{"title":"Gilded Age Mysteries","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"murder-in-the-north-end-book-p-b-ryan-9780425212950","title":"Murder in the North End","description":"It's always a good day when a new Nell Sweeney book arrives. -CA Reviews \u003cbr\u003e July 1870: Nell Sweeney's position as governess for the venerable Hewitts of Boston affords her a unique perspective in an era of sharp class distinctions. Neither servant nor gentlewoman, she can fit in among the denizens of a waterfront tenement or the bluebloods of Colonnade Row. But there are many of the latter who regard her as just another good-for-nothing Irisher. \u003cbr\u003e Nell is shocked to learn that her friend Detective Colin Cook is a fugitive from justice, having reputedly killed a petty criminal in a North End concert saloon called Nabby's Inferno, after which he fled the scene of the crime. Cook's nemesis on the force, the loathsome Constable Skinner, thinks Nell knows where the Irish detective is hiding. She doesn't, nor does she believe that Cook is capable of murder. To gather evidence in Cook's favor, Nell must venture into the most depraved and crime-ridden neighborhood in the North End. William Hewitt, back home from his sojourn in Shanghai, isn't about to let her undertake such a dangerous investigation on her own. Posing as husband and wife, they infiltrate the so-called Murder District, but the more they find out, the more hopeless it looks for Cook. \u003cbr\u003e Originally published by Berkley Prime Crime. 60K words. \u003cbr\u003e This is the latest in a unique and enjoyable series. The necessary background is easily dispensed with, making it easy for newcomer and longtime reader alike. The author uses the historical period to great advantage, depicting the class separations and prejudices that existed at the time without romanticizing them. Nell and Will are both fascinating characters. From wholly disparate backgrounds, they should have no common ground. But they each have past pains and secrets that allow them to understand each other. They make a great sleuthing team, as well. It's always a good day when a new Nell Sweeney book arrives. -CA Reviews \u003cbr\u003e Plucky Nell and her helpmate Will are well developed characters who are likeable and smart. The cast of supporting characters in this book is colorful and well drawn, making the book an easy read. All of the books in this series are enjoyable; Murder in the North End is no exception.... I eagerly await the next Gilded Age mystery. -Cozy Library \u003cbr\u003e Murder in the North End is a light read that you can cozy up to on a cold winter night in your easy chair by the fire... -MyShelf.com","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49527503880465,"sku":"GOR004340973","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50325253226769,"sku":"CIN0425212955G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":51780881809681,"sku":"CIN0425212955VG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0425212955.jpg?v=1751229405"},{"product_id":"murder-on-black-friday-book-p-b-ryan-9780425206881","title":"Murder on Black Friday","description":"A mesmerizing mystery. Not only does Ryan provide readers with a tightly wound, suspenseful novel peopled with multidimensional characters, she writes about an era whose problems mirror our own. This is a historical period she knows and brings to life so clearly that readers are totally immersed. Nell is an ideal heroine: smart, intrepid and human. Be on the lookout for her return. -RT BookReviews \u003cbr\u003e On Sept. 24, 1869, the gold market crumbles, and fortunes are lost in a matter of minutes. When two of Boston's most prominent men are found dead on Wall Street's first Black Friday, it's widely assumed that they committed suicide over their financial losses. But upon examining the bodies, forensic scientist Dr. William Hewitt concludes that one of the men was most likely murdered. \u003cbr\u003e Will wants to investigate the circumstances surrounding the suspicious death, but to do so, he needs to navigate the upper echelons of Boston society, which are foreign to him. He enlists the aid of Nell Sweeney, the Irish-born governess employed by his estranged parents. Not only is Nell acquainted with many of the city's most prominent citizens, she understands how their wealth and power can be used to keep dark secrets under wraps. As their investigation progresses, Nell and Will discover that the two dead men were linked by something more valuable-and far more treacherous-than gold. \u003cbr\u003e Originally published by Berkley Prime Crime. 57K words. \u003cbr\u003e Nell and Will are a confirmed pair of amateur sleuths in this fourth entry in the popular Gilded Age series, and this makes the setting perhaps slightly cozier, but as usual, P B Ryan is spot on with her period detail. This is the best part about the series for me, as these books really do open a window into how both the high and low society of Boston operated. She thankfully doesn't shrink (Anne Perry style) from showing it, warts and all...probably the best entry yet. -MyShelf.com \u003cbr\u003e As always, Nell and Will's predicament tugs at my heart. Loved it  -Babbling Book Reviews \u003cbr\u003e The author has an amazing grasp of life during this period of history. Each detail is crafted to let the reader feel immersed in the time; from the major historical events, to the minutiae of everyday life. These facts are effortlessly woven into the overall narrative. -The Romance Reader's Connection","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49712644817169,"sku":"GOR005299461","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50920535949585,"sku":"CIN0425206882G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":51756998656273,"sku":"CIN0425206882VG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ WELL_READ \/ SBYB","offer_id":52748327223569,"sku":"CIN0425206882A","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0425206882.jpg?v=1750910935"},{"product_id":"death-on-beacon-hill-book-patricia-ryan-9780425201572","title":"Death on Beacon Hill","description":"Death on Beacon Hill continues Ms. Ryan's excellent Nell Sweeney series. The rich characterization and her strong evocation of place, coupled with a well-plotted tale, make for a rich story. Add a clever conclusion and Ms. Ryan delivers a fascinating read. -Fresh Fiction \u003cbr\u003e Boston, 1869: As governess to the wealthy Hewitts, Irish immigrant Nell Sweeney belongs to no particular caste-hers is halfway between her brethren and the Brahmin. But now, a double murder involves both maid and mistress-and it will take cooperation by rich and poor alike to solve it. \u003cbr\u003e All of Boston is talking about the murder of Virginia Kimball. The famous actress, past her prime but still a renowned beauty, was found shot to death in her Beacon Hill townhouse, along with her young Irish-American maid, Fiona Gannon. Evidence suggests the two women traded shots after Virginia came upon Fiona trying to steal her famous diamond necklaces. Devastated by this news, Fiona's uncle, who serves as driver to the wealthy Hewitts, begs Nell to find out what really happened. \u003cbr\u003e The Hewitts' estranged son, Will, accompanies Nell as she investigates Virginia's scandalous romantic liaisons. It turns out there are quite a few people who might have wanted her dead, particularly her rich and powerful lovers, whose amorous exploits she recorded in a red leather-bound journal-a journal that has been missing ever since her death. Now, terrified men all over Boston, once blackmailed by the actress, will do whatever it takes to make sure her infamous Red Book never sees the light of day. \u003cbr\u003e Originally published by Berkley Prime Crime. 64K words. \u003cbr\u003e I decided to start the year off with my favorite mystery series. The mystery itself-what really happened that afternoon at Mrs. Kimball's and who killed her and her maid-kept me guessing.Highly recommend the series. -Babbling Book Reviews \u003cbr\u003e  Nell is] intelligent and has a strong sense of justice.She only takes action after careful consideration, never rushing to throw herself in harm's way.They mystery consists of several layers, and is constructed quite well.It's clear from the beginning that things are not as they seem; this serves to keep the reader interested in ferreting out the clues alongside Nell. I'm looking forward to another installment. -The Romance Reader's Connection","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50094265205009,"sku":"CIN0425201570G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ WELL_READ \/ SBYB","offer_id":52103775191313,"sku":"CIN0425201570A","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0425201570.jpg?v=1751292294"},{"product_id":"still-life-with-murder-book-p-b-ryan-9780425191064","title":"Still Life with Murder","description":"What a thoroughly charming book  A beautiful combination of entertaining characters, minute historical research, and a powerful evocation of time and place. -NYT bestselling author Barbara Hambly \u003cbr\u003e Boston, 1868: The dawn of the Gilded Age, an era of burgeoning commerce and invention, of unimaginable new fortunes and lavish excess-for some. Born into poverty, young Nell Sweeney scratches by on her wits and little else until fortune blesses her with a position as nursery governess to the fabulously wealthy Hewitts. But she soon learns that ugly secrets lurk beneath the surface of their gold-plated world. \u003cbr\u003e The Hewitts' eldest son, William, a former Union Army battle surgeon and the black sheep of the family, was reported to have died years before in a notorious Confederate prison. But one snowy February afternoon, his parents learn that he is, in fact, still alive-and in jail for having murdered a man while on opium. Infuriated by his son's deception and convinced of his guilt, August Hewitt forbids his wife from coming to Will's aid, so she begs Nell to help exonerate him. Nell finds that she must delve into the kind of dark and treacherous underworld she thought she'd left far behind if she is to unearth the truth before the hangman's noose tightens around William Hewitt's throat. \u003cbr\u003e Still Life with Murder is a #1 national bestseller originally published by Berkley Prime Crime. 91K words. \u003cbr\u003e P.B. Ryan makes a stunning debut with Still Life with Murder, bringing Nineteenth Century Boston alive, from its teeming slums to the mansions on Boston Common, and populating it with a vivid and memorable cast of characters... I couldn't put the book down... I can't wait for the next installment. -Bestselling author Victoria Thompson \u003cbr\u003e P.B. Ryan captures an authentic flavor of post-Civil War Boston... The atmosphere is that of The Alienist, but feisty Irish nursemaid Nell Sweeney is a more likable protagonist. I look forward to seeing her in action again. -New York Times bestselling author Rhys Bowen \u003cbr\u003e Still Life with Murder is a skillfully written story of intrigue and murder set during Boston's famous Gilded Age. Nell Sweeney is a winning heroine gifted with common sense, grit, and an underlying poignancy. With its rich sense of place and time and a crisp, intelligent plot, readers will speed through this tale and be clamoring for more. -Bestselling author Earlene Fowler Utterly absorbing. Vividly alive characters in a setting so clearly portrayed that one could step right into it. A very clever plot in which each clue is clearly offered and yet the identity of the murderer is a complete surprise. -Bestselling author Roberta Gellis If you like fast moving, accurately drawn, historical mysteries, you won't go wrong by trying Still Life with Murder. -Reviewing the Evidence This debut mystery is a winner, with a feisty heroine, a colorful historical backdrop and a strong mystery rife with complexities. An ideal blend of history and mystery. -RT BookReviews Still Life with Murder is sheer perfection... gripping... powerful... unforgettable... You'll know you've read one hell of a story after you turn the last page  -Reader to Reader Reviews","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":50486592471313,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50486592766225,"sku":"CIN0425191060G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":52507672936721,"sku":"GOR014544186","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":53028110958865,"sku":"CIN0425191060VG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0425191060.jpg?v=1751071937"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/en-au\/collections\/gilded-age-mysteries-book-series.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}