This book was a wonderful addition to the series. These books are great cozy mysteries.
I love the Molly Murphy mysteries series and this one does not disappoint! Bowen keeps each installment unique and interesting.
If you love a good historical mystery novel with a strong female detective, you will enjoy this book.
Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles has delivered another lively and entertaining Molly Murphy mystery.

I love this series. This is book 21 and while it could be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the whole series because I feel that the background info you attain along the way enhances it.
There are always a wealth of characters in these books. Many interesting regulars such as Molly, Daniel, their children and Molly’s friends Sid and Gus. In this installment we have a recurring character in Ryan who Molly knows through Sid and Gus.
This was a beautifully written historical fiction mystery. It’s not perfectly true to life as some names were changed but Thomas Edison did have a movie company that had some controversy and Mary Pickford did start in moving pictures in 1909, the year this book is based.
I love, love, love Molly. I get excited every time a new installation comes out. I’ve followed the story since Molly was in Ireland and came to the US. She’s been through some incredible adventures. She is now a married woman with children and still manages to get embroiled in excitement. I’ve gotten a glimpse of the suffrage movement through this series as well as other people and events in and around New York City in the early part of the last century.
I did receive this book as a free ARC, which felt like Christmas!, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This series if one of my favorites and I have listened to almost all on audible, which lately is my preferred method! It has been wonderful to see how Molly has matured and grown from the start and she has become a beloved character.

New York in the early 1900's is brought to life and this time with the silent film industry. When Molly's daughter steps in for an actress and strange things start happening, the suspense notches up.

If you have not read this series, I encourage you to start from book one and read through. You will be glad you did!

Silent as the Grave is Bowen & Broyles 21st Molly Murphy Sullivan cozy mystery. As the title alludes to, the majority of the plot takes place at the newly established NYC movie studios, where silent movies are just beginning to gain popularity. While I found the novel enjoyable, and very informative with regards to the movie making process of the early 21st century, I do believe Molly Murphy has lost some of her spirit and spunk.

Many books ago, the audience feel in love with this resourceful amateur detective who was able to slip in and out of unexpected situations with grace and a bit of luck. Now, Molly is a mother of 3, who is most concerned with not leaving her children for too long, and making sure her police captain husband always looks respectable in the eyes of the city. I understand, part of this shift in personality is due to the sociality expectations of married women at the time, but I also believe the characters are becoming a little worn out. Bowen and Broyles writing is feeling a bit redundant.

A mystery for Molly to solve is still present however not until the audience is almost half way through the novel, and the final reveal is satisfying enough. For fans of historical fiction and cozy mysteries, Silent as the Grave is still a great suggestion.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me the opportunity to read this novel.

1909

Molly Sullivan is married to police captain Daniel Sullivan. It’s easter week and he has been sent to Washington, D.C. to meet with the Secret Service on some planning mission. That leaves Molly at home with their adopted daughter, Bridie, 14, young son Liam, and infant daughter Mary Kate.

When Molly’s friend, Ryan O’Hare, an Irish playwright, arrives in town, he invites her and Bridie to the theater to watch them shoot a movie. Bridie is fascinated and when an actress is fired, Bridie is asked to fill in for her. She is thrilled and turns out to be a natural. However, some of the scenes are downright dangerous and Bridie is almost serious injured. Molly doesn’t not want to her to continue. But as Molly was once a detective and had her own agency, she is asked by a member of the crew to watch the happenings on the set as there have been some scary things happening and they wonder is someone is trying to sabotage the film. But things escalate when someone is found dead and believed to be murdered. Will Molly be able to solve the crime?

This is the fourth Molly Murphy book that I have read. I agree that it is well thought out, however, this particular subject matter of film making didn’t really interest me. I admit to getting somewhat bored but I did want to finish it as I knew the ending would be good which it is.

I have loved Her Royal Spyness Mysteries by Rhys Bowen. I haven’t read all of them because, sadly, the publisher handling that series and who shall remain unnamed, seems to only approve requests by reviewers on NetGalley if they are a Librarian. So unfair. There are so many terrific reviewers out there who would love to be approved to read and review this wonderful author’s books but are not being approved. This stifles publicity for the author.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

When Molly visits her friends Ryan O’ Hara on the set of an early silent movie, her adopted daughter Bridie winds up getting discovered and cast in the lead. So Molly starts spending time on the set herself, where she sees some suspicious accidents. But when one hits very close to home, Molly starts investigating. Can she find proof of sabotage before someone dies?

I’ve always appreciated that this series has given us glimpses into many different worlds of 1900’s New York City. As a fan of movies, this setting was very fun. Having said that, the pacing was really off here, which was disappointing. The climax is satisfying, however. I enjoy spending time with the characters, although some growth would be nice. I did feel transported to the time period as I read. Fans of the series will appreciate time with the characters even if this isn’t the strongest book in the series.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Rhys Bowen; Clare Broyles for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Silent as the Grave coming out March 11, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really enjoy Rhys Bowen’s writing. I’m not familiar with the other author. This is the first book I’ve read in this series. I definitely need to go back and read the other books. I really love historical cozy mysteries! Molly is a really interesting and bright character. I loved the golden era movie plot. There was a lot of action and I loved the cast of characters. I would definitely check out more books by these authors!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy historical mysteries!

A more detailed review is coming along with links.

Accidents, malfunctions, suspense, and a movie studio are featured in the twenty-first book in the mystery series featuring Molly Murphy Sullivan, Silent as the Grave. It starts with a heartrending prologue that immediately pulls readers into the story. Set in New York City during eight days in April 1909, this intriguing novel takes readers to the beginnings of silent movies.

Overall, this was an entertaining and suspenseful novel that kept me engaged. Readers who enjoy historical mysteries or are interested in the early days of silent movies will likely enjoy this novel. While this is the first book I have read in the series, I had no trouble reading it as a standalone.

Silent as the Grave by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles is a Molly Murphy book. Molly, as we know, is irrepressible and curious. A dangerous combination. Molly’s friend, Ryan, a playwright, is back with a new career: movie actor. He invites Molly and her daughter, Bridie, and Sid and Gus to come and watch the filming. Fifteen minute silent film, made in a week, at a house converted into a movie studio. It is exciting and by a fluke, Bridie is invited to take part. It turns out she is pretty good and given that it is a school holiday and Daniel is out of town, Molly allows it...until there is an accident and Bridie comes too close to being hit by a train. That is not the only accident, as it turns out.

We have watched Molly’s life since she arrived from Ireland and it has been a journey. What a great character she is. She now has two children: Five-year-old, Liam and infant, Mary Kate. She loves being a wife and mother but when something tweaks her curiosity there is no stopping her. She has a fabulous resource in her police captain husband, and although he is never happy, he always assists. Good mystery with several historical figures putting in appearances, dead and alive. Sid and Gus are, as always, a source of amusement. Molly’s friends serve to broaden Daniel’s horizons, albeit, kicking and screaming. Great characters, excellent historical research, as well as an intriguing setting and mystery make this a must read.

I was invited to read Silent as the Grave bySt Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #RhysBowen #ClareBroyles #SilentAsTheGrave

This is a very fun series. I’ve enjoyed getting to know Molly and her friends and family. And the author introduces real-life aspects of Gilded Age New York. In this story, Molly explores the world of the early motion pictures of 1908 as she and her adopted daughter are involved with the short silent films of D.W. Griffith. Molly sets out to investigate mysterious incidents that keep happening on the movie set and might be connected to the competition the studio is having with Thomas Edison. I found that history of how those early films were made and how they produced some of the special effects.

When two deaths happen to the heads of the studio, Molly, of course, jumps right in to investigate what happened. I hadn’t suspected the ultimate murderer, but once that person was revealed, I could look back and see that all the clues were there. If you enjoy historical mysteries, you’ll really enjoy this story.

With Molly’s husband, a police captain, set to join the brand-new federal Bureau of Investigation, which will eventually become the FBI, I imagine future stories in this series will involve corruption and organized crime.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

Silent as the Grave is the latest Molly McGuire Mystery. Molly is feeling post partum depression after her daughter’s birth. This series takes place at the turn of the 20th century so it has a historical aspect which I enjoyed. Bridie, Molly’s adopted daughter seizes an opportunity to act in a silent film. Molly accompanies her to act as chaperone. Accidents have been occurring on the set and it isn’t long before there is a body.
I enjoyed this book especially because I haven’t read this series before and had no problem relating to the characters. I hope to read more about Molly.

I always love Molly's adventures. When Molly and Bridie go to watch a movie being filmed with friends, Bridie is discovered. Bridie is really excited to be in a movie and with her being on Spring break, Molly gives her consent. But all is not well on the movie set. Accidents are happening and Molly fears for Bridie's safety. Molly is asked to look into the accidents to find out if it is one of the crew who works for the competition. When a murder occurs, Molly decides she needs to find the culprit because Daniel is out of town. Someone needs to investigate, the police that responded thinks it is only an accident. Can she find the person?

A fun addition to the long running series (also just fine as a standalone) that sees Molly taking a hard look at the silent movie business after her 14 year old daughter Bridie is tapped to play a part in one. This combines interesting details the period and the industry with a zippy mystery that Molly, who has been at home with a new baby, is happy to work on, especially when one sabotage puts Bridie at risk! There's a list of suspects for the villain which includes a famous inventor. As always, the characters, including Molly's husband Daniel, make this an entertaining read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Looking forward to the next one.

A Molly Murphy Mystery #21

In a few words:

Molly’s daughter Birdie is asked to replace a lead female in D.W. Griffith’s latest film. Everything goes smoothly till Birdie nearly dies while filming a dangerous stunt. To Molly something is not right and decides to jump back into PI work and go undercover on the set to figure out who may be behind all this brouhaha…..

My thoughts:

From time to time, I like to pick up an engaging mystery full of vibrant historical details. The magic of New York City in 1909 and the growing film industry should have made an interesting read. But the authors were not that convincing evoking the period, less so when it came to real-life figures (Griffith and Thomas Edison). I thought they were more comical characters that visionaries and inventors but that is me you may think differently. As for the tempo, it drags a little too much for my taste, at times I had some difficulty staying in tune with Molly escapade my mind wandering too much…maybe I was somewhat bored.

Even if this latest is not my preferred installment in this series I will admit this story is a satisfying domestic mystery even with all its predictability and its silly moments.

I fear this series is beginning to feel a bit formulaic to me! Still, a solid installment that will surely please long-term fans of Molly's adventures.

While her husband is off in Washington D.C. consulting with the president on the development of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Molly finds herself spending time on set at the Biograph Company’s movie studio. When one of the actresses is fired, Molly’s adopted daughter, Bridie, gets the role. Molly isn’t exactly pleased with Bridie’s budding career in silent films, but it gets worse when Bridie is almost struck by a train while filming a stunt that almost goes tragically wrong. It’s not the first incident on set, nor is it the first time an actor’s life was put in danger due to sabotage. Molly refuses to let Bridie return to the set, but Molly takes a job as a makeup artist so that she can investigate who is sabotaging the studio. Her investigation even takes her to Thomas Edison’s studio in the Bronx. When one of the owners of Biograph Company dies in the studio, Molly realizes that there is a murderer on set. She enlists her husband, Daniel, to help with the investigation.

As always, Molly Murphy Sullivan takes the reader into the world of New York City in the early 1900s. She’s never afraid to venture into every area of the city—be it the slums of the Lower East Side or the mansions along Central Park—to track down a lead. While the mystery aspect was interesting and I enjoyed learning more about the early film industry, the story dragged on at times. And, sadly, Molly has become the stereotypical woman from the early 1900s whose main concerns are her children and cleaning her house. With each new addition to the series, I miss the spunky, headstrong Molly of old. Of course, I expect her character to develop and grow throughout the series. But I’d like to see some of her old spirit shine through.

I love this series. It doesn't matter how long between books I am always swept back into Molly's life. I started this series with book one and have seen Molly grow and become a wonderful (yet firey) Mom and wife. I love the feeling of meeting up with an old friend you haven't seen in so long yet fit right together again. Yet, I have introduced friends to this series midway in and they fall just as much in love most going back to learn more about Molly's past and her great friends. One of the other things I love about this series is the history that is given and for the most part totally true. In this book we are in about 1909 and the beginning of the movie-film era. We are introduced to Mary Pickford and Thomas Edison plus a few others. I had no idea how dangerous and cut-throat the film industry is.
Silent as the Grave has great twists and turns in the storyline as well as historical facts added bonus it's funny not in a slapstick way but in a smile on your lips way. I can't wait for the next in this great series.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC and thank you to Rhys Bowen and Clare Boyles for another great adventure.

She's back! Molly Murphy Sullivan and her police captain husband Daniel Sullivan have a newborn in addition to their five-year-old son. Bridie, their adopted daughter, is a pretty young teenager who finds adventure thrown into her lap. Molly adores her children but misses her detective agency work. Daniel must attend an event in Washington and in his absence Molly encounters close calls, murder and mayhem. Bridie becomes a replacement in a moving picture and performs dangerous stunts. When something goes awry, Molly is on hand to investigate. Not only does Mary Pickford make an appearance but so do Molly's unconventional friends, Sid and Gus.

Molly has moved up in the world but thankfully has kept her humble roots and common sense. I quite like her personality and am in love with little Liam's antics. Bridie's youthfulness and vitality add to the story as well. Soon the newborn will be a toddler...wonder what will happen next? The multi-age characters ensure a lot of interesting variety and endless potential for subsequent adventures. The writing is spirited and lively and there are no lulls to overcome. My heart was firmly immersed in the story the entire time.

The Molly Murphy Mystery series is delightful with wonderful attention to historical detail and a rich inviting atmosphere. But the characters grab me most. I look forward to peeling back the layers to discover what is hidden underneath.

I love these Molly books! They seem to get better and better. This one really kept me going, and hard to put down. Ive been reading about Molly for years and years, and love the characters and the growth. Molly certainly gets into trouble, but finds a way. I love seeing her daughter getting more grown up and loved her acting in a moving picture! Hopefully, next time it will work out better.
Highly recommend and give us an Evan book now and then!

In SILENT AS THE GRAVE, written by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles, Molly Murphy Sullivan watches an Easter parade with her toddler son, Liam, while her Captain husband, Daniel, attends the wake for a fallen officer. Molly’s adopted fourteen-year-old daughter, Bridie, is in the parade. An Irish playwright, Ryan O’Hara has a surprise for Bridie. I read on, wondering about the surprise and the future of Molly, Daniel, and Bridie.

This is a comfortable read with a good dose of history, especially about the early days of moving pictures. Molly and her daughter, Bridie, are interesting characters. I like reading about Molly as a stage mother. I find the plot to be slow-moving, but overall, the book is a good read. Thank you, St, Martin's Press and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of SILENT AS THE GRAVE.