Murder on Union Square
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4.2 • 84 Ratings
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
When a murder hits close to home, Frank finds himself in an unusual position--the prime suspect in the latest installment of the national bestselling Gaslight Mystery series...
Sarah and Frank Malloy are enjoying married life and looking to make their family official by adopting Catherine, the child whom Sarah rescued and has been raising as her daughter. The process seems fairly straightforward, but at the last minute, the newlyweds discover that Parnell Vaughn, Catherine's legal father, has a claim on the child, and his grasping fiancée is demanding a financial settlement to relinquish parental rights. Even though exchanging money for a child is illegal, Frank and Sarah's love for Catherine drives them to comply.
When Frank returns with the money and finds Vaughn beaten to death, all evidence points to Frank as the culprit. A not-quite-famous actor with modest means, Vaughn seems an unlikely candidate for murder, particularly such a violent crime of passion. But Frank soon uncovers real-life intrigue as dramatic as any that appears on stage.
Sarah and Frank enlist those closest to them to help hunt for Vaughn's killer as Frank's own life--and the future of their family--hang in the balance.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
At the start of Edgar-finalist Thompson's solid 21st mystery set in gaslight-era New York City (after 2017's Murder in the Bowery), Sarah Brandt and her PI husband, Frank Malloy, are finalizing the adoption of Catherine, a child Sarah rescued and has been raising as her own. All the couple have to do is get Catherine's legal guardian actor Parnell Vaughn, who doesn't want anything to do with the girl to relinquish his parental rights. When Vaughn's fianc e insists on a financial settlement, Sarah and Frank agree. But when Frank brings the money to Vaughn, Frank finds him beaten to death and becomes the prime suspect in his murder. Sarah and Frank must go behind the scenes of the cutthroat theater district to uncover the real killer. Meanwhile, Sarah is busy with the opening of a maternity clinic on the Lower East Side that will provide free services for women in need. Thompson's command of period detail and her insight into such issues as the era's blatant sexism put her in the forefront of historical mystery writers.
Customer Reviews
Victoria Thompson’s Murder on Union Square
This is a creatively, complex and thought provoking
historical fiction cozy mystery. This book takes the reader
in the theater during this time period. You will meet
the cast of well crafted actors and actresses. You
will meet managers and learn of the syndicate of
the acting world at that time.
All the characters are well rounded, well developed,
three dimensional and interesting characters.
Murders, dark secrets, affairs, ghosts, danger, false
arrest, adoption laws, adoption papers all combine
to make an interesting read.
Sarah Brandt Malloy is midwife and Frank Malloy is
a retired policeman who does private investigating.
Maeve Smith is cares for their children and Frank's
mother helps her. Maeve also is runs the supervision
of the clinic’s refurbishment.
Maeve along with Gino Donatelli, a former policeman
who worked with Frank are part of Frank private
investigation service.
In the process of Sarah and Frank adoption of the
child Sarah saved and has been raising, there is a
hitch. At he time of Catherine’s birth, her birth
mother was not married to the birth father but was
legally married to an actor. Although the birth
mother is dead, her husband the actor is living and
legally considered the father. The adoption can only
take place if he signs the adoption papers.
Frank takes the papers to the theater for the actor
who agreed to sign them. What a shock to discover
the actor dead in his dressing room!! What a shock
to have another cast member accuse Frank of the
murder!! What a tragedy that Frank is arrested for
murder!!
The story was intriguing with deceit, a second murder,
a seance, thrills, chills and who can you believe
problem.
This is book # 21 in the Gaslight Mystery series. It can
be read as a stand alone.
I volunteered to read Murder at Union Square. Thanks
to the Penguin First-to-Read Program got the
opportunity. My opinion is my own.