The first book in the Molly Murphy Mysteries introduces young Molly Murphy who has to flee Ireland after causing a gentry man who assaulted her to die. Fearing that she'll be tried for murder, she runs to England with just a few coins in her pocket and no future plans.

Molly meets Kathleen O'Connor and her two young children and agrees to escort the children to America to join their father. Katleen is dying of consumption and knows she'll be turned back at Ellis Island. But to successfully manage the trip. Molly will have to pretend to be Kathleen O'Connor.

The trip across the ocean in steerage and the days at Ellis Island would be harrowing enough, but when a man who was seen arguing with Molly is found dead with a slit throat, Molly needs to find the killer before she can start her new life in America.

Going after her sleepwalking young charge means that Molly is the only one who might have seen the killer. Police Lieutenant Daniel Sullivan a second-generation Irish American is on the case and initially suspects Molly even while being attracted to her.

Molly puts herself in all kinds of danger as she investigates the murder but, luckily, Sullivan is always just a step or two behind.

This was an entertaining historical mystery which begins a long-running series. ( )

My history with Rhys Bowen's mysteries has been sort of wishy-washy but I have to say this is my favorite so far. I started by reading a Christmas Molly Murphy and liked it semi-ok. Then I read about six or seven Her Royal Spyness mysteries and got fed up with so much innuendo and the sex exploits of Belinda always being a hot topic. I thought, Bowen's writing is much better than the average cozy, why does she have to muddle it up with the stupid sex tropes. Anyway, I was put off her for awhile but when my daughter started reading the Molly Murphys, I decided to give her one more shot. Plus, I needed some quick and easy reads to help me meet my summer reading goals.

I loved the historical setting of this first book in the Molly Murphy series. Bowen shows she's done her research, including interesting anecdotes like how the immigrants "shared" their entrance money and the descriptions of just how bad the tenement houses were. The story was fairly clean and there weren't a bunch of stereotypical, ironically named, tropy characters. Not quite a cozy---but better than a cozy, really. I'm starting book two today. Hopefully it will be just as great. ( )

It’s 1901. Molly Murphy has killed a man rather than surrender her virtue; she’ll surely hang for the murder if she doesn’t make her way out of Ireland. Obviously she escapes the consequences of this murder, unjust though they would be, or we wouldn’t be talking about an entire series based on Molly’s exploits.

Molly makes her way across the Atlantic as “Kathleen O’Connor,” and during an overnight delay prior to her entering the US through the newly rebuilt Ellis Island, there is another murder. Circumstances point to Molly as a likely suspect, and Molly works to vindicate herself while finding the real murderer.

The best part of this book is the setting – New York City in 1901. The author’s research has resulted in a nicely fleshed-out setting, showing us what the city might have looked, sounded, smelled, and felt like to a brand new immigrant.

Although the book won an Agatha Award, the plot itself is cliché and simple, and the abrupt resolution of the murder investigation is a non-event. I did not guess the murderer – and no one would have a chance of guessing; this goal of this book is clearly to set the stage for a series. That being said, Ms. Bowen sets the stage for an intriguing, possibly multi-volume, story arc. I’ve read some of her other work and found it to be much better than Murphy’s Law, and I would read the next volume in this series if I ran across it at the library. Three stars. ( )

Molly Murphy
4 Stars

On the run from the law, Molly Murphy escapes her native Ireland for the promise of 19th century New York. Unfortunately, trouble follows in Molly’s footsteps when a man with whom she had an altercation onboard ship is murdered at Ellis Island and she must use her sharp wits and Irish charm to clear her name.

The excellent historical background and vivacious heroine make up for the rather lackluster who-dun-it.

Despite its potential the mystery is underdeveloped. There are too few clues to go on and the resolution is achieved far too easily after being based on a series of lucky coincidences rather than any real investigative ability on Molly’s part.

Nevertheless, Molly is a wonderful heroine. While other readers are often ticked off by stubborn and willful characters, they are one of my favorite types and Molly epitomizes these traits alongside other endearing qualities such as intelligence, spirit and a certain amount of naïveté about the realities of immigrant life. The hints at a romance to come with the intrepid Detective Daniel Sullivan adds nuance both the the characterization and the story as a whole.

The historical detail on the Irish in New York at the turn of the century is fascinating and the descriptions of the immigrant experiences of Ellis Island, Hell’s Kitchen and the Bowery for the Jews, Italians, Germans, and Irish who flocked to America makes for compelling listening.

Nicola’s Barbers narration is out of this world and her Irish brogue is both immersive and a pleasure to listen to. Looking forward to continuing with the series and will look into Rhys Bowen’s Royal Spyness series as well. ( )

I liked it. Like the character of Molly Murphy. She sure found herself in a lot of predicaments, wasn't sure she would survive to go on the next book. Was a quick read. I will read on into the series. ( )