Nell: Marshal of Bodie

by John Edward Mullen

In the winter of 1892, the gold-mining town of Bodie, California is in decline. Nell Doherty, an 18-year-old young woman with a wooden leg, dreams of leaving and becoming a Pinkerton detective. A tragic shooting presents her with an opportunity to prove she has the skills needed to work for the Pinkertons. Over the objections of most of the town’s residents, Bodie’s justice of the peace deputizes Nell. With the help of Rags, her half-Irish, half-Chinese best friend, Nell investigates the shooting. As they unearth the details of the mystery, Nell and Rags become the targets of ruthless desperadoes who won’t let anyone get between them and a fortune.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Westerns, Mystery

300 pages, Hardcover

Published September 1, 2024

Reviews

[David Putnam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a historical reader’s dream. A story set in 1892, Bodie California. A mining town with all the raw wildness the time period allows. The best thing about this story is the setting, the story, the characters…well, I guess that covers it all. A great read not to be missed. Nell, a young girl takes up the mantle after her father, the sheriff is killed in the line of duty. Mullen lines up the conflicts, piles them one on top of another. Nell is not only a young woman, now a deputy sheriff in a wild and woolly mining town but add to that Nell has a wooden leg. Great story telling with great characters. Can’t wait for Mullen’s next one.
David Putnam, author of the Bruno Johnson series.

[Indy Quillen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love reading mysteries, have a hankering for the historical settings of the gold rush days, and are searching for an unusual cast of characters, then this book will quench your cravings and entertain you for hours. Set in the real town of Bodie, California in 1892, it’s obvious from the beginning pages that John Mullen has done his research. I especially loved the way the author paid homage to Sherlock Holmes via the main character. An entertaining read!

[Ken Kaplan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love great writing and adsorbing mysteries, I recommend the recently published NELL: MARSHAL OF BODIE. Written by John Mullen with a master craftsman's skill, you'll root for its captivating hero and remember her years after the last page. The story is set in the genuine gold rush town of Bodie, California, in 1892. You'll feel like you're part of the gold rush as you attempt to figure out who the murderer is in this harsh, Wild West boomtown. And you'll meet many unique and intriguing characters along the way. Mullen's authenticity will fascinate you. The story will keep you turning the pages.

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eighteen-year-old Nell Doherty is an unusual and welcome candidate for a detective; she is daughter of the Marshall of Bodie, California, is intrigued by Sherlock Holmes' methods, has ambition and drive, and though quick to judgment, is analytical and determined. She's also got a prosthetic, and has difficulty moving quickly or safely, particularly over snow or sawdust covered floors. Both of these surfaces become important as Nell decides to investigate the shooting murder of her Marshall father, while others search for his missing deputy.

Though several people in the town feel very strongly that a woman can't be a deputy, and there are difficult situations for her to navigate, whether physical, or conversational, Nell keeps finding ways to move forward, finding clues with her best friend Rags (Wu Chao) a half-Chinese, half-Irish young man who lives in the tiny Chinese quarter of the town.

Author John Edward Mullen sets up two mysteries, and significant hurdles for Nell to get past, including her mother who is deeply opposed to her daughter's desire to become a Pinkerton detective and practically disowns her for taking on the mantle of deputy. Though Nell fixates on one man as her father's murderer, she does pivot when necessary, and finds inventive ways to deal with difficult and dangerous people. Nell is such a pleasure to follow as she maneuvers around town, whether on foot with her crutch or on her horse, intent on finding justice for her father, no matter what others say.

I am a sucker for a western, and even more so for main characters who are such an intriguing mix of tough, curious, compassionate, and innovative. I enjoyed this story a lot, and look forward to Nell's next adventure.

Thank you to Netgalley and to BooksGoSocial for this ARC in exchange for my review.

[Lauralee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nell Doherty dreams of becoming a Pinkerton Detective. When her father is shot, Nell is determined to find her father’s shooter. Nell gets the opportunity to investigate the case when she is chosen to become a deputy marshal. She chose as her sidekick to be her half-Chinese best friend, Rags. However, Nell and Rags find that investigating the case is not easy because they are often faced with discrimination.

I really like Nell. I thought that she was a very plucky heroine. She has a disability, but she never let it stop her from pursuing her dreams. There were moments that I found her frustrating. She often lets her emotions get to her while investigating the case, and it leads to her emotions clouding her judgement. Nevertheless, I admired her strength and stubbornness as she investigates a personal case. Therefore, I rooted for Nell through every step in her journey.

Overall, this was a coming-of-age story about dreams, secrets, and friendship. I liked all of the characters and found them to be very realistic. I also find the mystery to be so compelling that I couldn’t put the book down! The reason why I am not giving it a solid five stars is because there were still some loose ends. I did like the setting of when the ghost town, Bodie, was rich, thriving, and bustling. Nell: The Marshal of Bodie was a very engrossing and fun read! I can’t wait for the sequel! I hope it comes out soon! I want to know more about what happens to Nell! I recommend this for fans of Dead White, The Pryce of Conceit, and The Secret Life of Anna Blanc!
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)

[Elaine LaBonte · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 18-year-old Nell Doherty has her heart set on becoming a Pinkerton agent. Despite losing a limb as a child in an accident, Nell is still capable of riding and remains true to her beliefs. After assailants kill her father, the town marshal, no man in town is willing to take on the job of acting deputy. Nell's only hope is for the court to appoint her as a deputy. The locals are opposed to a woman as deputy, much less one with a peg leg. But because no men are willing to take the chance, the judge appoints Nell. Will Nell find the people responsible for her father's death? Will she, against all odds, make it as a Pinkerton agent?

Author John Edward Mullen gives a detailed and realistic account of life in Bodie, California, during the gold rush of the late 19th century. The sense of urgency and danger created by mine explosions piqued my interest. The discovery of gold in a frontier village provided a concrete backdrop against which I could easily imagine the events of the novel. Mullen has begun a fantastic new series. I look forward to reading more tales that feature sacrifice, hope, and mystery. Thanks to NetGalley and Murders in Time Press, I was able to read an advanced copy of this novel.

The novel "Nell: Marshall of Bodie" is sure to appeal to a wide audience. It includes but is not limited to, heist thrillers, crime action adventures, historical fiction, women sleuths, westerns, and cozy mysteries. Simply put, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading.

[Carl Vonderau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who wouldn’t root for a heroine with a wooden leg who wants to be a Pinkerton detective in 1800s California? That’s Nell, an invention of John Edward Mullen in his debut of a new series. Nell’s father is murdered and it has something to do with stolen gold. She is determined to find the killer and enlists the help of her best friend, Rags, who is of Chinese descent. Did I mention that their town of Bodie is extremely racist at this time? Both against women and, even more so, against Asians. Needless to say, all the odds are stacked against them. There is nice detail and voices in this novel and you root for Nell from the first page. There is very little violence which makes it a kind of cozy western.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nell enjoyed teaching her Chinese friends how to read and write but she really wanted to be a Pinkerton. Her father supported the idea, but her mother was sure it would be a disaster because Nell has depended on a wooden leg since a wagon accident when she was twelve. Then there is a robbery and more, culminating in the death of her father, the local marshal. The pervading attitudes of the time really make things difficult for both Nell and her Chinese friends. With the death of her father, she gets a chance to prove herself. Excellent read!
I requested and received an EARC from BooksGoSocial via NetGalley. Thank you!

[Kirk Weikart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nell Doherty wants to be a Pinkerton agent. Her dad is the Town Marshal and he supports her dream, up to a point. Her mom believes she should be a school teacher; being a detective is unladylike. And then her dad is shot. Will Nell be allowed to find the lowlife who shot him?

Normally I prefer a novel that devotes a lot of attention to the characters' personalities and inner thoughts, but this book goes a bit overboard in that regard. The plot is subjugated to the background and is of too little attention to the reader. It is a good plot, but it is subsumed by details about Nell's wooden leg, and the fate of the Chinese citizens of the town.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

New values in the old West. At the outset, Nell is the Bodie, Ca. marshal's daughter as the nineteenth century wanes, a young woman who has aspirations to become a Pinkerton detective – no school marm, she. When the deputy goes missing, her father is shot, and gold robberies may be involved, Nell steps up to find her father's assailant, bringing friend Rags, who is half Chinese, on as her fellow deputy.

In their world, stereotypes about women's roles and prejudice against Chinese run high. The dangers in the fading mining town do, too.

I was drawn to this having been to Bodie, now a ghost town and state park in a rather unlovely spot on the east side of the Sierras (the Gold Rush was on the west side). The characters and period were drawn well and the investigative work drew me in. I will return to Nell when the sequel comes out.

[Patricia Gulley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It read like a young adult, a western mystery with a young protag that was determined to become a Pinkerton. She was very emotional, jumped to conclusions because if she wanted it to be so, it had to be so, a bit of a cry baby, does learn much and just plain could not follow orders. The brief excerpt for the next book implied she hasn't changed much.

[Lori D · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing combination! A western mystery set in Bodie, CA in 1892 and with a spunky girl who is determined to become a Pinkerton agent.

When the chance comes to show her skills when a murder happens, she steps up! Wonderful characters and this setting make you feel you are there!! Cannot wait for more!

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Nells Sheriff Father is gunned down she and her Irish Chinese best friend set out to find the killer. They manage to get deputized despite Nell being a woman and having only one leg. Good murder mystery set in the Wild West.

[Alaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. More western than mystery. And just really wordy for a 300 page book (like unnecessary dialogue, duplicate dialogue or actions, slow story line). Only got 1\2 way through it.

[Jennifer Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Not only the mystery behind it. But also the historical setting. Can't wait to read the next one

[Randee Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eighteen-year-old Nell Doherty dreams of one day working for the Pinkerton Detective Agency. After her father, the sheriff of Bodie, is shot during the Chinese New Year celebration, Nell is appointed marshal so that she can look into her father’s murder. Her half-Chinese, half-Irish friend Rags works as her assistant in a pairing that is both strange and unseemly to the small town’s residents. Nell is convinced she knows who murdered her father, but, as she digs deeper into the shooting, she discovers that there are other serious crimes taking place in Bodie and that it’s up to her to stop the perpetrators.

NELL: MARSHAL OF BODIE was an interesting store. The setting—a mining town in the Wild West—was what compelled me to check out the novel. Nell is a likeable and sympathetic character, though a bit immature and impetuous. As a young woman in the late 1800s, she already has her gender working against her as she pursues a career in law enforcement. Her wooden leg and the issues it causes seemed like an additional but unnecessary handicap.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Kelley Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nell - She's my kind of girl. She is not like your typical 'maiden' and likes to take charge. She's the daughter of a police officer who is shot and she's determined to find out who did it. She has a disability, but this doesn't stop her. She has a trusty sidekick her her best friend Rags. Rags is an Asian American and in the 1800s in CA he is not a welcomed in the community.

I love this historical mystery and it hit all the right notes. Great characters, robust setting and a mystery with several suspects. This was such a fun read.

I received an advance review copy for free from GoodReads, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tammy Buchli · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite historical novels are those that truly evoke - in description, dialogue and atmosphere - the period and place in which they are set.
This isn’t one of those.
However, it’s a very good version of what I call a ‘period TV’ historical novel - a novel that has a thoroughly modern mindset, but takes place in the past. To me, they remind me of a good period TV show. This one was a lot of fun, with interesting characters, a decent mystery, and a great protagonist. As a bonus, that protagonist is disabled. Feisty period females trying to throw off the racist and sexist shackles of their era are a dime a dozen. Feisty disabled folk doing the same are a lot less so. I liked Nell and I was rooting for her. I’m looking forward to reading her next adventure.

[Greg]

Having visited Bodie, the ghost town, I enjoyed watching it come to life while reading of Nell and her cohorts, as they searched for clues and followed the leads in pursuit of evildoers. There were plenty of twists along the way to keep me entertained and guessing who done it’. Nell is a character to keep watching.