A Deadly Endeavor

I can’t remember the last time a thriller had me truly on the edge of my seat, worried about the characters and creeped out from the speed and terror. Add in a zesty rich kid-poor kid romantic spark, a believable background in trauma from the Great War, smart and motivated women and the razzle dazzle grit of Philadelphia 1920s gangsters, and it’s a read with a lot more depth and feels than I was expecting. Excellent book!

Advanced Readers Copy provided by edelweiss.

It is 1921 in Philadelphia and Edie Shippen has come home from California after recovering from the influenza that killer her mother and almost killed her. Her only souvenir is migraine headaches.

Gilbert Lawless has come home from fighting in World War I with severe shell shock which he is treating with heroin. He is working as a doctor at the morgue and raising his four-year-old daughter after the death in childbirth of his wife.

The two come together while investigating the same problem. There is a serial killer taking young women. One of the Shippen household maids has disappeared as has one of Edie's cousins. Then Edie's maid, this one Gilbert's sister, disappears. The police were quick to right off the first maid's disappearance show more but the disappearance of young women from the highest class isn't so easy to write off.

Meanwhile, Gilbert has been dealing with the bodies of young women found near the river with a variety of injuries. All of them have evidence of being strangled and have strange marks on their wrists and ankles. But the first body is missing its head, the second is missing all of her internal organs, the third has been skinned, and the fourth is missing her eyes and tongue.

Edie is determined to find her maid and Gilbert to find his sister. Their search takes them to the underbelly of Philadelphia with meetings with gangsters and an illicit boxing match before they determine that the killer is someone much closer to Edie's home and life.

This was an engaging story which stars two people who are damaged in various ways as a result of World War I and the influenza epidemic. I liked that Edie was trying to live her own life despite the pressure to be a safe, soft socialite. I liked Gilbert's struggles with his shell shock and his determination to give his daughter a good life. show less

Well-written historical mystery that started strong but got a little out of control toward the end. I really enjoyed the Philadelphia setting and well-drawn characters. Although I could see the direction the story was taking, I felt somewhat disappointed in the ending. But the strong characters and detailed setting still make this a novel I would recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with strong female leads.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In 1921, Edie Shippen lives a life of luxury in her family's Philadelphia mansion. In spite of her affluence, Edie is miserable. After her mother died of influenza, a disease that nearly killed Edie, her father sent her to live with her Great Aunt Mae (now deceased) in Los Angeles. Not only does Edie miss her mother terribly, but she also suffers from frequent and debilitating migraines. Furthermore, Edie's twin sister, Frances, is engaged to Theo Pepper, the man Edie once loved and may still care for more than she would like to admit. Edie is annoyed that she must attend festivities celebrating her sibling's forthcoming wedding.

"A Deadly Endeavor," by Jenny Adams, is a murder mystery in which one woman after another is found dead and show more mutilated. Edie (who knew some of the victims) and Gilbert Lawless, an assistant coroner, team up to catch the culprit. Gilbert is a good-looking and sensitive but troubled man, who is racked by guilt in the aftermath of his late wife's death and his traumatic wartime experiences. The last thing he cares about is romance. Nevertheless, when he meets Edie, he is attracted by her beauty, intelligence, humor, and courage.

We have seen similar plots in other works of historical fiction. A murderous psychopath is at large, and the police do little to solve the case. Therefore, amateur sleuths like Edie and Gil decide to launch their own investigation. Gil, his sassy sister, Lizzie, and Edie are the novel's most appealing characters. Adams touches on standard themes in books of this type: the gulf between the idle rich and those who must work long hours to put food on the table, and the yearning of ambitious young women to be fulfill their dreams, in spite of society's strictures. Although this story starts out promisingly, it is weakened by clichés, far-fetched developments, and a chaotic conclusion. show less

Read June 2026. Rated 2 stars. Read on Libby Kindle. Historical Mystery set in 1920's Philadelphia, PA, USA. This started out OK but I just didn't connect with the characters or the writing style. Other readers may find this more to their liking then I did. A warning that this is definitely not a "cozy". Some gruesome murder descriptions.