Search

Search only in certain items:

Murder on Washington Square
Murder on Washington Square
Victoria Thompson | 2002 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Another Outstanding Trip Back in Time
When midwife Sarah Brandt gets a note form Nelson Ellsworth, her neighbor’s son, she is intrigued. She agrees to their meeting only to learn that Nelson has gotten a woman pregnant, a woman who doesn’t seem to want to marry him. Nelson asks Sarah to examine the woman, but something about their encounter seems off. Sarah doesn’t give it much thought until the woman is murdered and Nelson is arrested for the crime. With the help of NYC detective Frank Malloy, she begins to investigate. What is happening?

I hadn’t realized how much I’ve come to enjoy this series until I picked up the book. I was immediately lost in the world of 1890’s New York City, and Sarah and Frank are outstanding guides. They lead a cast of strong characters, and I love watching them interact and their slow burn romance. I did figure some things out early, but I was still glued to the page as there were twists and complications I didn’t see coming.
  
One of midwife Sarah Brandt’s clients goes into early labor due to the shock of learning her sister was murdered. Knowing that the killer will never be caught, Sarah begins to investigate, enlisting police sergeant Frank Malloy to help her. The victim spent her evenings with a variety of men, so the suspect list is quite long. Are there too many suspects, or can Sarah and Frank find the killer?

This book does a fabulous job of taking us back to the summer of 1896 in New York City and introducing us to girls who would give out favors in exchange for nice things they couldn’t afford on their salaries. That adds a somber note to the book; one that gives it depth. The characters are equally deep, and I loved seeing Sarah and Frank move forward in their personal lives. I did figure out a twist or two early, but the book kept surprising me until the end.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/04/book-review-murder-on-st-marks-place-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Murder on Union Square
Murder on Union Square
Victoria Thompson | 2018 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Murder in the Theater Means Trouble for Malloy
Frank and Sarah are upset to learn they can’t legally adopt Catherine, the little girl that Sarah has been caring for for several years, because, in the eyes of the law, Parnell Vaughn is her legal father. Fortunately, the actor is willing to sign his rights over to Frank and Sarah, but his fiancée wants some money from them. When Frank goes back to deliver the payment and get Parnell’s signature, he finds the actor dead in his dressing room. With Frank accused of the crime, he and Sarah have to clear his name. Who really murdered Parnell?

It's always a pleasure to pop back in on Sarah and Frank in 1899 New York City, and this book was no exception. I love the characters. As is often the case these days, we get parts of the story from four different points of view, and it is always easy to tell when we switch from one to the other. I did feel the plot wasn’t quite as good as usual for this series. There are a few twists and a strong climax, but it got bogged down in the middle. Still, fans will be happy to spend time with these characters we love. I know I did.