Death of a Robber Baron

Gilded Age Mystery #1

by Charles O'Brien

For fans of HBO’s The Gilded Age, explore the dark side of the alluring world of America’s 19th century elite in this gripping series of riveting mysteries…

Novice private investigator Pamela Thompson is hired by Lydia Jennings to investigate mismanagement at her palatial 'cottage' Broadmore Hall, in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. Pamela discovers the butler living a double life at Lydia's expense. Soon Pamela has to deal with a mare's nest of family problems, mostly generated by Lydia's husband, Henry Jennings, the ruthless and unfaithful Copper King, whose sole purpose in life is to become the richest man in America. The climax comes at Broadmoar during Henry's 4th July party - a grandiose event that he personally orchestrates. The next morning, his body is found in his study. Pamela's boss, the lawyer Jeremiah Prescott, joins her for the investigation. Now they have to figure out, from among the many suspects, who killed Henry Jennings...

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

305 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 30, 2013

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

The Columbia University educated historian embarked on his mystery writing career in 1988, six years before he retired from the WIU history department. O'Brien's wife Elvy, an art historian, had moved to Williamstown, VA, after accepting a position with the J. Paul Getty Trust, then at the Clark Art Institute. That began a series of long commutes for O'Brien.

"I wanted to make use of time on board (trains and planes) and in airports. Many of my fellow passengers were reading crime novels. I thought why not exploit my fund of historical settings and write a historical mystery," O'Brien explained. "The idea of 'Mute Witness' blossomed in the air between Albany and Chicago."

When O'Brien retired in 1994 after 22 years of teaching at Western, he began to seriously study the art of writing fiction with colleague Tama Baldwin of the WIU English faculty.

Reviews

[Grey853 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was incredibly disappointed in this book, not so much the storyline, but the execution. The words stodgy and old fashioned come to mind. Granted, it's a historical mystery, but that doesn't mean the writing has to be so stilted.

The premise is excellent and I think the main character of Pamela has great potential, but it's never realized because of the out-dated writing style.

When we first meet her, it's the one year anniversary of her daughter's death. She and her husband have grown apart in that time. It gets worse when she discovers he's invested her trust fund and mortgaged the house in a losing scheme. She finds that he's also embezzled from his bank. He commits suicide and leaves her penniless.

That all happens in a few chapters, and yet Pamela's reactions, the devastation she must have felt from his betrayal is never realized, never really brought to life because of the writing style, which is all telling and very little showing. The dialogue isn't very good, either.

The rest of the book deals mainly with Pamela becoming a Macy's detective and then working for the wife of the man who ruined her husband. There's also a side story about her ward who's being harassed by an abusive father who was just released from prison for killing her mother.

All in all, this could've been a really interesting book, but it failed to win me over because I kept wanting to rewrite it, to dig deeper and find out how Pamela really felt about all the things that happened to her.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book! I am not that familiar with the Gilded Age or that time in our history. I enjoyed the historical aspects of this book along with the mystery itself. The lead character, Pamela overcomes her loss of wealth and social status with remarkable grace and independence. She becomes an investigator for a small firm, is employed by the wife of a robber baron and becomes involved in a series of investigations that include a murder. I can't wait for the next in the series!

[Priscilla Herrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not initially have high hopes for Death of a Robber Baron, as it seemed to start off in a somewhat confused manner - all sorts of things seemed to be thrown into the mix - but as I kept reading I found that the characters seemed to come alive. This book, apparently the first in a series of Gilded Age Mysteries, is a cross between detective fiction and historical novel.

The book opens in New York City, and moves between the city and the industrialist's country "cottage" in Lexington, Massachusetts. By the end of the book I was quite amazed at how many details of the 1890s were woven into the story! In standard detective fiction convention, there are a number of suspects, all with plausible motives, and the detective heroine must sort things out even when her sympathies lie with a possible suspect.

At the conclusion, everything is tied up neatly - perhaps a little too neatly, but that is often the case in detective fiction! In real life, a detective might have several cases to work on simultaneously; in this, like so many such mysteries, she has only one case and a great deal of assistance from her boss and, other detectives, and various well placed individuals.

The strength of this book is the period details. In one scene, the industrialist's wife is following the case of Lizzie Borden as reported in the newspapers; she believes Miss Borden, as the daughter of an important family, must therefore be innocent. Further details such as the lavish entertainments of the wealthy, contrasted with the presence of many tramps unable to find work during the economic downturn, help to provide a flavor on the so-called Gilded Age. The author provides a bibliography of sources on which he drew to authenticate the setting and the classes of people described.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. The story-line and characters had so much potential, but there wasn't enough development in the writing to make a truly excellent story. The first few chapters felt rushed, as if the writer was trying to hurry and get to something that never materialized. The writing is choppy and there is no emotional development to the characters.

All of that said, I still finished it because the idea was a good one. I'd give a book two a chance, and do so even more readily if it had a consulting writer to help develop the gaps in the story and prose.

[Calista · Rating 1 out of 5]

The plot was interesting but the characters were wrong. Nothing bothers me in a book more than a voice that is anachronistic or false and these characters were so off it actually made me twitchy. I raced through to confirm who did what but with no interest in pursuing this writer.

[Kelly Bolin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Only the mystery part of the story kept me engaged enough to finish this book. The writing was very simplistic and seemed quite labored and/or forced.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't give away spoilers in my reviews.
I stumbled upon this book while searching my library's mystery shelves. I am a big fan of the Gilded Age and this sounded like a good read.
Pamela Thompson is used to living richly and spending her time volunteering at charities. Unfortunately, her husband has foolishly spent their fortune in a scam. Pamela and her husband lose everything. Then Pamela loses her husband, Jack.
She then takes over a boardinghouse that is one of her investments since she and her ward Brenda can live there. Pamela becomes a store detective at Macy's. This was my favorite part of the book. I loved reading about her training with Harry, the store setting, all of the items for sale back then.
Pamela goes on to become a compation to Lydia Jennings, a rich woman who thinks there is something amiss with her household finances, staff, etc.
I also loved the friendship that forms with Pamela's attorney boss, Prescott. I struggled to figure out who the murderer was - which is always a fun thing for a reader. I love the constant guessing game while reading a good mystery book.
I plan on reading the other books in this series because I really liked how strong Pamela became while remaining a lady in those times.

[Christyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death of a Robber Baron was an interesting and likable read, I enjoyed it - for the most part. The two main characters were interesting and show promise, though lacking an emotional feel in some parts - other parts it came off well, like with Preston's issues with what happened in the Civil war. I really enjoyed the mystery aspect of the book, because we got to follow Pamela and Mr. Preston along as they set about solving the mysteries that pop up through the book (we weren't just told what they did and how they came to their conclusions, we saw it), and see it from multiple perspectives (usually Pamela or Preston's). The only mystery related issue I had was that sometimes it just seemed to come a bit easy, things, clues and answers just fell neatly into their laps. I did like that they kept their minds open about possibilities and didn't make snap-quick judgments, I also liked the open communication between Pamela and Prescott.

Prescott was an interesting fellow and made for a good friend, boss and partner to Pamela - though I admit I was expecting her to be partnered with her mentor Harry Miller (whom I also liked). His is an interesting history and I look forward to getting to know him more. Calm, mild-mannered, intelligent and competent - he and Pamela Thompson are rather alike in those aspects. Both are sympathetic characters - if not overly emotional (most of the time in his case - almost all of the time in hers). Pamela Thompson is observant, canny, quick-thinking, intelligent, sympathetic and likable. She's also a widow left in rather severe financial straits after her husband committed suicide (after squandering her fortune and embezzling from the bank where he worked - leading to a whole different set of problems with the courts and the bank who thought/think she also had a hand in her husbands actions). She goes to work for Mr. Preston, who both aided her before and represented her during her trial. As a detective, she gets a little training from Harry Miller (some of which saved her life later), which I liked - mostly because with a lot of mysteries the main character is just dropped into the middle of one with absolutely no preparation whatsoever. There is also her daughter who is dead (though this happened a time before the present storyline), Brenda's abusive, murderous and altogether dislikable father has been released from prison and is stalking and threatening both of them, on top of dealing with a jewel thief and murders. This had all the aspects of an emotional ride as well as a mystery - the only problem was like the mystery it was more factual then emotionally engaging - that is these things were just happening but with emotional blinders on a lot of the time.

The only thing that really kind of bothered me was this lack of deep emotional connection. I'm not saying I didn't connect with the characters, I did - it just lacked the depth of feeling I thought would fit (especially with Pamela). Rather opposite than what usually happens, the beginning felt a bit rushed (so that we could get to the "present time" in the book). We're told that Pamela's daughter has died but we don't get the emotional punch of it that I've come to expect from such tragedies. I will admit it lacked some of the detailing I'm normally fond of, but this wasn't a big issue on my part because I thought the focus on the mystery aspect of the book was well done, though I would've liked a stronger historical aspect to the book (beyond the Civil War, carriages, trains and Lizzie Borden). The writing is a bit, weird for me - a little stilted, like the author hadn't written in a while and is just beginning to stretch his fingers (warming up, so to speak) but that wasn't a huge issue for me.

The other issue I had was that it felt like the author was trying to fit too much into one book. Not only was their a run down of several characters history, there was Pamela becoming a detective, working for Macy's, Brenda's father out of prison threatening (and at times attacking) Pamela and Brenda (it's never fully revealed what the Police planned to use him for - or what will really happen to him, will he get out of prison again?), Preston trying to get Dennis (Brenda's father) to stop, Pamela working for Mrs. Jennings on the cryptic notes and goings on at her country home, Preston's investigation regarding George Allen - and wife Hellen, Mr. Jennings being murdered, jewel thieves, multiple affairs and secrets not to mention a possible romance blooming between Pamela and Preston. Don't get me wrong it was put together rather well for the most part - but it just seemed a lot to pack into one book and we didn't get a lot of attention on some issues as we did on others (which was both good and bad - on one hand it didn't take away from the main story, on the other some questions weren't fully explored or answered). There were also some aspects/characters that were introduced that didn't go anywhere - like Mr. Williams (NYPD), Gloria and Mr. Fisher - they all had opportunity and promise to add some personal/professional conflict but it didn't really develop beyond some snipping and a gossip article.

Overall it was interesting and I enjoyed it for the most part. I wasn't quite sure who the murderer was (on either of the murders). I suspected who it might be in Mr. Jennings murder - and I was right about who did the fatal blow (though I wasn't entirely sure about who else was involved). I think there is promise to the series, so I'll be looking for the next one when it comes out. 3.5 stars.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I almost skipped this book based on other reviews about horrible dialogue, I am so very glad I did not!

The dialogue is fine, not stilted or lacking in any manner. It flows naturally and adds to the story.

Characters are well written and defined. Murder doesn't happen in the first couple of chapters, in fact it doesn't happen until 2/3's through. But the ending does not feel rushed or like a leap from nowhere.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this cozy and will be buying the other two installments in the series.

[Nancy H · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was one of the most poorly plotted books I have ever read. So many things made me suspend all belief. To top it off, the writing was pedantic.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting mystery with good characteriztion and lots of twists and turns. Keeps you interested and wondering what come next.

[Deadlined · Rating 1 out of 5]

Death of a Robber Baron
A Gilded Age Mystery
Charles O’Brien

I received a complementary copy of this novel as a First Reads reader; I was not compensated for this review.

I really wanted to like this novel; I had been anticipating its arrival. I am a huge fan of mysteries set in the 19th century, and I am enamored with the Gilded Age. I have visited (and written travel features about) Newport, RI several times. I have also visited and written about Maymont in Richmond, VA.

As a result, I probably know more about the Gilded Age than your average reader. Charles O’Brien has done his homework, and the historical references appear to be accurate.

There are other aspects of the novel though that just did not work for me. Several of the other reviewers have commented about the writing style, and have said that it is “stodgy and old-fashioned” and “stiff.” I found the writing to be not only stiff, but self-conscious. Most of the sentences are very short, giving the story a hasty, chopped up feeling. Short sentences can be used to great effect to build suspense in a mystery, but when the whole book is written that way it becomes painful to read. It appeared to me as if the author was rushed.

I also found a significant lack of description. Without giving anything away, O’Brien started one paragraph with the following: “Pamela put on her shoes for an afternoon walk, one of her cherished pleasures on the Jennings estate. It offered such a variety of beauty in its ponds, gardens, woods and meadows, as well as charming views of the surrounding hills.”

The sentences provide a laundry list of things Pamela saw, but they don’t tell us anything to engage our senses or why they are a cherished pleasure. What kinds of gardens are they? Are there any flowers in bloom? What colors are they? Are they fragrant? Is there any activity in the garden; people, animals, insects? How big the ponds and what are they like? The lack of description made the reading slow for me. I couldn’t imagine where I was; I didn’t have a sense of place.

I also thought the plot moved very, very slowly. The novel is 287 pages log. The murder isn’t discovered until page 184. That’s almost two-thirds of the way through the novel. Since the blurb on the back of the novel named the murder victim, I thought it took an awfully long time to kill him off. It’s not like it was a surprise when we finally got there. The novel is written in chronological fashion, so a great deal of the 184 pages is back-story. I don’t feel like I needed to know all of the information in this first novel, and some of it could have been introduced in flashbacks or conversation.

Much of the novel is written in narrative style, which felt less compelling to me.

Pamela Thompson, the protagonist, seemed too introspective. Rather than showing us her actions, or reactions to people and events, her thoughts were given to us as dialogue. This also slowed the pace for me, and made the novel less suspenseful.

All in all, I can’t recommend the book.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to win this book from Goodreads First Reads giveaways.

Let me start by saying I am slowly losing my taste for cozy murder mysteries but because of the historical setting of this novel I was intrigued.

However, this book did not quite fulfill my expectations. I found the main characters flat and unbelievable. The murder and subsequent investigation came off as too rushed with clues and evidence conveniently being discovered, almost too conveniently. There was not enough historical background which was a key reason why I chose this novel.

The author had a good premise but could not seem to take it to the level of other historical murder mysteries a la Victoria Thompson's Gaslight mysteries or Anne Perry.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok, but (like many cozy mysteries) not memorable. The characters were distinct by their backgrounds and positions in society, but not clear personalities to like or empathize with. Some characters were sympathetic, but it was more as their backstory became known, not because they were written well enough to have a feeling for them For example, Tom's and Maggie's experiences with the unbridled capitalist greed of the murder victim. I also found it odd that the main investigator, Pamela, was not considered a suspect in the murder since the victim had been responsible for her loss of income and her husband's suicide.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

After her husband's suicide and financial ruin, Pamela Thompson takes a job with lawyer-investigator, the controversial Prescott. She's asked to pose as the companion-secretary to Lydia Jenkins, whose husband is the ruthless copper king who defrauded Pamela's husband, at her summer cottage in the Berkshires. Pamela soon realizes that Lydia is right to suspect sinister goings-on. When Jenkins is found dead, a tramp who had run afoul of him is the main suspect--but Prescott thinks that there are more likely suspects.

[KayDee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of historical mysteries such as series written by Anne Perry, Victoria Thompson, P.C. Doherty and Susanna Gregory. I also very rarely don't finish a book. I didn't finish this book. The writing is stilted and the novel is disjointed. While I found the premise and setting promising, I only got to page 125 before I decided it wasn't worth my time to continue. A disappointing read.

[Mariko Tsubaki · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book, but the book just seemed to confusing. Too many characters and to many side stories that weren't needed. This book lacked flow but had great potential. Some of the main characters seemed stiff and the dialog forced. This era is a favorite of mine and I will try the next book in the series to see if there is improvement.

[Nicole Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome tale of lies and mystery. The characters are interesting and well developed. The story line moves at a great pace. The author does a great job of blending history with fantasy. I did not want to put it down. I recommend reading this book to anyone who loves a great mystery. I won my copy of the book free from GoodReads First Reads!

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

As others did I found the prose stilted and the characters far from fleshed out but the premise of the story was good.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the characters, but it was the character of the historical setting that I enjoyed most. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

DEATH OF A ROBBER BARON was a fun read. I enjoyed how all the lives were intertwined. I had an inkling as to the identity of the murderer, but I was still surprised by how it all played out.

[Di · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read, enjoy the mystery

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book.

[Melissa Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a hard book to understand at first. But once you get a couple of chapters in it is captivating and suspenseful. The ending of the book came as a very big surprise.