Another fun read. So many possible suspects. Malloy proposes at end of book. Goodreads: Sarah Brandt is shattered when she learns that a woman has inquired at Hope?s Daughters Mission for Catherine, the abandoned child she has taken as her daughter. The woman claims she was Catherine?s nursemaid, now acting on behalf of the girl?s mother to reunite them.Unwilling to simply hand Catherine over to a complete stranger, Sarah asks Malloy to investigate. But when he goes to interview the woman at her tenement in Chelsea, he finds she has been murdered.Though her death leaves Sarah?s claim to Catherine unchallenged, her sense of justice compels her to work with Malloy to find the killer. Their search takes them from the marble mansions of the Upper West Side to the dilapidated dwellings of lower Manhattan and into the deepest and darkest secrets of Catherine?s past.And while Malloy helps Sarah determine the fate of the child she loves, he faces a challenge of his own�and his decision could change both their lives forever

l loved the way this story played out. I like the direction of the characters and ultimately the way the author tied up the loose end. ( )

Murder in Chelsea
3 Stars

Sarah Brandt is devastated to learn that a woman is asking questions about her foster daughter, Catherine. But when the woman is found dead, Sarah and Detective Frank Malloy are determined to unravel the mystery surrounding Catherine's past even if it means losing her forever.

It may be time to take a break from this series as, despite my affection for Sarah and Frank, the plots are becoming repetitious and mundane.

While there is finally some much-needed resolution to Frank and Sarah's slow burn romance, the actual outcome is far too deus ex machina for my tastes. All of the issues of social class and financial status are solved by a very convenient inheretence that falls at Frank's feet. Moreover, the chemistry that has been building between the two has fizzled somewhat in the past few installments.

In terms of the mystery, the progression of events are predictable and the identity of the villain quote obvious from the start. Nevertheless, there is an exciting climax and the ending is ultimately very satisfying.

All in all, this series has wonderful potential both in terms of the setting and the characters. Hopefully, with the developments in this installment, the next books will be more imaginative. ( )

This is the fifteenth book of the popular Gaslight mystery series set in turn of the century New York City. In one of the previous books widowed midwife, Sarah Brandt, became the foster mother of Catherine, a young girl who was abandoned at the local mission. When the book begins, one of the women from the mission has sent a message to Sarah that Catherine's former nanny is now searching for her because her mother wants her back. Sarah is distraught and unwilling to give up Catherine without more information. She asks Detective Frank Malloy to investigate but when he finally finds the nanny, she's been murdered.

I really enjoy this series. I don't consider it a cozy series because there is violence as well as adult themes in each book. I thought the mystery in this was interesting but not especially complex. I love that the author creates a believable atmosphere with characters from both the immigrant community as well as the rich and powerful. The best part of this particular book were the various changes we see to our main characters, especially the relationship between Frank and Sarah's wealthy father, Felix Decker. I love it that the author has also included more of Sarah's mother, an aspiring detective who can always get into a wealthy person's home due to her social credentials. Events in this book are going to lead to some interesting changes in the future. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book of the series, Murder in Murray Hill. ( )

BEST BOOK OF THE SERIES!!!!!! I can't even believe how good this book was! And, hoo boy, the PAYOFF! I just love these characters so much, and I really enjoyed how this book really centered around them. Why, oh why, can't I just snap my fingers and have the next book magically appear so I don't have to wait a whole more year to find out what happens next???? If you haven't read any of Victoria Thompson's Gaslight Mysteries before, I would recommend reading all of the others first to truly appreciate what happens in this book. But it will be so worth it! :D ( )