Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Murder on Bedford Street by Victoria Thompson Series: Gaslight Mystery #26
Published by Berkley on April 25, 2023
Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction
Pages: 336
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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Hugh Breedlove is far from the most agreeable client private investigator Frank Malloy has ever had, but his case is impossible to refuse: his young niece, Julia, has been wrongfully committed to an insane asylum by her cruel and unfaithful husband, Chet Longly. Though Breedlove and his wife seem more interested in protecting the family reputation than their niece’s safety, Frank and Sarah agree to help for the sake of Julia and the young son she left behind.
Frank and Sarah’s investigation reveals a dark secret—a maid at the Longly home died suspiciously under Chet’s watch, and now it seems Julia’s son might also be in danger. The Malloys fear they are dealing with a man more dangerous than they had anticipated, one who will do anything to defame his wife. But all is not as it seems in the Longly family, and perhaps another monster is hiding in plain sight....
The Gaslight Mystery series is a favorite. I was happy to see all the characters again, even Mrs. Ellsworth. We got a nice mix of Frank, Sarah, Maeve and Gino doing the investigating. I was also happy to see the Deckers, Sarah’s parents, help.
A woman who may have been falsely imprisoned in an insane asylum by her husband comes into their view when they are hired to help prove she is sane, and to try to get her released. The team is hired by her uncle’s family as they return from London for their daughter, Ruth’s coming out into society. Information is hard to get and contradictory. Eventually, Maeve goes undercover as a nursemaid in the husband’s household to try to get the truth.
It isn’t easy. Maeve is happy to take care of young Victor, only 4, who has lost both his nursemaid and mother. The staff is tight-lipped about the events. The husband does have a mistress who lives nearby. Gino pursues another lead in the carriage driver who was fired about the same time and used to take the woman (wife) out frequently in the carriage. Sarah and Frank work to locate the woman’s mother, talk to the mistress, the neighbors, and doctors at the asylum.
I was thrilled to see my favorite detectives solve this convoluted story. Somehow they were able to ascertain the truth and achieve the desired outcome with keeping the societal customs. I always appreciate their compassion and support of the less fortunate, especially as it is normally women and children.
About Victoria Thompson
Victoria Thompson is the USA Today bestselling author of the Edgar® and Agatha nominated Gaslight Mystery series and the Sue Grafton Memorial Award nominated Counterfeit Lady Series. She was nominated for an Edgar Award from Mystery Writers of America in 2001, and in 2012 she received a Career Achievement Award in Mystery Writing from RT Magazine. Six of her Gaslight Mysteries were nominated for an Agatha Award. She also contributed to the award winning writing textbook MANY GENRES/ONE CRAFT and authored a short story for the anthology, SHERLOCK HOLMES IN AMERICA. In her previous life, Victoria Thompson was the bestselling author of twenty historical romances. She earned her Master of Fine Arts degree in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University in 2012, where she has been a mentor and lecturer for 20 years.
“I became enchanted by New York City, and Greenwich Village in particular, while one of my daughters attended NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. After reading many books about the village, and spending many pleasant hours dining, shopping, and just wandering the streets, I was permanently hooked!”
Victoria Thompson is has also written 20 historical romances.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 23-COYER
I’ve not heard of this series but your review captured my intrigue. Great review!
I really enjoy this series. I binged up to date a couple years ago. The author notes at the end are not to be missed as they contain factual information about some things in the current book.
Glad you’re enjoying this series, the setting sounds interesting.
yes. I love this era. The author notes at the end give factual information on the places / topics in the book and I relish them.
I enjoyed this one, too! Excellent review, Anne💜
Thank you Jonetta. I just love the author notes where she talks about actual things from history related to things in the book.
I’m glad you are still liking the series. That is a lot of books 🙂
yes I binged them last year to catch up. I like the actual history points the author weaves into the stories.
I like the sound of several of the key points you brought out in the review. I’ll have to get on this series at some point.
I am sure you would love it Sophia. It is certainly worth you trying the first book.
This is a favorite series of mine, too! I’ve read every book except for this one. 😀
I hope you get a chance to read it. I really enjoy this series too.
It’s despicable that men could just have their wife or any female in the family committed for no good reason! Chet sounds like a real bastard. I hope the niece got some justice! I read the first few books of this series, but other books got in the way. I need to catch up! Sounds like a great installment.
yes the men had all the control over women’s lives and sometimes they were used like property. There’s twists in this story and it’s even more interesting. But I didn’t want to spoil anything.
This is a series that I would like to read at some point. It sounds like something that I would like. I am so glad that you enjoyed this one!
I think you would enjoy it. There is a progression with the characters over the series personal lives so I would read them in order. They are a quick read, and feel lighter although they have emotional impact and explore real issues.
This is a series that I am certain I would really enjoy, but with so many books, I’ll probably never start it!
I think you would enjoy them. They are a quick read so you could do one here and there. I binged up to date about two years ago.. I got them at the library and I like the first 8 on audio and then they changed the narrator which did not work for me. So then I was reading the ebooks.
I’m starting this book today so I skimmed your review but am so glad to see you enjoyed it. I really love this series and am glad to see this one lived up to the rest of the series.
I hope you love it too.