This series has the dark background of the Victorian/Gilded Age. I loved the first one but this one was even better. Prudence has great instincts and doesn't give up.

This one was about a sad topic that happened a lot more back then than now, death at childbirth. When Pru's friend shows her the picture of her twin sister and her baby whom both died at childbirth it is sad but not really anything unusual, except Claire believes her sister and child was murdered.

Prudence gets Geoffrey to help her look into what might have happened. They find out that Catherine's husband was a very cold and controlling man and now his second wife is pregnant and they start to fear for her and her child as they find out more about the man. Finding evidence of what he did is a bit harder but Prudence will not let things go.

I really like this series and I am happy to see Prudence and Geoffrey bonding more and getting closer together. It's been plenty of time since her fiance was killed and I like them together!

One of my favorite historical mystery series! I am constantly recommending it to people. This had such a great well plotted and well paced mystery and it was so creepy! The characters are strong and resourceful and I love the fissure of romance between them. I enjoy the way the author always manages bits of unknown or little known history. I have made it an NYPL staff pick and I have included in a NYPL historical mystery blog post.

Okay, this might well be my favorite novel of 2020 so far. Y'all. Rosemary Simpson is masterful at combining mystery with history, bringing to life the time period and the characters. Prudence MacKenzie is the female lead, and is absolutely impossible not to fall in love with. I dare you to prove me wrong. She is strong, takes no guff and refuses to shrink from a man's world. Between the investigative skills of Prudence and the brilliant writing of the author, this novel is impossible to put down. Also, I'm heading to Amazon to purchase the first two books. A definite recommend!

A well written mystery surrounding the suspicious circumstances of women dying in childbirth, and a crafty, callous gambler targeting vulnerable heiresses for their fortune. The detail in creating the atmosphere in 1880's New York was evident, as was the adventures of the detecting duo of Prudence Mackenzie and Geoffrey Hunter, and their chemistry together. The pacing was typical, and the resolution had a sense of tension and urgency.

I read the book not knowing that it was the third in a series (I usually avoid reading series out of sequence for fear of spoilers in the previous novels), but I will need to look into the earlier two books to discover these characters, and look forward to future adventures (if only to see how the inevitable yet predictable romance between Hunter and Mackenzie play out).

I really enjoy a solid historical fiction book that you can tell has a lot of care and research weaved into it. That was certainly the case with Let the Dead Keep Their Secrets. It was a good mystery with compelling characters that kept me intrigued the whole way through. Mystery is not always my cup of tea, but this title is certainly something I would pass along to others that gobble it up!

I liked the first two books in this series. However, I thought the plot dragged a bit. The mystery was mostly in the background, and I thought it could have been shorter. The writing was very strong and detailed. However, I expected more mystery.

Let the Dead Keep Their Secrets is the third Gilded Age mystery by Rosemary Simpson. Released 27th Nov 2018 by Kensington, it's 304 pages and available in hardback, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.

Though this is the 3rd installment, it works perfectly well as a standalone. Necessary background info is provided. There are a few minor spoilers from earlier books in the series, so be aware of that if reading them out of order.

I really enjoy historical mysteries. This is a well written series with generally believable characters. The realities of life during the time period, even for the wealthy who had access to better living conditions, are stark.

The female lead character, Prudence, is intelligent and resourceful. The interplay between her and her partner is deftly written. I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop over the course of the book.

There are some prominent themes in the book which may not be appropriate to all audiences. Obviously it's a cozy murder mystery, but the murders include some fairly graphic infanticide and maternal deaths. The plot also involves some coerced drug abuse, physical abuse, and gambling. The primary antagonist is a towering stereotype and I spent most of the book hoping he'd get his just deserts.

Enjoyable read. Four stars

This book had been in my TBR pile for a while; I am very glad that I recently moved it to the top of my list. This novel, the third in Rosemary Simpson's series, is the first that I have read. I will most likely go back to read the others. Old cases are alluded to but one does not have to enjoy the books in order.

In this one, the series regulars, Prudence, an heiress, and Geoffrey, a former Pinkerton agent, are solving a case in 1880s New York City. They are visited by an opera singer, a twin, whose wealthy sister died in childbirth. There are suspicious circumstances and later another post partum death. Of course a focus of the book is "who did it?" but even more, the story becomes one in which the reader waits to see if the murderer will be stopped. While I know that, in the majority of mystery novels justice is done,this was nonetheless a page turning and suspenseful read.

The time period is exactingly and realistically portrayed. There are details about those who photographed the newly dead as a way to remember them. These memorial cards were regularly given to mourners. The photographer in this book is obsessed with trying to capture the moment when breath/soul leaves the body.

Another photographer also makes an appearance in the book. History lovers will enjoy the appearance of Jacob Riis, the chronicler of the Lower East Side, who has a featured role.

This book is recommended for those who enjoy historical mysteries. Fans of Victoria Thompson should like this author's works.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington books for this e-galley in return for an hones review.

*** and 1/2 *s (3 and 1/2 stars)

This is the third book in the Guilded Age series, and while it may be helpful to have read the first two books, it’s definitely not necessary. Rosemary Simpson does a wonderful job of providing character background and reintroductions without an excess of exposition. All that said, this was definitely the most enjoyable of the series for me. I don’t know if the author found her groove, or the mystery was more accessible, or what, but my attention was kept much more easily than in the prior two books. (Although a more accessible mystery doesn't mean a less creepy villain - ugh).

I received a copy of this book from the publishers through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This is the third installment of the Gilded Age Mysteries, but they can be read out of sequence.
Prudence MacKenzie and Geoffrey Hunter are asked to investigate the death of a mother and newborn child. The book is very well paced and this makes for exciting reading. Prudence and Goeffrey are given a post mortem photo of the deceased and it becomes their first clue. They continue to investigate and find some pretty unsavory facts out about the woman's husband that may or may not make him a suspect . Historic detail abounds and burgeoning forensic science all play a part in solving the mystery, This series continues to be one of the best in the class of historic mystery and I eagerly await the next installment.
I received this ARC in return for a honest review from NetGalley

Rosemary Simpson adds to the Gilded Age mysteries with Let the Dead Bury their Dead. Prudence Mackenzie and ex Pinkerton Geoffrey Hunter are finding out if a widower murdered his young wife and her day old baby. The twin sister, an opera singer, has hired them to also explore if the gentleman's new wife is also going to be murdered. Old New York society comes under the spy glass. Excellent historical cozy.

This series kept me thoroughly entertained during the week before Christmas.
I dived into each book one after the other and felt quite bereft when I reached the end.
I absolutely love historical mysteries and this fits the bill perfectly. Prudence and Geoffrey lead a fantastic cast of characters.
With tension, suspense and intrigue as well as a simmering, slow burn romance this series has everything. I really can't wait to read more as it's published.

Prudence and Geoffrey make a great investigative team. Slowly the romance is building and hopefully they will begin to see what all their fans see. Prudence is the kind of woman who doesn’t let society hold her back from living the life she wants.
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Being a vulnerable heiress in 1889 could lead to death. Prudence Mackenzie and her ex-Pinkerton detective partner Geoffrey Hunter are hired to investigate the death of an opera singer’s twin sister. What they find is a murderous fortune hunter who marries then kills his new wives. Add to the mix a mentally unbalanced death photographer and you have a potent mystery. An excellent book. I highly recommend it.

Another fantastic book in this series. Prudence, Geoffrey and their wonderful cohorts seek to solve the death of a young mother and her infant but soon uncover a trail of similar, equally grizzly murders.
As usual, the ensemble of characters, with their full histories and idiosyncrasies provide plenty of entertainment. And Prudence and Geoffrey continue to draw closer together. Fast-paced and beautifully written. Well worth picking up, even if you haven't read either of the other two books.

3.75 stars

This third book in the Gilded Age series continues the theme of a strong heroine, battling to be treated as an equal by her partner in a fledgling investigative business. There is a lot of background included which would seem to make this a viable standalone as well.

Heiress Prudence MacKenzie and ex-Pinkerton Geoffrey Hunter work together to solve crimes in late 19th century New York City. This time around, Claire, a friend of Prudence's, wants to find out what happened to her sister and newborn child who died recently. The sister, an opera singer, had married suddenly and then become cut off from family and friends. The next thing anyone knew, Claire heard that her sister was dead and that the widower had already married again and his new wife was expecting.

As Prudence and Geoffrey investigate and unravel the deaths, more dark details emerge. They have a growing regard for one another and a remarkably equal relationship, but Prudence chafes when Geoffrey wants to protect her from some of the seamier and more grisly aspects of the case.

These are readable mysteries with interesting (if not entirely plausible) situations and characterizations. Fans of historical mysteries will especially enjoy them. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fun,quick read! I love good a good mystery!! I didn't realize when I requested this arc that there were others that go with it.

Prudence and Geoffrey are asked to investigate a possible murder of a mother and child. Very difficult to do in this time period.

I love Prudence. She doesn't let the fact that she's a woman stand in her way of solving murders. This was a great read!

This was a fun mystery. When I requested the ARC, I didn't realize this was the 3rd book in a series. I also didn't realize it until I was about halfway through the book when characters alluded to previous cases. I commend the author for writing this in a way that I didn't feel lost jumping into the middle of a series. The characters are well developed and the story line was very interesting. While this isn't a book that I found amazing, I did enjoy reading it. It was a fun diversion from other books I've read. I recommend it for someone who just wants a fun mystery that they don't take too seriously. It is a little gruesome at times, so it's not necessarily a "cozy" mystery.

Very good, quick read. Angela Landsbury meets Sherlock Holmes to figure out if the death of a young mother and her newborn daughter were the result of a murder or an accident. Looking forward to reading more in these series of books!