"Excellent historical mystery; great addition to the Gaslight Mystery series."

Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy is surprised to learn that the father of widow Sarah Brandt, a woman for whom Frank has more than friendly feelings, has recommended to Commissioner Teddy Roosevelt that Malloy be in charge the murder of a wealthy businessman. Malloy is suspicious of this ploy, but eager to be on the interesting, high-profile case. His biggest benefit is also his biggest problem: Sarah's familiarity with the family and her eagerness, as well as ability, to discover the truth.

The Commissioner feels anarchists probably did the deed, as does the very young and beautiful wife of the victim, but Malloy is willing to uncover every lead. In this upper- class family of multiple intrigues, there is no lack of leads or information. Now all he has to do is track down the estranged anarchist's oldest son, comfort a mysteriously ill, homely daughter, sidestep the dramatic and selfish outbursts of the younger new widow, keep the youngest son from drinking himself into liver failure, try not to reveal too much of the case to Sarah...and solve the murder.

MURDER ON MURDER ROW is an excellent historical mystery. New readers to this series are quickly filled in on important exposition, while longtime readers can immediately drop into the world of the characters. Thompson does a great job of keeping one amused with the different perspectives of the characters, while also adding sympathetic side stories: Malloy's deaf son and overprotective mother, as well as Sarah's midwifery and trips to visit a mute child who has a strong grasp on her heart.

Reviewed by Vicky Gilpin
Posted May 12, 2004

Summary

In turn-of-the-century New York City midwife Sarah Brandt is again helping police Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy. This time, an arsonist is presumed to have murdered a wealthy industrialist in an explosion. But Sarah and Frank clash over whether the murder was politically motivated because—as she knows and he is about to discover—the marble facades of Fifth Avenue hide as many dark and twisted secrets as any tenement on the Lower East Side...