Victoria Thompson

Sarah und Frank genießen ihre Flitterwochen in Europa, während Maeve und Mrs. Malloy im neuen Haus in der Bank Street zusammen mit den Kindern die Stellung halten. 

Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy is busy investigating a warehouse theft, when he is summoned by no other than Mr. Felix Decker, one of the richest and most powerful men in New York. Of course, disobeying the summons is not an option, so Frank meets the man, like requested, at the noble Knickerbocker Club. A member of the exclusive gentlemen’s club, Mr. Chilton Devries, was found dead in the library and Mr. Decker want’s the situation handled efficiently and of course discreetly. The fact, that Frank has absolutely no idea if Decker really wants the case solved or not is not exactly helping matters.

Midwife Sarah Brandt is more than just a little bit surprised when her father shows up at her home to ask her, if she is willing to accompany her mother to the family of the recently deceased for a condolence call and to see if she can learn something useful. There are a lot of things, especially in high society circles, that a policeman, even a competent one like Malloy, will never be able to find out. 

I usually save the Gaslight Mysteries for whenever I either hit a drought book-wise, or couldn’t be bothered reading for a while, OR just want to read a book I already know is great.

It really is that simple.

After thirteen books it’s like coming home.

I know the characters, I know it’s going to be intriguing and I know probably everybody is going to get what they deserve at the end.

So far I haven’t been disappointed.

“Murder on Fifth Avenue” deals with Frank being hired by Sarah’s father to investigate the murder of one of his club mates, and even Sarah’s mother can’t help but assume that it’s some kind of “test” her husband set up for our favourite Irish-American detective. Fully knowing that the rich and mighty of New York usually don’t want to know the truth as long as SOMEONE is convicted for a crime – preferably someone from the working class – Frank does his best to find out who REALLY did it – and then to let Sarah’s father decide what to do with that knowledge. Since Felix Decker IS one of the rich and mighty, that course of action might backfire.

There are also the beginnings of the Italian Mob and we even graze homosexuality slightly.

I’m still completely in love with the relationship of Sarah’s parents – with her AND with each other – and how they try to (and ultimately manage to) come to terms with the fact that their high-society daughter is now a midwife, an amateur sleuth and seems to be unseemly fond of an Irish copper. It’s an absolute joy to read and I dearly hope we’ll see more of them.

Yes, I also think it’s a true marvel that these books just don’t get boring, even if there are sixteen (I think) of them already, and that Victoria Thompson is perfectly able to keep the suspense, the mystery and the characters on the same (high) level as in all the books before. Also, the character development she allows her characters to go through is the best written I’ve seen so far. The main point some people are criticizing – that the characters, and especially Sarah and Frank’s romance, develop so slowly it’s positively glacial – is the most perfect thing for me. Plus, I can’t imagine anything changing fast in Victorian society. Not even in America, and surely not in the upper class.

I’m absolutely looking forward to reading all the Gaslight Mysteries I haven’t read yet.

***SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER***

The relationship between Paul, Hugh and Garnet is the cutest thing EVER and I’m positively thrilled that neither of them did anything wrong.