by Sandra Murphy
Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of Murder in the Bowery. We also have a link to order it from Amazon, and from an indie bookstore where a portion goes to help support KRL.
It starts with a missing boy, brother to a man who, through hard work and an inheritance, is now successful. He wants to find his brother in order to share the wealth. The two became separated when they were sent West on the Orphan Trains. Families adopted homeless boys mostly, some girls, to add to their families; some were just looking for cheap labor. The story of the brothers begins to fall apart when the man claims his brother returned to New York. The story was easily checked and found to be a total lie.
Frank Malloy was a New York cop. When he inherited money, he quit the force. Not one to sit and read a newspaper at his club, he started a detective agency with the assistance of former cop Gino. Malloy is often aided by his unorthodox wife, Sarah, and their equally unorthodox nanny, Maeve. 
The real story is that a young woman of some means has gone missing. While young ladies are expected to act like young ladies, this girl was of the rebellious sort. She heard that tours were given in the Bowery after dark for young men who sought a thrill. Dressed like a man and fooling no one, she went on a number of tours herself.
So why the lie about brothers? The man was in search of a homeless boy he thought might have information about the girl. The name Black Jack Robinson was one to be feared in the Bowery, and he’s the one looking for answers.
Set in a time where girls are expected to marry well, men to work at banks or as lawyers, and the lower classes were to take care of them, this story paints a clear picture of what happens when someone deviates from the norm. Sarah is a midwife, called out at odd hours to help women too poor to have a doctor. Now she’s wealthy but planning a hospital right in the Bowery to help unwed mothers. Maeve is an equal in their house, very unusual for the times. Gino was never welcome on the police force—only the Irish should be cops.
The Bowery itself is as much a character as Malloy. The description of life there is rich with history. Malloy, his family, and friends are people you’d want to search for you should something go wrong because no matter the odds, they’d find you. When motor cars are still too new to trust, street urchins sell newspapers to make a living and go on strike to protest the big publishers, and there are things to despicable to speak of, there are still people willing to risk everything to make changes for the better.
This is book twenty in the Gaslight Mystery series. Malloy’s detective agency is just getting started.
To enter to win a copy of Murder in the Bowery, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “bowery,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen August 5, 2017. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address, and if via comment please include your email address.
Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & short stories in our mystery section.
Use this link to purchase the book & a portion goes to help support KRL & indie bookstore Mysterious Galaxy:
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Love this author!
I would love to read this. Thank you for offering this book in a contest. Great Review and Author. Please enter me.
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
These Gaslight Mysteries sound excellent, I know we’d enjoy this one. Thanks for the chance to win a copy. crs(at)codedivasites(dot)com
Thank you for the opportunity to win the latest book in this wonderful series!
I love all of her books!! Thanks for a chance to win! mkmissy01@gmail.com
Love your series. This was another great read that I couldn’t put down.
Love your series. This was a must read. Enjoyed the book.
I enjoyed the review. Thanks for the opportunity to win a book from one of my favorite authors!
I’ve enjoyed other books by Victoria & im sure this will be just as good.
Love this one also, had in order and got it back on May 1st. When is the next one coming out. Can’t wait.
Looking forward to this! Thank you for the opportunity!
I’m always looking forward to the next murder mystery. I just love reading about old New York.
I have read all of the books in the series, can’t wait for the next one.
I adore this book series! Love the characters and the settings!
Love her books!! Can’t wait to read this one! Thanks for the giveaway!
Sounds like it should be an enjoyable reading experience.
I can’t believe I haven’t read any books in this series by this author. I really like historical mysteries. They take you away from all the modern things in life and you get to experience life as it once was.
scarletbegonia5858(at)gmail(dot)com
I have most of the books in the series but haven’t gotten around to reading many of them. I love historical mysteries.
Sounds like an interesting mystery. Thank you for the chance to win. robbfan141729@yahoo.com
WOULD LIKE TO TRY THIS SERIES. THANKS FOR THE CHANCE! calicolady60@hotmail.com
I really enjoyed the description of the book and I would enjoy reading the latest book in the series. Thanks for the chance.
diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
Just added another author & series to my Wish List.
We have a winner!