The Face in the Mirror

Molly Murphy #11.5

by Rhys Bowen

Molly Murphy—Molly Sullivan, now that she and Daniel are finally married—is bored. Having given up her detective agency when she married, she now finds that her life is much less exciting, her days an endless stretch of housekeeping and chores. But when Molly secretly attends a suffragist meeting with her friends Sid and Gus and meets a shy, distracted woman who claims to live in a haunted house, everything is about to change.

Rhys Bowen’s short story The Face in the Mirror offers just the taste of mystery and mayhem fans will need to tide them over until the next Molly Murphy novel.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Historical, Short Stories

45 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 5, 2013

About the author

I'm a New York Times bestselling mystery author, winner of both Agatha and Anthony awards for my Molly Murphy mysteries, set in 1902 New York City.

I have recently published four internationally bestselling WWII novels, one of them a #1 Kindle bestseller, and the Tuscan Child selling almost a million copies to date. In Farleigh Field won three major awards and was nominated for an Edgar. My other stand-alone novels are The Victory Garden, about land girls in WWI and Above the Bay of Angels, featuring a young woman who becomes chef for Queen Victoria.
April 2021 will mark the publication of THE VENICE SKETCHBOOK--another sweeping historical novel of love, loss and intrigue.

My books are currently translated into 29 languages and I have fans worldwide.

I also write the Agatha-winning Royal Spyness series, about the British royal family in the 1930s. It's lighter, sexier, funnier, wicked satire. It was voted by readers as best mystery series one year.
I am also known for my Constable Evans books, set in North Wales, and for my award-winning short stories.

I was born and raised in England but currently divide my time between California and Arizona where I go to escape from the harsh California winters
When I am not writing I love to travel, sing, hike, play my Celtic harp.
Series:
* Constable Evan Mystery
* Molly Murphy Mysteries
* Her Royal Spyness Mysteries

Awards:
Agatha Award
◊ Best Novel (2001): Murphy's Law
Reviewer's Choice Award
◊ Historical Mystery (2001): Murphy's Law

Reviews

[Cori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the fast pace of this short story! Lots of elements of this story I liked, one being how Daniel was involved. A must read for any Molly fan, and introduces a plot point that will be important in the next book!

[Judith Mosconi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molly Murphy is like a friend you run into every 6 months or so and you can't wait to hear what she has been up to. She is real, clever, and charming. The stories are filled with interesting facts of the times.

[Kit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent novella

This was a nice little novella, but there wasn't much substance to it. It was fairly easy to figure out the mystery too.

[Gwen Landon Ross · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very short and obvious

While I have enjoyed other books in this series, this one was almost a short story with a rather obvious plot and solution.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somehow I missed this short story in the Molly series. Molly helps a friend of her eccentric neighbors Sid and Gus when she thinks she is having a mental breakdown - behind Daniel’s back of course. A cute story but a bit too predictable for me.

[Thenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but fun, this is the a short story about Molly's first unofficial investigation since she got married.

Molly is asked to look into some strange incidents at a new acquaintance's house and with her usual determination, she manages to get to the truth.

It will be interesting to see how she deals with her newly discovered pregnancy in the next book, The Family Way.

[Erin Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

For heavens sakes...someone needs to edit this story. Basic spellcheck would be nice. Definitely comes off like it was written in a hurry, but the premise is good, and head and shoulders above the last Molly Murphy short story. Gaslighting is real and pervasive, even in today's culture, so it is nice to see it get some light, so to speak, in this short story.

[Mandy Caruso-Yahne]

Very short, but it's just an in-between story. I had already read the novels that were on either side of this story and you don't need to read this to keep up with the character's development, but it's a nice addition to the series. If I had been keeping up, this would have been a nice appetizer to keep me intrigued before the next novel came out.

[Dee Renee Chesnut · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a 99-cent ebook, a short story in the chronological order of the series, with an excerpt of the upcoming novel.
This is for fans of the series.

[Doreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

wow, this is a quick one...

[Virginia Tican · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs. Caroline Clements was a wealthy yet childless woman who was once one of the strongest driving force behind the suffragist movement in the city of New York but when Molly Murphy Sullivan met her at Gus' and Sid's house during a revived suffragist meeting that she kept from Daniel, Carrie Clements was the exact opposite of her former self... hiding in the shadows... shaking and scared of something unseen by the people with and around her. Upon learning of Molly's former profession, she called on Molly's house the following day and hired her to look into some strange things she had experienced inside her house that made her think she was slowly going mad. She saw a face in her mirror with sunken eyes and felt cold drafts though the windows were unopened... she also saw the drapes move without a breeze. So 'cui bono'?... who benefits in case Carrie Clements died? Nobody, except for some fortunate charitable institutions named as beneficiaries in her will BUT if she was declared Insane and admitted into an asylum... alive but unable to enjoy her wealth except for the greedy and conscienceless parasites who schemed to put her there. Those who made her doubt her own sanity and dared to destroy her... her very essence... the spirit and life force that defined her... it would have been a criminal act and a sort of murder. How did they contrive it?... through the use of Smoke and Mirrors ~ the most vital items in an Illusionist's act... pure drama and theater... FX... To obtain Justice for Carrie, Molly needed Daniel's presence and that of the Law when she confronted the perpetrators.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a novella with Molly Murphy Sullivan, she meets a lady at a Suffragette Meeting. The lady learned she's been a detective and she wanted her to come check out her house, she was afraid she was going crazy. Molly didn't see the face, when her friend saw in the mirror, and when she tasted her tea it was bitter and everyone else was fine. The she felts drafts and no one else did and she drapes saw the drapes move and no one else did. Molly goes out to find answers, she finds out the husband likes to go to Risque Girl Shows. Molly also learns a Magicians Assistant had left the show two months ago. And a cousin from Ireland came over to stay with them two months ago. She asks her husband the police captain to go with her to the house, Read this small book and find out the outcome.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for the 2023 52 Books Challenge prompt #6 "under 200 pages". It's a novela which is part of the Molly Murphy historical fiction/mystery series. This one is set just after she has married her police captain love and has closed her private detective agency at his request. Bored, and still waiting to get pregnant, she is asked to help a friend she has made through a suffragette society who thinks her house is haunted or she is going crazy. Molly digs around a bit and sorts it out nicely with her husband backing her up at the end. I enjoy this series, but prefer the longer novels. Still, it was a quick and satisfactory read. 3.5 stars

[J. Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful

An alienist is part detective, part doctor and part social worker. Many were bright, highly educated and very curious women who were altruistic and desired to be of help to others. Molly Murphy is one of them. She's non judgmental and uses science to back up her theories . If you are engaged and intrigued by her, you might want to read the Alienist by Caleb Carr for a deeper and more intellectual side of one. In the mean time just enjoy Molly Murphy.

[Treva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short story between number 11 and number 12. Molly helps a friend of Sid and Gus. The woman thinks she may be going crazy because she keeps tasting bitterness in her coffee and wine besides seeing another face besides hers in the mirror. Molly is able to solve the case in a couple of days. Even though she has promised Daniel she will no longer investigate, this little problem just fell into her lap.

[Sharon Weyant-Muir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice quick read

This short story has Molly adjusting to married life. No longer working as a detective, she is trying to content herself with housework. She is approached by Mrs Clements, a suffragette, who is experiencing strange things in her house. The plot is very simple, the ending is quite satisfying, and the reading of this story was quite pleasant.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this short story, Molly has been married for several months, and is worried that so far she hasn't become pregnant. But when a friend of her neighbors asks her to help solve a mystery, she jumps at the chance &madash; and forgets her own troubles. Enjoyable.

[Teresa Nicholson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short story.

I have read/ listened to all the Molly Murphy series. I've also read some of the Constable Evans and Her Royal Spyness series. I love them all. Hope for more of the Molly Murphy stories.

[Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet story

A lovely little short story by one of my favorite authors. Molly and her husband are probably pleased that Molly got another fling as a detective and they saved a life as well. Just delightful!

[Lori D · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short story but simply delightful

I have been listening to the audible Molly Murphy series and saw this book that was not included so just had to read it! Quick but delightful and it leads into the next.

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this story just after "Through the Window" I probably should have read it first. (no spoiler) It was short, but enjoyable. It was a nice little look into the Sullivan household. And Sid and Gus had a little part in it also.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good short story about Molly Murphy.

[Lavender Dreamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've not read the Molly Murphy series then you are in for a treat! This one was very interesting and filled with Molly intrigue!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this novella about Molly! Great little mystery you can read in an hour. Read before The Family Way.

[Tisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

Loved it. And I was right on who done it! Clever, charming always so witty! It would be a pleasure to meet the author sometime.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting short story, plays on Molly's experience in previous cases. I'm not sure if Daniel is overstepping his authority, though.

[Marty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t know why authors write these short ebook only books that are part of the series. They are ok but rarely that good.

[Roxie Klinksiek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful

A fun and delightful novella that has Molly showing off her investigative skills. I loved it. The whole series is wonderful.

[Sandra J · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Molly Murphy story

I have read the Royal Spyness stories and thoroughly enjoyed them. I'll give Molly a try to see if I like the characters as well as the mysteries.

[BeeGee Bramley]

Kcojh,bbbn my