The Greenleaf Murders: A Historic Homes Mystery

Historic Homes Mystery, #1

by R.J. Koreto

Young architect Wren Fontaine lands her dream restoring Greenleaf House, New York’s finest Gilded-Age mansion, to its glory days. But old homes have old Stephen Greenleaf—heir to what’s left of his family’s legacy—refuses to reveal what his plans are once the renovation is completed. And still living in a corner of the home is Stephen’s ninety-year-old Aunt Agnes who’s lost in the past, brooding over a long-forgotten scandal while watching Wren with mistrust.

Wren’s job becomes more complex when a shady developer who was trying to acquire Greenleaf House is found murdered. And after breaking into a sealed attic, Wren finds a skeleton stuffed in a trunk. She soon realizes the two deaths, a century apart, are strangely related. Meanwhile, a distraction of a different kind appears in the form of her client’s niece, the beautiful and seductive Hadley Vanderwerf. As Wren gingerly approaches a romance, she finds that Hadley has her own secrets.

Then a third murder occurs, and the introverted architect is forced to think about people, and about how ill-fated love affairs and obsessions continue to haunt the Greenleafs. In the end, Wren risks her own life to uncover a pair of murderers, separated by a century but connected by motive. She reveals an odd twist in the family tree that forever changes the lives of the Greenleafs, the people who served them, the mansion they all called home—and even Wren herself.

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

Audible Audio

Published June 13, 2023

About the author

R.J. Koreto is the author of the Lady Frances Ffolkes mystery series, the Alice Roosevelt mystery series, and the Wren Fontaine Historic Homes series. His short stories have been published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine and Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.

In his day job, he works as a business and financial journalist. Over the years, he’s been a magazine writer and editor, website manager, PR consultant, book author, and seaman in the U.S. Merchant Marine. Like his heroine, Lady Frances Ffolkes, he’s a graduate of Vassar College.

With his wife and daughters, he divides his time between Rockland County, N.Y., and Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.

Reviews

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Greenleaf Murders is another slow burn cozy mystery that I have had the pleasure to read lately. This one features Wren, a young architect. She is a partner in her father's firm and has been given the opportunity to take the Greenleaf House and turn it back to it's former glory. She is up for the task, but can she also help solve some murders?

I thought this was an enjoyable msytery. It was a little slow paced and had a very old fashioned feel in the way it was written. But I was intrigued and sucked into the mystery. There were a lot of suspects, so I didn't call the reveal. I love when that happens. This is more than a mystery though, it is about us getting to know Wren. She is talented and loves old houses. To her, houses are the important part, but she learns along the way that the people in the house matter a little bit more. I liked her budding romance with Hadley. I also like the peripheral characters in her life. This is a character I would enjoy reading in another mystery. I do recommend this one.

[Kai · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great, cozy historical mystery story!! I enjoyed it very much! Architect Wren Fontaine is good at her work and even better at solving the murder mystery of the Greenleaf house! By the way, in the author's note, he says that the Greenleaf house has 75 rooms!! I can't imagine living in a house with that many rooms, lol! I'd probably get lost a lot needing GPS just to navigate it!! If ur looking for a historical mystery, then I definitely recommend giving this one a whirl.

[Catherine Siemann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Koreto's Greenleaf Murders is a change of pace for the author, who is best known for his Edwardian/Gilded Age mysteries. This is a contemporary, but with strong links to the Gilded Age. A modern-day restoration architect takes on her dream project: New York City's largest and most elegant Gilded Age mansion, remarkably still standing. A murder occurs, but when a century-old corpse is found in the attic shortly thereafter, it's discovered they were killed with the same gun. There are plenty of twists and turns, plus fascinating details about the restoration process -- and the changes in the world that throw the mansion's continued viability into question. The central romance avoids cliche, and the reader is left wondering what (and where) Wren's next challenge will come.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Greenleaf Murders is Book 1 in A Historical Home Mystery by R J Koreto. I found this book to be very interesting and I thought different because the house was the star of the story. Wren loved houses more than people and was the architect leading the restoration of the house. A skeleton in the attic is tied to two new murders with the same old gun killing all three people, and a wonderful who do it was born. I found the characters were well written and interesting. I believe that this is a don't miss cozy. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Rebecca Bratspies · Rating 5 out of 5]

a fun read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Lynsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a solid start to a new cosy crime series based around Wren Fontaine, a young architect with a passion for historic houses! Her father’s firm, in which she is a junior partner, has recently been given the opportunity to renovate a huge mansion back to its former glory, as if it was the day it was built. Wren is passionate about old buildings and those from the Gilded Age in particular and it's a dream come true for her to work on them. However, she is good with buildings, not people and has a tricky client to deal with, Stephen Greenleaf. She needs to remember that he comes from one of the oldest and most powerful families in New York, albeit that his generation is unable to look after the house. But when a rival developer is a murdered she will need all her wits to uncover what has been going on!

I do love a slow burn of a mystery as it allows the reader to pick up on so many details but I did find that in the middle it could have been shortened a wee bit as I felt sometimes it was slightly repetitive. But then I’m hyper aware of details and they instantly stick in my head whereas other readers might love this! Maybe I read too many thrillers, but then reviewing is subjective anyhow. However, what I loved about this was a very strong female protagonist and I can truly say that she is unique for me in that I haven’t read or heard about a detective/architect combination before! It put a different spin on things and I found it very interesting and entertaining to see things from Wren’s viewpoint and how she sees the world. Like Wren I have a passion for history and that was one thing I thought was done extremely well in this novel. The attention to detail was brilliant and historical aspects to the story certainly rang true in my eyes. Also, like Wren there has been many a times I have wished to have lived in the Gilded Age and this made me really resonate with the protagonist!

There were lots of suspects throughout the book and I certainly didn't work out who the killer was! I did kind of guess what the resolution for the house would be though as unlike Wren I thought the exact opposite when a certain place was mentioned.

This was a brilliant start to a new series and I will definitely be looking out for it's follow up!

I received an advance review copy for free, via BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Liz Quinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet again, Koreto delivers a complicated plot with lots of twists and turns. The author weaves a historic murder into a modern murder mystery. In Wren Fontaine, Koreto has created another intriguing and quirky detective that makes me hope there will be more in the series.

[Raven and Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good cozy mystery. Wren is an awkward architect who knows buildings better than people. She loves Greenleaf House but finds herself with murders on her hands and having to interact with people. I had the story within the story nailed fairly early on but I enjoyed reading about how Wren figured it all out. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a bit of a sapphic twist, this one is worth reading. Hadley balances Wren quite nicely, but Wten isn’t as bad with people as she is afraid of. It was a little longer than some cozies I have read but it was worth it in the end for me.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot. I love old historic homes, be they small cottages or huge mansions, and I like strong women as the main characters of the story. This has both in the Greenleaf Mansion (based on a real mansion that sadly no longer exists) and an intrepid if introverted female architect named Wren Fontaine. Wren works with her architect father Ezra and is a junior partner in what appears to be a two person firm. Wren is hired by Stephen Greenleaf to restore the mansion his ancestor Benjamin Greenleaf built, even though Stephen doesn’t live in the mansion and has no intention of living in the mansion. What he plans for the mansion after renovation is one of the mysteries. There are two permanent residents, though, his Aunt Agnes who is elderly and her caretaker Mrs. Ryan. They don’t like the work being done to restore the mansion but don’t interfere with the work. Along the way, there are bodies and family secrets and questions galore, none of which I’ll go into here as I don’t want to spoil the story. There are some twists and turns as you go along to keep you guessing.

Mr. Koreto has done a good job of developing the several characters in this book, the first in a series. I presume that several of the characters will appear in future books in the series, so it’s good to get to know them. We see Wren grow as a person and a professional now that she is a partner in her father’s firm. Her confidence in her ability to work with people may not come to the level she has in working with old buildings, her expertise and first love, but she has more at the end than at the start of the book. We get to know her contractor, and of course the client Stephen and his family. The mystery is a good one, although by the ¾ mark of the book, I had a pretty good idea of how this was all going to turn out. That’s the one slight criticism I have: I think the writer could have brought the story to a faster solution. The tale meanders a bit, but never to the point where I wanted to put the book down and stop reading. The story is complete, no cliffhangers, and the language and romance are “clean” so it can be read by anyone. The story ties the Gilded Age and modern times, so if you enjoy stories about the Gilded Age, you’ll find that here, too. The writing is competent and the editing mostly so, although I did find a couple of passages where the author seemed to forget that he was writing about Stephen and inserted Conor’s name (he is Mrs. Ryan’s son) and vice versa. I had to re-read those paragraphs to be sure I hadn’t misunderstood. But for the most part, it’s edited decently.

I’d give the book 4.5 stars if I could, taking that ½ off for the somewhat meandering telling. Overall, though, this is an enjoyable book with a good mystery and some history thrown in, a compelling female lead character and a mansion I would love to explore. It’s definitely worth your time and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

I received and Advance Review Copy for free through Booksirens, and I leave this review voluntarily and with pleasure.

[pawsreadrepeat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you R.J. Koreto and Partners In Crime Tours. I'm excited to be a part of this tour.

The Greenleaf Murders: A Historic Homes Mystery is the first in the series. In this book we meet Wren Fontaine who is an architect who recently landed her dream job, restoring Greenleaf House, New York’s finest Gilded-Age mansion, to its original glory. Stephen Greenleaf – heir to what’s left of the family’s legacy - refuses to reveal his plans for the mansion once the restoration is complete. Wren’s job is complicated when people start dying.

I don’t read as much historical fiction as I should. This book has all of the classic elements and reminded me why I enjoy this genre so much. The author does an amazing job of weaving together architectural and historical details. As a result, the house becomes its own character. I loved this aspect as I’m not sure I’ve read many books with this twist. My favorite part of the house being a character allowed the reader to experience all of the people who have lived at Greenleaf House. Old houses have stories to tell and this one didn’t disappoint.

The Gilded Age and its cultural, historical and social expectations come through as Wren explores and learns more about the mansion. The cast of characters are eclectic with each bringing their story to the table. Some of the characters have shared experiences which added a unique level of depth to this story. Other characters are unrelated, and their relationships develop as the story progresses.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. I look forward to reading more and seeing how this series develops.

[Homerun2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

Interesting historical mystery about an old New York Gilded Age mansion and the young architect who is passionate about its restoration. Wren Fontaine and her father and their architectural firm have a stellar reputation and they are hired to bring the old Greenleaf mansion back to its original magnificence.

But the underlying theme is really obsession -- with opulence, with power and social position, with the mansion itself and the trappings of wealth, and occasionally with people.

Wren is super-competent and bright, but awkward in social dealings and prickly with her demanding father. The job itself throws her into contact with a difficult family. The mansion is occupied by 90 year old Agnes Greenleaf and her companion/servant Mrs. Ryan, whose family also has a long history with the house. Agnes' nephew Stephen hired Wren, and he is full of secrets about the future of the house which makes everyone concerned nervous.

Almost immediately the first dead body appears - someone associated with a somewhat unsavory firm scouting to turn big houses into cookie cutter hotels. And more characters from the house's history appear - Mrs. Ryan's son Connor who has secrets of his own, and holds a lot of bitterness about the family that dispensed charity to him and his mother. And then there is Hadley, who is a descendant of the first lady of the mansion and a contrast in personality to Wren.

Full of history and atmosphere as the story unfolds. Thanks to the publisher and to Book Sirens for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Kimberly Mace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Favorite Quotes:
“You want everyone to think it’s always about the house, but it’s really about people.”

“After houses like this were built, it was the women who ran it. The houses affected them, but a strong woman could also stamp their personalities on the home…”

“He looked very dejected, and Wren actually felt sorry for him. He was someone like her, she felt, but even more so. More comfortable with houses than people.“

Red Flags:
LGBTQ (for some)

Genre:
Crime/Murder Mystery

Summary:
Wren Fontaine is an young architect with a love for old houses. Wren believes her dreams have come true, when she is given the opportunity to restore the Greenleaf House. The Greenleaf house is one of New York’s finest Mansions, and like most old mansions the walls within hold many secrets.

My Review:
I loved the idea of this novel, “If only the walls could talk,” however, personally I didn’t have the connection with the characters or plot kind I normally do. As a crime/murder mystery, I felt like it was missing an element of suspense for me. However, if you love a mystery and old home restorations, give it a read.

Thank you R.J. Koreto and BookSirens for the Advanced Reader Copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

#reluctantreaderreads

[Marlie Wasserman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Koreto transports readers into two worlds—the world of talented NYC architect Wren Fontaine as she renovates a Gilded Age mansion and the world of two families who have inhabited that mansion. Along the way Fontaine encounters a series of murders and cleverly connects them. Readers will love unconventional Fontaine, along with her friends and foes, and will route for her to find the killer. A great read for lovers of both contemporary and historical fiction.

[Anna Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the characters and the setting. Historical houses always fascinate me so having a triple mystery (one in the past and 2 current ones) set in one made me want to read this book. The book didn't disappoint. I have read this author before and enjoyed them. I will look forward to more in the series and watching the characters develop. The mystery kept me guessing and how the MC worked to solve the mystery kept my interest.

I did receive this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Megan]

2.8

Wren Fontaine—named after English architect Christopher Wren—is a partner in a prestigious New York architecture firm. In fact, her father, Ezra, seems to be the only other employee of the firm. When Stephen Greenleaf, present head of the Greenleaf family, hires the firm to renovate his beautiful, 130-year-ole mansion, Wren is given her first chance to head up a large project.

Stephen Greenleaf is not fond of the mansion himself and only wants it renovated for a secret plan he has for it. Unfortunately, his 90-year-old aunt Agnes and her companion, Mrs. Ryan, are still living in the house, which has several mysterious rumors about its history.

It becomes even more mysterious when Wren has a hidden attic broken into and finds a skeleton in an old trunk. Soon after this, a woman is found dead in the city. She is carrying a note with Wren’s name on it. And it turns out that the woman was shot with the same pistol that killed the woman who was found in the trunk.

Wait a minute! Whoa! Is this author actually daring to use the old body-in-the-attic chestnut? And having two people killed with the same gun over 100 years apart? I actually chortled with glee. Because of the author’s audacity, I plowed into the book just to see how he was going to handle it.

As it turns out, not so well.

Wren is an okay character and her girlfriend Hadley is kind of a hoot, but everybody else is a pill. And despite Wren’s fascination with the old house, we don’t really learn much about the profession. I’m not going so far as to say that the author knows nothing about architecture; but if he does, he chose not to share it. What does Wren actually do in that old house all day every day except to go over her notes and talk to her contractor. Yes, yes, we know she is replacing old copper pipes with new copper ones; ditto the copper roof, which needs some repair. And we know that she replaces a hickory floor with new hickory lumber. But this seems like simple repair. We need more technical information and more descriptions of the changes that Wren is affecting.

The book has 301 pages and about 50 of them are taken up with conversation about how Wren understands houses but not people. I’m not going to quote any of them because this review is already too long but believe me, if the author mentions this once he mentions it 50 times. It is a major flaw that was kind of cool at first, but became annoying and then a distraction. Delete delete delete.

And oh yeah, I know that the trend these days is to have cozy mysteries in which sleuths without sex lives go through book after book chastely solving crimes. Still, it would be nice if the writer informed us whether Wren and Hadley ever get to second base.

So essentially, what started out as an interesting addition to the profession of amateur sleuths, ended up as a book that I honestly couldn’t wait to finish. Oddly enough, I will probably buy the second book in the series, but primarily because I have a good friend that is an architect and I am interested in the subject. Maybe book 2 will actually go into it.

Final Rating: 2.8

Note: I read the ebook version of this book that was available from Amazon in October, 2024.

Another Note: This review is included in my book The Art of the Lesbian Mystery Novel , along with information on over 1200 other lesbian mysteries by over 400 authors.

[Ceelee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Greenleaf Murders was a little different read for me. I don't read a lot of cozies and when I do it is always a cat mystery or a cozy set in a bakery The cover is what caught my interest although I think tte color of yellow was a bit too much for a classy home built in the 18th century. I liked the idea of a. mystery set in tte past that was influencing tte present while a young woman architect named Wren who worked for her father's restoration company, was in charge if restoring the house to uts forner glory.
I liked Wren at first . She definitely loved houses more than people so was a little harsh with dealing with them, even her father! I love old houses too. I don't restore them, I work to send some occupants who need guidance to move on to the Light. I wouldn't"t be surprised some of those who were trapped in that house were confused about things. happening in ",their" house
Even though I liked the book, I had some issues and confusion about the story.

After awhile, I got a little tired of Wren"s attitude towards others. She was a little too sharp with her father, the owners, the police. Way too strong in bossy, know it all attitude. Without sny experience in. detective work, Wren solved the whole mystery by herself! That was a bit too hard to believe. It was so complicated that I couldn't figure it out. Maybe that was really a good thing.. I like to keep guessing.
.
Another problem

Another thing t questioned was the original murder. How could a dead body be stored in a trunk in the attic for decades and not bern found? The smell should have been a "dead" giveaway. And nobody visited the actic? No all that time? No children who went there to play or explore? . No adult looking for antiques orba vintage party dress? And why was the gun guven to an aunt and notb dumped somewhere,? I realize it was for plot development purchases but. I am one of those people who always wonders about practical things like that.. It doesn't mean I didn't like the book . I thought it was pretty good for the most part and would like to read more in the series.
Thanks to Book Sirens abd author R J Koteto for giving me a copy of The Greenleaf Murders. My opinion is my own and freely given.ni

[Karen Siddall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was it the passion for the old family home that led to murder?

The Greenleaf Murders is the first book in R.J. Koreto’s new cozy mystery series, the Historic Homes Mysteries, and it is absolutely a 5-star debut! Not only are readers handed several murders to work out, but they are treated to the fascinating process of restoring a magnificent Gilded Age mansion to its better-than-original state. The stories behind the old home, the factual information of the time, bring glorious color to the home’s faded past. However, this is also a solidly modern cozy mystery that happens to hinge on a 100-year-old murder cold case.

The amateur sleuth in the story is a young architect, Wren Fontaine, a junior partner in her father’s firm. Her determination and integrity for perfectly restoring the Greenleaf House is a burning passion for her. She’s quite an introvert and much more comfortable dealing with her building projects than clients. But she’s aware of her nature and is progressing toward overcoming her previous ineptitude in social interactions. She drums up the nerve to initiate a relationship with the distant cousin of the Greenleafs. I also liked Wren’s work partner, general contractor Bobby Fiore. He looks after his employees and boss and loves blasting Italian opera from his truck on the worksite. I loved how the two worked together like a well-oiled machine.

Feelings run surprisingly hot and high during the home restoration, and Wren’s questions put her and her new friend, Hadley Vanderwerf, in danger. There is a surprising clue connecting the cold case and modern-day murder. The resolution made sense, and I was entertained from start to finish. I’m anxiously looking forward to future books in the series.

With its likable main character and historical backdrop, I recommend THE GREENLEAF MURDERS to cozy mystery readers who enjoy historic homes, DIY shows, New York City settings, and the smooth incorporation of a bit of history in their stories.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

[Kathleen Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wren Fontaine, protagonist of The Greenleaf Murders, the first of A Historic Homes Mystery, is a young architect working alongside her father. She gets the contract to work restore Greenleaf House, a gilded age historic home.

Stephen Greenleaf, the heir to the home, along with his 90-year-old Aunt Agnes who lives in the home with her faithful longtime companion, Mrs. Ryan, she lives in the past with her secrets. Stephen wants the home to be brought back to its former glory but is secretive about his plans for what he intends to do with the home. Aunt Agnes is very leery of Wren and her plans, almost like she has a secret that she doesn't want anyone to know about.

As Wren and her coworker Bobby need to get to the roof to see what repairs are needed, they find a sealed off door that leads to the attic. In the attic is a trunk and inside the trunk they find a skeleton. Who could it be?

Wren had befriended Hadley Vanderwerf who is the niece of Stephen, together they try to piece together what had happened to the person in the trunk, the deceased was female, and they think it could possibly be a maid who had had a relationship with an uncle of Stephens. Now, how did she die? That is what Hadley and Wren are determined to find out. Hadley has a stream of stories about the Greenleaf family so with what she knows and what they learn, Wren is eventually able to piece the story together.

When a developer is found murdered Wren determines that the two cases are related even though they are a century apart. How? Well, that is how the story continues on and concludes with who was the culprit and why these two people were murdered. Then there is a third murder which takes the case in a new direction.

This novel is well written, well researched and written in a way that definitely keeps the reader's attention. I love old Victorian mansions, so this story piqued my interest from the beginning. A time gone by if you will, where live was not necessarily simpler but different than current times. Lavish parties, influential people and lots of secrets. The ending was a definite surprise. Loved it!

I give it 5 stars!

[Kymm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to absolutely love "The Greenleaf Murders" by R.J. Koreto and I did really enjoy parts of it but overall, it just seemed to drag on and on without moving anywhere fast.

Wren Fontaine is a partner in her father's successful Architectual firm when a dream job lands on her desk. She's tasked to renovate one of New York's Gilded Age mansions and the owner, a direct descendant of the original owner has given her carte blanche to do so. Wren is much better with houses than people so when a member of a rival company who also wants their hands on this property turns up dead, she has no idea what's happening. But as strange as this woman's murder is it gets even stranger when another body is found hidden within the formerly sealed attic of the house and even though the murders are 100 years apart the murder weapon is the same!

Overall, the story was good, the characters were delightful, especially Wren with her complex personal communication issues, the father daughter relationship between her and her father and how she handles the owner of the house Stephen Greenleaf who is mysterious and very intriguing. Then there's Stephen's Aunt Agnes and her companion, Mrs. Ryan the only actual residents of Greenleaf who have secrets of their own. With all these people plus a couple others I never could have guessed who the culprit was until the final reveal.

I love historical anything, and houses are no exception, so the premise of this book was very enticing to me. I just found it slow during the middle where nothing really seemed to happen. Whenever this happens with books for me, I'm always careful to point out this is entirely a personal decision that others may not feel the same about. Some like a lot of detail in their books at every turn, whereas others, like me would rather the minutia of the story wrap up quickly. Like I said this is purely a personal decision and shouldn't change whether you read or don't read this. Happy Reading!

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sold on the unique plot that this new-to-me author promised via the blurb of this book. As I began reading, I felt myself getting wrapped up in the detail that Koreto offers in the pages. The intrigue of buried secrets and murders in a setting that feels all too real is what kept my attention. I grew up with a grandma who helped refinish/model old homes and she thoroughly enjoyed learning the stories behind each historic home. Like people, she said that homes had character. And she was definitely right! I loved seeing that same train of thought highlighted through Wren. Kind of brought a piece of my grandma back to me!


Wren's character is authentic, efficient, and intelligent. What she lacks in social grace is clearly highly-developed in her due diligence of her career and the efforts she puts in to the job she does. This shines bright when bringing the history of the home and murders to light. On the introvert aspect, I could easily relate to Wren!


I have to admit that I got caught up in the feel of the story that I lost track of the details that would typically lead me to solve the mystery prior to the ending. It was a welcomed feeling as I didn't feel like I was reading simply to get to the end and realize that my suspicions were confirmed.


This is one of the most detailed cozy mysteries I've read in a long time that didn't have that "corny" aspect to the story.


I received a complimentary copy for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first Koreto read, and I did enjoy it - eventually.

During the first few chapters, I was not hooked into the story. The main character Wren was a contemporary professional architect working for her distinguished architect father. Other characters are part of a Knickerbocker family, and a house built by a Knickerbocker family during the Guilded Age.
Yes this is a story that toggles between two time periods. However, it is not with one chapter from the present and one from the past. The author craftily weaves the past story through the dialog of the current characters.

I appreciate the author including a family tree for two of the families. I did at times want to look at a Murphy family tree for reference, which was not included. At times the author seemed to be trying hard to make characters fit into cliche roles and characters, and really was making a point to include all types of relationships. That is a genius of the author's story as well. The characters from the past century seem to fit the different types of relationships that occurred in that time, and the present characters had relationships that would not be allowed safely to show in public last century. Any mention of extra marital affairs whether with one from your class or from another were not especially celebrated nor accepted never mind showcased.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting twist on a
murder mystery - not exactly a first-person
time slip, but it linked three murders related
to the Greenleaf mansion over a 120 year
gap. I love historic homes, so this setting was
a real treat for me. I would have liked even more architectural and remodeling details; that could have made it more realistic and pushed it to 5 stars for me. I enjoyed the emotional journey this story took, especially in the life of the protagonist, Wren. This
introvert who so identified with buildings learned to read people (including herself) almost as well. Her determination to understand the history of the Greenleaf house enabled her to solve its mysteries,
including the old murder. The end was satisfying and unpredictable. Readers expecting a cozy
mystery may want to know that there are two prominent lesbian couples in this book, but no sexual content beyond kisses. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Book Sirens and was not required to post a review. I look forward to read more of this author's well-written books.

[Rahel Charikar · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the full review: https://reviewthickandthin.com/2023/0...

It is an outstanding cozy mystery novel. I love books that include plotlines around historic homes and architecture. The book was well-researched and included various references to the 1920s. I loved the bonding between Wren and her father; while it seemed restrained and aloof at times, it also felt powerful.

All the characters in the book are interesting. I loved Agnes and Mrs. Ryan’s camaraderie. Wren and Hazels’ romance is soft and touching. The book is well-paced and is a page-turner. Every character added a unique flavor to the story, and I was interested in all of them, rather than just Wren and Stephen.

Agnes and her attachment to the glorious old days of the Greenleafs’, and her stubbornness to live in the past was relatable and heartwrenching. The book focuses on various elements, such as how the rich could get away with anything, including murder, during the 1920s.

It is a perfect read for people who love cozy mysteries with a strong dose of history.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Past Meets Present In This Clever Mystery

The Greenleaf Murders includes all the classic elements of historical fiction and more. The author weaves history and architectural details throughout the story; by doing so, the mansion itself takes on the role of character and delivers tantalizing insights and clues about the people who called Greenleaf House home for generations. The historical, social, and cultural norms of the Gilded Age come to life through Wren’s exploration of the mansion and her research into the past.

Every character lends a unique perspective to the story, contributing essential information that moves the plot forward. Relationships, alliances, and emotional ties are complex; the dialogue reveals some characters have shared knowledge and experiences while other relationships are formed as the story progresses.

If you're a fan of historical fiction with a contemporary twist, you'll enjoy this mystery!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know today is Valentine’s Day. You’ll get some hints of romance in this book, but it’s not overwhelming. This story is about a magnificent house and those who love it.

Ezra and Wren Fontaine. Father and daughter. Both architects and partners. They’ve landed a dream job restoring a historic mansion. Ezra is a people person. Wren not so much. She’s in love with the house.

Any house that old has secrets. This one includes an old murder. Then a couple new murders come along and seem to be related to the house. Wren keeps digging to find out more of the house’s history. This may well put her in danger.

Thank you, Mr. Koreto. I want to read many more Historic Homes Mysteries.

***A special thank you to PICT for providing this book without charge.***

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book on my phone which is something that I don’t usually do. I did enjoy it. I love historic houses and mysteries. This book fit all of that to a tee. Wren who was an architect in a firm with her dad. She was made a junior partner in the firm. She was given the job of the Greenleaf House to renovate from top to bottom. I loved how the book spoke about the different rooms in the house. When this house was built, it was for Benjamin Greenleaf’s bride Susan. They were incredibly weathly and well connected in New York City. This house was based on a real house that was in New York City. It was actually torn down in 1940. I would recommend the book.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Greenleaf Murders is the first in a new cozy series and a quite entertaining story, even if a bit slow at the beginning.
If you love historical houses and love stories with quite a number of twist this is the right story.
I wasn't a fan of Wren at beginning but she grew on me and I appreciated her personality and how she is able to function as investigator.
The cast of characters is well developed and I liked them.
The mystery is solid, full of surprising twist and it kept me guessing.
I can't wait to read the next story.
Recommended.
Many thanks to RJ Koreto and Partners in Crime for this digital copy, all opinions are mine

[Cecilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book from the very first paragraph. I love old houses and their histories so this story was right up my alley! Throw in a few murders and hidden rooms and you have me hooked!

Why not 5 stars? In the middle of the book I lost interest in some of the scenarios and caught myself skipping some paragraphs.

Loved the ending and how the mystery unfolds!

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

[Ed-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

R. J. Koreto has written six books so far. I have read all. They are the best murder mysteries with great characters. This last was about the renovation of an historic mansion in New York. The architect falls in love with the house and her enthusiasm for restoring this home has no bounds. There are murders along the way and she finds herself solving the murders along with doing her best work in this long ignored wonder of a house.

[Jane Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

Good book by an author I had enjoyed reading before. I like the book but found the” personality” of the building to be a little over done. Al’s the budding realationship between Wren and Hayley was handled poorly. I particularly did not like calling Wren little bird. It was so diminutive and felt insulting.