"Superb historical mystery"

Though her family is farmers in Ballykillion, Ireland, Molly Murphy received an education way beyond the normal level for her station in life. When her mother died, her education and her dreams died too as Molly takes over running the house for her father and brothers. Now, twenty- three, Molly flees her home when she accidentally kills the landowner's son Justin Hartley by shoving him away from her when he tried to rape her. He fell and hit his head.

Molly reaches Liverpool where Kathleen O'Connor, dying from consumption, offers a fresh start. Molly escorts Kathleen's two young children across the Atlantic to their father pretending to be their mother. On the overcrowded ship, Molly meets the odious O'Malley who knows she is not Kathleen and the young kindhearted Michael Larkin. At Ellis Island, Molly and her charges await approval to leave for New York City when someone kills O'Malley. Molly and Michael who had public run-ins with the nasty victim are the prime suspects especially since she was seen near the male dorm, the crime scene locale. Molly knows she must prove her innocence though all the evidence makes her seem guilty.

MURPHY'S LAW is a superb historical mystery starring a delightful cast, but what make this tale so good is the descriptions of the era. The ship voyage and the time on Ellis Island are so vivid; readers will taste the salt air. The mystery is also cleverly conceived leading sub- genre fans to conclude that Rhys Bowen is quite a talent (see her Evan Evans series if a reader has doubts).

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted September 13, 2001