Murder on St. Nicholas Avenue

Gaslight Mystery #18

by Victoria Thompson

The author of Murder on Amsterdam Avenue returns to nineteenth-century New York City to find Christmas in the air, a police detective and a midwife with love in their hearts, and a wealthy newlywed with blood on her hands…

Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy and Sarah Brandt are not the only ones who have recently tied the knot. Family friend Mrs. O’Neill was delighted when her daughter Una wed the seemingly wealthy and charming Randolph Pollock. She didn’t wonder why such an affluent man would want to marry a poor Irish girl, no matter how pretty she was. But now Mrs. O’Neill has a problem.

Pollock’s servants have found their employer bludgeoned to death with Una cradling his body. Rendered mute by the horror of her husband’s death, Una cannot explain what happened, so the police have charged her with murder and locked her away in the Tombs to await trial.

Mrs. O’Neill would like Frank to investigate the case and save Una, yet with Frank and Sarah still on their honeymoon, it’s up to the other members of their newly formed household to do some detective work. But solving the mystery behind Pollock’s death means first discovering the truth about who he really is…

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

311 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 3, 2015

About the author

Victoria Thompson was a beloved authoress of 'standard mystery' novels.

This middle of the road tone is not violent like a 'thriller' but unsanitized (NOT light like a 'cozy mystery'), is unflinchingly adult, serious, and dark.

Humour, romance, family, and compassion balance out the crime part of dear Victoria's unforgettable mysteries.

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank and Sarah are off on their honeymoon and make just a token appearance in this 18th episode of The Gaslight Mysteries. I thought this might make the book dull but it did not as Maeve, Gino and Mr and Mrs Decker stepped up to fill their shoes.

I enjoyed the whole tale very much. There was a Christmas feel to it and little snippets of how Christmas was celebrated at that time. Trees, decorations and lights were beginning to appear and the stores had Santa and lots of toys just like today.

Our little team of amateur detectives worked hard to solve the crimes and managed every bit as well as Sarah and Frank could have done. They were a little slow at identifying the murderer but it was their first case after all. Mr Decker with his business skills and wider knowledge of life in general was a huge asset. I hope he continues to play a part in the future books.

Very enjoyable indeed and a nice little interlude in the series as a whole.

[Jonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah and Frank Malloy are on their honeymoon in Europe, leaving Maeve and Frank’s mother to the care of their children and household. When a friend of Mrs. Malloy shows up on their doorstep looking for help for her daughter who’s been accused of murder, Maeve seizes the opportunity to explore the matter further.

This was a fun installment that allowed me to get to know the secondary characters better without the influence of Sarah and Frank. Maeve takes it upon herself to agree to investigate the murder of Una O’Neill Pollock’s husband, Randolph. Along the way, she pulls Gino Donatelli and Elizabeth & Felix Decker into the case, which turns out to be intriguing. Their interplay was at times humorous and this appears to be the start of a developing relationship between Maeve and Gino. And, this case serves as the inaugural one for the yet to be launched Malloy Investigations Agency.

I enjoyed everything about the story, including the deepening of the existing relationships and Maeve’s emergence as a savvy investigator. However, I also felt Sarah and Frank’s absence. They really are the anchors to this series and while I liked this diversion, I’m ready for their return. This was still a delightful interlude.

[Mark Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Maeve answers the door, the last thing she expects is a woman desperately looking for Frank Malloy. Mrs. O’Neil is a former neighbor of the Malloys, and she is anxious to find Frank because her daughter, Una, has just been arrested for the murder of her husband. The problem is that Frank and his new wife, Sarah Brandt, are in Europe on their honeymoon. So Maeve jumps into the investigation, aided by Gino and Sarah’s parents. Will the four of them uncover what really happened?

This is a different book for the series since Frank and Sarah, our usual main characters, aren’t in it. However, it allows the secondary characters time to shine, which was a lot of fun, especially since I love them. It also provided a bit more humor, which I appreciated. The mystery itself is serious, and the book balances the tones perfectly. The mystery is also strong and kept me turning pages, as always. I did feel there was a bit too much rehashing of things at times in the middle, but that got better as the book went along. Sadly, there are some timing issues in the climax as the characters forget when things happened. Ironically enough, the climax makes even more sense if you remember the correct timeline. There are a few Christmas elements in the book, but the main focus is on the characters and mystery. This may be a unique entry in the series, but fans will still love it.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Tamar...playing hooky for a few hours today · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to Follow - this was one of my favorite books in my favorite series.

Frank and Sarah left for Europe on their honeymoon, and all our favorite characters join together to solve a murder mystery in their absence. So cute...🤣

There! I've spilled the beans! Whooo! It was hard holding that in for so long! I have always tried to avoid mentioning that Frank and Sarah became engaged and then married, because I thought it might spoil the series for anyone who hadn't reached that point. However, I see the blurbs and the reviews don't hold back, so I finally feel free to do so now🤣

Did I mention how much I love this series?????

More to follow, when I can steal the time.

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really miss Frank and (the now) Sarah Malloy. They are on their honeymoon overseas when Maeve answered the door only to find an acquaintance in need of Mr. Malloy's help. Except he wasn't at home and the nanny decided to interfere offer the lady her services.

Ms. Thompson mentioned to the reader at the end of the book that this story was a 'Gaslight extra'. Her publisher wanted her to write a Christmas story featuring some of the important secondary characters and "fans have been nagging me to get Gino and Maeve together".

Well, it showed. Yes, there was a murder-mystery, but not nearly as good as the others in the series. And Maeve? Let me just say that her character needs some work. The author should soften her personality if I am ever to believe she has a prayer of having a serious relationship with Gino. *The poor guy.*

Actually, the person I most enjoyed reading about the most was the previously-haughty Felix Decker, Sarah's father. MURDER ON ST. NICHOLAS AVENUE gave him an opportunity to share himself and, at the same time, learn from the others. Mrs. Malloy, Frank's mother, wasn't quite as crotchety. Elizabeth Decker, Sarah's mother, landed a few gems and, who knew, but I missed Mrs. Elsworth. She was only mentioned briefly.

Sigh. This was my least favorite of the 18 books in the series. 2.5 stars

[Piyangie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This installment of the series finally clears the point of future occupation of Frank Malloy. After becoming a millionaire and being forced to quit the police force, Frank was desperate as to what he should do to spend his time. And now we are told that he will open a private detective agency. What is more this detective agency is formed while Frank and Sarah are on their honeymoon and unknown to them, and it had unofficially started on its first case with Gino, Maeve, Mr. and Mrs. Felix Decker working as detectives!

While the characters really grew on the reader, the storylines were considerably losing their glamour. The execution of the plot was poor and there was absolutely no suspense. The story was pretty predictable from a very early stage and there were no plot twists or surprising turns. I really lost interest in the story in the middle, but the characters kept me going. I enjoyed the growing attraction between Maeve and Gino. It was sweet. But I really missed Sarah and Frank.

I will give this series one last try to see how Frank and Sarah's married life and their detective agency progresses. But if the stories don't pick up, I'm afraid next installment will be my last.

[Stormi (StormReads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this as much with the absense of the usual main characters as they are off somewhere. This one has the usual secondary characters solving a mystery and I really enjoyed it.

[Lily (Night Owl Book Cafe) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a woman shows up on Franks Malloy's doorsteps, his midwife Maeve is weary of her appearance and think that this is just another person from her employers old neighborhood looking for a handout. When it turns out that Mrs. O’Neill is there on behalf of her daughter Una seeking Frank's help to rescue her daughter for being accused of murder, Maeve jumps into the Malloy's spot to handle the situation (as Frank is on his honeymoon and is unavailable). As Maeve tries to find the real killer, it will take the help of a few other friends in order to clear Una's name, including the help of Gino Donatelli, a cop who happens to be very sweet on Maeve.
Excellent story, I thoroughly enjoyed Murder on St. Nicholas Avenue. Victoria Thompson does an amazing job of combining historical fiction with mystery, into a novel that's so compelling, it is hard to put down. Character driven and fast paced, I found the 18th book of this series totally engrossing. Maeve was an excellent character. Do not be fooled by the blurb, though it does mention Frank and Sarah Malloy, the usual due of Gaslight mysteries, this one really stars Maeve and Gine. Maeve is fierce, out-spoken and tough as nails. She was such a joy to follow around this mystery and her relationship and banter between Gino Donatelli was both amusing and heartwarming. I loved the little romance brewing between these two.

"This is so much nicer than a cab," Maeve said, stroking the fine wool lap robe.
"Much more private, too," he said, remembering his claim that Maeve was his girl and wishing it were true.
He thought she gave him a look, but it was too dark to be sure. "Yes, we don't have to worry about little ears hearing what we say. I think that's why Mrs.Decker suggested we go to their house."
Gino managed not to sigh his disappointment that she didn't get his hint.

The story also featured a curious Mrs. Decker, who loves to butt in and her husband, Mr. Decker that finds his wife's involvement, very amusing especially when she tries to hide it. I love their relationship mainly because of the way Mr. Decker reacts to his wife's involvement, especially when he finds out that she is doing to sneak behind his back. He teases her, and lures her just to watch her reaction when she realizes that he knows her antics all along. Their interaction is easy, teasing, and can really put a smile on my face.

"How very clever," Mrs.Decker said. "I must remember that."
"Why?" her husband asked. "Are you planning to murder someone?"

The mystery was fun, and like I had already mentioned a bit hard to put down. Una is the woman accused of bashing her husbands head in. As we learn more about Mr.Pollock, her husband, you can't help but feel a kind of resentment for the man and all of his wrong doings. Una was a really hard character to like, so if that was the case that Thompson was building, she had accomplished it because not only did I not like her, I downright hated her by the end of the book.

"But I didn't kill him," she repeated. Maeve would've been angry by this point, but Una just pouted prettily.

The woman grated my nerves, especially when throughout the entire book she was using her looks to sway people and to me she just seemed like a total nutcase.heh.
The only thing that disappointed me was that I was hoping for a bit more of a holiday feel to the book because the cover suggested that, but I didn't get much of that at all.

Overall, if you are a fan of historical mystery, Victoria Thompson is a master at writing with memorable characters that grow with every book, an engrossing mystery and just simply wonderful writing.

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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This review was originally posted on Night Owl Book Café

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt compelled to grab a Gaslight Mystery by Victoria Thompson after some heavy-duty selections I've read lately. This is #18 in the series with a new one coming out in May. I've read them all with great delight.

Murder on St. Nicholas Avenue finds Detective Frank Malloy and his new wife, Sarah Brandt Malloy, on a European honeymoon. These two have been the mainstay of the series from the start. Without their solid presence and direct approaches, the series seems to have had a less lively and sleuth-filled flavor.

A young and recently married woman, Una Pollock, has been arrested and thrown into the infamous Tombs of ol' New York City for the murder of her husband. Randolph Pollock was a wealthy business man and so his death causes quite the stir. Una's mother contacts the Malloy residence for help. Maeve, the Malloy's nursemaid, has helped them on previous cases and steps up to assist Una and her mother in their absence. We also have the guidance of Gino Donatelli, a police officer friend of Frank Malloy, and Mr. and Mrs. Decker, the parents of Sarah Malloy. The "newly appointed detectives" must coordinate a plan to discover the murderer.....be it an outsider or be it Una herself?

Perhaps there are far too many fish in this kettle. Victoria Thompson is an ace story teller and her mysteries are always smart and twisty. This one may have been more challenging to present without the focal couple of Frank and Sarah. It was entertaining and I did enjoy it.

As a joyful side note: Frank and Sarah return in the next book to be published in May. Looking forward to welcoming them back in action in Ms. Thompson's next latest offering.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

While Frank and Sarah are on an extended honeymoon in Europe, Maeve decides to help a woman whose daughter was just arrested for murder. Una O'Neill married wealthy Randolph Pollock and moved to a large home in Harlem. Now the servants have found Mr. Pollock dad in the study, his wife cradling his body. The police think this is an open and shut case, but Maeve believes Una may have not killed her husband. With the help of Mr. and Mrs. Decker along with Police Officer Gino Donatelli, Maeve sets out to prove that Mrs. Pollock is innocent.

Without Frank and Sarah leading the case, the secondary characters step up to help a woman who has been accused of the murder of her husband. I enjoyed this story, mostly because of the involvement of Felix & Elizabeth Decker. Mrs. Decker has been involved with some earlier cases and thinks her husband has no knowledge of it. Well, Felix is very aware of what his wife has been up to. Now that he has seen what draws her to these cases, he jumps in with both feet. My rating: 4 Stars.

[David Freas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maeve, Gino, and Felix and Elizabeth Decker get a chance to shine in the latest entry in this long running series. While Sarah Brandt and Frank Molloy will always the stars of the show, it’s nice to see this crew take center stage for once.

One thing that makes this series so entertaining is reading how different things were in those days: the formality of everyday existence, the facades people hide behind in the name of propriety, the power the Deckers wield simply because they are rich, the slower paces of travel and communication. In this book, it’s funny to see the reactions of some people to new-fangled inventions (things we don’t even think twice about), like Frank’s mother’s reaction to the telephone and electric Christmas tree lights.

Ms. Thompson’s writing has an ‘old time’ tone to it, which only makes these books sound more authentic.

And she’s kept all the books in this series around 300 pages, avoiding the dreaded story bloat – where each book is longer than the one before with no increase in quality, only in words.

So flag this one as another well-done entry in a very good series.

[Jeannine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This almost feels like a spin off book because Frank and Sarah, the two main characters we've followed for 17 books, only appear in the final chapter. The secondary characters step into the spotlight as Maeve, Gino, and the Deckers (both of them) solve a crime for a friend of Mrs. Malloy (Frank's mother).

It was fun to see more of Maeve and Gino. I thought this book would be an opportunity for more relationship development, but they seem to be even less of a couple than in past books. Neither have expressed their true feelings. That being said, it's always a delight to see Maeve show her excellent skills when it comes to knowing how the criminal mind works.

Gino often acted as Mr. Decker's sidekick instead of as Maeve's. Mr. Decker was originally described as a difficult man, but he was charming and warm with friends and family in this book. Mrs. Decker was a delight, as usual, between getting information out of women, entertaining the younger children, and placating her husband.

[Leona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely, not one of my favorites in the series.

It started out strong and I particularly enjoyed the Deckers, Maeve and Gino's attempts to fly solo in solving a murder mystery. But, the story dragged in too many places and the tight suspense that I have come to love in this series just wasn't there.

I don't think you will miss much if you skip this one.

It's more like 2.5 stars ; rounding to 3 stars.

[Tammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Family friend Mrs. O’Neill was delighted when her daughter Una wed the seemingly wealthy and charming Randolph Pollock. She didn’t wonder why such an affluent man would want to marry a poor Irish girl, no matter how pretty she was. But now Mrs. O’Neill has a problem...

Murder on St. Nicholas Avenue was a fun read. It takes place just before Christmas while Sarah and Frank are still honeymooning. While I missed Sarah and Frank I was glad for the change of pace and the opportunity for some of the supporting characters to shine. This book features Maeve and Gino and also Sarah's parents, the Deckers, and Mrs. Malloy a little as well.

When I first met Sarah's parents many books ago I never would have thought I would come to enjoy reading about them so much. They weren't all that likable in the beginning, but they have changed a lot and now I love it when they get involved in cases. The way some of the characters have evolved is one thing that I've really come to like about this series. Even Mrs. Malloy, who in the beginning was a grumpy old woman who was hard to like has begun to soften and even get along with Mrs. Decker. I loved how they bonded over their grandchildren.

Maeve gets a lot of the spotlight in this book, and I love her. I'm also very happy to see the tiniest bit of movement in her relationship with Gino. I was hoping for more, but didn't really expect it because this author likes to move the relationships along very, very slowly. We did get inside Gino's head a bit though and we know for sure how he feels about Maeve, and it's obvious that Maeve feels the same way about him, but just doesn't want to admit it.

The mystery part of this story was pretty good. It was kind of obvious after a little while who was involved, but it was still enjoyable and I didn't figure out all of the nuts and bolts of it until the end. However I did feel like the best part of the book wasn't the mystery at all, but everything I mentioned above about the different supporting characters.

Review also posted at Writings of a Reader

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I always will miss Sarah and Frank if they aren't around, this interlude was really fun and refreshing. We know the supporting cast of characters so well by now that it felt completely natural to read an entire story focused around them while Sarah and Frank are off enjoying their honeymoon. It's also fun to see Maeve and Gino's relationship develop now that Sarah and Frank's relationship is established.

[Olivermagnus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is completely different from the other books in the Gaslight Mystery series, featuring Frank Malloy and Sarah Brandt. Frank and Sarah are off on their honeymoon in Europe and don't make a single appearance in this book. Nevertheless, this has turned out to be one of my favorites.

One night, Sarah's nursemaid, Maeve Smith, answers the door to find Mrs. O'Neill crying outside. She's looking for Frank, who she hopes can help her free her daughter, Una Pollock, who has been arrested for the murder of her husband. Maeve enlists Sarah's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Decker, along with Officer Gino Donatelli, and decides to work on the investigation herself. Naturally, it hits a few road bumps along the way and it's fun to see how Maeve organizes everyone.

I wondered where the author would be going now that the two main characters have married each other, and Frank is no longer a detective with the New York Police. It's clear that in the future Frank will be working as a private deceive and will be able to incorporate the secondary characters into some investigative roles. I loved the way the author developed some of the lesser known characters in this series, especially Felix Decker. This historical cozy series can be read out of order but I feel like the change in the characters over the years makes it better if you read at least a couple of the earlier books.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting way to start Christmas! I must admit that I did figure out the 'who did it' and 'why' fairly quickly in this mystery by Victoria Thompson which I usually do not do which was fun for me! Thinking about NYC, a little over 100 years ago, it amazes me how much it has changed in a rather short period. The secondary characters in this series are quite entertaining. A fun read with just a wee bit of violence. Merry Christmas, everyone!

[Veronique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thompson surprises us in this instalment by having the main characters of Sarah and Frank away on honeymoon for most of the novel. The narration, and crime solving, falls back on all the supporting cast, from Maeve and Gino to Sarah’s parents, and weirdly enough, it does work very well, offering us a good case while allowing said protagonists to develop further.

[Sherri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I was chuckling by Chapter 2.

Frank and Sarah have finally gotten married and are off for their honeymoon to Europe. In their absence the rest of the characters decide to help solve the arrest of Mrs. Malloy's friend's daughter. But just who was her husband? Is she as innocent as she seems?

Each secondary character shines in this installment and it was nice to get to know them a little better and see them grow into themselves.

At the end Frank and Sarah return and we find what new millionaire Frank will be doing...opening a detective agency.

Many more plots ahead with this opportunity and character development. I don't want this series to end anytime soon!

[Shirley Schwartz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking forward to this Christmas themed book which was also supposed to highlight the secondary characters in the Gaslight series. I must admit I enjoyed seeing Sarah's nursemaid Maeve and Gino, a police officer who used to work with Frank get together. I also enjoyed the fresh look at Sarah's parents, Felix and Elizabeth Decker. Sarah and Frank are on their honeymoon when the book opens, and when a distraught woman comes to their house, Maeve feels that she must try to help her clear her daughter's name. She had been arrested for the murder of her husband. Maeve enlists Gino and the Deckers to help her. During the course of the investigation the amateur detectives must first research the history of the victim and his young wife. They uncover quite few unsavoury details that only help to widen the suspect pool. Unfortunately, I had figured out the killer and the reasoning and planning behind the murder very early in the book. That took away a lot of the excitement and with no Frank and Sarah there, the book just didn't grab me like others in this series have done. I look forward to the next book, which will hopefully have Frank and Sarah in it.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely my favorite installment within the past 10 books and it was because Frank and Sarah were gone! Didn't have to hear about Sarah wanting to stay home with the children or Frank wanting her too, we NEVER saw Mrs. Ellsworth besides a quick mention, and the kids were minimally mentioned. It was a blessed relief.

Instead we got to follow the Maeve, Gino, and the Deckers. I loved this relationship and watching them all work together to solve the mystery.

One of Frank's old neighbors shows up begging for help. Her daughter, Una, has been accused of killing her husband and her mother swears she's innocent. Maeve and Gino decide to help and pull the Deckers along for the ride. I'll admit, it seemed pretty obvious how this one would end but I still enjoyed the ride.

I like that Mrs. Malloy is around now to watch the kids so we don't have to see Mrs. Ellsworth as often. I hope that continues.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprise, surprise.

I enjoyed this book immensely the main characters are off stage until towards the end of the book. I enjoy Maeve handling everything and loved it when the grandparents got involved. I can't wait to see where this series goes now.

[Marshall Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one quite a lot. I liked that she allowed the main characters to leave the stage for a bit so she could focus on the secondary characters. A risk, I guess, but one that paid off.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is number 18 in the series and I'm still enjoying the stories. This installment was a bit different as it didn't involve the two main characters of the series, former police detective Frank Molloy and midwife Sarah Brandt. Instead, the secondary characters that we've come to know in previous books took center stage and solved a murder all on their own. It was nice to see them all working together without the help of Frank and Sarah. This series is excellent in recreating New York City in the last 1890's and most times I learn something about that time that I was not aware of.

Ms Thompson does tend to bog down her stories a bit by having the characters repeat time and again to each other what they have learned. I've learned to put up with this as I love the stories and the interaction of all the characters. It is an easy read and always nice to catch up with "old friends".

[Betty Strohecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a friend of Frank's mother's shows up at the Malloy home requesting help for her daughter who has been jailed for murdering her husband, Maeve and Gino step up to take the case. Since Frank and Sarah are out of the country on their honeymoon trip, it seems only logical. Maeve quickly enlists the help of Sarah's society parents, Elizabeth and Felix Decker, and an exciting adventure begins. This was another great book in the Gaslight mystery series, even with the main characters absent, a true testimony of Thompson's strength in character development. It also sets the stage for a new direction for the Malloys.

Very entertaining, and with the happy return of Frank and Sarah in the last chapter, all is ready for the next case.

[Mei · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was fun because Sarah and Malloy are on their honeymoon and the actual investigation is left in the hands of Maeve, Donatelli, Felix and Elizabeth Decker! :)

Also the mystery is interesting because there was nobody I liked: neither the victim nor the villains!

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't tell if I liked it or not. The cliff hangers at the end of each chapter were fantastic, but i felt like the chapters dragged on a bit. Wanted more Christmas themes. I'd give the author another try!

[Alexandra]

11/18/17 $1.99 for Kindle.

[Anne - Books of My Heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't stop myself from reading this series. I'll be caught up soon and then what will I do?

I loved this further look at the secondary characters while Frank and Sarah are on their honeymoon. Plus it ends at Christmas with some nice family time.

[A Tiny Reader | Sharfin Islam · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5
I expected this to be some bonus novella, but this was definitely a fun read and we got to know the side characters much more intimately.