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Charlotte Brody Mystery #1
Murder on the Last Frontier
There’s many who feel the Alaska Territory is no place for a woman on her own. But Charlotte Brody, suffragette and journalist, has never let public opinion dictate her life choices. She’s come to the frontier town of Cordova, where her brother Michael practices medicine, for the same reason many come to Alaska—to start over.
Cordova is gradually getting civilized, but the town is still rougher than Charlotte imagined. And when a local prostitute—one of the working girls her brother has been treating—is found brutally murdered, Charlotte learns firsthand how rough the frontier can be. Although the town may not consider the murder of a prostitute worthy of investigation, Charlotte’s feminist beliefs motivate her to seek justice for the woman. And there’s something else—the woman was hiding a secret, one that reminds Charlotte of her own painful past.
As Charlotte searches for answers, she soon finds her own life in danger from a cold-blooded killer desperate to keep dark secrets from seeing the light of day…
Cordova is gradually getting civilized, but the town is still rougher than Charlotte imagined. And when a local prostitute—one of the working girls her brother has been treating—is found brutally murdered, Charlotte learns firsthand how rough the frontier can be. Although the town may not consider the murder of a prostitute worthy of investigation, Charlotte’s feminist beliefs motivate her to seek justice for the woman. And there’s something else—the woman was hiding a secret, one that reminds Charlotte of her own painful past.
As Charlotte searches for answers, she soon finds her own life in danger from a cold-blooded killer desperate to keep dark secrets from seeing the light of day…
272 pages, Paperback
First published November 24, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
May 6, 2018
Charlotte Brody, suffragette, and journalist have come to the town Cordova in Alaska to get away from her past. her brother Micahel is a doctor in town and she has plans to write about life at the last frontier, Cordova a place where people come to start over. But she hardly has time to settle in the town before a prostitute is murdered. And, Charlotte isn't one to back down from finding out the truth and find the killer...
I admit that the cover is partly the reason to why I wanted to read this book. That and reading about a suffragette in Alaska. I just wish that the book and not strayed into the romance genre. I mean I do not mind a bit of romance in books, but this was a little too much for my taste and too early. From the first moment, Charlotte met deputy Eddington was it clear where this was going. I would have preferred the book to focus on Charlotte, her past, the murder and her relationship with her brother than flirting with the deputy.
This book made me think of the Murdock Mysteries tv-series and that's not a bad thing. Unfortunately, deputy Eddington isn't anything like Murdock, but if he were then perhaps I would have enjoyed the romance part of the story better. I think one of the reasons I had problems with the romance or the budding romance since a kiss is hardly a relationship is that I felt it was too soon and that it had a too big part of the story. I just failed to find their relationship interesting and that's make reading this book a bit problematic. Because no matter how interesting a book is, is it hard to enjoy it completely when it's dragged down by what I feel is uninteresting flirtation. That made the book feel like more a historical romance than historical mystery.
The story in itself it's not bad, I had my suspicion half-way through the book how it would end, but I'm glad to say that Cathy Pegau managed to surprise me with the ending. The book was a quick read and it felt more like a cozy mystery than a serious historical. But that was OK. It was what a needed at the moment.
And, I came to enjoy the book despite the romance part and that Charlotte had a tendency to be drawn to trouble. I especially liked the setting of the book, the city Cordova, a long way from civilization, but still not a total outback.
Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I admit that the cover is partly the reason to why I wanted to read this book. That and reading about a suffragette in Alaska. I just wish that the book and not strayed into the romance genre. I mean I do not mind a bit of romance in books, but this was a little too much for my taste and too early. From the first moment, Charlotte met deputy Eddington was it clear where this was going. I would have preferred the book to focus on Charlotte, her past, the murder and her relationship with her brother than flirting with the deputy.
This book made me think of the Murdock Mysteries tv-series and that's not a bad thing. Unfortunately, deputy Eddington isn't anything like Murdock, but if he were then perhaps I would have enjoyed the romance part of the story better. I think one of the reasons I had problems with the romance or the budding romance since a kiss is hardly a relationship is that I felt it was too soon and that it had a too big part of the story. I just failed to find their relationship interesting and that's make reading this book a bit problematic. Because no matter how interesting a book is, is it hard to enjoy it completely when it's dragged down by what I feel is uninteresting flirtation. That made the book feel like more a historical romance than historical mystery.
The story in itself it's not bad, I had my suspicion half-way through the book how it would end, but I'm glad to say that Cathy Pegau managed to surprise me with the ending. The book was a quick read and it felt more like a cozy mystery than a serious historical. But that was OK. It was what a needed at the moment.
And, I came to enjoy the book despite the romance part and that Charlotte had a tendency to be drawn to trouble. I especially liked the setting of the book, the city Cordova, a long way from civilization, but still not a total outback.
Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
June 22, 2019
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Cordova, Alaska Territory 1919
Journalist and suffragette Charlotte Brody travels from Younkers, New York to Alaska to visit her brother and report on women in the territory for a series of articles to appear in The Modern Woman Review. The trip was not ideal but she is thrilled to see her brother Michael, who is a very busy doctor. He gets her settled in at Sullivan’s Boarding House but their visit gets off to a bumpy start. He brother has changed and so has she.
Their differences get cast aside when one of the girls from a local brothel is tragically murdered near the rooming house where Charlotte is staying. She may have even heard some of the victim’s last moments. Feeling guilty that she may have been able to do something to save the woman and the fact that a prostitutes death is a low priority for the authorities, Charlotte follows her heart and beliefs to investigate the woman’s death on her own. When a key piece of evidence is found, she finds herself in the killer’s sights putting herself and several others in danger. Will she survive her trip to Alaska or will a Murder on the Last Frontier be her last protest?
I loved this story. I wish I had read it when it was first released. The author takes on social issues of the day, many of which are still hot topics today.
Charlotte Brody is a very likable protagonist. She is smart and curious about her new surroundings and the people that inhabit it. She realizes the town is more primitive than what she imagined but she is up for the challenge. She is independent and open to meeting everyone for the mayor to the working girls. Everyone knows her brother, any are his patients, so she is welcomed in all the circles. But she has a secret.
Charlotte’s brother, Michael is a generous man with his time, which is a requirement for an Alaskan physician. He has made a life for himself and seems happy. Charlotte is a little surprised that his very small home is also his office, which is why she is staying at Sullivan’s. But he too has secrets.
We are introduced to many residents of Cordova in this first installment. The author does an excellent job of making them feel real, believable, interesting, and memorable. There are many reasons people have come to Cordova but for most, it was to start over or get a second chance. I enjoyed the depth that has already been created for these characters.
What I really enjoyed was Cathy Pegau’s descriptive writing style. She brought Alaska, the town of Cordova and all the people in this story to life, in a carefree way. Sometimes author’s descriptions go way over the top, taking away from the actual story. That is definitely not the case here. I could picture everything I needed to easily. Not only the places and people but the extra hours of sunlight, the neverending rain, the muddy paths, and the boots worn by everyone due to the muddy paths. The balance was superb. Readers are totally transported to 1919 Alaska.
The mystery was very well-plotted with many surprising twists. The pacing was exactly right and kept me engaged from beginning to end. I was surprised by the final twist setting up a perfect ending.
Even before I reached the end of this book I knew I wanted to read more of this series. I was surprised to find the other two books in this series already on my Kindle. I hope to be reading and reviewing them soon.
Cordova, Alaska Territory 1919
Journalist and suffragette Charlotte Brody travels from Younkers, New York to Alaska to visit her brother and report on women in the territory for a series of articles to appear in The Modern Woman Review. The trip was not ideal but she is thrilled to see her brother Michael, who is a very busy doctor. He gets her settled in at Sullivan’s Boarding House but their visit gets off to a bumpy start. He brother has changed and so has she.
Their differences get cast aside when one of the girls from a local brothel is tragically murdered near the rooming house where Charlotte is staying. She may have even heard some of the victim’s last moments. Feeling guilty that she may have been able to do something to save the woman and the fact that a prostitutes death is a low priority for the authorities, Charlotte follows her heart and beliefs to investigate the woman’s death on her own. When a key piece of evidence is found, she finds herself in the killer’s sights putting herself and several others in danger. Will she survive her trip to Alaska or will a Murder on the Last Frontier be her last protest?
I loved this story. I wish I had read it when it was first released. The author takes on social issues of the day, many of which are still hot topics today.
Charlotte Brody is a very likable protagonist. She is smart and curious about her new surroundings and the people that inhabit it. She realizes the town is more primitive than what she imagined but she is up for the challenge. She is independent and open to meeting everyone for the mayor to the working girls. Everyone knows her brother, any are his patients, so she is welcomed in all the circles. But she has a secret.
Charlotte’s brother, Michael is a generous man with his time, which is a requirement for an Alaskan physician. He has made a life for himself and seems happy. Charlotte is a little surprised that his very small home is also his office, which is why she is staying at Sullivan’s. But he too has secrets.
We are introduced to many residents of Cordova in this first installment. The author does an excellent job of making them feel real, believable, interesting, and memorable. There are many reasons people have come to Cordova but for most, it was to start over or get a second chance. I enjoyed the depth that has already been created for these characters.
What I really enjoyed was Cathy Pegau’s descriptive writing style. She brought Alaska, the town of Cordova and all the people in this story to life, in a carefree way. Sometimes author’s descriptions go way over the top, taking away from the actual story. That is definitely not the case here. I could picture everything I needed to easily. Not only the places and people but the extra hours of sunlight, the neverending rain, the muddy paths, and the boots worn by everyone due to the muddy paths. The balance was superb. Readers are totally transported to 1919 Alaska.
The mystery was very well-plotted with many surprising twists. The pacing was exactly right and kept me engaged from beginning to end. I was surprised by the final twist setting up a perfect ending.
Even before I reached the end of this book I knew I wanted to read more of this series. I was surprised to find the other two books in this series already on my Kindle. I hope to be reading and reviewing them soon.
November 7, 2017
I simply cant wait to read the next book in this series. I found this book by accident and couldn't believe I had never heard of it. Alaska? Snow? Historical? Murder Mystery and its a series? YEAH! Everything I love in a book.
This book did not disappointment me a bit. I loved it. Easy to read, great setting and likable characters. Interesting in every where. I didn't figure out the killer till the end and only then I was wrong in what I thought what happen. I was surprised.
Loved it!
This book did not disappointment me a bit. I loved it. Easy to read, great setting and likable characters. Interesting in every where. I didn't figure out the killer till the end and only then I was wrong in what I thought what happen. I was surprised.
Loved it!
Read
March 14, 2017I must have misread the blurb somehow because I was expecting a f/f romance rather than a murder mystery with a hunt of m/f romance. It's amazing how that can skew your approach to a book. "This is all fine but where's the other heroine and why are we hearing so much about this deputy guy?" Duh.
I didn't quite feel the murder mystery was complex enough to support a detective story--the main red herring was underdeveloped, so never really seemed narratively likely as a suspect--but the romance was very definitely a slow burner as well in a 'book 1 of a series' way (which is fine because it isn't a romance despite what idiots who can't read blurbs may think). For me the book needed a bit more weight on either the mystery or the romance side to work perfectly as a genre novel. What worked excellently was the Alaskan small town setting and the heroine, a vulnerable but determined New Woman on a mission to remake herself after a humbling experience back home. Highly readable.
I didn't quite feel the murder mystery was complex enough to support a detective story--the main red herring was underdeveloped, so never really seemed narratively likely as a suspect--but the romance was very definitely a slow burner as well in a 'book 1 of a series' way (which is fine because it isn't a romance despite what idiots who can't read blurbs may think). For me the book needed a bit more weight on either the mystery or the romance side to work perfectly as a genre novel. What worked excellently was the Alaskan small town setting and the heroine, a vulnerable but determined New Woman on a mission to remake herself after a humbling experience back home. Highly readable.
December 7, 2015
I have to admit a bias - I like reading books about my home State. Most read as if the author had never stepped foot here. One recent book had caribou migrating through Anchorage!!!!!!!! This is a book about Alaska written by an Alaskan!!! The mystery is good. What really impacted me was when she started talking about Sailor Boy Pilot Bread, Judge Wickersham, and the Red Dragon Social Club in Cordova [now, the Parish annex to an Episcopal Church, but, still, the Red Dragon]. It was great an author knew of which she spoke.
February 7, 2017
Full review at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
Set in Cordova, Alaska, in 1919, the Charlotte Brody Mysteries are as cozy as possible given that they involve lethal crimes, with just a smidge of romance and a lot of atmosphere.
Charlotte Brody is introduced in Murder on the Last Frontier, the first book in the series. She’s a suffragette and a journalist who moves to Cordova, where her brother is a doctor. When a local prostitute named Darcy is murdered, Charlotte decides to help local law enforcement find the killer, whether they want her help or not.
One thing that the book does well is avoid the “disposable sex worker” cliche. Charlotte hears a lot about Darcy from a lot of people, which makes Darcy feel like a person rather than a chalk outline. She becomes good friends with the woman who runs the brothel where Darcy worked and with Darcy’s best friend. Charlotte is quite vocal around town for believing that as long as women are not forced into sex work, there’s nothing wrong with following that profession.
This series reminds me just a bit of Miss Fisher’s Mysteries, a show that all of here at the Bitchery are madly in love with. The time period is the same, and the first book refers to the emotional trauma of war, much as several episodes of Miss Fisher do. Like Miss Fisher, Charlotte is extremely progressive for her time – indeed, as an opponent of prohibition and a supporter of non-coercive prostitution, she’s more progressive than many other suffragettes.
I enjoyed the first two books in this series tremendously. I lived in Alaska for a while in an area very different from Cordova (and not in 1919) and I must say that the appearance of pilot bread crackers warmed my heart. How I miss pilot crackers and homemade salmonberry jam!
This is, of course, an ongoing series, so the romance and other personal issues are not wrapped up in each individual book. However, each book ends with a solved mystery. Despite all the mayhem, I’m finding the books to be quite comforting. Now if I could just get some good Phryne Fisher/Charlotte Brody fanfic going!
- Carrie S.
Set in Cordova, Alaska, in 1919, the Charlotte Brody Mysteries are as cozy as possible given that they involve lethal crimes, with just a smidge of romance and a lot of atmosphere.
Charlotte Brody is introduced in Murder on the Last Frontier, the first book in the series. She’s a suffragette and a journalist who moves to Cordova, where her brother is a doctor. When a local prostitute named Darcy is murdered, Charlotte decides to help local law enforcement find the killer, whether they want her help or not.
One thing that the book does well is avoid the “disposable sex worker” cliche. Charlotte hears a lot about Darcy from a lot of people, which makes Darcy feel like a person rather than a chalk outline. She becomes good friends with the woman who runs the brothel where Darcy worked and with Darcy’s best friend. Charlotte is quite vocal around town for believing that as long as women are not forced into sex work, there’s nothing wrong with following that profession.
This series reminds me just a bit of Miss Fisher’s Mysteries, a show that all of here at the Bitchery are madly in love with. The time period is the same, and the first book refers to the emotional trauma of war, much as several episodes of Miss Fisher do. Like Miss Fisher, Charlotte is extremely progressive for her time – indeed, as an opponent of prohibition and a supporter of non-coercive prostitution, she’s more progressive than many other suffragettes.
I enjoyed the first two books in this series tremendously. I lived in Alaska for a while in an area very different from Cordova (and not in 1919) and I must say that the appearance of pilot bread crackers warmed my heart. How I miss pilot crackers and homemade salmonberry jam!
This is, of course, an ongoing series, so the romance and other personal issues are not wrapped up in each individual book. However, each book ends with a solved mystery. Despite all the mayhem, I’m finding the books to be quite comforting. Now if I could just get some good Phryne Fisher/Charlotte Brody fanfic going!
- Carrie S.
September 29, 2015
Murder On The Last Frontier by Charlotte Brody is a great start to a historical fiction murder mystery series. The author explains that the main character is not based on a real person but that the events in the book are real. It is 1919 in Cardova in the Alaskan territory. Charlotte Brody went to Alaska to join her brother who was already practicing as a physician to get a new start in life. Just as many people who went to Alaska then and now do. She is ready for adventure, not that she has not had any in the East because she is a journalist and not afraid of voicing her suffragette views. She also has a secret that she did not tell her brother and he has one that he kept from her.
One of the prostitutes in town who her brother was treating was found dead and Charlotte saw no reason not to use her interview skills to help find the killer. She uncovers more secrets in town and also eventually shocking information about the murderer.
I enjoyed this excursion into the early 1900’s, my mother was born during that year but she had older sisters who lived during that period. A new more independent woman was emerging, fighting for the right to vote and also to refuse the protectiveness that society thought was needed at that time.
The pace was great, the main characters were well developed and that were a possibility of a future love interest. I am glad that author lives in Alaska because that made the book seem realistic, especially about the weather.
I received this Advanced Reading Copy by making a selection from Amazon Vine books but that in no way influenced my thoughts or feelings in this review. I also posted this review only on sites meant for reading not for selling.
One of the prostitutes in town who her brother was treating was found dead and Charlotte saw no reason not to use her interview skills to help find the killer. She uncovers more secrets in town and also eventually shocking information about the murderer.
I enjoyed this excursion into the early 1900’s, my mother was born during that year but she had older sisters who lived during that period. A new more independent woman was emerging, fighting for the right to vote and also to refuse the protectiveness that society thought was needed at that time.
The pace was great, the main characters were well developed and that were a possibility of a future love interest. I am glad that author lives in Alaska because that made the book seem realistic, especially about the weather.
I received this Advanced Reading Copy by making a selection from Amazon Vine books but that in no way influenced my thoughts or feelings in this review. I also posted this review only on sites meant for reading not for selling.
November 24, 2015
An excellent historical mystery set in Cordova, Alaska in 1919. Charlotte Brody a journalist has arrived to visit her brother, Dr Michael Brody leaving a secret behind her. A prostitute,is found beaten to death near her lodging. Unexplained phenomena occurs some nights and she meets Deputy Sheriff James Eddington. Charlotte helped her brother with autopsy and becomes interested in the victim. The characters will catch your attention as they are well developed as are the descriptions of the area. I found the view of Alaska interesting comparing it the books featuring natives of the area. I recommend this book.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Kensington Books through Netgalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions are my own.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Kensington Books through Netgalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions are my own.
November 26, 2015
I know you shouldn't judge a book by its' cover, but the cover of Murder on the Last Frontier really sold me. I could tell that it was set in a favorite time period, just after WWI, and the Alaska setting was something new for me. Charlotte Brody has traveled from her Yonkers, NY home to the small Alaska town of Cordova to visit her brother, one of the town's doctors. She is a journalist and her plan is to send a serial to her publisher about the women of Alaska. She is also hoping to get a new start. Charlotte has had to make difficult decisions and deal with heartbreak in the past year and hopes to turn things around in Alaska. As a committed suffragette and an outspoken opponent of the Volstead Act (Prohibition), she is bound to make waves.Charlotte finds a town that is striving to become more "civilized" but has a dark underside. She has also found a much-loved brother who appears to be greatly changed; a brother with as many secrets as she. When a local "working girl" is brutally murdered, Charlotte puts herself in the center of the investigation, despite warnings from the investigating deputy, James Eddington, and her brother, Michael. The murderer, too, takes an interest in her activities; an interest that might be fatal to Charlotte and those around her.
Murder on the Last Frontier is a promising debut for a new series and I look forward to the next installment, due in July 2016. As much as I liked Charlotte, I also found her alarmingly naive about the danger to not only herself but others. The writing and pacing are very good, as well as the setting in frontier Alaska. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for an advance digital copy in return for an honest review.
RATING- 3 Stars
Murder on the Last Frontier is a promising debut for a new series and I look forward to the next installment, due in July 2016. As much as I liked Charlotte, I also found her alarmingly naive about the danger to not only herself but others. The writing and pacing are very good, as well as the setting in frontier Alaska. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for an advance digital copy in return for an honest review.
RATING- 3 Stars
November 7, 2015
This one was just okay for me. It was a cozy mystery set in Alaska. Charlotte comes to Cordova, Alaska to see her brother and there's a murder on her first night. On day 2, she's already making people mad, because she's asking so many questions. She kind of got on my nerves in that everyone was warning her and telling her to stay out of it, yet she didn't.
I knew pretty early in the book who did it and was just reading and waiting for Ms. Nosy Butte to figure it out.
I think the writing itself was good, but the main character got on my nerves and a major clue was given too early in the book. Of course, I usually miss the early clues, so it just may be that I happened upon this one.
Thanks Kensington Books and Net Galley for providing me with this free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
I knew pretty early in the book who did it and was just reading and waiting for Ms. Nosy Butte to figure it out.
I think the writing itself was good, but the main character got on my nerves and a major clue was given too early in the book. Of course, I usually miss the early clues, so it just may be that I happened upon this one.
Thanks Kensington Books and Net Galley for providing me with this free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
April 25, 2020
Interesting first book in a series set in Alaska during the 1910's. Charlotte Brody has decided to join her brother in Alaska so that she can write articles about life on the frontier for a magazine back home. Charlotte is a feminist who has no qualms speaking her mind and stirring up trouble if needed. When a local prostitute is brutally murdered she feels that somebody needs to find out who did even if some of the town people aren't interested in justice.
Charlotte's relationship with her brother felt real with all of the difficulties of adjusting to your siblings growing up and becoming complex people. The solution to the murder was a bit obvious but there is a lot of promise for this series.
Charlotte's relationship with her brother felt real with all of the difficulties of adjusting to your siblings growing up and becoming complex people. The solution to the murder was a bit obvious but there is a lot of promise for this series.
May 16, 2018
It had a few flaws, but not bad for the start of a new series. I liked the setting of Cordova, Alaska in 1919.
February 19, 2021
Beware: supports prostitution
The encyclopedic info dump made me leery but when the heroine (in 1919, have you mind) said she supported prostitution because the women were “willing,” I knew this was not for me. Prostitution is wrong, period. Those women are made in God’s image and the victims of vicious lies and
usually child abuse. :(
The encyclopedic info dump made me leery but when the heroine (in 1919, have you mind) said she supported prostitution because the women were “willing,” I knew this was not for me. Prostitution is wrong, period. Those women are made in God’s image and the victims of vicious lies and
usually child abuse. :(
December 30, 2017
I enjoyed the book less for the mystery than for the description of life in a small Alaskan town in 1919. And I liked the heroine who is very active in the women's rights movement of the time. Charlotte does speak her mind and befriends who she wants. She is an idealist and acts upon her values.
May 1, 2016
This story was an easy, quick read. I love stories from the early 1900's and it's especially nice to read one set in Alaska. The author did a great job in being very descriptive of the town and people living there.
I liked also that Charlotte is a forward thinking woman for her time and doesn't shy away from fighting for hers and other women's personal rights. Issues faced by women back then is addressed though Charlotte's personal life and what she's experienced.
As far as the mystery goes, it's a cozy. Not too in depth, but enough mystery to keep me interested. I did feel though that Charlotte acts more out of impulse and emotion in her approach, and I tend to like to see a more logical mental, deductive process. But this book seemed to be more about the introduction/set-up of the series so maybe that's why we didn't get too much of Charlotte's process.
I've read Cathy Pegau's sci-fi books and really liked them. I think it's a good debut of her new mystery series.
I liked also that Charlotte is a forward thinking woman for her time and doesn't shy away from fighting for hers and other women's personal rights. Issues faced by women back then is addressed though Charlotte's personal life and what she's experienced.
As far as the mystery goes, it's a cozy. Not too in depth, but enough mystery to keep me interested. I did feel though that Charlotte acts more out of impulse and emotion in her approach, and I tend to like to see a more logical mental, deductive process. But this book seemed to be more about the introduction/set-up of the series so maybe that's why we didn't get too much of Charlotte's process.
I've read Cathy Pegau's sci-fi books and really liked them. I think it's a good debut of her new mystery series.
October 17, 2015
The blurb had me at "suffragette". The Alaska setting sealed the deal. A suffragette in Frontier Alaska solving murders. This is the first in a series. The writing is good, though I never felt I really got to know the heroine. There was a feeling of disconnection for some reason, but it could be because I just didn't like her much. Her allusions to her torrid past and the circumstances in it kind of put me off.
I found the plot pretty predictable until the very end. I didn't see the twist with her brother coming.
The setting is well done, capturing the frontier feeling along with the "let's get this place civilized" vibe.
But, really, while I enjoyed this enough, there is nothing about it to make it stand out from any other mysteries.
I found the plot pretty predictable until the very end. I didn't see the twist with her brother coming.
The setting is well done, capturing the frontier feeling along with the "let's get this place civilized" vibe.
But, really, while I enjoyed this enough, there is nothing about it to make it stand out from any other mysteries.
September 25, 2015
Wonderful debut. A historical fiction mystery set in Alaska and written by an Alaskan. I can't wait for the second in this new series.
May 13, 2017
Charlotte Brody has traveled to Cordova, Alaska Territory in 1919 to start over. Her brother Michael is a doctor there and he thinks she has come uninvited to visit him. She finds that he is engaged to the daughter of a minister and he wants her to behave and not any the same things that she always says out loud about women's rights and her view points. She also finds that as the lowest rung doctor in town he treats the town prostitutes and one of the working girls he regularly treats is found murdered.
Charlotte decides she will write about her life on the Last Frontier. Meanwhile, she becomes involved in the autopsy of the dead working girl, finding out more about the murdered girl and Briget who runs the house. James Eddington, Deputy Marshall becomes as frustrated with Charlotte and Michael as she continues to investigate who would murder Darcy in such a brutal fashion.
Cordova is a small frontier town with little to offer to women in the area and Michael thinks that Charlotte should leave and go back home. Pretty much everyone thinks she should give up the idea of staying in Cordova. She continues to stay in the small town and continues to look into who would want Darcy dead. Of course she puts herself in danger from the killer trying to keep secrets from coming to light.
I like the character development of Charlotte, Michael, James, and Brigit. Friendships made in Alaska territory that would never have been made back home. Living conditions harsher than most would be willing to put up with, and lots of mud.
I enjoyed the storyline, but do not recommend it for those who are cozy readers only. A little rough on the edges for those who like the rough parts of death and life hidden. A good story overall.
Charlotte decides she will write about her life on the Last Frontier. Meanwhile, she becomes involved in the autopsy of the dead working girl, finding out more about the murdered girl and Briget who runs the house. James Eddington, Deputy Marshall becomes as frustrated with Charlotte and Michael as she continues to investigate who would murder Darcy in such a brutal fashion.
Cordova is a small frontier town with little to offer to women in the area and Michael thinks that Charlotte should leave and go back home. Pretty much everyone thinks she should give up the idea of staying in Cordova. She continues to stay in the small town and continues to look into who would want Darcy dead. Of course she puts herself in danger from the killer trying to keep secrets from coming to light.
I like the character development of Charlotte, Michael, James, and Brigit. Friendships made in Alaska territory that would never have been made back home. Living conditions harsher than most would be willing to put up with, and lots of mud.
I enjoyed the storyline, but do not recommend it for those who are cozy readers only. A little rough on the edges for those who like the rough parts of death and life hidden. A good story overall.
June 4, 2018
Set in a small frontier town in Alaska after the first Word War, Murder on the Last Frontier has a lot of really interesting aspects to it, but it just didn't make it over as few nit-picky things to land itself into 'really good' for me.
The writing was just a touch clunky for me, a lot of repetition of things, and a bit too much telling instead of showing from the main character Charlotte. At the start of the book there is quite a bit of her alluding to a traumatic incident in her past that as a reader you figure out pretty quickly. However, it takes forever for Charlotte to clearly say what it was which also happens at the same time as a rather graphic autopsy. The description of the autopsy caught me off guard, a cozy mystery this book isn't.
Charlotte's detective powers lag a bit behind the reader's which can be either a good or bad thing depending on how you prefer your mysteries to play out. she is an interesting character, and the town is an interesting setting, Pegau has a good start at building both up for future books in this one. But if you are looking for romance there is only a fleeting wink to it for the future.
Good first book, interesting setting and character, I might pick up the next book to see if Pegau is able to work out some of the weaknesses as well as flesh out the town.
SPOILERS BELOW***
I did like how Pegau wrote and treated the sex workers (the ones who survived), although I found the murder of one to be a overdone plot. Having that as the main mystery made it fairly easy to solve from the reader's perspective even with the waving of red herrings.
The writing was just a touch clunky for me, a lot of repetition of things, and a bit too much telling instead of showing from the main character Charlotte. At the start of the book there is quite a bit of her alluding to a traumatic incident in her past that as a reader you figure out pretty quickly. However, it takes forever for Charlotte to clearly say what it was which also happens at the same time as a rather graphic autopsy. The description of the autopsy caught me off guard, a cozy mystery this book isn't.
Charlotte's detective powers lag a bit behind the reader's which can be either a good or bad thing depending on how you prefer your mysteries to play out. she is an interesting character, and the town is an interesting setting, Pegau has a good start at building both up for future books in this one. But if you are looking for romance there is only a fleeting wink to it for the future.
Good first book, interesting setting and character, I might pick up the next book to see if Pegau is able to work out some of the weaknesses as well as flesh out the town.
SPOILERS BELOW***
I did like how Pegau wrote and treated the sex workers (the ones who survived), although I found the murder of one to be a overdone plot. Having that as the main mystery made it fairly easy to solve from the reader's perspective even with the waving of red herrings.
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November 18, 2020An appropriate title, I was most interested in exploring Alaska in the early years of the 1900's. I visited Alaska a few years ago to work for the summer. Ms. Pegau's tale took me right back there and I could imagine myself visiting in that timeline. I had an additional interest in the time and place as my great-aunt had traveled to Wyoming from Michigan in 1905 to live near her brother who was the Picture Man of Cody Wyoming. Our heroine in the story fled the lower 48 to live near her Doctor brother. She was also hoping to leave behind her secret trauma from the recent past.
It turns out her brother has a few secrets too and with his concerns about his sister's safety he tries to be as overbearing as his father was. No such luck. with Charlotte. This woman has a mind of her own and nerves of steel to go with it. She's not too meek to inform her sibling that there will be no such acceptance of his dominance over her, she's not as naive as he thinks she is.
A beginning romance with the town Deputy alleviates some of the gloom that surrounds the murder of a 'lady of the night'. Charlotte also is offered employment twice, once by the madam of the house of ill-repute and the other by the local newspaper. An easy choice for her as she's been writing for Modern Woman and sending her articles via mail - by ship and train.
A thoroughly modern woman in a historic era answers the question I sometimes ask myself, what would I have done if I'd been born a hundred years earlier? I probably would have followed Charlotte's path.
It turns out her brother has a few secrets too and with his concerns about his sister's safety he tries to be as overbearing as his father was. No such luck. with Charlotte. This woman has a mind of her own and nerves of steel to go with it. She's not too meek to inform her sibling that there will be no such acceptance of his dominance over her, she's not as naive as he thinks she is.
A beginning romance with the town Deputy alleviates some of the gloom that surrounds the murder of a 'lady of the night'. Charlotte also is offered employment twice, once by the madam of the house of ill-repute and the other by the local newspaper. An easy choice for her as she's been writing for Modern Woman and sending her articles via mail - by ship and train.
A thoroughly modern woman in a historic era answers the question I sometimes ask myself, what would I have done if I'd been born a hundred years earlier? I probably would have followed Charlotte's path.
September 14, 2019
I bought this in Anchorage at the end of our Alaska vacation along with a romance that I'll read next. This is obviously a murder mystery and that's not my favorite genre, but I actually rather enjoyed this and had a hard time putting it down. It's well written, I liked the characters, I cared about whether she solved the murder. There was enough action to keep me entertained, and there was even a bit of a nice little romance. I don't read a lot of mysteries, so maybe others could have figured it out, but I'll admit to being surprised by the identity of the killer. On the other hand it wasn't someone completely out of the blue either, so that was nice.
My only quibble with this book is the excusing of prostitution and abortion which, I'll admit, sickens me, but I was at least pleased that the women admitted their own responsibility in the situations, which lately it seems most feminist novels do not. (At least in the ones I've read lately.)
I'll put this one a little above "The Wild Inside" that I read right before. It was an easier read and a little more lighthearted and fun.
I'm adding Cathy Pegau to my list of approved authors and will try to return to this series someday soon.
My only quibble with this book is the excusing of prostitution and abortion which, I'll admit, sickens me, but I was at least pleased that the women admitted their own responsibility in the situations, which lately it seems most feminist novels do not. (At least in the ones I've read lately.)
I'll put this one a little above "The Wild Inside" that I read right before. It was an easier read and a little more lighthearted and fun.
I'm adding Cathy Pegau to my list of approved authors and will try to return to this series someday soon.
December 25, 2017
Charlotte Brody is a journalist and a follower of the suffragette movement in the early 1900's but she had some difficult years while living in New York and has decided to travel to Cordova, Alaska to visit her brother, Michael. Her brother is a doctor but had struggled his last few years before he moved to Alaska as well. When Charlotte arrives, she is surprised to learn Michael is engaged but Charlotte isn't sure if she is as thrilled with Ruth as Michael seems to be. She soon learns many other people in the town have moved there to escape their past as well.
When a murder occurs involving a local girl from the brothel, Charlotte is motivated to help investigate using her journalist background. Not everyone seems to view these women as equals like Charlotte does. The local Deputy Marshal, James Eddington seems more inclined to let her assist than her brother Michael does. Charlotte soon discovers she has become a target and may be the next victim. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the second in the series.
When a murder occurs involving a local girl from the brothel, Charlotte is motivated to help investigate using her journalist background. Not everyone seems to view these women as equals like Charlotte does. The local Deputy Marshal, James Eddington seems more inclined to let her assist than her brother Michael does. Charlotte soon discovers she has become a target and may be the next victim. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the second in the series.
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January 13, 2018It's such a little thing, but the problem with feminist heroines in period pieces is that they typically have modern liberal politics...which can be so jarring when it's totally wrong for the women of the period. I can usually shrug it off, but it's driving me nuts so far in this one.
Prohibition was considered a women's issue, and it was critically tied to the suffrage movement. Volstad was a feminist. A hard-core party militant would have been pro-prohibition, because drunkenness was considered a major cause of spousal abuse and men financially ruining their families. One of the major arguments against suffrage at the time was that women would vote _for_ prohibition.
Yes, being pro-self-determination is the end result of 100 years of growth in the feminist movement. But not in the first wave.
Prohibition was considered a women's issue, and it was critically tied to the suffrage movement. Volstad was a feminist. A hard-core party militant would have been pro-prohibition, because drunkenness was considered a major cause of spousal abuse and men financially ruining their families. One of the major arguments against suffrage at the time was that women would vote _for_ prohibition.
Yes, being pro-self-determination is the end result of 100 years of growth in the feminist movement. But not in the first wave.
February 12, 2017
I liked the setting (a small town in 1919 Alaska) and the heroine (a suffragette who gives zero fucks what others think) but unfortunately the writing was just meh.
Too many things were told, not shown, which is a pity because the characters had potential. The murder was trivial to solve, the biggest mystery was "when will Charlotte realize she already has all the clues to figure out who did it?"
The romance with Eddington was also a bit too easy and quick, though I'll admit I'm biased because I'm not a fan of people in historicals immediately calling each other by their given name. Still, I'm giving it three stars because it was a quick and easy read, and hoping the second book will be better.
Too many things were told, not shown, which is a pity because the characters had potential. The murder was trivial to solve, the biggest mystery was "when will Charlotte realize she already has all the clues to figure out who did it?"
The romance with Eddington was also a bit too easy and quick, though I'll admit I'm biased because I'm not a fan of people in historicals immediately calling each other by their given name. Still, I'm giving it three stars because it was a quick and easy read, and hoping the second book will be better.
May 9, 2017
Many people come to the Alaskan frontier for a second chance at life. Charlotte is no exception when she journeys to the small town of Cordova, Alsaksa. Meeting her brother, who is the town's doctor, she is just getting settled in when a prostitute is brutally beaten to death. Since Charlotte is on assignment from an East Coast newspaper to chronicle the frontier from a woman's point of view, she immediately takes an interest and decides to "help" the local police find the killer. This is a nice cozy mystery set in a unique location.
KD 5-17
Check out this book today!
KD 5-17
Check out this book today!
May 9, 2017
When Charlotte is sent by an East Coast magazine to Cordova, Alaska, to obtain a woman's view of the frontier, she hopes she can make a fresh start. It's 1919 and the town is still striving to be civilized. Her brother, the town doctor, makes her welcome but, just as she's settling in, a local prostitute is found beaten to death. Charlotte senses something is not quite right in the frontier town and decides to help out the local police. Great characters and a unique location make this a winning cozy. First in the series.
June 11, 2019
The first in a new series, this story sees Charlotte Brody arriving in Alaska to stay with her brother while she writes articles on what life is like for women in this last frontier. What she does not expect is that she would immediately be embroiled in a murder involving one of her brother's patients, who just happens to be 'a lady of the evening.' As Charlotte tries to investigate, many surprises come her way, not least of which are a series of warnings that put her own life in danger. This is a very satisfying and well-written read, and a very promising mystery series.
June 5, 2020
I picked this book up at the last minute at a 5 dollar pile and i was actually surprised on how much i enjoyed this murder mystery. A young woman goes to Alaska to join her brother for a visit to see if she could find some peace in her heart. this woman was a journalist and was ahead of her time with her thoughts on woman rights. it is on this visit a murder happens close to her rooming house and became determined to find the killer with out getting her self killed.
To me this is actual a woman's read book and now i am ordering the second book.
To me this is actual a woman's read book and now i am ordering the second book.
February 21, 2017
I liked the protagonists inner struggles best in this book, for the realism. She's an suffragist aspiring journalist, moved to Alaska where her brother is. The description of her complex relationship with her parents is especially poignant. The mystery is a little transparent, and the budding romance with the local deputy too easy. Her relationship with her brother, with its changes, evolution, erosion and then healing through communication at last, is excellent.
June 5, 2017
This was an enjoyable, cozy mystery. I enjoyed seeing Alaska in the early 20th century through the eyes of a suffragette journalist. There were a few times where I felt that Charlotte was maybe a little too modern and abrasive, but also she got scolded by her surrounding characters, so I guess that was kind of the point. The mystery was surprising. The little bit of romance was enjoyable (though I honestly didn't care very much about the deputy). I recommend for the cozy mystery lover!
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