Where I live it is hot today! So, it seems like a great time to think about colder weather. That brought me to this seventeenth entry in Rhys Bowen’s Molly Murphy series. It is clear that by now Ms. B knows what she is doing and where she wants to be in each of the stories.

It is 1906 and Molly and her husband have been through a lot. They are, therefore, looking forward to the break that they anticipate when they are invited to Christmas dinner at a Hudson River mansion. What happened to their hosts’ daughter? Is a certain visitor who they claim to be? Read the book to find out. It offers an enjoyable diversion.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

I snagged this book from NetGalley because I was determined to do this 12 Books of Christmas series of reviews. I wasn’t too discriminating because I was desperate for holiday books. I like mysteries and I mostly like historical, so I was optimistic about this book.

Unfortunately for me, I didn’t realize this was the 17th book in this series! I had a hard time connecting with the characters and I imagine part of that is because most readers who pick up this book will have already had 16 mysteries solved with Molly Murphy.

The pacing was my biggest problem. The beginning was very slow for me, introducing characters. By the time they reached the destination where the mystery occurs I was contemplating DNFing this book. I stayed with it and by 30% I’d solved part of the mystery and my theory on “whodunit” proved right as well.

All that said, once the ball got going I did find myself enjoying many aspects of the story. I was still a little disappointed that I figured it out so early, but by that point I was determined to keep reading in the hopes of it being a red herring.

Part of my problem with this book might be the fact that everything sounded so stiff. It’s historical, so it fits, but I struggled with it in this context. Other readers of historical’s and mysteries might not have the problems I had.


SHOULD YOU READ IT? While you can jump into this book not having read any other Molly Murphy Mysteries, this reader would advise starting at the beginning if you enjoy historical mysteries with strong female leads.

Even though, Molly has given up her detective agency it doesn't stop her from exploring a decade old mystery. One of the more recent enjoyable Molly Murphy mysteries.

First, I'm very impressed that I came into the 17th book in the series knowing nothing more than the name of the main character and the time period in which it was set but was able to seamlessly get into the flow of the storyline and understand what was going on with all the relationships and characters in the book. I instantly cared about and/or was annoyed by them- really a sign of an excellent author to give their characters such life and individuality.

In this book, Molly is struggling with depression. Her family apparently went through quite a bit of trauma in the previous book. She feels that she needs to be strong and not a bother to anyone, so she can't quite manage to find anyone to confide in. Eventually she and her husband and young son are invited to spend Christmas in the country house where her mother-in-law is staying as a guest.

The mystery wasn't the important part to me of the story- that's probably true for me with a lot of mysteries. In my opinion, the author wasn't especially subtle in setting up the bad guys. And maybe that's because both she and I were more interested in Molly and her friends. It turns out that Molly's bohemian friends from across the street at home are staying not too far away, in a house filled with turn-of-the-century radical feminists. Molly is trying to negotiate the pleasure that she finds in these women's company with her husbands' disapproval. I don't know if her husband doesn't care for these people because they are feminists, gay, or both, but I'm assuming there was a very good reason Molly married him- he comes across as someone with kind of a stick up his ass in this book. She does talk about how he's one of the few police who have ethics and aren't on the take, so maybe that's it.

Molly tries to ask around and find out about a girl gone missing long ago- I saw the solution to this issue coming a mile away too- and she also tries to figure out how to be a good house guest and how to give her family a good holiday. The description of snowball fights and building snowmen in the country, a Christmas tree lit with real candles and the joy little girls get from receiving something as simple as a snow globe for a gift all served to transport me back more than a century. The historic details felt accurate without being too sentimental for me and I enjoyed spending this Christmas with Molly, even if there was a murder or two. I think this series is well worth checking out. But which book should I read next after starting with #17?

I honestly could tell by the writing of the first 2 chapters that it wouldn't be a good fit for our box and had to put it down. I may read it again in the future!

Rhys Bowen places Molly Murphy in a rich mansion in upstate New York for the Ghost of Christmas Past. Molly has had a miscarriage and is restless in New York while her husband Captain Daniel Murphy is considering his future with the New York Police Department. Her hostess had a daughter disappear ten years before and all is not well in the marriage. Molly wants to investigate but is it safe to stir up old hurts? Indeed the ghost of Christmas past haunts the mansion. Very well plotted historical cozy mystery.

I thoroughly enjoyed this first taste of Rhys Bowen's long-running Molly Murphy mystery series and now look forward to the pleasure of catching up with the rest of the books.

This novel is set in New York in December, 1906. Molly is married to Captain Daniel Sullivan of the New York Police and is the mother of a two-year-old son, Liam. Molly is feeling a bit blue because she has recently suffered a miscarriage. But she is also terribly sad over unexpected news they've had--that the father of her young friend, Bridie, is returning from South America and plans to take his daughter back to Ireland with him after the new year.

But for now, the Sullivan family along with Bridie have been invited to the Greenbriars estate in Scarborough, NY, for the holidays by Cedric and Winnie Van Aiken. Were they nudged to invite total strangers by Winnie's formidable Aunt Florence? She is good friends with Daniel's mother who is already staying at Greenbriars with her young companion, Ivy, a child from the local orphanage she has taken under her wing.

After the Sullivans arrive and settle in, Molly begins to notice a sadness about Winnie Van Aiken, almost bordering on depression, and learns that the Van Aikens' sole child disappeared without a trace one winter night exactly ten years ago. Molly, a detective in her own right, desires to try to make everything 'right' or at least find some answers for poor Winnie.

My favorite thing about this story is the look at New York society of the early 1900s and how they celebrated the Christmas season. I would say read it for its Christmas charm alone. Then appreciate the bonus of an interesting cold-case mystery with well-developed characters and a lovely setting. The only reason the book didn't rate higher in my estimation is the way things worked out in the conclusion, a little too pat and 'feel-good' for my tastes.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing me with an arc of this book for an honest review. Rhys Bowen has a new fan in this reader.

Love, love, loved this one! A perfect combination of Christmas, historical and mystery all in one package! Plenty of action and twists and turns to keep one reading and enjoying.

My publicist friends at Minotaur books offered me a review e-copy of the latest Molly Murphy mystery and of course I said yes!! I believe I have read all of the other Molly mysteries. I love a historical mystery, and I love reading about New York at the turn of the century. This time, Molly, husband Daniel, and baby Liam are headed out to Connecticut for the holidays at a house filled with sadness from the loss of a child ten years before. Molly herself has recently lost a child through miscarriage and she is still healing. As always, there’s a realness to these characters that make them very believable and easy to relate to.

Here’s the overview via Amazon:

Semi-retired private detective Molly Murphy Sullivan is suffering from depression after a miscarriage following her adventure in San Francisco during the earthquake of 1906. She and her husband, Daniel, are invited for Christmas at a mansion on the Hudson, and they gratefully accept, expecting a peaceful and relaxing holiday season. Not long after they arrive, however, they start to feel the tension in the house’s atmosphere. Then they learn that the host couple’s young daughter wandered out into the snow ten years ago and was never seen again. Molly can identify with the mother’s pain at never knowing what happened to her child and wants to help, but there is so little to go on. No ransom note. No body ever found. But Molly slowly begins to suspect that the occupants of the house know more than they are letting on. Then, on Christmas Eve, there is a knock at the door and a young girl stands there. “I’m Charlotte,” she says. “I’ve come home.”

****************************************************

While I do love these books, I did find this wrap-up a bit hard to believe, but I liked it anyway. It’s Christmas time — give me happy endings!!

Thank you for my review e-copy!

Rhys Bowen’s newest Molly Murphy novel is an entertaining holiday mystery, offering a taste of early 20th century celebrations as well as an interesting plot.  Unfortunately it isn't without problems.

In The Ghost of Christmas Past, Molly Murphy Sullivan and her family accept an invitation to celebrate the holidays with the family of an old friend of Captain Sullivan’s mother.  While the estate is sumptuous, there is tension in the house.  Winnie is clearly afraid of her husband Cedric, and is still in mourning for the daughter who disappeared 10 years earlier.  Cedric continually claims Winnie is unstable - and appears to be seeking any excuse to have her committed.  Naturally Molly wants to help, but is there anything that can be discovered after so long a time?  

For most of the novel, Molly attempts to uncover the closely held secrets of the family.  While the story is intriguing, it isn’t without weakness.  Her husband, irritatingly and repetitively takes Cedric’s side, representing “convention”.  Cedric couldn’t be more clearly the villain.  The only thing that would make him more obvious is a black hat and a twirling mustache.  There are also a few coincidences that are difficult to accept (as in 1 in a million chance of happening) but I won’t spoil the surprise.  I liked the female characters.  Rhys Bowen definitely makes more of an effort developing them as individuals.  The men, on the other hand were little more than cardboard cutouts.  

I liked The Ghost of Christmas Past.  It is a good choice if you are in a holiday mood.  It is entertaining, but it definitely isn’t a great novel.  It will likely be enjoyed most by fans of the series.  

3 / 5

I received a copy of The Ghost of Christmas Past from the publisher and Netgalley.com

--Crittermom

I received this ARC from NetGalley for review purposes and it was so very good. It was so good that I am going to go back and read other books in the series as well as purchasing copies for my sister and my best friend for Christmas. I have read a few of the earlier books but this one has depth of character as well as a terrific mystery.Since it is a holiday read the happy ending should suit everyone just fine.

THIS from the publisher:"Semi-retired private detective Molly Murphy Sullivan is suffering from depression after a miscarriage.. She and her husband, Daniel, are invited for Christmas at a mansion on the Hudson, and they gratefully accept, expecting a peaceful and relaxing holiday season."

So what happened you wonder to change this idyllic picture? Well let me start with some "Class" disconnect in the host family, their neighbors and friends of Molly, as well as long standing grief for their only daughter who disappeared 10 years before.

"Molly can identify with the mother's pain at never knowing what happened to her child and wants to help, but there is so little to go on. No ransom note. No body ever found. But she begins to suspect that the occupants of the house know more than has been divulged."

On Christmas Eve, while they sing carols around the tree a young girl appears and says " I'm Charlotte. I have come home" - and the peaceful planned Christmas becomes a scene of upheaval and complicated intrigue. A very very fine mystery but lighthearted enough in many places ( and the ending) to suit as Christmas reading.

Get your copy right now, it is recently released. I am purchasing two more besides my gifts and plan to finish the series eventually.

Regular review readers know that I enjoy mysteries and that Rhys Bowen is a favorite author so I was grateful to receive a copy of her newest - GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST - through NetGalley. Once again, Molly Murphy Sullivan is faced with solving a mystery – this time at a fancy house party in the New York City area. Molly and her husband, Daniel, soon discover that the only child of their hosts, a young girl, went missing ten years earlier – with no body or ransom note ever discovered. Molly is persistent, though, and begins to solve the puzzle. Or does she? There are plenty of surprises and suspects. The early 1900s, a mansion along the Hudson, servants, and the Christmas season combine nicely to form the backdrop for one of the stronger entries in this 17 book (so far) series.

Award winning author Bowen has crafted many memorable characters, including Evan Evans, and Lady Georgiana Rannoch (Royal Spyness series), plus I also recommend her stand-alone novel from last Spring, In Farleigh Field, for fans of mystery and historical fiction.

I love Rhys Bowen, and her Molly Sullivan books. However, I truly believe her sexy husband should have more sex! Not graphic, just romantic sex. The other thing, I figured out the plot before it was revealed. A good story. Loved the ending!
I highly recommend! Thanks! Enjoy!
carolintallahassee 👒
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I was amused by the sprightliness and humor of Rhys Bowen’s Her Royal Spyness novel that I read recently, so I thought I’d try one of her Molly Murphy novels. I saw this one listed on Netgalley and requested it.

The Ghost of Christmas Past is the 19th Molly Murphy novel, so it’s hard to say if I’d have been more impressed with an earlier book in the series. The series has won Agatha awards, so I assume so.

Molly is an Irish immigrant who by this novel is married to Daniel, a New York City police captain. Molly is in a depression. Her husband had problems with Tammany Hall, causing him to take some work in San Francisco from a government agency in the previous book. She followed him in time for the 1906 earthquake and lost her baby. Daniel’s employment prospects are up in the air, and Molly does not want to move away from her close friends in their New York neighborhood. And Bridey, an Irish girl she took in and learned to love, is being reclaimed by her father to return to Ireland. Finally, Molly returns from taking care of her mother-in-law to find that the Christmas she expected to have with her neighbors will not be because Gus and Sid are going away to spend it with friends.

Molly and Daniel get an invitation to spend Christmas with her mother-in-law at the stately home of Cedric Von Aiken in upstate New York. There, they find a gloomy family, haunted by the disappearance of the couple’s three-year-old daughter ten years before. Molly thinks it unlikely that the little girl supposedly dressed herself, put on her coat, opened the heavy front door, and walked out by herself. But her footprints and hers alone were found in the snow going to a nearby creek.

Of course, Molly decides to try to figure out what happened. Of course, we have the dynamic of the protesting husband that has made me tired of other series featuring a crime-solving wife.

Aside from there being no sign of the other series’ humor and lightness, the plot of the novel is just too unlikely and the solution has been used before. Spoiler, although I will not be specific: an unexpected arrival is oddly time to coincide with Molly’s visit to the house. But that’s not the biggest coincidence.

Finally, the novel and dialogue are fleshed out just enough to propel the plot along, and when we come to the problem of Bridey, the behavior of those involved and their remarks are comic in their obviousness. Not one of my favorite books, for sure.

First in the series of Molly Murphy mysteries I have read. Seen this series available for a long time, just hadn’t had a chance to read. Even though I started late to the series, the background of the characters, history and relationships was easily understood.
Molly has just returned home to London from a stay with her husband’s mother while he has been out of town in Washington for work. She expects to have Christmas in London with friends and family, but soon finds out that her friends, Sid and Gus, will be traveling for a reunion event. Shortly after returning, Molly and her husband are invited to the country by her mother in law’s friend for Christmas at a mansion on the Hudson.
Cedric and Winnie have a wonderful estate, but Molly quickly senses that there is tension in the relationship. Molly starts asking questions while attending an event at a neighbor’s house and uncovers the secret that the Van Aiken’s 3 -year old daughter disappeared one night by walking out of the house, never to be found. Molly starts investigating and enlists her husband, Daniel to pursue inquiries as well.
Rhys Bowen brings to life the holiday season in the rich and opulent upstate Hudson New York area in the early 1900s. Thoroughly enjoyed the story and the characters. A very sweet, heartwarming holiday mystery.
Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This is one series that I really need to go back and enjoy from beginning to end! While most of the Molly Murphy books can be read as stand alone books, why deprive yourself of such fun reading?

I’ve only read one of the books in this series but I was very impressed with the quality of writing and mystery of that book and I was eager to read more by her. I’ve read one of her stand alone books and while good, I think her mystery books are better personally.

My mom keeps giving me a copy of popular series, HER ROYAL SPYNESS, I have like 4 copies now. So her books are clearly popular! So when this Christmas book in the Molly Murphy series came up, I was happy to jump back in and review another one of her novels!


Semi-retired private detective Molly Murphy Sullivan is suffering from depression after a miscarriage following her adventure in San Francisco during the earthquake of 1906. She and her husband, Daniel, are invited for Christmas at a mansion on the Hudson, and they gratefully accept, expecting a peaceful and relaxing holiday season.

Not long after they arrive, however, they start to feel the tension in the house’s atmosphere. Then they learn that the host couple’s young daughter wandered out into the snow ten years ago and was never seen again. Molly can identify with the mother’s pain at never knowing what happened to her child and wants to help, but there is so little to go on.

No ransom note. No body ever found. But Molly slowly begins to suspect that the occupants of the house know more than they are letting on. Then, on Christmas Eve, there is a knock at the door and a young girl stands there. “I’m Charlotte,” she says. “I’ve come home.” (summary from Goodreads).

For a novel that was more of a novella in length for me, this book packed a punch. While not technically a novella, it was shorter than I was expecting but as I said it packed a punch that I wasn’t expecting from the length.

It had a lot of things to enjoy but what I think I liked the most was watching Molly’s transformation in this book. She starts out depressed from a recent miscarriage and by the end she is coming back into herself. I loved watching her heal through her work. It was touching and made me love her all the more.

As I said, most of the books read fine as stand alone books however as with so many series that stretch to this many volumes, I am sure there are plenty of bits that I am missing from previous books. But I think that Bowen does a great job at helping new readers navigate the past while keeping up on what’s going on in the current book.

I also loved how much holiday cheer this novel had, if you are looking for holiday reading but don’t really want to go the romance route, consider picking this one up instead. I loved the way Bowen describes the holiday season at the turn of the century, it was interesting and I loved how well researched and detailed her descriptions were.

Bowen’s writing quality is superior and I can see why so many people love her books. Well written, well researched, with satisfying mysteries. This is a series that I really need to start from the beginning but have no issues with picking up books randomly throughout and still finding things to enjoy! Again….quality, quality, quality!

Book: The Ghost of Christmas Past (Molly Murphy #17) by Rhys Bowen

Kindle Edition, 288 pages
Expected publication: November 14th 2017 by Minotaur Books
ASIN B071V56DLF
Review copy provided by: Publisher/Author in exchange for an honest review
This book counts toward: NA

Hosted by: NA
Books for Challenge Completed: NA
Recommendation: 4 out of 5

Genre: Mystery, cozy mystery, historical fiction

Memorable lines/quotes:

I was very delighted to receive a copy to review on Netgalley yesterday. Rhys Bowen is as many of you know a very good author. This is the first for me in the Molly Murphy Mystery series and book 17 of 18. It was very easy to see why this is such a long running and popular series. This book was full of timeless emotion and all the pulls the holiday can bring. This book felt very real and Molly very relatable even though this is a period based cozy, it felt very relevant. The theme of family resonates throughout this book and I simply could not put it down. I read it November 14th, on the most perfect of reading evenings, a most dark and stormy night. I could not put this book down and was delighted and enchanted by it. A very good holiday read!

Christmas memories awakened!

This is the first Molly Murphy mystery I've read. Even so, I was not lost with what was happening, or the relationships between the main characters. I am sure earlier readings would have given me more depth of understanding into the intricacies of the various relationships--between Molly and Bridie and Daniel, Daniel Sid and Gus, Molly and Daniel's mother.
Through a series of almost happenstance events, Molly, Daniel and Bridie end up spending Christmas at Greenbriars, the home of Cedric and Winnie Van Aiken, near Scarborough on the Hudson River.
The loss of a child is devasting, and in Winnie Van Aiken's case, the disappearance of her daughter Charlotte years ago, the not knowing if Lottie is alive or dead, continues to be shattering.
The plot around Charlotte's disappearance is convoluted. The child's footsteps led outside to the edge of a frozen stream and disappeared. Searches turned up nothing. No ransom was ever asked for. Charlotte was gone. What had happened?
Molly is on edge, she feels apprehensive in the house and doesn't like Cedric Van Aiken. Certainly things turn nasty as Molly pursues her investigative intuition about Lottie's disappearance..
I reserve judgement on Daniel. He obviously loves Molly and yet disapproves of many of her actions. Perhaps if I'd met him in earlier novels I'd like him more.
On top of this it seems their ward Bridie is to be reunited with her father--something that has Molly upset and Bridie uncertain.

A NetGalley ARC
(November 2017)

New York City, December 1906

Molly Sullivan is married to Captain Daniel Sullivan who works for the Police Department. They have a son, Liam, age 2. Molly also has a young ward named Bridie.

Daniel’s mother has been ill with pneumonia, so Molly went to Westchester to care for the woman. Now that she is better, they plan to stay with her for Christmas. But Mrs. Sullivan receives an invitation from an old friend, Florence Lind, encouraging her to stay for Christmas at a large estate called Greenbriars. Florence feels that the ambiance would be good for her and help her heal.

So, Molly returns home to have Christmas with their small family. Sadly, Bridie, who had been in an orphanage before Molly took her in, has a father who will be coming soon to take her home to Ireland.

When an unexpected invitation comes for them to join Mrs. Sullivan at Greenbriars, they accept. The owners of the home are Cedric and Winnie Van Aiken. Upon arrival, Molly and family are impressed with the size of the home. However, the relationship between Cedric and Winnie appears to be rather shaky. They had a 2-year-old daughter who just walked out into the snow 10 years earlier and was never seen again. What could have happened to the child? As she used to be a detective, Molly is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery.

We meet the different people at the Christmas house party as Molly works to discover if someone is hiding something. But a surprise visitor shocks all of them.

I enjoyed this book very much. It is the first of the author’s Molly Murphy Mysteries series that I have read. I absolutely love the author’s series, Her Royal Spyness Mysteries. Rhys Bowen is an excellent author and I encourage readers to enjoy her delightful and clean novels.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Molly Murphy Sullivan and her family are invited to spend the Christmas holidays at Greenbriars, a lovely mansion in elegant Westchester County. Of course Molly discovers a mystery - the long-ago disappearance of the family's toddler daughter. After 10 years missing there hardly seem to be any relevant clues, but Molly persists until n Christmas Eve a young girl knows on the door and announces, "I am Charlotte." Everyone is in shock especially Molly as she wonders if this girl is the real thing or a carefully coached imposter.