Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable Historical Debut
Review: Molly Murphy has just been given a get out of jail free card. Running because she's accidentally killed a man, she's offered the chance to take a woman's place on a boat bound for America. Once on board, she encounters a rude man and has a very public fight with him. When that man is murdered on Ellis Island, Molly finds herself and a new friend among the chief suspects. Frightened she might be sent back to face the hangman, she decides to find the real killer on her own. But can this new arrival find the killer in New York City when she doesn't know her way around and doesn't know anyone?Molly is a head strong character who leaps first and considers the consequences later. It was fun watching her try to get herself out of several sticky situations. The setting, 1901 New York City, is brought to life, and I enjoyed learning a bit more about the time and place. My only real complaint is that the book took a while to get started. The plot starts slowly, but it picks up speed as it goes along. As a fan of this author's Constable Evans books, I'm looking forward to reading more about Molly as well. There is potential here for another great series with another interesting setting. Write on, Ms. Bowen!
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable Historical Debut
Review: Molly Murphy has just been given a get out of jail free card. Running because she's accidentally killed a man, she's offered the chance to take a woman's place on a boat bound for America. Once on board, she encounters a rude man and has a very public fight with him. When that man is murdered on Ellis Island, Molly finds herself and a new friend among the chief suspects. Frightened she might be sent back to face the hangman, she decides to find the real killer on her own. But can this new arrival find the killer in New York City when she doesn't know her way around and doesn't know anyone? Molly is a head strong character who leaps first and considers the consequences later. It was fun watching her try to get herself out of several sticky situations. The setting, 1901 New York City, is brought to life, and I enjoyed learning a bit more about the time and place. My only real complaint is that the book took a while to get started. The plot starts slowly, but it picks up speed as it goes along. As a fan of this author's Constable Evans books, I'm looking forward to reading more about Molly as well. There is potential here for another great series with another interesting setting. Write on, Ms. Bowen!
Rating:
Summary: A Real Page-Turner!
Review: Molly Murphy is a peasant Irish girl who is trying to escape the guillotine after killing a landowner's son in self-defense. She flees to London where circumstances lead her to an unscheduled, but welcome voyage to America with two small children and a new identity. Unfortunately for Molly, she is once again accused of a crime, one she did not commit, and must use what little resources and energy she has left to clear her name in a city where she is a new immigrant and all alone. Save for a kind police captain, and sheer determination, Molly has no one and nothing to help her as she enters the dangerous streets of 19th Century New York in search of the truth. Rhys Bowen has created a charming heroine in Molly Murphy. This first series installment is entertaining and well-written. The storyline carries few surprises and plenty of coincidences, but they work well with the characters and setting. Readers of Anne Perry rejoice!
Rating: 
Summary: An easy read, but not enough to hold me
Review: Murphy's Law begins as the heroine, Irish red-head Molly Murphy, flees her home after accidentally committing a murder. She makes her way to America where she stumbles into the middle of another murder, this time as an ameteur investigator.
Molly's tale was somewhat entertaining and an easy read, but I felt cheated by both the beginning and the end of the story. The author omits a beginning scene that could have been wonderfully dramatic, the accidental murder of the landlord. While the details of the event are given later in the story, I felt I missed out on the drama that occured.
The second murder, which occurs on Ellis Island upon Molly's arrival to America, is tied up so quickly that I flipped back and re-read the ending to make sure I didn't miss anything. Apparently this was meant to leave the reader intrigued enough to purchase the next book in the series, but I, again, felt that I was cheated out of a resolution.
While I enjoyed the character of Molly and her friends, I felt their adventures were rather unbelievable. I do not plan to buy the next book in the series.
Rating:
Summary: An easy read, but not enough to hold me
Review: Murphy's Law begins as the heroine, Irish red-head Molly Murphy, flees her home after accidentally committing a murder. She makes her way to America where she stumbles into the middle of another murder, this time as an ameteur investigator.
Molly's tale was somewhat entertaining and an easy read, but I felt cheated by both the beginning and the end of the story. The author omits a beginning scene that could have been wonderfully dramatic, the accidental murder of the landlord. While the details of the event are given later in the story, I felt I missed out on the drama that occured.
The second murder, which occurs on Ellis Island upon Molly's arrival to America, is tied up so quickly that I flipped back and re-read the ending to make sure I didn't miss anything. Apparently this was meant to leave the reader intrigued enough to purchase the next book in the series, but I, again, felt that I was cheated out of a resolution.
While I enjoyed the character of Molly and her friends, I felt their adventures were rather unbelievable. I do not plan to buy the next book in the series.
Rating:
Summary: Delightful cozy historical mystery
Review: Rhys Bowen usually writes delightful, light-hearted mysteries featuring Constable Evans of the contemporary Welsh police. Here she introduces us to Molly Murphy, a turn-of-the-century Irish lass who moves to New York under the most unusual circumstances. Fleeing the police after she accidentally kills an abusive suitor, she is asked to accompany two children to America when their mother cannot meet the health requirements for emigration. A man is murdered when the ship docks in Ellis Island. Molly was seen arguing with the man, and she has even more motive for murder than the police realize. To save herself and her new shipboard friend, Molly ventures into some unsavory neighborhoods and asks impertinent questions. Bowen is an experienced writer who knows how to keep her characters moving smoothly. The solution of the crime, as well as Molly's new romatic interest, rely a little too much on coincidence. Yet the potentially grim setting is leavened by Bowen's understated humor and the pages turn quickly. Readers who appreciate good writing, historical detail and an undemanding plot will not be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Delightful cozy historical mystery
Review: Rhys Bowen usually writes delightful, light-hearted mysteries featuring Constable Evans of the contemporary Welsh police. Here she introduces us to Molly Murphy, a turn-of-the-century Irish lass who moves to New York under the most unusual circumstances. Fleeing the police after she accidentally kills an abusive suitor, she is asked to accompany two children to America when their mother cannot meet the health requirements for emigration. A man is murdered when the ship docks in Ellis Island. Molly was seen arguing with the man, and she has even more motive for murder than the police realize. To save herself and her new shipboard friend, Molly ventures into some unsavory neighborhoods and asks impertinent questions. Bowen is an experienced writer who knows how to keep her characters moving smoothly. The solution of the crime, as well as Molly's new romatic interest, rely a little too much on coincidence. Yet the potentially grim setting is leavened by Bowen's understated humor and the pages turn quickly. Readers who appreciate good writing, historical detail and an undemanding plot will not be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Golly Miss Molly
Review: Rhys Bowen writes a completely different book from her delightful (yet light) Constable Evans series - and she does it very, very well. Beautifully researched and carefully sketched, Molly Murphy's flee from Ireland to New York is both believable and very readable. The characters, setting and dialogue are all stunning in their clarity and simplicity. The mystery ties in a little more Irish lore, as well as Tammany Hall and a glimpse of early Manhattan. I look forward to more of Molly Murphy.
Rating:
Summary: Promising start to a new series
Review: Rhys Bowen's Evan Evans mysteries are fun but a little tooooo cozy for my tastes. I love historical mysteries, though, so I figured I'd try her new series featuring Molly Murphy. MURPHY'S LAW is a light, breezy read -- I got through it in two sittings. The depiction of Ellis Island and New York in the early 1900s is nicely done; you can really picture in your mind what it must have been like to arrive at the crowded immigration center, and then to make your way into the even-more-crowded, bustling streets where most newcomers to America lived in shabby tenements. Bowen provides her heroine with a very good motivation to try to find who killed an Irishman at Ellis Island -- Molly is initially accused of the crime, and then a friend of hers becomes a suspect and is held in prison. Molly has a strong desire not to get in trouble with the law; she murdered a wealthy landowner in Ireland (albeit in self-defense), and would hang if she were deported back to her home country. The end of the book neatly sets up the possibility of sequels, as Molly decides to become a detective of sorts. I'm a little concerned about her budding romance with a police detective -- that's so cliche! -- but I'll definitely be looking forward to the second Molly Murphy mystery.
Rating:
Summary: Sweet, charming and a good read
Review: This is a surprisingly interesting book to read, and it has a little bit of everything to entertain just about everyone looking for a light-hearted book to pass the evening: the brief description on Ireland in the early 20th century is interesting, as is the scene on Ellis Island immigration station and the immigrant filled New York City of the time. One also gets some fairly interesting detective/mystery intertwined with romance. The reader follows the likable heroine, a young independent minded Irish woman, on her adventures and cannot help but root for her to find safety, securing and warmth in this strange city. I hesitate to call this book a historical novel, even though the story develops against a historical background. Something about the dialogues, the innocent (but educated) heroine's observations seem to lack authenticity. Instead of hearing the heroine's voice set in the 1900s, I seem to hear the author's voice and see through the author's much better-informed-view. Nonetheless, I enjoyed reading it.
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