Overview:
Set amidst the opulent mansions and cobblestone streets of Old New York, this enthralling historical mystery by Rosemary Simpson brings the Gilded Age to life—in a tantalizing tale of old money, new love, and grave suspicion . . .
As the Great Blizzard of 1888 cripples New York City, heiress Prudence MacKenzie sits anxiously within her palatial Fifth Avenue home waiting for her fiancé’s safe return. But the fearsome storm rages through the night. With daylight, more than two hundred people are found to have perished in the icy winds and treacherous snowdrifts. Among them is Prudence’s fiancé—his body frozen, his head crushed by a heavy branch, his fingers clutching a single playing card, the ace of spades . . .
Close on the heels of her father’s untimely demise, Prudence is convinced Charles’s death was no accident. The ace of spades was a code he shared with his school friend, Geoffrey Hunter, a former Pinkerton agent and attorney from the South. Wary of sinister forces closing in on her, Prudence turns to Geoffrey as her only hope in solving a murder not all believe in—and to help protect her inheritance from a stepmother who seems more interested in the family fortune than Prudence’s wellbeing . . .
It isn't a traditional "whodunit" in that you know the "who" and the "why" fairly early so the only question is whether or not they will be caught and brought to justice. It's a pretty bold move, in my opinion, to start a series this way but it was done brilliantly and I was not at all unhappy.
The characters were richly drawn and engaging and the descriptions of New York were detailed enough to make you feel like you were there but not so overdone as to be boring. Simpson also takes care to add in authentic details about the Great Blizzard of 1888. I love it when authors do this because it makes the fictional events feel like they could have actually happened and makes the whole story that much more believable.
The plot was well thought-out but was a bit slow at times and some elements needed to have more detail. The ace of spades playing card is supposed to be central to the plot but felt more like a cheap way of getting Geoffrey involved, rather than having any significant meaning. It is explained in the book but I was a little disappointed in how nearly pointless it actually was.
I don't want to give away any spoilers but there is one particular event that I am a bit suspicious of and am excited I won't have to wait too long for the next installment to see if anything else happens to confirm my suspicions. It is set to be released January 30, 2018.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and can't recommend it highly enough if you enjoy historical mysteries. If you love C.S. Harris and Anne Perry, this will be right up your alley.
As the Great Blizzard of 1888 cripples New York City, heiress Prudence MacKenzie sits anxiously within her palatial Fifth Avenue home waiting for her fiancé’s safe return. But the fearsome storm rages through the night. With daylight, more than two hundred people are found to have perished in the icy winds and treacherous snowdrifts. Among them is Prudence’s fiancé—his body frozen, his head crushed by a heavy branch, his fingers clutching a single playing card, the ace of spades . . .
Close on the heels of her father’s untimely demise, Prudence is convinced Charles’s death was no accident. The ace of spades was a code he shared with his school friend, Geoffrey Hunter, a former Pinkerton agent and attorney from the South. Wary of sinister forces closing in on her, Prudence turns to Geoffrey as her only hope in solving a murder not all believe in—and to help protect her inheritance from a stepmother who seems more interested in the family fortune than Prudence’s wellbeing . . .
My Review:
This is the first entry into the new Gilded Age Mystery series and is a fantastic debut.It isn't a traditional "whodunit" in that you know the "who" and the "why" fairly early so the only question is whether or not they will be caught and brought to justice. It's a pretty bold move, in my opinion, to start a series this way but it was done brilliantly and I was not at all unhappy.
The characters were richly drawn and engaging and the descriptions of New York were detailed enough to make you feel like you were there but not so overdone as to be boring. Simpson also takes care to add in authentic details about the Great Blizzard of 1888. I love it when authors do this because it makes the fictional events feel like they could have actually happened and makes the whole story that much more believable.
The plot was well thought-out but was a bit slow at times and some elements needed to have more detail. The ace of spades playing card is supposed to be central to the plot but felt more like a cheap way of getting Geoffrey involved, rather than having any significant meaning. It is explained in the book but I was a little disappointed in how nearly pointless it actually was.
I don't want to give away any spoilers but there is one particular event that I am a bit suspicious of and am excited I won't have to wait too long for the next installment to see if anything else happens to confirm my suspicions. It is set to be released January 30, 2018.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and can't recommend it highly enough if you enjoy historical mysteries. If you love C.S. Harris and Anne Perry, this will be right up your alley.
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