Away in a Manger

December 1905, New York City. The city is full of begging children and pickpockets. Molly Murphy is out with her children (the 15 months old Liam and the 11 years old Bridie which had been sent to her home by her mother-in-law so that the girl can get some proper education) and she hears a strange voice - a 4 years old girl that is huddling at a door and shivering in her threadbare clothes. Something does not feel right to Molly and she decides to investigate.

And that is how the story starts. After all Molly Murphy (not Molly Sullivan) had been a detective and her husband is a police captain (who really do not like her being a detective). The young girl and her brother are not really the usual waifs that line the streets - they talk show more with proper English accents, they are polite and seem educated. And Molly decides to find out who they are and what are they doing on the streets. And she needs to balance that with the baby in the house, a mother in law that comes for a visit and really does not like her previous occupation and a husband that ends up in a bit of trouble.

It is wonderful story full of interesting characters (which probably are regulars in the series) and unlike a lot of series set in these time, the books feel right - noone is way too modern for the times, noone sounds too 21st century. The picture of both the high society and the streets of New York at the start of the century is fully realized. It is an awful story, one that probably happened way too often in those days. A story that contains way too many horrendous people. But it is also full of hope and the Christmas spirit, almost a bit too sweet in places. But then it is part of the charm. And the final, that would usually sound cliched in another setting, works perfectly here.

I've never read a book from the series before so I was not sure what to expect. Now I really want to read all of the books in the series. show less

It’s Christmas, and Molly is dismayed to see the poor begging on the streets in New York City. She is especially distressed by the young children, in ragged and thin clothes braving the chilly weather to beg for pennies. Her young ward is touched by plight of a small girl and her brother and Molly is surprised to hear those children respond in a well-spoken English accent. Clearly, these children had been well cared for, but now seem to be nearly abandoned. Not one to let such a mystery go unchallenged, Molly and her neighbors take the children under their care. But it soon becomes obvious that this is more than a case of abandonment: it may be that abduction and murder is involved. The more Molly investigates, the more unsavory show more details she uncovers. Though a Christmas tale, the author has given us a well-written and gripping mystery. show less

I read this book with my book group in December, as we wanted to read a Christmas-time novel. This happens to be #15 in the series, and the first one for me, but it didn’t make a difference as it was easy to just jump in. Author Rhys Bowen filled me in on the past so I didn’t feel lost, or that I missed anything – though I might want to go back now and read the others.

This is a cozy mystery and historical fiction that takes place in 1905 New York. Molly Murphy Sullivan is the mother of a baby boy and Bridie, a 12-year-old ward who helps her take care of little Liam. Daniel Sullivan is Molly’s police captain husband, which can be helpful when Molly is solving mysteries, which she tends to do.

A couple of weeks before Christmas show more Molly discovers two waifs on the street who she can tell are more than beggars. The four-year-old girl and her eight-year-old brother have come from England, their mother has disappeared, and they’re living with an uncaring aunt in a rough neighborhood.

Molly is determined to find their mother, learn who they really are, and help them escape from the cold New York streets. I enjoyed following along as Molly uses her social connections and boldly investigates even when it puts her in danger. Bowen has done her research and draws a realistic portrait of 1905 New York in the winter – the stores, the customs, the food, transportation options, and the various strata of society.

This was a sweet story with a heartwarming ending. Perfect for a holiday read. show less

A Molly Christmas....

This was a nice heartwarming Christmas story to read during the holidays. It will put you in a festive mood, however, I've read the entire Molly Murphy series and I still liked them a lot better when Molly was a detective with her own agency and wasn't married to Daniel, her old-fashioned prig of a husband. I'm just tired of hearing Daniel complain about her detecting and complain about her friends and I'm tired of seeing Molly play the semi-obedient housewife. That story line is so played out and there was some of that again in this book. It wasn't as bad as the last several books though but it was still there. I keep hoping that the Bowen will just write Daniel out of the picture or at least give Molly back her show more detective agency and find some way for her to be able to have a career again and work in peace, free of her whining husband. I actually got really excited while I was reading, because for a second I thought my wish had been granted, but unfortunately that Christmas miracle was not to be.
 
**I received this ARC through FirstReads in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!  show less

A quick and lively story as Molly rescues two waifs, Captain Sullivan is shot by the Cosa Nostra and her mother-in-law comes for Christmas. She travels to Great Neck to face down the perp and wraps it all up in time for Christmas. An apt and timely gift from Rhys Bowen.

Molly Murphy is nothing if not persistent. Usually with altruistic motives, and always seeing things through to the end. The descriptions of turn-of-the-nineteenth-century New York City show a lot of research, and provide a pleasing backdrop to the latest edition in the Molly Murphy series,

Molly and all the regular players appear again, in their expected roles. This book felt a little rushed, and I often wanted to tell Molly to stop and think before making all the mistakes that she makes. Molly will be Molly, though, and you gotta love her for it!

A nice read, very like the others in the series.

**eARC netgalley**

When Molly, Liam, and Birdie go shopping, they see a very young girl and her brother begging. However, upon hearing the girl sing and the brother speak, they realize that these children are well spoken and seem to be out of place. Birdie wants to give the girl some of her warm cast off clothes and knit a scarf for her which she does. However, the next day, the girl is not wearing the scarf and clothes. Molly takes them a warm lunch and eventually follows them home where she discovers that Aunt Hettie rents rooms. When Tig is accused of pick pocketing by an older boy, Molly stands up for him and takes he and his sister home with her where she gets more information from the children and begins trying to locate their missing mother.