Crossings

The Harry Reese Mysteries #2

by Robert Bruce Stewart

It’s the spring of 1901 and Harry Reese is seeking a link between the apparent suicide of an insurance agent and the untimely deaths of two of his clients. In the meantime, his wife Emmie is planting vague rumors of murder in an effort to gain a more desirable apartment.

To solve this case, Harry’s obliged to visit a miscellany of vice dens, including dive saloons, gambling parlors, and a brothel—not to mention the state of New Jersey—while crooked cops, opportunistic con men, and his eccentric wife do what they can to mislead him.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Humor, Ebooks, Mystery Thriller, Amazon

253 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 27, 2012

About the author

Finding himself misplaced in the 21st century, Robert Bruce Stewart has opted to retire to what he hopes will be a more congenial era for a person of his sensibilities by means of fiction writing. Meanwhile, his temporal self lives with his wife and cat in a small-town hermitage in western Massachusetts where he spends his idle hours tending to the needs of tadpoles and keeping his ill-mannered bamboo grove in check.

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the main protagonist Harry, right from the start. Here we have an insurance investigator who doesn't take himself too seriously, but that said, make no mistake, there's some SERIOUS investigating to do! and he does it so well. I wasn't sure about Emmie ( his partner in crime ) initially, but as the story unfolded I realised that the two of them bounced off each other perfectly, really complemented each other, and gave the story some amusing moments which added to the enjoyment of it. I also love that it's set in the early twentieth century.

There are a lot of characters - a lot of suspects, and with so many threads to follow, it's interesting to see how the author untangles these threads, and ties up all the frayed edges to reach a satisfying conclusion. This is a well written, character led storyline. The pace is good, and it's refreshing that, given the serious nature of Harry's job, he does it with such humour.

It was a really interesting, fun read and I can see Harry and Emmie transferring easily to the small screen!

* I received my copy of Crossings from the author in exchange for an honest unbiased review. This hasn't affected my review in any way, I really have enjoyed it*

[Min · Rating 1 out of 5]

It had a promising start. But then the wife character was introduced. I don't know if Emmie is meant to be a necessary side-kick or the brains in the family, but her character is incredibly annoying. This is my first reading from Stewart, and perhaps Emmie has been introduced elsewhere.

Plot itself is not spectacular, but sufficiently interesting.

I have decided not to read any more from Harry Reese series. This book is a turn-off.

[Marion Grassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book by the author in exchange for a review. Many thanks to Robert Bruce Stewart! That being said, the following is my considered review of the book.

This is the second book I have read from the Harry Reese Mysteries series. I loved this novel which, in keeping with the series, is highly entertaining with its lively, tongue-in-cheek, witty style. It is an unusual combination of mystery and comedy set in the USA during the turn of the last century which cleverly draws the reader into its historical setting.
The plot involves several deaths initially written off as accidents and suicide. Suspicion is aroused when it comes to notice that all the deaths ocurred within a short space of time and were linked through the same life insurance company. Harry Reese, insurance investigator, is working to solve the puzzle, ‘aided’ by his tenacious wife Emmie resulting in many amusing episodes. Together they face gambling dens, crooked businessmen and stockbrokers, con artists, corrupt policemen and vice dens.
The story progresses through an assortment of twists and turns and further deaths ensue. There are a multitude of dubious characters and suspects and, as the reader, you are never quite sure who to believe or trust and I was kept guessing right up to the end. It develops into quite a tangled tale but provides us with a satisfying conclusion. This was not your average whodunnit.
The novel is humorous and doesn’t take itself too seriously. Dialogue is peppered with humour and wit but does not detract from either the plot or the narrative flow of the tale. The characters are both colourful and memorable. The constant banter between the two main characters is a delight – Emmie is a vibrant woman, rather emancipated for the times - leading to a constant battle of wits and wills! I did however, eventually get a little irritated with Emmie’s constant following of Harry (until he found a way to stop it). While not all entirely likeable, the characters are nevertheless all rather intriguing and flamboyant.
The website for this series is wonderful (link provided in the opening pages). It contains details of the Streetcar Mystery novels, all the characters and a vast amount of related information on the places involved and their historical context. It provides a vast glossary of the words and terms used in the novel for authenticity. Links are provided for further investigation. It is clear the author has gone to a great deal of background research to produce the historical detail found in these books in order to present an authentic setting.
The author states: “It’s my aspiration to write historical mysteries that are humorous in a sophisticated way, yet faithful to the genre and the period.” Again I would have to say he has undoubtedly achieved his goal.

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Here it is.

This book is supposed to be tongue-in-cheek but the humor is too dry. The title is "Crossings" and that's what I mostly read, what ferry Harry took, which way he walked, when he took the L and when he caught a "car". I lost interest pretty quickly and was going to give up and then Emmie, Harry's wife, suddenly appeared in the investigation and I found myself laughing and enjoying the book! She brought light, humor and interest to the dull story line. When Emmie was there, it was a bright, sunshiny day and when she wasn't, it was dark and cloudy. Harry and Emmie make a great team and have wonderful chemistry. I believe Emmie could pull the book off by herself, but Harry without Emmie is like reading actuarial tables for fun. I was not able to get past page 195 because I was no longer interested in what happened. If Harry and Emmie kept up their schtick, I would have loved to read the entire book. The story needs more chemistry, humor, excitement and less train, ferry schedules, talk of Harry catching a car and which way he walked to catch a ferry. I'm from Jersey City, NJ right across the river from Manhattan and spent a lot of years working in NYC and exploring with my friends. I was interested at first about the ferries and cable cars, I remembered seeing trolley tracks on the streets at Time Square when I was a kid, but that didn't last very long so I can imagine how dull that would be for someone who has never even been to New York.

I believe that there are great mysteries to be written with Harry and Emmie working together more, less travel info and more character development and plot suspense. Insurance investigations, even when there are murders and a suicide, is boring unless told in a vivacious manner. Emmie is vivacious.

I was also given the next book in the series, Kalorama Shakedown, but will have to hold back from reading it for a while because I couldn't handle another Harry mystery right now.

[Tony Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emmie Reese (wife) was telling Harry Reese (27, husband) that Mr. Ahearn (janitor) could have been the murderer.
The apartment they now live in was once a crime scene.
Harry worked for Gotham Insurance Bureau (GIB, William, St., Manhattan, NY).
William Huber (26, son, Williamsburg, NY, insurance agent) died.
Robert “Rob” Barclay (36, stock broker) was found dead also.

Then Christopher Farrell (43, drummer) slipped/fell onto the 6th. Ave L tracks.
It seems all of a sudden there were to many life insurance claims to pay out.
Keegan (GIB owner) thought that was very odd.
Detective George Tibbitts (Manhattan PD) had done some investigation on 2 of the guys.
Harry went & spoke with Mrs. Eliza Huber (wife), & Mrs. Eliza Barclay (25, wife).
Edward Howell (brother-in-law) name came up.
Harrison “Harry” went to see Sanford Osborne (Sovereign Mutual Life Insurance Co., claims Dept. mgr.) in Brooklyn, NY.
It seems Anna Farrell has vanished.
Emmie of course was helping Harry with the investigations.
Clara Marquisee (wife) had committed suicide.

Sanford had been found dead.
Now Sally Koestler is missing.
Will Emmie & Harry figure out all these life insurance cases.

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written mystery book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a huge set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great mystery movie, or better yet a mini TV series. To be continued. A very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free Street Car Mysteries; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons (Washburn)

[Cheryl Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received my copy of 'Crossings' from the author after entering the Goodreads 'First Reads' contests.

This is a delightful, witty and sophisticated mystery set in New York City at the turn of the last century. The novel runs on the relationship between married sleuths, Harry and Emmie Reese. The novel is domestic, but decidedly un-cozy. It is unsentimental without being the least bit hard boiled.

I will admit that, for the first few chapters, Emmie was rather annoying. She follows her husband everywhere, wanting to be part of his investigation of suicides that could point to insurance fraud and murder. I thought she might be following me when I went to get a cup of coffee, which highlights the author's power to make the characters a real presence for the reader. . .something that held true for the entire novel.

'Crossings' is the second Harry Reese mystery, and the author has a companion series featuring Emmie Reese. I will be looking forward to reading more in these series.

If you enjoy historical mysteries that transport you to another world, guided through that world by sophisticated companions, you will enjoy 'Crossings.'

[Joel Bresler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insurance investigator Harry Reese has been hired to look into some suspicious, insured deaths. With the sometimes dubious assistance of his wife Emmie, Harry explores the not-so-secret underworld of gambling in 1901 New York, covering everything from "pool room" horse betting shops to the stock exchange. He uncovers many things, including a fraud and murder conspiracy and the fact that Emmie knows more about the gambling scene than is probably good for either of them.
"Crossings" is an excellent novel. The writing is tight throughout, and the pace is just about perfect. Author Robert Bruce Stewart uses just the right amount of humor to keep things light without sidetracking his very well-told story.
The best part, however, is that this is only one of a series. There's more of Harry and Emmie for readers to look forward to.

[Maria Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is more a 2 1/2 star for me. I found the characters amusing and kept visualizing them as a British detective show or something. The marital relationship reminded me of the characters in The Thin Man (with less drinking but more gambling). But I felt bogged down in the story. So many characters made it hard for me to keep track of who was which... And who was actually guilty. I had to do the wrap it up chapter three times to get a grasp on who dunnit. And I still wouldn't be able to tell you who dunnit by name. Like I said, too many characters for me to keep track of. Maybe the book needs a second, slower, more thorough read for me to follow it better.

[Jakenv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great cover gives clue to humor of author. Now who could resist a period mystery with charming lead characters? Story moves quickly with enough intrigue to keep reader guessing. Stewart has created a pair of detectives you will continue following in years to come. Found myself moving to next books as enjoyed this one so much.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining whodunit with quirky characters and interesting problem solving.

[Patricia Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harry Reese, an insurance investigator in the 1900's looks into the recent multiple deaths by suicide and 'accidents'. Suspicions arise when he finds that they are all processed by the same life insurance agent who has committed suicide. In this book, his wife Emmie once again reprises her role as Solver of mysteries/Saboteur. Her role somewhat reprises the roles of the wives of those suicide/accident victims ---- did they contribute to the deaths of their husbands to recieve insurance money??? Were they innocents or part of manipulations in their deaths ?? I love Emma's role as a 'balance' to Harry. Where he is sedate and plotting, she is surprising and innovative, and ultimately supportive of Harry's investigation. Her rapid education and prowess at gambling proves to be a great help to solving the mystery of the deaths. Thanks Bob Stewart for another book that tickles the little grey cells.

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars is maybe a bit generous. Harry investigates suspected insurance fraud. The writing style is pedantic and uninteresting. The characters are two dimensional. The plot was sort of interesting, but not enough. Harry's wife, Emmie adds some interest and humor, and may have saved the book, if most of what she did to support the investigation wasn't so hidden from the reader.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much a fun read and enjoyable. Harry is not a know-it-all detective but a rather likeable fellow and felt more warm and real for it. I got this book on discount for Kindle, but I now want to track down the rest, possible in actual book form. Strongly recommend this for readers of light-hearted detective novels where the reader has a chance to figure it out before the detective does.

[Slugpuppy3 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow start but ramped up to a satisfyingly complicated and entertaining murder mystery.

[Pat Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were too many characters. I just could not follow this book. I almost abandoned it, but pushed on to the end.. It never came together for me. At least it was not predictable!

[Cate's Book Nut Hut · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second offering in the Harry Reese Mysteries series and, after reading and reviewing the third book in this series I decided to backtrack to the second.

Everything that made the characters so appealing and likeable in Kalorama Shakedown is here in this novel which makes this yet another enjoyable standalone read, as well as an equally well written part of a series. The characters are still portrayed as normal people, and I feel it is this trait that the Author manages to consistently instil in them that makes the reader root for them at every turn of the page. The Author gives all his characters witty dialogue, and places them in the kind of humourous situations that some readers may, in some way relate to and others wish they could be a part of.

Once again the locations are soberly descriptive and give an interesting insight to the reader of life in this era, the early 1900’s. I would not say the people living in this time were naive, as things seemed to be more simple back then, but at times the Author verges on point the point of making these people seem a little slow, before realising their error and moving on in the novel.

A lot less hectic than the third book the series, there is still a great deal going on within its pages; travelling, fun and death. This makes this book another good mystery with an unexpected ending. I feel this series of books sits firmly in the cozy mystery genre, and would highly recommend it to lovers of this genre as well as those who enjoy an entertaining read.

Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2013/11/26...


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

[Arielle Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another very enjoyable read! I am writing this review in return for receiving this book from the author.

Insurance fraud investigator Harry Reese is looking into the matter of insurance agent's suicide and the possible coincidence it may have with the suspicious deaths of two clients he recently insured. As soon as you open the book, you're on your way down the rabbit hole! There seems to be an unending list of characters and suspects, but I didn't find myself being too confused by it. The story takes place in the late 1800s, bouncing among insurance offices, hotels, pool halls and saloons. The pool halls of this day actually being "discreet" gambling houses. The details and descriptions of the time period were very informative and entertaining.

Harry has a knack of piecing the case together from the small bits of information he collects along the way, despite the "help" of his over eager wife Emmie. She seems to be conducting her own secret parallel investigation, in her usual non-conventional way, much to his chagrin. Their conversational volleys are hilarious, in a dry, witty sort of way. This book actually reminds me of those early black and white detective movies, where everyone is somehow both serious, quirky and comedic at the same time.... right up my alley!

[Erin L · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was well written and edited (it's self published so it's nice to see some time and effort put into the latter).

I like the character of Harry and mostly enjoyed the mystery. There were a lot of characters and because I often read in bits and pieces between other books, it was sometimes hard to keep up with who each character was and how they fit in the big picture.

I found Emmie a bit hard to take. Maybe women really were like that, but she's really just not my kind of character and I found myself wishing she'd shut up or at least involve Harry a bit more since she constantly demanded that from him.

The author did an excellent job of maintaining several plot lines throughout the book and brought them together in a satisfying conclusion. I would absolutely read more from him - starting with the first in the series because I'm afraid I may have suffered for not having read it previously.

[msleighm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you very much to Robert Bruce Stewart for a copy of his book in exchange for an honest review.

Another Emmie and Harry Reese mystery (comedy). Turn of the 20th century insurance investigator and his liberated wife find death and solve crimes in a uniquely "Emmie" way.

I vacillated between 3 or 4 stars, since 3.5 isn't an option. I rounded up largely due to the fact that I love these characters, the narrator's (Harry in this case) is strong, and it's not the books fault that neither the stock market nor gambling interest me much so I had to concentrate to keep characters and plots clear. However, if you're more open or interested than I on those two subjects, that won't be an issue at all. And if you're reading the series (which you should if you enjoy this genre), you'll want to keep up with plot points and the introduction of new characters (and, as to be expected, they are characters!).

[Paul O'Grady · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a New York history buff and was excited when I discovered this book in the Kindle Lending Library. Turn of the 20th century New York mystery stories seemed like they'd be right up my alley. While I did feel that the book attempted to conjure up some NY scenes like the streetcars, restaurants, gambling parlors and racetracks, for the most part, I found the characters and the story-line somewhat tedious. The relationship between the main character and his wife I believe was intended to be somewhat whimsical and comic. Instead,I found it to be somewhat irritating and it left me wondering: would a husband and wife have the kind of relation depicted here at that time? For the most part I found that these were characters I won't want to revisit in the future, although my first journey with the them was mildly amusing.

[Cindy Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a delightful, witty and sophisticated mystery, that takes place in the early 1900's. the locations are descriptive and give an interesting insight to the reader of life in this era.

Insurance fraud investigator Harry Reese is hired to look into some suspicious, insured deaths.
Harry Reese and his wife Emmie need to figure out the insurance policy fraud, before more "suicides" occur. Emmie follows her husband everywhere, wanting to be part of his investigation, even though she can be annoying at times, Emmie is just as smart and clever as her husband. A true partnership.
This book has a lot of twists and turns, don't assume you know where the story is going, you will be surprised.
If you enjoy a good mystery which doesn't take itself too seriously, Crossings is the book for you.

[Florry · Rating 5 out of 5]

William Huber is dead. Two of his life-insured clients are found dead too.

Harry Reese tries to solve the mystery and to find out what happened. As much as he goes into this case other people are discovered dead or missing.

It seems that corrupt cops and agents along with family members of the dead and missing people are involved.

I find it interesting to discover what is going on in 1901’s Manhattan’s life when big amount of money is at stake, gambling people involved and life insurance policies questionable.

I love Emmie, Harry’s wife. She has her own way to help investigating the case. She is surprising, funny and always a step before Harry.


Wish to read more of this amusing couple's mysteries.

[Evan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got the book because I like historical novels/mysteries and this was an interesting era. Unfortunately, not really that historical -- other than a few minor aspects it could have taken place in modern NYC and the context of everyone's lives and what was going on in the city and country were barely mentioned. Further, as a mystery, it was flat. Various people go places, ask people questions, and the pace and rhythm are deadly slow. The characters are also not very interesting. The protagonist is OK but just drifts along. His madcap wife is just annoying and engages in behavior that is frequently pointlessly dangerous and counterproductive.

Will not read any more in the series. Not worth the time.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witty dialogue, an interesting premise for the plot, and a setting that brings the New York City of 1901 vividly to life; what's not to like?

This is the second book in the Harry Reese series. It can be read as a stand alone, but if at all possible, you might want to start at the beginning so you'll appreciate some of the humorous situations even more. I'm having a ball reading them backwards, though, so don't let that stop you!

If you enjoy a good mystery which doesn't take itself too seriously, Crossings is a perfect choice for you.

For more, see my blog posting: http://my-book-diary.blogspot.com/201...

[Maryjo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads giveaway. Thanks Robert Stewart!

4 1/2 Stars

I really did enjoy reading this book. At times, it was a little difficult for me to keep track of all the characters, but overall, it was a fun mystery. As Harry investigates a man who committed suicide and his connection to two other deaths, his quirky wife, Emmie, is right there in the middle of everything stirring things up. And, yes, Emmie is indeed quirky! But I loved her character. In fact, Harry and Emmie are both a hoot! I would certainly enjoy reading more books by this author.

[Paul Burnette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of crossings here -- by ferry, by train, by ocean liner. In a couple marriages. Double crosses, too. A financier’s takeover of a company crosses the line. Murder plots for insurance payoffs. And our favorite heroine Emmie occasionally crosses up her husband Harry’s plans as he investigates what may be a fraud ring, or a kidnapping, or murderous misunderstandings. Or all of the above! And the cream in this pitcher, the suds on this beer, is the effervescent, entertaining, and always brilliant verbal sparring between Harry and his hilarious wife Emmie. Just remember, whenever a promise is made, the game is on!

[Conny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book as a free download and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is the second book of the Harry Reese mystery series and it grabbed my attention right from the beginning. I enjoyed the historical background and I always seem to learn something new from Mr Stewarts books. I loved the characters and despite this being a mystery I did find myself laughing out loud at times. I certainly will be on the lookout for any other books by Robert Bruce Stewart and I can't wait to see what troubles Harry and Emmie Reese will get themselves into in the future.

[Jo-Ann Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very charming story with engaging characters that takes place in the early 1900's. The main detectives remind me of Nick and Nora Charles. The mystery was very complex and involving. That made it challenging to solve and I did not guess the perpetrator before the revelation. The language is true to the era and some of the terminology may be strange to the modern ear but it adds to the fun of the story.

The author caught my interest from the start and held it throughout. A very enjoyable read. I am looking forward to their next adventure.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the humor, particularly the relationship between Harry and Emmie. The subordinate characters were interesting and funny too for the most part. I found the story itself somewhat tedious and lost interest about half way through. The author spent way too much time relating how Harry got to various locations. It just served as filler. I do see potential for Harry and Emmie given their chemistry.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harry and Emmie team up again to solve a very complex case involving multiple murders and insurance fraud. There's also plenty of gambling-related activities to keep Emmie happy.

This series just keeps getting better and better. Harry narrates with a dry wit that is really engaging. The mystery is a good one and keeps the reader guessing. I love the turn-of-the-last-century time period as well.