Customer Reviews

Murder on Marble Row (Gaslight Mystery)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Murder on Marble Row" has to be the best in Victoria Thompson's series. I have enjoyed each of these Gaslight Mysteries to varying degrees, but this one is flawless. The pacing is perfect; the complex relationship between Frank Malloy and Sarah Brandt continues to intrigue; and, most important, the resolution to the mystery is nothing less than brilliant. As another reviewer said, it's frustrating to wait for what seems to be a long time between each book. On the other hand, Victoria Thompson makes the wait worth it. "Murder on Marble Row" is really showing her at the height of her talents, and I can't wait for the next installment. But I know I won't be disappointed.

Rocco Dormarunno, author of "The Five Points"

The least dark of Victoria Thompson's Gaslight Mystery novels to date, "Murder on Marble Row" nevertheless still was a compelling and absorbing read.

Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy of the New York Police is in a bind. Police Commissioner Teddy Roosevelt has hand-picked him to investigate the murder of wealthy businessman Gregory Van Dyke (Gregory was blown up when a bomb went off in his office); the Commissioner strongly suspects that anarchists are behind the murder, but Van Dyke was also a businessman who had his share of enemies and angry rivals, and the guilty party could lie within that group. And so Malloy, once again, ventures into the world of the rich and the powerful in New York City, thinking that this time, he won't have the able assistance of midwife, Sarah Brandt, because he has resolved to have as little to do with Sarah as possible because of the strong feelings he has for her. Except that the very first person he meets at the Van Dyke house turns out to be Sarah! Sarah, the daughter of the rich and socially prominent Deckers, grew up with the Van Dyke children, and knows that family intimately; and she's determined to help Malloy whether he likes it or not. Almost at once Sarah and Malloy clash when it comes to light that the eldest Van Dyke son, Creighton, has joined the anarchist party. Malloy thinks that Creighton had a hand in his father's death, but Sarah is equally sure that Creighton is innocent, and she manages to persuade Malloy to dig deeper. Together, Malloy and Sarah uncover every secret and scandal that the Van Dyke family have, and come face to face with a very devious and ruthless mind...

Unlike the previous Gaslight mysteries by Victoria Thompson, "Murder on Marble Row, doesn't delve very much into the seedier aspects of New York City during the Victorian period. This installment dwells more on doings of the upper classes, and the Van Dyke family in particular. However, the book was still an engrossing and riveting read, with quite a few plot twists and turns, and enough red herring suspects to keep things humming. Furthermore, I was rather pleased that Sarah's parents were better fleshed out, and that there are hints that the mystery of Sarah's husband's murder will be cleared up soon. All in all, a very good and satisfying 5 star read.

The only thing bad about the Gaslight series is that they cannot come out fast enough. Every one leaves one wanting more. Marble Row was no exception.

New York City Police Commissioner Teddy Roosevelt is trying to clean up the corruption on the force. When an explosion kills Mr. Gregory Van Dyke, a wealthy and powerful businessman, the commissioner asks Detective Frank Malone to lead the investigation because he won?t be bought by the influential citizens who have policemen on their payroll. At the Van Dyke mansion, the trophy widow blames the eldest son for her husband?s death because Creighton has joined a group of anarchists and ?everyone? knows they make bombs to kill the leaders of high society.

Sarah Brandt, a family friend of the Van Dykes, pays a condolence call. She forces Malone to take her to his interview with Creighton. She comes away from the interview convinced that he isn?t the killer. Sarah and Malone, separately and together discover that every member of Gregory?s family as well as his business partner have a reason to want him dead. Finding out who the perpetrator is proves quite difficult since nobody wants to cooperate with the police.

Each novel in the ?Gaslight Mystery? series just keeps getting better as the audience learns more about the era and the lead characters. Malone won?t admit his love for Sarah because he is an Irish cop and she is a descendant of the Knickerbockers. Even though her parents are wealthy, Sarah works as a midwife and nurse while living on her own income. She loves her parents but doesn?t look to them for approval. The duo makes a good team professionally and if they allow themselves personally. The mystery is well executed and the ending will come as a complete surprise to the audience.

Harriet Klausner

Ms. Thompson is bringing in the world of the late 19th century anarchists which I can't help but compare to our idea of modern-day terrorists. In this book a wealthy businessman is blown up by a bomb planted in his office. Frank Malloy is told by his superior, Teddy Roosevelt that it was probably anarchists. Frank tries to find out the truth, and he enlists the aid of his friend Sarah Brandt and surprisingly, Sarah Brandt's mother, Elizabeth Decker. On the way these three find more suspects and motives than they can believe, and they are thrust into the middle of a truly disfunctional family. There are anarchists on the fringes of this family, but Frank and Sarah start looking closer to home to find their murderer. This series is entertaining, and I like the setting - late 19th century New York City. I also like Frank and Sarah, and the mysteries are always intriguing, and a little difficult to figure out. Fans of historical mysteries will like this series.

I just discovered this author and she is excellent!
This is the 6th book in the Gaslight series. From the opening page until the end the book "grabbed" me.
It takes place in the early 1900's in New York City. The two main characters are a detective sergeant Frank Malloy and a midwife, Sarah Brandt. Alone and together they try to find out who killed the wealthy Gregory Van Dyke. There are plenty of suspects but whodunnit? This book has lots of twists and turns and the ending may surprise you. It did surprise me. I am looking forward to reading the other books in this well written series.

Victoria Thompson's mystery series continues to entertain. The different threads of Sarah's lives are starting to co-mingle. A nice addition to this plot, was the character development of Sarah's mother as well as her tentative involvement in Sarah's life as a midwife and amateur detective. The murder victim is once again a pillar of society, and again Dectective Malloy is asked to investigate his murder by Police Commisioner Teddy Roosevelt. Reluctantly, Malloy undertakes the assignment and finds Sarah at the Van Dyke home paying a condolence call. Although he has vowed to keep his feelings for her a secret and never see her again, she is delighted to see him and decides that she must help find the murderer whether he approves of her involvement or not. Sarah and Malloy slowly discover the secrets and undercurrents of Van Dyke's life and family including a possible anarchist connection by Van Dyke's son. When Sarah finally discovers the identity of the murderer, it's no big surprise to the reader, but we still look forward to the next book in the series and her further involvement with Dectective Sargent Frank Malloy.

I'm a sucker for a good historical mystery, especially one that teaches me about an era where my knowledge is a little hazy. Murder on Marble Row is a perfect example of the genre. I'm sorry that I didn't find out about this series before, but as soon as I finish writing this review I'm going to order everything else Victoria Thompson has written.

Yeah, I liked it.

I didn't realize it when I made the purchase, but this is the sixth book in the series. Happily, that wasn't a problem; the author brought me up to date very quickly. Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy works in the police department in turn-of-the-century New York, currently under the leadership of Teddy Roosevelt. When a bomb goes off in the office of a wealthy businessman, the easy assumption is that those awful anarchists are behind it; who else uses _bombs_? But Malloy does his best to solve the crime, going into the upper crust homes on Marble Row. The only problem is that it puts him in contact, again, with midwife Sarah Brandt -- and he had sworn he would keep away from her.

Before the story is done, we get a peek into the lifestyles of both the very rich New Yorkers and the people who live in the tenements (where my own grandparents grew up). We see how much "technology" there was (or wasn't) in forensics, and how people viewed those of other political views (such as the anarchists -- Emma Goldman has a cameo appearance), and perceptions about class that have mostly faded these days. The setting is so well done... but it's really the characters who make this story work. I cared about every one of them, even when I wanted to bop one of 'em over the head with my book to say, "Doofus! Don't you know love when you see it?"

I sank into this world and didn't emerge until I'd turned the last page. I expect you'll feel the same way.

This series of Gaslight Mysteries is well-written and replete with period detail. Taking place in New York City in the late eighteen nineties, these books chronicle the investigatory adventures of a former socialite, turned midwife, Sarah Brandt, and Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy of the New York City Police Department. Set against a backdrop of New York City life that encompasses the teeming tenements of the poor and the stately homes of the wealthy, these books are a pleasure to read.

Although the plots are always intriguing, it is the burgeoning relationship between Sarah and Malloy that grips the reader, as well as their lives and the lives of the supporting cast of characters that pepper the series. Once again, Sarah finds herself working closely with Malloy, when an explosion kills a wealthy industrialist, whom Sarah happens to know. Though both Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt and Malloy believe anarchists to be responsible for the bombing, Sarah suspects otherwise. Malloy needs to work closely with Sarah, as she can give him the necessary background information that only someone with her insider's knowledge of the wealthy can provide. This causes Malloy great angst, as his feelings for Sarah run deep and true, but due to the strict social hierarchy of the times, those feelings must be kept under wraps, or so he thinks.

This series is very entertaining, and the characters are well developed. The combination of history and mystery with a touch of romance is irresistible. With each book, the backdrop stories of the lives of the main characters are fleshed out. While the mysteries are intriguing, they are the framework around which the characters evolve. Those who enjoy historical fiction and mysteries will enjoy this series of books.

Murder on Marble Row ... a keeper and I read this in just 2 days! One of a series of Gaslight novels. This was a third party purchase, fast delivery super easy price on the pocket. Now, I have to be sure and order two more in the series. You do not have to begin with the first book, easy explanation of past events.