“Murder On Waverly Place” 

       By Victoria Thompson

 A Gaslight Mystery

 

2011 Book Review #69

Booklist Review

Sarah Brandt makes an intriguing sleuth, and her Gaslight series is a consistent winner. Daughter of a prominent family, she has become a midwife, helping those in need in late-nineteenth-century New York.

The reasons for some of her choices become crystal clear in this installment. Her sister (and her baby) died in childbirth after being disowned by her father for choosing the man she loved.  Sarah's mother, Mrs. Decker, has never forgiven herself for her part in this fiasco and longs for her dead daughter's forgiveness. When she has the opportunity to visit a spiritualist, Madame Serafina, Mrs. Decker feels she has found her way back to her daughter.

Then, during a séance, one of the participants is murdered, and both Sarah and Mrs. Decker, along with Sarah's good friend Detective Malloy, want to find out the whos and whys.

This is a well-put-together traditional mystery, one that isn't solved until the final pages. Strong characters, clever plotting, and the hint of the supernatural that comes with a story centered around spiritualism make this page-turner a must for both fans and readers new to the series.

My Thoughts:   I always enjoy the Gaslight Mysteries.  This one is no different.  It is set in the 1800’s, with the values of the 1800’s which makes the reading even more interesting.