A History of Murder: A 1920s Historical Mystery

Penelope Banks Murder Mysteries #16

by Colette Clark

Penelope may hold the key to a twenty year old murder!

New York 1927 (and 1907)

Penelope Prescott (née Banks) is happily settled into motherhood and has temporarily set aside her career as a private investigator—until an unexpected visitor pulls her back into the world of mystery and murder.

Henrietta Pope appears with a letter that upends everything Penelope thought she knew about a decades-old crime. Twenty years earlier, Henrietta’s father, Lawrence Pope, was believed to have been killed in a Central Park mugging. But the anonymous letter claims otherwise—his death was no random attack, but a calculated murder committed by a fellow guest after one of the infamous dinner parties hosted by Penelope’s mother.

With her unique ability to recall even the smallest details, Penelope finds herself drawn back to that night in 1907. As she pieces together her memories and new information gathered from the guests—all potential suspects—she will uncover which of them carried a deadly secret, and ensure that justice, even decades later, is finally served.

A History of Murder is the sixteenth book in the Penelope Banks Murder Mysteries series. Join Penelope as she unravels a twenty-year-old crime hidden within the shadows of New York’s high society.

274 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 15, 2025

About the author

Colette Clark lives in New York and has always enjoyed learning more about the history of her amazing city. She decided to combine that curiosity and love of learning with her addiction to reading and watching mysteries. Her first series, Penelope Banks Murder Mysteries is the result of those passions. When she’s not writing she can be found doing Sudoku puzzles, drawing, eating tacos, visiting museums dedicated to unusual/weird/wacky things, and, of course, reading mysteries by other great authors.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story! We’ve heard so much about Penelope’s mom and her infamous dinners (if you’re a fan of the series you have anyways) and now we have a case were we get a peek into the past not only at one of those dinners but of little Pen and her parents. What a wonderful story the past and present woven together seamlessly as Penelope puts her unique memory to the test and that of the guests as well. A hint of the future too at the end where traditions may be carried on and that this won’t be Pen’s last case. Very enjoyable and entertaining! I do recommend reading in order to get the full benefits of the history of these characters but this story does stand up fairly well on its own.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily Gawlak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book! Colette Clark outdoes herself once again! The Penelope Banks Mystery Series is my favorite. I particularly enjoyed how the story seamlessly transitioned between 1907 and the present day. It’s wonderful to have Jane back in the forefront of the narrative. Overall, the story is well-rounded, thoughtfully crafted, and an excellent addition to the series. I eagerly anticipate what Penelope and her friends will be up to next!

[Big Fat Hairy Man · Rating 4 out of 5]

Penelope is rudely drawn out of motherhood when a letter draws her into the cold case murder of her father. Using her tremendous memory, she sifts through the many suspects and scandals until she finally uncovers the truth. This is an interesting, historical, murder mystery with a plot that keeps you going till the end.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marcia Shew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding New Mystery Book

Colette Clark has done it again! Actually she has outdone herself. I think this is the best Penelope Banks murder mystery yet. The format of relating the story between present time and events that resulted in the murder lends a greater excitement and anticipation. The characters are diverse, motives vary greatly. And I never figured out “who done it”. A great ending. A great read. Well done.

[Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clark does it again with another great installment in the Penelope Banks Prescott series. This time it is a cold case which involves one of her Mother’s dinner parties. This volume involves the cold case and her personal live continues to evolve. A quick enjoyable read. Fans of the series will love it. This is another one which involves more deductive reasoning action.

[Deborah Ortega · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really fun book Penelope is drawn into a case that happened when she was a child after a visitor arrives with a letter. She has a photographic memory and can recall everything she sees. A dinner party, unexpected guests and a murder all connected to the past. I enjoyed this book and I recommend it.

[Maryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Motherhood Isn’t Slowing Pen Down

Always fun to read Pen unraveling a mystery. This time she is tracking down the real murderer in a cold case connected to her own parents. I always enjoy following the clues. As the reader, I know I’m supposed to use my own memory to get there first but sometimes it is a fun to watch Pen get there.

[Mary Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

An old murder that had been buried raises its ugly head

A murder that happened when Penelope was only 3 years old resurfaced. Originally judged a robbery gone wrong, someone has sent a letter to the heir of the victim, saying that it was someone who was a guest at a dinner put on by Pens mother 20 years ago.

[Susan Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mysterious to the end

As in all the books in this series, there are twists and turns and the killer is not revealed until the end. Some books you (at least I) can figure out the killer halfway through but not these. They are well written and I enjoy them very much. I am sad that this is the last in the series.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciated the structure of this story, weaving in the recollections of each of the guests at a dinner party twenty years prior, when the Gilded Age was giving way to the Progressive Era. It was easy to imagine the varied personalities gathered around the table, and nice to have more of the back story of Penelope's childhood told. Love this series and its setting in New York!

[Sherry Priddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penelope is solving a cold case. Can she help because she has an amazing memory? This can be a standalone but I'd suggest reading the others so you know all about Penelope. Definitely recommend.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lonny Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pen must dip into her own past to solve a murder. Her photographic memory won't help, she needs to rely on the recollections of others. Nicely done story that presents an interesting murder while filling in a bit of Pen's backstory.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best, if not the best books in series!