goddesslovingbookworm -
Helpful Score: 4
Absolutely wonderful cozy and historical together with just a hint of romance! I couldn't put it down--I laughed, I cried and I immediately wanted more. The mystery was intriguing and just enough history of America's first Black Friday was thrown in that I want to research the event for myself. This is not the first book in the series and it is evident that events from prior books would increase the enjoyment of this one, but it worked also as a stand-alone story. I intend to collect these to be re-read and enjoyed in order.
Helpful Score: 2
I wasn't sure what to expect but this was truly a delightful period mystery with a witty and admirable heroine. Loved it!
Helpful Score: 2
I enjoyed this 5th installmanet in P.B. Ryan's historical mystery series starring Boston governess Nell Sweeney. I'd start with the first one though: STILL LIFE WITH MURDER.
Lorraine T. (mysterylover) reviewed Murder on Black Friday (Gilded Age, Bk 4) on + 318 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Two of the Hewitt's acquaintances are found dead on Black Friday - the day there is a crash of the stock market because the government released gold. Dr. Will is a forensic investigator now and suspects the deaths are not suicide - Nell helps, of course.
Another fine read.
Another fine read.
Helpful Score: 1
Boston governess Nell Sweeney and Dr. Will Hewitt investigate two "suicides" after the Septermber 24 1869 crash of the gold market. What they find is a secret that destroyed a prominent family. Interesting plot and continued development of the relationship between Nell and Will.
Christina B. (catyasdo) -
Helpful Score: 1
Quoted from my review @ http://misscz.wordpress.com
Comments: Will is currently teaching medical jurisprudence at Harvard Medical School, with the condition that he be allowed to conduct postmortems on any of the interesting corpses in Massachusetts General's morgue. By interesting, he means those individuals who's death were violent or unexplained. That's how he ended up performing autopsies on Noah Bassett and Philip Munro.
The two men's deaths were as different as their lives. Noah was a member of the Brahmin elite - old money and lineage - but whose financial situation was in dire straits even before the Gold Market plummet. He left behind two, unmarried adult daughters - Miriam and Rebecca. Philip, only thirty-nine and unmarried, was a financial genius and a self-made man. Wealthy, and without lineage, he was still an outsider to the Boston elite. Men like Noah Bassett went to Philip for investment advice. None of them would have wanted to see him married to one of their daughters. Will is certain that Noah Bassett took his own life due to being financially ruined, and he's just as certain that Philip did not throw himself out a fourth floor window, based on forensic evidence. Will in convinced that one of Philip's clients - Noah Bassett, for instance - may have killed him and made it look like suicide.
Nell is on friendly terms with Miriam Bassett and she agrees to help Will question the Bassett sisters. Unexpected help with the investigation comes in the form of Harry Hewitt, who idolized Philip Munro and who is deeply affected by his death. Harry is willing to cooperate with Will, wanting to see Philip's murderer brought to justice.
On the personal side of things, Nell and Will are maintaining their sham engagement, which continues to be a double edge sword for Will. It allows him to see Nell and get to know his daughter, but it's doing nothing for his resolve to maintain a respectable relationship with Nell. He informs Nell that he will be heading to Shanghai at the end of the school term - news that distresses Nell and prompts Will to tell her he can be persuaded to stay with a single kiss. Bad idea, Will. He realizes that he's being selfish and tells her to forget about the request (as if she could!). True to his word, Will leaves Boston. The scene at the rail station is tender and bittersweet. As always, Nell and Will's predicament tugs at my heart.
Comments: Will is currently teaching medical jurisprudence at Harvard Medical School, with the condition that he be allowed to conduct postmortems on any of the interesting corpses in Massachusetts General's morgue. By interesting, he means those individuals who's death were violent or unexplained. That's how he ended up performing autopsies on Noah Bassett and Philip Munro.
The two men's deaths were as different as their lives. Noah was a member of the Brahmin elite - old money and lineage - but whose financial situation was in dire straits even before the Gold Market plummet. He left behind two, unmarried adult daughters - Miriam and Rebecca. Philip, only thirty-nine and unmarried, was a financial genius and a self-made man. Wealthy, and without lineage, he was still an outsider to the Boston elite. Men like Noah Bassett went to Philip for investment advice. None of them would have wanted to see him married to one of their daughters. Will is certain that Noah Bassett took his own life due to being financially ruined, and he's just as certain that Philip did not throw himself out a fourth floor window, based on forensic evidence. Will in convinced that one of Philip's clients - Noah Bassett, for instance - may have killed him and made it look like suicide.
Nell is on friendly terms with Miriam Bassett and she agrees to help Will question the Bassett sisters. Unexpected help with the investigation comes in the form of Harry Hewitt, who idolized Philip Munro and who is deeply affected by his death. Harry is willing to cooperate with Will, wanting to see Philip's murderer brought to justice.
On the personal side of things, Nell and Will are maintaining their sham engagement, which continues to be a double edge sword for Will. It allows him to see Nell and get to know his daughter, but it's doing nothing for his resolve to maintain a respectable relationship with Nell. He informs Nell that he will be heading to Shanghai at the end of the school term - news that distresses Nell and prompts Will to tell her he can be persuaded to stay with a single kiss. Bad idea, Will. He realizes that he's being selfish and tells her to forget about the request (as if she could!). True to his word, Will leaves Boston. The scene at the rail station is tender and bittersweet. As always, Nell and Will's predicament tugs at my heart.
Wall Street's First Black Friday occurred on Sept. 24, 1869, and Boston was shocked when two prominent men were found dead. Everyone thought they had committed suicide over their losses in the sudden gold drop in value. However, Dr. Will Hewitt doubts that one of them died by his own hand. He and Nell Sweeney interview folks close to the former gold barons to find out the truth.
Ryan proves that an author doesn't have to resort to steamy love scenes to keep her reader's attention. Will and Nell agonize over a single kiss, and it is breath-taking. The couple, because he belongs in the upper crust, and she is familiar with the seamy side of life, are a perfect couple to detect murder together. Absolutely charming.
 Gilded Age Mystery
1. Still Life with Murder (2003)Â
2.Murder in a Mill Town (2004)
3.Death on Beacon Hill (2005)
** 4.Murder on Black Friday (2005)
5.Murder in the North End (2006)
6.A Bucket of Ashes (2007)
Ryan proves that an author doesn't have to resort to steamy love scenes to keep her reader's attention. Will and Nell agonize over a single kiss, and it is breath-taking. The couple, because he belongs in the upper crust, and she is familiar with the seamy side of life, are a perfect couple to detect murder together. Absolutely charming.
 Gilded Age Mystery
1. Still Life with Murder (2003)Â
2.Murder in a Mill Town (2004)
3.Death on Beacon Hill (2005)
** 4.Murder on Black Friday (2005)
5.Murder in the North End (2006)
6.A Bucket of Ashes (2007)
