Murder on Millionaires' Row: A Mystery by Erin Lindsey

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book: (from Goodreads)

Erin Lindsey takes readers on a chase through Gilded Age Manhattan, filled with wonderful historical details, ghosts, romance, and Pinkerton detectives in Murder on Millionaires' Row, a delightfully charming debut mystery.

Rose Gallagher might dream of bigger things, but she’s content enough with her life as a housemaid. After all, it’s not every girl from Five Points who gets to spend her days in a posh Fifth Avenue brownstone, even if only to sweep its floors. But all that changes on the day her boss, Mr. Thomas Wiltshire, disappears. Rose is certain Mr. Wiltshire is in trouble, but the police treat his disappearance as nothing more than the whims of a rich young man behaving badly. Meanwhile, the friend who reported him missing is suspiciously unhelpful. With nowhere left to turn, Rose takes it upon herself to find her handsome young employer.

The investigation takes her from the marble palaces of Fifth Avenue to the sordid streets of Five Points. When a ghostly apparition accosts her on the street, Rose begins to realize that the world around her isn’t at all as it seems―and her place in it is about to change forever.

my thoughts:

Wow! Murder on Millionaires' Row is an entertaining, compelling, and unputdownable mystery.  I just loved befriending Rose and following along her journey to find her missing employer, Mr. Wiltshire (aka the man of her dreams).  Yep, Rose is in LOVE with her boss.  So much so, that when no one seems bothered enough to search for him, Rose takes it upon herself to find out what happened to him.  As she begins unraveling the mystery of his disappearance, she starts uncovering new truths about him - to the point that she realizes she doesn't know him at all.  Along the way, Rose also finds out that world is filled with apparitions, witches, mediums and magic.  It seems that the paranormal is real and not imagined.  Talk about food for thought, eh? Rose now finds herself living in a world she didn't realize existed.  And that is all I will write about this terrific tale - you have to experience it for yourself.

Erin Lindsey has written a superb mystery set during the Gilded Age of Manhattan and let me just say -Wow! Her vivid descriptions bring NY to life and you can't help but picture the clothing, the buildings, and the people.  I just loved getting caught up in the city life and its inhabitants making their way.  The characters are interesting and unforgettable.  And, the paranormal mystery is such a fun way to see the city and the characters - I absolutely enjoyed it to bits.  This book was truly a treat to read.

I would happily recommend Murder on Millionaires' Row to fans of Erin Lindsey and anyone looking for their next great read - you will LOVE this book!!



Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

A Death By Any Other Name: A Mystery by Tessa Arlen

about book: (blurb from NetGalley)

A Death by Any Other Name is a delightful Edwardian mystery set in the English countryside. Building on the success of her last two mysteries in the same series, Tessa Arlen returns us to the same universe full of secrets, intrigue, and, this time, roses.

The elegant Lady Montfort and her redoubtable housekeeper Mrs. Jackson's services are called upon after a cook is framed and dismissed for poisoning a guest of the Hyde Rose Society. Promising to help her regain her job and her dignity, the pair trek out to the countryside to investigate a murder of concealed passions and secret desires. There, they are to discover a villain of audacious cunning among a group of mild-mannered, amateur rose-breeders. While they investigate, the rumor mill fills with talk about a conflict over in Prussia where someone quite important was shot. There is talk of war and they must race the clock to solve the mystery as the idyllic English summer days count down to the start of WWI.

Brimming with intrigue, Tessa Arlen's latest does not disappoint.

my thoughts:

As a Downton Abbey fan, I was excited when I was offered the chance to review Tessa Arlen's latest novel in her popular, Lady Montfort Mystery Series.  Apparently, if you love DA, then you will love these books.  How could I resist, right?

I grabbed my kindle, a huge cuppa, and settled down in a comfy spot.  I wound up spending my whole morning reading this book - I just could not put it down! The story was addictive, exciting, entertaining, and such a delight to read. I simply had to finish it, so I could find out 'whodunit'.  So, I read, read, and read some more.  And let me just say - I absolutely enjoyed every minute I spent with A Death By Any Other Name!!

The third book in the series, A Death By Any Other Name, takes place in the days leading up to the start of WWI in Great Britain.  A murder has been committed at Hyde Castle and the cook is to blame.  Well, technically the fish dinner is to blame. Anyhow, she's been fired and is desperate to clear her name.  So, who's she going to call? Lady Montfort and Mrs. Jackson!  She just knows this sleuthing duo can figure out who the real murderer is.  However, in order to wrangle an invitation to Hyde Castle, Montfort must feign interest in joining the Hyde Rose Society.  Why?  Well, it turns out that within this floral loving gang the guilty party resides.  Yep, it isn't all red roses at Hyde Castle.

With the help of her trusty companion, Montfort and Jackson get to getting.  Soon they are up to their eyeballs in rose bulbs and thorns as they try to observe and query the people around them.  As Montfort's companion, Jackson gets an inside track on all of the staff working at Hyde Castle.  The deeper they dig, the more information they gather - all of which leads to red herrings, twists and turns, and plenty of drama.  And news of the impending war only manages to add a new level of stress to the situation.  Of course, through a bit of trickery, the women do manage to obtain a confession and the real murderer is revealed.

Talk about a cozy mystery at its best! I absolutely LOVED A Death By Any Other Name. The characters were terrific - I enjoyed getting to know Clementine and Edith (Lady Montfort and Mrs. Jackson).  They are smart, determined, and resourceful women who get the job done!  The story was so much fun to get lost in - England, a castle, roses galore, and trying to puzzle out 'whodunit'.  Seriously, what more could I ask for in a book!?  And the writing was top notch.  You couldn't help but get caught up in the drama and suspense - making for one thrilling read. Tessa Arlen has created a wonderful series that I just can't wait read more of.  I plan on reading the first two books (Death Of A Dishonorable Gentleman and Death Sits Down to Dinner) in the series ASAP, and then re-reading this third one right after.  I'm already looking forward to the fourth book!

I would most definitely recommend A Death By Any Other Name to fans of Arlen's books and fans of mystery novels - you will LOVE this book to bits!!



Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!