For the Love of Mike

Rating:
Summary: A Woman Ahead of Her Time
Review: I loved DEATH OF RILEY and FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE firmly establishes Molly Murphy as a woman to be reckoned with! Dauntless in her pursuit of criminals, Molly never loses her warmth or compassion. She is a character of many dimensions and a woman who will not turn away from the inequities of her times. This is a wonderful series filled with exhaustive research that portrays a window of New York in the early years of the 20th century so vivid, you can hear the rustle of long skirts and the snap of a parasol.

Rating:
Summary: A Woman Ahead of Her Time
Review: I loved DEATH OF RILEY and FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE firmly establishes Molly Murphy as a woman to be reckoned with! Dauntless in her pursuit of criminals, Molly never loses her warmth or compassion. She is a character of many dimensions and a woman who will not turn away from the inequities of her times. This is a wonderful series filled with exhaustive research that portrays a window of New York in the early years of the 20th century so vivid, you can hear the rustle of long skirts and the snap of a parasol.

Rating:
Summary: Deux ex Machina Mania
Review: I read the first Molly Murphy book, enjoyed it thoroughly and began immediately the next books. Unfortunately, Ms. Bowen has not been able to continue the same high quality. I was slightly disappointed in "For the love of Riley" and definitely will stop reading these books after this last disaster.

I have three issues with the series:

1) Ms. Bowen focuses too much of her books on Molly Murphy's love life. Is it a mystery or a romance? I thought that the romance in the first book flowed nicely with the story and that the romances would be a smaller part of the mystery stories. However, in this third book, her love life is still a large factor in the book and, in my opinion, it gets in the way of the mystery.

2) Molly is saved in about half her scrapes through deux ex machina (suddenly someone - boyfriend, ward, police - suddenly arrives just at the critical time and saves Molly). I'm a gullible reader who wants to enjoy a good story and will accept a lot but it happens far too often for me to excuse the author. A good author should be creative enough to able to extricate her character through cunning, wiles or strength. I was able to tolerate the first example of deux ex machina when Molly stumbled into a gang headquarters and was about to be killed/kidnapped when the police just happened to conduct a raid at that moment, but to use deux ex machina in the climax was a true turnoff.

Ms. Bowen created a wonderful setting for the final face off but again, the police arrived just in the nick of time to save Molly.

3) Similar to #2 above, the author allows Molly to solve her mysteries with weak coincidences. A recognition of jewelry that she got a faint look at, papers falling out of a lunchbag at an opportune time.

I'm surprised that her editor allows her to get away with this lack of creativity, and it is what makes me suspicious that her books should be shelved in the romance section of the library.

I gave the book 2 stars, rather than 1 because I appreciated the obvious research. The author does make the reader understand about the hardships during that period.



Rating:
Summary: tremendous historical mystery
Review: In 1901 private detective Molly Murphy decides to remain in New York City in spite of the recent death of her boss, Paddy Riley (see DEATH OF RILEY). Her plan is to continue Riley's detective agency though she lacks experience, having never flown solo.

Her first case without her mentor involves someone who is stealing the designs sketches of lower Manhattan's Mostel and Klein garment factory. Even worse, their biggest competitor Lowenstein is getting their garbs into the stores first. Molly goes undercover learning first hand how intense a sewing job can be in a sweatshop. While still trying to discover the thief she begins a second case. Her client Major Favisham sent her a letter from Ireland to find his daughter Katherine who sailed to New York with a bum Michael Kelly. Unbelievable at least to Molly, her two cases begin connecting even as the danger mounts to her.

Although this is in some ways darker than the previous two novels, this is a tremendous historical mystery. The star is a gritty New York at the turn of the previous century. The story line is cleverly designed so that the two subplots merge into a cohesive tale. The additions of a police officer romantic interest and Molly's just two steps above amateur status make for a delightful experience.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: tremendous historical mystery
Review: In 1901 private detective Molly Murphy decides to remain in New York City in spite of the recent death of her boss, Paddy Riley (see DEATH OF RILEY). Her plan is to continue Riley's detective agency though she lacks experience, having never flown solo.

Her first case without her mentor involves someone who is stealing the designs sketches of lower Manhattan's Mostel and Klein garment factory. Even worse, their biggest competitor Lowenstein is getting their garbs into the stores first. Molly goes undercover learning first hand how intense a sewing job can be in a sweatshop. While still trying to discover the thief she begins a second case. Her client Major Favisham sent her a letter from Ireland to find his daughter Katherine who sailed to New York with a bum Michael Kelly. Unbelievable at least to Molly, her two cases begin connecting even as the danger mounts to her.

Although this is in some ways darker than the previous two novels, this is a tremendous historical mystery. The star is a gritty New York at the turn of the previous century. The story line is cleverly designed so that the two subplots merge into a cohesive tale. The additions of a police officer romantic interest and Molly's just two steps above amateur status make for a delightful experience.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: We Need More "Molly Murphy" Detectives!
Review: In addition to the wonderful character of Molly Murphy, I love the descriptions of old NY (of course, I AM a NYer!) esp the conditions of sweatshops, the backbone (and scarlet letter) of the garment industry. many people think of the fancy mansions and the Astors when they think of that time period, before they think of the slums and inquality that existed at the time.

also, nice samuel clemens name dropping!

Rating:
Summary: Two Cases and Plenty of Danger
Review: Molly is bravely trying to continue on with Riley's detective agency. But she finds divorce cases to be completely distasteful. Just as she's resolved to put them behind her, she gets an assignment to go undercover in the sweatshops to find out who is stealing designs from one man and selling them to his competitor. Then she is asked to find a young woman who ran away to America with her boyfriend. Molly is thrilled since finding missing relatives is exactly what she wanted to do all along. Now she just has to figure out how to balance the two since working in the sweatshops means working all day and the streets of 1901 New York City certainly aren't safe for a woman alone at night.

As if her life already weren't complicated enough, she still feels a responsibility to the O'Connors for her opportunity to come to America in the first place. They are once again living with their cousins, and Shamey is joining a gang. She feels she needs to figure out a way to get them into a better environment. Her already complicated love life gets another wrinkle. And she can't help but sympathize with the girls she's working with in the garment factories. Even though she needs to keep quiet, she feels she must do something to help make their lives better. With a little bit of Irish luck, she just might be able to pull it all off and come out alive on the other end.

Obviously, this is not your traditional mystery novel. As much time is spent on life in 1901 as on the cases themselves. But, as a result, Molly's world comes vividly to life. And there is so much going on you can't put the book down. Heck, I read it in little over a day myself. The pace never slackens, and there are quite a few tense scenes. Molly has really grown on me as a character, and I loved seeing her friends and adopted family again. This book does talk about the ending of the last book, so it's best to read the series in order.

If you're looking for a murder and five suspects, look elsewhere. If you want a historical mystery that will transport you to another time and place while entertaining you, this is the book for you.

Rating:
Summary: Two Cases and Plenty of Danger
Review: Molly is bravely trying to continue on with Riley's detective agency. But she finds divorce cases to be completely distasteful. Just as she's resolved to put them behind her, she gets an assignment to go undercover in the sweatshops to find out who is stealing designs from one man and selling them to his competitor. Then she is asked to find a young woman who ran away to America with her boyfriend. Molly is thrilled since finding missing relatives is exactly what she wanted to do all along. Now she just has to figure out how to balance the two since working in the sweatshops means working all day and the streets of 1901 New York City certainly aren't safe for a woman alone at night.

As if her life already weren't complicated enough, she still feels a responsibility to the O'Connors for her opportunity to come to America in the first place. They are once again living with their cousins, and Shamey is joining a gang. She feels she needs to figure out a way to get them into a better environment. Her already complicated love life gets another wrinkle. And she can't help but sympathize with the girls she's working with in the garment factories. Even though she needs to keep quiet, she feels she must do something to help make their lives better. With a little bit of Irish luck, she just might be able to pull it all off and come out alive on the other end.

Obviously, this is not your traditional mystery novel. As much time is spent on life in 1901 as on the cases themselves. But, as a result, Molly's world comes vividly to life. And there is so much going on you can't put the book down. Heck, I read it in little over a day myself. The pace never slackens, and there are quite a few tense scenes. Molly has really grown on me as a character, and I loved seeing her friends and adopted family again. This book does talk about the ending of the last book, so it's best to read the series in order.

If you're looking for a murder and five suspects, look elsewhere. If you want a historical mystery that will transport you to another time and place while entertaining you, this is the book for you.

Rating:
Summary: A Well-Paced and Well-Researched Mystery Novel
Review: Rhys Bowen's third novel in the award-winning Molly Murphy mystery series is a story sure to be recognized on its own merit. A combination of Murphy's Irish temper, loyalty to her chosen profession and stubbornness make for good reading.

After the death of her mentor, Murphy sticks with her attempt to earn a living as a female private detective in turn-of-the-century New York City. When she stakes out a client's husband as a possible wife-cheater, her troubles multiply. She's not welcome in bars or on the street late at night, places necessary for a private eye to operate. More than once, she is harassed by the New York City Police who mistake her for a criminal. Murphy is reluctant to seek help from her former lover, Captain Daniel Sullivan, at the precinct. But more than once he intervenes on her behalf.

Murphy's spunky spirit pulls her out of the doldrums on numerous occasions. At a time when she is penniless, without a client and nearly giving up, an opportunity comes her way to persevere. She's involved in the women's rights issues of the day when she takes on a case to locate a mole in the garment industry. Labor unions, gangland mischief and further tangles with the law become her daily companions.

At the same time, Murphy has accepted a missing person search for a family in Ireland. Their daughter, Katherine, has fled to the United States with her lover, Michael. Her father has reason to think that the runaways may have gone to New York City. Murphy's research leads her to a dead end. It appears as if the girl and her husband may have been murdered. However, Murphy doggedly follows any lead that might promise a positive outcome.

Bowen's Murphy is determined, relentless, plucky, pretty and definitely possesses an Irish temperament. She is stubborn when offered help, preferring her own instincts for survival. The men in her life seek to protect her, but she sees their attempts as interference. Jacob Singer vies with Capt. Sullivan for Murphy's love, but she puts her job ahead of them both. There is no satisfaction for the reader who wants a neat romantic knot tied.

FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE is full of the flavor of New York City at the turn of the century. Sweatshop turmoil and the plight of the lower end immigrant worker are given colorful treatment. The infancy of labor union struggles and women's suffrage movements are well documented. FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE is a well-paced and well-researched mystery novel that leaves the invitation open to the next book in the Molly Murphy series.

--- Reviewed by Judy Gigstad