Rating: 
Summary: Thompson Shows Improvement
Review: As far as plot is concerned, this book is a major leap forwards for the author. It's not as simple and as easy to figure out as the last one I read (in which there were only two possible suspects). Nevertheless, the plot was still a bit simple for my tastes. I assumed that there would be two killers and grew a bit bored waiting for the two main characters to consider this possibility. I find it hard to believe that after his dealings with Mrs. Brandt, Malloy is still so shocked at her honesty and directness. His prim and proper reactions wear thin.As I said, this is a much-improved story and I would definitely try another Gaslight Mystery.
Rating:
Summary: 5 Star Plot, 2 star writing - the first two books are better
Review: First of all - don't write this book off completely. The actual mystery plot equals - or even betters - the plot of Ms Thompson's first two books. It has a very nice twist - so if I were rating her outline, I'd give it 5 stars. However, we don't read outlines, do we? The dialog is weak and repetitive (same phrase or cliché often appearing on the same page twice or repeated throughout the book), the character development is non-existent. Sarah (our sleuthing midwife) and Frank (NY Police detective) have known each other for several months - they are becoming friends (against their better judgements) and we need to see more of this. No, I'm not asking for full-blown romance (yet - although I suspect that's down the pike), since it has only been a few months - but we need to see more of their character. The character development in the first two books was wonderful - it just seems to go away here. And the other players in this mystery - yuck. You just don't get a feel for any of them, even the morphine-addicted mother who is a prime suspect. I suspect that Ms Thompson pretty much had the first two books written by the time she got a publisher to publish the first one - then she had to rush out the third, so she could get on a "once a year" schedule. We've seen that in other series, and the quality always suffers. It's a shame - this plot is a cracker jack mystery - but the book is really rather dull. I'll buy book #4 - but if it's like this one, I won't go for #5. Life is too short to read bad dialog!
Rating:
Summary: Good subway reading
Review: I always have a stash of books that I save for reading on the subway. These books should be easily accessible in terms of the writing style, plot, ideas, and physical size. They should also be interesting enough to make me want to finish them even if it takes weeks of 10-minute subway rides. Victoria Thompson's mysteries fit the bill. MURDER ON GRAMERCY PARK is a delightful turn of the century crime novel. I love it for its details of old New York, though I must admit that they do get repetitive at times. This is not the cleverest mystery, but it's fun to read, the pacing is good and it does make you want to read Victoria Thompson's other books if you haven't already.
Rating: 
Summary: Murder on Gramercy Park
Review: I have all of the books in this series and enjoyed all of them. If you like Anne Perry you will like Victoria Thompson. The latest one of Victoria Thompson's I found to be as engrossing as her earlier ones. She will keep you guessing until the very end. The characters are real and interesting. I can't wait for her next book.
Rating:
Summary: Thompson Shows Improvement
Review: MURDER ON GRAMERCY PARK is the best book yet in the series. It stands on it's own merits, but I think it's helpful to have read the previous two books so the reader can get a good feel for how the relationship between Sarah and Frank is developing. This book had an interesting mystery that had me turning pages and I can't wait until the next installment so I can find out how Brian's surgery went !
Rating: 
Summary: Worthy Reading
Review: MURDER ON GRAMERCY PARK is the best book yet in the series. It stands on it's own merits, but I think it's helpful to have read the previous two books so the reader can get a good feel for how the relationship between Sarah and Frank is developing. This book had an interesting mystery that had me turning pages and I can't wait until the next installment so I can find out how Brian's surgery went !
Rating:
Summary: Was the famed magnetic healer killed and if so, why?
Review: New York Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy summons Sarah Brandt, a midwife, to the elegant home of famed magnetic healer Edmund Blackwell. Mrs. Blackwell has gone into labor after finding her husband dead in their home. Frank determines that Mr. Blackwell was murdered although it appears the killer tried to make it look like suicide. As he begins investigating, Sarah, who has helped him with previous investigations, has to keep returning to the Blackwell's since their new son has become ill. In her many trips to their home, she begins to find out some important information regarding his death. Frank does not want her helping with the investigation, but realizes his wishes will not be heeded. Frank and Sarah find that things were not as happy in the Blackwell household as first thought. Then there are all Mr. Blackwell's female clients who seem overly upset over his death. And there is a scandal that was about to be made known in Blackwell's past. Is his assistant too eager to take over? Who killed him and why? Could it have been regarding one of these issues or is there another issue they don't know about yet. Normally I don't like mysteries set back in time, but this is one of the few series that are the exception. This series is so well written. The characters are so real and the time-period laid out so well. I often find myself amazed that the police back then were so brutal and so many people were living well below poverty. The darkness of New York really adds to this series. Her writing of the time and the way she lays out the story without giving the killer away is terrific. You never know until the killer is revealed who did it. This cozy mystery is great. I highly recommend this book as well as the whole series.
Rating:
Summary: Was the famed magnetic healer killed and if so, why?
Review: New York Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy summons Sarah Brandt, a midwife, to the elegant home of famed magnetic healer Edmund Blackwell. Mrs. Blackwell has gone into labor after finding her husband dead in their home. Frank determines that Mr. Blackwell was murdered although it appears the killer tried to make it look like suicide. As he begins investigating, Sarah, who has helped him with previous investigations, has to keep returning to the Blackwell's since their new son has become ill. In her many trips to their home, she begins to find out some important information regarding his death. Frank does not want her helping with the investigation, but realizes his wishes will not be heeded. Frank and Sarah find that things were not as happy in the Blackwell household as first thought. Then there are all Mr. Blackwell's female clients who seem overly upset over his death. And there is a scandal that was about to be made known in Blackwell's past. Is his assistant too eager to take over? Who killed him and why? Could it have been regarding one of these issues or is there another issue they don't know about yet. Normally I don't like mysteries set back in time, but this is one of the few series that are the exception. This series is so well written. The characters are so real and the time-period laid out so well. I often find myself amazed that the police back then were so brutal and so many people were living well below poverty. The darkness of New York really adds to this series. Her writing of the time and the way she lays out the story without giving the killer away is terrific. You never know until the killer is revealed who did it. This cozy mystery is great. I highly recommend this book as well as the whole series.
Rating:
Summary: Somewhat like a TV mystery
Review: This is my first V Thompson and I'd buy the others as the books should be read in sequence. The author refers to events in previous books quite often.
Gramercy Park is very good light reading and, like watching TV, doesn't require you to think too much. Clues come in simple batches. The plot wasn't that straightforward but became extremely obvious towards the end.
My only bugbear is that V Thompson repeats herself excessively, possibly a problem with editing. For example, EVERY time the mother is mentioned she has "lovely" eyes. Enough already!!
Rating:
Summary: Victoria Thompson just gets better and better. . .
Review: This is the third and best installment of the Gaslight Mystery series featuring midwife Sarah Brandt and detective sergeant Frank Malloy. In Murder on Grammercy Park they are reunited to find the murderer of a popular society healer and to discover the killer of two subsequent murders. Thompson's historic and social details of the time period are close to perfect, and the way she weaves in the growing attraction between the characters is wonderful. I can hardly wait for the next book.
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