Murder in the Bowery

Written by Victoria Thompson

Narrated by Suzanne Toren

The national bestselling author of Gaslight Mysteries returns with a case of murder in the field of higher learning in Victorian-era Manhattan. Frank Malloy's latest client Will is searching for his brother, a newsboy named Freddie, who runs off as soon Will's name is mentioned-only to be found dead a short time later. A suspicious Frank tracks down Will who spins a tale of lust and deceit involving a young society woman Estelle Longacre. Estelle's risky behavior took a fatal toll but Frank can't be sure if the company she kept is to blame or if her own ruthless family had a hand in her death. Frank will need Sarah's help to discover if there is a connection between Estelle and Freddie's death. Together they must navigate an underground web of treachery to find answers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: May 2, 2017
• ISBN: 9781501946639

Victoria Thompson

Victoria Thompson is the author of twenty bestselling historical romances. She is also the Edgar nominated author of the bestselling Gaslight Mystery Series, set in turn-of-the-century New York City and featuring midwife Sarah Brandt. She also contributed to the award winning writing textbook Many Genres/One Craft. A popular speaker, Victoria teaches in the Seton Hill University master's program in writing popular fiction. She lives in Central PA with her husband and a very spoiled little dog.Please visit Victoria Thompson’s www.victoriathompson.homestead.com to learn about new releases and discover old favorites!

Reviews for Murder in the Bowery

[delphimo_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I am on a roll in reading Victoria Thompson whose mysteries provide hours of entertainment. In this caper, we descend into the Bowery, an unsavory section of New York where ladies do not venture. Victoria Thompson enjoys throwing a little history into her stories and we learn of the newsboys strike in 1899 when newsboys refused to sell newspapers in order to get better wages and the plight of Orphan Trains where orphans in New York were transported to farms in Minnesota, Iowa, and others farming states. Victoria Thompson also mentions that the wealthy citizens would seek guides to lead them into special places in the Bowery so these wealthy could see how the slums looked, hence the term “slumming”. We also see that wealth does not mean respectability and those in the Bowery may act better than their wealthy peers.

[gpangel_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Murder in the Bowery by Victoria Thompson is a 2017 Berkley publication. This is an interesting and absorbing installment in Victoria Thompson’s Gaslight Mystery series. Centered around the Newsboys strike, and its connection to the orphan trains, Frank's newest case, sends him in search of a missing boy down in the Bowery neighborhood, which ends tragically, with not one murder, but two. Frank and Sarah work to connect the dots between the two murders, one of which is a young lady from an affluent family who had ‘gone slumming’ in the Bowery and ended up involved with ‘Black Jack’, a notorious crime boss. I enjoyed the historical details in this story involving the strike and the unbelievable practice of affluent people taking tours into crime ridden and impoverished neighborhoods, watching staged enactments of life in the ‘slums’. Incredible. I’d never heard of that before, and you know me, I had to Google it. Sure enough, it was a ‘thing’ in London, then made its way to New York. So, for the second time this week a ‘cozy’ mystery has taught me something I didn’t know. The mystery is constructed quite well, with clever and crisp dialogue, which had to be approached carefully, and creatively, because of the sensitive matters discussed, but which also brought a bit of humor on occasion, due to Frank's obvious discomfiture. The subject matter is difficult, but handled delicately. Crimes, whether among the rich or the poor, in higher or lower classes, out in the open or behind closed doors, touches everyone, with evil seeping into every walk of life, and this story exposes that truth effectively. Overall, I enjoyed this latest Gaslight Mystery and seeing how married life is treating Frank and Sarah, and touching base with the other recurring characters. This is a must for fans of the series, but even those who are just joining in, who may not know the long history between Frank and Sarah, but can easily enjoy the mystery, just the same- so just jump right in- you'll be glad you did. 4 stars

[pennykaplan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another good entry in the series, Frank and Sarah attempt to find a missing “newsie” brother, and solve the murder of a young girl in the Bowery as well. Set during the newsboy strike in NYC in 1899. Good period detail in an easy read

[auntie0nanuuq · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoy this series, I'm actually reading it in order (although I'm pretty sure I didn't start out in order).Sarah Brandt was from upper society New York, but left it behind to marry a doctor and become a midwife... He husband was murdered and rather than move back home to her parents house, she chose to live alone, adopt two children and continue her practice.At this point she is married to PI Frank Malloy (former NYPD who is newly rich) and continues to help in his investigations.It all begins when a young man comes and asks Malloy to help find his brother, Freddie, who was once a newsboy, had been shipped to Minnesota on an Orphan Train, but has since returned to N.Y. Malloy & his assistant Gino find a friend of young boy who returns to tell them that Freddie has been murdered...When young woman (the soon to be wife of the Bowery Mob Boss) is found murdered & stuffed into a trunk in the Bowery it seems as there is an odd connection between her murder & that of Freddie.Soon Sarah joins the case and finds signs of abuse & incest in the young woman's family.I could have done without the incest, but it was well written and not explicit. It did however, fill in many of the blanks...

[romonko · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this newest book in the gaslight mystery series. Sarah and Frank Malloy are asked to find a young newspaper salesmen on the streets of late 19 century New York because his brother wants to find him in order that he might share some of his good fortune with him. But as they start searching they discover a much darker ulterior motive for finding the boy.. They start delving into some old and grotesque family secrets from a New York society family, and a few bodies start showing up. This was a very enjoyable mystery that touched on the lives of the "newsies" found all over the city in 19 century New York, and also on the orphan trains that moved homeless children around the country to families in the west that wanted to adopt them.

[virginia51-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was my favorite if this series for a few books. I love when all the characters are used. I do like to see Sarah's mother used a bit more though. I did not want to put this book down. This had a wonderful story and a great use of characters. The ending was a surprise for me and I love when I am surprised. I look forward to many more books in this series. It always seems to be fresh.

[kathy89_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love this series and it's great to see Frank & Sarah settling into happily married life and working together in the private detective business with Gino. This was a very good story and I love how the author blends in real NYC history from the 1890s. A man comes to Frank's office with a story about looking for his younger brother who was separated 7 years before when they were sent on an orphan train to Minnesota to be adopted. Frank is leery but intrigued and starts investigating and discovered a young woman murdered, the missing boy murdered and an assortment of unlikeable characters connected to the woman. He also meets a notroous gangster Black Jack who was in love with and is very impressed the sophisticated Sarah Malloy who happened to be buying a property from him.

[jengarland · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Murder in the Bowery, the 20th case in the Gaslight Mystery series, takes Frank Malloy from one end of Victorian-era Manhattan to the other in search for the murderer or murderers of 2 people. Will Bert hires Frank to find his newsboy brother, Freddie, so that Will can share his newfound fortune with him. As Frank investigates, he feels something isn't quite right with these brothers, a feeling confirmed when Freddie turns up dead. Things get more complicated when Frank discovers Estelle Longacre, a young woman from a wealthy family, was found dead near where Freddie was found. Now Frank must find out what, if any, connection there was between Freddie and Estelle, and who would want them dead. Although part of a series, this book can stand alone. It was my first Gaslight Mystery, and I loved it! The historical setting, along with the events depicted, were well researched and brought vividly to life. The characters are developed, and the story keeps you interested. I did not want to put it down, and it kept me guessing until the end. This is perfect for fans of historical New York and/or mysteries. I promise you won't be disappointed.

[kathl33n-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Many years ago I read the first handful of books in this series. While I only really remember the first two of them, I do remember that I really loved them and I wonder why I didn't keep reading the series. The setting was interesting in that it was Victorian New York (instead of somewhere in England as you expect when you hear Victorian) and the two main characters were really likable. So, when I had the chance to read the 20th in the series I was excited but a bit wary as I often wonder how many actually good stories can an author come up with. Well, I can happily say I was not disappointed! I began reading and immediately picked right back with Frank and Sara as if we had never been apart and took an instant liking to the two other characters that were introduced somewhere along in the series. Also, just as I remembered from the first two, the mystery was interesting and really well done. This is a series (I actually would categorize it as a cozy) that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves a good mystery. I am thankful to Penguin Publishing for providing me with an advanced copy.