Murder at the Breakers (A Gilded Newport Mystery) by Maxwell, Alyssa (2014) Paperback

Gilded Newport Mysteries #1

by Alyssa Maxwell

In a historical mystery for Downton Abbey fans, a society reporter covers a killer party in Gilded Age Newport. Newport, Rhode Island, August 1895: She may be a less well-heeled relation, but as second cousin to millionaire patriarch Cornelius Vanderbilt, twenty-one-year-old Emma Cross is on the guest list for a grand ball at the Breakers, the Vanderbilts' summer home. She also has a job to do--report on the event for the society page of the Newport Observer. But Emma observes much more than glitz and gaiety when she witnesses a murder. The victim is Cornelius Vanderbilt's financial secretary, who plunges off a balcony faster than falling stock prices. Emma's black sheep brother Brady is found in Cornelius's bedroom passed out next to a bottle of bourbon and stolen plans for a new railroad line. Brady has barely come to before the police have arrested him for the murder. But Emma is sure someone is trying to railroad her brother and resolves to find the real killer at any cost . . .

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery, Fiction, Historical, Mystery Thriller

Paperback

First published March 25, 2014

About the author

Alyssa Maxwell is the author of The Gilded Newport Mysteries, inspired by her husband’s family whose Newport origins date back numerous generations. The series features the glamour of the Gilded Age and a sleuth who is a Newporter born and raised, and also a less "well-heeled" cousin of the Vanderbilt family. Alyssa also writes A Lady & Lady’s Maid Mysteries, an English-set series that begins as WWI is ending. She and her husband live in South Florida, where she is a member of the Florida chapter of the Mystery Writers of America and the South Florida Fiction Writers. You can visit her at http://alyssamaxwell.com, and find her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Instagram.

Reviews

[Alyssa Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

My rating on this book is based on how much fun I had writing it!

[Melisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this cozy mystery that is a fictional account of many notable historical figures, including the Vanderbilts and the Astors, who I am also currently reading about in an actual history book. I love how the author took true, historical data from the time of these individuals and created a story of *what possibly could have happened that night at The Breakers if a murder had occured*

I love when there are strong, spitfire women as central characters who were so atypical of this era. Emma was such a headstrong detective and I loved her ways (and especially enjoyed how much she loved her horse!).

I've already requested the next book in the series, I can't wait to see what happens after this little cliffhanger with Emma!

[Holly in Bookland · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 stars

I found another cozy mystery series to read:) I enjoyed the story, the characters, and the Gilded Age. It was just a simple mystery to get lost in; nothing too taxing on the brain but enjoyable nonetheless.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I could give this 3 1/2 stars. Unfortunately, in my opinion, there is one major flaw. Emma Cross sets out to prove her step brother's innocence of a murder at the Breakers, the Newport mansion of her relatives, Cornelius and Alice Vanderbilt. The good things about the book---the setting is fantastic. We get a clear and beautiful picture of Newport in its heyday. It really makes you feel that you know the place well. The insight into the lives of the super rich is fascinating. (and hopefully accurate). The main characters are well developed. The major fault---Emma, the leading character, drove me right up the wall. Time after time she put herself in danger by doing something totally stupid. At one point several characters comment on her actions. She is called "pitifully gullible" This sums her up perfectly---she believes what she wants to. Those she likes can do no wrong so let's shove the blame on to someone else whether they deserve it or not. Another character says "What were you thinking? How could you be so reckless?" The answer is that she didn't think.
That said, I did enjoy the story and at the end read the chapter of a sequel, Murder at Marble House. I plan to pick that one up when it is published this fall, and I will probably grit my teeth when Emma goes charging in again.

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a pretty good start to a cozy mystery series and definitely one I will be reading again. Emma is a poor relation to the affluent Vanderbilt family, but she had an invitation to their coming out ball for their child. Unfortunately for Emma she was at the wrong place at the wrong time and a body fell to her feet. The police were quick to believe her brother was guilty so she is determined to find the real murderer. Emma is a great character and a fun amateur sleuth. I liked her spunky attitude and determination to be independent. I like strong female protagonists especially in historical fiction when strong women are often overlooked.

[Brenda Funk · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love 'cozy' mysteries, but this one was just a little too simplistic, written at a 12 yr old level or so -- I like a little more complexity, a little more 'grey' and with characters that are more developed and 'real'.

[Supriya · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like your mysteries with a splash of Gilded Age grandeur and a healthy dose of mystery-drama, this is an entertaining place to start. Alyssa Maxwell sets the stage in Newport, 1895, at the height of opulence, where the Vanderbilt mansions glitter with chandeliers and secrets.

Our amateur sleuth, Emma Cross, is a distant Vanderbilt cousin who doesn’t quite belong to either world: not quite part of the elite, but not fully outside it either. That balance makes her a fascinating main character for this story. When a body turns up at a lavish ball, Emma finds herself swept into scandal, suspicion, and a dangerous game of truth-hunting among people who would rather keep appearances polished than reveal their cracks.

Maxwell’s writing excels at evoking atmosphere—the gowns, the jewels, the summer cottages that are anything but “cottages.” But beneath the setting, this is a cozy whodunit: suspects aplenty, motives hidden behind social niceties, and a heroine who’s smart, independent, and determined to chart her own path. Emma isn’t content to play the role society has carved out for women of her standing; she works, she questions, she insists on using her own mind. For 1895, that’s quietly radical—and it adds a subtle feminist current to the story that feels both empowering and true to her character.

The pacing is brisk, though occasionally the historical detail can slow things down. Still, the mystery itself is clever and satisfying, with just enough twists to keep you guessing without veering into melodrama. And as the series first, it does an excellent job introducing characters and setting up Emma’s ongoing role. I can’t wait to continue the series!
Overall, a charming mix of high society glitter, feminist undertones, and good old-fashioned mystery. Perfect if you love historical cozies and strong female leads.
4 stars 🌟

[Marta · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️’s rounded up to 5⭐️’s

Well that was just gosh darn delightful. It reminded me of how I feel when I read a Nancy Drew or Trixie Belden book.
More thoughts to come possibly, I am very tired at the moment and my eyes need to rest. They have been getting a work out lately!
Original rating and brief thoughts posted: 9/28/25

A few more thoughts:
I don’t typically go this far back in time when I read/listen to books, but after GR friend Supriya’s wonderful review, I really wanted to read it (check out her review, it’s really good) After all, I am trying to branch out in my book choices, and historical mystery is stepping out on a new limb. And hooray that Libby had it available right away for me!

I now, even more so, want to tour some of these old mansions. I did go online and look at a few pictures and wowza!!

My inkling as to whodunnit was correct. There were so many (not in a frustrating, annoying way; but in the best possible way) suspects to choose from that I wouldn’t have at all been surprised or disappointed if I had been wrong.

A couple of times I wanted to yell ‘um, hello!!! Ever heard of crime scene contamination??!!’ I managed to get over that quickly and remember that things were very different then.

I am so happy that I enjoyed this as much as I did. I get nervous when I branch out and worry that my imagination won’t cooperate and let me enjoy a book that is out of my norm. And I was even more happy when I saw that there are quite a few books to this series. Already have requested the next two!!

I might have a tiny crush on Jesse…or it’s possibly wishing I had a friend like that. Could go either way.

This was a great warm blanket of a cozy mystery from back in history. I can’t think of a follow up to that that rhymes, which kind of bums me out, so I guess I am done with this review!! 😊

Additional thoughts added: 9/29/25

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why, oh why is it that some historical fiction writers take absolutely no trouble to write dialogue and description that sounds as if it came from the era they are writing about? Within the first couple of chapters of "Murder at the Breakers" (end of the 19th century), here are a couple phrases that stopped me cold:

"Didn't I always?"
"He's invited but it's doubtful he'll show."
"What can I say?"
"Over-the-moon."
"And while your father's back is turned, you raid his liquor cabinet."
"He's a goner, I'm afraid."
"Really? What else is new?"
"He's been framed."

What is so hard about reading a little Dickens, or Austen, or Edith Wharton to find out how people spoke, and what expressions they used in those days? "To 'show'"! "Over-the-moon" "What can I say?" were so modern it took me right out of the moment. And since the only reason I read a HISTORICAL mystery is, at least partly, to revel in the period, I gave up after three chapters.

Flouncy dresses and shining carriages is not enough to make this a historical mystery.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like every other television historical drama lover, I noticed the promos for HBO’s The Gilded Age. So, when the Gilded Age Mystery series cropped up as a newer audiobook release, I relished the opportunity to dive into this lavish world set in Newport, Rhode Island where the Vanderbilts and Astors and the rest of the Four Hundred came to play.

Opening Line
She might simply have rolled over, closed her eyes again, and sunk pleasantly back into sleep if not for the –
Here the nib of my pen ran dry and scratched across the paper, threatening to leave a tear.

A Summer House Opening Interrupted by Murder
Newport, R.I., 1895
Emma Cross, newspaper society columnist and cousin to the wealthy Cornelius Vanderbilt, has been approached by her desperate ne’er do well older brother, Brady, to help him return some papers he stole from Cornelius’ safe. Next thing Emma knows, a man’s body falls from the balcony of Cornelius’ bedroom where Brady is found passed out next to a bottle of bourbon and a candlestick. Forget his theft, now her brother is up for murder and only Emma seems to believe that, for all of Brady’s trouble, he’s no murderer. Who would want Cornelius’ secretary dead and why? Is it to do with the new railroad deal going through or something personal in the family? Emma must use her inside track giving her entre to the Breakers and the dazzlingly wealthy 400 Hundred families in Newport for the Summer social season as well as the working class locals to get at the truth before Brady gets put on trial for his life and a murderer ends her investigation for good.
Gilded Age Newport Makes a Favorable Impression
Mystery at the Breakers introduces a by-gone world of Newport, the summer playground for the rich, in a time of horse drawn carriages, gas lighting, and genteel manners. There is a blend of real life figures with fiction, solid mystery plot, and well-paced development of characters and story. The Gilded Age backdrop was there and was strongly present without taking over from the mystery-side of the story.

Not Your Average Stylish Young Lady
Emmeline Cross is the central figure and sole narrator. She describes herself in contrast to her brother and pretty much every other Four Hundred member of her generation in the book.
“Even at twenty-one I was the steadier of the two of us, the more practical, the one who remembers that food and clothing and a roof over one’s head couldn’t be won at poker or dicing.” P. 9
She has to be this way because her artist parents are caught up in each other and their art with their children something of an afterthought. Emma accepts this and loves them, but also this early abandonment shapes her. She is aloof and determined to do for herself as a result. Growing up playing with her Vanderbilt cousins when they came for the summer and even visiting with them in New York, she understands the vast gulf between their world and her own.
Fiercely Independent and First-Time Amateur Detective
Refusing well-meaning family help, Emma works for one of the local papers and stubbornly lives alone in the house she inherited from an eccentric old aunt and drives around her own small equipage. This stubborn independence is a good thing and I respected that in a time when gentlewomen weren’t generally so. However, as she investigates the mystery, she brushes off good advice and won’t take help. I wanted to thump her a few times when I saw her pulling a stupid and ending up in dangerous moments because she rushed off alone and often leaped to conclusions without much evidence to support her theories.
A Clever Dick of a Mystery Sided by Solid Character Development
The Mystery at the Breakers begins a series and this book sets that up while also pursuing a standalone murder mystery. I loved the suspenseful moments and the breath-stealing big money scene near the end where it all culminated with a suspect reveal I started fingering late in the story. The plotting of the mystery was on the clever side and I think the plots will only get tighter and crisper as the series progresses now that the intro is out of the way.
The mystery is only a portion of the story, though. There is good character development in Emma with room for more growth. The relationships she had with family, servants, friends, and others were engaging and drew me in, particularly Emma’s mysterious Mr. Anderson who both attracts and sparks her ire in equal measure.

Nifty Narration Work
Eva Kaminsky is a familiar narrator who matched up well with this genre and the tone of the writing. She voiced the large cast and the variety of cast members well.

Bang Up to the Elephant From Cover to Cover
Summing it up, the author captured a time and place with vast appeal, bricky characters, and mysteries small and great that deliciously tease and torture the reader in turn. There is no stopping with just this one. Historical mystery lovers will find Murder at the Breakers a wizard good time.

I rec'd a digital audiobook from Tantor Audio to listen to in exchange for an honest review.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an okay book. I was looking for a quick, fun read and ran across this book. It could have been so much more, with the inclusion of the Vanderbilts, Astors, and other wealthy families that comprised "The 400" - the wealthy elite at the turn of the century. But this isn't historical fiction. It is a novel which includes some famous families, some facts from the times, and a lot of fluff. Emma Cross is the protagonist. She is so annoying at times. There is a lot of potential, and at times the book was charming, but there is a lot of repetition. We are constantly reminded that Emma is NOT part of the elite. She is just a working class girl who happens to be related to the Vanderbilts. I could easily have left the book unfinished, but I don't typically do that. I find myself compelled to finish reading even the most inane books. It wasn't awful, but it wasn't great. I don't think I could recommend it to anyone.

[Kate Baxter · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful start to the Newport Mystery series this book was. Although, I have to confess, it was not first foray into this series having started with the eleventh installment. I enjoyed reading that one so much that I had to go back to the beginning of the series and try and get caught up. I certainly was not disappointed.

This first book in series introduces us to Emmaline Cross, Emma to all her friends, who is a bright and fiercely independent female news reporter. She is a poor cousin to THE Vanderbilts, who make their summer home at the Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island - a sumptuous summer "cottage" - (rather like a grand palace). Emma's been invited up to the Breakers for her cousin Gertrude's coming out party and to see the newly rebuilt summer "cottage". The event is in full swing and Emma steps out onto the lawn for a breath of fresh air at perhaps not the most auspicious moment. She notices movement up on a balcony and suddenly a body is hurled over the railing and lands on the lawn. She runs into the party looking for help and then runs upstairs to make sense of the event. She encounters her half-brother Brady, knocked out cold. He is taken into custody upon discovery as all circumstantial evidence points his way. Emma knows that there is no way he could be a murderer and is committed to getting to the bottom of it.

Ms. Maxwell has deftly crafted a well written and thoroughly engaging story. Her characters are well developed and the settings are spectacular and cinematic in their portrayal. The descriptions of the lavish homes make this reader long for another visit to The Breakers; to revel in the opulence of a bygone era. Emma is the personification of the modern woman. She's related to the Vanderbilts and yet is not a stranger to the working class. She manages well between both worlds and has heart for the working poor.

Publisher: Kensington Books
Publication Date: March 25, 2014
ISBN: 978-0758290823
No. of pages: 304

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A ball is being given at the Vanderbilt's newly rebuilt summer cottage, The Breakers. Reporter Emma Cross, a not-so-rich cousin to the Vanderbilts, receives an invitation and decides to report on the event for the local newspaper. When Emma witnesses the murder of Cornelius Vanderbilt's financial secretary and her stepbrother Brady is arrested, Emma knows he would never kill anyone. Emma decides to use her sleuthing ability to uncover the real killer and get Brady out of jail.

I've visited Newport a couple of times and thought the idea of a mystery set in The Breakers was a great idea. I loved the setting and the fact that they used real historical figures as some of the major characters in the story. Emma is an independent woman who makes a list of suspects and works at figuring out which one is the killer. The mystery plot was a bit thin. It was kind of easy to figure out who the killer was. But I enjoyed the story enough to look forward to the next book in the series. My rating: 3.5 Stars.

[Mystery, She Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 🌟

Mood/Seasonal Reading: summer (August)

This was a miss for me. Maybe it’s because I’ve read much better historical mysteries with much stronger heroines and romances but this felt flat. The killer was predictable and the story just never really caught my attention.

I had the biggest issues with the romantic subplot. It felt so out of left field that for a while I was struggling to determine who our male lead would even be. Once he was revealed it was like an instant love connection that felt very unrealistic and sudden. I didn’t feel their chemistry at all which then made their struggles much less exciting for me sadly.

The setting was lovely and the writing was decent. I have one of the next in the series in my possession and while I can’t see following in order I imagine I’ll pick up one randomly to see how the series progresses.

[J.J. Lair · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more. The opulence and grandeur of old Newport sounded exotic. I love history. This had all the makings of a great story. There is already a sequel.
The story dragged. There were so many names dropped in the first chapter that I had to write out a list to keep track of them all.
After all that, the author gave away the ending 60 pages before the end. She made it obvious. So I rushed through the end and didn't bother with the last chapter.
I may read the sequel because this had potential but this ending dropped it.

[Jeanette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just could not get into this book. I found it very boring.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Living in RI and having visited the Breakers a number of times, I sort of felt obligated to read this one. It didn't hurt that I also like cozy mysteries, and the Gilded Age cultures are not all that different from the setting on Downton Abbey. Emmaline (Emma) Cross is a non-traditional young woman living among the social elite in Newport. In fact, she is a cousin to the famous Vanderbilt family, who own the Breakers, through her mother. She would probably be considered one of their poorer relations. Emma lives in one of the smallest of the "summer cottages," and she is perfectly happy with that. She also has a position with one of the local newspapers, the Newport Observer, writing pieces for the Society pages.

The Vanderbilts are having a major party at their home, the Breakers, which has just completed a major reconstruction project after the mansion was basically lost in a fire. It is now the biggest and most extravagant home on the island. It will also be the coming out part for the daughter of the family. Emma knows she will most likely run into her brother (half-brother really) Brady at the party, though he is up to his usual no-good deeds. She is not the only person in her family who is untraditional. Brady likes to drink, gamble, and party, which is probably not the greatest idea since their branch of the family is definitely lacking in the wealth department. He has made her promise not to tell anyone if she sees him up to something because he is trying to fix a mistake he made against their Uncle Cornelius.

Things take a terrible turn when Uncle Cornelius' secretary is murdered and thrown over the balcony of one of the estates bedrooms. To make matters worse, Brady is found in the bedroom, knocked unconscious. This makes him the most likely murder suspect. As you can guess, Emma is going to do everything she can to clear Brady of the charges since she knows that he would never murder anyone, even if he has no trouble running afoul of the police in less serious ways.

Maxwell has created a fun little mystery set in 1895 Newport. The book is peopled with many of the 400, America's wealthiest families who shared living space in both New York City and Newport (in the summers). Romance, finance, and social intrigue abound as Emma interacts with a number of the rich and their servants in order to solve the mystery of who might have committed the murder at the Breakers. The characters are likable (when they should be), and the book definitely has the feel of a traditional cozy mystery.

I did figure out who committed the murder fairly early in the storytelling, but that did not stop me from enjoying the book. Maxwell has done a good job with trying to throw in red herrings. The characters, particularly the suspects, could probably have had a bit more development, but I suspect we will see that in further volumes in the series. I will definitely be looking forward to the next book, Murder at Marblehouse.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts
What an awesome debut!!!

Emma Cross inherited much more than Gull Manor from her Aunt Sadie. She inherited her wit and her spunk as well. Her parents have traveled abroad to follow their own dreams and left her to handle everything on her own. Using the small annuity left to her by her Aunt and the wages she earns writing about social events for the local paper she keeps up what she can at Gull Manor. She really is not Cornelius Vanderbilt’s niece. She is actually his second cousin “twice or thrice removed” but she calls him Uncle because she could never call the shipping magnate or his wife by just their first names. They invite her to parties, try to watch over her and hope to find her a suitable husband even though that is the furthest thing from her mind. She is very independent and has little fear of anything and seems to be wise beyond her years. She is a wonderful protagonist. I was engaged by her story immediately.

The author introduces us to many wonderful characters, the local Vanderbilt’s of course, Emma’s step brother Brady, her “cousin” Neily, Nanny, who has been at Gull Manor forever, Emma’s maid, Katie, Officer Jessie Whyte, and Derrick “Anderson”. I look forward to getting to know more about all of them and their stories in future installments.

What I really loved about this book is that while the story is fictional it is based on fact. A party similar to the one in book actually took place. The author used her research to craft a mystery that was interwoven into a story of a family most of us are familiar with on some level, maybe not back to 1895, but they were one of the riches families in American history.

The mystery was a good one too. Emma was not afraid to keep digging and observed many things the local authorities either missed or ignored. She was not afraid to ask the hard questions even when those questions put her own life in danger. She also found an unexpected ally.

There was so much I loved about this book. It takes us back in time to a slower lifestyle when visiting meant harnessing up the horse to the buggy and traveling down a dirt road going house to house or manor to manor.

This is definitely an author to watch. I can’t wait for Murder at Marble House (A Gilded Newport Mystery) out September 29.

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a cozy turn of the century mystery with a hint of luxury and no real surprises, this is for you. I look forward to checking out more in the series.
Although it was incredibly easy to figure out who did the murder, I enjoyed the quick pace and the beautiful setting of this story.
Emma is a distant relative of the Vanderbilts, living just down the street from their insanely ostentatious mansion in Newport. When she becomes almost-witness to a suspicious death outside the mansion and her half-brother is arrested for it, she starts digging in, determined to prove him innocent. Along the way she revives a friendship with a childhood playmate, runs into a newspaper man who is probably more than he seems, and wrestles with the problem of whom to trust amongst her family and social circles. It's pretty predictable, but it's fun reading if you're in the mood.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma Cross is a twenty-one year old spinster from Newport, Rhode Island during the summer of 1895. When her relatives, the Vanderbilts, plan to give a grand fete in honor of her cousin Gertrude's coming-out, Emma is invited as a relative but also as a reporter. Emma must work for her living and she does so as a writer for the society page of a local paper. She longs to be a real reporter writing on real events. When her half-brother Brady comes to her asking for help sneaking into The Breakers, she's worried he's done something terribly wrong. She's used to bailing him out of jail for drunken and disorderly conduct, but this hints at something much worse, especially when cousin Neilly comes around and reveals Brady's secret. Emma keeps her promise though and just as she heads outside to look for her brother, she overhears a confrontation in her uncle's room and a body falls off the balcony and onto the grounds. She's worried it might be her brother, but the body turns out to be a family friend and Uncle Cornelius' secretary. Was it an accident or murder? The police seem to think murder and Brady is the prime suspect! Emma is convinced Brady was framed and she's determined to prove it to the arrogant police who dismiss her because she's a woman and Brady's sister. She crosses paths (and wits) with a handsome reporter from Providence as she investigates her suspects. Emma knows the rich and powerful will close ranks around their own but she's determined not to let her brother hang for a murder he didn't commit. From her great-aunt Sadie she inherited a home and an independent spirit. She relies on that independent spirit to carry her through to the end.

Though the plot follows the basic cozy mystery outline, the story is unique enough and filled with so many small details that it's vastly interesting. The plot held my interest as I followed Emma's clues to figure out whodunnit. I figured it out before she did and I thought she was incredibly silly not to at least suspect but she was blinded by personal feelings. There's a little bit of romance with just enough sparks to make it believable and appealing, yet very Victorian. The dialogue between Emma and her love interest is very good. The period details are worked into the story as part of the characters' everyday lives and as part of the setting. The author doesn't step out of the story to insert her views or explain things, which I was grateful for. The author's views on women's rights are obvious but she provides the reader with a character and setting where those views are appropriate. I loved the local setting. Fans of Downton Abbey and Upstairs, Downstairs will be interested in the subplot about Emma's maid Katie and the Vanderbilts' butler, Mason. The point-of-view doesn't shift to them but they're very much a part of Emma's life and her world. I don't get to Newport as often as I would wish but I am familiar with Bellevue and recently visited The Breakers. The book really makes me want to go inside the playhouse, where I didn't get to see. It's not in the budget at the moment though. The author thought of all kinds of details no one thinks about anymore: how did people get to Newport? How did they get around the island? Who takes care of that massive house? What was the relationship between parents and children like? The story reveals a lot about life in Gilded Age Newport I didn't know.

The characters are great. I love spunky Emma. She's high enough to associate with her wealthy cousins but not too high so she also associates with lower sorts of people. Her poverty makes her empathetic to others and it also makes her too proud to accept too much help from the Vanderbilts. She's strong, determined, stubborn and an all-around wonderful character. I look forward to seeing her go toe-to-toe with the formidable Alva Vanderbilt in the second book. Her bit of romance was well-deserved and took a turn I didn't entirely expect, yet I did because of who she is and what she wants out of life. Needless to say, she's a character I can relate to. (A Gilded Age me, if you will). She isn't ditzy like most female cozy mystery heroines but she does make a few blunders I saw coming.

The secondary characters are also well drawn. None of them rely solely on the stereotypes of Gilded Age personalities. The Vanderbilts appear as they really were. I liked getting to know them better, especially Gertrude, who was is largely glossed over on the museum tour (aside from her bedroom). I also liked getting to know young Gladys because she is featured in the audio tour of the museum. I don't know much about the younger boys and I was interested in getting to know them too. The fictional secondary characters include Brady, Emma's love interest, her outspoken Nanny and maid Katie, among others from both upstairs and downstairs.

This is a great book for cozy mystery fans and Downton Abbey fans. Those of you from Aquidneck Island should also read this.

[Lady Tea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 2.5 / 5

DNF at 30% + skipped to the end

Honesty must always be a part of my reviews, and therefore, unfortunately, in all honesty I got bored and was not impressed with this one.

To pinpoint why, I guess I'd say that I wasn't hooked into this world the way I am with some other cozy mysteries. Maybe that makes it a hit-or-miss for me since I don't need just the mystery to keep me entertained?

In any case, I just wasn't drawn in to the world of Emma Cross, nor that of anyone she associates with. In herself, she doesn't really have much of a personality, but is about as bland as and typical as a heroine can get. She's a sucker to help her half-brother out at all times, okay, and she has her own writing career on the side, but...that's about it. I'm not even sure if I knew what she looked like, since she's never really described. A lot of characters are that way, in fact, and a lot of the story is written as tell, not show. The plot unfolds in a way that just felt staged, and so I lost interest in terms of who was who and who I was supposed to be suspecting or not suspecting. By the time I got to the 30-40% point, I just didn't care, and decided to set this one aside, having given it a fair chance and remained lukewarm to its intended impact.

Just not the series for me, I guess, but fortunately there are many potential cozy mysteries out there.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My actual rating is probably a 3.5.

There was quite a bit I liked about this book. I know Newport RI very well so I had no problem picturing the setting. References to Thames St, Bellevue Ave, Spring St, and Cliff Walk were easy for me to picture because I am very familiar with them.

The murder mystery was pretty good too. There were a lot of twists and turns that kept me guessing. Emma wasn't bad as an amateur sleuth either. She's smart and resourceful and doesn't give up.

However, a couple of things really detracted from it for me. First, there are so many characters that it is hard to keep all of them straight, in part because quite a few of them were underdeveloped.

My bigger problem with this was the completely unnecessary romance. The story was strong and compelling without adding a love story to it and in my opinion it detracted.

Still, I really enjoyed this and will definitely continue with this series. :)

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad cozy mystery but nothing special. The setting was interesting--turn of the (last) century Newport. However, the heroine was heavy on the TSTL moments and the mystery ended very weakly, i.e., the entire thing is revealed by the formerly-sane-now-suddenly-crazy murderer. I won't continue with this series.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable! Emma is a strong and interesting main character. I really hope she and Derrick can work out their differences because they made a dynamic duo, especially for that time period. The mystery was good and kept me guessing.

[Cheyenne · Rating 3 out of 5]

In short, a cute and cozy mystery set in the Gilded Age, complete with a headstrong heroine and ill-fated romance. Overall, it was okay but I had a few issues with the book.

First, I’m tired of heroines recklessly choosing danger; it’s a done-to-death trope. Next, parts of the story remain unexplained, such as Emma’s midnight attacker. How could it possibly have been who she said it was? And finally, I don’t know if it was the author’s intention, but I’d pinpointed the murder about 150 pages from the end. I still enjoyed the “reveal”, but it was not a “I never suspected!” kind of story.

Emma is an okay leading character. For someone who represents themself as a strong and independent woman, she did a lot of crying and swooning.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. This sounded so good, but it really wasn't a hit for me.

First off, if you are going to set your story during the Gilded Age, then I expect you to build in some of the, well, Gilded Age details and feeling into the book. That was totally missing in this. There were only the most minute mentions of the parties, the clothes, the architecture, etc. Why bother to put your story in this period if you aren't going to use it to build your world?

Then there was Emma. It felt like the author couldn't decide whether she wanted Emma to be a wilting violet who's afraid of, or offended by everything, or a smart, independent modern woman and that was an issue for me. It was distracting how Emma would be one type of woman in one scene and someone totally different in the next. I couldn't figure out who she was, and she felt contrived to me because of that so I never really connected to Emma, even though I wanted to, and she did have some moments where I liked her as the protagonist of the story.

Finally, the story felt very slow-moving to me. Very little seemed to happen as the story progressed. Even the murder itself felt almost anti-climactic and flat.

I was sadly disappointed by this because I really thought I would like it. It had lots that would normally draw me in, but the way it all came together just didn't hold my attention.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delight to read and I am so happy that I picked it up. When I was very young we lived in Newport for over a year and I have fond memories of the Mansions and Cliff Walk. I have been back several times and I have always looked forward to going back for another visit. In Murder at the Breakers we follow Emma Cross a cousin of the wealthy Vanderbilt's. While attending a party at the Breakers she comes across a murdered guest. When her half brother is arrested, she is one of the only people that thinks he is innocent. While she normally is society page reporter she uses her investagiative skills to determine who the real murderer is. I thought Emma and her circle of friends and family were fantastic. I had a suspicion as to her the killer was that proved to be correct, but that did not take away at all from this book for me. I am going to pick up the next book as soon as it comes in from the library.

[Jeannine · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun start to a new series. Having lived in RI for a time, I loved gilded age Newport as a backdrop for this series. While there were lots of characters, they were easy to track. It was interesting to see the groundwork being laid for a bit of a love triangle. I can’t wait to read the next installment!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm obsessed. It took only a few pages.

The mystery itself isn't really the standout - it's a fairly standard murder mystery plot, with lots of circumstantial evidence that leads back to a big bad. I did guess the killer in the end but it was a good journey to get there.

But the VIBES. Maybe it's because I grew up so close, or love learning things about the Gilded Age, but that's what I loved most. Emma is a headstrong heroine learning to hold her own in a world where money means everything.

Also if we don't see more Derrick Andrews I'm going to scream.

[Dawn Frazier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!