Murder on St. Mark's Place: A Gaslight Mystery

Addicting and a page turner. Crime and mystery.

I love all of the Victoria Thompson's gaslight mysteries that I've read. If you are a big fan of Anne Perry's Charlotte and Pitt books then you will love Thompson's mysteries.

As a historian I am most familiar with British history of the last few hundred years and tend to favor fiction reflective of the times or written during this period of time. I was desperate for a new series, however, and gave the Gaslight series a chance. I was not disappointed. Midwife and only child of the wealthy Decker family, Sarah Brandt and Irish Catholic Detective Sergaent Francis "Frank" Malloy are wonderful creations, their interaction is humourous and interesting. Brandt, like Peter's creation, Amelia Peabody Emerson, tends to put herself in jeopardy...repeatedly. While the Gaslight series is set during the same period as Perry's William and Charlotte Pitt series (though countries apart) the mood is lighter. Brandt is a bit on the polictically correct side...she scolds her mother's prejudices and associates with an Irish Catholic cop! I love their interaction, though, and eagerly await the next in the series; I'm constantly rereading the series in its entirety.

Murder on St. Mark's Place is the second mystery in the Gaslight Mystery Series. I have read and enjoyed both, but if I were to be honest, I would have to say this one reaches deep into the heart of the series' characters. Having read the first mystery where Sara the midwife and Malloy the detective are introduced, I am familiar with them and their families. I was already impressed and pleased with the new series, but in this mystery, I am doubly pleased by how well Ms. Thompson pulls the best and worst out of the main characters. This isn't an easy read, nor is it a cozy. The author delves deep in to the turn-of-the-century way of live, and it's not all pretty. There are some light moments, and the main character, Sara, does her best to lift others up during moments of hopelessness, but the better part of the story is pretty serious. The twist and turns used to keep readers guessing do just that, but what impressed me the most was the storyline as a whole.When Sarah heads over to St. Mark's Place in New York, she is expecting to deliver another baby into Little Germany. She arrives to find a policeman and neighbors gathering at Agnes Otto's door, but not for the delivery of a baby. Instead it's bad news. Agnes' sixteen-year-old sister, recently brought over from Germany, was found beaten to death. Sarah tells Agnes that it may take a reward to get the police to work on the case. Unable to pay, Agnes gives up all hope of finding her sister's killer and overcoming the shame it has brought. It seems Gerda found some new friends at her job that introduced her to a dance hall and a way to get things that they as young women in life could not afford. Gerda becomes what is known as a Charity Girl. Sarah, being the kind person that she is, decides to take the case to Malloy in hopes of getting him to join her in investigating it together as they had the last case. Back for a return engagement with Sara and Malloy are Malloy's mother and his son, Sara's neighbor Mrs. Elsworth, and Sara's parents. The story line with Malloy and his handicap son is very touching; I hope the storyline grows as the series does.The author gets into the mystery right away, and although the main characters lives are ongoing in the series, they don't interfere or take away from the mystery. So, if you like historical mysteries, especially series mysteries, this one is well worth looking into. It's a stirring mystery with characters that will touch you.

Last year, MURDER ON ASTOR PLACE introduced us to Sarah Brandt, a mid-wife in turn-of-the-century New York City. Not what she would appear to be on the surface, Sarah was a delightful, prickly daughter of society who ventured to new worlds when her dearly beloved husband died. The world of the ordinary person is so far removed from that of the Upper Four Hundred as decreed by the inhabitants of Society as to be incomprehensible. The author never mis-steps in showing us both worlds.Fortunately for the reader, MURDER ON ST. MARK'S PLACE continues this excellent travelogue. There are so many hardships for young women to overcome in the big city, when working in a sweatshop may be the only legal way to earn a living. A living that is barely that, more of a mere existence. When the young women are mainly immigrants, the way is even more difficult. All too many of them fall into the trap of becoming a Charity Girl, the name for one who trades her favors to a 'gentleman' for a pretty bonnet or pair of shoes, or a visit to Coney Island. There would appear to be one of these men who wants more than just favors -- instead he wants her very life, and it's the dedicated Sarah who persists in tying the three women victims to one man. Before the days of computerization, a murder in one precinct might well be unknown to the detectives in the precinct right next door. Once again, Sarah turns to Sergeant Frank Malloy to help her in her detection. Of course, appealing to Malloy exposes Sarah to his particular burden--his young son who has been considered a mentally deficient, rather than the deaf child he really is. I do hope Ms. Thompson continues this series so that we may learn more about the efforts to assist young Brian, not to mention the marvellously-detailed history of New York in this bustling era. As long as we can tag along while they solve a few more crackling good mysteries.

Yes, this is a mass market mystery, but it's a very nicely paced one, and tells a compelling story - with a good mystery to propell the supporting stories. While not feminist per se, this book does a good job of showing what few choices were open to women - regardless of class - 100 years ago. Ms. Thompson does a better job with the mystery side of this story than she did with her first Gaslight Mystery, the story has a good twist at the end, yet is totally plausible. The developing subplot of the relationship between Sarah and Malloy doesn't take away from the mystery, but provides additional interest (for me!) I look forward to the next book - Ms. Thompson drops some interesting hints at the end of the book!