Fascinating! I loved reading about the origins of the famous Jewish resorts of the Catskills. Molly is quite out of her depth when a murder occurs while she visits Sid's grandparents. The location is quite remote and communication with the outside world is limited. Law enforcement is quite biased against the Jews and Molly despairs of finding the killer. This is almost a locked room mystery, but Molly keeps finding open windows!

In this 20th entry in this enduring series, Molly's friend Sid visits her family in the Catskills, only to find that both she and her young niece Mira are the subject of family matchmaking efforts that neither sought or want. Soon aftereward, Mira's odious and unwanted fiance is shot to death with his own weapon and Molly is on hand to investigate.

As always, Bowen and Broyles do a masterful job of interweaving actual historical events and cultural beliefs from the turn of the 20th century into the narrative, enhancing believability and depth. It is always a delight to revisit Molly and her family and friends Sid and Gus. Jacob Singer, a one-time suitor for Molly's hand, also makes an appearance.

Molly is an admirable determined heroine who is fiercely protective of her friends and family. In fact, it is these characteristics that lead to my only issue with Molly--her impulsivity that often places others in danger, including her friends and her children (including in this case the child she is carrying).

Nevertheless, In Sunshine and in Shadow is a fine addition to Molly's story and a pleasure to read.

Full Disclosure--NetGalley and the publisher provided me with a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.

This is an enjoyable book in the Molly Murphy series. There are some fun characters and overall the mystery is a good one. However, I found my attention drifting away from the story many times.

As an avid fan of the Molly Murphy series, I was ecstatic to receive an ARC of the newest! In this one, Molly gets out of the city to avoid typhoid with her family, eventually landing in the Catskills for a few days with Sid and Gus. Bowen and Broyles did an excellent job of weaving in the history of the Catskills and the anti-Semitism going on at the time with the murder mystery. The mystery itself was twisty and unexpected. I didn't see the ending coming! I also just loved being back with the familiar characters. I'm so glad that Bowen brought back the series with her daughter and Molly continues to thrive!

The authors have done a superb job of portraying historical events. Although the book is a little slow in the beginning once Molly visits her friend’s family in the Catskills she is back in investigation mode and the book moves at a better pace. I enjoyed following along as Molly uncovers what actually happened and who committed murder. The authors also do a great job of portraying women’s expected roles in the early 1900s and the attitude toward those of the Jewish faith. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

On the surface, the plot seems rather straightforward. Who killed the wannabe husband of Mira? There are multiple suspects and Molly Murphy Sullivan, albeit pregnant and relatively retired from her detective business, is on the spot to investigate. It's much more than that, however.

While the murder investigation is intriguing, the various facets of the plot are equally so. The expectations and roles of women in 1908 and discrimination against Jews are prominent. The relationship between Sid and Gus, aka Elena and Augusta, isn't spelled out but is clear. So, too, is their support of the women's movement and environmental issues. Then there's the history aspect of the earliest formation of what might be called a Jewish enclave in the Catskills of upper New York. The early idea of building get-away homes/cabins is addressed.

In other words, there's much to take in while pondering whodunit.It's actually been awhile since I've revisited Molly's world but I immediately felt comfortable as I caught up on past events, including her current pregnancy. The authors' descriptions of characters and the settings were lovely, especially in contrast to Molly's usual location in NYC. I could just imagine bouncing along in a horse drawn carriage in the beautifully described areas, much of it park land. You'll also sense Molly's unease at what she's gotten herself into when she stumbles into an environmental protest in the middle-of-nowhere. For someone determined to take it easy this pregnancy, she does have a way of forgetting. Husband Daniel, of course, makes an appearance, partly to help the local police and partly because, quite frankly, he misses his wife and family. I mean, he sent them away to his mother's to avoid the spread of typhoid in the city but Molly still manages to endanger herself.

I won't detail the plot as it's quite interconnected and I don't want to give away anything. The history aspects of the story, of course, appealed to the ol' history major in me as did the well rounded characters. Rhys Bowen and daughter Clare Broyles' collaboration works well. I won't stay away as long next time. Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartin'sPress - #MinotaurBooks for this sneak peak. I enjoyed my trip to the then rustic Catskills.

With typhoid spreading in unexpected places in New York City, Molly Sullivan decides to take her family to stay with her mother-in-law in the country. Growing weary of crocheting for the church fete, she is quick to accept an invitation from her friends Sid and Gus to visit the Catskills. Sid's family has a small establishment for Jewish families to vacation outside of the city and have asked her to come visit as he grandfather's health is failing. Upon arrival, they find her grandfather seeming very well and two men staying in the lodge that have been chosen by a matchmaker for Sid and her cousin Mira. When one of the bridegrooms is killed with his own gun, the police suspect young Mira, none too happy about the match, of pulling the trigger. Molly takes it upon herself to discover the truth of the man's murder. 
This Molly Murphy mystery takes readers to new places and communities in the Catskills. I enjoyed visiting the women's art colony, Amicitia, as well as the Friedmans' lodge, which represents a precursor to the hotels catering to Jewish families that later flourished in the Catskills. 
The series continues to be a good source of cozy historical mysteries featuring likable female protagonists. Even pregnant with her second child, Molly manages to stay independent and get involved in mysteries and adventures. This isn't the strongest entry in the series but puts Molly into a new setting which added interest.

I really enjoyed the latest installment of the Molly Murphy series, set in the Catskills. I enjoyed reading a mystery set in the beginnings of the Jewish resorts in the Catskills as well as historical references to topics such as typhoid and restaurants such as Katz's Deli and Schimmel Knishes. A dash of topics such as antisemitism in the police and women's rights as well. Overall, a suspenseful but also fun read.

Fleeing a typhoid outbreak in New York City, Molly takes the children to her mother-in-law’s house in the country. Molly soon grows bored and goes to join her friends Sid and Gus as they visit Sid’s family at a Jewish bungalow community in the Catskill Mountains. Sid’s family has brought in a matchmaker to find husbands for her and her younger cousin. When the cousin’s intended is shot to death in the woods, Molly finds herself dusting off her old detective skills. The local law enforcement believe that Sid’s cousin is responsible for the murder, and Molly is determined to prove otherwise. The case becomes more complicated when Sid’s (unwanted) fiancé disappears in a blast a nearby mine. Luckily, Molly’s husband, Daniel, comes out from the city to take over the investigation.

IN SUNSHINE OR IN SHADOW gest off to a slow start. It takes some time for Molly to get out of the city and to Sid’s family’s farm. Then there is time spent establishing that the soon-to-be victim is an unlikeable man that has made plenty of enemies. The murder finally kicks off the investigative part of the story, but Molly remains a bit hands-off. Because she is pregnant, she leaves it up to others do some of her investigative work. With each new book in the series, I keep hoping for a return of the old Molly. Since the change in authors, all of the main characters have become a watered down version of their former selves. As long as you can’t separate the old Molly from the new Molly, IN SUNSHINE OR IN SHADOW is still an enjoyable book.

A great addition to the Molly Sullivan series! The familiar characters are always a pleasure to see and the characters that are new in each novel keep things interesting.

I absolutely loved escaping into the world of Molly Murphy, with her latest adventure, In Sunshine or in Shadow!!

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin’sPress for the complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This took a long time to set up and finally get a body, especially since it was obvious who it would be the moment they were introduced. I always hope Molly finds her way back to investigating more openly or even reopening her detective agency. With Daniel not being quite as dismissive of her as he used to be, maybe the series can shift in a new direction. I didn’t love the pacing but fans of the series will like this one.

In Sunshine or in Shadow is the 20th installment in the Molly Murphy series, originally created by Rhys Bowen, and now written in partnership with Bowen’s daughter, Clare Broyles. I have enjoyed every single one, as we see Molly’s upward mobility from a penniless Irish immigrant at the turn of the last century, to having her own detective business, and finally being the wife of a New York City police captain. However, you do not need to read the previous installments to enjoy this one. And, as a disappointed reader of other authors’ series now written with partners,, I am happy to report that the mother/daughter authoring partnership here works extremely well. The quality of this series remains constant.

The novel takes place in 1908, and pregnant Molly, along with her toddler son and teenage ward, are encouraged to get out of the city because of a typhoid epidemic. She stays with her mother-in-law in Westchester County, but is happy to find her Bohemian friends, Sid and Gus are staying nearby. When she visits them, and Sid’s family in the Catskills, she gets caught up in solving a murder and helping protect a young girl from a lazy detective who would arrest her.

The mystery is completely engaging, and I read eagerly to find the culprit. Descriptions of the area and life in the very early part of the 20th century were very interesting. This was the dawn of resorts built for Jewish families escaping the city’s summer heat. We see the bias against Jews and women at that time and cheer the resourcefulness and resilience of these groups.

In my opinion, this is a 5 star read!

-Engaging writing style.
-Fun and interesting plot.
-Good pacing.
-This series would be great to see brought to film or tv. I could really visualize it.
-Based on this book, the first I’ve read by this/these authors, I will read more of this mystery series.
Thankyou to Author’s Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles, Netgalley and Minotaur Books for tte opportunity to read this book in advance of tte publish date.
Charlene 📚🌸🤗 @lastnownext

Well done! In Sunshine or in Shadow is the third book of the Molly Murphy series to be co-authored by Rhys Bowen and her daughter Clare Broyles, and is among my favorites of the entire series. This time around, spunky, independent (and pregnant) Molly embarks on adventures in the Catskills and lands at a Jewish bungalow site - something of a precursor to the Jewish resorts that would flourish in that area in time. The sense of place and character development are strong. The history of the local Jewish community is facscinating. And sadly, the exploration of antisemitism is all too timely. Of note: Some of Molly’s antics endangered both herself and her baby and seemed at once imprudent and unnecessary.

Recommended to fans of the Molly Murphy stories and other historical mysteries featuring strong women. Though this is the 20th book in the series, this novel could be read and enjoyed as a standalone.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press / Minotaur Books for a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

I enjoy this series with Molly Sullivan and her buddies, Sid and Gus. She always manages to find bodies and trouble, she came close to death a couple of times and manages to solve the mystery. Highly recommended, give this series a try!

Interesting new setting outside of New York City! Molly continues to shine in this installment of the the long-running series.

In the third Molly Murphy mystery to be co-authored with her daughter, Clare Broyles, Rhys Bowen delivers another solid historical mystery starring her intrepid Irish sloth. Pregnant with her second child, Molly takes her three-year-old son, Liam and pre-teen ward, Bridie, to her mother-in-law's home during a typhoid outbreak. Her police officer husband, Daniel, has to stay behind in New York to deal with a job-related investigation. When Molly's friends Syd and Gus invite her to them, Molly leaps at the chance. It's no surprise when another murder victim falls in her lap (because everyone knows that an amateur sleuth can't go on vacation without encountering a murder).

I enjoyed this installment in the long-running series. We get some additional insight into Syd's family, who are pressuring her to get married to a Jewish man, even though it's clear she's in a relationship with her "friend" Gus -- but it's a relationship they don't want to acknowledge. While the revelation of the murderer's identity didn't particularly surprise me, I still enjoyed the final confrontation.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my opinions. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Always a huge fan of Rhys Bowen and now that includes Clare Broyles! Being from the Catskills this book definitely brought a smile to my face in many instances. I have been a huge Molly fan for ages and always love a new installment in the series. A great easy read which I highly recommend!

In Sunshine or In Shadow is the 20th installment in this series about Molly Murphy, a woman detective in 1908 New York. I was surprised to learn that this mystery series by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles had already reached book #20. I had read one of the earlier novels in this series but had missed far more novels than I realized. At number 20, Bowen and Boyles have established a well-developed formula for success. In Sunshine or in Shadow is a well-developed and better character study than in the first novel that I read so many years ago. But it does have one serious problem--antisemitic tropes associated with Jews.

Although the plot flows along quite well, In Sunshine or In Shadow is really a careful character study of rural life in 1908. Molly is spending time in the Catskills with friends from New York. Typhoid is making life in the city dangerous, but as happens In Sunshine or in Shadow, life in rural NY can also be dangerous. In addition to murder, there is antisemitism and traditional biases concerning women's societal roles. Molly and friends Gus and Sid are expected to embrace traditional roles as wives and mothers, and any rejection of those roles creates disarray. Bowen and Boyles create situations that allow women to step outside cultural norms, which even in rural life are not welcomed by all the men in the Catskills.

In Sunshine or In Shadow creates a careful study of the culture clash when NY city lives meet NY country life. The dead man is predictable, given that many of the other characters totally dislike him. He perfectly captures many of the cliches associated with Jewish men, which are one area that proves problematic in this novel. Did a greedy man, who wants more money, who blackmails, who deceives, who plots to marry money, really need to be Jewish, thus fitting so many of the antisemitic tropes associated with Jewish money greed? This is a problem that detracts from the plot and the murder mystery. and that will make an otherwise interesting novel offensive to so many readers. Does a murderer also need to be Jewish, as seems likely (no spoilers) given that the murder is not committed by an outsider? These issues seriously counter the wonderful depictions of Jewish family life.

Thank you to the authors and to the publishers, Macmillan, and to NetGalley for providing this ARC to read and review.