M. Louisa LockeReviews

OK mystery though the solution seemed clear to me fairly early. I like the 1870s San Francisco setting but Nate's sister Laura was irritating.

I like the novels in this series, and these novellas are just as good. These are novellas where minor characters in the novels are the main characters. I like that very much. There is an author's note about when the actions occur related to the novels, but it is not necessary to read them in order.

Twists and turns throughout!

This was a fun read. Didn't expect the outcome at all but totally made sense after the story was over. Love those kinds of mysteries. The characters were great and I was so wrapped into their story. There for a few unanswered questions with some of the minor characters but everything else was wrapped up well.

Good start, but didn't quite live up to its potential for me. Too bad, because the setting and social situation of the protagonist were really appealing.

I don't normally care for short stories, but these are little vignettes featuring minor characters in the novels, in the same overall story arc that the novels follow. They felt more like extra pieces of the series than stand-alone short stories, although they could certainly be read that way to get a taste of the series.

This collection also has some historical notes behind the stories. I was interested to find out that the author wrote her dissertation on working women in the west during the 19th century. That historical background is why I like this series.

Summer 1880, and lawyer and friend of Annie Fuller, Nate Dawson has his first case as lead in a defence trial - a female typesetter - Mrs. Florence Sullivan - is accused of killing the male owner. What possible motive could she have, is she protecting someone. Annie and her friends investigate.

November 1880's San Francisco and Annie and Nate Dawson become involved in a shoplifting case. When Annie is asked by the store's owner, Robert Livingston, to investigate a perceived case of theft from the Silver Strike Bazaar.
A good well-written mystery, actually more than one.

1880. Annie and Nate Dawson, have just got married and the next day they travel to Nate's family ranch near San Jose. Not is all tranquil when a crime is uncovered concerning the family.
An enjoyable novella

26 December 1880. Kathleen Hennessey's friend mary Margaret arrives late at night having been dismissed without notice or given her back wages.It seems her employer - Mrs Ashburton - has let her go because her son has arrived home after 12 years away.
Kathleen comes suspicious and wants to help solve the problem.
An enjoyable novella

2 January 1881. Ten year old Jamie Hewitt and his terrier, Dandy, help out his best friend Ian Hennessey with his newspaper selling job. But Jamie becomes concerned about Ian.
An enjoyable short story

Its 1880 San Francisco and after the salaries of teachers have been reduced, upsetting anonymous letters have been sent to some teachers.
Laura Dawson a new teacher is employed as a replacement for her very close friend Hattie, who has given up her employment - Laura shows her immaturity by not accepting the reason why. Can this have any connection to these letters.
Annie Fuller is asked by her lawyer friend Nate Dawson to help in the investigation.
Fairly easy and enjoyable read

Annie Fuller (aka Madam Sibyl) is asked by one of her boarders to investigate the medium Arabella Frampton. With the help of Kathleen, her maid, and Nate Dawson, friend and lawyer, they enter the world of spiritualism.

Mrs. Annie Fuller, a widow living in San Francisco, makes her living running a boarding house, and giving business advice as Madam Sibyl, a clairvoyant.
Then one of her clients commits suicide which she believes is false and so goes undercover in his household to determine the truth.

DNF @ 6% - just not for me

One dimension on everything: character, mystery, story, atmosphere.

Everything about this book was charming. I read it a while back but found the audiobook on sale recently, so it gave me the excuse I needed to reread it.

Annie Fuller, a trained financier who can find no work since she's not a man, masquerades as a fortune teller in order to earn an income. Unfortunately, near the beginning of the story, one of her favorite clients is found dead and she believes it's murder. Along with a lawyer who initially mistakes her boarding house as a brothel, Annie goes undercover to track down the suspect. And what a character Annie is. She is quite forward for her time, insisting on doing things her way and getting into plenty of scraps, but also getting herself out of those scrapes without needing a man to rescue her. Regardless, the growing relationship between Annie and her lawyer friend is sweet. There is also a Chinese servant who is a constant reminder of the stereotypes of Chinese at that time. He, like Annie, stands out from the stereotypes in many ways. I can't wait to continue rereading or listening to this series. I had forgotten how fun these books are.

great short in the series

A great short in the series.

A free Kindle d/l in 2013. It was an 1870's San Francisco mystery and a very well written period piece. My only complaint is the "newfangled" grammar: snuck instead of sneaked and hung instead of hanged; but then, I am a bit of a grammar dinosaur. It probably depicted women with slightly more rights than they would have had during that time period, also. 337 pages

A look a 19th century San Francisco. A mystery with a paranormal bent.
Enjoyed.

Nate, Annie Fuller’s fiancé, has asked her to help with a difficult case he is handling. His client is accused of murdering the owner of the printing company she works for, by the owner’s widow. The client refuses to help in any way of clearing herself of the charges.

Nate’s sister is also working in the printing trade and decides to become involved in trying to solve the mystery. Her youth and brashness are traits that do not lend to the investigating.

In the middle of this, Nate has finally proposed to Annie and she has accepted. They have set a date, but it may be cancelled due to this case!

It is interesting to read about women working in the printing industry at this time. It wasn’t easy or clean and they were still paid much less than men, but it was an income.

Again I found myself immersed in the world of Annie Fuller and the Victorian era. Not an easy period for women. I think it is the character being a strong willed lady with the ability to pull in her horns, when necessary, to get to the heart of the matter.

I am enjoying this series.

M. Louisa Locke’s Victorian San Francisco mystery series is a very enjoyable series. Annie Fuller is the central character. She is a widow from a not too happy marriage, who relocated to San Francisco from the East Coast. She runs a boarding house, inherited from an aunt, and supplements her income as a clairvoyant and business consultant.

1880 and the teachers in the public school system are having a rough go. Salaries are being cut and they are being criticized on their morals and competency by anonymous letters.

Laura Dawson, a new resident of Annie’s boarding house and sister of Annie’s beau Nate, is a possible target of these letters. Laura has come to San Francisco and taken a teaching position after learning of it from Hattie, a close friend and classmate. When the classmate winds up dead, things start to get very interesting. Why did Hattie change from being set on going to University to get a degree and career to settle for getting married? Was Hattie’s death an accident or a murder, as her last words hinted at?

Locke’s writing takes you into the late 1800s in San Francisco. The styles, morals, way of life, very different from today’s world: a time that was not a good one for women wanting to be independent.

I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

It is 1880 in San Francisco. A married woman and her lawyer husband work together to solve the mystery of the murder and shoplifting at a classy department store. Plot moves along quickly with great references to locations and cooking styles of the time, but meanwhile the servants wonder when the woman will get pregnant, as she has been married 4 months.
Good sleuthing, with the help of many of the servants.

Ann and her fiance work to prove the innocence of a typesetter accusued of murdering her former lover and current boss. Laura and Seth move forward in their relationship.

Boring, slow moving