Spotswood’s newest sojourn with Parker & Pentecost won me over from the first page. A protagonist with a Holmesian air, Lillian Pentecost is New York’s most brilliant investigator; enigmatic, analytical, logical, unruffled. Spotswood expertly partners her with Willowjean “Will” Parker, a wryly amusing, streetwise sidekick who is tough, resilient and thoughtful. In this episode, Forest Whitsun, a well-known defense lawyer, hires the duo to find a missing woman. Perseverance (Vera) Bodine is a retired law secretary, a recluse and shut-in, and an obsessive hoarder possessed of a prodigious memory lots of folk would like to get their hands on. She’s bequeathed the building she owns to Whitsun, which makes him suspect number one in her disappearance, but what did Vera know that put her in danger? And why was she obsessed by the innocence of a recent murder suspect?

Neighbours’ statements prove ambiguous and unhelpful. Vera’s old law firm partners are hiding something, and one of them has a vendetta against Whitsun. Meanwhile, Will has her own problems when she’s mugged and her gun, ID, and car keys are stolen. This brings her into contact with a violent mobster who enjoys playing with knives. And Pentecost is once again targeted by the evil Quincannon, a millionaire, blood-lusting collector of murder paraphernalia,

The ending pays tribute to Poirot’s suspect gatherings, and Spotswood leaves his novel on such a huge cliffhanger that he actually apologises for it. Backstory about previous cases is deftly woven through a narrative which becomes much more than Vera’s disappearance. It’s fast-paced with first-rate, humanly-flawed protagonists, lots of action right up to the last page, and interconnected side stories: a compelling read, which spirits readers into 1947 New York with ease. I’m eager for the next book and strongly recommend this one.

The adventures of intrepid female private detectives Pentecost and Parker continue in 1947 NYC in the 4th mystery in the series, a worthy successor to the first three. Lillian Pentecost is slowed physically by her multiple sclerosis, but her mind is as razor-sharp as ever, and her reputation is unmatched. Willowjean (Will) Parker has worked with her boss for several years now, and her troubled childhood and years of experience with a traveling circus have equipped her with street smarts and physical adeptness.

The pair go all in when local defense attorney Forest Whitsun hires them to investigate the disappearance of a remarkable old woman. Perseverance (Vera) Bodine has an unparalleled memory for everything she has ever seen or heard, which made her indispensable and lucrative to the law firm where Whitsun first worked. Since Vera retired and became a self-imposed shut-in and hoarder, Whitsun has looked in on her frequently but is alarmed when she no longer answers the door.

Thus begins the type of investigation Pentecost & Parker are known for--highly detailed, analytical, intuitive, and daring--involving the FBI, a high-visibility law firm, a former fortune teller, a war criminal, and other assorted supporting characters. It's a dangerous escapade with a satisfying payoff at the end. We also get more glimpses into the detectives' personal lives, especially Will's concerns about a deadly past experience, a humiliating mugging, and her obsession with her new girlfriend, and something as yet unrevealed that has deeply disturbed Lillian.

There are clearly some unresolved issues at the end of the book, including the outcome of two other cases. The author apologizes in the Acknowledgments for ending the book in a cliffhanger, but I don't mind at all. It makes me look forward to the next installment, as the author promises, "The stakes are about to get raised for our heroines." Bring it!

My thanks to Doubleday and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

In the fourth installment of the Parker and Pentecost mysteries, Willowjean is taking ever larger risks, from facing down a Coney Island mobster to braving her worst claustrophobic attacks while searching the apartment of a missing hoarder. She's also forced to reevaluate everything she thought she knew and find humanity in some adversaries she once thought irredeemable (lawyers and FBI men). Sptoswood's real strength is in making readers care about every character by showing their foibles and what they care about most. This series is strong, and I can even forgive the shocking cliffhanger at the end--I just hope I won't have to wait too long for installment #5.

Murder Crossed Her Mind is the fourth Parker and Pentecost mysteries by Stephen Spotswood. When the detective duo is tasked with finding Vera Bodine, and elderly woman who used to work in a lawyers office and had a talent for remembering things, they end up chasing Nazis, gangsters and the FBI while Willa also tries to deal with a couple who robbed her. As usual, the setting in 1947 New York adds to the story.

The fourth installment in the Pentecost and Parker series, written in the style of the 1940s and 50s , hard-bitten, pull no punches crime stories.

Vera Bodine, an elderly recluse, is missing and her friend becomes concerned, because Vera never left her apartment - ever. Vera is a former law firm secretary with a photographic memory. Did she simply wander off or did someone become concerned about that photographic memory and think she might start telling secrets? Will and Lillian, called to investigate the situation. Will had a bit of bad luck herself - she got mugged and Lillian's Packard stolen. Will's gun is stolen, along with other personal items and Will, too upset to tell Lillian what really happened, tries to sort it out by herself. Meanwhile, Lillian is fighting some battles of her own. Their search for Miss Bodine uncovers possible Nazi officers, a murder, and an FBI connection.

Another nice addition to this series.

While this one was still an enjoyable read, I felt like it was the worst of the series so far. It reminded me a little bit of the first half of book #3. I feel the books are at their best when Parker and Pentecost are together. I felt like this book was really missing Ms. Pentecost.

Still an enjoyable read and looking forward to book 5. At least, there better be a book 5.

Willow Jean Parker (Will) and her boss, private eye maven Ms. Pentecost are at it again. They are hired to find a missing elderly lady who is a class A hoarder and they can't figure out where she went or why someone is looking for her so hard. Could she just have incredible deductive powers, a fantastic memory and figure out something that someone else didn't want found. Of course there are other problems going on like Will getting mugged with the Packard and her pride being taken for a ride. This is another fabulous addition to a series that features tough women in charge of their own life despite the men around them that want to take that power away. Great characters and gritty crime noir of yesterday is an irresistible combination. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

Stephen Spotswood hits another one out of the park. Intriguing and fascinating case with characters that contunue to grow. Willowjean is maturing and continues to learn from her partner and mentor and remains clever, funny and she can really crack-wise. Wonderful twists as these two smart detectives solve the case! Looking forward to the next book. I would love a book with the story of Perseverance (Vera) Bodine’s life!

Once again a captivating story that had me on the edge of my seat, and left me eager for the next book. I love the slow build that we get for the plot, as well as the many layers we continue to learn about both Parker and Pentecost. Both of these characters have grown over the series, and learning more about them makes me not only more invested in them, but makes them feel like real people.

I am always impressed by Will Parker's character - seeing a bi (somewhat genderfluid) Private Detective is unusual let alone one in the 1920s, but her character, choices, and plots always feel real and thoughtful. Which considering the author is a cis straight man I have been skeptical, but with each additional book in this series I am constantly reassured that Will is in good hands.

I won't say that this is my favorite book in the series (I still hold a huge spot for Murder Under her Skin), but this book is definitely one of my favorites. The directions that this story took were fascinating, and I am always impressed at the many different 1920s New Yorks that exist and are brought to life in each book. The research and care the author takes is always evident in the rich landscape we see all of the characters placed in. As with the rest of the series, all the layers and plots were woven together beautifully, despite ending on a pretty big cliffhanger I felt like the story was pulled together well and it didn't feel like the story was half done.

I feel like I hand-sell this series all the time, and with this addition and more to come, I don't see that stopping any time soon.

Another Pentecost and Parker mystery measures up to the earlier titles. This one leaves us with a cliffhanger. Whitsun, a defense lawyer, comes to the detectives with a missing person case. Vera Bodine, a secretary at his former high end law firm has disappeared. She is a reclusive retiree with a photographic memory and Whitsun has taken to biweekely wellness checks and grocery deliveries. Bodies are mounting, the FBI gets involved and Nazis or former Nazis are appearing. Mob involvement as well. A fast read!

The Pentecost and Parker series revolves around the odd pairing of Will Parker--a former circus roustabout--and the acclaimed lady detective, Lillian Pentecost in post-WW2 New York City. The stories have a bit of everything to evoke the time period--underground nightclubs, the growth of Hoover's FBI, the changing role of women in society--as well as compelling mysteries. And since all great detectives need a nemesis, Pentecost and Parker have two that hover on the periphery of many of their cases. I highly recommend the latest, and can't wait for more in Will's continuing chronicles.

Thanks to Doubleday Books for access to an ARC on NetGalley.

It's like Nero Wolfe, but it isn't.
The brilliant detective is a woman, but she doesn't raise orchids.
Archie, the sidekick, is called Will, but she's a woman.
The victim is a hoarder with a mind like a steel trap.
This is book four in the series, but it promises many more to come.

4.5 stars.

This series just keeps getting better! I love the characters and the time period. This one had a lot of disparate elements, and I thought I knew where the story was going, but there were quite a few surprises for me.

It ended on such a cliffhanger!

Will is assistant to the famous P.I. Lillian Pentecost. Will, short for Willowjean, finds herself involved in more than case, but the big one involves the disappearance of Vera, an elderly woman with a remarkable memory. Vera has become reclusive over the past few years, so the fact that no one knows where she is is especially troubling. In addition to trying to find clues to solve her cases, Will is pining for her girlfriend Holly who is off in the country finishing her novel. There are a lot of pieces to the puzzle, but it’s an entertaining story.

Immediate five stars from me, and read in one sitting. I am obsessed with this historical mystery P.I. series and especially with Will, because it's hard to find such a sharp protagonist who is also badass and bi, and especially the snark and how she doesn't pull any punches. Plus I have never ever guessed whodunnit in this series and I appreciate the twists and turns and especially Pentecost's intellect and her and Will's chemistry together. I loved the layers of this novel and how everything was woven together and then picked apart as this duo is wont to do. Can't wait for the next installment!

Thanks to Doubleday and NetGalley for this e-arc!

#MurderCrossedHerMind #NetGalley

I love Lillian Pentecost and Willowjean "Will" Parker so much that the author can literally throw 50 characters at me without my DNFing a title in this series, and it seemed as though this book had at least that many. Hopefully in the follow-up outing, the plot will narrow the cast of characters down considerably so that I don't get so confused. The detective asking the detectives to solve a murder in which a victim was asking that yet another mystery be solved/murderer be detected, with additional detectives horning in on both murders, mixed with various mysterious side plots, is a big ask.

Will's voice was a bit different which was a risk; Will's narrative voice is what makes the series. I am willing for her to mature (a bit) but I don't want her changed too much. But this is my girl, jumping in and taking insane chances left and right, both with her life and with her heart. She is much more protective of Pentecost than she is of herself. As some of the issues she was struggling with resolved during the book, she was more of her old wisecracking self.

When Vera Bodine, a recluse and former law firm secretary, goes missing, a friend hires detective Lillian Pentecost and her assistant Willowjean "Will" Parker to investigate. Their work leads them into a tangled web of leads, including a former Nazi officer, the recent murder of a young woman, and a possible connection to the FBI.

While the third book in this series was a bit of a disappointment, Spotswood is back on track with this fourth Pentecost and Parker title. His writing evokes the 1940s NYC setting, from fashion to automobiles, as well as attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community. The plot is well thought-out without being convoluted, and a continuing thread involving a character from the third book will please readers who enjoy a longer story arc. Recommended for historical mystery readers and fans of books with strong female characters.