I was caught by the cover of this book--edgy and historical.
The story was certainly not a disappointment!
Fascinating lead character. She's dealing with her privileged background and her history of polio.
She's very sharp witted and able to hold her own in a rather unfamiliar world.
The newsman who recognizes her talents is another interesting character.
All well drawn and engaging.
I very much look forward to another installment.

I found this to be completely delightful it was compelling and hard to put down. The characters jumped off of the page and came to life. The plot was well drawn and the perp a surprise. Peg Cochran managed to perfectly describe the New York of the 1930's down to the sights, sounds, and smells, I was transported.

I really wanted to love this book.

It wasn't what I expected. However, the storyline was strong. Admittedly, I like Elizabeth. Her character alone kept me reading until the end.

Recommend highly for historical cozy mystery fans!

This book was a winner for me all the way around. There truly wasn't anything about it I didn't like. Elizabeth Adams unlike her upper crust peers has a job working as an office gal Friday at a newspaper, when she is called upon to be a photographer at the debut of Gloria DeWitt. Unfortunately, there's a murder and Elizabeth is drawn right in. This book is certainly well written and the characters are amazing. I hope there is more to come in this series.

historical-places-events, historical-research, historical-figures, historical-fiction, murder-investigation

The murder investigation was well done with plenty of twists and red herrings. The characters are well drawn and realistic personalities. The historical aspects seem very well researched as evidenced by references to prices, brands, subway lines, and employment issues. I was surprised that there was no mention of FDR having had polio as Elizabeth and another friend bore the residuals of the disease. I had issues with some other stuff, too, but that's because I'm a retired nurse. Basically it was a very good story that kept interest and looks like the beginning of a great new series!
I requested and received a free review copy from the publisher via Netgalley.

I very much enjoyed this 1930s rich-girl turned newspaper photographer mystery. Ms. Cochran brings the era to life through her descriptive narrative of high fashion, elite life-style choices, and the painful reality of the polio disease's impact on the nation.

Elizabeth Adams lived on Madison Avenue in an apartment with her family and servants. She works for the Daily Trumpet as a kinda "Go For" when Ralph Kaminsky a reporter took her on a job to the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, not knowing she was from the upper class, to cover the Debutante Ball as a photographer because his usual photographer couldn't make it. He wants to interview Gloria DeWitt and tells Elizabeth to arrange it. She looks for Gloria and finds her coming out of the Ladies Room with blood all over her and then finds Gloria's step mother Frances dead. Kaminsky gets the story and prints on of Elizabeths photos in the paper. After that Kaminsky takes her with him on all his assignments. They try to figure out who murdered Frances and Elizabeth gets involved in other incidents! A fast moving story with lots of suspense and mystery!

I loved this delightful cozy set in 1930’s New York City! The former debutante now working, against her family’s wishes, at a local newspaper in the hopes of being a real reporter gets confronted with the seamier side of life. She encounters prostitutes, victims of gunshot and learns about the fine line between doing what her heart desires and the guilt of not being around to help her family at all times. There is violence but it is only described and takes place off stage. The author evokes a time and place very well and gives lots of detail that helps the reader enter the story. I can’t wait for the next in the series! Thanks to #netgalley for the opportunity to read #murder,shereported ahead of the publication date.

Cochran, Peg
MURDER SHE REPORTED

Compelling! When a book pushes aside other entertainments and duties even sleep, all overshadowed by a desire to keep reading, that is an indication of a very good book. Thinking about it afterward and wanting more time with the characters, also excellent. I like twists and turns of plot and especially like a puzzle so well-crafted that the solution comes to me just a little bit before it is revealed.
Elizabeth’s “girl Friday” job reminded me that in the ‘70s, when want ads still listed separately Help Wanted Men and Help Wanted Women, clerical work was the go-to for female liberal arts grads. Her determination to do more had me thinking of Mary Tyler Moore’s Mr. Grant saying, “You’ve got spunk. I hate spunk.” Standing up to naysayers, being her own woman, ignoring cold, pushing past exhaustion, and holding to her principles — Biz is a great role model.
The contrast of Elizabeth’s comfortable means and Irene’s desperate straits was thought-provoking. Chicken soup for pneumonia rang true to my own experience (though I had to make it for myself).
I liked the timely references to GONE WITH THE WIND and OF MICE AND MEN as a play, and confess I had to look up Woman in a Purple Coat to know it was a Matisse.
The descriptions of elegant hotel ballrooms and more gritty areas set the scenes, and there were gems of figurative language:
“ . . . Waldorf made Elizabeth think of a woman all dressed up to go out at night.”
Debutantes’ presentation like “farmers selling livestock at the county fair . . . to the highest bidder”

I love the period setting, 1938, for so many reasons including the lack of instant communication accessibility and the struggle of women in society being featured.

Elizabeth Adams, 22, graduated Wellesley, had her debut last year, and is definitely not happy with the life of a socialite. She dreams of being a journalist. Taking the job as a lowly Girl Friday typing the Dear Miss Draper column at the Daily Trumpet she is up against society acceptance on both sides of the desk. When reporter Ralph Kaminsky needs a photographer Elizabeth jumps at the chance and races off to the debutante ball of Gloria DeWitt. Elizabeth fits right into this crowd and is able to get photographs that no-one else has access to, including the dead body of Gloria's dead step-mother!
Elizabeth is also a polio survivor who is determined to keep it a secret while keeping up with the demands of her job without letting it handicap her career. "Biz Adams" is exposed to a great array of situations including Det. Marino and Italian food.

I look forward to watching this character blossom as she defies society and tackles a career in a very tough field.

May 22, 2018 · edit
it was amazing

Oh, my goodness! I so loved this book! I read 70% of it in five hours and finished it this morning. I want the next one in the series right now!
Elizabeth is a socialite in New York City in the 1930's who decides to take a job at a newspaper. She is a Gal Friday until she gets her break taking photos of crime scenes. The murder she gets involved in occurs at the Waldorf at a debutante ball.
I love the description used in the settings throughout this book. I felt like I was watching an old movie like The Thin Man series only with words. The author mentions famous landmarks, styles of clothing, and popular books and music of the time period, all to create a realistic you-are-there atmosphere.
I loved the characters who all seemed to have his or her own personality with no stock characters. The plot was intriguing and kept me guessing. I loved the author's breezy style of writing.
This book ended way too soon. I wanted to visit with this world a bit longer. I seriously hope this series continues for years.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book, I could picture the clothing that the characters were wearing as the descriptions were very detailed. The view of the wealthy and the poor was almost, heart-breaking but well done. Elizabeth working a job and how her "friends" view of her working was not quite done in her society.
This is the first book I have read by this author, I am waiting to read her next book.

Really good historical mystery!! The characters are outstanding and the mystery itself is quite suspenseful, but the best part was the historical references in the story!! So interesting and accurate!

Murder, She Reported is a fun caper with an engaging sleuth and a clever story. The writing was good, the plot quick, I would happily read another in this series!

If you like a cozy mystery, this is a great one. It has a little of everything, murder, social issues, a plucky heroine, budding romance. The characters are likeable and believable. The story within a story that leaves you wanting to know more but wraps up nicely with a surprise ending.

This was my first book by this writer. It’s a fun and easy to follow read. The writing is good and the characters and storyline was fun and interesting. I highly recommend and can’t wait to read more from this author.

This was a cute, cozy mystery! It reminded me of the Viv Honigford books I've read....the setting, the characters, the storylines...they all work together well. I'll be interested to see what else this author comes out with next!

This charming mystery will transport you back to the 1930's where debutante Elizabeth Adams has ignored the wishes of her mother that she spend her days as a society lady and gotten a job as a newspaper photographer. Her first assignment is to take pictures at a debutante ball where she comes upon Gloria deWitt, the girl she has been sent to photograph, crying her eyes out in the ladies room. Elizabeth takes her picture but promises Gloria she will not use it. When Gloria's stepmother is murdered at the ball and Gloria is found with blood on her and becomes the prime suspect ,the reporter with Elizabeth finds the pictures and puts in on the front page - causing all of Elizabeth's society friends to shun her. When a second body is later found who is connected to the stepmother, Gloria makes Elizabeth promise to help prove her innocence in return for Gloria's championing her back in society. This book tackles some of the important issues of the time - the effect of the Depression, the rise of the anti-Semetic German Bund as it makes the era real. I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope Elizabeth goes on to have a long and successful career.