Customer Reviews

Murder in a Mill Town (Gilded Age Mysteries, No. 2)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For the many fans of historical mysteries in Victorian America (esp if you're a huge Victoria Thompson fan), here's another addicting and absorbing series to check out: P. B. Ryan's Gilded Age Mysteries, featuring intrepid governess and sleuth, Nell Sweeney. I haven't read "Still Life Under Murder" yet, but based on my favourable impression of "Murder in a Mill Town," I will definitely be reading that book soon.

When mill worker, Bridget Fallon, fails to return home after a night out with her ex-felon boy friend, her mother is naturally frantic. By now Bridget has been missing for three days, and Mrs. Fallon cannot get anyone to take her fears seriously. Everyone, from the police to Harry Hewitt (the second son of that fabulously rich and upper-class family) who runs the mill, assumes that Bridget has run off with her beau, Virgil Hines. But Mrs. Fallon is sure that her daughter wouldn't do anything like that, and is afraid for Bridget's safety. Undeterred, Mrs. Fallon turns to Mrs. Hewitt (Harry's mother) in order to ask for her help. Being kind hearted and moved by Mrs. Fallon's obvious distress, Mrs. Hewitt in turns asks Nell Sweeney (her granddaughter's governess) to look into the matter. A child of the streets, Nell has raised herself to her current position through sheer hard work and determination. If anyone can help the Fallons, it's Nell. And because Nell has a great affection for her employer, she agrees to do a spot of investigating. Little did Nell expect, however, that this investigation would bring her face to face with a past that she had thought to be long buried -- a past, furthermore that could jeopardize the new life she has carved out for herself...

Swiftly paced and with quite a few cunning plot twists, "Murder in a Mill Town" was an enjoyable read from start to finish. At the heart of the series is the character of Nell Sweeney: an intelligent, intrepid and courageous woman who doesn't hesitate to do the right thing no matter the cost. Nell, is the main reason why this series really works and is so compelling. And by throwing in Nell's complicated and darker past into the mix, "Murder in a Mill Town" became an even more engaging and poignant read. With good historical detail and a cast of well fleshed out characters, "Murder in a Mill Town" makes for great reading.

This is the second book in one of the best Historical Murder Mystery series I've read. If you like Anne Perry (who delves into some pretty nasty Victorian vices) or better yet Dianne Day (the Freemont Jones series) then you should like this series. But buy the first book too - Still Life with Murder, since the main characters unfold across the two books.

Murder in a Mill Town by P.B. Ryan is the second fantastic book in the Gilded Age series featuring Boston governess Nell Sweeney. When a poor Irish family's daughter disappears, they turn to their employer's wife, Violet Hewitt, for help. Violet turns to Nell to investigate Bridget's disappearance and finds more than she bargained for, including a figure from her past. The reader finally gets to find out the truth of Nell's past in this book, and it's not pretty. I love the dialogue between Nell and William. It's filled with electric undercurrents and double entendres without being dirty. While Bridget's disappearance may be the main plot of the book, the true story is the growing relationship between Nell and William. Williams' opium addiction is again dealt with, and he finds himself with even more reasons to try and beat it. And just when readers are hoping that the two can be together, Ryan ingeniously throws a monkey-wrench in the works, ensuring many more books with brilliant banter and longing looks. I can't wait to read the next book!

As a child she lived in the poor house until she met Duncan who took her out of there. Neither Duncan nor Nell Sweeney had enough money to live on his salary so she started picking pockets and became known as Cornelia Catpurse because she was so good at it. After Duncan was found guilty of theft and thrown in jail for thirty years wealthy Bostonian Viola Hewitt hired her to be a governess for her adopted daughter Gracie.

Viola asks Nell to find out where Bridget Fallon and her boyfriend Virgil are and because she loves her benefactor Nell agrees. Viola's son, Will, an opium and morphine addict who makes his living as a gambler helps Nell. When they find Bridget and Virgil, the pair has been dead for a few days, the victim of murder with the evidence pointing to Will's brother Harry. While trying to clear Harry, Will and Nell become captives of the perpetrator.

Nell is one of the strongest, most honorable and dearest heroines to grace the pages of an amateur sleuth novel. She doesn't let anyone stop her from doing what she believes is right even if it means putting herself in danger. She plays many roles and can fit in as the mistress of a mansion or a pick pocket, which makes it easy for all types of people to confide in her. The mystery is well constructed and the revelation of the killer will come as a shock to readers. P.B. Ryan knows how to write a tale that will grip and keep readers interest throughout the novel.

Harriet Klausner

In the follow-up to STILL LIFE WITH MURDER, Nell Sweeney undertakes a case of a missing mill worker at the behest of her patron, Mrs. Hewitt.

If the reader can suspend his or her disbelief enough to accept the manner in which the case falls to Nell and can ignore a couple of very odd typos here and there, MURDER IN A MILL TOWN delivers--in spades.

The book is loaded with twists and turns, shocking revelations about Nell's early life and a truly suspenseful surprise ending.

The unconsummated affair between Nell and Will Hewitt continues to mesmerize. Plot-wise the book exceeds the original.

A definite 5* must-read for mystery lovers who enjoy an historical setting. It is recommended to read STILL LIFE first.

This book is the second in a series by P. B. Ryan, called "A Gilded Age Mystery". The story takes place in 1868 Boston, which makes it immediately interesting. Main character, Nell Sweeney, is a governess to a rich family. When parents of a missing girl come to the mistress of the house for help in finding her, Nell takes on the task. Characters are good and well-rounded. The character of Nell strikes me as a bit far-fetched when she fights off a bad guy. She's supposed to be this gorgeous lady, and how she overpowers him is frankly not believable. The book lacks humor but is otherwise well written. The author refers back to the first book in the series a lot, but I see no advantage in having to read Number One first. Good climax at the end.

First of all, let me say that I love, love, love this series! I started with the first one a few days ago, and I'm already halfway through the third.

I won't rehash the synopsis, but let me highlight a few of the things I like about this book. First, as I mentioned in the title of this review, I genuinely like the heroine, Nell Sweeney; she's intelligent, competent, resourceful, responsible and likeable...she ISN'T whiny, clingy, petty, immature or obnoxious, as so many authors tend to make their female characters. I think that her less-than-squeaky-clean "past" is part of what makes her so likeable - she rose from poor circumstances and made a better life for herself. She's lady-like without being a prude, and she possesses the courage of her convictions. She's someone who most women can either relate to, look up to or both. And I absolutely adore the chemistry (and witty banter) between her and Will; sometimes, subtleties speak volumes, and there are so many subtle gestures between these two characters (a glance, a slight turn of the head, a hand placed gently on the arm or the waist, etc.).

In fact, all of the main characters are so well-developed that I wish I could know them in real life. I'm already so attached to them, halfway through the third book, that finishing the series will be bittersweet for me, and I'll lament that there isn't more to read.

Also, I'm very fond of "period" type movies: the costumes, the dialogue, the scenery. P.B. Ryan does such a wonderful job of conveying that type of atmosphere in writing that I'm kind of jealous. The descriptions are so rich...I actually feel like I'm in Boston in the late 1800's. I know I'm reading something special when I can almost SMELL Boston in the late 1800's!

I'd like to add that I appreciate the fact that the author doesn't underestimate the intelligence of her audience by writing "down" to the lowest common denominator as so many other authors do.

Lastly, I'd like to say that, anyone who loves "period" type films and books, well-developed characters, rich descriptions and an intelligent mystery plot will definitely enjoy this series!

Really enjoyed the story of this book. Nell Sweeney is not is be underestimated. I believe there lies a little of Nell Sweeney in us all. This is a tale about murder and the mystery thickens and you will NOT believe or ever guess who the murderer is. Nell and Will are definitely in love.....

I am now on the 3rd book in this series. I downloaded the first one free on my Kindle and finished it in a weekend. Then immediately downloaded the second book which I couldn't put down. The books are set in the mid-late 1800's in Boston. I love reading all the historical names for items used then. And I love looking the definitions up on the Kindle - I'm learning a lot. I am also fond of the descriptive nature of the writing. I enjoy books that are meaty in the sense that I feel like I've gleaned a lot of information after reading only a few chapters. But what I like most of all is the relationship between Nell and Will. I've only read the first two (and Im on the second chapter of the third now) but so far its whats keeping me hooked. I love their chemistry. I especially like how they got to know each other in this second book - how much their relationship grew throughout the story and how they bonded. I am anxious to see how their relationship progresses as I continue with the series. This is going to be a great series to read this summer. I am really enjoying it.

When Bridget 'Bridie' Sullivan goes missing, no one believes that anything untoward has happened to her. She is a bit of a good time girl and everyone thinks she just ran off with her ex-con boyfriend. Everyone, that is, except her mother. Mrs. Fallon knows that Bridie wouldn't just run off, but no one will believe her. Desperate she turns to Mrs. Hewitt who is known to have a compassionate heart. And Bridie worked as a mill girl in one of the Hewitt family's mills.

Feeling sorry for the woman, Mrs. Hewitt does ask Nell to ask around and see what she can find out about Bridie's disappearance. Because Nell is a governess, she has the ability to move about that neither lower servants nor upper class ladies can lay claim to.

Nell agrees and as she does go in search of Birdie, Nell becomes convinced that Harry Hewitt, the ne'er do well middle son of the Hewitt clan is somehow involved. Harry and Nell have a hostile relationship. He despises Nell because she accused him of murder in the previous book Still Life With Murder (Nell Sweeney Mysteries (formerly Gilded Age Mysteries)). Nell despises Harry because he represents the very worst part of the wealthy upperclass. Harry is profligate with a very destructive lifestyle. Yet his worst excesses are always smoothed away by his father's money and he never feels any remorse for anything he does because he is never required to answer for it.

And Nell learns that Harry, who routinely slept with the mill girls he supervised, had been especially enamored of the beautiful Bridie.

But Harry has an unlikely champion. His older brother Will does not think Harry is capable of harming a woman. So he teams up with Nell to help find out what really happened to the woman.

This is a wonderful follow up to the previous book. All the things that I enjoyed in the first book -- the characters, the setting, the structure of the plot -- are all evident in this one as well.

I especially like that the story isn't very predictable. Just as the previous book, Ryan leads you on and allows you to make assumptions that she then cheerfully smashes with a nice curveball. I didn't guess the bad guy in this one either!

I am also enjoying the progress of the relationship between Nell and Will. On a professional level the two of them are creating a nice, albeit unconscious working relationship. With her background as a nurse and Will profession as a doctor (and his fascination with what we now know as forensics) and their knowledge of anatomy, physiology and even pathology give the conclusions they draw a little more credibility than if they had been random amateur sleuths.

On a personal level it is obvious the two of them are attracted to each other and are very much sublimating any less that platonic feelings. Will gently teases Nell and there is an undercurrent of courting to it. But Will is a man with some very large demons to slay and he has no intentions of becoming involved with Nell. For her part, Nell does not reciprocate -- at least not verbally. And Ryan does such a great job of parceling out pieces of Nell's past in a very deliberate fashion so that when certain revelations occur in this book they fill Will (and the reader!) with some dismay.

But then the book ends so --- sigh. I had to hop out of bed and grab the next one.

I am kicking myself that I let these books languish in a box for the last three years.