Murder at Bertram's Bower (Dell Mystery)

Rating:
Summary: Victorian Boston--mixing proper with murder--great fun
Review: Has Jack the Ripper moved from London to prey on reforming prostitutes living in Bertram's Bower? When two are found brutally slashed to death, Victorian Boston goes into panic. Fearing her childhood friend's rescue mission will be destroyed, Caroline Ames forces her brother Addington and friend MacKenzie to help her investigate--despite opposition from the police and even her friend.

Cynthia Peale does an excellent job presenting characters that are both believable in the context of the Victorian era, and still sympathetic in our own day. She brings in enough history for flavor without overwhelming the reader with research.

The mystery is well crafted (although it is not especially difficult to guess the perpetrator) and well seasoned both with the historical detail and also with a strong romantic element. MacKenzie is completely infatuated with Caroline, yet cannot simply declare his affection. Addington has an even more serious problem--he admires an actress with a scandalous past. This, of course, would be completely inappropriate.

Peale does a fine job making her three primary characters sympathetic. When they are put in danger by their continued investigations, the reader really cares.

Well done.

Rating:
Summary: a very good follow up mystery.
Review: I liked this mystery a lot better than the first Beacon Hill mystery, " The Death of Colonel Mann". Unlike that book, I found this second installment in the Beacon Hill mystery series to be succinct and engrossing, with better developed characters -- all pluses when one is desperate for a good read.

Agatha Montgomery runs a refuge for 'fallen' women who want to try and change their circumstances. It has taken many years and much sacrifice but her enterprise, Bertram's Bower, is finally beginning to gain a reputation as a worthwhile charity amongst the wealthy of Boston. So that when one of the residents of the Bower is found brutally murdered, Agatha's childhood friend, Caroline Ames, fears that all of Agatha's good work will come to naught unless something is done. To this end, Caroline inveigles her brother, Addington, to investigate. Addington reluctantly agrees: he'd much rather not get involved in matters murderous, but if he can keep his sister from poking her refined nose into such matters by becoming personally involved himself, then he will do so.

But almost from the very beginning, Addington has much to contend with: the police want to make a speedy arrest, and when the officer in charge of the case realises that the Bower has an Irish handyman, he feels that he need look no further for the murderer. And then there is the curious behaviour of Agatha Montgomery and her brother, Randolph: both seem reluctant cooperate with the investigation. Then another girl from the Bower is found murdered. What exactly is going on at the Bower? And why are the Montgomerys so reluctant to accept Addington's help? Addington and Caroline will have to sift through much and work twice as fast as the city becomes paralysed with the fear that they have their own version of the Ripper on the loose.

While it is fairly obvious rather early on as to who the murderer is, Cynthia Peale's vivid descriptions of Boston, and her character portrayals all carried me through the novel to the very end. But what really made this mystery novel work for me was the character of Caroline Ames. Here is a warm and competent woman, ready to involve herself in affairs of others in spite of what her brother thinks! I found that her character had blossomed somewhat when compared with the first Beacon Hill mystery, and for the better. Her firmness of resolve (bossiness in other words) had a shape and a purpose in this novel. I hope that Cynthia Peale allows this character to grow, because I know that I will read future books in this series because of Caroline. Addington Ames just leaves me cold!

Rating:
Summary: a very good follow up mystery.
Review: I liked this mystery a lot better than the first Beacon Hill mystery, " The Death of Colonel Mann". Unlike that book, I found this second installment in the Beacon Hill mystery series to be succinct and engrossing, with better developed characters -- all pluses when one is desperate for a good read.

Agatha Montgomery runs a refuge for 'fallen' women who want to try and change their circumstances. It has taken many years and much sacrifice but her enterprise, Bertram's Bower, is finally beginning to gain a reputation as a worthwhile charity amongst the wealthy of Boston. So that when one of the residents of the Bower is found brutally murdered, Agatha's childhood friend, Caroline Ames, fears that all of Agatha's good work will come to naught unless something is done. To this end, Caroline inveigles her brother, Addington, to investigate. Addington reluctantly agrees: he'd much rather not get involved in matters murderous, but if he can keep his sister from poking her refined nose into such matters by becoming personally involved himself, then he will do so.

But almost from the very beginning, Addington has much to contend with: the police want to make a speedy arrest, and when the officer in charge of the case realises that the Bower has an Irish handyman, he feels that he need look no further for the murderer. And then there is the curious behaviour of Agatha Montgomery and her brother, Randolph: both seem reluctant cooperate with the investigation. Then another girl from the Bower is found murdered. What exactly is going on at the Bower? And why are the Montgomerys so reluctant to accept Addington's help? Addington and Caroline will have to sift through much and work twice as fast as the city becomes paralysed with the fear that they have their own version of the Ripper on the loose.

While it is fairly obvious rather early on as to who the murderer is, Cynthia Peale's vivid descriptions of Boston, and her character portrayals all carried me through the novel to the very end. But what really made this mystery novel work for me was the character of Caroline Ames. Here is a warm and competent woman, ready to involve herself in affairs of others in spite of what her brother thinks! I found that her character had blossomed somewhat when compared with the first Beacon Hill mystery, and for the better. Her firmness of resolve (bossiness in other words) had a shape and a purpose in this novel. I hope that Cynthia Peale allows this character to grow, because I know that I will read future books in this series because of Caroline. Addington Ames just leaves me cold!

Rating:
Summary: Incredibly Rich Victorian Backdrop
Review: It is a tribute to Ms. Peale's talent that despite the fact I found none of her characters to be particularly sympathetic, I was drawn irresistibly into this story about murdered reformed prostitutes and do gooders.

The Boston portrayed in this book is almost stulifying in its insularity and self righteousness. Upright men of the Watch and Ward prowl the red light section searching for moral offenses and offenders. A single misstep by a woman leads to social and familial ostracism and eventually death-- if the woman is not lucky enough to attract the attention of Agatha Montgomery, Directoress of Bertram's Bower, a facility for the reclaiming of fallen women.

Addington and Caroline Ames (with their devoted Dr. McKenzie)set out to aid Agatha and by extention the habitues of Bertram's by trying to help the police solve the case of the murdered ex-prostitutes. The reader who sets out with them gets a fascinating look at Boston in the 1890's, warts and all. The contrasts are striking. Along the way we meet a woman who was a passionate abolitionist in her youth in the same city where the advertisements for jobs that state NINA (No Irish Need Apply). One of the good things about this book is that Ms. Peale lays this information out without preachiness. The reader is allowed to discover things for herself.

During the course of the investigation, Addington is tempted from his uprightness by a fallen woman turned actress and Caroline begins to wonder if maybe it isn't some one else's turn to do some good.

This book reminds me of those fascinating interior photographs of Victorian homes-- rooms crammed so full of treasures that the eye has trouble making sense of it, but a rich trove once the pattern is decerned.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Sense of Period!
Review: Ms. Peale writes a great Victorian mystery. She makes the era come to life expertly. In this book we are introduced to a home for "fallen" women - something quite common during this era when the ordinary citizen took responsibility for people in need because there were no social safety nets. In the book it appears that there is a crazed killer out attacking girls from Bertram's Bower (one of the homes as I've mentioned). The nature of the killing has the public worrying that the Whitechapel murderer, Jack the Ripper, has moved his base of operation to Boston. Caroline and her brother set out to try to determine who is committing these very bloody crimes because one of Caroline's dear friends runs Bertram's Bower, and it's her girls getting killed. Along the way we are exposed to the seemier side of Boston in 1892. The portrait painted of Boston from this time is very authentic, even though the mystery is easy to figure out. I really enjoy this series. It's a pleasure to find an author who knows how to create a believable Victorian mystery.

Rating:
Summary: bygone era
Review: This is a second mystery by Ms.Peale set in late XIX century Boston. She is masterful in describing the rigid class system of the Brahman elite and its tight hold on the pulse of the city. Her characters are well developed and seem alive. The only problem are her puzzles. They are not very complex and guessing a murderer doesn't pose a problem. Nevertheless I enjoyed reading this book and I rate it 3 1/2 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Victorian Boston Mystery...
Review: This is another fun murder mystery set in the "proper" society of Victorian Boston's elite.

While the first novel, "The Death of Colonel Mann", leaned a bit more heavily on a Sherlock Holmes formula (Ames and Dr. MacKenzie are practically stand-ins for Holmes and Watson in that book, right down to the Doctor's bad knee), this installment expands the characters a bit more. While still a bit Holmesian, there is less likeness between Homes and Watson and Peale's heroes in "Murder at Bertram's Bower".

One annoying detail is that there was a decidely feminist slant in this book, with constant references to the unfairness of having to wear corsets and whatnot. That, coupled with the topic of "fallen" women, and the book could have easily veered off into a feminist manifesto. Fortunately, Peale seems to know just when to pull back from the soapbox and get back to the story, and thereby avoid any heavy-handed preaching.

Other than this very minor annoyance, the book hits the spot. Victorian Boston really comes alive under Peale's nurturing. The author has again created a very strong sense of place and time, attitudes of the day, social prejudices, and other telling facets of Victoian Boston.

The addition of a Jack the Ripper mystery helps drive the story, and raises interesting questions as to whether or not the Ripper is at large and operating in Boston (or if he escaped to America in real life). Inspector Crippen, is, of course, way out of his league, and even welcomes the help of the brilliant but interefering Ames.

The climax is a real thriller, as the Bower killer stalks Caroline. I won't spoil anything for you, but I at least was surprised by the identity of the killer. I suppose it was rather obvious, as other reviewers have mentioned, but I for one did not catch it until I was suppossed to.

I look forward to reading the next book in the series, "The White Crow", as well as the fourth, which Ms. Peale is currently working on.

Rating:
Summary: As good as the first! Great series!
Review: This was my first introduction to Cynthia Peale's Mysteries. It is one of the best mysteries I have ever read. With the perfect mystery backdrop of Victorian Boston, Gaslights and Fog. This book twists and turns and just when you think you got it...you didn't! The ending is hair raising.

I'm looking forward to reading Colonel Mann and the White Crow. I applaud her work!

Rating:
Summary: Murder at a refuge for fallen women
Review: When two women are murdered from a refuge for poor women, Caroline Ames feels obligated to help her friend Agatha Montgomery, who runs the Bower clear the reputation of the institution. With the help of her brother Addington and Dr McKenzie, she investigates the murders in 1870's Boston.

This mystery gives the reader a real feel for the Boston Brahmin society of the 1800's and the mystery is very good. It started out a bit slowly, but I got into it soon enough and couldn't put it down until the last page.