Helpful Score: 4
This is the ninth entry in the Gaslight Mystery series by Victoria Thompson. These mysteries are set in turn-of-the-century New York City and feature the crime-solving team of widowed midwife Sarah Brandt and NYPD Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy. In this story, the two investigate the murder of Angel Lee, a young Chinese/Irish girl who was promised in marriage to an older Chinese man. To avoid the marriage arranged by her father, Angel runs off and marries an Irish boy, and then is discovered murdered outside of her new home. This story focuses a lot on the prejudices which the Chinese immigrants living in New York City faced at this time. I enjoyed learning the details about New York's turn-of-the-century Chinatown which author Thompson gives in this story.
However, I was a little disappointed in the lack of development of the series' main characters, the midwife Sarah Brandt and the NYPD Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy. This book was not as good as the others in this series, but still a very good mystery.
However, I was a little disappointed in the lack of development of the series' main characters, the midwife Sarah Brandt and the NYPD Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy. This book was not as good as the others in this series, but still a very good mystery.
Helpful Score: 1
It really says something about a series when a somewhat weaker entry is still an outstanding book. The latest in the Gaslight mysteries is set in the world of Victorian NYC Chinatown and delves into the interracial marriages of Chinese men and Irish women, the prejudices of the time and the "underside" of a generally romanticized era. The plot was quite good, though at times the clues were laid down a bit heavy-handed and I would have liked to see more character development in the personal arc. Still, one of the best mystery series around - and not just in the subgenre of historicals.
Helpful Score: 1
The next addition in the wonderful series featuring Sarah Brandt, nurse-midwife and Detective Francis Malloy during the turn of the century , centers around the bigotry toward the Chinese in New York City. Angel Lee, a half Chinese and half Irish teenager is promised in marriage to a rich forty year old Chinese man who is a friend of her father. She refuses to marry him and elopes with the man she loves, a handsome Irishman, whose family does not approve of the union any more than hers does. Her family tries to lure her home, but she refuses.....Instead she is found dead in an alley...strangled. In this book we learn much of the Chinese culture and mores....Excellent.... Love this series
