A Murder on Jane Street

A MURDER ON JANE STREET by Cathy Cash Spellman features patriarch Fitz Donahue, retired New York City Police Commisioner and his Bleeker Street Irregulars. These include daughters Maeve and Rory, granddaughter, Finn, Maeve’s long time friend, Dec, and a host of others including Maeve’s business partner, Finn’s childhood friend, scientists, physicists and otherwise brilliant, computer savvy hackers who are intent on saving the world, or at least their corner of it.
The book itself is a combination of murder mystery and conspiracy theory, with conspiracy theory being the larger portion of the storyline. Fitz’s neighbor is brutally murdered one afternoon just after having asked him for his help and before he can meet with her for the details. Being a man of principles, Fitz feels obligated to look into the murder and this feeling is underscored by the cavalier dismissal of him by the current police detective who views Fitz as an over the hill cop who has nothing of value to bring to a modern investigation.
The story harkens back to conspiracy theories surrounding Hitler’s faked death and the possibility it was an elaborate plot to see the rise of the fourth reich to fulfill Hitler’s long term plan of world domination. Fitz and his dedicated band pursue the enemy using their unique talents and knowledge that includes Maeve’s second site which comes in flashes and visions as well as through astrology and a host of other mystic accoutrements, Finn’s talents of photography, Rory’s talent at research, and the scientist/hackers lead by Annie who use their computer and scientific talents to grasp the scientific discoveries that were made and then passed on by the Nazi’s and are now being prepared to aide in world domination.
Although there are a wide number of people who make up Fitz’s band of irregulars it is easy to tell them apart because they each are richly written with unique traits that help the reader see them as individuals. The science involved in the conspiracy theory is much less easily understood and, indeed, may not be possible. It is impossible for me to tell as I don’t have a tremendous scientific background, however these portions are well written enough that the reader can easily suspend disbelief enough to buy in to the concept if they are so inclined.
Interspersed in with these chapters are chapters that feature the writings of Fitz’s murdered neighbor, Mrs. W, from a diary she hid for Fitz in the event her murderers found her before she had an opportunity to meet with him in person. As in the chapter shifts between the band of irregulars, these pages aid in providing a more well-rounded picture of who Mrs. W was, her personality as well as her efforts during World War II.
Tension within the book builds steadily, leading to a well paced novel that pulls the reader through the book at a comfortable, yet increasingly urgent rate. I deliberately slowed my reading of this book because I wanted to spend more time with the people and the environment that has been crafted by Cash.
My thanks to Trident Media Group/The Wild Harp & Company Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Note: Blog review address below is scheduled to go live July 9th,

This is one of the best novels I have read in years. The run-of-the-mill title does not convey the depths and breadth of this exceptionally well written book. Fitzhugh Donavan, retired police chief, is shocked by the brutal murder of his elderly neighbor Mrs. Wallenberg. She has hinted to him that she fears for her life and has a great secret to share with him. Mrs. W has left a journal and some documents which shed light on a secret dating back to the Nazis and World War II. Fitz is helped by his daughters, granddaughter and computer whizzes who together constitute the Bleecher St Irregulars. The documents are scribblings and symbols which, when interpreted, reveal great advances in science that the Nazis were on the verge of launching but defeat thwarted them. But the greatest secret of all is one buried in Mrs. W's journal which describes a plot to transition from a Third Reich to a Fourth Reich. As the irregulars survey the evidence they realize that the carriers of the Hitler's Nazi torch already have great power and are on the verge of seizing much more. They wrestle with what to do with the dangerous knowledge they have acquired. The author cho0ses one ending; I would have chosen the alternative.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it. Many thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for providing me with an ARC.

A Murder on Jane Street is a great thriller with a lot of twists and turns. The characters a interesting and well developed. The storyline is interesting.

Retired NYPD Chief of Police Fitz Donovan is seeking justice for his elderly neighbor who was brutally murdered. His daughters, granddaughter and a band of brilliant friends join him in solving a mystery that old woman left Fitz before her murder. It turns out Mrs. W wasn’t just an old widow from Europe, she was down right kick ass and was hiding an explosive secret held over from World War II that could mean the resurgence of the Fourth Reich.

As they research and prove the secrets left behind their lives are at risk, they’ve been attacked and threatened, and the stakes are high. How far will Fitz and the Bleecker Street Irregulars go to save the World from repeating the horrors of the Nazis?

I love a good mystery, but add in some historical flavor and you have my attention. This book was a real page turner and did not disappoint. I look forward to the next book in the series, a Murder on Mott Street, with the Donovan family and BSIs.

An excellent thrill ride of a novel! I love Fitz.....the lead character here and he surrounds himself with other equally interesting and quirky individuals. The mystery....the murder of an elderly woman....held my interest until the very end and I was sorry when it was over. I am looking forward to reading another book with Fitz and his friends. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

Just a Few Words:  WOW.  This was not my type of book....until it was.  I don't read romance, historical , spy,  political or war novels.   This book encompassed them all....and  I absolutely loved it.  Sometimes you just have to step out of your comfort zone.



A Murder on Jane Street by Cathy Cash Spellman is a psychological thriller....but looks like it may also be the first of a mystery series.

 First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher The Wild Harp & Company Inc., and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 

My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

Meet the Donovan's.  Fitz is the head of the family, a retired Chief of Police, now owner of "The Mysterious", a bookstore centered around mystery books.  His beloved wife died 10 years ago.  His eldest daughter Rory, gave up her career as a lawyer to buy, refurbish and re-sell grand old homes.  His youngest daughter Maeve is an author, and co-owner of "The Philospher's Teacup".  She is divorced from her husband after discovering his many infidelities.  She and her daughter Finn, live on two floors of the brownstone that her father owns.  Finn is a photographer.  The Donovan women all have some type of psychic gift.  The family is very close.  The girls, having been brought up to be curious,  have been puzzle solvers and minor detectives since childhood.

When Fitz drops by to see his elderly neighbour at her request, he discovers her dead body.  She had been tortured.  He also finds the journals that she wanted him to have.  Since the local law doesn't seem too interested, he and his daughters begin to investigate her death.  It soon becomes apparent that they need help, and ask for assistance from friends....a scientist, a physicist, a math prodegy, a Holocaust expert, computer hackers, and others.   They form the BSI (Bleecker Street Irregulars), and start to discover that this elderly woman had a very secret past, one that could have repercussions for the world even now.   Unfortunately, their quest has been noticed, and they are now all in danger.



My Opinions:  

Well, this was so unexpected, and so good!

The characters are wonderful, intelligent, quirky, witty, charming, honest, and loving.  They become a giant family, trying to take care of each other, and trying to solve the death of an elderly woman that no one really knew.  I loved how the dead woman's journals became such a big part of the story.

The writing is clear, and flows so smoothly.  The dialog was great.  A lot of humour and teasing was added, without which it could have been a very dark book.

The plot, even if you disbelieve some of the conspiracy theories around Hitler's death, the Fourth Reich, and the scientific discoveries, was mesmerizing.  I simply didn't want it to end.  That being said, the ending could have been fleshed out a little more, but no matter....

One other thing....at the end it promised more, so it looks like this could be a series.  I'm looking forward to that!

This book was a tapestry of genres: mystery, conspiracy, political, and historical. I loved all of the characters but particularly the Bleeker Street Irregulars. The pieces of the puzzle that had to fit together kept me turning the pages.
Many thanks to The Wild Harp Company Inc and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.