Tell Me Pretty Maidens by Rhys Bowen
It’s winter, and for the first time since she took over her dead employer’s agency, turn of the century detective Molly Murphy is swamped with work. A Jewish couple has asked her to look into the suitability of their daughter’s suitor, an actress wants her to find out if she’s being stalked by a ghost, or someone more earthly, and a friend wants her to find out what happened to her missing nephew. In addition, Molly and her Beau, Daniel Sullivan, find a traumatized young woman passed out in the snow, only to learn that she’s been struck mute by her experiences.
Like a lot of mystery fans, I don’t read mysteries so much for the mysteries as much as I do for the characters. Mystery novels tend to be excellent showcases for characters, and that’s one of Bowen’s greatest strengths. The last book in the series removed Molly from her normal cast of characters, but this book returns Molly to them, and Bowen definitely makes up for lost time, especially with Molly’s Bohemian friends. Bowen has developed a tendency to bring in more historical figures in recent books, and this continues here, with the inclusion of Nellie Bly, but she doesn’t have nearly the “Look! I included so-and-so!” feel that a lot of other historical mystery writers tend to have. I also really liked the look into the lives of actresses and chorus girls at the time, and Molly’s admission that she isn’t sure even love would be enough to make her marry, given the sacrifices that would be expected of her.
Like a lot of mystery fans, I don’t read mysteries so much for the mysteries as much as I do for the characters. Mystery novels tend to be excellent showcases for characters, and that’s one of Bowen’s greatest strengths. The last book in the series removed Molly from her normal cast of characters, but this book returns Molly to them, and Bowen definitely makes up for lost time, especially with Molly’s Bohemian friends. Bowen has developed a tendency to bring in more historical figures in recent books, and this continues here, with the inclusion of Nellie Bly, but she doesn’t have nearly the “Look! I included so-and-so!” feel that a lot of other historical mystery writers tend to have. I also really liked the look into the lives of actresses and chorus girls at the time, and Molly’s admission that she isn’t sure even love would be enough to make her marry, given the sacrifices that would be expected of her.