This is the 2nd book in a series. In 1888, Prudence is working as a private detective along with lawyer friend, Geoffrey. When Prudence’s sometimes-maid (and friend from when they were kids) turns up not only murdered, but “gutted” (similar to Jack the Ripper over in London), people wonder if the Ripper has moved to New York or if this is a copycat. The police want to solve the case quickly, so they arrest the fiancee, but Prudence and Geoffrey don’t think he did it. Then another, then another young woman turn up with a similar MO.

I am really enjoying these mysteries. Prudence is much more assertive than most women of her time and “station”, but I like her. Realistic? I don’t know, but the entire atmostphere/setting of the book is done really well, I think. With how these murders are happening, there is some gore, but that doesn’t bother me. There was more going on than the murders in this book, so even when things appeared to be drawing to a close, there was more to come. ( )

In 1888 New York Prudence MacKenzie and Geoffrey Hunter are private investigators. The Ripper of London is news but the New York police believe that they wouldn't take long to discover the murderer, until the first slashed body is found.
Unfortunately the writing style or the characters really didn't capture my imagination and draw me in. Though I was interested enough to read to the end.
A NetGalley Book ( )

This series just keeps getting better. I loved it, and lost sleep to finish it! ( )

This second installment in Rosemary Simpson's, "A Gilded Age Mystery" series is a wonderful continuation of the story set up in book one, "What the Dead Leave Behind". Ms. Simpson spins a wonderful yarn of mystery around three murders. She beautifully captures the atmosphere of a bustling New York City of 1888 as the colder weather sets in in early November. Her descriptive prose draws upon all of the reader's senses - whether it's the reek of spoiling fish or of a grubby homeless boy and his flea-infested dog; the greasy feel of of fried potatoes served in a discarded page from a newspaper; the sounds of horse hooves clip-clopping on the cobblestone streets as handsome cabs drift by; or the striking visuals of beautifully clad women or the horribly disfigured pummeled faces of men. The historic references are rich and well researched. The red herrings are many and the tension holds throughout the story which ultimately comes to a satisfying conclusion. I look forward to reading more books in this series. ( )

This is the second book in Rosemary Simpson's Gilded Age mystery series. I really enjoy the rich sense of time and place that she puts in her books. The time is 19 century and the place is New York City. It's a time when New York City is a hotbed of high society and intrigue, and underneath is the seamy underbelly where murder and crime are rampant. The police force is corrupt, and if you can afford the graft, you can get away with quite a bit. Here we have Gregory Hunter and Prudence MscKenzie. Both are firmly in New York's high society with money and privilege, but their office on Wall Street called Investigative Law brings them into contact with some pretty scary people. In this case, which is right around the time of the Whitechapel murders in London, there is a particularly brutal murderer stalking young maids in New York. He's crafty and he's fearless, and he almost gets away with some particularly brutal killings. Prudence and Gregory slip in and out of the underworld, and with their investigative eyes, intelligence and their knowledge of the law, they manage to identify the killer. Getting him to justice is another story though, and at great risk to themselves and with the help of a young man and his big dog Blossom, they persevere. Ms. Simpson has a firm grasp of her time and her beautifully crafted scenes and plots are colourfully drawn. Reading her books puts you right in there with Gregory and Prudence as they race against time to catch a particularly brutal killer.. ( )