This wasnt too bad of a story but I dont think these were written for someone like myself I dont think I will continue to read them.

Fun, engaging suspenseful historical fiction murder mystery. Most of the characters and background story were true, fun to see that at the end.

I was not to get interested in this book and I did not finish it. The characters and the plot did were not able to catch or keep my attention

I love this series! The main character is smart and resourceful, and the mysteries are compelling. The characters are well-developed, leading to intense reader engagement.

This is my first book in this series and it won't be the last. I really like the authors writing style and recommend to any mystery fan.

Lawrence Levy immerses Mary Handley in the seamy side of gilded age New York in Near Prospect Park. Her investigative reporter husband is murdered outside the park in Brooklyn in 1896. Mary has a toddler at home, but she uses her detective skills to track the murderer within the jaded crowd of Stantford White, architect, and his rich friends who specialize in parties with underaged unconscious girls. Theodore Roosevelt, commissioner of police, and her friends in the Brooklyn police help her in this dangerous game. Well written and fastmoving.

This was a very good detective mystery and I love the era and setting. Mary is “a little out there” at times especially during a time when women are to be kept in the background. I liked the addition of real life characters.
Many thanks to Random House Publishing Ballantine and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Detective Mary Handley is a strong, spunky, independent woman living in the late 1800s. This spirited woman in the the three previous books i’ve had the pleasure to read helped solve many crimes in Brooklyn and Manhattan. My favorite Mary Handley novel thus far was the last of Levy’s Handley mysteries, The Last Stop In Brooklyn.” Near Prospect Park showed a different Mary. It was traumatically laced with what women have experienced for centuries when it comes to powerful men. I admire Lawrence H. Levy for broaching the subject of sexual harassment, sexual abuse and the powerless of women in Mary’s time In such a layered history as Manhattan’s wealthiest families elitism. I was born in New York and knew of Gilbert’s history and President Teddy Roosevelt’s history, but, i forgot about Stanley White’s significant role in Manhattan’s rise, however, i didn’t know of his horrid life and his traumatizing women so this is not only a good read but was an eye opening educational read too. This is the first book that Levy puts Mary into the role of victim at such a high price and it hit me hard. I had two light issues with the story: I’m not sure Misogyny was a word as much.back in the late 1800s as it is used as prevalently as today although it’s dated back to the 17th century, so that threw me off then, Mary’s rape felt a little too weakly reacted to by so many. Only Mary’s brother Sean’s reaction felt the most honest and real. I wish that somehow we had found out what happened with the unborn baby maybe that is in the next book???

I read this book twice because the first time i had such a hard time liking the beginning and struggled until the middle. Then stopped reading. It just was such an unusual Handley Mystery. I love the other Handley books and knew Levy was a great writer and wanted to give the book another chance before I reviewed it. I’m glad i started over and finished it. The subject matter hit me hard, the writing was extremely well done. Mr. Levy used Mary’s typical lightness and humor to ease the horror in the plot line a bit which was good as this book could’ve been just too heavy to digest. I loved Mary’s new friends, abhorred the antagonists and had to take deep breathes after finishing the book.
This book is 4 star.

Somehow I have missed reading this series but I had no trouble enjoying it. Historical mysteries, especially ones involving famous historical people like Teddy Roosevelt, are on my list of favorites. Add a strong female protagonist - I found this a very good read and I will now add the previous three books of the series to my must read list.
Mary Handley is a detective in New York 1895, married to a newspaper reporter and raising their nine month old daughter. Tragedy strikes her world when her husband is murdered while investigating a story. Emily knows that she must track down the killer and she enlists the help of the New York police commissioner, Teddy Roosevelt. He is just one of the real life characters populating this well written mystery.
Given the subject matter and the time period, this is a bit dark but that is one of the reasons I enjoy historical mysteries. The character of Mary is well developed - she is smart, clever, strong in both mind and body and very determined. The mystery itself kept me engaged to the last page, full of the twists, turns and red herrings that I want in my mysteries. I'm looking forward to catching up with the previous three titles in the series. I'm sure I won't be disappointed.
My thanks to the publisher Ballantine Books and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

"Daring Brooklyn detective Mary Handley teams up with Teddy Roosevelt to solve her husband’s murder, only to run afoul of nineteenth-century New York’s elite when she uncovers a dangerous conspiracy.

It’s December 1896, and after marrying a muckraking reporter, detective Mary Handley turns her focus from pursuing new cases to raising her newborn daughter. But when her husband turns up dead, Mary knows her next case must be solving his death. Harper was working on a big story - did it get him killed? She sets out to solve his murder, soon discovering that the investigation goes all the way to the top of the New York food chain.

Realizing she’s outgunned, Mary turns to the one person who might be able to help: Commissioner Teddy Roosevelt. As the two dig deep into the underbelly of New York’s social scene, they uncover a sinister plot exploiting the city’s most vulnerable citizens."

Like a cozier version of The Alienist.

Near Prospect Park is the 4th Mary Handley mystery by Lawrence H. Levy. Due out 14th Jan 2020 from Random House on their Ballantine imprint, it's 304 pages and will be available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats.

Set at the turn of the 19th century, New York private investigator Mary Handley is investigating a theft and ransom case for W. H. Gilbert (of Gilbert & Sullivan fame) when her life is turned upside down by the murder of her husband, an investigative reporter. It's not long until all the disparate subplots merge together and Mary works through her grief by replacing it with anger and single minded determination to solve the mystery of her husband's murder (among others).

This is surprisingly dark compared to the earlier books in the series. There are themes of suicide, depression, rape/date rape, violence against women, and more. It is well written but it should be noted that apart from direct mentions of characters and historical events from 1896, it reads very much like a novel set in the modern era. The dialogue, jokes, descriptions, and narrative really could be in the present day. Some of the secondary characters (Mary's mother) were abrasive and annoying in the extreme. I've no doubt that it was intentional on the author's part, he's a gifted storyteller.

I enjoyed the book. I'm sure it will be a good match for lovers of historical procedural mysteries.

Four stars.

Mary Handley is (literally) a kick-ass private detective in a time when women were expected to stay at home, raise children, and support husbands. There were historical exceptions to that rule, and Mary meets Lillian Russell, a notable example. Mary, although of “humble origin” rubs elbows with the the highest of New York high society, and is hired by W. S. Gilbert (of Gilbert and Sullivan) to retrieve a stolen manuscript. The job goes badly, and as events spiral downwards for Mary, this book turns very dark.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mary Handley's husband Harper is murdered, she's attacked while doing a job for WS Gilbert, and Susie Johnson has accused some of the most prominent men in 1896 New York of rape. Whew. This was the first of this series for me and it worked fine as a standalone. Mary's a detective- and she's got a few important connections, most notably to TR Roosevelt, who steps in to help her find out who killed Harper. Has Mary bitten off more than she should? She's darn intrepid. A variety of real people make cameos in this fast paced historical mystery; you might find yourself (as I did) googling for more info. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a good read.

I really liked this historical mystery. I hadn't read the first any of the previous books in this series and I confess I was expecting something lighter...this is not a cozy! It's subject matter is dark and in tune with today's "me too" movement.
Mary Handley is a PI...a hard road when women were expected to just stay home and be wives and mothers. At the start of this book Mary's husband is murdered leaving her a widow with a baby daughter. She sets out to find her husband's killer. During her quest for justice we get to meet many real-life historical figures....Teddy Roosevelt, Diamond Jim Brady and Lillian Russell among them. The author does an outstanding job in giving the reader the feeling of late 19th centuryNew York City.
As I said...I hadn't read any of the previous books but I've since purchased the first 2 and look forward to reading them. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Near Prospect Park is the 4th in a series about Mary Handley, a late 19th century private detective who rubs elbows with New York City's elite and famous while investigating crimes. It works well as a standalone novel.

Mary is hired to recover a stolen play for W.S. Gilbert of Gilbert and Sullivan fame. She sets up a meeting for the recovery of the play, but she is double-crossed and attacked. Her husband, a reporter, was there at the time as part of his own investigation, and was murdered.

Mary begins investigating the murder of her husband, and at the same time trying to substantiate the claims of Susie Johnson, a 15 year old girl who claims she was raped by some of New York's powerful elite. Real life legends make their appearance, as Mary is aided by Teddy Roosevelt, Diamond Jim Brady, and Lillian Russell.

This is a well written historical crime novel. My only reservation is that the protagonist seems almost super human at times. As a woman in the 1890's she both knows jujitsu, and knows how to use it to fight three men at one time while wearing a dress. She is also accepted in New York Society as a detective, which would have been difficult at that time. In addition, she has a great knowledge of Science and uses it to her advantage more than once. All that aside, this is an excellent story, and the addition of real life characters makes it even more intriguing.

If you love historical crime novels, you cannot pass this one up.

I received a free copy of this book from Random House and Ballantine Books via Netgalley. My opinions are my own.

Once again Mary Handley is back on the job. She never actually left, just scaled back her investigations due to motherhood and caring for an infant. Her mother remains as caustic and annoying as ever, constantly pushing and dictating and getting on everyone's nerves. Her brother Sean is still on the police force and has recently become serious about a young woman, finally recovering enough from the grief of his murdered fiancee to move one with life. And Mary is trying to balance the confidentiality of her career with the closeness and trust needed for a healthy marriage.

As in all the mysteries featuring Mary, prominent historical figures and events play a role in the story as well as establishing the setting. Stanford White, Nikola Tesla, and W.S. Gilbert (of Gilbert & Sullivan fame) are just a few of the notables that turn up along the way. But there are themes that resonate with today's headlines as well.. #MeToo finds a place in the predicament of a young girl hired to jump out of a pie at a party for wealthy men, only to be assaulted and then dismissed afterward. The situation of wealthy and powerful men having carte blanche to take advantage of the poor and marginalized and the apathy of officials unwilling to take the part of their victim has not really changed over time.

Mary's feelings of determination, resolve to find the answers, and her ability to push on despite personal loss and the forces working against her are always admirable. Readers who have followed the series will be glad to see her again and cheer for her investigation to bring everyone the justice they deserve.

1896 Brooklyn and a murder mystery. As a detective and on a case Mary Handley's husband, Harper Lloyd is murdered. Harper happened to be a reporter and was currently working on a big case when he was killed. The story brings in the famous and well-to-do citizens of those times including larger than life real people such as Theodore Roosevelt, Pie Girl "Susie Johnson", architect Stanford White, photographer James Breese, Diamond Jim Brady and Lillian Russell. These names alone made the story even more interesting. Mary Handley, the protagonist and central figure, as a female detective is smart, cunning and strong. This mystery set during the Gilded Age draws you in with each page. Entertaining and highly recommended. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Received this through Net Galley and this is a drama,mystery about a woman who doesn't take no very often! I enjoyed this book because of the time period when woman were not to rock the boat,just be married,raise a family but she is her own detective and I do enjoyed Teddy Roosevelt in this story!! Very well written and you will enjoy the troubles and the outcome of the drama! It's a must read for sure!!

If you aren’t familiar with early twentieth century New York, this is the book to introduce you to many of the historical figures of that place and time as well as many of the actual historical events. Although the author occasionally drops in things that wouldn’t be a factor in that time period [DNA criminology, come on, not a credible threat], the story has bright crisp dialogue and focuses on actual events of rape in that period long before me too. Worth reading just to remind ourselves how far we’ve evolved. Murder plays a central role as well in this story of love and loss as does female empowerment. A quick read that educates while it entertains.

historical-figures, historical-places-events, historical-research, private-investigators, murder-investigation, NYC

How could I not want to read this book? It has Brooklyn's Prospect Park and Teddy Roosevelt! It is also populated with the glitterati of the musical stage and the high fliers of New York society with sense of entitlement and their dirty secrets. Mary is a private investigator with a distasteful mother, a goodhearted brother, and some good friends both ordinary people and high profile ones. The murder she is investigating is that of her husband who was shot to death while she was on a case. Pretty well done and filled with history.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine via NetGalley.