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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
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