Helpful Score: 9
Magnificent - a series that continues to get better as it matures. Thompson has hit a perfect balance of mystery and history in Victorian NYC. Always strong plotting, great research, characters you care about, enough tension to keep turning the pages. Not a "cozy" by any means, this entry into the series (like earlier books) probes the social issues of the time while providing a solid mystery to keep the reader guessing.
Helpful Score: 3
This is the 7th Gaslight Mystery by Victoria Thompson featuring midwife Sarah Brandt and police Detective Frank Malloy. The books are set in NYC in the 1890's.
These books are wonderful and should be read in order.
The mysteries are always well plotted and the growing character development in all the characters (not just the main characters, but also the recurring "support" characters) is so much fun to be a part of.
For example, I adore Sarah's mother who is so proper and genteel, but with a common sense and no nonsense about her that is refreshing and delightful.
As an historical mystery series, I give these books a resounding 5 out of 5 rating.
These books are wonderful and should be read in order.
The mysteries are always well plotted and the growing character development in all the characters (not just the main characters, but also the recurring "support" characters) is so much fun to be a part of.
For example, I adore Sarah's mother who is so proper and genteel, but with a common sense and no nonsense about her that is refreshing and delightful.
As an historical mystery series, I give these books a resounding 5 out of 5 rating.
Helpful Score: 3
While not the first in the series, this is the first that I have read, but definitely not the last. The plot never falters and the characters, even the villain, are intriguing and real. Not cozy but occassionally sordid, as befits the times and the crime. While not graphic, I found myself cringing a little from the pictures the author made me imagine. Definitely a "grabber."
Lorraine T. (mysterylover) reviewed Murder on Lenox Hill (Gaslight, Bk 7) on + 318 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Another great installment of this historical series featuring the mid-wife Sarah Brandt and her friend, Malloy, the Irish cop. I've enjoyed all of them and am looking forward to the next one.
Helpful Score: 1
This is the best of the series in my opinion.
Actually thought it was just okay. This may be a result of not reading them in order, but I thought the character development was lacking.
The Lintons' mentally disabled daughter Grace is pregnant, and she swears no one hurt her. So who's the father? Sarah Brandt is on the case with the help of Frank Malloy. Things only get more complicated when they find out that the minister at the Lintons' church may be abusing young boys. Then the minister drops dead in the middle of communion, apparently poisoned. Everyone is a suspect. Who killed Reverend Upchurch? And who got Grace Linton pregnant?
My big problem with the book is that the murder happened in the last 90 pages of the book. There wasn't really a lot of time to flush out suspects and follow the clues. Overall, enjoyable, but for me, not ultimately suspenseful.
The Lintons' mentally disabled daughter Grace is pregnant, and she swears no one hurt her. So who's the father? Sarah Brandt is on the case with the help of Frank Malloy. Things only get more complicated when they find out that the minister at the Lintons' church may be abusing young boys. Then the minister drops dead in the middle of communion, apparently poisoned. Everyone is a suspect. Who killed Reverend Upchurch? And who got Grace Linton pregnant?
My big problem with the book is that the murder happened in the last 90 pages of the book. There wasn't really a lot of time to flush out suspects and follow the clues. Overall, enjoyable, but for me, not ultimately suspenseful.
Sarah Brandt, midwife in turn-of-the-century New York, sets out to investigate a possible rape. When she calls on Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy for assistance, they find a much darker evil than either one expected.
I'm not into historicals much, but I do really like this series. The midwife heroine is quite believable and the detective is very likeable as well. The author is local to me, living just up the road in Central PA.
For those who like turn of the century mysteries. Series gets better with each new book.
Thompson does well yet again!
Another good "Gaslight Mystery"
Winston C. (Crabby-doctor) reviewed Murder on Lenox Hill (Gaslight, Bk 7) on + 296 more book reviews
I have just finished this one. I have read all of the series availavble in paperback so far and am eagerly awaiting the next ones due to come out sometime soon.
This series keeps getting better and better.....In this addition, Sarah Brandt is summoned to assess the condition of a pretty, mentally challenged teenager who may be in "a family way", despite the fact she is never left alone. Her parents are beside themselves over the situation. Sarah convinces them to allow her friend, Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy do some investigating in an unofficial capacity. His queries open up a real Pandora's Box of seamier activities at a local church, involving the minister. When the minister is poisoned there is no shortage of suspects.....in fact too many people confess to killing him. Malloy continues to investigate the death of Dr. Thomas Brandt, aided by information given to him by none other than Mr. Decker, Sarah's father.....Read this series in order to appreciate the character developmenst and relationships......
As a turn of the century midwife in New York City's tenements, Sarah Brandt has seen more than her share of joy and sorrow, birth and death. Now Sarah finds herself in the thick of a scandal that threatens to ruin not only one upstanding family, but an entire community. When the affluent Lintons of Lenox Hill summon Sarah to examine their teenage daughter, their worst fear is confirmed, she is with child. The pregnancy is a mystery, however, as the young woman, mentall still a child herself, is never left on her own and denies that any man has ever hurt her. It's a delicate situation, casting suspicion on those close to the Lintons, including their beloved minister, the Reverand Oliver Upchurch. But as Sarah and a reluctant Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy investigate, fate deals their inquiry a harsh blow. The Reverand falls dead during a service - poisoned by cyanide-laced wine in his chalice. Now, they must not only uncover the truth behind the Linton girl's pregnancy, they must track down Upchurch's killer before this entire sordid affair wreaks havoc on more innocent lives.
Midwife Sarah Brandt has been summoned to the Linton residence in the affluent Lenox Hill neighborhood of Manhattan. The Linton's are concerned about their mentally disabled daughter, Grace, who shows signs of pregnancy. Sarah's examination proves that Grace is almost six months pregnant. But Grace, who has the mental capacity of a five-year-old, cannot tell them who got her in this condition. The parents swear that Grace is never out of their sight. Sarah enlists Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy to help determine the baby's father.
This is another excellent entry in the Gaslight Mystery series. As Sarah and Frank question people who may have come in contact with Grace, they discover the local church is harboring some dark secrets. Frank is also looking into the death of Sarah's husband, Dr. Tom Brandt. As he finds a new lead to investigate, he's not sure if the discoveries will help or hurt Sarah.
The mysteries in this particular book were very easy to figure out. But that didn't hurt my enjoyment of it. I love this series and its characters. You learn something new about each one as they appear in the book. I'm looking forward to the next installment of the series. My rating: 4 Stars.
This is another excellent entry in the Gaslight Mystery series. As Sarah and Frank question people who may have come in contact with Grace, they discover the local church is harboring some dark secrets. Frank is also looking into the death of Sarah's husband, Dr. Tom Brandt. As he finds a new lead to investigate, he's not sure if the discoveries will help or hurt Sarah.
The mysteries in this particular book were very easy to figure out. But that didn't hurt my enjoyment of it. I love this series and its characters. You learn something new about each one as they appear in the book. I'm looking forward to the next installment of the series. My rating: 4 Stars.
Every book in this series gets better. I love that Ms. Thompson has a way of educating me about this period of history. She makes it seamless with the story. I never get the feeling that it added for filler. I get the sense of being in that time with the characters. Frank and Sarah seem like they could step out of the book into my home. They would be welcome as a couple. Recommend.
another great book
Book is new, never read. Was a gift and I already had a copy.
