Murder on Astor Place is the first book in Victoria Thompson's Gaslight Mystery series. The setting is NYC, the year is 1895 and when the novel begins we are introduced to Sarah Brandt, a young widow and nurse/midwife who lives in Lower Manhattan. Sarah grew up in a wealthy high society family who she has been estranged from for the past few years. We are also introduced to Frank Malloy who will become Sarah's detective partner in this 25 book series. Frank is a police officer with the NYPD. He is a gruff man made weary by life and, like Sarah, his spouse died a few years back.
Sarah and Frank first meet when a young woman, Alicia Van Damm, is found murdered in a boarding house on Astor Place. Alicia was pregnant at the time of the murder and that she would wind up dead in a boarding house is puzzling because she is the daughter of the wealthy Van Damm family. They are not eager to solve their daughter's murder, not wanting the scandal.
Sarah and Frank are not thrilled with each other. He sees her as a too sure of herself suffragette type. She sees him as a rude and coarse NYC cop who is probably on the take. Nevertheless, Sarah and Frank are angry that no one seems to care about poor Alicia and so they decide to work together to find her killer.
I found Murder on Astor Place to be a really fine start to what I predict will be a well worth one's time historical mystery series. The author has done a very good job researching the time period of what 1890's NYC was like. Sarah Brandt and Frank Malloy are an engaging duo that the reader will want to invest in and if my TBR list wasn't so long I would be up to tackling this 25 book series. That said, I plan to at least give the second novel in the series, Murder on St Mark's Place, a try.
Definitely give the next book a read....and maybe a few more, too? This is such a great series. I love the characters, and it's fun seeing them grow and develop. Even after 25 books I still get excited when a new one comes out. And I hope you have a very Merry Christmas this year! :D
ReplyDeleteHi Lark and a very Merry Christmas to you and your family! I will definitely give the second book a try. I hope I can order it from my library because in 2023 I am vowing to not buy even one book. I have more than enough to read in my TBR file and there is the library and its always good to economize so I am excited about this plan and look forward to finding Victoria Thompson at the library!
ReplyDeleteI am not sure if I ever read any of this series but I certainly have heard of the author. Probably not because I think I would remember a nurse / midwife as a major character. I will see if I can find a copy.
ReplyDeleteWow, you have a goal to not buy one book. That is amazing and laudable. I have gone three months before but never that long. And I definitely have enough books on my TBR to keep me reading at least 3 years.
Hi Tracy,
ReplyDeleteI recommend Murder on Astor Place I really enjoyed it and the author in addition to creating a charasmatic duo, Sarah Brandt and Frank Malloy, has also done her homework on the time period.
The vow to not buy a book in 2023 is a tough one but book buying for me was getting out of hand. I also have enough reading matter for 3 years and with the library and books on kindle that are no cost I think it will make this resolution doable.
I hope you have a very Happy New Year!