Murder in a Mill Town

I read this book in a day and a half. It was absolutely captivating. I think I'm in love with the would-be hero, he's so dark and flawed, and yet quite obviously capable of so much good. Perhaps with Miss Sweeney's direction... I digress. Again, I was surprised by the conclusion. It's a diverting, captivating story, and I'm hooked on the series. I finished this and went straight into the next. I haven't had this much fun in a long time.

In spite of my best intentions, I didn’t get to this second book of the series until a few years after I read the first book. It all came back to me though. I remembered Nell and Gracie, the little girl that Nell is governess to. I remembered the Hewitt family with their two ne’er do well sons. I also remembered Nell’s feistiness and her street smarts. In this book Nell’s boss has her looking into the disappearance of a young Irish girl. Unfortunately, searching for this girl brings some very bad and old enemies into Nell’s life. With the help of Will Hewitt, Nell’s friend and confidant, they turn over some very big rocks, and at great risk to themselves, they find the dangerous and psychotic killer. This is a killer that show more has killed a lot of innocent people during his reign of tyranny. I must admit that I was very surprised when the perpetrator was revealed. These are great historical mysteries with real down and dirty facts about what it was like in late 19th century Boston, I certainly won’t wait so long to read the third book in this series. show less

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Still Life with Murder, but this second-- while good-- just isn't as dynamic as its predecessor. The mystery itself is tissue paper thin, and even with some misdirection added, the killer is rather obvious. As I kept reading, it became clear to me that Murder in a Mill Town isn't really about the mystery, it's about the growing relationship between Nell and Will and about Nell's past. A few of her secrets were revealed in Still Life with Murder, but there are plenty more to share in this one.

Will continues to be a fascinating character and is every bit as flawed as Nell-- but in a completely different way. Both are brave and smart and possess a dry wit. They certainly showcase Ryan's skill show more in rich, nuanced characterization. These two definitely will not have a smooth trip to any sort of relationship, and not just because they come from such different backgrounds. Two people in particular are going to cause them problems every step of the way, and it will be very interesting to see what develops in future books. I only hope that those future books have stronger mysteries to solve. show less

Not quite as explosive as the first book, but still an extremely enjoyable read! Nell's relationship with Will progresses and becomes a firm friendship (with the hint of something more!), as they try to find the killer of one of Harry Hewitt's mill workers, Bridget Sullivan. Again, the characters are engaging and Will/Nell's relationship is wonderful to follow! I love Will as a character, especially. His teasing ways with Nell, the clear affection and joy he feels for Gracie. The added intrigue with Duncan Sweeney added another element to the story, which I enjoyed. And, of course, the attention to historical detail in creating the setting, mood, and secondary characters was amazing! A good follow-up to the first.

Murder in a Mill Town
4 Stars

When a young woman working at the Hewitt family mill disappears, her parents approach the Hewitt matriarch for help locating her and Viola, in turn, enlists the aid of her inquisitive governess, Nell Sweeney. As Nell begins to investigate, she finds herself confronting shadows from her past that not only put her position at risk, but endanger her life as well.

The mystery is well-paced with Nell following clues and questioning witnesses. The identity of the villain is unexpected, although in hindsight the evidence is apparent, and the climax is one of the most intense I’ve encountered in this genre.

Nell’s relationship with the Hewitt’s prodigal son, Will, continues where it left off in the previous show more installment. While their romance is more of a slow-burn, the spark is definitely there and they are moving in the right direction.

More details are also forthcoming with regard to Nell’s murky past and it would seem that her husbandwill be playing more of a role in the future. This is actually one aspect of the story that does not appeal and hopefully the author will not drag it out indefinitely.

In sum, Murder in a Mill Town is a solid sequel and I look forward to reading more in the series. show less

Second in the Nell Sweeney series. In this one a young woman that works at one of the Hewitt's mills has gone missing. After both Harry and August Hewitt fair to help, the parents of the woman approach Viola, who asks Nell to investigate the matter. During the course of the first part of the novel, it is discovered that Harry Hewitt attempted to rape Nell. Fortunately she was able to escape (while leaving a satisfying scar on his face). We also find out the full story of Nell and her relationship with Duncan. This is also another storyline that is satisfying concluded with this book. Overall very well done, and the progression of Will and Nell's relationship is steady and realistic.

This book is a cozy mystery (which I normally like). It has a Boston setting in the late 19th century. Since I normally enjoy books with a setting in the Victorian period and New England locations, I thought this book would be a good fit for my tastes. I was very disappointed. The characters, including the main ones, were thoroughly unlikeable. The plot was very unbelievable. We had a governess (with a criminal past) who spends almost no time "governing" in the book and has way too much time to go off carousing with characters she should be avoiding in her station in life. The plot was just too unbelievable.