Product Description

Molly Murphy has finally begun to forget the unpleasant murder of a would-be rapist back in Ireland, not to mention her investigation into the murder of a fellow recent Irish immigrant, and is finally free to begin her life in New York City. Given her experiences so far in the New World, Molly has decided that her first order of business is to become a private investigator, a people finder of sorts, working for families in Europe who've lost touch with relatives in America. Not only might this put some food on her table, but her second order of business is to hook the handsome NYPD police captain Daniel Sullivan, and she envisions lots of opportunities to "seek his counsel" in her new profession.

Paddy Riley is a tough old Cockney P.I. who specializes in divorce work, and with a little persuasion he's ready to take on Molly as an apprentice. It's not exactly what she imagined, but she plans to make the most of it. That is, until she comes in to work one day to find her new world turned upside down and all expectations for her professional life suddenly up in the air.

Before long, Molly has set off on a journey that will take her through the back alleys of Manhattan and into the bars and lounges of the literary scene, where she spends time with writers, actors, poets, and musicians. It's quite an eye-opening turn for innocent young Molly, but she's resolute in her decision to find out exactly what happened that day in the office of Paddy Riley. Armed with nothing more than her fiery will and matching wild red hair, Molly has no idea of the danger her pursuit may bring in this fascinating, well-researched, and suspenseful second novel in Rhys Bowen's Agatha-award winning series.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #45664 in Books
• Published on: 2003-12-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 336 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780312989682
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Library Journal
In this second series title (after Murphy's Law), Irish immigrant Molly becomes an apprentice P.I. Unfortunately, she's soon investigating the murder of her boss-with a little help from a likable police detective. An authentic historical about New York in the early 1900s.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
In Bowen's second Molly Murphy cozy historical, which follows the Agatha Award-winning Murphy's Law (2001), Molly reluctantly accepts a job as a companion to Miss Van Woekem in order to pay the bills. Intrigued with a man who is apparently investigating a neighbor of Van Woekem's, Molly tracks down Paddy Riley and convinces him to let her work in his office. To Molly's chagrin, he does not allow her to do any investigating, only light cleaning. However, one day when Molly reports to work, she finds Riley near death and glimpses his murderer leaving the scene. Molly decides to solve the murder on her own and perhaps even continue to run Riley's business. Her investigation leads to new skills and experiences with the intellectual crowd, and she unmasks the killer in a rather far-fetched denouement. However, Molly is a smart, feisty, independent heroine, and turn-of-the-century New York City is realistically portrayed, along with the Irish immigrant experience, in this appealing series by the author who also writes the Evan Evans mystery series. Sue O'Brien
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
"An evocative trip through old New York...in the company of Irish immigrant Molly Murphy, a spirited and appealing guide."--S.J. Rozan, author of Winter and Night

"Entertaining."--Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Bowen nicely blends history and fiction."--Publishers Weekly
-- Review

Customer Reviews

Molly's in Danger Again
It's been several months since Molly arrived in America, and she's still trying to find her nitch in New York City. Her strong will and sharp tongue have gotten in the way of several jobs. She has her heart set on becoming a PI to hunt lost relatives. After much persuasion, she starts to assist Paddy Riley with his PI business. But she hasn't been there too long before she walks into the office one day to find her new boss dead. Why was he murdered? Molly's determined to find out. Meanwhile, her relationship with Daniel hits a major snag. And her living situation gets very sticky when Seamus's relatives keep showing up.

I enjoyed the second in this historical fiction series. The author has done her research, and it shows. The detail is fantastic, and I was drawn into the world of 100 years ago. The plot moves better here then in the first in the series, and the subplots add the right mixture to the overall storyline. Molly's really grown on me, too. She's the right mix of stubbornness and the naiveté that would come from her previous life in a small Irish village. The historical aspect of this is done right as well, mixing real life people into the fictitious story.

I've recently been rediscovering my love of historical fiction, and this book is a perfect fit in that genre. Ms. Bowen seamlessly mixes history and mystery into an engrossing story.

delightful historical cozy
In 1901 New York, Irish immigrant Molly Murphy is not having any success in her search for a job that interests her. Her beau, police captain Daniel Sullivan, wants her to take a job as a companion to a wealthy woman, which she agrees to try. While working, she notices a man lurking around the woman's home in a furtive manner and is told by Daniel that he is Paddy Riley, a private detective.

Molly nags Paddy until he agrees to hire her as a clerk. One day she finds her employer murdered. Someone has gone through his files and a few days later, someone sets fire to the office, destroying everything inside. Molly has the notebook he always carried around while on a case and she notices that he was very upset about a conversation he overheard in a bar. Molly successfully tracks down one of the people and through him she is able to locate the person he met with that night. Headless of the danger to herself, Molly continues to investigate and brings herself to the attention of a murderer who has every intention of killing again.

Rhys Bowen gives her audience a very accurate picture of what New York City was like for an immigrant in 1901. The heroine is a very spunky and likable woman who acts on her convictions even when it puts her in danger. DEATH OF Riley is a delightful historical cozy starring characters that are eccentric, bohemian, and believable. The ending will come as a shock to the audience because the author cleverly disguises the direction she is moving the story line along.

Harriet Klausner

Molly's at it again
Molly Murphy has decided after many failed attempts at employment to be an investigator. Since this is the early 1900's in NYC many find this announcement nonsense and dismiss it as foolish behavior. Well she meets Paddy and convinces him to give her a job cleaning his office. She bothers him everday about his
cases and ask question after question. Upon coming to work one day, she discovers a robbery in progress and her world is turned upside down. Molly manages to irritate everyone with her determination to find the criminal. Her actions place in her danger and it is up to Daniel Sullivan to rescue her from her
shortcomings. This sequel is not as tightly written as the debut novel. I found myself skimming the last third of the book as Molly actions were just over the top where the plot was headed. Bowen does manage to reel Molly in and the conclusion of the story was solid yet murky. Rating 7