This is the second book in Levy's Mary Handley series. Seeking to be an official detective on her own (rare in early 20th century) her first mystery is the death of her uncle.
It expands into investigating a family scandal and political intrigue.
The characters of early century New York are here - Carnegie etc.

A good mystery

Enjoyable, but not the most memorable historical mystery.

Mary Handley as a character is fun and flawed - she has her blind spots in terms of prejudices (mainly against the wealthy), a definite "go get em" sort of attitude, and is smart, especially at connecting the dots. I enjoyed her interactions with the people in her life (even if her relationship with George Vanderbilt, of all people, is incredibly unrealistic, even for historical fiction). Unfortunately, the overall story read as clunky, with the Mary story being interrupted regularly for other points of view. They feel like a bid to add tension, but unfortunately just break the flow.

I'm really excited about this new series featuring Mary Handley, an unconventional detective in the last years of 19th century Brooklyn. This, the second in the series, again has all the elements needed for an excellent read -- a strong-willed young woman making her own, independent way in a man's world, the restless, innovative setting of New York City at the edge of the 20th century, loads of action, and a striking point of view. Another winner for fans of Rhys Bowen's Molly Murphy series and Victoria Thompson's Gaslight Mysteries. With the renewed interest in women's issues and past struggles, this is a must-have for libraries.