...murder, graft and political clout!

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Welcome to the New York and Brooklyn of the 1890's. Mary Handley is back and as erudite as ever. This time her investigation leads to a series of murders, corruption at the highest level, arson, disturbance of the rich and powerful and heartbreaking personal anguish.
Emily Worsham hires Mary to investigate her Uncle John's death--a death Emily's convinced is the result murder. And that's when things become 'curiouser and curiouser'. Mary finds herself embroiled in an investigative trail that cuts a swathe through the upper echelons of New York society (the Vanderbilts, Andrew Cargnegie and the Rockerfellas), dives into the stews of Brooklyn and travels as far as Richmond, Virginia.
I was a little put off by the opening scenes. It took me a while to interpret whose eyes I was seeing the action through but, after that opening gambit, I was thoroughly engaged and well and truly hooked with Mary Handley's quest before the second chapter had ended.
I was upset by Mary's heroically tragic personal decision for her life and hope that in future novels she finds comfort from her chosen direction.

A NetGalley ARC

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