Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Reviews of Death of Riley (Molly Murphy, Bk 2)

Death of Riley (Molly Murphy, Bk 2)
Death of Riley - Molly Murphy, Bk 2
Author: Rhys Bowen
ISBN-13: 9780312989682
ISBN-10: 0312989687
Publication Date: 12/7/2003
Pages: 336
Rating:
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 96

3.9 stars, based on 96 ratings
Publisher: St. Martin's Minotaur
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

14 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

reviewed Death of Riley (Molly Murphy, Bk 2) on + 84 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Molly Murphy has become an assistant to Paddy Riley, a notorious private investigator. When Paddy is found dead, Molly undertakes an investigation to find his murderer.
reviewed Death of Riley (Molly Murphy, Bk 2) on + 94 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Awesome murder mystery set in 1900 New York City.
Gracious-Granny avatar reviewed Death of Riley (Molly Murphy, Bk 2) on + 137 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
The Molly Murphy series are an intersting trip through old New York, plus great mysteries!
reviewed Death of Riley (Molly Murphy, Bk 2) on + 43 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
A wonderful trip through turn of the century NYC as seen through the eyes of an immigrant Irish young woman. Molly has decided to try to earn a living by becoming a detective. She doesn't have the temperament to work at more female jobs such as ladies' companion or seamstress. So, she decides to apprentice herself to a detective who then gets himself killed. She decides to carry on in his name.
reviewed Death of Riley (Molly Murphy, Bk 2) on
Helpful Score: 2
Always a fun read with the intrepid Molly Murphy!
reviewed Death of Riley (Molly Murphy, Bk 2) on + 988 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Second in the Molly Murphy series - an a nostolgic trip through turn of the century immigrant life in New York City. "Molly Murphy can't seem to fit in anywhere. Not with the new immigrants pouring in from the Old World and certainly not with the society folks she envies from afar. After bungling a job as a lady's companion, Molly decides to become an assistant to the notorious private investigator, Paddy Riley. Unfortunately Paddy's possible underworld dealings have left him deader than a doornail and Molly in possession of his detective agency. Using the tricks of the trade she learned from her employer, Molly sets out to find the wily killer responsible for the death of Riley."
hardtack avatar reviewed Death of Riley (Molly Murphy, Bk 2) on + 2686 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Molly Murphy helped discover the killer in Book #1. In this sequel, she decides to become an assistant private investigator in safe, non-criminal cases, like divorces or missing people. Or so she thinks. Before she knows it a murder occurs that has far reaching consequences, extending to the top levels of American government.

Of course, before all this she tries to be a 'lady's companion.' What she doesn't understand is that this position has a tie-in to her potential love life. A fact that she discovers to her dismay.

Then there are the new friends that she makes. While Molly is a free-spirited young lady, she is somewhat overwhelmed with the sex lives of her new friends. Molly doesn't partake of course, and what sex does exist is hidden behind closed doors and only referred to, as befits a cozy. Still, they are her friends, as she discovers when they save her life.

Molly's character continues to develop. And Rhys Bowen, instead of allowing her heroine to be perfect, allows Molly to make some really stupid mistakes and assumptions. In fact, one of Molly's mistakes might even make her somewhat responsible for the death of a top government official.

And Captain Sullivan pops in and out of this book, sometimes just in the nick of time, as he saves Molly's life again. A little too convenient to my taste, but hey, it's just a story.

Yet. I can't help feeling that this feisty, red-haired young woman would quickly obtain the placid life she seeks, if only she dyed her hair blond, black or brown.
reviewed Death of Riley (Molly Murphy, Bk 2) on + 133 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Great cozy mystery with Irish immigrant Molly Murphy as a private detective. I could not put it down until I finished it!! Just enough humor and suspense and a good picture of New York and Buffalo at the turn of the century around 1901.
reviewed Death of Riley (Molly Murphy, Bk 2) on + 4 more book reviews
This was great little book.
b-e-e avatar reviewed Death of Riley (Molly Murphy, Bk 2) on + 16 more book reviews
Molly Murphy wants to be a detective, but for females in the Victorian days that is practically unheard of! Summoning her determination, Molly meets Paddy Riley, a private investigator who is working undercover for the police. Despite his misgivings about female detectives, he reluctantly hires Molly to be his assistant. Molly is just beginning to learn investigative lessons, when Paddy is murdered! Now Molly takes on the responsibility of solving his murder and in the process, she takes over his current cases and nearly gets herself killed!
reviewed Death of Riley (Molly Murphy, Bk 2) on + 48 more book reviews
Very good read
reviewed Death of Riley (Molly Murphy, Bk 2) on + 29 more book reviews
This is a historic review of the Irish immigrants experiences in coming to America. The author develops the characters and places well and draws the reader into her story. I had not known of the author before and have since read several more in this series. A good read.
reviewed Death of Riley (Molly Murphy, Bk 2) on
Molly Murphy has finally begun to forget the unpleasant murder of a would-be rapist back in Ireland, and is finally free to begin her life in New York City. Given her experiences so far in the New World, Molly has decided that her first order of business is to become a private investigator, a people finder of sorts, working for families in Europe who've lost touch with relatives in America.

Paddy Riley is a tough old Cockney P.I. who specializes in divorce work, and with a little persuasion he's ready to take on Molly as an apprentice. It's not exactly what she imagined, but she plans to make the most of it. That is, until she comes in to work one day to find her new world turned upside down and all expectations for her professional life suddenly up in the air.

Before long, Molly has set off on a journey that will take her through the back alleys of Manhattan and into the bars and lounges of the literary scene. It's quite an eye-opening turn for innocent young Molly who has no idea of the danger her pursuit may bring.
reviewed Death of Riley (Molly Murphy, Bk 2) on + 72 more book reviews
I'm the pickiest reader alive, and I never post a book I didn't like!