Murder in Chelsea

This is the fifteenth book of the popular Gaslight mystery series set in turn of the century New York City. In one of the previous books widowed midwife, Sarah Brandt, became the foster mother of Catherine, a young girl who was abandoned at the local mission. When the book begins, one of the women from the mission has sent a message to Sarah that Catherine's former nanny is now searching for her because her mother wants her back. Sarah is distraught and unwilling to give up Catherine without more information. She asks Detective Frank Malloy to investigate but when he finally finds the nanny, she's been murdered.

I really enjoy this series. I don't consider it a cozy series because there is violence as well as adult themes in each book. I show more thought the mystery in this was interesting but not especially complex. I love that the author creates a believable atmosphere with characters from both the immigrant community as well as the rich and powerful. The best part of this particular book were the various changes we see to our main characters, especially the relationship between Frank and Sarah's wealthy father, Felix Decker. I love it that the author has also included more of Sarah's mother, an aspiring detective who can always get into a wealthy person's home due to her social credentials. Events in this book are going to lead to some interesting changes in the future. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book of the series, Murder in Murray Hill. show less

Book 15 in the Gaslight Mystery series doesn't disappoint. The usual theme is there, murder, differentiation between the classes, and the usual banter between Detective Sargent Frank Molloy and midwife Sarah Brandt.

Yes, these stories are basically the same, however, Ms. Thompson is able to fill her novels with historical detail, interesting characters and the unspoken romance that is blossoming between Frank and Sarah. This novel in particular hits a more personal note as Sarah is caught up in a custody battle with Catherine, her adopted daughter's, true parents. It is an emotional struggle that is shared with all the characters closest to Sarah, especially Frank, but also those individuals almost lost to her, her mother and father.

The show more author uses this book to bring the romance of Frank and Sarah to a head. Honestly I don't know if I was happy with that fact since I enjoyed the sexual tension between the two characters. And the fact that they were both from different stations in life added even more complexity to their relationship. It'll be interesting to see where Ms. Thompson goes from here with this series. show less

I did enjoy this latest Sarah Brandt mystery, but I have to admit that I figured out the murderer(s)? early on in the book. But that did not spoil the book for me as I so enjoy Ms. Thompson's writing and her fast-paced plotting. And the ending was a wonderful surprise too. Ms. Thompson's sense of time and place is spot on and she portrays her era (New York City-late 19 century very convincingly. I really like Sarah Brandt and Frank Malloy. They make a formidable crime-fighting team. This book delves into the life of Sarah's ward - 4 year old Catherine, and we find out how she ended up as a foundling on the settlement home for women where Sarah Brandt volunteers. Unfortunately, Catherine's resurfacing past puts her in grave danger and show more Sarah and Frank must protect her from thos who want to harm her. We are also treated to a closer look at Sarah's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Felix Decker. It was nice to see a bit more of them in this book. This is an excellent historical mystery series. show less

The best Victoria Thompson in a while. I have to say they were getting a little repetitious although I still liked them for the care she took in describing a New York City that was painfully becoming multicultural. With Murder in Chelsea, Thompson has figure out the relationship between Sarah Brandt and Frank Malloy and leaves the series with many new places it can go.
I look forward to seeing how she deals with the class differences and if Sarah and Frank become part of the new upper middle class - not working at paid jobs, but not part of "society". It should be fun.

Murder in Chelsea
3 Stars

Sarah Brandt is devastated to learn that a woman is asking questions about her foster daughter, Catherine. But when the woman is found dead, Sarah and Detective Frank Malloy are determined to unravel the mystery surrounding Catherine's past even if it means losing her forever.

It may be time to take a break from this series as, despite my affection for Sarah and Frank, the plots are becoming repetitious and mundane.

While there is finally some much-needed resolution to Frank and Sarah's slow burn romance, the actual outcome is far too deus ex machina for my tastes. All of the issues of social class and financial status are solved by a very convenient inheretence that falls at Frank's feet. Moreover, the chemistry show more that has been building between the two has fizzled somewhat in the past few installments.

In terms of the mystery, the progression of events are predictable and the identity of the villain quote obvious from the start. Nevertheless, there is an exciting climax and the ending is ultimately very satisfying.

All in all, this series has wonderful potential both in terms of the setting and the characters. Hopefully, with the developments in this installment, the next books will be more imaginative. show less

Is Sarah going to lose Catherine? Now we're getting somewhere.....an interesting solution to an impossible social gap.

While Sarah Brandt, a midwife and newly reconciled* daughter of social magnate and financial tycoon Felix Decker, is performing her volunteer duties at the Hope’s Daughter Mission, she is informed that a woman claiming to be a nursemaid for Catherine, a child abandoned on the steps of the Mission a year earlier, has come forward, inquiring as to the whereabout of the child. (My apologies for the extremely long run-on sentences that are among the character traits and/or bastion of this obsessively comment-qualifying attorney). The woman claims that Catherine’s life and that of her mother had been in danger, but now show more her mother is returning to reclaim her daughter.

Learning that the child is now living with a family, the “nursemaid” leaves her name and address at the Mission, so that the woman who was now caring for Catherine may come to speak with her. Many months earlier, Sarah became Catherine’s temporary guardian, bringing her into her home and raising her as her daughter. She has also brought Maeve into her home, another young girl from the Mission, to serve as Nanny for Catherine and companion for the child since Sarah is often called out to make emergency deliveries at all hours of day or night, with little to no advance warning.

Crestfallen, Sarah decides to handle the matter on her own, meeting with the “nursemaid” without first consulting Malloy whom she knows would insist on going with her. Sarah knows that she cannot keep a mother from her child, on the one hand, but she cannot be certain that Catherine’s life is not still in danger, or whether or not it is truly her mother coming forward. Furthermore, she cannot believe that a mother would have allowed her daughter to be so casually deposited on the steps of the Mission, without making any inquiries into her welfare over the span of a year.

After meeting the “nursemaid”, she brings Malloy into the picture, but when he goes to the boarding house to see the woman, he finds that she has been murdered. While Frank searches the woman’s room for clues, he discovers a package of letters addressed to the victim, shedding light on the name of the mother, a theater chorus girl, and eventually leading him to Catherine’s father, a wealthy tycoon of high social standing. We learn the circumstances of his union with Catherine’s mother and what transpired thereafter. Now that Catherine’s father finally knows the whereabouts of his daughter, he is not willing to forsake her. Fortunately for our heroes, the man is terminally ill and none of his family are interested in his “bastard” daughter so it is clear we can expect smooth sailing, once the ersatz parents are out of the picture.

Felix and Elizabeth Decker have grown completely besotted by their “granddaughter” and are willing to use all their influence and wealth to make sure she remains with Sarah.

After a few funky twists, the story ends with what develops into a, more or less, level playing field that will allow Frank Malloy to finally express his love for Sarah.

*Humpf. Apparently "rapproched" is not a word, fancy that... show less

I delight in Victoria Thompson's stories, and I always learn something from every novel. Sarah Brandt finds despair and anguish on learning that Catherine's parents are searching for her. But, life is not always a straight path, and many twists and turns are in store for Sarah, Catherine, and Mallory. In the 1890's, a single or even widowed woman, cannot legally adopt a child. Therefore, Sarah can only be Catherine's guardian. Thompson always goes into the history of New York City and the people who settled the area. So many rules and regulations for such an early time. The story centers on the saga of Catherine and the people in her life, and the readers are in for a surprise in the final chapter. The story also hints at spousal abuse show more in the form of a husband being the victim. show less