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Murder in Manhattan
Inspired by one of the first real-life female columnists at the New Yorker, this enticing historical mystery follows Freddie Archer as she solves crimes while reporting on the glamorous world of the rich and famous in 1920s Manhattan. This writer just found her next scoop . . . and it’s deadly. New York, 1925 - Freddie Archer frequents speakeasies and wild parties with her friends Dorothy Parker and Tallulah Bankhead. And the best part is that it’s all in a day’s work. Freddie loves her job writing the nightlife column for Gotham Magazine.
But Freddie’s latest piece just won her a bit more attention than she bargained for—from the police. A man mentioned in her column has been murdered. And Freddie is asked to keep an eye out for his fashionable female dinner companion. She’s told in no uncertain terms to stay out of the case herself.
So naturally, Freddie throws herself into an investigation that takes her from the elegant stores that line Fifth Avenue to the tenements south of Houston Street. Now between sipping gin rickeys with Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald and casting Broadway shows with Groucho Marx, she’s dodging bullets and dating a potentially dangerous bootlegger.
Freddie wanted adventure and excitement. But will she survive it?
But Freddie’s latest piece just won her a bit more attention than she bargained for—from the police. A man mentioned in her column has been murdered. And Freddie is asked to keep an eye out for his fashionable female dinner companion. She’s told in no uncertain terms to stay out of the case herself.
So naturally, Freddie throws herself into an investigation that takes her from the elegant stores that line Fifth Avenue to the tenements south of Houston Street. Now between sipping gin rickeys with Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald and casting Broadway shows with Groucho Marx, she’s dodging bullets and dating a potentially dangerous bootlegger.
Freddie wanted adventure and excitement. But will she survive it?
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 9, 2025
96 people are currently reading
382 people want to read
About the author
Julie Mulhern
41 books1,652 followersJulie Mulhern is the USA Today bestselling author of The Country Club Murders and the Poppy Fields Adventures.
She is a Kansas City native who grew up on a steady diet of Agatha Christie. She spends her spare time whipping up gourmet meals for her family, working out at the gym and finding new ways to keep her house spotlessly clean--and she's got an active imagination. Truth is--she's an expert at calling for take-out, she grumbles about walking the dog and the dust bunnies under the bed have grown into dust lions.
She is a Kansas City native who grew up on a steady diet of Agatha Christie. She spends her spare time whipping up gourmet meals for her family, working out at the gym and finding new ways to keep her house spotlessly clean--and she's got an active imagination. Truth is--she's an expert at calling for take-out, she grumbles about walking the dog and the dust bunnies under the bed have grown into dust lions.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
December 22, 2025
I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this audiobook since I finished it. I wanted to keep listening to it forever.
Living in the 20s in New York as a woman isn’t easy. Especially when you’re decades ahead of your peers, work despite being an heiress and prioritize your dreams over marriage and children. But Freddie Archer isn’t letting anyone tell her what to do.
She’s tired of men thinking women aren’t capable of writing, thinking for themselves…Or killing. Because it’s the second time she has witnessed a murder while clubbing, and both times she saw the same woman with them.
When detective Sullivan asks for her help to find the mysterious woman, Freddie will find herself in the middle of mafia bosses, illegal trafficking and suspicious men who are following her. Freddie doesn’t know who to trust, but she needs to solve the case, preferably before the assassin realizes she’s onto her.
I have to start admitting I had the time of my life listening to the audiobook while solving sudokus (it’s not the same now that it's over😭😭, I’m very tempted to listen to it again). That means it had a huge impact on my enjoyment of the book, so I don’t really know if it would be as much fun if I had read it instead.
What I know is that the author wrote a marvellous FEMINIST book, where you felt you were there, living in the 20s, surrounded by Freddie’s female friends trying to escape what society asked for them. I loved that they weren’t sweet, caring women. They had a backbone, they were blunt and brave, and they took care and trusted each other. In that period of time, to live freely you had to be that way.
But the best part it’s not that, it’s the indirect way this book is feminist. It’s about the love interest not being there to save her every single time. In books with a romance subplot, even the feminist main characters always end up being saved by the hero. It was proven time and time again that Freddie could save herself, or could be saved by strangers or friends. The love interest was only that: a handsome man to have some cute flirting, but she was the heroine of the book.
While certain aspects were a bit unrealistic, like Freddie being the only one who seemed to be finding clues, it gives the book certain humor that makes the story even more charming. It has action, a good portrayal of what it was like to be a woman back then (a rich one with a good job, but she had to still endure sexism), suspense and a glamorous lifestyle that consisted of fashion, handsome men and parties.
I’d highly recommend it if you want to lose yourself in 1920s Manhattan among the rich as you follow one of the famous ones, Freddie, trying to solve a crime while reporting about the hottest places of the moment. It was seductive, mysterious, feminist and so much fun.
I wish I had an entire series following Freddie so I could binge listen to the audiobooks😭😭
I kindly received an ARC from Netgalley and Hachette Audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Audiobook rating: 5 stars.
Living in the 20s in New York as a woman isn’t easy. Especially when you’re decades ahead of your peers, work despite being an heiress and prioritize your dreams over marriage and children. But Freddie Archer isn’t letting anyone tell her what to do.
She’s tired of men thinking women aren’t capable of writing, thinking for themselves…Or killing. Because it’s the second time she has witnessed a murder while clubbing, and both times she saw the same woman with them.
When detective Sullivan asks for her help to find the mysterious woman, Freddie will find herself in the middle of mafia bosses, illegal trafficking and suspicious men who are following her. Freddie doesn’t know who to trust, but she needs to solve the case, preferably before the assassin realizes she’s onto her.
I have to start admitting I had the time of my life listening to the audiobook while solving sudokus (it’s not the same now that it's over😭😭, I’m very tempted to listen to it again). That means it had a huge impact on my enjoyment of the book, so I don’t really know if it would be as much fun if I had read it instead.
What I know is that the author wrote a marvellous FEMINIST book, where you felt you were there, living in the 20s, surrounded by Freddie’s female friends trying to escape what society asked for them. I loved that they weren’t sweet, caring women. They had a backbone, they were blunt and brave, and they took care and trusted each other. In that period of time, to live freely you had to be that way.
But the best part it’s not that, it’s the indirect way this book is feminist. It’s about the love interest not being there to save her every single time. In books with a romance subplot, even the feminist main characters always end up being saved by the hero. It was proven time and time again that Freddie could save herself, or could be saved by strangers or friends. The love interest was only that: a handsome man to have some cute flirting, but she was the heroine of the book.
While certain aspects were a bit unrealistic, like Freddie being the only one who seemed to be finding clues, it gives the book certain humor that makes the story even more charming. It has action, a good portrayal of what it was like to be a woman back then (a rich one with a good job, but she had to still endure sexism), suspense and a glamorous lifestyle that consisted of fashion, handsome men and parties.
I’d highly recommend it if you want to lose yourself in 1920s Manhattan among the rich as you follow one of the famous ones, Freddie, trying to solve a crime while reporting about the hottest places of the moment. It was seductive, mysterious, feminist and so much fun.
I wish I had an entire series following Freddie so I could binge listen to the audiobooks😭😭
I kindly received an ARC from Netgalley and Hachette Audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Audiobook rating: 5 stars.
December 9, 2025
Murder in Manhattan by Julie Mulhern
Historical mystery. 1920’s.
Freddie Archer is a columnist for Gotham Magazine. She spends her nights in the speakeasies, looking for celebrities, designer dresses, and anything interesting that can go into the newspaper. Spending so much time looking for reportable content, she finds herself looking for a killer with an unexpected protector at her side.
🎧 I alternated between an ecopy and an audiobook narrated by Caroline Hewitt. The performance brings the 1920’s nightlife and lifestyles to life in vivid images. I could feel the oppressive heat of the city and Freddie’s yearning for something new in her repetitive late night lifestyle.
I listened to the audio at a speed of 1.5 and slightly higher to be able to read the ebook at5;3 same time.
The underworld of the 20’s and one willing reporter to drink her nights away to get the best news of the evening. She didn’t expect the depths she’d be dragged into.
Biting commentary of the times with an unsurprising a depth of apathy between the classes. Freddie is on a mission. One drink and column at a time.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Hachette Audio.
Historical mystery. 1920’s.
Freddie Archer is a columnist for Gotham Magazine. She spends her nights in the speakeasies, looking for celebrities, designer dresses, and anything interesting that can go into the newspaper. Spending so much time looking for reportable content, she finds herself looking for a killer with an unexpected protector at her side.
🎧 I alternated between an ecopy and an audiobook narrated by Caroline Hewitt. The performance brings the 1920’s nightlife and lifestyles to life in vivid images. I could feel the oppressive heat of the city and Freddie’s yearning for something new in her repetitive late night lifestyle.
I listened to the audio at a speed of 1.5 and slightly higher to be able to read the ebook at5;3 same time.
The underworld of the 20’s and one willing reporter to drink her nights away to get the best news of the evening. She didn’t expect the depths she’d be dragged into.
Biting commentary of the times with an unsurprising a depth of apathy between the classes. Freddie is on a mission. One drink and column at a time.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Hachette Audio.
December 18, 2025
Freddy, the strong main character was snarky and just delightful! I enjoyed escaping into the 1920's speakeasies full of good jazzy music, delicious drinks, bootleggers and mafia crime bosses. I found myself looking up the recipe for a Gin Rickey and I might have to try making one! The mention of different fabrics and fashions just wasn't something that I'm much interested in though, but I understand how well it fit the times and tied into the story. The mention of different celebrities may have caused me to google research and learn a little more about their history, I enjoyed the little historical side adventure as well. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I will look forward to reading more by the author.
**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
December 5, 2025
I fell in love with Julie Mulhern’s writing and characters through the Country Club mysteries and so I was excited to read this new historical novel (series?). What a fun ride! Freddie delves into a seedier side of Manhattan’s history, and the story has all the glitz and glamour of Manhattan society and its speakeasies but also explores the gritty, corrupt world of bootlegging. I enjoyed learning more about this era and look forward to more stories with Freddie.
I received a copy from #NetGalley, #HachetteAudio, and #GrandCentralPublishing for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley, #HachetteAudio, and #GrandCentralPublishing for an honest review.
December 17, 2025
Freddie Archer is a female columnist covering fashion and Manhattan nightlife during Prohibition. The police believe that she is the only person who can provide an accurate description of a mysterious woman implicated in a murder. They ask Freddie to keep them informed if she encounters the woman again, but to keep safely away from the suspect. Freddie of course ignores this warning and plunges into an investigation that involves her with multiple bootleggers and a brothel. She also encounters a lot of men who push her around.
I don’t usually read cozy mysteries, but the 1920s New York setting held my interest. Freddie was certainly plucky, like a Rosalind Russell movie character. Her constant hangovers were something of a cliche. In mysteries set in the 20s or 30s, everyone seems to be drunk all the time. The feminist angle in the book was hammered on pretty heavily. There was also a lot of love/lust at first sight going on in this book. This was a quick read and I enjoyed Caroline Hewitt’s narration of the audiobook. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
I don’t usually read cozy mysteries, but the 1920s New York setting held my interest. Freddie was certainly plucky, like a Rosalind Russell movie character. Her constant hangovers were something of a cliche. In mysteries set in the 20s or 30s, everyone seems to be drunk all the time. The feminist angle in the book was hammered on pretty heavily. There was also a lot of love/lust at first sight going on in this book. This was a quick read and I enjoyed Caroline Hewitt’s narration of the audiobook. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
December 3, 2025
This was such a fun, quick, and captivating mystery! I devoured this in less than 24 hours with a combo of audiobook and the e-book.
You are immediately transported to the 1920s with Freddie as she frequents speakeasies and fabulous parties, shops with top designers, and hangs out with Manhattan’s elite. When a man featured in her popular magazine column turns up dead, she finds herself at the center of a murder investigation. Surrounded by bootleggers and mobsters, Freddie will do whatever she can to uncover who is behind the murders.
I loved everything about this book. It was the perfect combination of mystery, romance, and drama. Freddie was such a strong female lead and I absolutely adored her. I loved all the side characters as well and banter between everyone. The narrator did an incredible job with the story and I would recommend the audiobook or the physical book! They were both great. This was my first Julie Mulhern story but it won’t be my last.
Thank you to NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and Hachette Audio for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
You are immediately transported to the 1920s with Freddie as she frequents speakeasies and fabulous parties, shops with top designers, and hangs out with Manhattan’s elite. When a man featured in her popular magazine column turns up dead, she finds herself at the center of a murder investigation. Surrounded by bootleggers and mobsters, Freddie will do whatever she can to uncover who is behind the murders.
I loved everything about this book. It was the perfect combination of mystery, romance, and drama. Freddie was such a strong female lead and I absolutely adored her. I loved all the side characters as well and banter between everyone. The narrator did an incredible job with the story and I would recommend the audiobook or the physical book! They were both great. This was my first Julie Mulhern story but it won’t be my last.
Thank you to NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and Hachette Audio for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 1, 2025
This was a fun read for my Thanksgiving break. I loved the backdrop and Mulhern's deft description of the era. The characters were fun, particularly Freddie and the cadre of mobsters she encountered. I would have liked a little more development of some of the background characters, though, some of whom wound up seeming extraneous (John, for example; what was he there for?). Because the narrative jumped around a bit, it was hard to define a timeline for the events taking place (all the same summer, but was it a matter of days? Weeks? Months?). And the end felt like a race to the finish that left some loose ends untied, but perhaps that was intentional.
The end of this book seems to tee up future adventures for Freddie, and if Mulhern writes more books about her I will definitely read them.
Many thanks to the publisher for receiving an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest assessment.
The end of this book seems to tee up future adventures for Freddie, and if Mulhern writes more books about her I will definitely read them.
Many thanks to the publisher for receiving an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest assessment.
December 6, 2025
3.5/5
Thank you so much to Forever for the eARC of this book!
I have always enjoyed reading stories that take place in the 1920's, and this one was a murder mystery surrounding the world of glamorous speakeasies in NYC.
We get to meet Freddie (our wonderful FMC), who is a fashion and lifestyle journalist for a magazine. Freddie gets to go to all of the fancy new clubs and restaurants, and even gets to have private fashion showings so she can write about them for her readers. Everything is fun until she's somehow connected to a murder and is asked to provide information in the ongoing investigation.
This book was a whodunnit that kept me guessing right until the very end.
Thank you so much to Forever for the eARC of this book!
I have always enjoyed reading stories that take place in the 1920's, and this one was a murder mystery surrounding the world of glamorous speakeasies in NYC.
We get to meet Freddie (our wonderful FMC), who is a fashion and lifestyle journalist for a magazine. Freddie gets to go to all of the fancy new clubs and restaurants, and even gets to have private fashion showings so she can write about them for her readers. Everything is fun until she's somehow connected to a murder and is asked to provide information in the ongoing investigation.
This book was a whodunnit that kept me guessing right until the very end.
November 22, 2025
A wonderful histfic mystery set in 1920s Manhattan, with atmosphere galore and a gutsy FMC you'll cheer for. Hope this is book one in a series, as I loved this gripping tale!
November 12, 2025
Super fun Prohibition era mystery. Took me a bit to get through bc I only had a PDF of the ARC, and I hate reading on my computer. But I think in print or on audio, Freddie’s adventures will fly by!
December 19, 2025
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Freddie Archer writes a nightlife column for Gotham Magazine in New York, 1925, which means hitting all the hottest restaurants, speakeasies, and wild parties. What makes the job grand is taking her friends, Tallulah Bankhead and Dorothy Parker, along. Murder had never been one of the perks, but when a man mentioned in her column was killed, Detective Sullivan arrived at her office and asked for her help. Freddie had seen the man with a “pretty in a kittenish way” woman, and now the detective needs her to alert him if she sees her again, but not to approach the woman.
Freddie, with her inquisitive reporter nature, decides to go all in on the investigation. Wouldn’t it be the bees’ knees if she could catch the killer? She is soon sipping gin rickeys with Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald and asking Groucho Marx for favors. She is drawn to a man who could be trouble. And when the bullets start flying, she picks up some personal protection.
New York can always be interesting and exciting, but now for Freddie, it can be downright dangerous. Will she catch the killer and live to write about it? Or has she submitted her last story?
As a fan of Julie Mulhern Country Club Murders and the Poppy Fields Adventures, I had to read this book! Fans will immediately recognize Mulhern’s unique writing style as she introduces her characters and sets up a wonderful mystery.
Freddie Archer is a fantastic protagonist. She is fun, fearless, and free to follow the clues wherever they lead. Ms. Mulhern has surrounded Freddie with real 1920s celebrities like Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. She is also great friends with Tallulah Bankhead and Dorothy Parker. As soon as Dorothy Parker was mentioned, it harkened my back to J.J. Murphy’s Algonquin Round Table Mysteries of 2011/2012, where Dorothy was the lead sleuth. Freddie teaming up with her and Tallulah was so entertaining. If they didn’t know something, they knew people who did. Freddie made a new powerful friend at a deli, and a man who was a bootlegger, a gangster, and a killer, whom she was happy to see when she needed him. All Mulhern’s characters are well-crafted and have purpose and add to the story.
I loved that we are treated to Freddie composing her columns while she ventures out by herself or with others.
“A night in the city holds untold delights – the jazz band at the Cotton Club, the breeze off the Hudson at a rooftop party . . . The darkness also holds staggering risks. If one is caught in a dangerous situation . . . a bootlegger turf war . . . one should look for a sturdy table under which to hide.”
The Roaring ’20s were quite a wild time, especially for women like Freddie. I enjoyed the author’s detailed descriptions that brought each character to life, along with the New York nightlife and the seedier parts of the city. All the glitz and glamour of Manhattan played side by side with the corruption of bootlegging. The banter between the characters was marvelous and funny in all the right places. You can tell the author heavily researched the time period. From the food to the fashion to the feminism, Mulhern is exceptional.
As the bodies start to pile up, Freddie is surrounded by mobsters and bootleggers, and elite celebs as she tries to know who she can trust to help her get to the truth. With a variety of twists and turns, Freddie finds herself in dangerous situations, but she never gives up. She even comes up with a plan, but can she convince the cops that it will work?
Escape into Prohibition-era New York and be prepared to fall hard for Freddie Archer! Murder in Manhattan is a fast-paced, sockdolager mystery with strong female characters. Mulhern is a great storyteller who can combine thriller elements with humor and a touch of romance, treating readers to a story you will want to share with everyone you know. I loved everything about this story. Oh, please, please, please, tell me this book is the start of a series! I need more Freddie Archer. You will find this book on my Best Reads List for 2025.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC.
Freddie Archer writes a nightlife column for Gotham Magazine in New York, 1925, which means hitting all the hottest restaurants, speakeasies, and wild parties. What makes the job grand is taking her friends, Tallulah Bankhead and Dorothy Parker, along. Murder had never been one of the perks, but when a man mentioned in her column was killed, Detective Sullivan arrived at her office and asked for her help. Freddie had seen the man with a “pretty in a kittenish way” woman, and now the detective needs her to alert him if she sees her again, but not to approach the woman.
Freddie, with her inquisitive reporter nature, decides to go all in on the investigation. Wouldn’t it be the bees’ knees if she could catch the killer? She is soon sipping gin rickeys with Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald and asking Groucho Marx for favors. She is drawn to a man who could be trouble. And when the bullets start flying, she picks up some personal protection.
New York can always be interesting and exciting, but now for Freddie, it can be downright dangerous. Will she catch the killer and live to write about it? Or has she submitted her last story?
As a fan of Julie Mulhern Country Club Murders and the Poppy Fields Adventures, I had to read this book! Fans will immediately recognize Mulhern’s unique writing style as she introduces her characters and sets up a wonderful mystery.
Freddie Archer is a fantastic protagonist. She is fun, fearless, and free to follow the clues wherever they lead. Ms. Mulhern has surrounded Freddie with real 1920s celebrities like Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. She is also great friends with Tallulah Bankhead and Dorothy Parker. As soon as Dorothy Parker was mentioned, it harkened my back to J.J. Murphy’s Algonquin Round Table Mysteries of 2011/2012, where Dorothy was the lead sleuth. Freddie teaming up with her and Tallulah was so entertaining. If they didn’t know something, they knew people who did. Freddie made a new powerful friend at a deli, and a man who was a bootlegger, a gangster, and a killer, whom she was happy to see when she needed him. All Mulhern’s characters are well-crafted and have purpose and add to the story.
I loved that we are treated to Freddie composing her columns while she ventures out by herself or with others.
“A night in the city holds untold delights – the jazz band at the Cotton Club, the breeze off the Hudson at a rooftop party . . . The darkness also holds staggering risks. If one is caught in a dangerous situation . . . a bootlegger turf war . . . one should look for a sturdy table under which to hide.”
The Roaring ’20s were quite a wild time, especially for women like Freddie. I enjoyed the author’s detailed descriptions that brought each character to life, along with the New York nightlife and the seedier parts of the city. All the glitz and glamour of Manhattan played side by side with the corruption of bootlegging. The banter between the characters was marvelous and funny in all the right places. You can tell the author heavily researched the time period. From the food to the fashion to the feminism, Mulhern is exceptional.
As the bodies start to pile up, Freddie is surrounded by mobsters and bootleggers, and elite celebs as she tries to know who she can trust to help her get to the truth. With a variety of twists and turns, Freddie finds herself in dangerous situations, but she never gives up. She even comes up with a plan, but can she convince the cops that it will work?
Escape into Prohibition-era New York and be prepared to fall hard for Freddie Archer! Murder in Manhattan is a fast-paced, sockdolager mystery with strong female characters. Mulhern is a great storyteller who can combine thriller elements with humor and a touch of romance, treating readers to a story you will want to share with everyone you know. I loved everything about this story. Oh, please, please, please, tell me this book is the start of a series! I need more Freddie Archer. You will find this book on my Best Reads List for 2025.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC.
November 16, 2025
Julie Mulhern is a best-selling author for a reason. "Murder in Manhattan" is a captivating chick-lit murder mystery set in the glamour of Prohibition-era New York. Mulhern's writing is evocative; I could almost taste the gin rickeys as I read, immersed in the speakeasy atmosphere while trying to solve the murder. I truly enjoyed this story. Freddie, the protagonist, is a resilient and spirited character, and I was completely drawn to her. The book also highlights strong feminist themes, giving women a powerful voice in the narrative. I sincerely hope we see more of Freddie in future works. This is a remarkable read.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and the author Julie Mulhern for this ARC. The book is on sale on December 9, 2025 and you definitely want to get it then.
#JulieMulhern #BestSellingAuthor #MurderInManhattan #ChickLit #MysteryNovel #ProhibitionEra #NewYork #SpeakeasyVibes #BookLover #MysteryReader #FeministThemes #StrongFemaleCharacters #Fiction #BookRecommendation #MustRead #HistoricalMystery #FemaleProtagonist #Suspense #CrimeFiction #ReadingTime
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and the author Julie Mulhern for this ARC. The book is on sale on December 9, 2025 and you definitely want to get it then.
#JulieMulhern #BestSellingAuthor #MurderInManhattan #ChickLit #MysteryNovel #ProhibitionEra #NewYork #SpeakeasyVibes #BookLover #MysteryReader #FeministThemes #StrongFemaleCharacters #Fiction #BookRecommendation #MustRead #HistoricalMystery #FemaleProtagonist #Suspense #CrimeFiction #ReadingTime
December 3, 2025
I'm not really a mystery reader, but occasionally I will dip into the genre—especially if it's a historical mystery with romance. Historical mystery gets to explore time periods we don't often see in historical romance, and that was the case with Murder in Manhattan. Thanks to Forever and NetGalley for the complimentary ARC.
It's 1925 in the middle of Prohibition and the Roaring '20s. Freddie Archer is an heiress and columnist at Gotham magazine, writing about nightlife and fashion in New York City as she gallivants around the city with her two best friends (and real-life people) Dorothy Parker and Tallulah Bankhead. She mentions a man in one of her columns who ends up murdered later that night, which earns her a visit from a New York City detective. He asks Freddie about the woman the murdered man was with that night. Freddie can provide a description, and the detective asks her to let him know if she runs into this woman while she's on the town. Freddie begins spending time with a bootlegger named Brandt Abrams, and as she’s out with him, his friends begin dropping like flies—and every time, that woman is there. Despite the police detective calling her off and the danger Freddie faces, she can't leave it alone and begins investigating these murders herself.
This book was an absolute delight. I found Freddie to be a charming narrator and entry point to this world. She is based on a real-life columnist named Lois Long, who wrote for The New Yorker and blazed a trail for female writers. Freddie comes from a very privileged background and doesn't need to work, but her status and ability to mix and mingle with New York's elite give her the cachet to write her column. She knows everyone worth knowing and can afford the very best, so she has access to the glitz and glamour that make her column a bestseller for Gotham.
One thing I don't often see in romances set in the 1920s is any mention of the extreme trauma endured in the previous decade. In the lead-up to the ’20s, there was a global war and a global pandemic, both of which seriously impacted young people. One reason the Spanish Influenza pandemic was so tragic was that it targeted young adults, who were also the primary members of the military in WWI. This book doesn't dig deeply into the pandemic itself, but Freddie lost her brother in the war and Brandt served, and we see the impact of that loss and trauma on both characters, which I found compelling.
Freddie is a woman in a man's world and has to deal with the rampant misogyny of the 1920s in every facet of her professional and personal life. She broke off an engagement to a man who expected her to give up her career and life in the city to raise his children in Connecticut; she deals with her mother's expectation that she marry a Yale man and give up her wild lifestyle; and she encounters men at basically every turn telling her she shouldn't worry her pretty little head about these murders since the men are on the scene. Brandt was a breath of fresh air for Freddie because he doesn't try to stifle her or tell her she can't handle something. I also really loved the mob boss we meet in the book because he immediately saw the value in Freddie.
I don't know if this is going to be the start of a new series from Julie Mulhern or not, but I hope this is not the last we see of Freddie. Her world was so interesting, and I want more from her relationship with Brandt. 4 stars.
It's 1925 in the middle of Prohibition and the Roaring '20s. Freddie Archer is an heiress and columnist at Gotham magazine, writing about nightlife and fashion in New York City as she gallivants around the city with her two best friends (and real-life people) Dorothy Parker and Tallulah Bankhead. She mentions a man in one of her columns who ends up murdered later that night, which earns her a visit from a New York City detective. He asks Freddie about the woman the murdered man was with that night. Freddie can provide a description, and the detective asks her to let him know if she runs into this woman while she's on the town. Freddie begins spending time with a bootlegger named Brandt Abrams, and as she’s out with him, his friends begin dropping like flies—and every time, that woman is there. Despite the police detective calling her off and the danger Freddie faces, she can't leave it alone and begins investigating these murders herself.
This book was an absolute delight. I found Freddie to be a charming narrator and entry point to this world. She is based on a real-life columnist named Lois Long, who wrote for The New Yorker and blazed a trail for female writers. Freddie comes from a very privileged background and doesn't need to work, but her status and ability to mix and mingle with New York's elite give her the cachet to write her column. She knows everyone worth knowing and can afford the very best, so she has access to the glitz and glamour that make her column a bestseller for Gotham.
One thing I don't often see in romances set in the 1920s is any mention of the extreme trauma endured in the previous decade. In the lead-up to the ’20s, there was a global war and a global pandemic, both of which seriously impacted young people. One reason the Spanish Influenza pandemic was so tragic was that it targeted young adults, who were also the primary members of the military in WWI. This book doesn't dig deeply into the pandemic itself, but Freddie lost her brother in the war and Brandt served, and we see the impact of that loss and trauma on both characters, which I found compelling.
Freddie is a woman in a man's world and has to deal with the rampant misogyny of the 1920s in every facet of her professional and personal life. She broke off an engagement to a man who expected her to give up her career and life in the city to raise his children in Connecticut; she deals with her mother's expectation that she marry a Yale man and give up her wild lifestyle; and she encounters men at basically every turn telling her she shouldn't worry her pretty little head about these murders since the men are on the scene. Brandt was a breath of fresh air for Freddie because he doesn't try to stifle her or tell her she can't handle something. I also really loved the mob boss we meet in the book because he immediately saw the value in Freddie.
I don't know if this is going to be the start of a new series from Julie Mulhern or not, but I hope this is not the last we see of Freddie. Her world was so interesting, and I want more from her relationship with Brandt. 4 stars.
December 9, 2025
I had so much fun reading this one! We follow Freddie Archer, a nightlife and fashion columnist for Gotham Magazine in 1920s NYC who stumbles into a murder investigation for a bootlegger after including him in her column one day. Freddie is so fun and witty. She spends most of her nights dancing and carousing at different speakeasies with her friends Dotty and Tallulah and her days working on the magazine and dealing with her editor, Gus, and assistant, Annie. Although her life seems like a fun party time, she is also dealing with a lot of personal things, which I appreciate. She gets entangled, in multiple ways, with the murders of some bootleggers around town and is warned by Detective Sullivan to stay away, but she might be the only one who can solve it.
I really like the Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries series, and this book felt a lot like that. Freddie is also very competent, capable, and independent. I will say her friends did kind of irritate me at times as I felt like they were being a little harsh and rude. There is a little romance happening, but it doesn't overpower the story, but I also didn't really care about it. There does seem to be a hint at maybe some kind of love triangle (not including her stupid ex Nick), which I don't know how to feel about. I might be down since the current romance isn't really solidified.
If you like the Miss Fisher show (like I do) or you are intrigued by a murder mystery set in the 1920s in NYC, I think you should check this out! It's not overly cozy, but it also isn't very hardboiled either. It was just well crafted and interesting.
*Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the eARC. All thoughts are my own :)*
I really like the Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries series, and this book felt a lot like that. Freddie is also very competent, capable, and independent. I will say her friends did kind of irritate me at times as I felt like they were being a little harsh and rude. There is a little romance happening, but it doesn't overpower the story, but I also didn't really care about it. There does seem to be a hint at maybe some kind of love triangle (not including her stupid ex Nick), which I don't know how to feel about. I might be down since the current romance isn't really solidified.
If you like the Miss Fisher show (like I do) or you are intrigued by a murder mystery set in the 1920s in NYC, I think you should check this out! It's not overly cozy, but it also isn't very hardboiled either. It was just well crafted and interesting.
*Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the eARC. All thoughts are my own :)*
December 9, 2025
I was absolutely thrilled to read Murder in Manhattan as an ARC (thank you NetGalley and thanks to the author and the publisher) and I have to say, I enjoyed every single minute of it!
The premise drew me in immediately: 1920s Manhattan, a setting inspired by a real-life New Yorker columnists, a strong female character with plenty of brains, wit, and humor—and a growing body count. This was a fun, stylish, and incredibly entertaining read that kept me glued to the pages from start to finish.
The main character, Freddie Archer, is essentially living the influencer lifestyle of the Jazz Age. As a nightlife columnist for Gotham Magazine, she's sipping gin rickeys with Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, casting Broadway shows with Groucho Marx, and chronicling the glamorous lives of the rich and famous.
Freddie is definitely too clever for her own good. When a man mentioned in her column is murdered, she naturally throws herself into an investigation she was expressly told to avoid. She manages to get into—and out of—some truly impossible situations. With so much going on, it could have been easy to lose the plot, but the book is wonderfully written and paced. I was desperate to know where the storyline was headed next.
The story strikes the perfect balance, with the right amount of humor, wit, romance, and deadly intrigue. It was an absolute delight to read, and I highly recommend it!
The premise drew me in immediately: 1920s Manhattan, a setting inspired by a real-life New Yorker columnists, a strong female character with plenty of brains, wit, and humor—and a growing body count. This was a fun, stylish, and incredibly entertaining read that kept me glued to the pages from start to finish.
The main character, Freddie Archer, is essentially living the influencer lifestyle of the Jazz Age. As a nightlife columnist for Gotham Magazine, she's sipping gin rickeys with Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, casting Broadway shows with Groucho Marx, and chronicling the glamorous lives of the rich and famous.
Freddie is definitely too clever for her own good. When a man mentioned in her column is murdered, she naturally throws herself into an investigation she was expressly told to avoid. She manages to get into—and out of—some truly impossible situations. With so much going on, it could have been easy to lose the plot, but the book is wonderfully written and paced. I was desperate to know where the storyline was headed next.
The story strikes the perfect balance, with the right amount of humor, wit, romance, and deadly intrigue. It was an absolute delight to read, and I highly recommend it!
December 8, 2025
“Murder in Manhattan” was a quick and cozy period piece with an interesting premise. Freddie, an independent female writer living right in the middle of America’s prohibition era has all the things about her I like in my historical fiction female main characters. However, I found that most if not all of the characters in this book otherwise lacked a lot of depth, and were very clearly just supporting characters in the life of the main character. Additionally, there were so many supporting characters they tended to just blur together for me. Despite this, I did enjoy having this audiobook on in the background while I worked.
The historical details and mentions of famous stars from the time. It had just the right level of historical tie-ins and I enjoyed it every time I noticed a real-life star. I would definitely listen to future installments of Freddie’s story. The narrator, Caroline Hewitt, was the perfect pick for this quick little murder mystery. Her story telling showed off all the wittier parts of Freddie’s personality without loosing the plot: it wasn’t overdone.
If you like: a witty FMC, cozy mystery, bootleggers and crime in a 20’s city setting, and quick reads, you’ll eat this story up.
So delighted and thankful to Netgally, Julie Mulhern, and Hachette Audio for providing me an advanced listeners copy of Murder in Manhattan in exchange for my honest review of this book !!
The historical details and mentions of famous stars from the time. It had just the right level of historical tie-ins and I enjoyed it every time I noticed a real-life star. I would definitely listen to future installments of Freddie’s story. The narrator, Caroline Hewitt, was the perfect pick for this quick little murder mystery. Her story telling showed off all the wittier parts of Freddie’s personality without loosing the plot: it wasn’t overdone.
If you like: a witty FMC, cozy mystery, bootleggers and crime in a 20’s city setting, and quick reads, you’ll eat this story up.
So delighted and thankful to Netgally, Julie Mulhern, and Hachette Audio for providing me an advanced listeners copy of Murder in Manhattan in exchange for my honest review of this book !!
December 16, 2025
I had the absolute pleasure of reading and listening to the audiobook of Murder in Manhattan. I have to start by saying that the narrator was fantastic! I really enjoyed her voice, as well as her character choices and inflection, which added so much to the story.
I loved the 1920s setting and really appreciated how Freddie prioritized her own success and happiness during a time period when women rarely could. I also loved the mystery and was kept on my toes right up until the very final reveal!
Thank you for the ALC; all opinions are my own.
I loved the 1920s setting and really appreciated how Freddie prioritized her own success and happiness during a time period when women rarely could. I also loved the mystery and was kept on my toes right up until the very final reveal!
Thank you for the ALC; all opinions are my own.
December 8, 2025
Thank you so much for Forever for the gifted physical ARC!
4.25 stars.
This book was such a fun read and it was right up my alley: a murder mystery thriller, artfully woven into a romance in a fabulous historical fiction setting, with a healthy side of feminism. It's giving strong similar vibes to Mimi Matthews' Rules for Ruin, as well as Bellamy Rose's Pomona Afton Can So Solve A Murder, where you have a strong FMC who won't let a man keep her down while solving a crime. And unlike some historical fiction, this story is written in a more modern tone, making it oh-so-easy to slip into the story.
Set in 1920s NYC (my favorite time period AND city to read about), Murder in Manhattan follows our gal, Freddie, a columnist for The Gotham, as she works to solve a series of crimes that conveniently seems to occur in her vicinity, despite being told off by the detective in charge that this is no place for a woman. Except Freddie's got connections *all over* the place - from the upper crust of society to the underbelly of the city - and knows how to dig up the good dirt on a story. She quickly makes connections that the police are unable to, thanks to her unique perspective, and it was so entertaining to read as she runs rings around these men-in-charge, finding clues in fashion and society that are overlooked by the men, and ultimately it's her different perspective that allows her to solve the murders can catch the killer.
And amongst all of this, we have a closed-door romance, where Freddie works to get over a previous heartbreak and fall for someone new, who accepts her exactly as she is, which helps to counterbalance the darker twists and turns of the murders.
It's light, fun, thrilling, with a lot of wit and cleverness on Freddie's part, and you absolute cannot help but cheer for her throughout the course of the book as she works to solve the crimes at hand, despite the odds stacked against her. This story is full of life and lovely emotion and I was absolutely cackling at some of Freddie's retorts and antics aimed at the less-progressive characters.
I think the ONLY thing I disliked about this book was how it ended - which was FAR too soon! I need more on what happens with Freddie and Brandt (and that date she's got on Saturday!). Maybe we will get a book 2, centered around Annie and Sullivan, perchance?
4.25 stars.
This book was such a fun read and it was right up my alley: a murder mystery thriller, artfully woven into a romance in a fabulous historical fiction setting, with a healthy side of feminism. It's giving strong similar vibes to Mimi Matthews' Rules for Ruin, as well as Bellamy Rose's Pomona Afton Can So Solve A Murder, where you have a strong FMC who won't let a man keep her down while solving a crime. And unlike some historical fiction, this story is written in a more modern tone, making it oh-so-easy to slip into the story.
Set in 1920s NYC (my favorite time period AND city to read about), Murder in Manhattan follows our gal, Freddie, a columnist for The Gotham, as she works to solve a series of crimes that conveniently seems to occur in her vicinity, despite being told off by the detective in charge that this is no place for a woman. Except Freddie's got connections *all over* the place - from the upper crust of society to the underbelly of the city - and knows how to dig up the good dirt on a story. She quickly makes connections that the police are unable to, thanks to her unique perspective, and it was so entertaining to read as she runs rings around these men-in-charge, finding clues in fashion and society that are overlooked by the men, and ultimately it's her different perspective that allows her to solve the murders can catch the killer.
And amongst all of this, we have a closed-door romance, where Freddie works to get over a previous heartbreak and fall for someone new, who accepts her exactly as she is, which helps to counterbalance the darker twists and turns of the murders.
It's light, fun, thrilling, with a lot of wit and cleverness on Freddie's part, and you absolute cannot help but cheer for her throughout the course of the book as she works to solve the crimes at hand, despite the odds stacked against her. This story is full of life and lovely emotion and I was absolutely cackling at some of Freddie's retorts and antics aimed at the less-progressive characters.
I think the ONLY thing I disliked about this book was how it ended - which was FAR too soon! I need more on what happens with Freddie and Brandt (and that date she's got on Saturday!). Maybe we will get a book 2, centered around Annie and Sullivan, perchance?
December 5, 2025
Murder in Manhattan is a glamorous mystery set in 1925 New York City. With flappers, bootleggers, gangsters, and of course murder, Julie Mulhern creates an original plot that kept me turning pages long after bedtime.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Columnist Freddie Archer writes Touch of Rouge, New York’s glamorous take on fashion, night clubs, and high society. When a police detective visits her to ask about a dead man who was featured in her column, she’s intrigued. And then she spots the victim’s date at another murder scene, and she can’t help but follow her. Freddie finds herself in the midst of a bootlegger’s battle, with handsome importer Brandt Abrams catching her attention too. While gangsters are impressed with her moxie, her boss and her family tell her that a lady shouldn’t get involved in such dangerous situations. Can she figure out who the murderer is before it’s too late?
This story’s characters, both fictional and real, are entertaining and the 1920s setting is almost like an additional character. With lunch at the Algonquin with Dorothy Parker, and cameos from the likes of Groucho Marx, the author blends fact and fiction with ease. The Jewish representation is well done, and fits with the era. Even the descriptions of NYC’s sweltering heat before air conditioning made me sweat in my living room.
I’m on the record as being a huge fan of a romance/mystery combination; this book is in the more mystery than romance category. It appears that this book is the start of a series though, so with some of the world building out of the way, maybe the romance subplot will pick up a bit in the next installment.
I enjoyed reading Murder in Manhattan. And, really, why aren’t more mysteries and romances set in the roaring 1920s? The glamorous setting, with bootleggers and flappers, writers and actors, is fabulous. It’s the perfect backdrop for columnist Freddie Archer, and I’m hoping we get to see more of her in future adventures.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Columnist Freddie Archer writes Touch of Rouge, New York’s glamorous take on fashion, night clubs, and high society. When a police detective visits her to ask about a dead man who was featured in her column, she’s intrigued. And then she spots the victim’s date at another murder scene, and she can’t help but follow her. Freddie finds herself in the midst of a bootlegger’s battle, with handsome importer Brandt Abrams catching her attention too. While gangsters are impressed with her moxie, her boss and her family tell her that a lady shouldn’t get involved in such dangerous situations. Can she figure out who the murderer is before it’s too late?
This story’s characters, both fictional and real, are entertaining and the 1920s setting is almost like an additional character. With lunch at the Algonquin with Dorothy Parker, and cameos from the likes of Groucho Marx, the author blends fact and fiction with ease. The Jewish representation is well done, and fits with the era. Even the descriptions of NYC’s sweltering heat before air conditioning made me sweat in my living room.
I’m on the record as being a huge fan of a romance/mystery combination; this book is in the more mystery than romance category. It appears that this book is the start of a series though, so with some of the world building out of the way, maybe the romance subplot will pick up a bit in the next installment.
I enjoyed reading Murder in Manhattan. And, really, why aren’t more mysteries and romances set in the roaring 1920s? The glamorous setting, with bootleggers and flappers, writers and actors, is fabulous. It’s the perfect backdrop for columnist Freddie Archer, and I’m hoping we get to see more of her in future adventures.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 8, 2025
Fun audiobook surrounding the roaring 20’s era!
Freddie is a female columnist who visits speak-easys, restaurants, goes to shows… and investigates… mostly where she is not supposed to be!
At that point in time, women were not to be doing anything like this. Their roles in life were to marry, look pretty, get married… and take care of their husbands! 😳
So, Freddie definitely doesn’t fit the bill. She is an edgy, female trendsetter!
Unfortunately, she writes a column and mentions a guy. And then… he’s dead!
And then, more and more people are dying all around her… and she’s being threatened.
It’s funny. It’s quirky. It’s very descriptive of the era. And it features a JEWISH MOB… which I find amusing. 😉
And I read that this is loosely based on a NY times journalist from that era!
Not sure that I’ve read this author before,but I will keep my eyes open for her in the future!
4 bold, daring, bright stars for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#MurderInManhattan by @JulieMulhern. Narrated nicely by @CarolineHewitt.
*** This one has NOT been released as yet, so please LOOK FOR IT starting 12/9/25!! ***
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #HachetteAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
Freddie is a female columnist who visits speak-easys, restaurants, goes to shows… and investigates… mostly where she is not supposed to be!
At that point in time, women were not to be doing anything like this. Their roles in life were to marry, look pretty, get married… and take care of their husbands! 😳
So, Freddie definitely doesn’t fit the bill. She is an edgy, female trendsetter!
Unfortunately, she writes a column and mentions a guy. And then… he’s dead!
And then, more and more people are dying all around her… and she’s being threatened.
It’s funny. It’s quirky. It’s very descriptive of the era. And it features a JEWISH MOB… which I find amusing. 😉
And I read that this is loosely based on a NY times journalist from that era!
Not sure that I’ve read this author before,but I will keep my eyes open for her in the future!
4 bold, daring, bright stars for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#MurderInManhattan by @JulieMulhern. Narrated nicely by @CarolineHewitt.
*** This one has NOT been released as yet, so please LOOK FOR IT starting 12/9/25!! ***
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #HachetteAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
December 8, 2025
Big Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the Publisher for the advanced copy! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
'Murder in Manhattan' is a historical mystery by Julie Mulhern, and it follows Freddie, a columnist and society girl who finds herself investigating a series of murders.
First of all, the author does a great job creating the perfect 20s atmosphere, with all the glam, champagne, extravagance, and also the underlying depression. Freddie is an excellent narrator, bubbly, witty, and fun. Her story was probably the best part of the book, and I found myself more intrigued about her life, her friends, and her romances than the mystery.
The latter, moreover, was interesting and it had many twists and thrilling moments. But, the ending was not well handled. The culprit didn't give an 'aha' moment in the end, as they weren't really tied up with the mystery's clues.
In addition, the story surely needed another chapter so that the conclusion would be smoother and all loose ends solved, as that last chapter didn't vibe well with the rest of the plot, which was nicely paced up until then.
Finally, the audiobook was narrated excellently and the production was enjoyable.
'Murder in Manhattan' is a historical mystery by Julie Mulhern, and it follows Freddie, a columnist and society girl who finds herself investigating a series of murders.
First of all, the author does a great job creating the perfect 20s atmosphere, with all the glam, champagne, extravagance, and also the underlying depression. Freddie is an excellent narrator, bubbly, witty, and fun. Her story was probably the best part of the book, and I found myself more intrigued about her life, her friends, and her romances than the mystery.
The latter, moreover, was interesting and it had many twists and thrilling moments. But, the ending was not well handled. The culprit didn't give an 'aha' moment in the end, as they weren't really tied up with the mystery's clues.
In addition, the story surely needed another chapter so that the conclusion would be smoother and all loose ends solved, as that last chapter didn't vibe well with the rest of the plot, which was nicely paced up until then.
Finally, the audiobook was narrated excellently and the production was enjoyable.
December 19, 2025
I love Julie Mulhern's Country Club series and I was really excited to see her take on a new decade. Happily, I was not disappointed! We've got a good set up for possible romances and I think the character is well integrated into the "known" parts of New York in the 20s. Really excited to see more in this world!
**Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, however the copy I read was the one that I purchased.**
**Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, however the copy I read was the one that I purchased.**
December 15, 2025
3.5 stars
It's 1925, and New York heiress Freddie Archer - the consummate flapper - writes a column called 'A Touch of Rouge' for Gotham Magazine.
The column highlights fashion and entertainment, recounting Freddie's nightly capers of drinking, dining, and dancing at speakeasies, nightclubs, restaurants, and parties - mentioning people she sees there.
Freddie's magazine columns are replete with name-dropping, which garners her goodwill and discounts. Freddie might describe her own outfit as: 'A whisper-light silver chiffon frock purchased at Carmaux; shoes picked up at B. Altman's; and that darling evening bag from the clever little shop on Madison Avenue.
One morning, NYPD Detective Mike Sullivan visits Freddie at her Gotham office, holding a copy of the magazine. Sullivan asks Freddie about her column that mentions seeing bootlegger Jake Haskell at the Cascades nightclub on Saturday. It seems Haskell was murdered later that night, and Sullivan asks if Freddie can describe the bootlegger's companion.
Freddie has a good eye for these things, and says 'Haskell was with a woman who wore a stylish blue dress with crystal beadwork, and she had ropes and ropes of pearls. She had bobbed light-colored hair and was pretty in a kittenish way.'
Detective Sullivan says the woman might know something about Haskell's murder, and asks Freddie to let him know if she sees the woman again. Sullivan warns Freddie NOT to interact with the woman in any way, but JUST to call him. Well, it's as if Sullivan threw down a gauntlet, and Freddie decides she''ll investigate the lady herself.
This leads to a rollicking, and extremely risky, adventure. The hijinks start when Freddie is dancing with handsome bootlegger Brandt Abrams at a speakeasy.
There are gunshots in the street, and Brandt and Freddie hurry out to see Brandt's business partner, Ewan, bleeding on the ground. Freddie spots 'the woman in the blue dress' walking away, so Freddie climbs over a car and follows her. Freddie loses the woman, but now thinks of herself as a detective on the perpetrator's trail.
As events transpire, more bootleggers are killed, and there seems to be a 'gang war' among bootleggers wanting to claim the New York territory. Freddie places herself right in the center of this dangerous situation, and along the way, gets help from New York mobster Arnold Rothstein and his enforcer Legs Doyle, who take a liking to Freddie.
Freddie also has acquaintances among the rich and famous. Freddie is best friends with actress Tallulah Bankhead;
hangs out with writer Dorothy (Dottie) Parker;
and parties with Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald.
In Freddie's personal life, she recently broke her engagement to producer Nick Peters, who wanted her to give up her career and become a Connecticut housewife;
Freddie's socialite mother keeps trying to fix her up with Yale men;
Freddie discovers her father in a compromising situation;
and Freddie is attracted to handsome bootlegger Brandt Abrams.
For added entertainment, the book has fun excerpts from Freddie's 'A Touch of Rouge' columns, with LOTS of descriptions of frocks, shoes, bags, hairstyles, jewelry, accessories, and even a hilarious review of an off-Broadway play.
The killer is caught in the end, but not before Freddie's life is threatened, and she ruins several expensive frocks.
The Roaring Twenties in the Prohibition Era is a wonderful setting for Freddie's escapades, and I'll look out for more Freddie adventures.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Caroline Hewitt, who does a fine job.
Thanks to Netgalley, Julie Mulhern, and Hachette Audio for a copy of the book.
You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/
September 23, 2025
This review is based on an ARC provided by Net Galley.
3.5 stars as a historical fiction, 4 stars as a fun read
This book was fast paced and a lot of fun. I usually don’t read murder mysteries, but I’ve been into a lot of historical political books at the moment, so this looked like an adjacent genre I’d enjoy. I thought Freddie was a very entertaining main character—she has an Elle Woods vibe (if Elle Woods lived in the 1920s). I think if you go into this book with the expectation to have fun, you’ll have a good time. However, there is a lot of commentary on feminism and how women are treated in the 1920s—especially in the work place. It felt like very surface level “girl boss”/individualist feminism—which sure, for the 1920s was pretty radical, but there were amazing real feminist movements happening at that time in the US that would’ve been cool to include. Especially because this takes place in NYC (I can imagine Freddie wanting to be a part of the suffragettes, for example. Or at least having something to say about them in her column, perhaps very much coded).
A lot of the plot feels like it just falls into Freddie’s lap and she’s reacting to it, rather than being the center of the action. Because her whole thing is “I am a woman and I am just as capable as any man etc etc” I wish she had a more initiative and her solving the case was more impactful (I was expecting the Elle Woods perm courtroom scene with the Caumanx dress for example—which we kind of got? But it didn’t feel that revolutionary).
There’s also a ton of NYC lore that definitely went over my head because I’ve never lived there and don’t have a ton of historical context for the city. I will say, my crosswordese knowledge helped greatly with grasping some of the 1920s slang which I found quite funny (I will never forget tin Lizzie as a crossword answer now).
3.5 stars as a historical fiction, 4 stars as a fun read
This book was fast paced and a lot of fun. I usually don’t read murder mysteries, but I’ve been into a lot of historical political books at the moment, so this looked like an adjacent genre I’d enjoy. I thought Freddie was a very entertaining main character—she has an Elle Woods vibe (if Elle Woods lived in the 1920s). I think if you go into this book with the expectation to have fun, you’ll have a good time. However, there is a lot of commentary on feminism and how women are treated in the 1920s—especially in the work place. It felt like very surface level “girl boss”/individualist feminism—which sure, for the 1920s was pretty radical, but there were amazing real feminist movements happening at that time in the US that would’ve been cool to include. Especially because this takes place in NYC (I can imagine Freddie wanting to be a part of the suffragettes, for example. Or at least having something to say about them in her column, perhaps very much coded).
A lot of the plot feels like it just falls into Freddie’s lap and she’s reacting to it, rather than being the center of the action. Because her whole thing is “I am a woman and I am just as capable as any man etc etc” I wish she had a more initiative and her solving the case was more impactful (I was expecting the Elle Woods perm courtroom scene with the Caumanx dress for example—which we kind of got? But it didn’t feel that revolutionary).
There’s also a ton of NYC lore that definitely went over my head because I’ve never lived there and don’t have a ton of historical context for the city. I will say, my crosswordese knowledge helped greatly with grasping some of the 1920s slang which I found quite funny (I will never forget tin Lizzie as a crossword answer now).
December 13, 2025
Writer Freddie Archer covers nightlife and fashion for Gotham magazine. It’s the 1920s in New York City, but Prohibition doesn’t stop alcohol from being big business. There are speakeasies and bootleggers all around. Especially around Freddie, as her column A Touch of Rouge takes her through the city’s nightlife to all the most fashionable places. She pays a price for it, in nights spent in her office writing her column and hangovers the next morning. But she also gets to spend time with the celebrities of the day.
While Freddie only gets to hang out with the Fitzgeralds every so often (usually when Zelda is getting her husband Scott in trouble, or giving him material for a new story), two of Freddie’s best friends are Dorothy Parker and Tallulah Bankhead. Freddie knows many famous people, from the writers who hang out at the Algonquin, actors and producers from Broadway, fashion designers, and club owners from her nights out on the town. And it’s one of those nightlife columns that brings the police to her office.
Detective Mike Sullivan shows up early after another morning Freddie had finished her column and then slept on her office divan. With a little help from her assistant Annie, Freddie makes herself presentable and allows the man into her office. He is kind, but he has questions. She had written in her last column about Jake Haskell, and Sullivan wanted to know anything Freddie knew about him. She explained how she barely knew him, and that she had seen him dining with a young woman the night she had written about in her column. She didn’t understand why a police detective would be asking about him, until Sullivan explained that he had been murdered.
Freddie doesn’t have much information to give the detective, but she does promise to call him if she ever sees the woman again. Getting over a broken engagement to a theater producer who wanted her to give up her job for a nice home in Connecticut, now Freddie is back to having to duck her mother’s calls for dinner and the “suitable” young man there to meet her and fending off unwanted advances
But that doesn’t stop Freddie from looking for that mystery woman, especially when the next time Freddie sees her, another bootlegger is killed. Through the heat of the summer in the city, run-ins with her ex, and flirtations with a new paramour, Freddie keeps looking for that woman. And as she finds herself getting closer to her, Freddie finds herself closer and closer to mortal danger.
Murder in Manhattan is a new book from Julie Mulhern, who also pens the Country Club mysteries. This new heroine, Freddie Archer is based on an actual writer from the 1920s whose nightlife column in The New Yorker was witty and arch. Part of the fun of this series is the closeness to celebrities of the day, from Dorothy Parker and Robert Benchley to Groucho Marx, Tallulah Bankhead, George S. Kaufman, Ring Lardner, Alexander Woollcott, Arnold Rothstein, and F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald (although we just hear stories about the Fitzgeralds, we don’t get to meet them on the page).
I listened to the audio book of Murder in Manhattan, narrated beautifully by Caroline Hewitt. I thought she perfectly captured Freddie’s voice, from her intelligence to her quick wit to her flair for storytelling in her columns. There was some lovely jazz music at the start that brought me right to the time of the story, and I was instantly captivated by Mulhern’s writing and Heritt’s narration.
I love mysteries, but I do shy away from historical mysteries. I initially said yes to this one because I like Mulhern’s other books. But once I realized that Dotty Parker was hanging around so much, I was so happy I gave it a try. But as the story went on, it was Freddie who kept me engaged. She is such a strong character, a smart woman and compelling columnist, that I couldn’t stop listening if I’d tried. I love Freddie Archer, and I am all in on this series. I can’t wait to see who pops up next.
Egalleys for Murder in Manhattan were provided by Forever, and a copy of the audio book was provided by Hachette Audio, both through NetGalley with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.
While Freddie only gets to hang out with the Fitzgeralds every so often (usually when Zelda is getting her husband Scott in trouble, or giving him material for a new story), two of Freddie’s best friends are Dorothy Parker and Tallulah Bankhead. Freddie knows many famous people, from the writers who hang out at the Algonquin, actors and producers from Broadway, fashion designers, and club owners from her nights out on the town. And it’s one of those nightlife columns that brings the police to her office.
Detective Mike Sullivan shows up early after another morning Freddie had finished her column and then slept on her office divan. With a little help from her assistant Annie, Freddie makes herself presentable and allows the man into her office. He is kind, but he has questions. She had written in her last column about Jake Haskell, and Sullivan wanted to know anything Freddie knew about him. She explained how she barely knew him, and that she had seen him dining with a young woman the night she had written about in her column. She didn’t understand why a police detective would be asking about him, until Sullivan explained that he had been murdered.
Freddie doesn’t have much information to give the detective, but she does promise to call him if she ever sees the woman again. Getting over a broken engagement to a theater producer who wanted her to give up her job for a nice home in Connecticut, now Freddie is back to having to duck her mother’s calls for dinner and the “suitable” young man there to meet her and fending off unwanted advances
But that doesn’t stop Freddie from looking for that mystery woman, especially when the next time Freddie sees her, another bootlegger is killed. Through the heat of the summer in the city, run-ins with her ex, and flirtations with a new paramour, Freddie keeps looking for that woman. And as she finds herself getting closer to her, Freddie finds herself closer and closer to mortal danger.
Murder in Manhattan is a new book from Julie Mulhern, who also pens the Country Club mysteries. This new heroine, Freddie Archer is based on an actual writer from the 1920s whose nightlife column in The New Yorker was witty and arch. Part of the fun of this series is the closeness to celebrities of the day, from Dorothy Parker and Robert Benchley to Groucho Marx, Tallulah Bankhead, George S. Kaufman, Ring Lardner, Alexander Woollcott, Arnold Rothstein, and F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald (although we just hear stories about the Fitzgeralds, we don’t get to meet them on the page).
I listened to the audio book of Murder in Manhattan, narrated beautifully by Caroline Hewitt. I thought she perfectly captured Freddie’s voice, from her intelligence to her quick wit to her flair for storytelling in her columns. There was some lovely jazz music at the start that brought me right to the time of the story, and I was instantly captivated by Mulhern’s writing and Heritt’s narration.
I love mysteries, but I do shy away from historical mysteries. I initially said yes to this one because I like Mulhern’s other books. But once I realized that Dotty Parker was hanging around so much, I was so happy I gave it a try. But as the story went on, it was Freddie who kept me engaged. She is such a strong character, a smart woman and compelling columnist, that I couldn’t stop listening if I’d tried. I love Freddie Archer, and I am all in on this series. I can’t wait to see who pops up next.
Egalleys for Murder in Manhattan were provided by Forever, and a copy of the audio book was provided by Hachette Audio, both through NetGalley with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.
November 26, 2025
Julie Mulhern’s Murder in Manhattan isn’t my usual literary haunt—I tend to drift towards historical romances—but from the first page, it pulled me into its smoky, jazz-infused embrace. Inspired by one of the first real-life female columnists at The New Yorker, this tale is a dazzling cocktail of intrigue, wit, and danger, shaken perfectly to the rhythm of 1920s New York.
Enter Freddie Archer, a fearless journalist with more verve than sense, perhaps, but isn’t that what makes her irresistible? She’s the embodiment of Roaring Twenties rebellion—sipping cocktails, diving into speakeasies, and gathering stories for her column with a sharp eye and sharper tongue. Danger seems to trail her like the lingering notes of a saxophone in a smoky club, with murders cropping up as frequently as her next dazzling escapade. Caught amid bootleggers, brothels, and Broadway, Freddie’s world feels like a vibrant, dangerous waltz, and she dances through it with irrepressible charm.
When another body drops and Freddie spots a mysterious couture-clad woman fleeing the scene, she does what Detective Sullivan explicitly warned against—she dives headfirst into the chase. What unfolds is a tangle of mob bosses, theater lights, forbidden love, and high-stakes mysteries, all stitched together with threads of high fashion and the glimmer of true romance. With every twist, Freddie’s quick wit and magnetic allure pull you deeper into her world, where every ally hides secrets and every street corner could be a trap.
Freddie isn’t just a character; she’s an atmosphere—daring, sharp, heartbreakingly human. You’ll love her not because she’s flawless, but because she’s fearless in the face of her flaws. The supporting cast is equally vibrant, layered with past loves and fragile alliances, adding depth and delicious tension.
Mulhern crafts a tale with just the right dash of glamour and grit. The mystery spirals with unexpected turns, and the finale, while abrupt, leaves you breathless, yearning for more of Freddie’s escapades. It’s like the last note of a jazz solo, hanging in the air, unfinished yet perfect.
This was my first foray into Mulhern’s writing, but certainly not my last. Murder in Manhattan is a dazzling escapade—suspenseful, heartfelt, tinged with nostalgia, and brimming with the irresistible pulse of the 1920s. If you crave a mystery wrapped in vintage charm and laced with danger, this is your next read.
Thank you to Forever/Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a free advanced copy through NetGalley. I am voluntarily leaving this review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I look forward to Freddie’s next adventure!
Enter Freddie Archer, a fearless journalist with more verve than sense, perhaps, but isn’t that what makes her irresistible? She’s the embodiment of Roaring Twenties rebellion—sipping cocktails, diving into speakeasies, and gathering stories for her column with a sharp eye and sharper tongue. Danger seems to trail her like the lingering notes of a saxophone in a smoky club, with murders cropping up as frequently as her next dazzling escapade. Caught amid bootleggers, brothels, and Broadway, Freddie’s world feels like a vibrant, dangerous waltz, and she dances through it with irrepressible charm.
When another body drops and Freddie spots a mysterious couture-clad woman fleeing the scene, she does what Detective Sullivan explicitly warned against—she dives headfirst into the chase. What unfolds is a tangle of mob bosses, theater lights, forbidden love, and high-stakes mysteries, all stitched together with threads of high fashion and the glimmer of true romance. With every twist, Freddie’s quick wit and magnetic allure pull you deeper into her world, where every ally hides secrets and every street corner could be a trap.
Freddie isn’t just a character; she’s an atmosphere—daring, sharp, heartbreakingly human. You’ll love her not because she’s flawless, but because she’s fearless in the face of her flaws. The supporting cast is equally vibrant, layered with past loves and fragile alliances, adding depth and delicious tension.
Mulhern crafts a tale with just the right dash of glamour and grit. The mystery spirals with unexpected turns, and the finale, while abrupt, leaves you breathless, yearning for more of Freddie’s escapades. It’s like the last note of a jazz solo, hanging in the air, unfinished yet perfect.
This was my first foray into Mulhern’s writing, but certainly not my last. Murder in Manhattan is a dazzling escapade—suspenseful, heartfelt, tinged with nostalgia, and brimming with the irresistible pulse of the 1920s. If you crave a mystery wrapped in vintage charm and laced with danger, this is your next read.
Thank you to Forever/Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a free advanced copy through NetGalley. I am voluntarily leaving this review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I look forward to Freddie’s next adventure!
December 21, 2025
Initial Vibes:
1920s glamour, New Yorker-adjacent girlboss energy, speakeasies, gossip columns, Tallulah Bankhead chaos, and one stylish amateur sleuth who cannot mind her own business (thank God).
What It’s About:
Freddie Archer has the dream job: dancing through Manhattan’s speakeasies, reporting on nightlife for Gotham Magazine, swapping quips with Dorothy Parker, and kekeing the literary glitterati. But when she witnesses a murder, the police ask her to keep an eye out for his mysterious companion and tell her firmly to stay out of the case. Naturally, Freddie does the exact opposite.
Her investigation pulls her from Fifth Avenue’s luxe boutiques to the tenements below Houston Street, brushing elbows with bootleggers, actors, and would-be killers. Every clue is another cocktail, another risk, another nail in the coffin of her reputation as simply a “society girl.” Freddie wanted adventure, and she’s about to get it, bullets and all.
What I Loved:
💋 Freddie herself. She’s Nora Charles meets Lois Lane. She's funny, whip-smart, beautifully dressed, and so human. A girl who wants something other than marriage and respectability in a world that wants her to conform.
🎭 Cameos and historical detail. Scott & Zelda! Groucho Marx! Dorothy Parker! The ambiance is so textured you can feel the June heat and smell the bootleg gin.
📚 A feminist 1920s heroine without anachronistic preaching. Mulhern portrays antisemitism, sexism, and classism with clarity and nuance, and Freddie sees through every bit of it. Vintage aesthetic, not vintage values.
💃 The world-building. This Manhattan feels alive: sweaty, bright, dangerous, giddy. It’s rich enough to anchor a whole series (and I really hope we get one).
🔫 A mystery that has legs. Clues, stakes, hot bootleggers—you never get bored.
Vibe Check:
✓ Flapper-era gossip girl solves murders
✓ Art deco glam with substance
✓ Snappy, witty dialogue
✓ Gentle romance threads
✓ A mystery that balances fun and danger
✓ Perfect for fans of The Thin Man, Rhys Bowen, or Deanna Raybourn
Final Thoughts:
Freddie Archer is a delight. She's ambitious, messy, principled, stubborn, and entirely charming. This book captures everything people want from historical mysteries: vivid, clever, immersive, and character-forward. I truly hope Mulhern gives us more adventures because this felt like slipping into another life, another city, another heat-drenched summer of possibility.
Recommend To: Fans of flapper-era mysteries, readers who love sharp women in pretty clothes, anyone who wants a 1920s romp with modern sensibilities, and cozy-mystery lovers looking for something with a little more bite.
1920s glamour, New Yorker-adjacent girlboss energy, speakeasies, gossip columns, Tallulah Bankhead chaos, and one stylish amateur sleuth who cannot mind her own business (thank God).
What It’s About:
Freddie Archer has the dream job: dancing through Manhattan’s speakeasies, reporting on nightlife for Gotham Magazine, swapping quips with Dorothy Parker, and kekeing the literary glitterati. But when she witnesses a murder, the police ask her to keep an eye out for his mysterious companion and tell her firmly to stay out of the case. Naturally, Freddie does the exact opposite.
Her investigation pulls her from Fifth Avenue’s luxe boutiques to the tenements below Houston Street, brushing elbows with bootleggers, actors, and would-be killers. Every clue is another cocktail, another risk, another nail in the coffin of her reputation as simply a “society girl.” Freddie wanted adventure, and she’s about to get it, bullets and all.
What I Loved:
💋 Freddie herself. She’s Nora Charles meets Lois Lane. She's funny, whip-smart, beautifully dressed, and so human. A girl who wants something other than marriage and respectability in a world that wants her to conform.
🎭 Cameos and historical detail. Scott & Zelda! Groucho Marx! Dorothy Parker! The ambiance is so textured you can feel the June heat and smell the bootleg gin.
📚 A feminist 1920s heroine without anachronistic preaching. Mulhern portrays antisemitism, sexism, and classism with clarity and nuance, and Freddie sees through every bit of it. Vintage aesthetic, not vintage values.
💃 The world-building. This Manhattan feels alive: sweaty, bright, dangerous, giddy. It’s rich enough to anchor a whole series (and I really hope we get one).
🔫 A mystery that has legs. Clues, stakes, hot bootleggers—you never get bored.
Vibe Check:
✓ Flapper-era gossip girl solves murders
✓ Art deco glam with substance
✓ Snappy, witty dialogue
✓ Gentle romance threads
✓ A mystery that balances fun and danger
✓ Perfect for fans of The Thin Man, Rhys Bowen, or Deanna Raybourn
Final Thoughts:
Freddie Archer is a delight. She's ambitious, messy, principled, stubborn, and entirely charming. This book captures everything people want from historical mysteries: vivid, clever, immersive, and character-forward. I truly hope Mulhern gives us more adventures because this felt like slipping into another life, another city, another heat-drenched summer of possibility.
Recommend To: Fans of flapper-era mysteries, readers who love sharp women in pretty clothes, anyone who wants a 1920s romp with modern sensibilities, and cozy-mystery lovers looking for something with a little more bite.
November 29, 2025
Title: Murder in Manhattan
Author: Julie Mulhern
Publisher: Harlequin Audio/Forever
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Caroline Hewett
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: December 9, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pages: 352
This story is inspired by one of the first real-life female columnists at the New Yorker; this enticing historical mystery follows Freddie Archer as she solves crimes while reporting on the glamorous world of the rich and famous in 1920s Manhattan. Many of the historical references are true-to-life.
Story is a turn back to 1925 NYC and the Prohibition era.
Twenty-six year old Winfred “Freddie“ Archer writes a weekly nightlife column for the nightlife Gotham Magazine. Her articles “Place to see and be seen” are articles about her adventures at various speakeasies, restaurants, and other hot spots, as she mingling with the rich and famous.
One morning after a fun night out where Freddie ended up on the sofa in her office with a mega headache, police Detective Mike Sullivan wants to talk to her about Jake Haskell as she had mentioned him in her column and has been murdered. He wants to know if she can describes the woman she was with and if she could identify her if saw again? He asks her to keep an eye out for her but needs to stay out of the case herself.
Freddie is a fun unique person. Her family is successful with father and uncle in Politics. Mother is very much a socialite and not happy with Freddie’s so called job involving night life activities. She currently is not happy as is dealing with Nick Peters break up with her.
This was my first Julie Mulhern but will definitely read another. In fact, I am excited I found another author to love!
Story was so much fun. I know it is a standalone but sure would like to hear about Freddie and friends!
Additionally love narrator Caroline Hewett.
When I first saw the title I remembering reading it but wait! The one I read was #14 in of the Lady Eleanor Swift series. I did like it so thought I would take a chance on liking this one.
What a delightful surprise – didn’t take long for me to love it!
Want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for December 9, 2025.
Author: Julie Mulhern
Publisher: Harlequin Audio/Forever
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Caroline Hewett
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: December 9, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pages: 352
This story is inspired by one of the first real-life female columnists at the New Yorker; this enticing historical mystery follows Freddie Archer as she solves crimes while reporting on the glamorous world of the rich and famous in 1920s Manhattan. Many of the historical references are true-to-life.
Story is a turn back to 1925 NYC and the Prohibition era.
Twenty-six year old Winfred “Freddie“ Archer writes a weekly nightlife column for the nightlife Gotham Magazine. Her articles “Place to see and be seen” are articles about her adventures at various speakeasies, restaurants, and other hot spots, as she mingling with the rich and famous.
One morning after a fun night out where Freddie ended up on the sofa in her office with a mega headache, police Detective Mike Sullivan wants to talk to her about Jake Haskell as she had mentioned him in her column and has been murdered. He wants to know if she can describes the woman she was with and if she could identify her if saw again? He asks her to keep an eye out for her but needs to stay out of the case herself.
Freddie is a fun unique person. Her family is successful with father and uncle in Politics. Mother is very much a socialite and not happy with Freddie’s so called job involving night life activities. She currently is not happy as is dealing with Nick Peters break up with her.
This was my first Julie Mulhern but will definitely read another. In fact, I am excited I found another author to love!
Story was so much fun. I know it is a standalone but sure would like to hear about Freddie and friends!
Additionally love narrator Caroline Hewett.
When I first saw the title I remembering reading it but wait! The one I read was #14 in of the Lady Eleanor Swift series. I did like it so thought I would take a chance on liking this one.
What a delightful surprise – didn’t take long for me to love it!
Want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for December 9, 2025.
November 12, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
Murder in Manhattan stays true to its title and presents plenty of both, all against the backdrop of the prohibition-era 1920s. The story revolves around ‘It’ girl Freddie Archer, a popular magazine columnist who finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Freddie is based on a real person and, as such, many of the historical references are true-to-life. I’m never quite sure how I feel about fictionalized versions of real people — and honestly, I think the book might have been stronger without them—but if that’s your thing, there are references aplenty: Tallulah Bankhead, the Fitzgeralds, Dorothy Parker, Groucho Marx, the Algonquin Round Table, etc. I found these references fun, but at the same time, they pulled me out of the story. More interesting was the fact that the story revolves around prohibition-era bootlegging.
I found the central mystery engaging and Freddie likable; the depictions of 1920s Manhattan were incredibly immersive. While the book doesn’t dig too deep emotionally or thematically, the characters are all well drawn. And despite some pacing issues toward the middle, I still finished the book in a single day.
While the plot synopsis doesn’t indicate it, this is the first book in a series, ending somewhat abruptly. While the central mystery of this novel is resolved, other plot lines remain unresolved. I noticed that, on some platforms, this is being touted as romance. Not so. This is a mystery with some romantic threads, but if you’re looking for a traditional, HEA romance, look elsewhere. Despite the lack of a traditional romance, I like that this seems to be setting up a potential love triangle for future books.
I hope there are more Freddie Archer books to come, and can’t believe that so few people have taken the opportunity to read and review this. It’s a great cozy-type mystery with a fantastic lead and setting. I’m looking forward to seeing how this series potentially develops.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Forever Grand Central for providing this advanced copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
Murder in Manhattan stays true to its title and presents plenty of both, all against the backdrop of the prohibition-era 1920s. The story revolves around ‘It’ girl Freddie Archer, a popular magazine columnist who finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Freddie is based on a real person and, as such, many of the historical references are true-to-life. I’m never quite sure how I feel about fictionalized versions of real people — and honestly, I think the book might have been stronger without them—but if that’s your thing, there are references aplenty: Tallulah Bankhead, the Fitzgeralds, Dorothy Parker, Groucho Marx, the Algonquin Round Table, etc. I found these references fun, but at the same time, they pulled me out of the story. More interesting was the fact that the story revolves around prohibition-era bootlegging.
I found the central mystery engaging and Freddie likable; the depictions of 1920s Manhattan were incredibly immersive. While the book doesn’t dig too deep emotionally or thematically, the characters are all well drawn. And despite some pacing issues toward the middle, I still finished the book in a single day.
While the plot synopsis doesn’t indicate it, this is the first book in a series, ending somewhat abruptly. While the central mystery of this novel is resolved, other plot lines remain unresolved. I noticed that, on some platforms, this is being touted as romance. Not so. This is a mystery with some romantic threads, but if you’re looking for a traditional, HEA romance, look elsewhere. Despite the lack of a traditional romance, I like that this seems to be setting up a potential love triangle for future books.
I hope there are more Freddie Archer books to come, and can’t believe that so few people have taken the opportunity to read and review this. It’s a great cozy-type mystery with a fantastic lead and setting. I’m looking forward to seeing how this series potentially develops.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Forever Grand Central for providing this advanced copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
November 6, 2025
4 out of 5.
This historical mystery is set in 1925 New York City. Freddie Archer writes a society column that shares her adventures at various speakeasies, restaurants, and other hot spots, mingling with the famous and infamous celebrities of the age.
Dealing with an intense heatwave in the City and a fierce hangover bordering on a migraine, Freddie didn't expect a visit from a police detective investigating the murder of a popular bootlegger. Detective Mike Sullivan was well aware that he was an outsider in the world his victim moved in. He requests assistance from Freddie to identify a woman seen with the victim prior to his death. Only one problem. Sullivan's idea of her help is very different from Freddie's, not to mention his gender bias.
This ARC is courtesy of NetGalley and Hachette Book Group. The current scheduled publication date is December 9, 2025. I highly encourage everyone who enjoys mystery books and/or films from the 1930s to preorder this book now! You will not be disappointed.
Freddie Archer is what was considered a New Woman during the years after World War I, a time that radically changed society, particularly for women who were increasingly in the workplace, given the right to vote just five years earlier, and away from control of their parents in many cases. Of course, it was also during Prohibition, which saw the rise of organized crime and a laissez faire attitude by normally law-abiding citizens.
Freddie, who is based on a real columnist of the time, could be considered the social influencer of her time as she names the various places she visits, giving them free advertisements. And be aware that many of the locations and the people mentioned in this book were real.
There is a strong thread of romance throughout that added another layer to an already enjoyable read. I absolutely loved this book! There is a hint of it possibly having a sequel in the last paragraph. I can definitely state that I wouldn't mind it.
This historical mystery is set in 1925 New York City. Freddie Archer writes a society column that shares her adventures at various speakeasies, restaurants, and other hot spots, mingling with the famous and infamous celebrities of the age.
Dealing with an intense heatwave in the City and a fierce hangover bordering on a migraine, Freddie didn't expect a visit from a police detective investigating the murder of a popular bootlegger. Detective Mike Sullivan was well aware that he was an outsider in the world his victim moved in. He requests assistance from Freddie to identify a woman seen with the victim prior to his death. Only one problem. Sullivan's idea of her help is very different from Freddie's, not to mention his gender bias.
This ARC is courtesy of NetGalley and Hachette Book Group. The current scheduled publication date is December 9, 2025. I highly encourage everyone who enjoys mystery books and/or films from the 1930s to preorder this book now! You will not be disappointed.
Freddie Archer is what was considered a New Woman during the years after World War I, a time that radically changed society, particularly for women who were increasingly in the workplace, given the right to vote just five years earlier, and away from control of their parents in many cases. Of course, it was also during Prohibition, which saw the rise of organized crime and a laissez faire attitude by normally law-abiding citizens.
Freddie, who is based on a real columnist of the time, could be considered the social influencer of her time as she names the various places she visits, giving them free advertisements. And be aware that many of the locations and the people mentioned in this book were real.
There is a strong thread of romance throughout that added another layer to an already enjoyable read. I absolutely loved this book! There is a hint of it possibly having a sequel in the last paragraph. I can definitely state that I wouldn't mind it.
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