Murder on Astor Place (Gaslight)

Looking forward to the next one.


My favorite kind of mystery!   May 31, 1999
 3 out of 4 found this review helpful

I admit it -- I love books where the author blends little known facts with her plot, and Victoria Thompson has done exactly that with her first mystery. Not only does she give us an intriguing story, but she also laces it with fascinating details about turn-of-the-century New York City.

Colorful characters who come alive, a true-to-life setting and an interesting plot -- what more could a reader ask? The only flaw I found were a number of grammatical errors, notably incorrect homonyms, that the copy editor should have corrected, but those were minor and shouldn't stop anyone from clicking "add this to my shopping cart."


Anne Perry lovers will like this   May 15, 1999
 2 out of 3 found this review helpful

This is a new historical "amateur sleuth with a hook" book that has real potential as a series. If you read Anne Perry, this is the closest anyone has come to the antagonistic yet attracted relationship in the early Inspector Monk books that I've seen. It's set in turn-of-the-century New York and deals with a midwife and a police detective. The police of that time were horribly corrupt - it's just the way business was done - and our hero works within the rules of his world. The murder story was not as interesting as the glimpses into the society of the time, but the author gives you a well-rounded view of both the top and bottom segments of New York. If the author is able to maintain the detective's conflicted nature in future books, this could be a long-term winner for me.


Excellent Book, better plot   May 13, 1999
 2 out of 3 found this review helpful

I thoroughly enjoyed this book after reading Carr's The Alienist and The Angel of Darkness. It is noticeably shorter, but maintains all the details and intricacies of a well-crafted plot. The characters are vivid and sometimes lovable.


Looking for a good book---this is it!!!   April 29, 1999
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

This is Caleb Carr and Anne Perry rolled into one. Victoria Thompson writes a brilliant suspense and places it perfectly in old New York. I've fallen in love with the characters and can't wait for the next book!