Murder on Astor Place [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.

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.

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.