Time of Fog and Fire

Molly Murphy Series - Book #16... If you are a fan of the independent Molly that spent more of her time detecting then catering to her husband, Daniel's every whim then you'll like this story. It really had a lot more of the Molly I've come to know and love. In the last several books, her role as a wife and mother overshadowed her role as a detective, but in this book we get to see a lot more of her independently without her very traditional husband putting his two cents into everything. This story takes Molly to San Francisco which I thought was a nice change of scenery. It was packed with tons of adventures and I enjoyed the plot of the mystery. From the ending, it looks like there are may be some big changes happening in Molly's show more world so I'm definitely going to catch the next book, to see how those play out. 
 
*I received this ARC from NetGalley & St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
 

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Time of Fog and Fire is the 16th book in Rhys Bowen's Molly Murphy series. I had not previously read any of the books in this series. However, I have read all of the books in both of her other two series, Evan Evans and Her Royal Spyness. I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Time of Fog and Fire takes place in 1906. Molly Murphy is a young woman who has moved to New York City from her native Ireland. She had previously been a private detective; however, she has given up her job upon her marriage to a NY police captain, Daniel Sullivan, and the birth of their son, Liam. The NYC Police Commissioner is part of a corruption ring and wants Daniel, an honest cop, off the force. Daniel turns to the head of the show more President's Secret Service, an old acquaintance, who gives him an out of town assignment. Molly soon receives a very cryptic letter from Daniel and believes that he wants her to join him in San Francisco. After traveling across the country on a train with her very young son, Molly arrives only to find that Daniel's funeral has taken place two days prior. Molly takes it upon herself to find out what has happened to Daniel while San Francisco prepares for the arrival of Caruso. Unbeknownst to Molly, the Great San Francisco Earthquake is only days away.

I have been a fan of Rhys Bowen over the years, and this latest book has not let me down. Molly is a very self-sufficient, resourceful woman in a time when the average woman was shy and retiring, staying home to keep house and raise children. Ms. Bowen’s books are easy to read, yet they are intelligent mysteries. The setting, dialogue and interactions seem historically accurate, which is not necessarily the case with some historical fiction. Time of Fog and Fire would be considered a cozy mystery, but Ms. Bowen does not find it necessary to use a “cute” plot device to interest one in this series as many other mystery authors do.

I will be reading more of this series, and I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of well-written cozy mysteries. show less

I keep thinking that Bowen will improve. Well, I suppose she has--at least I'm not complaining the book was not copy-edited--but really, she couldn't find an original title? [Fire and Fog] was used by [Robert Vardeman] for a science fiction/fantasy novel, and [Fire and Fog] was also used by [Dianne Day] for a, guess what, mystery centered around the San Francisco earthquake.

The actual plot took several twists and left the reader hanging in the end, a bit. We'll have to see if she picks up this minor thread in the next book. I don't want to be a spoiler, so I don't want to critique the actual plot lines. I was happy to see that she didn't take the easy way out in many cases. It is a better book than the previous ones in the Molly Murphy show more series. But please, Ms Bowen, do a simple search on your next title!! show less

Time of Fog and Fire is Rhys Bowen's 16th volume in the Molly Murphy Mysteries series and will not disappoint any reader who has enjoyed Molly's previous adventures.

Perhaps because the character of Molly has been developed over numerous stories and has been allowed to grow and change, she is a very well-rounded character. Likewise the other characters whether familiar or not. The writing is superb and leads the reader from event to event seamlessly. The inclusion of historical persons and occurrences make this a bit more realistic than if they were omitted.

Highly recommended for lovers of mystery, pretty much any category of mystery. This is also an excellent read for those who love to be carried away into a historical time period show more different from ours yet with the feeling that it is real (or at least possible) and tangible.

Reviewed from a copy made available through Goodreads First Reads. show less

The Molly Murphy series are one of the few cozy series or as I call them comfort series, that I read.
Light and easy, a mystery for those who do not the graphic violence of thrillers. Love the characters, the majority are not typical of their time period and it is nice to read about those who did not conform to society's expectations.

This one finds Molly, traveling with her young son Liam, to San Francisco after receiving a rather strange missive from her Police Captain husband, Daniel who is on the west coast undercover. She becomes embroiled in his case and also injured during the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. These are very atmospheric reads and a little history is always conveyed, in this one Mark Twain, Caruso, the opera star show more and even Nelly Bly. An entertaining and easy series. show less

Another excellent installment in the Molly Murphy mystery series. I liked the different setting of San Francisco. I think that Molly was too calm though when Liam went missing, as stubborn and as vocal as she is, this didn't seem to quite gel.

Molly takes a train; Daniel disappears; San Francisco quakes. More of a historical travelogue than a mystery with many characters conveniently appearing and disappearing. Daniel returns, somewhat less lunk-like than usual but still a heavy load for Molly to carry.