Privy to the Dead

Museum #6

by Sheila Connolly

In the latest Museum Mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of Razing the Dead , a suspicious death has Nell Pratt down in the dumps…
 
Nell Pratt, president of the Pennsylvania Antiquarian Society, has something to smile about thanks to a generous donation from a major Philadelphia developer who’s willing to help update their museum. But renovations have barely begun when a man is struck by a car in front of the building and killed.
 
The victim is a construction worker who found a curious metal object while excavating an old privy in the museum’s basement. Nell thinks the death is somehow connected to the Society, and her suspicions are confirmed when an antiques expert reveals a link between the objects from the cellar and a fellow staff member’s family.
 
Now Nell must unearth a mystery with ties to the past and the present. Because when someone is willing to kill over scrap metal, there’s no telling what they’ll do next…

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Museums

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 2, 2015

About the author

Sheila Connolly taught art history, structured and marketed municipal bonds for major cities, worked as a staff member on two statewide political campaigns, and served as a fundraiser for several non-profit organizations. She also managed her own consulting company providing genealogical research services.

She was a member of Sisters in Crime-New England (president 2011), the national Sisters in Crime, and the fabulous on-line SinC chapter, the Guppies. She also belonged to Romance Writers of America and Mystery Writers of America.

Sheila was Regent of her local DAR chapter, and a member of the Society of Mayflower Descendants. She was also the grandchild of Irish immigrants. In addition to genealogy, Sheila loved restoring old houses, visiting cemeteries, and traveling.

Reviews

[❂ Murder by Death · Rating 3 out of 5]

The editing inconsistencies in the time line in addition to the amount of repetition throughout the story, along with a plot overrun with melodrama made this is one of the more disappointing books in the series.

Wordier review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/126211...

[Patrizia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Da storica non posso non apprezzare come la protagonista e i suoi amici ricostruiscano vicende vecchie di un secolo per scoprire come è morto una persona che lavorava nella ristrutturazione dell'edificio dove lavorano. Devo decidermi a leggere anche gli altri libri di questa serie...

[Nicolas · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just dull. No progression, nothing to keep you interested. The resolution basically negated what little intrigue there might have been. I found this neither cozy nor mysterious.

[Stacey Toney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Privy to the Dead is the 6th installment in the Museum Mystery series by Sheila Connolly. This is the first book I read in this series although I am a fan of Ms. Connolly's Orchard Mysteries Series.

Nell Pratt is the president of the Pennsylvania Antiquarian Society. She is dealing with many changes simultaneously: spearheading a massive and much needed renovation to the society's building and learning how to live with her boyfriend James in their recently purchased unfurnished Victorian.

Construction workers hired to fully renovate the society's building find an old privy in the basement. As the privy was part of the original mansion that housed Pennsylvania Antiquarian Society, Nell instructs the crew to clean it out but to save anything found because it maybe of interest and value to the society. Soon afterward, a crew member who assisted in cleaning out the privy is struck by a car and killed outside the building. The police think the death is suspicious, but they don't have enough evidence to prove foul play. However, Nell and Marty Terwilliger, whose family has deep connections to the society, feel that someone or something inside the society is tied to the tragic death of this construction worker. They, along with other members of the staff, set out to prove there is a link between the death of the construction worker and to a possible cover up within the society that occurred in the past. For Marty, this means that she will have to face some harsh facts about her family and Nell will need to ensure that her staff remains safe while they investigate to figure out what ties the death to the society.

I really enjoyed this book. Nell is a very insightful character and I found that I liked her a lot. She was very thorough and insightful. also I found it a bit refreshing that this book used good old fashioned research to propel the story forward. I will definitely be purchasing the other books in this series.

I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just absolutely loved reading this book. It's a two in one mystery and it kept me guessing to the very end. I loved the way it was detailed in the search methods and how it all came together.

Although this is the 6th installment of this series, I had no problem following it. It can be a stand alone.

Nell Pratt is the President of the Pennsylvania Antiquarian Society and got a huge boost to the renovation of the Museum. During renovation a worker is killed and Nell can't help but feel it just might have something to do with the museum so with the help of a few trusted employees they search for answers.

Somehow they ended up with more questions and what would something that happened in the early nineteen hundreds have to do to the present day death?

I just love the way this worked out and kept me guessing.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this author's books and since she is no longer with us and I know there will be no new books coming, I've been parsing out the few unread books from her various series so I enjoy her books just a little bit longer :)

According to Google, there is no Pennsylvania Antiquarian Society, but there is a Historical Society of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, so I'll guess that this is the basis for this series. While I've not spent much time in Philadelphia, I'm familiar with the general area - but not enough to be able to follow some of the (driving) directions mentioned in the book :) I like Nell, her staff and friends, and her relationship with FBI Special Agent James. They have drawn a clear line between her 'problems' that he can help with and those he can't, which is a great idea. Nell is detail-oriented, but knows when to hand off tasks to which member of her staff, another good thing.

The death in this story takes place relatively early, but there is a lot of waffling about whether it was murder or an accident. Nell and co. follow the paper trail back to a century earlier and wonder if the death ties in to an unsolved crime from way back then. The resolution was a bit unsatisfactory, but I liked the way some of the other issues were wrapped up.

There are only two books left in this series, and the next is in my audio library. I'm eager to listen to it, but don't want to rush it (see above), so I'll probably wait a bit to move on in this series.

[Linda Smatzny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story centers around items dug up from a privy at the Pennsylvania Antiquarian Society building. Nell Pratt, the main character, is intrigued and starts digging for answers. The book was an easy read.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are always so interesting, weaving history and modern events together. It was amazing what Nell and her staff could find from over 100 years ago. It was also a bit confusing as there were lots of theories being hashed out.

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://openbooksociety.com/article/pr...

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

Nell Pratt is relishing the quiet routine that is presently her life. She and her FBI agent boyfriend James have bought a house together and are settling into a new normal, although they are rattling around in their big Victorian with little furniture, and the Antiquarian Society is busy with preparations for a major remodel. Construction is going according to schedule when the workers find what appears to be a long covered up privy hole in the basement. Carnell Scruggs is the only worker small enough to fit in the pit so he ventures down to clean out the “trash”. Unfortunately, Scruggs perishes that same night after he is hit by a passing car in front of the Society. Is it a coincidence that he was near the society? Nell is concerned about the Society’s reputation (they have been tied to several murders in the past) but also worried that the privy is somehow related to Scruggs’ death. When the detective assigned to the case discovers that Scruggs showed a bartender what appeared to be an antique artifact the night he died, Nell and her staff dig through the Society’s records in an effort to get to the bottom of the privy and a mystery from the past that may connect Scruggs to a turn of the century cover up.

I always enjoy the historical puzzles that are an integral part of the Museum Mysteries, and this was no exception. I did feel that the story was a little slow to get going, but it did become more exciting near the end when the pieces began to fall into place. I can appreciate Marty Terwilliger’s, who is a board member and whose family has been an integral part of the Society since its inception, devotion to her family’s name and reputation, but I did not really understand her secrecy at times since she was a driving force to find out the truth about the escutcheon that Scruggs pocketed and subsequent lap desk and scandal tied to the findings in the privy. I have to admire Ms. Connolly for building a mystery around an antiquated “restroom” without invoking any potty humor.

I did feel that Nell came across a little dingy in her personal life in this installment. I can appreciate that she and James are wading through uncharted relationship waters, but I got the impression that Nell was incapable of planning a meal or feeding herself without James, and I have not had this negative feeling about Nell in prior books. Also, I know being a first time home owner and all it entails can be overwhelming, but these are two mature, professionally successful people who I expected to be more on the ball regarding their personal life. James is not very involved in the mystery this time around, and I missed him. The Society employees continue to provide layers of interest and each brings something special to the investigation.

I liked Privy to the Dead well enough. There are enough twists and turns to keep the reader interested in the outcome of the research and mystery. The Museum Mystery series is unique in the cozy mystery genre providing a rather serious backdrop and characters. There is much more intellectual activity than life threatening action. I recommend this to fans of the series and those who enjoy a “thinking” cozy.

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Privy To The Dead is the sixth book in the A Museum Mystery series.

I love all of Connolly's series, as not only does she give the reader a darn good mystery, but also provides the reader with an insight to what goes on behind the scenes in the protagonists' field of endeavor. In this series that would be the managing of a museum.

Much needed renovation are starting on the Society's building, when what is to be an old privy hole that has been covered since the building was built around an existing building back around 1907. Nell Pratt has the construction foreman to have a worker go down and see if there might be any artifacts in the hole. That evening the worker that entered the hole is hit by a car and killed in front of the museum. After investigating the scene, police feel that it might not have been an accident but murder. They learn that the victim had visited a neighborhood bar and had been showing off an escutcheon that could very well date back to the 1700's. At this point Marty Terwilliger, a member of the Society's board and a good friend of Nell, feels that it possibly might be from some furniture of the Terwilliger family, but can't imagine how it ended up in the privy hole. Never one to pass up a chance to learn historical facts of old items, Nell and Marty set off to find out where the piece came from and how it found it's way to where it was found.

This series has a wonderful cast of characters who are all dedicated to the Society and researching the rich history of Philadelphia. With the help of Shelby, director of development, and Lissa, an intern whose expertise old documents, prove a big help to Nell. Of course, Eric, Nell's personal assistant is their with a much needed cup of coffee for Nell.

Nell and James Morrison have purchased a lovely Victorian home in the suburbs of Philadelphia, but things have been so hectic that they haven't even put too much thought into furnishing it.

Will definitely be watching for the next book in this series.

[Doward Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much needed repairs and renovations have overtaken the Pennsylvania Antiquarian Society building. Nell is busy coordinating the moving of the collections from one location in the building to another while construction is going on. When the cleanup and removal of the accumulated junk in the basement is completed, a hidden shaft is uncovered. It appears to be the site of an old outdoor privy that became part of the building's interior during a rebuild in the early 1900's. When the workman who cleaned out the remains at the bottom of the shaft is killed under suspicious circumstances, Nell and her staff become involved. Why were the remains of a valuable antique box in the shaft and what else had the dead man found and removed. The twisted plot revolves around current employees and the descendants of some of the original founders and patrons. The clues take Nell back to a murder and coverup among prominent members of the society's Board of Directors. Another fascinating entry in this entertaining series.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exploring A Privy

The Museum Mysteries are always relaxing read and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Nell Pratt is savoring the fact the museum is having a complete renovation due to a gift that is dictated for structure improvements. A large hole in the basement is discovered and thought to be a privy. The next morning Nell learns that a man was kill in a car accident right outside building. A cold case involving the museum becomes important. Nell is worried by Marty's reactions the events that are coming to light. There is a lot about Philadelphia early history. I recommend this series.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is about on par for the rest of the series.

Nell's museum undergoes renovations and they discover an old privy that someone has tossed some old junk - multiple surprises - into.

I don't care if my ancestors did something unsavory, I would not murder to cover it up. I can't imagine someone doing that. I would probably laugh off the odd connection, at least at this late date when nothing could be done about it, although depending on what it was, it might be a pained laugh. (My ancestors, though, to my knowledge did not commit crimes, although one did disappear ...)

I suppose if someone did have an unsavory ancestor, they might worry whether they had the same propensity, but even then, we are all unique.

This book, like some of the reviewers complained about the others, involved a great amount of watching Nell work.

Also, Nell continued to exclude Latoya when she called her other departmental heads together. Nell could've at least invited her, and allowed her to back out if she didn't feel she wanted to pursue it. Eventually, Nell did include Latoya (big step forward) and apart from one sarcastic comment (shrug), it went well.

I did not not guess whodunit.

Once again, this is an ending that's unexpected in the mystery genre.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Privy to the Dead This was a different kind of story. The MC is a museum director who has been given funds specifically for renovating the museum. While in the basement with the foreman, they find a covered area that is believed to have been a privy to a previous house on that site. She requests that all the "trash" be carefully collected and then the curators can go through it and see if there is anything interesting. After the privy is cleaned out, a worker for the site is believed to have been murdered outside the museum. It is in trying to find out what he had found that Nell and Martha find out about Martha's family and what was taken from the privy. 
 
This was an interesting story and I thought it was interesting that in the collection of "items" it was just gathered up without thorough documentation. It was interesting to read the search of records to find out answers for a murder that happened recently and one that happened over a hundred years before. 

[Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Work has started to improve the storage at the Society (thanks to the donation from the Developer Mitchell Wakeham who was helped in the previous book by Nell and the staff at the Society) and whilst sorting the basement the workers uncover an old privy, as it is well over a hundred years since it was used Nell asks if they can clear it out (as people threw what they considered junk and now we consider valuable historical finds down privies!), later that night the man who had gone down to clear the privy out is killed by a car outside the Society building.  Oh and to add to Nell's worries about that Marty is not acting like her usual self.

This was not my favourite in the series - it rambled a bit and seemed to go no where really (and in between the last book and this one a character changes their first name! Ethan Miller becomes Eliot Miller which was .... odd).

[Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series never gets old. Sheila Connolly is genius on her ability to weave history, character and current mysteries together. Where the crime started was interesting. And in order to protect the museums integrity Nell Pratt and the museum staff are investigating a murder that happened over a hundred years. It didn't end the way I expected which is also a credit to Sheila Connolly she can weave some well placed plot twists and set you on quick placed ride. Considering where there case started, in a turn of the century privy (outhouse/toilet), Sheila Connolly kept you guessing to the last page where the case might end.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in a Philadelphia museum, this book blends historical / cultural insights with a mystery. The current mystery (death of a construction worker) may be related to a murder from a hundred years ago. The research begins by the staff and they uncover some unsavory actions by prior members some of whom are family of current staff. There's a lot of historical research in the book and not as much action. Those who like history will like this book; those who prefer action mysteries may not enjoy it as much.

[Jeanie Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fascinating episode. Nell and her museum employees trace back to the original renovation of the society, to determine what the "privy" pit was used for, what was taken from it, and, in the tracing discover a double murder at the time of the renovation in 1907.

Nell and James are also occupied with trying to furnish a 5 bedroom Victorian home, while trying to figure out the museum puzzle.

Great read, with a surprise ending.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not particularly interested in antiques or geneology but Connolly keeps me turning those pages. I am also impressed by her having books not follow the cozy conventions too carefully; in the book I just read there was no dead body, and in this one the mystery was solved but had little to do with the death in current day. And the narrators are so consistently true to their own lives and minds, but not to be mistaken for one another.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Museum #6- one of the best yet!
During the renovation of the Society’s antiquated 1907 building, a hole in the basement, previously covered over by filing and storage units is uncovered, and its depths bring forth a few items that trigger century old mysteries and questions that send Nell, Marty and the key team members searching their areas of expertise of the Society‘s collections, cobbling together clues to a current accidental death and two centuries old murders and a suicide.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the Pennsylvania Antiquarian Society begins a renovation of its 1907 building, a hole in the basement is found. It turns out to be an eighteenth century privy which sat just outside the footprint of the society's first building. Soon after, a worker is the victim of a hit and run accident in front of the building. Nell wants to know if this incident is in any way related to the Society itself and begins an investigation. All her usual helpers join the investigation when some 18th century escutcheons prove to be items the dead worker had pulled from the hole in the basement. Connolly's ability to unveil historical details, one by one, makes these museum mysteries wonderful fun.

[Deborah Almada · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like that there are always different areas of history covered in this series as well as interesting mysteries. The author does a good job of making history interesting as well as showing a tie between then and now. Both the current death and the history keep you engrossed until they eventually meet, making for a great read!!!!!!!

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this one, construction and much needed structural repairs have gotten underway and soon enough an old privy is discovered. It had been capped during previous construction and improvements but never filled in. In a convoluted way it wound up related to a death of one of the construction workers. Of course Nell and Marty became involved.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I LOVE this series, but this one was a dud. WAY too much time (and over 2/3 of the chapters) was centered around past events and shockingly little about the current death. I really disliked Marty’s character (and family obsession at an unhealthy level). The other supporting characters were great, as always, but used as plot-moving-pawns rather than their normal fully-formed selves.

[Susan Boivie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Series

I really like to "read" my books by listening to them through Audible,but when part of the series is not in Audible format, I am glad to have my Fire to be able to read it

[Sherrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am sorry but this was not really one of the better books that Sheila has written. I follow her and have read the various series she writes. The ending was a let down. I do hope the next one is better.

[Maureen Hetzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book in pointing out how historic records of all types can be used as investigative tools. Nell and her team Assemble quantities of historic documents to try and solve an incident that happened at the turn of the 20th century. Excellent

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was different - we had one dead person but it went off on past history which
I found to be interesting. It went back to the start of the family and asking questions
that of course they could not answer.

[William Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read. A very good plot and several mysterious deaths that go back to 1907. The usual characters in the museum Nell, Eric, Shelby, Lissa, Ben, Marty, and FBI special agent and Nell's boyfriend James. The musueum's people set about trying to solve the mysteries.

[Elissa Kuhlman · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice story

I have a problem with sloppy editing! Seems like no one read this book for errors…like changing Marty’s boyfriend from Ethan to Eliot and wrong words used in many sentences.
This sixth book seems a bit sloppy but still not a bad read.