Murder on Wall Street - Historical Mystery Review

Goodreads:  Murder on Wall Street (A Gaslight Mystery #24) by Victoria Thompson

Rating:  Really Liked It!
Source:  Publisher

Description:  Reformed gangster Jack Robinson is working hard to bolster his image in Gilded Age New York City society as he prepares to become a new father. But when Hayden Norcross, the man who nearly ruined his wife, is shot in cold blood, Jack knows the police will soon come knocking on his door.

Frank Malloy has to agree - things don’t look good for Jack. But surely, a man as unlikeable as Hayden had more than a few enemies. And it’s soon clear that plenty of the upper echelon as well as the denizens of the most squalid areas of the city seem to have hated him.

Sarah and Frank have their work cut out for them. As the daughter of the elite Decker family, Sarah has access to the social circles Hayden frequented, and the more she learns about his horrific treatment of women, the more disturbed she becomes. And as Frank investigates, he finds that Hayden had a host of unsavory habits that may have hastened his demise. But who finally killed him?

Sarah and Frank must put the pieces together quickly before time runs out and Jack’s hard-won new life and family are ripped apart.

Genre: Mystery - Historical

Why I Picked This Book:  This is becoming one of my reliable favorite series so of course I had to pick up the latest book!

My Impression:  I do like a mystery where the victim has more people happy to see him gone then will be mourning him.  As far as despicable victims go Hayden Norcross takes the cake.  Really, if Frank, Sarah and pretty much everyone else in New York at the time had decided to call it a win and not investigate the murder I wouldn't have blamed them in the slightest.  Of course that didn't happen and because of  Jack Robinson's, a family friend with an unsavory past, ties to the deceased they couldn't help but get involved.

The investigation ranges from opium dens in Chinatown all the way to exclusive clubs full of the highest levels of society.  I loved how big of a role Sarah's parents, the Deckers, played in this book.  Mr. and Mrs. Decker are in the running for favorite side characters - especially Mrs. Decker.  They have no real issue using their pretty impressive connections to further an investigation though Mr. Decker really does wish his wife wouldn't be quite so gleeful about it which gave me a giggle.

While I did kind of guess what was going on well before the unraveling this was a compelling mystery that kept me reading.   The lack of power and just basic say the women involved have in their life is shocking and heartbreaking.  My only real issue with the book is Sarah's nanny/office assistant, Maeve annoyed me.  I've always liked her in past books but she came off as just immature and kind of bratty.  She doesn't have a huge role in this book so this was a very minimal issue.  

If you enjoy historical mysteries with interesting characters and compelling mysteries this is a great series to start with.  While there are somewhat complicated personal relationships between the characters enough is explained that I think you can jump into the series where ever you'd like.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I'd really like to go back and pick up the earlier books I've missed and I'll definitely be looking for the next book.  

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you enjoy historical mysteries I think this is a series that should not be missed.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *