Customer Reviews

Murder at the Portland Variety (The Libby Seale Mysteries)

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The sister and brother writing team of Miriam and Joseph Zellnik have written a rather interesting first installment in the Libby Seale mystery series, which, while it was not quite the thrilling page turner, still turned out to be a rather compelling read because of the smooth writing style.

When one of the stars of Crowther's Portland Variety, Vera Carabella, is found murdered, everyone is sure that she was a victim of the white slavers. Especially since Vera was found strangled in exactly the same underground tunnel that another performer had been found murdered in some months ago. But when assistant costumer Libby Seale, a recent transplant from New York City, discovers Vera's straw bag in the theatre a few days later, she begins to wonder about the convenient theory that Vera was murdered by white slavers. Convinced that there is more to Vera's murder than meets the eye, and frustrated that she is unable to convince the police that they should widen the scope of their investigation, Libby decides to do right by her friend by trying to unmask the murderer herself. Libby's quest for justice will take her to both the dark alleyways of Chinatown as well as the drawing rooms of Portland's elite -- both highly dangerous places for a young woman with questions she wants answers to. Fortunately for Libby, she has the assistance of newspaperman, Peter Eberle, who seems very keen to assist Libby in every way...

While "Murder at the Portland Variety" was a very straight read, with really no chilling or compelling plot twists, the authors' smooth and engaging prose style succeeded in making the book a rather absorbing read. Another plus was the wonderfully vivid descriptions of the city of Portland in 1894 (as a recent transplant myself, I spent quite a bit of time trying to envision all the streets that this mystery takes place in) -- I'd say that the authors were successful at evoking the feel and ambiance of the period. And if one includes the other great strength that this mystery novel possesses, the immensely courageous, quick witted and impulsive Libby Seale, one would conclude that in spite of the fact that the storyline is a rather basic one with few flourishes, "Murder at the Portland Variety" made for a truly good, entertaining read. I know that I enjoyed it and am quite looking forward to the next Libby Seale installment.

I love a great mystery and it's always fun to find a new author. Since I live in Portland, I enjoyed the references to landmarks I recognized and was inspired to find out more about historical Portland and how it became the city it is today. A thoroughly delightful read. Libby Seale is a wonderful character and I look forward to many more hours finding out about her life and times in future books. Wish they could get them out a little faster!

In a strong debut, M.J. Zellnik introduces a smart and resourceful amateur detective, theatrical seamstress Libby Seale, who finds herself living and working in Portland in 1894 and investigating the death of her friend, a vaudeville performer. Along the way, Libby joins forces with a bright and charming newspaper reporter, and together they uncover the seamy underside of Portland society.

With a meticulous eye for period detail, characters who are richer than first meet the eye, and pitch-perfect tone, Zellnik (a sister and brother team) crafts an engaging and suspenseful story of love, corruption, betrayal, and bravery, all set in the vibrant worlds of the vaudeville theater, the busy seaport of Portland, and the highest eschelons of turn-of-the-century society.

I eagerly await the next installment of Libby's adventures.

I won a copy of this book, Murder at the Portland Variety, a couple of months ago. I just finished reading it. Libby Seale is an interesting character. She is a seamstress who has come to Portland to escape an unhappy marriage. Due to her employment at the Portland Variety, she is acquainted with the young woman who is found dead in the tunnels below. She determines, with the help of a young, enterprising reporter by the name of Peter Eberle, to find out who killed Vera.
The book is filled with historical details, but those details do not overwhelm the reader. Libby comes across as a real person experiencing life alone, far from her New York family and friends. She questions many, including the police. The answer to the question of what has happened to Vera, and previously to another young woman, is answered in an intriguing climax. The author had done a good job with the mystery and the setting.

Before heading out on vacation, I like to pick up a few novels set in the locations I'm going to -- which is why I picked this up. It's a period whodunit, set in Portland, Oregon at the tail end of the 19th-century, as the town was just starting to shed its pioneer roots and become a true city. The heroine of the story is a seamstress named Libby Seale, a recent transplant to the West coast who is trying to escape some personal problems back home in Manhattan. She works for a variety theater, repairing and refitting costumes as needed, when one day a performer whom she was friends with is found murdered in a tunnel beneath the theater. Libby isn't convinced by the police department's narrative of what befell her friend, and thus she finds herself drawn into the mystery.

The tunnels of downtown Portland are well known local lore, and these days one can take guided tours (as well as more off-the-books tours, if you know where to ask). They were built to provide an easy means for moving cargo to and from the docks, but also served more nefarious purposes, such as the "shanghaiing" of drunk men to serve as sailors. The plot of the book draws upon the more lurid legends of white slavery, as Libby starts investigating the death of her friend and the disappearance of several showgirls over the past year. She meets cute with a handsome newspaper man, and the two are a fairly engaging detecting duo as they poke their noses where they don't belong.

It's a solid debut that, while lacking any truly startling plot twists, manages to keep the mystery compelling and the reader guessing. The period detail is interesting without being suffocating, and the protagonists are definitely full-bodied enough for the reader to enjoy spending time with. The brisk pace, while not quite at the page-turner level, does make the story pass quickly, and leaves one eager to see what mischief Ms. Seale gets up to next (as detailed in A Death at the Rose Paperworks). Well worth reading by anyone who enjoys period whodunits.

After a recent visit to Portland I was looking for more information about the slave tunnels and other Portland landmarks. This was a great follow-up to that visit. I recognized various landmarks and enjoyed a story about a geographical location and period of time of which I had little knowledge. I hope the publisher will reconsider and publish the third book in this series. Don't keep us hanging about Libby's future.

I'm grateful I discovered this series after the second book was published. I don't think I could have waited another year to learn more about the relationship between the main characters. I can hardly wait for the next book in the series.

The author does an outstanding job of creating an authentic sense of place without hitting you over the head with chunks of historical research. The details are woven into the story naturally, which many writers have not mastered. In this book, the characters are well developed with good motivation and enough tension to keep you turning the pages. If you have any interest in a good mystery and history, be sure to read both books.