MURDER, SHE REPORTED by Peg Cochran
The First Murder, She Reported Mystery

It's Manhattan in 1938 and Elizabeth Adams believes there's more to life than hosting parties and looking for a "suitable" husband. While her parents are aghast, Elizabeth is happy to be working at a newspaper, although being a Girl Friday isn't exactly what she had in mind. But her time in the Wellesley photography club pays off when Elizabeth fills in as a photographer for veteran reporter Ralph Kaminsky. Their trip cover to a high society debut turns into a crime story when the "It" girl finds her stepmother shot to death in the ladies room. As Elizabeth and Kaminsky pursue the story will they scoop the news, or will Elizabeth face social ruin...or worse?

MURDER, SHE REPORTED shows the dichotomy of New York City in 1938.The effects of the stock market crash and the possibility of war color this world, imbuing it with a sense of gravitas. Yet there is still a sense of style and glamour. Its inhabitants struggling not only to make do, but to flourish. Elizabeth "Biz" Adams is the perfect protagonist straddling both worlds, that of the haves and the have nots. She's a wealthy young woman who has drive and ambition and is open to new things is a world coming to terms with itself. Author, Peg Cochran skillfully brings Biz out of her comfort zone and we witness Biz's reactions as her world grows. The relationship between Biz and Kaminsky is wonderful, the veteran reporter and the new kid. And what a character Kaminsky is! His drive, street smarts, and fun idiosyncrasies make him a joy to read. And I'm not just saying that because he has a variation of my last name! He and Biz make a great duo.

I love the historical detail. The description of the Waldorf Hotel, the Chock full o'Nuts, and the various foods and fashion of the time really paint a picture in my mind and I feel as if I'm there. I'd love to try the Stork Club Cocktail!

MURDER, SHE REPORTED is a fantastic start to a new series. It opens a window to the past and creates a mystery that is timeless.

Peg Cochran has written a delightful mystery called Murder, She Reported. Taking place in 1938, Elizabeth Adams refuses to live the life of a New York City society girl and, to the dismay of her family, gets a job in the newsroom of the Daily Trumpet. Hoping to become one of the newspaper’s photographers, Elizabeth instead finds herself a gal Friday – fetching coffee, running errands and typing articles for the women’s editor of the paper. That is, until one of the reporters asks her to help him cover the annual debutante ball. With the opportunity to showcase her photographic skills, Elizabeth leaps at the chance. But soon the ball becomes a crime scene when the step-mother of one of the debs is found murdered.

What follows is a romp through 1930s Manhattan, as Elizabeth (nicknamed Biz), her fellow reporter, Kaminsky and a host of New York City’s upper crust investigate a murder that begins to take on larger implications.

I thoroughly enjoyed this vintage cozy. The characters were varied and entertaining, with the hint of a romance that might develop. The mystery itself was quite good and even a bit baffling. The mention of New York City landmarks and places was especially interesting and I liked the historical references that were sprinkled throughout the chapters. At times this random information was inserted a little awkwardly into the storyline, but for the most part this was a minor distraction.
Murder, She Reported is the first in a new series by Ms Cochran and I’m looking forward to further exploits of Elizabeth and the staff at the Daily Trumpet.

Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

This was a great new mystery from Peg Cochran! I truly thought it was her best work yet, and loved the premise behind the story. It was as though you were a vintage sleuth and hunting the clues in a new manner. That was the coolest, it was a neat way to be a sleuth.

Murder, She Reported by Peg Cochran

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Story Notes

Peg Cochran brings to her readers a story that travels back in time to the 1930s newspaper world and takes a look at what it takes for a society girl to find her place in the world of news photography.

The 1930s were a prolific time for movies, society and jobs that helped create a whole new level of acceptable when it came to the role of women. World War I and the Depression were in the rearview mirror and everyone was finding a new place to belong. Women were slowly making their way into the work force beyond housekeeping and secretarial work and discovering how to thrive in a formerly all-male world. Peg Cochran gives her readers a chance to enter this new world with her latest story and I, for one, enjoyed it immensely. She begins her story with one Elizabeth Adams, a young society woman who is determined to make a difference in the world. Having survived Polio as a child, Elizabeth knows there are no guarantees in this life, so she is stepping out of the safety of her 5th Avenue home and going to work as a gal Friday for the Daily Trumpet. She is hoping to work as either a reporter or a news photographer but has only so far been allowed to type out copy print for the society column writer. Finally, her chance comes one evening when all the other reporters and photographers are out chasing a story. Ralph Kaminsky is a rough and tough reporter who does whatever it takes to get his story. When he requires a photographer to go with him to the debut of “It Girl” Gloria DeWitt, Elizabeth seizes her chance. But the debut will bring more than just a story about the latest popular debutante when Gloria DeWitt’s stepmother is found dead in the upstairs retiring room. Kaminsky is determined to get to the bottom of the story and quickly learns that “Biz”, as he christens Elizabeth, is the one to find out everything he needs to know from the society folks. Elizabeth enjoys being the reporter’s new favorite photographer and appreciates his kind looking out for her when they are out on a story. She is also determined to find out what happened to Frances DeWitt and agrees to investigate with Kaminsky to help find the culprit. As they dive into the lives of those closest to the DeWitts, lots of ugly details come to light and more people will lose their lives before the case is solved. Along the way, Elizabeth also comes into contact with Detective Sal Marino, a handsome man who works hard at the cases he’s handed. Marino works most of the murder cases for the borough and Elizabeth has a chance to watch him work each case with compassion and respect towards the deceased. When he asks her to lunch after they meet up at a crime scene, Elizabeth readily agrees. Marino introduces her to the world of Italian food and regales her with stories about growing up Italian. His interest in her is unexpected but most welcome as Elizabeth is glad to have found a real man rather than the boys she’s been around so far during her adult life. Kaminsky and Elizabeth work together but separate from Marino to solve the DeWitt case but it will take all of them to figure out the real culprit behind all the violence. This story was so fun to read given both the subject and the time period in which it takes place. I love the 1930s and all that it brought to our country and it was fun to read a story of a young woman from that era. Ms. Cochran carefully crafted her story to keep it light on the gruesome and heavy on the drama and I believe this worked to make the story better. The cases and the people that Elizabeth interacted with seemed very real and drew me in with their development. I was also pleasantly surprise at the bit of romance Ms. Cochran included without letting it overtake the main story. My only two issues with the story are minor in consideration: First, I wish the story had been a little longer to give more time to develop the DeWitt case deeper. It was a little shallow but I understand this had to be the case as the story is shorter in total length. And as this book is more focused on the news photography side of things it is also understandable that Elizabeth wouldn’t be too deeply involved in a case. The second issue I had was the unnecessary cuss words included. They were not so many that they really detracted from the story but as the frequency of them was low it would have worked just as well, I believe, if they had been left out altogether. But these minor issues did not really lessen my enjoyment of the story and I am very much looking forward to the next story: Murder, She Discovered. Ms. Cochran has done well with her short series thus far and I believe she will continue given her excellent writing and the dry wit she weaves into her stories. I will certainly recommend this book to others as a fun story to read, although I will warn them of the language so it is read by older readers rather than younger.

I received this E-Book free of charge from Random House Publishing/Alibi in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

Murder She Reported is well-written and an enjoyable read. With debutantes and high society of 1938, the main character of Elizabeth captures the conflict of women of any means in the thirties, when women didn't work outside the home. For women like Elizabeth, raised in the life of luxury, going to work - especially taking photographs of crime scenes and dead bodies - is far from the norm. High society pressures and her parents war with her desire to be independent. The longer it takes for the killer to be caught, the more precarious her predicament and potential negative effects on her social standing.

Elizabeth isn't perfect - she has doubts and wants to live in both worlds, but definitely not with the flat, boring men being paraded for her. She's a likable young woman - even the curmudgeon crime reporter, Ralph Kaminsky, appreciates her talent and sense, and gives her a different perspective as he drags her into dark, sleezy bars. I also liked the detective on the case. Anyone who enjoys mysteries set in this time period, will enjoy Murder, She Reported.

As with other mysteries by Cochran, this was an enjoyable read back in time. The pace is steady and the murder has enough twists and turns to maintain interest. Consistent with the era, the story highlights some of the issues of the time from post-depression to the beginnings of women's rights and outcomes of those affected by polio, as well as the sights and sounds of the time. This is a new release; however, I understand there is a second in the works, Murder, She Uncovered, and I'm looking forward to reading it.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected he content of my review in any way.

Murder, She Reported by Peg Cochran takes us back to 1938 in New York City. Elizabeth “Biz” Adams comes from a well-to-do family, but she is not content to follow in her mother’s footsteps (marriage and hosting charity events). Elizabeth obtained a job as a Gal Friday at the Daily Trumpet, but her goal is to have her photographs appear in the paper. On the night of Gloria DeWitt’s debut ball, reporter Ralph Kaminsky finds himself without a photographer and Elizabeth gets her break. Elizabeth (shortened to Biz by Ralph) goes searching for Gloria so Ralph can get an interview. She finds Gloria crying in the ladies’ room of the Waldorf Astoria over a fight with her stepmother and accidentally snaps a pic. Later in the evening, Gloria stumbles out of another ladies’ room with blood on her dress and her stepmother, Frances is dead inside. Ralph is thrilled at getting the scoop and Elizabeth’s picture of Gloria crying makes the front page (Biz promised not to use that one). Gloria wants Elizabeth to help prove her innocence or she will ruin her socially. Can Elizabeth get the scoop on Frances’ murder or will Kaminsky get an exclusive on her death?

Murder, She Reported is a delightful story. I was drawn into the book immediately and I did not wish it to end. Ms. Cochran set the stage for the era with her references to music (Andrew Sisters), books (Gone with the Wind), food, hats, buildings, dances, makeup, clothing, and the slang. It felt like 1938 in bustling Manhattan (great world building). I thought the story to be nicely written with good transitions. Biz Adams is a great character with her intelligence and go-getter attitude. Elizabeth finds herself straddling two worlds. She is a socialite, but she is also a working woman. Her social connections aid her in investigating the crime. Ralph Kaminsky was a fun character. He is a great counterpart to Elizabeth with his rough edges and he has a different outlook from Biz. Murder, She Reported has a steady pace and I enjoyed the authors writing style (conversational). The mystery was complex with misdirection and good clues to aid the reader in solving the whodunit. There are a few items that could have been handled better (reworked). When the mother breaks her leg and needs help (she is quite demanding), the younger daughter takes care of her until she falls ill with pneumonia. The housekeeper/cook tries to cater to the mother’s every whim, but she is soon run ragged. The father does not believe in spending money unnecessarily, but, in this case, a nurse should have been hired. Especially since Elizabeth had polio as a child which left her with a limp and she tires easily (and is in a great deal of pain). There was an incident with another photographer who threatened Elizabeth. As Elizabeth gets more photography work, I thought he would pop up again. Instead, they smile across the newsroom. A little polishing would have made this a five-star novel. I am looking forward to reading the next Biz Adams story.

What a great first in series by Peg Cochran! If you love historical cozies then this one is a must read! Interesting characters, a detailed 1930s NYC setting, and a well planned mystery! I was kept guessing until the very end. Elizabeth "Biz" Adams is one amateur sleuth who will definitely soon become a cozy favorite! I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Elizabeth Adams is 22, a graduate of Wellesley, and made her Society Debut at the Waldorf. Her cautious father managed to keep the family money mostly intact, so they haven't suffered as others have in the Great Depression. She also aspires to be a professional photographer and has taken a job at the NY Trumpet. So far, she has been relegated to "girl Friday" duties for the snooty Society Editor. No one at the paper knows about her background, and she hasn't told her friends. Her mother is horrified and her distant father, bemused. Things start to change when the scruffy veteran reporter, Kaminsky, asks if she knows how to use a camera. He needs a photographer to cover the coming-out ball for Gloria DeWitt, the "it-girl" debutante of 1938. When a murder takes place at the ball, Elizabeth is in the thick of things. Gloria DeWitt is a suspect, and due to an unfortunate photograph Elizabeth took, she threatens to have Elizabeth ostracized in society. Elizabeth may want a different life but is not ready to lose her friends.

Kaminsky likes Elizabeth's photos and attitude, taking her under his wing and even giving her a nickname, "Biz." Biz may have lived in Manhattan all her life, but the story takes her into places she has never seen, from Mulberry Street to the Aqueduct Racecourse, and into seamier areas of the city. She visits long-forgotten establishments like Horn and Hardart and even tastes her first Italian food, courtesy of handsome police detective, Sal Marino. Biz is naive but approaches everything with an open heart and mind. No doubt her childhood case of polio contributed to her attitude. She escaped with only a slight limp but made friends of all backgrounds during her extended hospitalization. Biz knows what is really important in life, making her a very likable heroine.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Alibi for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.

The year is 1938, and Elizabeth Adams has taken a job as a girl Friday in one of Manhattan's newspapers. One of the reporters, Ralph Kaminsky, needs a photographer for a story and Elizabeth jumps at the chance to be involved in a real story. At the Waldorf Hotel, she has the chance to interview Gloria Dewitt, who is making her debut. While covering this story, Gloria's stepmother is found shot dead. So begins the mystery of who shot her. I really liked this mystery. Elizabeth and Kaminsky make a good team.. I can't wait for the next installment in this series! Thank you to Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book!

I loved this cozy mystery. Set in the 1930's in New York, Elizabeth is working for a what is considered a gossipy newspaper. When all her wealthy family wants her to do is find a husband. She gets involved in investigating a murder of a friends mother at a debutante ball.

This is one of my favorite time periods. 1930's New York and the differences between the wealthy and the working class. I will definitely being reading other books in this series.

A new historical series based after the Crash of 1929. Elizabeth comes from a wealthy family but after college she didn't want to just do what is expected of her. She gets a job at a newspaper, one that is considered a rag. She is a Girl Friday to a columnist which is quite boring. One day one of the reporters needs a camera person and she is the only one there. It becomes a regular thing when the regular camera guy isn't around which is a lot. The reports calls her Biz, says Elizabeth is too big of a name. She kind of likes that she has a nickname. They are at a coming out Ball for one of her friends, Gloria, and her mother inlaw is murdered in the ladies room. There are lots of suspects and speculations. I was surprised by who did it. I enjoyed this book very much, the time period, and the illnesses that they were faced with and how they dealt with them.

“Murder She Reported” by Peg Cochran takes readers to Manhattan in 1938, and introduces Elizabeth Adams, a socialite in working in the newsroom of the Daily Trumpet. Of course, she has dreams of a better job, so she takes a last-minute assignment and snags an interview with Gloria DeWitt who will be making her society debut At the Waldorf Hotel. A dead body in the Waldorf bathroom, lands Elizabeth in the midst of a scandal, but also gives her the opportunity to grab a front-page story. She needs to find answers before she loses her dream job. Along the way, Elizabeth, “Biz,” meets new people, eats new food, and learns about the lives of people who do not belong to “society.”
This historical mystery explores New York City in 1938 including the difficulty of life in the depression and the contradiction between the poverty-stricken citizens and the working “society” girl.
Murder She Reported has a steady plot with believable characters. However, sometimes the details are so specific and so detailed, without contributing much (nail color, brand) that they slow down the progress.
I received a review copy of “Murder She Reported” from Peg Cochran, Alibi, and NetGalley. It is a casual, enjoyable book without headache-inducing stress or mind-numbing trauma. It is fun and quick to read.

I enjoy historical mysteries and am always glad to find the start of a new series. While this first in series has some character flaws, they weren't enough to put me off the story. Elizabeth (Biz) is a society girl from a family that didn't take much of a financial hit. It's 1938 and she has decided that she wants to get into the newspaper business. Only problem - it's a man's world and any women are relegated to the society page. But she does have photography skill and that leads her to a front page photo and then to a murder. The mystery is satisfying but the characters need a bit more substance. I also hope that Biz finds more compassion for some of the people in her life. I gave her the benefit of the doubt in one case - when she finds out that a friend, fallen on hard times, has turned to prostitution. Biz is not rushing to help her out. Biz hasn't had to think of others, just herself and her own sheltered world. Maybe that will change in future stories. I hope so. This series shows potential and I will be ready to read the next entry.

Told with the glitz and glamour of the late 1930s, an era where the rich were recovering from the crash and the poor were struggling just to survive. Women were still seen as a minority in the workplace, with only a few occupations considered appropriate for them.
While women were slowly gaining rights and acceptance, families still finagled to have their daughters marry into the proper circumstances.
Overflowing with a titillating sense of gossip and edginess, this book is an exciting crossover look at how two very different sections of the population live. It has all the qualities I look for in an intriguing cozy mystery with hints of romantic attraction and minor salacious undertones.

I love the innocent Elizabeth and the rough around the edges Kaminsky.
It had a very exciting ending.

I love the author's cozy mysteries so I was happy to see a historical mystery by her. Set in 1938, socialite Elizabeth takes a job as a gal Friday which leads to a whodunit when she goes to interview a society girl and her mother is found dead. The historical details were fairly well researched, but the descriptions were a little lengthy and redundant sometimes. Still, I did enjoy the book overall.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

This is a period mystery set in 1938 in New York City. A young socialite is bored with her pampered life and takes a job at a newspaper. Since she knows photography, she goes with a reporter to cover a débutante ball. Little did she know that this would turn into a murder scene and her photograph would be featured on the front page.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to others in the series. The characters are well portrayed and fun.

What an absolutely refreshing start to a new series by established cozy author Peg Cochran! In Murder, She Reported, our heroine, Elizabeth "Biz" Adams, is a wealthy society girl in 1930's New York who's decided to pursue a career in the newspaper business. As a gal Friday at the Daily Trumpet, she's suddenly thrust into crime photography when one of the reporters drags her along to a debutante ball to interview the next "It Girl", and the aforementioned girl's stepmother is found shot to death in the ladies room! The descriptions of the period are perfect, and it was really a step back in time - I found myself researching things as I was reading, because it was all so interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed it, absolutely recommend it, and really looking forward to the second book!

Manhattan, 1938 and socialite Elizabeth Adams, bored with her life gets herself employment on a newspaper as a Girl Friday. But when reporter Ralph Kaminsky needs a photographer quickly, she is recruited and then they are both going to the Waldorf Hotel to cover a murder. This is where her social connections help her towards the solution.
An enjoyable mystery, introducing the characters to this new series. I would be interested to read how they develop, especially Elizabeth, who I found to be the least interesting of the main characters.

What absolute fun! I love historical fiction, mysteries, the era of the ‘30s, and reportage, so MURDER, SHE REPORTED, is right down my literary alley. Especially enjoyed the character of Elizabeth Adams, a Manhattan deb who wants to fly free from society strictures to be a newspaper photographer. She gets more than she dreams off when embroiled in a murder while on assignment for The Daily Trumpet. Penned with wit, humor and style, Murder, She Reported gets my definite, “Yes!”

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#Murder,SheReported #NetGalley

Not quite a cozy but rather a historical mystery with an intrepid female amateur detective. Elizabeth, a polio survivor, finds herself out of the box when she takes a job as a "gal Friday" at a newspaper, morph into a photographer, and then finds a dead body! And the murderer! There are some real inconsistencies in this but the period references are fun and if you read it for what it is- light entertainment-it's a pretty good read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm curious where Cochran will take this next. I'd suggest a more thoughtful approach to the less fortunate.