A Record of Death

Maggie Maguire #2

by Kate Bryan

In a sequel to Murder at Bent Elbow, Maggie Maguire, a female detective on the American frontier of 1875, becomes trapped in a resort on Cutthroat Island, where she and the other guests hear their death predicted on a phonograph. Original.

Genres: Historical Fiction

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 1998

Reviews

[Linda C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie Maguire and her cousin/partner, Grady, are invited to an island resort in Washington state to reunite with an old circus performer friend of Maggie's. But when they arrive, they and 8 others find themselves trapped on the island with a killer who intends to kill them all. The killer is a master of disguise and one of the 10 guests. Maggie is a former circus performer and Pinkerton agent, who is now partners with her cousin in a detective agency. As they try to figure out who is the killer and the bodies start to accumulate, we learn how each person got on the wrong side of the killer. This historical mystery set in 1885 includes a good bit of humor and Maggie's use of her circus skills pop up in unique ways.

[Vera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the concept of this series. Its over a hundred years ago, and the main detective is female. This particular plot was okay, a take on Christie's Ten Little Indians, but some of it was a little far out. But the story carried me along and I enjoyed it.

[Kathy]

It's like Agatha Christie's 10 Little Indians. Very entertaining.

[Helen Fleischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

accidental re-read but worth revisiting