Murphy's Law

I really enjoy the Murphy' Law because it is fun to follow Molly along her trip. She has had some interesting things happen to her, she leaves Ireland and she fnds a way to get to come to the states. Molly starts out in the right place at the right time, but she is going to bring two children with her that are not hers. Molly must travel in the bottom of the ship because she is not rich. While traveling along she has bad experiences, Molly tries hard to keep herself and the two children safe. Molly must keep a secret all through her travels even know she meets a young boy who be friends her. They encounter a not so friendly man on the ship who likes to cause problems. Molly tries hard to stay away from the man. They arrive in Ellis Island and must to through the proper channels to be let into the states. During this time something bad happens and Molly is questioned by the police. She finally is allowed into the States and she must live with some people she does not like staying with. She is questioned by the police several times and so she decides she needs to solve the problem herself. Molly is trying to find a job and at the same time solve the murder.

I've been a fan of Rhys Bowen for awhile - I really enjoyed her Evan Evans series (Ms. Bowen does a marvelous job of capturing Wales and the Welsh, with all their quirky charm). Molly Murphy is even better. In reading this book, I felt transported to early 20th century New York, with its wild mix of raw immigrants all jostling together toward a new country. And Molly is a great heroine - modern and feisty enough to be continually interesting, but not so modern as to seem anachronistic. Oh, and the mystery was good, too! ;-)

I am hooked!! I am a big fan of good mysteries, history books and anything Irish (my maiden name was Murphy!!) I picked this book up for a light summer read and I loved it. Molly Murphy is a fascinating character and the tale of her arrival in New York is interesting and pulls the reader in. You really get to know the characters, you care about them and you hope right along with them. Since finishing this, I have read Death of Riley and For the Love of Mike. I have become a huge fan of Rhys Bowen AND Molly Murphy! Very enjoyable reading and hard to put down!

This is a surprisingly interesting book to read, and it has a little bit of everything to entertain just about everyone looking for a light-hearted book to pass the evening: the brief description on Ireland in the early 20th century is interesting, as is the scene on Ellis Island immigration station and the immigrant filled New York City of the time. One also gets some fairly interesting detective/mystery intertwined with romance. The reader follows the likable heroine, a young independent minded Irish woman, on her adventures and cannot help but root for her to find safety, securing and warmth in this strange city.I hesitate to call this book a historical novel, even though the story develops against a historical background. Something about the dialogues, the innocent (but educated) heroine's observations seem to lack authenticity. Instead of hearing the heroine's voice set in the 1900s, I seem to hear the author's voice and see through the author's much better-informed-view.Nonetheless, I enjoyed reading it.

First in a new series, this novel follows Irish immigrant Molly Murphy to New York and gives an excellent depiction of immigrant life there at the turn of the twentieth century. Molly Murphy is forced to flee her small Irish village when she accidentally kills the local landowner's son who attempts to rape her. Fleeing to England, she comes across Kathleen O'Connor, a woman who is sailing with her two children to America to meet her husband. As Mrs. O'Connor has tuberculosis and would be refused admission to the U.S., Molly agrees to take her place and escort the children there herself. But when colorful character O'Malley is murdered after arrival at Ellis Island, and Molly is a prime suspect, she must do her own investigative work to prove her innocence. As the reader shares in Molly's discovery of the sights and smells of early twentieth century New York, Molly travels the wintry city on foot searching for clues to the identity of the murderer. The only advantage she discovers in her new land is her acquaintance with Detective Daniel Sullivan, the handsome Irish-American who first considered her a suspect. In a clever combination of wit and mystery, Molly seems to get in one scrape after another, only to be bailed out by the attractive police captain. As it becomes apparent that Molly's life may be in danger, the reader is left to wonder if Daniel can save her in time. Ms. Bowen can do no wrong with a heroine as likeable as Molly with her combination of clever wit, curiosity, and determination. Lessons of history relating to corruption of Tammany Hall and the poverty of many immigrants are pleasingly inserted in the storyline to lend an air of reality to the read. With true mystery, colorful characters, and a splash of romance, future installments in this series can be eagerly anticipated.