Murder on St. Mark's Place

Rating:
Summary: A colorful era illuminated --
Review: Last year, MURDER ON ASTOR PLACE introduced us to Sarah Brandt, a mid-wife in turn-of-the-century New York City. Not what she would appear to be on the surface, Sarah was a delightful, prickly daughter of society who ventured to new worlds when her dearly beloved husband died. The world of the ordinary person is so far removed from that of the Upper Four Hundred as decreed by the inhabitants of Society as to be incomprehensible. The author never mis-steps in showing us both worlds.

Fortunately for the reader, MURDER ON ST. MARK'S PLACE continues this excellent travelogue. There are so many hardships for young women to overcome in the big city, when working in a sweatshop may be the only legal way to earn a living. A living that is barely that, more of a mere existence. When the young women are mainly immigrants, the way is even more difficult. All too many of them fall into the trap of becoming a Charity Girl, the name for one who trades her favors to a 'gentleman' for a pretty bonnet or pair of shoes, or a visit to Coney Island.

There would appear to be one of these men who wants more than just favors -- instead he wants her very life, and it's the dedicated Sarah who persists in tying the three women victims to one man. Before the days of computerization, a murder in one precinct might well be unknown to the detectives in the precinct right next door. Once again, Sarah turns to Sergeant Frank Malloy to help her in her detection. Of course, appealing to Malloy exposes Sarah to his particular burden--his young son who has been considered a mentally deficient, rather than the deaf child he really is.

I do hope Ms. Thompson continues this series so that we may learn more about the efforts to assist young Brian, not to mention the marvellously-detailed history of New York in this bustling era. As long as we can tag along while they solve a few more crackling good mysteries.

Rating:
Summary: strong characters, great series
Review: Murder on St. Mark's Place is the second mystery in the Gaslight Mystery Series. I have read and enjoyed both, but if I were to be honest, I would have to say this one reaches deep into the heart of the series' characters. Having read the first mystery where Sara the midwife and Malloy the detective are introduced, I am familiar with them and their families. I was already impressed and pleased with the new series, but in this mystery, I am doubly pleased by how well Ms. Thompson pulls the best and worst out of the main characters. This isn't an easy read, nor is it a cozy. The author delves deep in to the turn-of-the-century way of live, and it's not all pretty. There are some light moments, and the main character, Sara, does her best to lift others up during moments of hopelessness, but the better part of the story is pretty serious. The twist and turns used to keep readers guessing do just that, but what impressed me the most was the storyline as a whole.

When Sarah heads over to St. Mark's Place in New York, she is expecting to deliver another baby into Little Germany. She arrives to find a policeman and neighbors gathering at Agnes Otto's door, but not for the delivery of a baby. Instead it's bad news. Agnes' sixteen-year-old sister, recently brought over from Germany, was found beaten to death. Sarah tells Agnes that it may take a reward to get the police to work on the case. Unable to pay, Agnes gives up all hope of finding her sister's killer and overcoming the shame it has brought. It seems Gerda found some new friends at her job that introduced her to a dance hall and a way to get things that they as young women in life could not afford. Gerda becomes what is known as a Charity Girl. Sarah, being the kind person that she is, decides to take the case to Malloy in hopes of getting him to join her in investigating it together as they had the last case. Back for a return engagement with Sara and Malloy are Malloy's mother and his son, Sara's neighbor Mrs. Elsworth, and Sara's parents. The story line with Malloy and his handicap son is very touching; I hope the storyline grows as the series does.

The author gets into the mystery right away, and although the main characters lives are ongoing in the series, they don't interfere or take away from the mystery. So, if you like historical mysteries, especially series mysteries, this one is well worth looking into. It's a stirring mystery with characters that will touch you.

Rating:
Summary: A good historical mystery for Americana fans
Review: Sarah Brandt is a descendent of the original Dutch settlers, the Knickerbockers, who founded New Amsterdam, later renamed by the English as New York. Her heritage provides Sarah with entrance into the world of wealth and privilege, but she rejects that lifestyle preferring to reside in Manhattan's tenements. She serves as midwife to many of the poorer immigrants. Many children of that time work in factories in order to assist their impoverished families. Some of the young women become "charity girls" who give their bodies to strange men in exchange for attention and pretty baubles.

Sarah is called to the apartment of Agnes Otto, a pregnant patient. There she learns that someone killed Agnes's sister, a charity girl. The shock sends Agnes goes into labor and a healthy baby is delivered. An irate Sarah starts sleuthing with the help of her friend, Police Sergeant Frank Malloy. They soon discover that an unknown assailant has murdered several charity girls. Sarah risks her life to see that the culprit is caught.

As Victoria Thompson colorfully demonstrates in her latest "Gaslight Mystery," New York City at the beginning of the twentieth century is a dangerous place for its melting pot immigrants. This aspect of urban dwellers along with the distinct class structure brings life to a vibrant historical novel. The romantic subplot reduces the tension level without slowing down the story line of MURDER ON ST. MARK'S PLACE. Inside the portrait, Ms. Thompson weaves a fine mystery for readers who enjoy solving a difficult puzzler.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: A Little Too Moralistic
Review: The 1900s setting is interesting, and Thompson obviously has a good time creating and describing her two protagonists, but the murderer's guilt is too easy to guess, and the whole story is too moralistic. The deaf boy aspect is especially heavy handed. It costs Thompson credibility; I can't buy the idea that the father couldn't figure out about the boy's disability without Sarah's help. I realize Sarah's discovery serves the story, but it's not realistic.

Rating:
Summary: Another almost-perfect Sarah Brandt mystery
Review: Victoria Thompson has done it again in this follow up to her Murder on Astor Place. Set in the turn of the century New York city, her heroine, Sarah Brandt is an upper class young woman that has turned her back on her priviledged upbringing and has chosen instead to work as a midwife. Although it's not necessary to read Murder on Astor Place first, it's a great way to understand how Sarah has also become a detective and how she and Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy teamed up initially. Thompson's ability to bring her characters and that particular period in American history to life is wonderful. She manages to capture sights, sounds, smells and the mores of the era. My only disappointment--(I had it with the first book also) is that the villains in each book were way too obvious for a true mystery novel. In spite of this, I recommend this book without reservation and am looking forward to Brandt and Malloy's next adventure.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful period detail; compelling characters
Review: Victoria Thompson's new series of Gaslight Mysteries are a treasure. Her characters breathe with a vibrant immediacy that is as compelling as the storylines that propel her novels. The historical detail is wonderful, with an attention to the minutiae of the period that is as satisfying as viewing intricate beadwork. Every drop of distilled description adds to the fragrantly complex whole. In this outing, the facets of a shopgirls' life in her off-hours are heartbreakingly portrayed, and the descriptions of Coney Island are a beautiful braid of social commentary, exposition, and simple color. I highly recommend this, and its predecessor Murder on Astor Place.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful period detail; compelling characters
Review: Victoria Thompson's new series of Gaslight Mysteries are a treasure. Her characters breathe with a vibrant immediacy that is as compelling as the storylines that propel her novels. The historical detail is wonderful, with an attention to the minutiae of the period that is as satisfying as viewing intricate beadwork. Every drop of distilled description adds to the fragrantly complex whole. In this outing, the facets of a shopgirls' life in her off-hours are heartbreakingly portrayed, and the descriptions of Coney Island are a beautiful braid of social commentary, exposition, and simple color. I highly recommend this, and its predecessor Murder on Astor Place.

Rating:
Summary: Nicely Paced Historical Mystery
Review: Yes, this is a mass market mystery, but it's a very nicely paced one, and tells a compelling story - with a good mystery to propell the supporting stories. While not feminist per se, this book does a good job of showing what few choices were open to women - regardless of class - 100 years ago. Ms. Thompson does a better job with the mystery side of this story than she did with her first Gaslight Mystery, the story has a good twist at the end, yet is totally plausible. The developing subplot of the relationship between Sarah and Malloy doesn't take away from the mystery, but provides additional interest (for me!) I look forward to the next book - Ms. Thompson drops some interesting hints at the end of the book!