Yet again McMillan brings not only a story to life, but a setting to life! This mystery was fun to read, fun to solve, and just overall a joy to be a part of :)

I received a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this continuation of the DeLuca mysteries. I love visiting Boston through the eyes of these characters. McMillian brings the city to life.

Murder in the City of Liberty is about Reggie Van Buren who is determined to bid goodbye to fine china and the man her parents expected her to marry. She escapes to Boston. and discovers he has a talent for sleuthing Now, mix in a murder and this is a great read.

Murder in the City of Liberty has all the earmarks of being a sweet, classic hit -- socialite-turned-independent-woman and her reserved, caring detective partner solve mysteries set in the charming city of Boston in the 1940s. Unfortunately, I found the characters to be too basic, the plot twists too predictable, the dialogue forced, and the action a little implausible (however, it's basically a whodunnit; I understand implausible action is the name of the game, so I'll give a little extra grace!). Of *course* there is romantic tension (the main characters saving each other's lives, the annoyingly high-class significant other...) and there are adventures, both of which make this an enjoyable, if formulaic, read.

I love a good, fun murder mystery! And this one fit the bill! I really enjoyed this one! The pacing was great, I loved the characters, and I loved the mystery!

This was an advance copy via NetGalley, in return for an unbiased review. I think I'm slightly delayed finishing this book but as I can see, it took me over 2 months to read as it was a slog. This should be a mystery with a little romance. Instead it's mostly romance with a hint of two mysteries that doesn't really go anywhere. The story starts with Reggie nearly drowning, but no explanation as to why. It felt in need of a good editor to weed out the repetitions - I lost track of the commas of dark hair, wide blue eyes, etc. as Reggie and Hamish moon over each other. And what was with the "obsidian eyes flashing", only to be followed by the same character who "swerved to dagger Phin with his eyes". How the hell do you dagger someone with your eyes? Or stab a look at someone? And PLEASE - stop using posit wrongly. Posit means to put forward something as fact. You can't posit a question. I can't say I enjoyed this, it just felt like hard work, unfortunately.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40590406-murder-in-the-city-of-liberty" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Murder in the City of Liberty (A Van Buren and DeLuca Mystery #2)" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1529499658l/40590406._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40590406-murder-in-the-city-of-liberty">Murder in the City of Liberty</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14165949.Rachel_McMillan">Rachel McMillan</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3328481606">2 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This was an advance copy via NetGalley, in return for an unbiased review. I think I'm slightly delayed finishing this book but as I can see, it took me over 2 months to read as it was a slog. This should be a mystery with a little romance. Instead it's mostly romance with a hint of two mysteries that doesn't really go anywhere. The story starts with Reggie nearly drowning, but no explanation as to why. It felt in need of a good editor to weed out the repetitions - I lost track of the commas of dark hair, wide blue eyes, etc. as Reggie and Hamish moon over each other. And what was with the "obsidian eyes flashing", only to be followed by the same character who "swerved to dagger Phin with his eyes". How the hell do you dagger someone with your eyes? Or stab a look at someone? And PLEASE - stop using posit wrongly. Posit means to put forward something as fact. You can't posit a question. I can't say I enjoyed this, it just felt like hard work, unfortunately.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1328541-beachcomber">View all my reviews</a>

Revisiting the world that Hamish DeLuca and Reggie Van Buren inhabit is such a treat. After getting to know the pair, seeing them delve into the vibrancy of 1930s Boston, in Murder at the Flamingo, Rachel McMillan’s Murder in the City of Liberty offers the perfect follow-up—more murder and mystery, more exploration of history and culture, more relationship tension and character growth. I’m here for it all, and I loved it.

Hamish and Reggie have been sleuthing together for a couple years now, and their newest case for baseball player Errol Parker brings with it the reality of racism, especially in light of World War II. The danger enmeshed in the grittier, darker side of the era’s Boston proves ever-present as the pair draws closer and closer to the truth.

Yet, the primary focus of Murder in the City of Liberty is not the mystery the title suggests, but instead, the relationships—Hamish and Reggie with one another, as well as the characters surrounding them. Friendship, family, and romance (plus a rootedness to place) all play a part in this character-driven story, and McMillan writes it so well.

I definitely recommend Murder in the City of Liberty. (But do yourself a favor and be sure to read Murder at the Flamingo first.)

I love! love! love! this series. While it might take a bit to get the actual mystery - the relationship between the two main characters and the setting make it very enjoyable. For those looking for a hardboiled, murder in the gutter story, this book is not for you. If you are interested in more of a Golden Age, cozy-style, you'll be in for a treat, Though I would recommend reading the first book in the series first because you'll see the relationships grow.

This book is everything I love! I’m such a sucker for stuff like this- and the COVER 🥰 but it was also SO GOOD. I Will definitely be recommending for anyone looking for a mystery but also especially those who look for Janet Evanovich titles etc

What a fun ride of a read Hamish& Reggie are so entertaining love the sparks that fly between them add in the mystery and this is a wonderful feel good series.#netgalley#thomasnelsonbooks

Slickly Written Historical Mystery....
A Van Buren and DeLuca mystery - the second in the series, a sequel to 'Murder at the Flamingo' - and a new case for Hamish and Reggie to investigate. Plenty going on here - the high tensions of a 1940's Boston setting, mystery and much melodrama and more than a dash of romance. Slickly written and more than a pleasure to read.

Murder In The City Of Liberty is the second book in the DeLuca and Van Buren Mystery Series. I highly recommend reading the first book in the series, Murder at the Flamino prior to reading this book. The author, Rachel McMillian gives enough clues of what happened in the last book for you to understand what is happening, however it is much more enjoyable if you have read the prior book. I love the spunky personality of Regina “Reggie”. Her independence journal was a great touch for a young woman who is leaving behind the sheltered lifestyle that she was raised in. Hamish is such an endearing character; he is so real! It was hard for me to watch him struggle with anxiety attacks. I enjoyed watching the interaction between Reggie and Hamish. The author did a good job of bringing the political and social climate of 1940 Boston to life on the page. I particularly enjoyed the way she brought baseball into the story. She had an inventive way to show the interactions between the various ethnic groups. McMillian has given me characters that are easy to love, easy to hate and some that your heart will ache for. While this book had all of the elements that made me want to love it, I just couldn't. Note: While I would classify this as a clean fiction book, I don’t know that I would necessarily classify it as a Christian Fiction.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The second installment of the Van Buren and DeLuca Mystery series, In this case DeLuca and Van Buren are called to investigate some seemingly harmless pranks by the Boston Police Department. However the victim of these pranks, Errol Parker, who is having a good run in the farm league is frightened for his life and views these pranks as actual hate crimes.

Overall this novel was good! I would be interested in reading further installments of this series.

(I love that Hamish DeLuca is from Toronto, my hometown)

Reggie Van Burden and Hamish DeLuca have continued their amateur sleuthing adventures ever since the events of Murder At The Flamingo two years prior. When pranks on an African American minor league baseball player turn foul, Reggie and Hamish plunge into the darker corners of Boston politics to uncover the source.

I really like these two main characters. They are strong and unique, and Reggie's waffling between her privileged socialite upbringing and her desire for independence rings true. Hamish is lovable, and I appreciate the author's desire to bring awareness to the anxiety that hounds thousands of people every day, and in an accurate historical setting for these novels.

This story lacked quite a bit in terms of plot. The mystery was hard to follow, and I agree with other reviewers who have said the scenes were not written in such a way that the reader could visualize what was happening. There were also some interesting choices like giving characters very similar names (Reid and Reis), or names similar to places when there was no connection between the two (Parker and the Parker House Hotel). It was also confusing as to what exactly was going on with Cousin Luca. He was not there but very much there at the same time.

The long and short of it: I loved every scene which focused on Hamish and Reggie, and I made it through the rest. The last few scenes with Nathaniel were adorable as well. This author's strengths are definitely in characterization and setting!

I received my copy of the book from the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Murder in the City of Liberty by Rachel McMillan is book 2 in the Van Buren and DeLuca Mystery series. In this novel, the unlikely duo set out to solve another mystery set in Boston of years past. I found the novel to be intricately researched and its depiction of Boston was one of my favorite parts of the novel. It is clear that this author values a setting as much as characters. That being said, I think the descriptions can feel a bit too much at times, making it hard to get through the novel. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

This is the second book of the Van Buren and DeLuca Mystery series. Hamish and Reggie has established their own agency where they help the people of Boston, but really conducting their own investigations. We left Reggie in a close relationship with Vaughan Vanderlaan (but developing romantic feelings for Hamish), and Hamish in love with her. The talented baseball player, Errol Parker, hires them to investigate what seemed to be harmless pranks but are actual manifestations of hate crimes. Add to that the trouble a white supremacist group is causing, some shady deals with the powerful men of the underworld, and a horrible murder, and you have Murder in the City of Liberty.

This book is too much. There are a lot happening, as if there'll be no third or fourth or later books in the series. You have hate crimes, racism and white supremacy, the beginnings of the Second World War, rich men growing richer from exploiting immigrants and those living in the tenements, the criminal underworld and their ties to the greedy elite, women's rights and independence - a lot of social issues have been mentioned, and I can't keep up. I like historical mysteries and the tie-in to real historical events and social issues, but it's like everything is crammed here.

This book somewhat veered into melodramatic territory with Reggie and Hamish in the spotlight. I was kind of irked at Reggie because she's torn between two lovers, so to speak, and she's chastising herself for that, but she still does it. She was acting like a hypocrite for playing with feelings of two men who adores her, even if she's supposed to be "independent" - what was the point of running away from everything and starting a new life in Boston? And Hamish was so self-pitying and self-deprecating that it's kind of annoying sometimes. He has great qualities, he's smart and he's good-looking, and he devotes himself like a puppy dog. I don't like that he's still so fragile; he ran away from a budding legal career and is doing good work in the slums of North End, Boston, and it's like he's still this soft-hearted, naive person. These two are still tied to their pasts. I like how Hamish is all honorable and kind, but he should just leave Reggie (since she's too unstable), and find a stronger partner. (And Cousin Lucas is still behind and at the front of things, though it's true that his one redeeming value is his love for Hamish.)

I really feel a lot of sympathy for Hamish in this book. He's loyal to people he cares for, and yet they disregard him and hurt him, consciously or otherwise. In my opinion, he should just tell them to "eff off" and go his own way.

The murder was tragic in the sense that it's inhuman and impersonal. The victim was a small cog in the inner workings of shady criminals who only thought of themselves and how they would profit. I felt incensed and angered at the thought that people who are desperate to make their dreams come true become playthings and/or tools of avaricious and self-serving criminals who think they're untouchable kings.

I hope Reggie improves her character, because she's always referencing the strong and independent women in movies but she's not doing anything. (I hope Hamish drops Reggie, and finds a new partner or he ventures out solo.) Despite my strong feelings, I would still want to see this resolved, and I wonder what would happen to everybody now that some secrets are revealed and World War Two is upon them.

*** I got a copy of this book from NetGalley. These are all my own opinions.

Title: Murder in the City of Liberty

Author: Rachel McMillan

Series: Van Buren and DecLuca Mystery book 2

Chapters: 21

Pages: 325

Genre: Historical Mystery

Rating: 5 stars

Murder in the City of Liberty by Rachel McMillan is the second and final book in the Van Buren and DeLuca series I believe. I loved getting more of Reggie and Hamish story. Hamish is one of my favorite heroes of literature and a big reason why is because he's not a perfect hero he's own the nerdy side and he's learning to deal with his anxiety. I love that Rachel wrote him as a character that had anxiety, but still a person his condition wasn't all he was.
The baseball aspect of the story was great I loved that both Nate and Hamish were baseball fans. I know a little bit about Boston and the Red Socks, from being a baseball fan myself. Growing up I loved hearing stories from my great grandpa about going to baseball games in New York but he wasn't a Yankee's fan instead he was a Dodgers fan to the point when the team left New York he was still cheering them on.

I have to say I loved how the book ended and that certain realized that what they really wanted was right in front of them the whole time.
This book is great for fans of historical mysteries and fans of classic 1930s movies. I always I look forward to the next book by this author.


I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Murder in the City of Liberty whisks you away on a mystery and adventure that’s really about the characters and friendships. Loyalty, romance, relationships and their ties to the past, grace, and social justice are all themes displayed in an immersive setting of Boston with its cobblestones and steeples. I feel like I could map Boston from the descriptions Hamish and Nate give!

Rachel McMillan writes stories for the romantic at heart. I’m not referring to “love stories”, though a hefty dose of starry eyes, dancing, and the delights of attraction are all found in the pages of this story. I’m referring to the slight idealist slant of her stories with characters to root for and eventual happy endings. A balance of realism is always present, too, portrayed through the realities of the era and their parallels to today’s social and cultural challenges. HOPE is always present.

You probably know I’m here for the romance. Especially this slow-building, delicious connection and camaraderie between Hamish and Reggie. I thought I wanted Reggie to have an “Aha!” moment, but I was wrong. What Rachel gives readers is a gradual recognition where Reggie’s concerned, the sparks finally making sense with just how intertwined Hamish is with her daily life and happiness. And with her “journal of independence”. It is perfect!

Within the romantic aspect of the story, the truth of how Reggie is changing and realizing her path in life is magnificent. I really like how she reconciles her past with her identity, embracing how her choices were not in vain but a part of herself, part of what makes her tick and what determines the life she is meant to choose.

Let’s talk about two of the secondary characters: Nate and Luca. They couldn’t be more different, but both have a deep and meaningful connection with Hamish. Both are catalysts for Hamish’s growth. I have liked Nate from the very beginning, but this story makes him one of my very favorite secondary characters who gets to steal the scene more than once! I appreciated the way he reminds Hamish that patience is required for change. And I liked how a particular thing surprised Nate near the end 🙂

And Luca. He brings the theme of loyalty to the forefront. It’s funny how he shapes, defines, even dictates the progression of the story yet he’s hardly “present” on the page. Only a strongly written character can have that kind of presence through a story, to be both likable and disruptive at the same time.

The brave thing Rachel McMillan is doing with these characters is shining a light on mental illness and bringing awareness through the HERO of the story. In this second book, we often see Hamish through the lens of his closest circle, showing both their familiarity with him and the grace they extend as they embrace each other’s imperfections. The maturing in this is twofold: growing Hamish as a person and McMillan’s story style and presentation developing alongside.

I could go on and on about this story, how it incorporates current events of its era, how it handles prejudice and war, how it shows the fallacy and strength of human nature. Wit, baseball, cannolis, smart banter, nods to classic films, end-of-the-world-kisses, and blue eyes are just the icing on top of this one-of-a-kind adventure that I’m sure to love even more upon rereading!

Thank you to Netgalley for the review copy. This is my honest review.

When this book popped up for review, I was thrilled! I haven’t read the first book in the series, but it has been on my radar. Then this one came up and I was eager to dive in.

I am absolutely in love with the cover and can’t get enough of the colors and the gorgeous art deco details in the background. I felt like the cover absolutely captures the time period and would make readers excited to pick this one up……I know I was excited!

With this being the second book, I was hopeful that I hadn’t missed too much of the character back stories and that I wouldn’t be too lost. I also liked that it was set in Boston and not the typical New York or London settings that are so popular in many historical mysteries.

Summary

Determined to make a life for herself, Reggie Van Buren bid goodbye to fine china and the man her parents expected her to marry and escaped to Boston. What she never expected to discover was that an unknown talent for sleuthing would develop into a business partnership with the handsome, yet shy, Hamish DeLuca.

Their latest case arrives when Errol Parker, the leading base stealer in the Boston farm leagues, hires Hamish and Reggie to investigate what the Boston police shove off as a series of harmless pranks. Errol believes these are hate crimes linked to the outbreak of war in Europe, and he’s afraid for his life. Hamish and Reggie quickly find themselves in the midst of an escalating series of crimes.

When Hamish has his careful constructed life disrupted by a figure from his past, he is driven to a decision that may sever him from Reggie forever . . . even more than her engagement to wealthy architect Vaughan Vanderlaan (summary from Goodreads).

Review

So, I think I should have read the first book before this one. I did feel like I was missing some plot holes and little nuances of the story. I think the author attempted to help new readers orientate in the story, but for me, I felt like I would have appreciated more of the story if I had read the first book and then started this one.

I did like that this book had a lot of romance, but I was surprised that the romantic elements outweighed the mystery in some spots. It’s such a delicate balance when incorporating romance into mystery novels but even if this was a little heavy handed on the romance, I found that I enjoyed the romantic elements and continued to mostly stay invested in the mystery. I thought Reggie and Hamish has great chemistry but I would have liked to have had a little more focus on the mystery itself as this book series seems to be more of a detective series.

I did like how well Boston was described by the author. I felt like I was there and could see everything. But then I felt like that same descriptiveness didn’t carry over all the time. There were some times in the action sequences that needed more descriptions about how things happened.

This one landed firmly in the middle for me. On one hand I didn’t love it like I was expecting to but on the other hand I wasn’t sure if that was because I hadn’t read the first book or if I truly just didn’t like the novel. In the end I decided to go for a 3 star review. I don’t know that I would read any more books in the series without first going back and reading the first book as it seems like things would make a lot more sense then,

Book Info and Rating

Kindle Edition, 336 pages
Published May 28th 2019 by Thomas Nelson
ASIN B07DT69ZM3
Free review copy provided by publisher, Thomas Nelson in partnership with TLC Book Tours, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 3 stars
GenreL historical fiction, historical mystery

My Thoughts:
This was such a fun read. I loved this view on a time in history that I’m always trying to learn more about. It’s 1940’s but before the United States enters the war. There are all kinds living here. It’s a great melting pot in Boston. But not everyone is happy.

There are those who don’t like the black or the Irish. But then there are those who don’t like the Italians and the Jews. They want them gone and will stop at nothing to get what they want.

I love a good mystery book and this definitely qualifies. What could Boston and Toronto have in common? Why target an up and coming great ball player? Because he’s black? And why beat up his nephew? It gets worse before it gets better.

Also, where is Hamish’s cousin Luca? And what is going on with Nate? Why is he so preoccupied and why does Hamish get the feeling he’s being lied to?

Full disclosure, I have not read book one of this series. I wish now I had so if you’re like me and want to know the back story that will be alluded to please read book one first.

Other than not knowing everything that is mentioned since I didn’t read book one, this is a great read. I’m a huge fan of mysteries and this was excellent. I loved getting to know the characters and found myself shaking my head at Reggie multiple times. The descriptions of her clothes were awesome too. As I said, this is a time period I like and the clothes are the best!

Favorite character: Reggie and love how she insists it is Reggie. I think it’s fun how she’s trying to be so self-reliant.

A character I loved to hate: Dirk. Enough said. Everyone is going to love to hate him.

The one you can’t help but want to thump over the head but still love anyway: Nate. I mean you want to thump him for keeping secrets but he’s really so loveable.

Vaughan, I felt sorry for. He seems like an up and up guy. Hopefully, there will be a book soon where he gets some good thrown his way.

Recommended! It starts off a bit slow. I’m not sure if that’s because I was a bit lost not having read the first book or if it’s just the writing style. There were a few things the book could have done without. The one thing that really pops into my head is the scene at Hamish and Nate’s house after Reggie almost drowns and needs to be warmed quickly.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.