MURDER ON BANK STREET
A Gaslight Mystery
Victoria Thompson
Berkley Prime Crime
ISBN 9780425221518 (Hardcover)
June 2008
Mystery

Widowed midwife Sarah Brandt has many joys in her life including her adopted daughter, Catherine, young nursemaid, Maeve, and her charming busy-body neighbor, Mrs. Ellsworth. Even Sarah's relationship with her mother seems to have strengthened as well. Then there is Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy, who, on Sarah's behalf, has undertaken the investigation of the murder of Dr. Tom Brandt, Sarah's husband. Though unsolved (and not investigated) for four years, Malloy has found a witness which has provided enough clues to enlist the aid of the Pinkertons and center the investigation on the fathers of some of Dr. Brandt's patients. Outrageous and horrifying accusations have been made about Dr. Brandt's conduct prior to his death, and solving his murder may only cause Sarah more pain.

MURDER ON BANK STREET is the latest installment of the popular Gaslight Mystery series. As a reader new to this series, I approached the story as a stand-alone and it did not disappoint. Ms. Thompson has created a captivating glimpse of life in New York City at the close of the nineteenth century featuring a host of delightful characters, realistic and unfortunate victims, as well as stomach-churning evildoers. The descriptive narrative moved along at a consistent and enjoyable pace, building in intensity as the investigation comes to a head. MURDER ON BANK STREET will have readers eagerly turning pages until the end and begs to be consumed in one sitting. Having so enjoyed MURDER ON BANK STREET, I look forward to catching up on the nine previous titles in the Gaslight Mystery series, and hope there will be more to come in the future as well! Highly recommended!

Reviewed by Melissa Fowler
Rating 4 1/2