Review: Murder on Lenox Hill

Murder on Lenox Hill Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Victoria Thompson
Class/Genre: Mystery Historical Police Procedural
Series: Gaslight Mysteries # 7
Berkley, Hardback, 6/05, 291 pages, $23.95

Sarah Brandt is a midwife working in the tenements of New York around the turn of the 20th Century. She often helps her friend Detective Sergeant Malloy with cases.

She is summoned by the wealthy Lintons to their home. Their teenaged daughter, Grace, is mentally still a child. Sarah confirms their fear that she is expecting. Since she is never left alone, no one can figure out who the father could be. Sarah does her best trying to determine who it might be, but to no avail. She asks Malloy to help. He is reluctant to do, but he does in the end.

The only place Grace goes is to church. So, Malloy and Sarah both begin to investigate whether it could have happened at the church. Sarah begins to get to know quite a few people, including Mrs. Upchurch, the Reverend’s wife. She doesn’t have many friends. Matter of fact, her husband tells people that she is unbalanced. But Mrs. Upchurch begins to confide in Sarah.

Sarah and Malloy begin to investigate deeper based on some information from Mrs. Upchurch. But can they trust the information she has given them? They do know something isn’t right at the church.

When the Reverend falls dead during a service, things begin to really get going. Sarah and Malloy have their work cut out for them. Can they figure out who is guilty of murder and who took advantage of Grace?

I really enjoy this series. Sarah and Malloy are great characters. Aggie that Sarah has taken in is really adding to the storyline as well. I normally don’t like historical mysteries, but I am really enjoying this time-period.

I highly recommend this new book in this terrific series. Due to some of the subject matter, it made me wary of reading it. But the author handled it very well. And if you haven’t read the previous books in this series, I recommend you do.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Dawn Dowdle

Book Review: Murder on Lenox Hill