32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a very satisfying read, June 9, 2008
This review is from: Murder on Bank Street (Gaslight Mystery) (Hardcover)
As a fan of the Sarah Brandt Gaslight mysteries I was really pleased to discover that with "Murder on Bank Street" Victoria Thompson finally tackles the murder of Sarah's husband, Dr. Thomas Brandt, giving it the satisfying and shocking ending that we've been waiting for. It was well worth the wait.
Four years ago, Sarah's husband was brutally murdered while out on a call. Unfortunately, the police (who would only investigate a murder if they were hired to do so) never investigated the crime, leaving Sarah devastated and in search of answers. Now, however, Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy, has decided to look into Thomas' murder because of his feelings for Sarah. But can Malloy discover anything after so long? And will Malloy's investigation help him give Sarah the resolution she was looking for, or will it make her push him away? For Malloy has found evidence that one of the father's of Thomas' female patients believed that Thomas was seduced his daughter, and it is very likely that the father murdered Thomas out of vengeance. Could there be any truth to this vile belief?
"Murder on Bank Street" is a good, solid entry to this series. The storyline was a good one and it was superbly developed and executed. The suspense and tension was there, as well as a nice number of suspects to keep you guessing as to who the guilty party will turn out to be. But what really made the book a worthwhile and stellar read was the last six chapters or so, when the action moves to a quiet country house, and the suspense and tension really mounts. All in all, a wonderfully satisfying read, and well worth the wait. I'm looking forward to the next installment and seeing where this series will go next, and perhaps seeing more of Maeve Smith (who played an important role in solving the murder of Thomas Brandt), Sarah's young nursemaid, in future installments.
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29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
10th In The Series: Good Place To Start, June 4, 2008
This review is from: Murder on Bank Street (Gaslight Mystery) (Hardcover)
Do you know the origin of the Pinkerton Detective Agency? Do you know about public perception of the bicycle in its early days? Do you know about "Old Maid's Disease" and its various manifestations? I especially enjoy learning something new while I'm immersed in a story plot. These three things were new discoveries made while reading Murder on Bank Street, the latest title in Victoria Thompson's Gaslight Mystery series.
The gripping tension and fast pace of the story, set in New York City in 1893, kept me flipping pages well past midnight. Sarah Brandt, the main character, is the widow of Dr. Tom Brandt. She is a midwife who serves the needs of the less fortunate. Along the way, she has often collaborated with Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy to ensure that justice is served. Romance enters the story almost immediately, when Frank visits the home where Sarah lives with her unofficially adopted daughter Catherine, and sixteen-year-old Maeve, Catherine's nanny.
The purpose of Frank's visit is to update Sarah on his progress investigating Tom's unsolved murder, four years earlier. He is working under the auspices of Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt, who is rumored to be on his way to a position in newly elected President McKinley's cabinet. Time is of the essence, because the new commissioner may consider further efforts to solve this cold case to be a waste of time.
The plot moves swiftly as Malloy investigates several suspects, all fathers of women who were treated by Tom Brandt. Sarah, and even teenage Maeve, become deeply involved in the sleuthing. As the story progresses, Frank worries that learning the truth of his discoveries could destroy Sarah and bring an end to their budding relationship. I was drawn into the world of gaslights, horse-drawn buggies, and turn of the century life in New York City as I flipped through the pages, afraid to read to the end, and afraid not to. Although I assumed it all came out right, at times that seemed impossible.
Although this is Thompson's tenth volume in this series, I had not read any of the previous ones. Fortunately, this was not a hindrance. With a deft pen, the author wove in fragments of back story to bring me quickly up to speed, allowing me to jump in late in the game without feeling that anything was missing. The story is long enough to satisfy and short enough to fit into a tight reading schedule.
After finishing this latest book, I'm eager to read earlier ones, assuming that they will be written with the same gripping intensity and insightful descriptions that this one has.
by Sharon Lippincott
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another winner, June 8, 2008
This review is from: Murder on Bank Street (Gaslight Mystery) (Hardcover)
The 10th in the series with many more volumes to come...or at least this reader hopes! Sarah and Frank are back and Frank is continuing his attempts to put Sarah's mind at rest over the murder of her husband, Tom. The story has some plot twists and red herrings, enough to make the reader wonder if Tom could have done the wicked things he is accused of doing. Thompson wraps the murder up nicely, and keeps the saga of Frank and Sarah alive and the reader waiting impatiently for number 11.
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