I saw a softer yet observant side of Molly. I do suspect the Flynn mystery will continue to be solved in an upcoming novel, and I'm excited to hopefully find out the ending to that portion of the mystery. It appears that the Justin Hartley mystery was further solved in this reading, so I know there is a solid connection amongst the books.
If you like mysteries, stories about strong, independent Irish women, and stories about the early 1900s, you will enjoy this book.
ncrabb's review against another edition
4.0
This is part of an excellent series about a young Irish imigrant woman who makes her way to New York, finds and loses love, and despite lots of odds against her, becomes a private investigator.
In this installment, she is asked by her former lover and current heart throb Daniel Sullivan of the New York City police department to take a job as a maid in the home of a New York state senator. The senator's wife, stricken with grief at the kidnapping and presumed death of her son some years earlier, has hired spiritualists--two sisters--to make contact with her son. Investigator Molly Murphy must decide whether the women are fakes. But she can't help digging into the kidnapping itself, and that's where her troubles begin.
There's an astounding bit of history in this series. It depicts turn-of-the-century New York in all its interesting faces.
In this installment, she is asked by her former lover and current heart throb Daniel Sullivan of the New York City police department to take a job as a maid in the home of a New York state senator. The senator's wife, stricken with grief at the kidnapping and presumed death of her son some years earlier, has hired spiritualists--two sisters--to make contact with her son. Investigator Molly Murphy must decide whether the women are fakes. But she can't help digging into the kidnapping itself, and that's where her troubles begin.
There's an astounding bit of history in this series. It depicts turn-of-the-century New York in all its interesting faces.
4buddies's review against another edition
5.0
I am really loving this quick reads! Love the settings, love the characters and their situations! Thank you Rhys Bowen!
naomisbookshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
nitabee's review against another edition
3.0
Molly finds herself in a bit of danger after identifying a pickpocket in a local grocery store who turns out to be very well connected to a dangerous gang. Daniel decides the best thing for her is to get out of town for a while and asks her to work a case for him, although he doesn't first reveal his primary motivation for giving her the case is to keep her safe. Molly leaves New York, going undercover to Senator Flynn's house, pretending to be one of his many cousins from Ireland. About six years ago, Senator Flynn and his wife Teresa lost their son to a crazed kidnapper who told them his body had been buried with limited access to air, and not to call the cops. The cops were called, of course, and one cop shot their chauffeur who had been lurking around, thinking he was the culprit. The chauffeur died, the boy was never discovered, and Teresa is now a shadow of her former self. She's hired a pair of spiritualist sisters who claim they can help her talk to her son from beyond the grave, and Daniel thinks they're con artists. Molly finds herself liking Teresa, and is saddened when
One of the best plots in this book comes from Barney's neighbors, the man who held the senate seat before him. They turn out to be hosting a visiting Englishman and Irishman, and the Irishman is none other than the boy who attempted to rape Molly in Ireland, the one she pushed and thought she murdered and fled to NY to avoid persecution for -- he's alive after all! His vision is afflicted from that accident though, so he doesn't recognize her immediately but gradually realizes who she is. He threatens to expose her, and she points out that in America they don't have a light view on attempted rape, and she had merely been defending herself, and he hadn't been that hurt after all, at which point he leaves her alone. So yay, Molly's free from that looming over her head!
Molly hooks up with Daniel, who tells her he loves her and will be leaving his fiancee, but then she encounters them at Barney's neighbor's house, and Daniel doesn't leave Arabella immediately, so she's terribly upset, of course.
Spoiler
Teresa's discovered dead one morning, thought to have committed suicide. Molly keeps getting sick, and Daniel arrives to check on her, discovering she's being slowly poisoned. The poisoner turns out to be Cousin Clara, who isn't necessarily dangerous but is afraid of Molly replacing her in Teresa's life, who keeps Clara around as a companion. Molly finally discovers Teresa's murderer was one of Barney's advisors, who set up the missing son scheme to gain the sympathy vote. The son wasn't ever buried and is in fact alive and out west somewhere, and Barney resolves to locate him.One of the best plots in this book comes from Barney's neighbors, the man who held the senate seat before him. They turn out to be hosting a visiting Englishman and Irishman, and the Irishman is none other than the boy who attempted to rape Molly in Ireland, the one she pushed and thought she murdered and fled to NY to avoid persecution for -- he's alive after all! His vision is afflicted from that accident though, so he doesn't recognize her immediately but gradually realizes who she is. He threatens to expose her, and she points out that in America they don't have a light view on attempted rape, and she had merely been defending herself, and he hadn't been that hurt after all, at which point he leaves her alone. So yay, Molly's free from that looming over her head!
Molly hooks up with Daniel, who tells her he loves her and will be leaving his fiancee, but then she encounters them at Barney's neighbor's house, and Daniel doesn't leave Arabella immediately, so she's terribly upset, of course
jenpsz's review against another edition
5.0
Well, it's always a bad idea to read reviews before you read a book. I enjoyed this even after reading several negative reviews. It was great. Read it regardless of the reviews below.