I always love the Sarah and Frank mysteries. I think they are better now that he isn’t part of the police department. Things move a lot faster than when he had to report to his superiors all the time. This one was really interesting. It took us into the dark underbelly of New York high society. I never think of the upper classes of the turn of the century being addicted to drugs like opium. Great addition to this series. Keep them coming!

Frank Malloy used to be a police detective. He was good at it but not popular since he wanted to solve crimes, not to take bribes from the rich to ignore their transgressions and possibly frame the poor for the misdeed.

Luckily, he inherited a large amount of money and won the love of Sarah Brandt, a true socialite who became a midwife. They’ve patched together a family with Frank’s son, an adopted daughter, a nanny who is a business partner, a former cop (Italian, hated even more than the Irish), Frank’s mother, and Sarah’s parents. Frank takes cases as a private investigator, not being suited to the life of an idle, wealthy man.

Jack Robinson is a gangster going straight. He longed for a respectable life and enlists Frank and Sarah’s help. Now Jack’s married and they’re expecting their first child. When a hated banker, Hayden Norcross, is killed in his own office, Jack’s sure he’ll become a suspect and with good reason. He hires Frank to find the real killer before suspicion points his way.

The more Frank and Sarah learn about Hayden, the more suspects there are. Hayden had unsavory habits which meant he dealt with criminals. He lied, cheated, and abused women. It’s not a matter of why was he killed or who wanted him dead, but more a question of who got to him first. When a second death occurs, Frank and Sarah know they have to find the killer and fast.

This is book twenty-four in the series. Sarah and Frank are a perfect couple in that they both distance themselves from society life unless it will help a case. Their family ground them in reality and are interesting characters themselves. Sarah’s mother enjoys her occasional assignments during a case just a little too much! For a look back to a time when automobiles were thought to be a whim, class and status mean everything, and crimes are often ignored, this is a perfect series.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.
The newest in the long list of Gaslight Mysteries by this author.
Interesting, fast read with a twisty, innovative plot. Surprise villain
and interesting characters. Some difficulty keeping the large cast of characters
straight since this was the first I have read. Good read for a lazy afternoon.

Victoria Thompson gives us a Gaslight Mystery in Murder on Wall Street. Midwife Sarah Malloy and her private investigator husband Frank engage to find out who murdered a most unpleasant investment broker who swindled his investors. Hayden Norcross had a host of enemies, he beat his pregnant wife whom he was forced to marry after he raped her, and his relations with his family were bad. Sarah, as the daughter of a prominent New York family, has access to many of the suspects and as a midwife helps the pregnant wife of the murdered man.
More twists than a corkscrew. Great historical cozy.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

Victoria Thompson’s novels are much more than mysteries. This cozy includes humor with a charming cast of characters and relationships that enhance the story. She brings history to life, giving color and texture to years she researches well. I appreciate seeing what life and work were like before our modern conveniences and how people dealt with new technology. Regarding the new motorcars, one character’s comments include “I don’t expect this mania for motorcars to last. They’re an interesting novelty, but nothing will ever replace horses”. A passenger’s concern as a driver “careened around corners going at least ten miles per hour” brought another chuckle.

New York City in the Gilded Age is a remarkable place. From the very wealthy to those living on the street, from the cops to the gangsters, and everything in between. As in any era, people aren’t necessarily who they seem to be.

Sarah and Frank are great examples of that. Society ladies are somewhat shocked that Sarah, from one of the oldest families of New York, has been a nurse and midwife, and now has a maternity clinic on the lower East Side. Frank, an Irishman and former police detective, is now a PI and is accepted by Sarah’s father. Both of her parents enjoy helping Frank and Sarah with cases that arise from Frank’s business, even as Sarah did when Frank still worked for New York City Police.

Frank’s business partner is Gino, also formerly of the police department. Maeve, the children’s nanny, is their part-time secretary during the school year and has her own unique qualifications. Frank and Gino have a new client, Jack, a former gangster going straight. Jack is now married to Jocelyn, who had been a patient at the maternity clinic after being raped by the son and partner of an investment banker whose firm was on Wall Street.

Hayden, the man who raped Jack’s wife, was found murdered in his office at the bank. With Jack’s background and what happened to his wife before they met, he knows it could be a matter of time before the police look his way. He wants Frank to find who really killed Hayden.

Hayden leaves behind a widow of just over a month. When Sarah and her mother went to offer condolences to Violet, Sarah learned Violet had been raped by Hayden. Her father forced Hayden to marry her under threat of ruining his family’s bank and a promise of a large dowry. He had been horrible to her, playing evil tricks and beating her. She knew her father wouldn’t have killed her husband, as her parents thought she encouraged his actions.

Frank and Sarah, Gino and Maeve, and Sarah’s parents each contribute to the mystery. Hayden was disliked by most, including his own parents. His temper, opium addiction, and womanizing burned many bridges, and even his father struggles to keep him on at the bank due to his poor work ethic. From the exclusive gentlemen’s club to the opium dens, this case keeps them busy.

The main characters have been developed over the course of the series, and their lives are ever-changing. Each is defined with care, as are those who are only in this novel. The author goes beyond appearances with excellent, realistic conversation and actions. There are many scenes in which this reader almost felt as if she were there.

There are many things I appreciated in this novel. If one hasn’t read the series in order, there is sufficient backstory provided on characters. I enjoy reading the author’s historical notes, as it gives me better perspective on the facts and fiction and how thorough her research is. Plot twists heightened suspense and rearranged the suspect list. I enjoyed how well the six couples work together to gather information and put it together. While some behaviors were startling, I had an idea who the killer was. All loose ends were tied up and the conclusion was satisfying. I highly recommend this riveting read.

Murder on Wall Street is the twenty-fourth book in the Gaslight Mystery Series which is set in New York City in the late 19th century. In this installment, private investigator, Frank Malloy, receives a visit from Jack Robinson. Jack is trying to put his criminal past behind him and become a legitimate businessman for the sake of his new wife and child who is on the way. An investment banker has been killed in his Wall Street office and although Jack didn’t kill him, he has a strong motive. Frank, with the help of his wife, Sarah, must find the real killer to help their friend avoid arrest and scandal because of a crime he didn’t commit.

I have followed this series from the beginning and have loved seeing the characters grow, as well as how the relationship between Frank and Sarah has developed. They moved from acquaintances, to friends, and then to a loving, married couple. Frank and his business partner, Gino Donatelli, have the experience they gained as police officers to make them excellent investigators. Frank’s wife, Sarah, has a way with people and she and her mother are able to gain access to members of high society that Frank and GIno wouldn’t be able to on their own. Sarah’s serious father, Felix, even helps with this case because of his knowledge of the financial world. Frank and Sarah’s nanny, Maeve, who is an aspiring detective herself, also joins in to gather evidence. Maeve is a character I prefer in small doses, so I’m glad she participated, but didn’t monopolize the story.

I like how well all the main characters work together, using their own unique skills to get information, and then sharing what they learned to zero in on the real killer. I’m glad that although Sarah’s life has changed greatly, she still is able to help women in her role as a midwife. This help keeps the series unique and well as highlights Sarah’s intelligence and her caring nature. In this book, her background as a midwife also gives her a reason to form a friendship with the victim’s young, pregnant wife. The murder victim was a despicable character, so there is no shortage of suspects. The author provides a lot of clues, though, so I was able to correctly identify the murderer. There are intricacies to the case that I wasn’t able to figure out, and I wouldn’t have guessed the somewhat unbelievable action the killer takes to try to get away with murder. However, the very end of the book closes on a high note I enjoyed. The mystery stands on its own, so new readers will be able to appreciate the book and returning fans will again like spending time with these characters again as much as I did.

~ Christine

I do like a mystery where the victim has more people happy to see him gone then will be mourning him. As far as despicable victims go Hayden Norcross takes the cake. Really, if Frank, Sarah and pretty much everyone else in New York at the time had decided to call it a win and not investigate the murder I wouldn't have blamed them in the slightest. Of course that didn't happen and because of Jack Robinson's, a family friend with an unsavory past, ties to the deceased they couldn't help but get involved.

The investigation ranges from opium dens in Chinatown all the way to exclusive clubs full of the highest levels of society. I loved how big of a role Sarah's parents, the Deckers, played in this book. Mr. and Mrs. Decker are in the running for favorite side characters - especially Mrs. Decker. They have no real issue using their pretty impressive connections to further an investigation though Mr. Decker really does wish his wife wouldn't be quite so gleeful about it which gave me a giggle.

While I did kind of guess what was going on well before the unraveling this was a compelling mystery that kept me reading. The lack of power and just basic say the women involved have in their life is shocking and heartbreaking. My only real issue with the book is Sarah's nanny/office assistant, Maeve annoyed me. I've always liked her in past books but she came off as just immature and kind of bratty. She doesn't have a huge role in this book so this was a very minimal issue.

If you enjoy historical mysteries with interesting characters and compelling mysteries this is a great series to start with. While there are somewhat complicated personal relationships between the characters enough is explained that I think you can jump into the series where ever you'd like.

This is one of my favorite series. I recommend it to numerous customers. What they do to solve the mystery is always interesting. I also like how the characters continue to grow and their lives move forward.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Murder on Wall Street" is a historical mystery set in New York City in 1900. This is the 24th book in the series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this one didn't spoil the whodunit of the previous mysteries.

This was a clue-based puzzle mystery. Frank, Gino, Sarah, and her parents all helped with the investigation and used their unique skill sets. They asked good questions and investigated many leads, but there were many people who didn't like the murdered man so they had many suspects. Whodunit was a strong suspect for me from the beginning, but I understood why they weren't guessing that person. I wasn't sure if that person had help, though. What happened became clearer as they collected clues. I like that Sarah genuinely helps victims rather than pushing her way into investigating a crime simply for her amusement.

Some interesting historical details were woven into the story. The main characters were nice, engaging people and had realistic reactions to events. There were no sex scenes or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting historical mystery.

After being less than impressed with the direction this series was going, I still decided to give it one more go. Perhaps 24 books is just too many for one series, because I just don't think you can compare the earlier books in this series to the later ones. I noted in a previous review that this series started to wane when Gino and Maeve became too much of a focus, and I didn't even read the last book because it focused completely on Gino. This used to be a good historical mystery series with interesting characters and a slow burn romance but has now just become a jumble of characters who don't really do any actual detecting, but rather spend most of their time gathered together speculating - and I lost count of the number of times Thompson had characters grinning in this one. This book is mostly dialogue and doesn't even include the fun NYC facts that you usually get from this series. I just feel like it has run its course and it's time to move on.

Sarah and Frank and the gang are at it again. In the 24th book of the Gaslight Mystery Series. Murder on Wall Street is just another great story of the Detective Malloy Clan and friends bringing just no matter the social status.

Sarah and Nelson, along with help from their families, Gino, and Maeve, solve another series of murders. This time we learn more about Chinatown, opium, and early investment banks during the early twentieth century. While the lives of the families involved in the murders are depressing and ugly, the regulars in the series really seem to live incredibly happy lives. They also learn sign language as well as driving with relative ease. This is a solid addition to the series.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of Murder on Wall Street.

I really enjoyed this novel, and was happy to see the return of Jack. Murder on Wall Street is full of scandal- rape, opium, murder, mistresses. While I was pretty sure I knew the culprit, I was never entirely sure and I certainly didn’t see that ending coming. Thompson’s books are always fun and interesting, set in New York at the turn of the century, with loveable characters. I highly recommend them for anyone looking for a “cozy”’series that’s easy to read!

This was yet another fun installment in the Gaslight series. It's been fun seeing how Thompson pulls past characters into current works. I am SUCH a fan of Sarah's parents! Her mother tickles me. Seeing the reformed gangster turned respect-seeking businessman and reading how different cultures were shunned or mocked or treated so horribly is a testament to the skill of Thompson's research. What feels like a well-paced cozy mystery is also a well written historical nod to the realities of the day. I really enjoyed the whole concept, and have loved watching this cast of characters develop over the series. Can't wait for the next!

A solid offering in a historical mystery series that's consistently good. Something I particularly like about this series is the character growth and development over the 20+ books--and this offering doesn't disappoint, with some changes for Maeve and Gino.

Loved this book and so happy that there are plenty of earlier books in this series to add to my reading list. The Malloy's draw you right into their lives. He is now a private detective and she is a midwife who cannot help from getting in bed in her husband's business. With a charming set of additional characters, I felt right at home even starting this far into an established series. I highly recommend!

Writing: 3/5 Plot: 4/5 Characters: 3.5/5

Sarah (midwife / nurse) and husband Malloy (ex-cop turned surprise gentleman) return in this 24th installment of the Gaslight Mysteries. Taking place in the “Gilded Age” of New York City (late 19th century), each book embeds a particular aspect of NYC life — Murder on Wall Street starts with the murder of a widely disliked investment banker, proceeds to a search for a fall guy, and expands to opium dens in Chinatown. The detection is always interesting as it takes place on three levels — the streets, high society, and the servants — leveraging the skills and backgrounds of the main characters.

This is a “cozy” so not very stressful. Writing is decent, background is historically interesting and accurate, characters are likable and have a good background story that supports their role in the plot, and the plot held my interest. Fun, easy, read.

Murder on Wall Street by Victoria Thompson. A leisurely paced mystery solved by a recurring cast of characters. The latest book in the Gaslight Series is an entertaining read and a visit with old friends.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

I couldn't put this down. I may not have read every book in the Gaslight Series, but enough that reading this is like seeing old friends. I love the rapport among the major "crime solvers" but also the re-emergence of past characters like Jack Robinson. This series has not gotten old!

This series is consistently spellbinding. The latest story shines a spotlight on a previous character, the engaging Jack Robinson, a former gangster in New York City. Readers have been introduced to Jack previously,as he figured in some intrigue as he started to get out of his dangerous and morally dubious work and began smoothing his rough edges and entering society. In an earlier story, Jack married a pregnant young woman of society whose rapist is a notorious upper class rogue. Now that man, who has impregnanted and been forced to marry another terrorized young woman, has been found murdered. Jack enlists Frank, Sarah, and family to clear this name. Fans who have followed the story of Sarah and Frank will find all the warm, engaging characters from the many other novels now active in this new story. Sarah's society parents have slowly entered into the detecting game, and it is delightful to see them help out the team. Readers will find the most reward in reading this series in order, as Thompson has skillfully created an array of realistic, sympathetic, and entertaining characters.