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Murder on Astor Place [Paperback]

Victoria Thompson
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Sep 1 2009 Gaslight Mysteries
The first Gaslight mystery?newly repackaged.

After a routine delivery, midwife Sarah Brandt visits her patient in a rooming house?and discovers that another boarder, a young girl, has been killed. At the request of Sergeant Frank Malloy, she searches the girl?s room, and discovers that the victim is from one of the most prominent families in New York? and the sister of an old friend. The powerful family, fearful of scandal, refuses to permit an investigation. But with Malloy?s help, Sarah begins a dangerous quest to bring the killer to justice?before death claims another victim.




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Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

Sprinkled with fascinating details of turn-of-the-century New York City, Thompson's old-fashioned mystery takes the reader from the mansions of Fifth Avenue to the flophouses of the Lower East Side. Sarah Brandt is a midwife who has been estranged from her wealthy family for years. When Alicia VanDamm, a young woman from a prominent family, is murdered, Sarah must return to the upper-class society she has scorned to find the killer. Haunted by her past and disgusted by police department corruption, Sarah takes it upon herself to avenge the girl's death. Annoyed at first by her interference, Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy asks for Sarah's help only when he has been taken off the case at the request of the victim's scandal-fearing family. The feisty midwife and the ambitious policeman grudgingly become allies in their search for justice. Sarah and Frank are appealing characters, and the author develops their rapport subtly and believably. In this first installment in a new series of historical mysteries, Thompson vividly re-creates the gas-lit world of old New York, concluding her mystery with revelations that will shock even 20th-century readers.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

About the Author

Victoria Thompson is the Edgar(r) Award-nominated author of the Gaslight mystery series and 20 additional historical novels. She lives in Pennsylvania with her family.

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Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars Not too bad.. July 17 2012
By Karoline TOP 100 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
The endless detail gives this book a good sense of historical accuracy. The sights and smells are well described and definitely give a good picture of the setting. The plot however, was a bit slow paced and it took me a bit of time get into this book and be interested enough to finish.

The main character, Sarah is very well done though. I like her independence and how she broke away from her high society obligations. It's admirable especially for a woman during this time period. She's able to make a name of herself and become self sufficient. Besides her independence she also had a bit of a temper, which makes a fun read but also gave her a bit of spark of life to her character (which was needed, because the plot remained flat for a while.) If it were not for Sarah, I'd probably would have set the book down and moved onto something else.

Frank on the other hand, I found hard to like. Not because he was mean or bad (well he was rather stubborn and pig headed, and was a bit rude to Sarah at times) but I didn't find him very interesting to begin with. His personality was pretty boring and the potential chemistry he has going with Sarah, well I don't feel that it's really there. He improves a little towards the end of the book but it wasn't enough to change my mind about him.

The plot, although slow, had few interesting hooks with it. What really got my attention was the last third of the book because all of a sudden you're blinded with a very shocking (and might I add really skin crawling) revelation So, in some part, the slow pace of the plot was forgivable, because the ending really did make up for it.

Those who have a taste for historical mysteries might be able to like this one. The book isn't really that long, it's the pace that makes it long. I say stick with it, it's worth the read - if only to see Sarah argue with Frank.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars A good start to a new series... July 1 2001
Format:Mass Market Paperback
After reading The Alienist (Carr) with my face-to-face reading group, I began looking for similar historical mysteries. I could not believe my luck in finding another mystery set in turn of the century New York City. Add in a pre-feminist heroine and a cranky NYC cop, and you're definitely in business with this reader.

Sarah Brandt is a successful midwife making her own way in a middle class neighborhood when a nearby landlady's tenant is found murdered. The murder victim happens to be an old friend of Sarah's family, the young and beautiful Alicia VanDamm. Sarah, along with the reluctant help of detective Frank Malloy, investigates the murder despite the VanDamm family's best attempts to foil the process.

All in all, I thought this was a decent read enjoyable for all cozy mystery fans. However, this was not nearly as suspenseful as The Alienist, so I give it a good three stars.

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4.0 out of 5 stars GOOD HISTORICAL MYSTERY... Aug 24 2010
By Lawyeraau TOP 100 REVIEWER
Format:Mass Market Paperback
For those who like historical mysteries, one can't go wrong with this book, which is set in turn-of-the-twentieth century New York City. The author takes the reader from the teeming tenements of the slums to the homes of New York City's elite. Replete with period details and the rigid social mores of the times, the author weaves an intriguing mystery, while introducing the two pivotal characters, Sarah Brandt and Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy. This book is the first in a series of books showcasing these two characters.

Sarah is a midwife, who is estranged from her family. They are members of high society. Frank is an Irishman employed by the corrupt New York City Police Department that Teddy Roosevelt, the New Police Commissioner, is trying to clean up. Sarah and Frank are thrown together when a murder occurs and it turns out that the victim, Alice Van Damm, is none other than someone Sarah knew from her upper-crust past.

When the murder is hushed up through the influence of the victim's family, fearful that scandal will impugn their place in society, and Frank is taken off the case, the outraged Sarah vows to seek justice for the victim herself. Frank and Sarah become unlikely partners, determined to solve the mystery surrounding Alice's death.

Frank and Sarah are both likable characters, and the author takes great pains to develop them. Their blossoming relationship is key to the story and, as details of their lives emerge, draws in the reader. There are interesting secondary characters that are intertwined in the story, as well. Those who enjoy historical mysteries will like this book. It is a successful first book in a series, and I look forward to reading all the others.
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Most recent customer reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars Tough call
If the purpose of a murder mystery is to surprise the reader with the identity of the killer and the how and why it was done, this book didn't pass the test. Read more
Published on Oct 15 2003 by Rocco Dormarunno
4.0 out of 5 stars Good reading
I'm a fan of historical mysteries and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's easy to read and the pace moves fast enough without excessive dialogue and characters. Read more
Published on July 9 2003
1.0 out of 5 stars BORING BORING BORING
I picked up this book in the hopes of finding a new historical mystery series along the lines of the John Fielding series by Bruce Alexander. Read more
Published on Jun 27 2003 by Brian Siegel
3.0 out of 5 stars Night light reading
This is very light reading. Some of the historical insights into "olde New York" prove to be more interesting than the story. Read more
Published on Jan 31 2003
4.0 out of 5 stars Great new mystery
I picked up this book on a whim and i must say that it was everything I had hoped for and more. I just love the historical aspects to the book, they seem very accurate and give... Read more
Published on Oct 17 2000 by K. Trickey
4.0 out of 5 stars Easy read, impressive historical mystery
A good read with a familiar feel. I think historical readers have a new series to look forward to.

Sarah Brandt is a midwife at the turn-of -the-century. Read more

Published on July 19 2000 by Brenda
4.0 out of 5 stars A Pleasant Surprise
I am a Miriam Grace Monfredo fan and didn't think I'd ever find anyone whose historical mystery would come close to Monfredo's. Read more
Published on Jun 4 2000
5.0 out of 5 stars For the first mystery, a very good job.
I enjoy period mysteries, usually because they have cleaner writing, if not always cleaner plots. Ms. Read more
Published on May 25 2000 by K. L Sadler
2.0 out of 5 stars Unecessarily sordid
I must admit I'm picky, but I don't read mysteries for the gory details. This had some interesting characters but contained too much detail on emotional and physical cruelty. Read more
Published on May 18 2000
5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful New Find!
If you like historical mysteries (Anne Perry, etc.), you'll be delighted with this book, that takes place in New York City at the turn-of-the-century. Read more
Published on Mar 13 2000 by Kathleen B. King
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