Prudence and Geoffrey are asked to investigate a possible murder of a mother and child. Very difficult to do in this time period. But, with the help of a postmortem photograph (yes this really was a thing to do!) they are hot on the murderer’s tail!

I have not read any of the other books in this series. This is a stand alone novel with just a few references to the previous books. The only thing, I would like to know more of Prudence’s past so, I must go back and read up! She is one interesting lady. She lets nothing stop her. I enjoy a tough woman and Prudence is definitely ALL THAT!

I am fascinated by all the deductions this group of investigators have to make. There is no modern day techniques and this crew really has to use their brains. This reads like a Sherlock Holmes tale. And the postmortem photo! Wow! Did not know people actually hired a photographer to take pictures of the dead, IN POSES!

As I said, this story reads like a Sherlock Holmes tale, which means it is a little slow in places. It is more deduction than action. But, I was enthralled with all the speculation and historical references.

I received this novel from Kinsington via Netgalley for a honest review

"Prudence, not every death is a murder...Unless you're the one asking questions about it."

This is the third installment of A Gilded Age Mystery and easily my favorite of the series thus far. I've grown accustomed to Simpson's style of mystery. This series isn't about "Who done it" but more of the reasonings and insight into the suspects. Simpson also does a fabulous job of incorporating New York history into the storyline. I found the photography of the dead somewhat morbid, but fascinating nonetheless.

I admire Prudence's tenacity and unwillingness to let her gender deter her passion and career. She is everything I seek in a strong heroine.

"In the space of a few days, she'd become a prowler, as well as a thief. Geoffrey would comment her new
skills."

Geoffrey is a fantastic hero and partner. He often struggles with the need to protect Prudence against his desire to treat her as an equal. I can't get enough of these together, and I long for some romantic interlude down the road. Josiah is the much needed light hearted sidekick. I find myself always smiling at his comments and antics. These three balance each other perfectly.

I look forward to the next installment and whatever mysteries await Prudence and Geoffrey.

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for my advanced review copy.

enjoyed the previous two books in this excellent series and this one didn't disappoint me. Hand me a historical mystery and I'm transported, especially when the writing is this good. The setting is New York City of 1889 with an interesting pair of private detectives - Prudence MacKenzie is a socialite but refuses to be constrained by its rules. Her late father was a judge and, from him, she learned law. One day she hopes to practice law. Her partner is Geoffrey Hunter, a transplanted Southern gentleman and ex-Pinkerton detective. By this time, the Pinkerton Agency has begun to hire women agents and Geoffrey works well with his business partner. I'm hoping for some movement towards romance between them.
Their current case involves the sudden death of a newborn and her mother who may not have met a natural death. The identical twin of the deceased woman asks Prudence and Geoffrey to find out if what she suspects is true, that her sister was murdered by her very nasty husband. Added to that, he wasted no time and remarried within a couple of months. Now his second wife is visibly pregnant and may also be in danger.
The historical details of the Gilded Age are sharp. The practice of post mortem photography was very popular and Prudence says that it's not uncommon for her to receive several of them every month. That photo of the dead mother and child led them to a photographer who knows a thing or two about retouching photos and forensics and assures them that the woman's eyes have been retouched. Find the negative, prove it was murder.
We are shown both the glitter and the dark sides of New York. The scenes in the opera house were so vivid I could almost smell the grease paint and hear the bustle of the singers going about their rehearsals. The sounds of the horses and carriages in the streets came alive, too.
While we know from the start who the killer is, the mystery is still a page turner. How many women will die before he can be brought to justice?
This can be read as a stand alone but if this is your first introduction to this series, make sure to read the first entry, What the Dead Leave Behind to get their background, especially for Prudence.
The only thing that I have to concentrate on is the multiple points of view but it's not a shortcoming, it's just different. Having enjoyed this one I'm impatient to read the next one.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Let the Dead Keep Their Secrets
by Rosemary Simpson
Kensington Books

Kensington
Historical Fiction , Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 27 Nov 2018


I am reviewing a copy of Let the Dead Keep Their Secrets through Kensington Books and Netgalley:


Gilded Age New York Heiress Prudence MacKenzie and ex Pinkerton Geoffrey Hunter investigate crimes that take them from the slums of five points in Lower Manhattan to the fifth Avenue mansions of the society's elite. During the late nineteenth century women were quite vulnerable to crimes.


In the nineteenth Century childbirth can be dangerous even for the wealthy. So when Opera Singer Claire Buchanan shows Prudence and Geoffrey a Post Morten Cabinet photograph of her dead sister and her New Born Niece, they are sad but not surprised. The popular black bordered portraits are the eras way of coping with the devastating losses that plague every family. What makes this death different is Claire believes Prudence's sister Catherine and her baby were victims of murder.


Prudence's friend feels that Prudence's Twin Sister's lingering presence is showing that she is demanding justice. Catherine's widower a man named Aaron Sorensen, is a cold, controlling man who quickly remarried after his wife's death now his new wife is pregnant could she be in terrible danger? Geoffrey will delve into the past while Prudence Casts herself as the next victim putting her own life in danger.


I give Let The Dead Keep Their Secrets five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

A Gilded Age Mystery #3

New York heiress, Prudence MacKenzie is not the least bit conventional. She has been through too much for that. And she wants more. She wants to take the bar exam and become a litigator. For now she along with her partner, ex-Pinkerton agent Geoffrey Hunter have joined forces to form a partnership to investigate crimes and shady people.

It is the Gilded Age in New York and women were still property of their husbands. And when a new client shows up at their door begging them to find out exactly how her twin sister and newborn daughter died, they quickly find out this is going to be an investigation that may just get them all killed.

As they set out through the streets of Manhattan and less desirable locations, they learn enough to know that the second Mrs. may be in for the same fate as the first if they can't stop him first. 

I really love historical mysteries. The author has obviously researched her settings and characters well. I can't wait to read the next installment of this series!

Well Done!

Netgalley/November 27th 2018 by Kensington

Well researched and written historical mystery with a different take on Gilded Age New York. Prudence is a smart, talented woman who works alongside Geoffrey, a lawyer and former Pinkerton to solve mysteries others won't touch. This time they're looking into the death of Catherine Sorenson and her daughter at the behest of her twin Claire, an opera singer. Not as simple as it might appear although the identity of the murderer is not a secret. What makes this special are the period details and the relationship between Prudence and Geoffrey. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I received this from netgalley.com in exchange for a review.

Set in NYC, 1889. Prudence and Geoffrey are tasked to determine if Aaron is just unlucky in choosing wives, or is he methodically killing them to get their inheritance.

This is third in the series, A Gilded Age Mystery.

3☆

Another great book from one author that is quickly becoming one of my favorite. This time Geoffrey and Prudence have to handle a bigamist, a crazy photographer and some complicate issues of their own, and I have to admit that I enjoyed this book so much, that I read it all in one setting and now I cannot wait for the next one!!

Un altro grande romanzo, da un'autrice che sta diventando velocemente una delle mie preferite. Stavolta Geoffrey e Prudence devono investigare un probabile bigamo, un fotografo pazzo e intanto gestire alcune loro emozioni poco chiare e io devo ammettere che ho letto il libro tutto di seguito perché non volevo smettere...

THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

Oh how I love a well written historical mystery with just the right amount of solid background research. It adds interesting detail to the story without allowing the story to be bogged down by it. Author Rosemary Simpson has the balance of this down to a science and entertains the reader with lots of interesting historical facts of 1889 New York City which engages the readers imagination without overwhelming the reader with excessive detail. This third installment in her Gilded Age Mystery series is perfectly balance in this regard. We hear the rustle of the ladies' gowns as they sidle down a darkened hallway or the muted sound of horse hooves on the straw strewn cobblestone resulting in muted street noise outside a home of a family in mourning, with its drapes drawn closed. The vignettes are richly described and transport the reader to another time and place.

Certainly Ms. Simpson's fine turn of phrase drew me into the book and her strong female protagonist, Prudence (daughter schooled in law by her father, a judge) held my interest as she put forth an image of a feisty, bright and fearless women in a age where such character was extraordinary. Prudence and her partner, Geoffrey run an investigative law firm. He is a southern gentleman schooled in law and a former Pinkerton man. There's a bit of a spark between them as he tries to steer her away from seemingly dangerous situations but Prudence will have none of it and that's what he so admires about her. She's an independent woman with a strong mind of her own, an admirable trait and simultaneously vexing to Geoffrey.

Their services are called upon by Claire Buchanan, the twin of a woman who had given birth to a daughter, both of whom succumbed to death shortly after the birth. Claire believes strongly that at least the death of her hale and hearty sister could not have been a natural one and wants the investigative team to dig up the dirt on her ne'er do well brother-in-law. Claire is convinced that he's behind her sister's death. And so, the investigation begins and an engaging tale unfolds.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and do look forward to reading more stories by this gifted author.

I am grateful to author Rosemary Simpson, Kensington Publishing Corp. and Netgalley for having provided a free e-copy of this book. Their generosity, however, did not influence this review - the words of which are mine alone.


Synopsis from publisher's website
(http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/37012)

In Gilded Age New York, heiress Prudence MacKenzie and ex-Pinkerton Geoffrey Hunter investigate crimes that take them from the slums of Five Points in lower Manhattan to the Fifth Avenue mansions of society's elite. In the late nineteenth century, women are particularly vulnerable . . .

Let The Dead Keep Their Secrets

Childbirth can be dangerous even for the wealthy. So when opera singer Claire Buchanan shows Prudence and Geoffrey a postmortem cabinet photograph of her deceased twin sister and newborn niece, they express sadness but not surprise. The popular black-bordered portraits are the era's way of coping with the devastating losses that plague every family. What makes this death different is that Claire is convinced Catherine and her child were murdered.

Prudence's friend is haunted by a sense of her sister's lingering presence, and by the conviction that her dead twin is demanding justice. Catherine's widower, Aaron Sorensen, is a cold, controlling man who swiftly remarried. Now his second wife is already pregnant and may be in terrible danger. In order to discover the truth and find evidence of Sorensen's guilt, Geoffrey will delve deep into his past while Prudence casts herself as his next victim—putting her own life at grave risk . . .

This is the third book I've read in this series and unfortunately I've found that the books have become less and less interesting. I really loved What the Dead Leave Behind and I thought Lies That Comfort and Betray was good but not as good as the previous book. This book is a distant third. The main reason for this is the fact that there is little to no mystery in this book. We know who murders whom and even why pretty much from the start. Add to that Prudence being stupidly reckless in the name of independence and it just made for a disappointing read. Sorry Prudence but if you want to be taken seriously stop doing stupid things and use your brain a little bit more.

One thing I've been waiting to develop more is the relationship between Prudence and Geoffrey. After three books of almost no movement on that front, it does look like maybe that will change in book four. I really hope so because I found the characters and relationships rather boring in this book. They all just seemed a little cardboard here, which shouldn't be the case after three books. I'm not giving up on this series yet, but I'm less enthused about it now.

Like the previous two books in the series, this one inspired a couple of web searches. This time around it was Mullett's Monstrosity -- the post office building that stood in New York City during that time period, and postmortem cabinet photography -- what a weird and rather macabre fad from that time period.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

I read the first book in this series and really enjoyed it. I was drawn to it because I really enjoyed the Deanna Raybourn - Lady Julia Gray series. This is the third in this series (I believe) and it was just as good as the first one. There are lots of characters and many paths to follow and a few times I got a little bored with the back and forth conversations that didn't seem to add anything to the mystery. The best part of these books is the strong female but for some reason she always seems to get herself in trouble and has to be saved by the man. Maybe the next book would be written so that Prudence saves Geoffrey! Overall a great story with a twisty ending.

This is the first time reading a story by this author, but it won't be my last! I immediatly got sucked into this story set in the Gilded Age of New York. The plot has smart female investigator, murder and mystery. There is some romance but mostly action.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This is the third book of the Gilded Age Mysteries. I have not read the first two, but it did not take away from enjoying this installment! The story pulled me in right from the beginning. 1889, New York, murder and mystery. A great combination for any story! I love how the leading investigator is Prudence, who is a "I won't take no for an answer" kind of woman. I now need to go back and read the other two novels!
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read for an honest review.

Always happy to discover an author who’s new to me! I enjoyed this one! Unfortunately I didn’t realize going in that this was the third book in the series (I always hate not starting at the beginning!), but I’m looking forward to going back to read the first two ASAP.

Our sleuths are an orphaned young woman whose father was a well-respected judge (she wants to be a lawyer) and an ex-Pinkerton detective from North Carolina now making his home in NY. Diabolical villains, a hint of romance and a well-plotted story. Especially ❤️ the courageously determined Prudence! She’s one of those characters that you feel like you already know and would like to be friends with.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Kensington for the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.

LET THE DEAD KEEP THEIR SECRETS by Rosemary Simpson is the third novel in the Gilded Age Mystery Series. The novel is due out on November 27th 2018 by Kensington. The first two novels in the series are WHAT THE DEAD LEAVE BEHIND (April 25th 2017 by Kensington Publishing Corporation) and LIES THAT COMFORT AND BETRAY (January 30th 2018 by Kensington).

In late 1880s New York City, heiress Prudence MacKenzie is stepping far outside the boundaries of what is deemed appropriate for young ladies of quality. Prudence, along with ex-Pinkerton detective Geoffrey Hunter, are the owners and operators of a private detective firm. Their cases lead them all over the city - from the slums where the poor live in filth and poverty to the elaborate mansions of the wealthy - and into various dangerous situations. In LET THE DEAD KEEP THEIR SECRETS, Prudence and Geoffrey are hired by an opera singer who believes that her twin sister and her newborn daughter were murdered shortly after the child's birth. As Prudence and Geoffrey investigate the widower, Aaron Sorenson, they learn that not only did he quickly remarry following his first wife's death, but that his second wife is also pregnant and about to give birth. Prudence goes undercover as the second wife's companion, and then - when the second wife dies in childbirth - she sets herself up to be Sorenson's next victim.

I want to start out by saying that I'm a huge fan of the Gilded Age Mysteries, Prudence MacKenzie, and Geoffrey Hunter. Rosemary Simpson brings the Gilded Age to life through her meticulous research. LET THE DEAD KEEP THEIR SECRETS is well-plotted, though sometimes it can be a bit unbelievable. The characters are interesting and well-developed. My only real complaints are that the narrative - which is provided through multiple characters' perspectives - occasionally bounces between various points of view within one scene. It can get a bit confusing and sloppy bouncing from one character's perspective to another all within the same scene. There was also no real secret about who the killer was, and some questions were left unanswered at the end of the novel.

LET THE DEAD KEEP THEIR SECRETS involves one of the most fascinating customs from the Victorian Era - post-mortem photography. I have been intrigued by post-mortem photography (having photographs made of a deceased person since photography was still in it's infancy and not everyone was photographed while they were still alive) since I first learned about the custom, so it was a treat to have characters who were photographers that took photos of the dead. I especially enjoyed that the photographs of Aaron Sorenson's two deceased wives and their children were part of the evidence in Prudence's and Geoffrey's investigation.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Let the Dead Keep Their Secrets is the third in this series and it did not disappoint. This is a great historical mystery series, that has wonderful interesting characters and wonderful plots. Rosemary Simpson is a great author and everyone should read her books

I loved this read! The first two books in the series were great as was this one. Prudence and Geoffrey continue to grow as characters as does their relationship. I enjoyed the other characters in the book as well. The historical details were well done and the plot moved along at a nice pace and the mystery was well written. The conclusion was satisfying.

Nothing incites crime like great poverty or great wealth.

The Gilded Age settles itself around New York City in 1889. Heads turn to the sound of jingling coins and making easy money at the expense of the naive. And power comes from just how many ill-gotten coins you can line your pockets with.

Prudence MacKenzie and Geoffrey Hunter have established an investigative law firm in the heart of the city. Geoffrey is an ex-Pinkerton and a lawyer raised in the South. Prudence was groomed in law by her father, a New York judge, before his untimely death. She's exceptionally bright and makes no apologies for it. This little bird has long since flown from the gilded cage that tended to entrap women of this era.

Claire Buchanan, a darling of the opera, shows up at their office. Claire sets down postmortem cabinet photographs of her twin sister, Catherine, and her stillborn infant. Sympathy expressions are held at bay while Claire accuses her brother-in-law of murder. Her sister died while Claire was on tour and Aaron Sorensen has been curt with details. He's already remarried two months after her sister's death.

Rosemary Simpson draws us into this time period with emphasis on peculiar customs and habits of the Gilded Age. And she's done it so well. The black and white cover of the book has us following in the footsteps of a woman who may find herself in danger through faulty decisions. The proof of crime will be in the hands of Prudence and Geoffrey. But they will meet up with some shifty characters with brass hearts. Getting to the truth may even put Prudence, herself, in great danger.

I received a copy of Let the Dead Keep Their Secrets through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Kensington Publishing and to Rosemary Simpson for the opportunity.

I have enjoyed this exciting, evocative series and am very much looking forward to future installments. The characters are all interesting and well drawn, the historical elements are usually correct, and romance is never allowed to overwhelm the action.

Let The Dead Keep Their Secret is the third book in the A Gilded Age Mystery series.

This is a wonderful addition to this exciting series set in 1889 New York City. The author does a wonderful job setting the reader in the time period with description a of the homes, the period clothing, and the city of New York.

The story centers around the investigative law office of Prudence MacKenzie and Geoffrey Hunter and their secretary, Josiah Gregory. Claire Buchanan. A cover for the Met Opera company has come to their office to hire to investigate the death of her twin-sister Catherine, she feels that Claire’s husband, Aaron Sorensen. When Claire returns from a tour of Europe, where she was performing in Aida. She relates that Lucinda Pallazzo how Sorensen had vastly restricted her contact with anyone outside of their home during her pregnancy and how Catherine and their baby dies less than a day later. Claire also lets them know that she was going to confront Sorensen, but as she was nearing his home, she notices a lady exiting the house who was addressed as Mrs. Sorensen and who was clearly with child. When a sandbag falls from above the stage, as the cast is about to perform a rehearsal, and kills Lucinda, Claire is sure it was meant for her.

As Prudence and Geoffrey are into the investigation they begin to agree that Sorensen might have been instrumental in the death of his wife and the current wife may also be in danger, too. They soon learn that both wives would inherit a substantial estate and Sorensen seems to always be in need of money to pay mounting gambling debts. At this time, it was popular that people would have photographs taken of their deceased to help in the grieving. Through devious means, Prudence and Josiah are able to get the glass negatives that were taken of Catherine and the baby and with help of a police photographer, Jacob Riis, they are pretty certain that they didn’t die a natural, but still another piece of proof before calling in the police.

This story is well-plotted and an interesting story with an exciting ending. It was definitely a book that I found hard to put down. There is a cast of wonderful and well-developed characters. This series is one of my favorite historical mystery series.

I am eagerly looking forward to the next book in this interesting and exciting series.