“Murder on Bank Street” By Victoria Thompson

Review #163
A Gaslight Mystery

Midwife Sarah Brandt became a widow after her husband was murdered in 1893. In 1897, she is on the brink of a romantic involvement with Frank Malloy, an Irish cop in an era when New York City police were almost as bad as the criminals.

Fans of the ‘Gaslight Mystery’ series have been wondering for years if we would ever learn who murdered Dr. Tom Brandt. The wait is over! Police commissioner Teddy Roosevelt has given permission for Detective Frank Malloy to investigate this 4-year-old case. Even though the case is cold, Malloy feels an urgent need to solve it quickly. Roosevelt seems destined to become a part of the new McKinley administration, and as soon as Roosevelt leaves the police force, Malloy will have to resume his regular duties. Since he is racing against the clock, he reluctantly accepts assistance from a couple of detectives from the Pinkerton agency.

Malloy narrows his suspects down to the fathers of three disturbed young women, each of whom was treated by Tom Brandt. Dr. Brandt was trying to understand and cure a mental condition in which unmarried women become fixated upon men with whom they are only slightly acquainted. But when he discovers what he believes to be the truth, the shocking revelation may destroy Sarah and…Malloy’s hopes for any future with her.

There's some undercover work, some straight forward police interrogation, and an exciting finish. I love this series and the characters!