In this, the next book in the Molly Murphy series, Molly gets involved with murder during the early moving picture industry. Molly's husband is called to Washington to discuss the newly evolving Federal Bureau of Investigation. While he is gone, Molly must take care of her three children. Her friends convince her to visit the studio of D. W. Griffith and watch a friend act in an early moving picture. Her daughter accepts a part in the movie when one of the actresses is fired.

But all is not well with the studio. It's clear that someone is trying to sabotage the filming. Is it competitor, Thomas Edison? Is it the mafia, especially after an Italian actress is fired? Or is something else going on?

Then, the accidents turn serious. First one, and then the other brother who own the studio, are killed. Molly, and her returning husband have their work cut out for them

I really love this series. It is well-written. The characters are intriguing. The dialog is crisp. The action has a great blend of humor and seriousness. I strongly recommend this book and the whole series.

This story takes place in Manhattan, in the early 1900s. Molly worked as a detective but with two small children is now at home. Her adopted daughter, Bridie, is in a film and when it appears that the film is being sabotaged, she is hired to observe what is going on. It appears that it is an inside job. The historical details add a lot to the mystery. Bridie and Liam are wonderful children, and Molly is a great mother. With her husband away, she has a lot on her plate.

Molly Murphy Sullivan, retired detective and mother, is back in action. When her daughter lands a role in a Hollywood film, Molly goes undercover to investigate a series of mysterious accidents on set. As we all know, retired or not, Molly is not going to sit by idly and watch from the sidelines. As Bridie's acting career takes off, Molly finds herself drawn into the world of Hollywood, where special effects and behind-the-scenes drama collide. When a series of mysterious accidents occur on set, Molly suspects sabotage and decides to go undercover to investigate.

I always look forward to catching up with Molly, her family, and the ladies across the street.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

SILENT AS THE GRAVE by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles
A Molly Murphy Mystery

A delightful and fascinating look at early movie-making, with a twisty plot. Who is sabotaging the work on Ryan O’Hare’s film at Biography Studios? Fierce competition with Thomas.Edison plays a part, but is Edison ruthless enough to commit murder?
I love Molly Murphy, now Sullivan, her independent-minded friends, and her lovely family. Daniel is realistic enough to know Molly will never be a sedate stay-at-home wife, but still, the demands of three children do complicate matters. Infant Mary Kate needs to be fed, young Liam needs watching and entertainment, and Bridie, 14, needs chaperoning. I’m reminded of the parent volunteers at our school who said that in the teen years the potential for big trouble increases, requiring even more loving attention, and she does face heart-stopping danger.
Molly has come so far, but she hasn’t forgotten her Irish “peasant” beginnings, and that empathy and understanding helps her connect with others and get information official investigators might not. Her concern for others makes her that much more determined to help achieve justice.
I also enjoy the historical insights to the period, how films were made, the fire hazard, how early cars worked, how clothing styles restricted or allowed freedom of movement, and so much more.
I found it nearly impossible to put this book down.
Pub. Date in March, giving readers time to read earlier books in the series (though you wouldn’t have to).

Such a fun read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

A great edition to the Molly series. I love the look into movie making! An interesting mystery for Molly to solve. Wonderful characters and lovely setting! A historical fiction must read!

Molly Murphy Sullivan is living life with adopted daughter, her son, and newborn daughter. She is trying to juggle motherhood, being a wife, and being a friend. Her husband, Daniel, is sent to Washington, DC right after Easter and the murder of a police officer. Molly's dear friend, Ryan, comes to visit, and he's shooting a movie! Molly and her children are invited to the set. When the actress is fired, Bridie, Molly's adopted daughter, is called to replace her! She is a natural for the camera and is asked to star in the rest of the film. Molly cannot stay to chaperone, so Sid and Gus, Molly's dearest friends, will chaperone.

Accidents happen onset. When Bridie is put in danger, Molly thinks it is actually sabotage. Molly works as a makeup artist to go undercover while she investigates.

The introduction to film making is very interesting, and Rhys Bowen does an amazing job showing this! New York City is brought to life in the next installment of the Molly Murphy series.



Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles for an advanced copy for review.

Molly is coping with her 3 children while Daniel is in Washington DC on a crime task force. She manages to become involved with a movie company while also fearing gang violence. It is soon apparent that someone is sabotaging the company and Molly cannot help but step in to help. Fascinating details about the early days of film making add to this intriguing mystery.

I’m a huge fan of Molly Murphy but it’s been a while since I had read one of her adventures.This book works perfectly well by itself with enough explanations about the characters without having to read the series..The series as always is a wonderful historical glimpse of New York in the early 1900’s.The mystery in this book is set around the silent movie world.The book is rich in details but fun.
Thankyou Netgalley for this ARC.

The latest installment of the Molly Murphy series gives our Irish heroine an opportunity to get involved in the silent film industry. When her adopted daughter, Bridie, gets the opportunity to star in a movie, it doesn't take long for things to go awry. Strange accidents begin to occur, and since this is a murder mystery series, it shouldn't be any surprise when a dead body shows up.

My favorite part of this series is getting reintroduced to long-standing characters, like Sid and Gus. Molly's family has grown now that her daughter has been born, and it's always fascinating to go back in time to the New York of the early twentieth century. There's a nice character development at the end of the book, but I won't say anything else about that for fear of spoiling the fun for everyone else.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my opinions.

I am so excited that I was given the opportunity to read this upcoming release by Rhys Bowen! I have read the entire Molly Murphy series and adore it! If you love mystery books, strong female leads and books set in the early 1900’s this is the series for you! Each character in this book is enjoyable and engaging. From Molly and her small family to her best friends Sid and Gus, to the movie industry that she becomes involved in. Eerie things are happening at the studio her daughter is filming at and once again Molly finds herself solving yet another mystery. Several people in this tight knit community have reason to want the owner dead but who actually did it? Or was it an accident like his brother believes.

I love how in each of her books, Rhys Bowen brings New York City to life. Weaving fact and fiction to bring us a captivating mystery that will have you obsessively wanting the next book. A fiery female from Ireland who, now a mother, still loves to investigate like she once did at her private detective agency, a police captain husband who would prefer if she stayed home with the children and not involve him in her schemes, two best friend neighbors who are larger than life and a now teen daughter who just wants to be grown up. Mix in some early movie production that has Thomas Edison making several appearances, a murder...or two...or more, multiple suspects and several dangerous situations. What is not to love about this set up?! Silent as the Grave will have you up late into the night just to see what happens next. I am on the edge of my seat waiting to see what is next for Molly Murphy and her family.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles for an advanced copy for review.

I am a huge fan of Rhys Bowen, and I have read most of the Molly Murphy books. This probably works as a standalone, but if you like cozy mysteries, it's worth reading the rest of the series first. They build very well from one to the next, each one with its own murder mystery as well as an effective personal storyline.

As usual, the author creates an interesting scene chock full of details and suspects. It's multi-layered and complex, with different parts of the mystery. Are there different people responsible? Are the murders all connected? This time, Molly and her adopted daughter Bridie are in one of the first film studios in 1909, with the first silent films.

Part of the setup are real people from the turn of the century, including an appearance from Thomas Edison. I had no idea that he had a film company that was involved in some controversies.

This was fun and keeps you guessing. It all makes sense in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Rhys Bowen for an advanced copy for review.

Great addition to this series. It is well written and includes many historical details that help bring the story to life. I highly recommend it.

As a reader just beginning to enjoy Molly Murphy Sullivan’s adventures, I thoroughly enjoyed this latest installment. Having read all of Rhys Bowen’s ‘standalones’ over the past few years, I recently began picking my way through the Molly Sullivan cozy murder mysteries.

What can I say? Rhys Bowen had me as a fan from the first book I read, In Farleigh Field. I look forward to every book she writes, keeping track of her latest works via Facebook groups and local bookstore announcements. Adding her daughter Clare as an author is a fabulous idea. Silent as the Grave was as enjoyable as it was fun trying to figure out who the killer might be. The setting was perfect, the details rich and believable, and the history of silent film stars like Mary Pickford was a bonus.

I felt elated when Net Galley approved my request to read an ARC copy. My Rhys Bowen must-read list keeps growing the more I read her work. (Now onward to The Rose Arbor)

Using a silent film studio scenario as a setting for a great murder mystery gave me another glimpse into how versatile Bowen is as an author while giving me insight into Molly’s character. I was glad to see Daniel, her detective husband, play a more significant role in this book in the series because Molly’s character is so nuanced and well-developed that she seems like a friend I could easily relate to. I love Molly Sullivan’s solid female persona and the subtle yet effective ways she works with her husband to live life her way in eras when women didn’t challenge men.

Since I have been reading this series out of order, I am getting more backstory on the side characters, Gus, Sid, and Bridie. Of course, we can’t forget the hilarious all-about-me playwright Ryan O’Hare, who is so perfectly developed I can picture him days after I finish the story.

One of the author’s greatest strengths is her winding murder twists, but I have to say that her character development never ceases to amaze and amuse me. Her snappy dialogue and vivid settings, when combined, create a great read I couldn’t put down until I finished the last page.

I love how Rhys and Clare ended this story, giving us a cliffhanger for her next book in the series, as Molly’s husband, Daniel, wraps up his tenure at the NYPD to work for a national organization. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but this era in the new agency is so rich in history and challenges that I cannot wait to read the next book about Molly and her family adventures. As Molly tackles motherhood with Liam and the spirited infant, Mary Kate, I expect a few future Molly adventures as she tries to keep up with this rambunctious replica of herself.

Silent as the Grave captivates readers with its rich characters, many plot twists and turns, and just enough humor and nuttiness from the side characters to keep us all laughing as we attempt to solve another great who-dun-it from Rhys Bowen and daughter Clare.

This is an unputdownable beach read, an easy five-star murder mystery that will keep you reading as the kettle whistles repeatedly until The End.

Thank you, Net Galley, for the opportunity to read this free advanced copy. My review is voluntary and mine alone.

I recently read Silent as the Grave by the team of Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles. This book, by the popular mystery writers, places us in downtown 1909 Manhattan. Busy young mother, Molly, finds herself entwined in the latest sensation, moving picture production. The cameras roll as her teenage daughter aspires to be an actress. It is not long before the filming seems to be dangerously sabotaged, and murder ensues. Secretly asked to help track down the culprit, Molly weaves her way through the colorful cast of characters we've come to expect from the authors. But will she zoom in on the villain in time?

An interesting and enjoyable read. Fun for the mystery lover and movie buff, alike.

Many thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the early look. It was a pleasure.

Always a pleasure reading the Molly Murphy series! This is the second book in the series I have been granted to read before publication. The characters are so likable and the plot engaging. I thoroughly enjoyed sitting down with this story from beginning to end. Thank you NetGalley and St.. Martin’s Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. #SilentastheGrave, #St.Martin’sPress.

It is enjoyable read this series about Molly Murphy novel. Again, I cannot stop reading this novel until I finish all the content of the novel. This is real novel you will love for sure.

It was a pleasure to read the latest Molly Murphy novel. Reconnecting with Molly and her friends and family made a day go by quite quickly. I couldn't put it down. Much of the details in this novel are true, making this 1909 NYC historical fiction intriguing and accurate.

Playwright Ryan O'Hare convinces Molly to allow Bridie to take part in a movie/silent film production with the support of Molly's bohemian friends Sid & Gus. Daniel has been away on an assignment investigating the Italian crime gang, "The Black Hand". When "accidents' keep happening on set Molly's investigator side takes over after the death of one of the company owners.

The plot twists were plentiful and the suspense kept in the cozy limits.