Death on Beacon Hill: 6

Death on Beacon Hill by P.B. Ryan is the third entry in the Gilded Age series starring governess Nell Sweeney. This is another outstanding book full of great mystery and snappy repartee between Nell and her beau Will Hewitt. In this book, Nell is asked to look into the death of Fiona, the niece of the Hewitt's driver, after she's accused of theft and the murder of her employer, Virginia Kimball, a famous actress. The chemistry between Nell and Will sparks the entire book, and there's a fabulous passage from Nell's view about how closely Will is coming to touch the frosted glass that must exist between them. It's powerfully and beautifully written. Ryan never hesitates to show the darker side of Boston's elite, but she always handles it so tastefully, much like Nell who must navigate the waters of the elite with the curse of an Irish surname and always comes out looking like a lady. Will finds the excuse to let them show some of their feelings for each other in public, but I wonder how long it will last. Of course, at least for a few pages, as in the rest of the books so far, the reader is allowed to believe that Harry Hewitt could have committed the murder, perhaps someday he actually will have. I miss the interaction between Nell and her employer Viola, and I hope that Ryan will make further use of it in future books.

In the last installment of this series, prior to this one, we had some extreme violence and Nell and Will nearly got done in. This time out, it is a retired actress with an Irish maid who gets murdered. It is the Irish maid, niece of the Hewett's coachman, who draws Nell into investigating the death because the corrupt Boston police are content to let the Irish maid be blamed for the death of both women. The actress supports herself by blackmailing her lovers. Will accompanies Nell throughout this investigation, as it involves many prominent citizens, which his name helps them question. We meet some new and likeable characters, including a Dr. Foster, and Emily Pratt. And the actress had an interesting long-time homosexual friend. I can not recall any gay characters in other period mysteries and think P.B. Ryan was clever to introduce one. I was pleased that the tiresome Hewitt father was nearly absent this time. I read the whole book in one evening and am anxious to read the next and the next, etc.

I've been eagerly awaiting this book since I finished Murder In a Milltown a few months ago and am happy to report that I did not wait in vain. Death on Beacon Hill is a well-written, entertaining vehicle for the wonderful characters P.B. Ryan first introduced in Still Life With Murder. Nell Sweeney continues to be one of the most convincing and likeable crime solvers in her genre. She is joined, once again, by Will Hewitt. Will is growing into something quite rare; a loyal, affectionate, well-adjusted, and reformed rake! Well, if any body could do it, Nell Sweeney could do it! And Ryan pulls it off gracefully, proving that you characters don't have to be a wreck to be interesting. The mystery is solid, well-paced and satisfying. I would have preferred that it involve, in some way, one of the Hewitts or other established characters. Will and Harry were suspects in the first two murders and so the outcomes had more emotional impact. Here the suspect (and I don't believe I'm giving anything away by saying this) is a heretofore unmentioned relative of one of the Hewitt's servants, and she's already dead when the story begins (which takes some of the immediacy out of the guilt/innocence question.) That said, I gave Death on Beacon Hill 5 stars for the charged camaraderie of it's crime solvers, Nell and Will, and the uncommonly good writing of P.B. Ryan. I can't wait for the next one!