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Lady Dunbridge Mystery #3
A Resolution at Midnight
Miss Fisher meets Downton Abbey in this critically acclaimed mystery series from New York Times bestselling author Shelley Noble.
Roasted chestnuts from vendor's carts, fresh cut spruce trees lining the sidewalks, extravagant gifts, opulent dinners, carols at St Patrick's Cathedral, a warm meal and a few minutes shelter from the cold at one of the charitable food lines . . .
It's Christmas in Gilded Age Manhattan.
And for the first time ever an amazing giant ball will drop along a rod on the roof of the New York Times building to ring in the New Year. Everyone plans to attend the event.
But the murder of a prominent newsman hits a little too close to home. And when a young newspaper woman, a protégée of the great Jacob Riis and old Vassar school chum of Bev's, is the target of a similar attack, it is clear this is not just a single act of violence but a conspiracy of malicious proportions. Really, you'd think murderers would take a holiday.
Something absolutely must be done. And Lady Dunbridge is happy to oblige in A Resolution at Midnight, the third book in this best selling series.
Roasted chestnuts from vendor's carts, fresh cut spruce trees lining the sidewalks, extravagant gifts, opulent dinners, carols at St Patrick's Cathedral, a warm meal and a few minutes shelter from the cold at one of the charitable food lines . . .
It's Christmas in Gilded Age Manhattan.
And for the first time ever an amazing giant ball will drop along a rod on the roof of the New York Times building to ring in the New Year. Everyone plans to attend the event.
But the murder of a prominent newsman hits a little too close to home. And when a young newspaper woman, a protégée of the great Jacob Riis and old Vassar school chum of Bev's, is the target of a similar attack, it is clear this is not just a single act of violence but a conspiracy of malicious proportions. Really, you'd think murderers would take a holiday.
Something absolutely must be done. And Lady Dunbridge is happy to oblige in A Resolution at Midnight, the third book in this best selling series.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published October 13, 2020
85 people are currently reading
2455 people want to read
About the author
Shelley Noble
31 books1,225 followersShelley Noble is a multi published fiction author whose books have been translated into seven languages. She writes women’s fiction as Shelley Noble and is also the author of several amateur sleuth mystery series, written as Shelley Freydont.
A former professional dancer and choreographer, she most recently worked on the films, Mona Lisa Smile and The Game Plan. She also consults on various dance and theatre projects, most recently the world premiere of a full length Tom Sawyer ballet commissioned by Kansas City Ballet.
Shelley is a member of Sisters-in-Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, and Liberty States Fiction Writers.
She lives near the New Jersey shore. In her spare time she loves to discover new beaches and indulge her passion for lighthouses and boardwalks with vintage carousels.
A former professional dancer and choreographer, she most recently worked on the films, Mona Lisa Smile and The Game Plan. She also consults on various dance and theatre projects, most recently the world premiere of a full length Tom Sawyer ballet commissioned by Kansas City Ballet.
Shelley is a member of Sisters-in-Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, and Liberty States Fiction Writers.
She lives near the New Jersey shore. In her spare time she loves to discover new beaches and indulge her passion for lighthouses and boardwalks with vintage carousels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
July 28, 2020
Having discovered her talent for solving murders, Lady Philomena, Phil, Dunbridge is hired by Mr. X. He sends her to get information from investigative journalist Tommy Green only she is shocked to find him dead with his throat slit. Phil finds herself in way over her head when she unravels illegal activity involving very powerful and dangerous people.
A Resolution at Midnight is the last book in A Lady Dunbridge Mystery series by Shelly Noble, published by Forge Books. The story is set in Gilded Age Manhattan December 1907. It is about Lady Philomena, Phil, Amesbury as she investigates the murder of investigative journalist Tommy Green. Phil is sent by her elusive boss Mr. X to meet with Mr. Green in a nickelodeon to receive information about organized crime in New York City. She finds him dead with his throat slit. Phil unravels illegal activity with possible ties to top politicians and businessmen of NYC. She realizes she has stumbled upon something really big and dangerous and is in way over her head and in real personal danger.
Main character Philomena (Phil) Amesbury is the young Dowager Countess of Dunbridge. I feel for her, but also feel impressed by how she starts a new life in a new country trying to work for a living and keep very minimal staff.
Supporting character NYPD Detective Sergeant John Atkins seems to be a caring and compassionate character that has an interesting relationship with Phil. I find his frustration with Phil endearing as she puts herself in danger.
What set this plot apart from others I have read was that Phil is kept in the dark as to who she is working for and has little to no information or directions what assignment she is on. She basically stumbles around looking for clues to investigate which makes me curious of what she may find.
This is the first book I have read by Shelly Noble and it worked perfectly as a standalone.
While plots may wary, there is a similar vibe to stories I have read set in NYC, which I thoroughly enjoy. The writing is vivid and the dialogue felt authentic. I particularly enjoyed Martha, Marty, Rive, who tries to become a news reporter in a man’s world.
The ending I felt was particularly well written. It kept me completely captivated. For obvious reasons I cannot tell you why. -Just check it out for yourself.
Conclusion: This is the captivating story of an English lady who reinvents herself to solve murders in Gilded Age Manhattan. She finds top politicians and businessmen playing by their own rules and lives matter very little when big fortunes can be built. If you enjoy opulent settings and a good murder mystery, you would love this well crafted story reminiscent of Downton Abbey.
Fans of Shelly Noble would love this and readers of murder mysteries would enjoy it as well. Similar authors to explore might be Alyssa Maxwell or Kate Young.
Thank you to publisher Forge Books and NetGalley for this eARC which gave me the opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions in this review are completely my own.
A Resolution at Midnight is the last book in A Lady Dunbridge Mystery series by Shelly Noble, published by Forge Books. The story is set in Gilded Age Manhattan December 1907. It is about Lady Philomena, Phil, Amesbury as she investigates the murder of investigative journalist Tommy Green. Phil is sent by her elusive boss Mr. X to meet with Mr. Green in a nickelodeon to receive information about organized crime in New York City. She finds him dead with his throat slit. Phil unravels illegal activity with possible ties to top politicians and businessmen of NYC. She realizes she has stumbled upon something really big and dangerous and is in way over her head and in real personal danger.
Main character Philomena (Phil) Amesbury is the young Dowager Countess of Dunbridge. I feel for her, but also feel impressed by how she starts a new life in a new country trying to work for a living and keep very minimal staff.
Supporting character NYPD Detective Sergeant John Atkins seems to be a caring and compassionate character that has an interesting relationship with Phil. I find his frustration with Phil endearing as she puts herself in danger.
What set this plot apart from others I have read was that Phil is kept in the dark as to who she is working for and has little to no information or directions what assignment she is on. She basically stumbles around looking for clues to investigate which makes me curious of what she may find.
This is the first book I have read by Shelly Noble and it worked perfectly as a standalone.
While plots may wary, there is a similar vibe to stories I have read set in NYC, which I thoroughly enjoy. The writing is vivid and the dialogue felt authentic. I particularly enjoyed Martha, Marty, Rive, who tries to become a news reporter in a man’s world.
The ending I felt was particularly well written. It kept me completely captivated. For obvious reasons I cannot tell you why. -Just check it out for yourself.
Conclusion: This is the captivating story of an English lady who reinvents herself to solve murders in Gilded Age Manhattan. She finds top politicians and businessmen playing by their own rules and lives matter very little when big fortunes can be built. If you enjoy opulent settings and a good murder mystery, you would love this well crafted story reminiscent of Downton Abbey.
Fans of Shelly Noble would love this and readers of murder mysteries would enjoy it as well. Similar authors to explore might be Alyssa Maxwell or Kate Young.
Thank you to publisher Forge Books and NetGalley for this eARC which gave me the opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions in this review are completely my own.
November 28, 2020
It's Lady Dunbridge's first Christmas in Manhattan and she intends to make the most of it. From Christmas shopping to tree decorating, celebrating with her servants who are more like family and just enjoying the season. Hopefully a midnight visit to her bedroom from the mysterious Mr. X will be in order as well. Phil doesn't expect to get caught up investigating the murder of a journalist. When Phil returns from Christmas shopping one day, she's irritated to find a note from Mr. X sending her to the Theater Unique, a nickelodeon. Because of holiday traffic, Phil arrives too late and she's horrified to discover a man, presumably her contact, with his throat slit. Phil scarcely has time to register what happened when a woman screams and a man calling himself the manager slips Phil out the door. She's shocked when she spies Sergeant Charles Becker, a corrupt cop known as "the fireplug" far from his district. While planning a charity ball, Phil is introduced to some of her friend Bev's old school friends, Martha Rive, a journalist and Rosalind Chandler who is married to a wealthy politician. While Phil has no interest in interfering with Roz's marital problems, she zeroes in on Marty's concerns for her mentor, Tommy Green, who has missed his deadline. Soon Phil comes to the conclusion that Tommy was her mystery body and for some reason, the police haven't informed the New York Times of his demise. When Phil is sent a threatening note, she fears Tommy Green's death was the work of the criminal gang known as La Negra Mano (The Black Hand). Tommy was a muckraking journalist, intent upon exposing corruption. Why would the Black Hand, known for terrorizing immigrants, target Tommy Green? What was he working on when he died? For that, Phil needs an insider but she doesn't quite trust Marty but Marty will have to do and they'll both play the same game of using each other. Phil wants to solve the murder by Christmas so she will be free to celebrate with her "family" but it soon seems as if murder will only take a holiday and the investigation will resume after Boxing Day. Can Phil crack the case before the new year's even ball drops for the first time?
This story got off to a bit of a slow start for me. I was VERY disappointed when it seemed to revolve around The Black Hand. I read that story in Elizabeth Street (Phil mentions the bombing of Laurie Fabiano's great-grandparents' grocery store in passing but not by name) and it was utterly heartbreaking. I wondered if someone disconnected from the story could do justice to the Italian American thugs and not paint them as stereotypes? Fortunately, it soon became clear to me that the story was more about corruption at the highest levels of society and an intricate web linking Tammany Hall to the New York Times reporter. I figured out what was going on a lot faster than Phil did but she needed proof. The story picked up and I had a very hard time putting it down. This one is more gritty and dark than I prefer to read but I mostly enjoyed it. I really wanted to know more about the mysterious Mr. X who pays Phil to investigate crimes and occasionally warms her bed. He's not at all who I thought he was! The two people are in the same place at the same time and Phil would know if Mr. X was who I thought he was. The only real answer we get is at the very end when Phil gets a look at him in daylight. This is maddening!
The period details are incredible. I really felt like I was traveling through Gilded Age Manhattan. I've been to Manhattan several times but never at Christmas. Like everyone else though, I've seen TV and movies and know all about the famous department store Christmas windows and of course the famous New Year's Eve ball drop. It must have been incredible to experience all that for the very FIRST time (and have the money to shop at the original Macy's)! I really loved that atmosphere. It was fun to travel through a slightly familiar neighborhood but not seeing the iconic buildings we know today. It's hard to imagine New York City without the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building and sadly, even the Twin Towers.
Can you imagine Phil walking around Union Square?
Knickerbocker Hotel
Look, it's Just a Friend!
Macy's Christmas window 1910 Library of Congress
I did sense some modernism/Americanisms, I think, but the author read numerous newspaper articles so I'm hoping her details were right. Her author's note directs readers to her website but there's nothing there yet relating to the history and traditions. While Moravian stars are part of my mom's family tradition, as she grew up in the church, I wonder how mainstream they were by 1907?
Phil is a modern woman. She seems more 1920s than 1900s to me though, knocking back cocktails and exhibiting sexual freedom. I'm assuming she's unable to have children or she wouldn't have embarked on affairs in the first place. I really like how she's come to view Lily and Prestwick as her family. Her feelings towards them are very sweet and I expect, even though they won't admit it, they feel the same way. We learn more about her background and what made her the strong, confident woman she is. Phil is starting to show more feeling here and feels guilty because she really hasn't been all that philanthropic. To be fair, she doesn't have much money and she is very generous to Lily and Prestwick. Even adopting Lily as her maid is very generous for a woman as her time. She could have let the authorities haul Lily away. I also think her relationship with "Just a Friend" is very sweet. He's devoted to her and she needs the street smart lad to watch out for her. I like how she's carved out a family of her own. Her father and her late husband sound incredibly horrible, especially her husband.
Phil's friends are a mixed bag. I adore Prestwick and Lily. Prestwick acts like a stuffy, proper butler but he has a heart of gold and secretly enjoys sleuthing like his favorite book character, Sherlock Holmes. Lily's background is still a mystery but she's starting to feel more comfortable to almost let something slip. She's like a child when it comes to Christmas but fiercely protective of Phil and quick to yank out her stiletto! I don't like Bev. She's too flighty and doesn't seem to take anything seriously. She could get Phil killed with her bragging. Lorenzo from the Plaza is becoming a friend too. He knows a lot about the real New York and helps keep Phil safe. Detective Sergeant Atkins is a good guy. The only honest cop on the force, he's a bit too straight for Phil. I think he's attracted to her but knows it can never be. She's attracted to him as well but so is Bev. Bev's feelings aren't involved and I think Phil's are. Mr. X is infuriatingly mysterious. He may be a good lover but he's not such a great friend. He is probably bound by all kinds of secrecy clauses and whatnot but Phil is frustrated by his lack of communication while she's stumbling in the dark. For now, it amuses him to play cat and mouse with Phil. Even though he plays hard to get, I think he does have some feelings for Phil. I think he may want to stop this business, whatever it is, an settle down in a real home but he can't.
Bev's old school chums from Vassar have led vastly different lives. My heart breaks for Roz. Her parents pulled her out of college to marry a man twice her age who doesn't love her or appreciate her. He's controlling and bullying, much like Phil's late unlamented husband. Despicable but legal. Marty is an interesting character. Where Roz is weak and meek, Marty is a firebrand. I admire her determination to become a REAL journalist but I do feel that her temper gets the better of her at times. She's so dogged in pursuit of justice that she lets her anger cloud her judgement. Marty reacts without thinking most of the time. She's wary of Phil and Phil is wary of loose cannon Marty as well. They each want and need information from the other. Marty is very high strung and a workaholic. I admire her dedication to justice and true journalism but I think she's a bit too hot-headed and hasty to become a true star in the field. She's going after something big and it could get her killed.
The Society people are so awful, it's no wonder Bev tries hard to shock them. Mrs. Abernathy and Mrs. Trout are nosy gossips. Mrs. Trout always makes her presence known and she would claim she doesn't know anything about her husband's business but I think she does. Mr. Trout is a shady real estate mogul and I don't trust him. There's evidence of past corruption so what makes anyone think he's stopped now? He's definitely on my list of suspects for murderer. Mr. Jarvis Chandler is rotten to the core. He's a corrupt politician, no surprise there, and a truly horrid husband. I hope he's the murderer but I worry how Roz would handle the scandal.
Tommy's typewriter girl, Harriet, wants to be a journalist but she doesn't have the intelligence or the nerves for it. She may know what he was working on when he died and more about his murder than she lets on. Is she really that silly or is she playing a dangerous game? If she's hiding her intelligence, she could be the leak in the news room. If she's that stupid, she's accidentally revealed secrets to the wrong people. Sydney Lord, associate news editor, is a wannabe slick ladies' man and a wannabe big time journalist tight with the powers that be. He doesn't seem intelligent to me and is rather slimy. I think he's a small fish in a big pond and someone may be pulling the strings. He's a likely candidate for the leak that got Tommy Green's story killed when another paper scooped it. Another possibility is Eddie from the mail room. He's infatuated with Harriet and has the means and opportunity to hiding Tommy's notes.
Mrs. Toscana is an outlier for murderer. She surprised me. Nice Italian girls don't do that sort of thing. What led her to the life she leads? It must have been something tragic and heartbreaking. What about her "girl", many of them Italian themselves? Were they taken advantage of by some disgusting louse and kicked out of their families? Where's the mythical spirit of vengeance? My dad would want to go after the guy with a gun. Perhaps the girls were too ashamed to show their faces at home again. Perhaps they were factory girls. There's a sad story there somewhere. In spite of her profession, I think Mrs. Toscana is honorable and truly cares about her "employees". She takes better care of them than most people would. It's just so sad that prostitution pays more than wage work! Would Charles Becker commit murder? Probably not on his own in a public place but he's certainly at the center of this investigation. He's corrupt and nasty to the bone. He's covering something up big time. I hope Martha gets him fired and imprisoned but with a corrupt police force, I doubt it.
I'm not sure I'll read the next investigation but I probably will if I have the time. I largely prefer lighter mysteries.
This story got off to a bit of a slow start for me. I was VERY disappointed when it seemed to revolve around The Black Hand. I read that story in Elizabeth Street (Phil mentions the bombing of Laurie Fabiano's great-grandparents' grocery store in passing but not by name) and it was utterly heartbreaking. I wondered if someone disconnected from the story could do justice to the Italian American thugs and not paint them as stereotypes? Fortunately, it soon became clear to me that the story was more about corruption at the highest levels of society and an intricate web linking Tammany Hall to the New York Times reporter. I figured out what was going on a lot faster than Phil did but she needed proof. The story picked up and I had a very hard time putting it down. This one is more gritty and dark than I prefer to read but I mostly enjoyed it. I really wanted to know more about the mysterious Mr. X who pays Phil to investigate crimes and occasionally warms her bed. He's not at all who I thought he was! The two people are in the same place at the same time and Phil would know if Mr. X was who I thought he was. The only real answer we get is at the very end when Phil gets a look at him in daylight. This is maddening!
The period details are incredible. I really felt like I was traveling through Gilded Age Manhattan. I've been to Manhattan several times but never at Christmas. Like everyone else though, I've seen TV and movies and know all about the famous department store Christmas windows and of course the famous New Year's Eve ball drop. It must have been incredible to experience all that for the very FIRST time (and have the money to shop at the original Macy's)! I really loved that atmosphere. It was fun to travel through a slightly familiar neighborhood but not seeing the iconic buildings we know today. It's hard to imagine New York City without the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building and sadly, even the Twin Towers.
Can you imagine Phil walking around Union Square?
Knickerbocker Hotel
Look, it's Just a Friend!
Macy's Christmas window 1910 Library of Congress
I did sense some modernism/Americanisms, I think, but the author read numerous newspaper articles so I'm hoping her details were right. Her author's note directs readers to her website but there's nothing there yet relating to the history and traditions. While Moravian stars are part of my mom's family tradition, as she grew up in the church, I wonder how mainstream they were by 1907?
Phil is a modern woman. She seems more 1920s than 1900s to me though, knocking back cocktails and exhibiting sexual freedom. I'm assuming she's unable to have children or she wouldn't have embarked on affairs in the first place. I really like how she's come to view Lily and Prestwick as her family. Her feelings towards them are very sweet and I expect, even though they won't admit it, they feel the same way. We learn more about her background and what made her the strong, confident woman she is. Phil is starting to show more feeling here and feels guilty because she really hasn't been all that philanthropic. To be fair, she doesn't have much money and she is very generous to Lily and Prestwick. Even adopting Lily as her maid is very generous for a woman as her time. She could have let the authorities haul Lily away. I also think her relationship with "Just a Friend" is very sweet. He's devoted to her and she needs the street smart lad to watch out for her. I like how she's carved out a family of her own. Her father and her late husband sound incredibly horrible, especially her husband.
Phil's friends are a mixed bag. I adore Prestwick and Lily. Prestwick acts like a stuffy, proper butler but he has a heart of gold and secretly enjoys sleuthing like his favorite book character, Sherlock Holmes. Lily's background is still a mystery but she's starting to feel more comfortable to almost let something slip. She's like a child when it comes to Christmas but fiercely protective of Phil and quick to yank out her stiletto! I don't like Bev. She's too flighty and doesn't seem to take anything seriously. She could get Phil killed with her bragging. Lorenzo from the Plaza is becoming a friend too. He knows a lot about the real New York and helps keep Phil safe. Detective Sergeant Atkins is a good guy. The only honest cop on the force, he's a bit too straight for Phil. I think he's attracted to her but knows it can never be. She's attracted to him as well but so is Bev. Bev's feelings aren't involved and I think Phil's are. Mr. X is infuriatingly mysterious. He may be a good lover but he's not such a great friend. He is probably bound by all kinds of secrecy clauses and whatnot but Phil is frustrated by his lack of communication while she's stumbling in the dark. For now, it amuses him to play cat and mouse with Phil. Even though he plays hard to get, I think he does have some feelings for Phil. I think he may want to stop this business, whatever it is, an settle down in a real home but he can't.
Bev's old school chums from Vassar have led vastly different lives. My heart breaks for Roz. Her parents pulled her out of college to marry a man twice her age who doesn't love her or appreciate her. He's controlling and bullying, much like Phil's late unlamented husband. Despicable but legal. Marty is an interesting character. Where Roz is weak and meek, Marty is a firebrand. I admire her determination to become a REAL journalist but I do feel that her temper gets the better of her at times. She's so dogged in pursuit of justice that she lets her anger cloud her judgement. Marty reacts without thinking most of the time. She's wary of Phil and Phil is wary of loose cannon Marty as well. They each want and need information from the other. Marty is very high strung and a workaholic. I admire her dedication to justice and true journalism but I think she's a bit too hot-headed and hasty to become a true star in the field. She's going after something big and it could get her killed.
The Society people are so awful, it's no wonder Bev tries hard to shock them. Mrs. Abernathy and Mrs. Trout are nosy gossips. Mrs. Trout always makes her presence known and she would claim she doesn't know anything about her husband's business but I think she does. Mr. Trout is a shady real estate mogul and I don't trust him. There's evidence of past corruption so what makes anyone think he's stopped now? He's definitely on my list of suspects for murderer. Mr. Jarvis Chandler is rotten to the core. He's a corrupt politician, no surprise there, and a truly horrid husband. I hope he's the murderer but I worry how Roz would handle the scandal.
Tommy's typewriter girl, Harriet, wants to be a journalist but she doesn't have the intelligence or the nerves for it. She may know what he was working on when he died and more about his murder than she lets on. Is she really that silly or is she playing a dangerous game? If she's hiding her intelligence, she could be the leak in the news room. If she's that stupid, she's accidentally revealed secrets to the wrong people. Sydney Lord, associate news editor, is a wannabe slick ladies' man and a wannabe big time journalist tight with the powers that be. He doesn't seem intelligent to me and is rather slimy. I think he's a small fish in a big pond and someone may be pulling the strings. He's a likely candidate for the leak that got Tommy Green's story killed when another paper scooped it. Another possibility is Eddie from the mail room. He's infatuated with Harriet and has the means and opportunity to hiding Tommy's notes.
Mrs. Toscana is an outlier for murderer. She surprised me. Nice Italian girls don't do that sort of thing. What led her to the life she leads? It must have been something tragic and heartbreaking. What about her "girl", many of them Italian themselves? Were they taken advantage of by some disgusting louse and kicked out of their families? Where's the mythical spirit of vengeance? My dad would want to go after the guy with a gun. Perhaps the girls were too ashamed to show their faces at home again. Perhaps they were factory girls. There's a sad story there somewhere. In spite of her profession, I think Mrs. Toscana is honorable and truly cares about her "employees". She takes better care of them than most people would. It's just so sad that prostitution pays more than wage work! Would Charles Becker commit murder? Probably not on his own in a public place but he's certainly at the center of this investigation. He's corrupt and nasty to the bone. He's covering something up big time. I hope Martha gets him fired and imprisoned but with a corrupt police force, I doubt it.
I'm not sure I'll read the next investigation but I probably will if I have the time. I largely prefer lighter mysteries.
March 30, 2022
About the same level of interest as the first book of the series. Author seems to be hit or miss! I’ll finish the series since there is only one more though!
December 27, 2020
4.25 stars
A Resolution at Midnight, by Shelley Noble, is the 3rd book in the Lady Dunbridge historical mystery series and another entertaining and enchanting story.
These mysteries are set in the Gilded Age of the early 1900s Manhattan. This story features Lady “Phil”/Philomena Dunbridge, a countess who has escaped an unhappy marriage and is now making her own way in the Big Apple, solving crimes with her faithful friends and servants, Preswick and Lily.
In this particular case, Phil is requested to meet an investigative journalist to receive some vital information and upon her arrival, she finds him with his throat slashed! As Phil begins to explore this crime, her investigations reveal the corruption could be widespread encompassing Tammany Hall, the police force and possibly even amongst powerful business figures in the city.
The stories in this series are cozy and captivating. They are all remarkably atmospheric, dropping the character right into the heart of historic Manhattan with key events and figures in the era, including newsboys, socialites, mafia and madams, roasted chestnuts from street vendors and philanthropic balls.
We are guided through the mysteries by sharp-witted, endearing, characters who share strong bonds of friendship. a dash of heated romance, and a bit romantic intrigue on the side. Not only do we get nostalgic glimpses into the past, such as the first countdown and dropping of the New Year’s ball in Times Square, but also some Christmas festivities and New Year’s cheer.
Resolution at Midnight is the perfect mystery for this time of year and a meaningful addition to the Lady Dunbridge series.
A Resolution at Midnight, by Shelley Noble, is the 3rd book in the Lady Dunbridge historical mystery series and another entertaining and enchanting story.
These mysteries are set in the Gilded Age of the early 1900s Manhattan. This story features Lady “Phil”/Philomena Dunbridge, a countess who has escaped an unhappy marriage and is now making her own way in the Big Apple, solving crimes with her faithful friends and servants, Preswick and Lily.
In this particular case, Phil is requested to meet an investigative journalist to receive some vital information and upon her arrival, she finds him with his throat slashed! As Phil begins to explore this crime, her investigations reveal the corruption could be widespread encompassing Tammany Hall, the police force and possibly even amongst powerful business figures in the city.
The stories in this series are cozy and captivating. They are all remarkably atmospheric, dropping the character right into the heart of historic Manhattan with key events and figures in the era, including newsboys, socialites, mafia and madams, roasted chestnuts from street vendors and philanthropic balls.
We are guided through the mysteries by sharp-witted, endearing, characters who share strong bonds of friendship. a dash of heated romance, and a bit romantic intrigue on the side. Not only do we get nostalgic glimpses into the past, such as the first countdown and dropping of the New Year’s ball in Times Square, but also some Christmas festivities and New Year’s cheer.
Resolution at Midnight is the perfect mystery for this time of year and a meaningful addition to the Lady Dunbridge series.
October 18, 2020
A Resolution at Midnight is the third book in Shelley Noble's Lady Dunbridge historical mystery series. I didn't read the first two books yet, and I think I would have enjoyed this volume more if I had. This mystery stood alone, but I believe I would have been better served reading about the backgrounds of the characters first, especially how the main character became involved in solving murders. The first third of the book dragged a bit for me, but then the mystery became rather exciting and I couldn't put it down until I found out whodunit.
1907 Gilded Age Manhattan. Philomena Amesbury, the young Dowager Countess of Dunbridge - Phil to her friends - is getting ready to celebrate her first Christmas in the United States. She and her cohorts in investigations, Preswick the butler and Lily the maid, are going all out in preparation. Phil receives a note from the mysterious "Mr. X" she works for, telling her to meet with Tommy Green, a respected investigative journalist, at a nickelodeon to get some information. When Phil arrives, however, she finds Green dead. What was he working on? Where were his notes? Phil and the gang begin to investigate. The suspects are numerous. Was it the Black Hand? A crooked cop? Dirty politicians? Phil hopes she lives long enough to find out!
As stated earlier, this book took awhile to take off for me, but the fun mystery full of red herrings finally grabbed me and didn't let go. Just when I thought I had it all figured out the tables were turned and I was left in the dark again. I was touched by the relationship between Phil, Preswick and Lily. They began as employer and employees, but their little group became more like a family. The supporting characters were excellent as well. I especially liked handsome Detective Sergeant John Atkins, paper boy Just a Friend and Phil's chum Bev from finishing school. (Bev's attempts to make the perfect Christmas cocktail were a lot of fun.) Then there was the enigmatic Mr. X... We don't really know what he looks like and who he works for; we just know Phil is fascinated with him and is also wildly attracted to her mystery man. I am really looking forward to further adventures with this entertaining crew. Word is it will take place at the newly opened Coney Island; what fun that should be!
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
1907 Gilded Age Manhattan. Philomena Amesbury, the young Dowager Countess of Dunbridge - Phil to her friends - is getting ready to celebrate her first Christmas in the United States. She and her cohorts in investigations, Preswick the butler and Lily the maid, are going all out in preparation. Phil receives a note from the mysterious "Mr. X" she works for, telling her to meet with Tommy Green, a respected investigative journalist, at a nickelodeon to get some information. When Phil arrives, however, she finds Green dead. What was he working on? Where were his notes? Phil and the gang begin to investigate. The suspects are numerous. Was it the Black Hand? A crooked cop? Dirty politicians? Phil hopes she lives long enough to find out!
As stated earlier, this book took awhile to take off for me, but the fun mystery full of red herrings finally grabbed me and didn't let go. Just when I thought I had it all figured out the tables were turned and I was left in the dark again. I was touched by the relationship between Phil, Preswick and Lily. They began as employer and employees, but their little group became more like a family. The supporting characters were excellent as well. I especially liked handsome Detective Sergeant John Atkins, paper boy Just a Friend and Phil's chum Bev from finishing school. (Bev's attempts to make the perfect Christmas cocktail were a lot of fun.) Then there was the enigmatic Mr. X... We don't really know what he looks like and who he works for; we just know Phil is fascinated with him and is also wildly attracted to her mystery man. I am really looking forward to further adventures with this entertaining crew. Word is it will take place at the newly opened Coney Island; what fun that should be!
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
May 9, 2021
I'm crazy for Lady Dunbridge and in A Resolution at Midnight by Shelley Noble the third book of the A Lady Dunbridge Mystery series I want more! Shelley Noble definitely has the "mystery" in cozy mystery down. She kept me guessing until the very end and has done so with every book, so far. So many cozies are fun, entertaining reads, but to be honest they aren't tough mysteries to solve. I know, I know don't get me wrong, I love my cozy mysteries and read them all the time, but not always for the great mystery they contain, but usually for the great characters and stories they tell more than the cat and mouse of the hunt for the killer. With Shelley Noble she could easily write a complex murder mystery and have it listed within the "regular" mystery genre, no problem.
In this book we find Lady Dunbridge getting ready for the holidays. It's Gilded Age Manhattan and Christmas is here. This will be the first time the ball will fall in Times Square and the whole town is excited! This was very interesting to read about, since we all watch that same tradition today. Anyway, Phil, as she's know to her friends gets a note, presumably from the elusive Mr. X telling her to meet a man at the theater for further instructions. She has no idea what's in store, but trusts Mr. X and goes to the theater, but what she finds is not what she ever expected. The man she sits next to at the theater has had his throat slit and isn't talking! Again, Phil has a murder on her hands!
The man turns out to be a reporter whose working on a large scale investigative report on corruption in city politics. Something's fishy here and Phil, along with her lady's maid and butler, her proven and loyal fellow investigators are ready to get to work. With the aid of the handsome and elusive Mr. X Phil, along with others will root out the evil doers in this one.
I can't remember the last time I've been so torn about who the killer is in a cozy mystery series as I've been with this one. Every book so far has kept me guessing. This one had a little something extra for the reader though and that was the whole story of the first dropping of the New Year's Eve ball being dropped. The year was 1907 historically, but I don't remember if the book ever really mentioned the year. Anyway, the description of that ball, the way they planned on dropping it off the Times building and how it was all hidden within the building were all very interesting. And of course the characters were fabulous! I've grown to really like Phil and her servants. They're quite the trio. The butler in particular really shows his stuff in this one and he's an older man by now, I loved it! There's one more book in this series due out in September 2021 and I can't wait. I hope there will be more after that one, but I'll have to see. I could go on and on with Lady Dunbridge et. al. Happy Reading!
In this book we find Lady Dunbridge getting ready for the holidays. It's Gilded Age Manhattan and Christmas is here. This will be the first time the ball will fall in Times Square and the whole town is excited! This was very interesting to read about, since we all watch that same tradition today. Anyway, Phil, as she's know to her friends gets a note, presumably from the elusive Mr. X telling her to meet a man at the theater for further instructions. She has no idea what's in store, but trusts Mr. X and goes to the theater, but what she finds is not what she ever expected. The man she sits next to at the theater has had his throat slit and isn't talking! Again, Phil has a murder on her hands!
The man turns out to be a reporter whose working on a large scale investigative report on corruption in city politics. Something's fishy here and Phil, along with her lady's maid and butler, her proven and loyal fellow investigators are ready to get to work. With the aid of the handsome and elusive Mr. X Phil, along with others will root out the evil doers in this one.
I can't remember the last time I've been so torn about who the killer is in a cozy mystery series as I've been with this one. Every book so far has kept me guessing. This one had a little something extra for the reader though and that was the whole story of the first dropping of the New Year's Eve ball being dropped. The year was 1907 historically, but I don't remember if the book ever really mentioned the year. Anyway, the description of that ball, the way they planned on dropping it off the Times building and how it was all hidden within the building were all very interesting. And of course the characters were fabulous! I've grown to really like Phil and her servants. They're quite the trio. The butler in particular really shows his stuff in this one and he's an older man by now, I loved it! There's one more book in this series due out in September 2021 and I can't wait. I hope there will be more after that one, but I'll have to see. I could go on and on with Lady Dunbridge et. al. Happy Reading!
October 23, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and Forge Books for the free Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first book in Shelley Noble's Lady Dunbridge's series. I absolutely loved the depiction of New York City at the turn of the last century. It was fun to read how Philomenona, the Countess of Dunbridge, was so excited to celebrate her first Christmas in the New World. We met her servants, Preswick and Lily. These two characters are great. They help Phil with solving her cases.
The case here centers around the death of Tommy Green, a reporter for the New York....... Phil is told to meet someone in a theatre by Mr. X. As happens in mysteries, Phil's real life friends are connected to the case in certain ways. There are connections to brothels, bombs, exciting chases, the first Times Square New Year's Eve ball, the Black Hand and domestic abuse.
While I definitely enjoyed this book, I do think I would have liked it more if I had read a previous book in the series. I also personally do not like the plot device of having Lady Dunbridge approached by a man who is called Mr. X. He seems to be a high member of government but he is always in disguise. I plan on reading more in the series because of the writing. I give this book a good solid 4.
This was my first book in Shelley Noble's Lady Dunbridge's series. I absolutely loved the depiction of New York City at the turn of the last century. It was fun to read how Philomenona, the Countess of Dunbridge, was so excited to celebrate her first Christmas in the New World. We met her servants, Preswick and Lily. These two characters are great. They help Phil with solving her cases.
The case here centers around the death of Tommy Green, a reporter for the New York....... Phil is told to meet someone in a theatre by Mr. X. As happens in mysteries, Phil's real life friends are connected to the case in certain ways. There are connections to brothels, bombs, exciting chases, the first Times Square New Year's Eve ball, the Black Hand and domestic abuse.
While I definitely enjoyed this book, I do think I would have liked it more if I had read a previous book in the series. I also personally do not like the plot device of having Lady Dunbridge approached by a man who is called Mr. X. He seems to be a high member of government but he is always in disguise. I plan on reading more in the series because of the writing. I give this book a good solid 4.
July 18, 2020
1907 New York Phil Countess of Dunbridge was spending Christmas at the Plaza Hotel with Butler Preswick and Maid Lily. This close circle would come to investigate the murder of newspaper man Tommy Green. Phil was one of only a small group who knew where he died as she had been sent there by Mr X. Mr X a man always in disguise but who she was strangely attracted to. There is a slow start to this story to set out the many characters. Phil will find being a Lady will not protect her from imminent death could it be the work of the Black Hand or a more shady group. The finale will excite with the first drop of the New Years Eve ball in Time Square. This is the 3rd book in the series and l think checking back on the main characters in previous books will help with their backstories. Overall a good mystery at a romantic time of year. I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2024
Philomena, Dowager Countess of Dunbridge--Phil, to her friends--is enjoying life in 1907 New York, where she lives at the Plaza Hotel, courtesy of a mysterious group that "hires" her to solve the odd murder. Her only contact with the group is through the handsome, although usually well-disguised, Mr. X. But this time he's miscalculated. She didn't get his note sending her to a nickleodeon until it was too late for her to meet the informant who was going to pass on some essential information. In fact, by the time she reached him, he was dead--although a corrupt policeman moved his body to where it wasn't found until several days later. With the help of her two loyal servants, Phil visits stunningly different venues, from the Plaza to a bordello to a tenement apartment to the offices of the New York Times. She's kidnapped and freed with the help of an unexpected ally, but she finds a way to trap the malefactor and avenge the murder.
November 8, 2020
The description of Miss Fisher meets Downton Abbey sums up the whole character and flavor of this story.
Lady Dunbridge, aristocratic escaping from a tyrant father and an abusive husband now dead has arrived to make a new life for herself. Welcomed by New York society who loves the Engish aristocracy she fits in with her new life but when another murder reins her into an investigation she has to try at least to see that justice is served.
With a nice mix of murder and mayhem, corruption in the municipalities and police, the mafia and gangs that operate plus a touch of romance amidst the high flyers of New York society this book had a lot of things going to keep everyone interested.
I will be looking out for Lady Dunbridge in the future too.
Lady Dunbridge, aristocratic escaping from a tyrant father and an abusive husband now dead has arrived to make a new life for herself. Welcomed by New York society who loves the Engish aristocracy she fits in with her new life but when another murder reins her into an investigation she has to try at least to see that justice is served.
With a nice mix of murder and mayhem, corruption in the municipalities and police, the mafia and gangs that operate plus a touch of romance amidst the high flyers of New York society this book had a lot of things going to keep everyone interested.
I will be looking out for Lady Dunbridge in the future too.
February 22, 2021
Great fun to visit New York celebrating Christmas during the early 1900s, particularly the first year the ball drop in Times Square. Somehow, the charming Lady Dunbridge manages to investigate a murder while trying to buy presents for her staff, go to holiday parties and see the Christmas windows. The murder is realistic and the historical details are good. I love revisiting these characters.
Have fun and a hot chocolate. You'll be in the mood for a few snowflakes reading this entertaining book.
Have fun and a hot chocolate. You'll be in the mood for a few snowflakes reading this entertaining book.
October 26, 2020
This was a fun book! I loved the setting of New York City in the Gilded Age. So much happening with new inventions and so much corruption! Phil reminded me a lot of Miss Fisher and I adore her! Having a Countess in America who is solving crimes surreptitiously is so fun. The mystery was good and the characters were delightful. You have quite a range too starting with the Countess, a load of society mavens, cops and politicians to servants and newsboys. I really enjoyed it and will definitely be looking for more of this series.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher and voluntarily chose to review it.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher and voluntarily chose to review it.
March 23, 2021
Actually 3 1/2 stars.
December 11, 2020
Talk about atmospheric and timely! I read this charming mystery two weeks before Christmas with a blanket of deep snow on the ground and hot chocolate at hand, Christmas lights and decorations twinkling. The gilded age is one of my favourites to read about and Shelley Noble's spirited Lady Dunbridge series is loads of fun. A Resolution at Midnight is the third in the series and takes place in New York City in 1907, on the verge of 1908. Though I read the first two this could also be read as a stand alone.
During the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations Lady Dunbridge (Lady Phil) who is a sleuth encounters a murder in very, very close quarters. Her lady's maid, Lily, and butler, Preswick, are taken into confidence and help her track the murderer. Other mysteries are dotted throughout the book as well. Seamlessly. We learn more about Mr. X as well as the newspaper industry as we meet characters who are involved in it.
The historical details such as food and dress are wonderful and easy to get lost in. So is the vernacular of the time. I love the personality of Lady Phil! She is such fun and the kind of person you'd love to be friends with. I also enjoy Preswick and Lily, very different from each other yet very complementary and extremely loyal to their employer. As in real life, they all have quirks and foibles, very appealing.
Historical Fiction and Mystery readers should gravitate to this book and this series, especially (but not crucially!) during the festive Christmas season as it is described in great detail here.
My sincere thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this delightful book in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated.
During the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations Lady Dunbridge (Lady Phil) who is a sleuth encounters a murder in very, very close quarters. Her lady's maid, Lily, and butler, Preswick, are taken into confidence and help her track the murderer. Other mysteries are dotted throughout the book as well. Seamlessly. We learn more about Mr. X as well as the newspaper industry as we meet characters who are involved in it.
The historical details such as food and dress are wonderful and easy to get lost in. So is the vernacular of the time. I love the personality of Lady Phil! She is such fun and the kind of person you'd love to be friends with. I also enjoy Preswick and Lily, very different from each other yet very complementary and extremely loyal to their employer. As in real life, they all have quirks and foibles, very appealing.
Historical Fiction and Mystery readers should gravitate to this book and this series, especially (but not crucially!) during the festive Christmas season as it is described in great detail here.
My sincere thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this delightful book in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated.
January 15, 2021
*** I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***
First of all, I have not read the other books in this series, nor do I plan to after reading A Resolution at Midnight. I just did not care for this story. The characters were ok and the setting is interesting, but I did not get drawn into the mystery or story the way I do with other books. This is a story of power, scandal, and murder sprinkled with a little girl-power. One thing that did annoy me was that many of the female characters had "male" names (Marty, Phil, Henry). I wouldn't necessarily recommend this book to others unless you've read the previous stories in the series and enjoyed them.
First of all, I have not read the other books in this series, nor do I plan to after reading A Resolution at Midnight. I just did not care for this story. The characters were ok and the setting is interesting, but I did not get drawn into the mystery or story the way I do with other books. This is a story of power, scandal, and murder sprinkled with a little girl-power. One thing that did annoy me was that many of the female characters had "male" names (Marty, Phil, Henry). I wouldn't necessarily recommend this book to others unless you've read the previous stories in the series and enjoyed them.
October 13, 2020
A Resolution At Midnight is the third book in the Lady Dunbridge Mystery series by Shelley Noble.
Philomena Amesbury(Phil), Dowager Countess of Dunbridge, Preswick, her butler, and Lily, her maid, have all gone their separate ways to do their last-minute Christmas shopping. When Phil returns to the Plaza, she finds a note telling her to go to the Theatre Unique at 1:15 and sit in the last row. Phil’s not sure who sent the message but feels that it is her Mr. X for who Phil has worked for before. Upon arriving at the designated spot, she doesn’t smell Mr. X’s exotic tobacco aroma but does sense the smell of death. Soon there is a scream, and an unknown person quickly escorts Phil out of the theatre. Phil makes her way around to the front of the theatre and notices the arrival of Sgt Becker, her nemesis, and a corrupt police officer. Since Becker is out of his district, Phil is sure there must be a cover-up in progress, and that feeling is reinforced when she sees the mortuary van arrive to take the body before the police can conduct an investigation.
Soon, Phil will learn that the body is that of the New York Times reporter, Tommy Green. Green had been working on a story about the Black Hand gang. The gang had been terrorizing individuals and bombing businesses in more impoverished neighborhoods.
Phil goes with her friend Bev to the Times Building to have lunch with Marty Rive, a reporter, hoping to break into the man dominated newsroom. Phil would like to obtain information on what Green was working on but knows that anything she might share with Marty would send her off, putting her in danger and Phil. Hopefully, no threat will come to Phil, and she will be able to enjoy the first time of the ball descending on New Year’s Eve.
The story is well-written and plotted and historically accurate. The characters are well-developed, believable, and enjoyable. The character that I enjoyed the most is Just A Friend. The young boy sells newspapers outside the Plaza and always seems to be there when Phil can use some help. There are plenty of red herrings that kept me guessing until the end.
I will be watching for the next book in this delightful historical mystery series.
Philomena Amesbury(Phil), Dowager Countess of Dunbridge, Preswick, her butler, and Lily, her maid, have all gone their separate ways to do their last-minute Christmas shopping. When Phil returns to the Plaza, she finds a note telling her to go to the Theatre Unique at 1:15 and sit in the last row. Phil’s not sure who sent the message but feels that it is her Mr. X for who Phil has worked for before. Upon arriving at the designated spot, she doesn’t smell Mr. X’s exotic tobacco aroma but does sense the smell of death. Soon there is a scream, and an unknown person quickly escorts Phil out of the theatre. Phil makes her way around to the front of the theatre and notices the arrival of Sgt Becker, her nemesis, and a corrupt police officer. Since Becker is out of his district, Phil is sure there must be a cover-up in progress, and that feeling is reinforced when she sees the mortuary van arrive to take the body before the police can conduct an investigation.
Soon, Phil will learn that the body is that of the New York Times reporter, Tommy Green. Green had been working on a story about the Black Hand gang. The gang had been terrorizing individuals and bombing businesses in more impoverished neighborhoods.
Phil goes with her friend Bev to the Times Building to have lunch with Marty Rive, a reporter, hoping to break into the man dominated newsroom. Phil would like to obtain information on what Green was working on but knows that anything she might share with Marty would send her off, putting her in danger and Phil. Hopefully, no threat will come to Phil, and she will be able to enjoy the first time of the ball descending on New Year’s Eve.
The story is well-written and plotted and historically accurate. The characters are well-developed, believable, and enjoyable. The character that I enjoyed the most is Just A Friend. The young boy sells newspapers outside the Plaza and always seems to be there when Phil can use some help. There are plenty of red herrings that kept me guessing until the end.
I will be watching for the next book in this delightful historical mystery series.
November 16, 2020
Miss Fisher meets Downton Abbey in this critically acclaimed mystery series from New York Times bestselling author Shelley Noble.
Roasted chestnuts from vendor’s carts, fresh cut spruce trees lining the sidewalks, extravagant gifts, opulent dinners, carols at St Patrick’s Cathedral, a warm meal and a few minutes shelter from the cold at one of the charitable food lines . . .
It’s Christmas in Gilded Age Manhattan.
And for the first time ever an amazing giant ball will drop along a rod on the roof of the New York Times building to ring in the New Year. Everyone plans to attend the event.
But the murder of a prominent newsman hits a little too close to home. And when a young newspaper woman, a protégé of the great Jacob Riis and old Vassar school chum of Bev’s, is the target of a similar attack, it is clear this is not just a single act of violence but a conspiracy of malicious proportions. Really, you’d think murderers would take a holiday.
Something absolutely must be done. And Lady Dunbridge is happy to oblige in A Resolution at Midnight, the third book in this best selling series.
This book was truly a delight to read. I am completely in love now with all the characters and can not wait to go back and read books one and two. A must for any fan of well written historical fiction mysteries.
Roasted chestnuts from vendor’s carts, fresh cut spruce trees lining the sidewalks, extravagant gifts, opulent dinners, carols at St Patrick’s Cathedral, a warm meal and a few minutes shelter from the cold at one of the charitable food lines . . .
It’s Christmas in Gilded Age Manhattan.
And for the first time ever an amazing giant ball will drop along a rod on the roof of the New York Times building to ring in the New Year. Everyone plans to attend the event.
But the murder of a prominent newsman hits a little too close to home. And when a young newspaper woman, a protégé of the great Jacob Riis and old Vassar school chum of Bev’s, is the target of a similar attack, it is clear this is not just a single act of violence but a conspiracy of malicious proportions. Really, you’d think murderers would take a holiday.
Something absolutely must be done. And Lady Dunbridge is happy to oblige in A Resolution at Midnight, the third book in this best selling series.
This book was truly a delight to read. I am completely in love now with all the characters and can not wait to go back and read books one and two. A must for any fan of well written historical fiction mysteries.
November 21, 2021
This was another amazing mystery, and I enjoyed spending this time with the characters! Must read more now!
December 11, 2020
A Resolution at Midnight is the third book in Shelley Noble’s Lady Dunbridge historical mystery series. I didn’t read the first two books, and I think I would have enjoyed this one a bit more if I had. This mystery itself worked well as a stand-alone, but I was missing out a bit on the characters’ backgrounds. We start the story with Philomena Amesbury, the young Dowager Countess of Dunbridge – Phil to her friends – is getting ready for her first Christmas in New York. She gets a note from Mr. X sending her to a theater, where she ends up sitting by a dead (murdered) man. She, of course, then gets wrapped up in the mystery of who it was and who killed him. I guess a little more information on how she ended up working for Mr. X and why she puts up with him. Mr. X never seem to share information and doesn’t give her much direction on what he’s expecting her to do. And don’t even get me started on their personal relationship. Once again, if I knew how they met, maybe it would make sense, but as it is, Phil shares her bed with this man, Mr. X, whose name she doesn’t know, whom she has only seen in daylight wearing a variety of costumes, who breads into her house and takes things from her safe whenever he wants. I found it disturbing, not sexy and mysterious.
Turns out the dead man was a journalist, which leads to several potential suspects, a crooked cop, a dirty politician, the mystery group known as the Black Hand. With bombings occurring in the city, Phil has to be especially careful.
Aside from Mr. X, the characters are a lot of fun. Phil is smart and caring and has done well at making a new life for herself. Her servants, Preswick and Lily, are aware of their positions but also extremely protective of Phil and join in her investigations. Detective Sergeant John Atkins is one of the few good cops. The paper boy, Just a Friend, is also incredibly loyal, and Phil’s friend Bev from finishing school is light-hearted and livens things up a bit.
I’m not sure if I’ll read the next one or not, to be honest. Mr. X bothers me, but if we find out who he is in #4, I might be able to overlook it. The setting is wonderful, I loved learning about New York in the 1900s. And the midnight of the title, is of course midnight on New Year’s Eve, the first time the ball drops at Times Square.
Turns out the dead man was a journalist, which leads to several potential suspects, a crooked cop, a dirty politician, the mystery group known as the Black Hand. With bombings occurring in the city, Phil has to be especially careful.
Aside from Mr. X, the characters are a lot of fun. Phil is smart and caring and has done well at making a new life for herself. Her servants, Preswick and Lily, are aware of their positions but also extremely protective of Phil and join in her investigations. Detective Sergeant John Atkins is one of the few good cops. The paper boy, Just a Friend, is also incredibly loyal, and Phil’s friend Bev from finishing school is light-hearted and livens things up a bit.
I’m not sure if I’ll read the next one or not, to be honest. Mr. X bothers me, but if we find out who he is in #4, I might be able to overlook it. The setting is wonderful, I loved learning about New York in the 1900s. And the midnight of the title, is of course midnight on New Year’s Eve, the first time the ball drops at Times Square.
October 16, 2020
It's Christmas in New York and it's the first holiday for Phil (Lady Dunbridge) and her butler and maid. Now, in the third mystery in this delightful Gilded Age series, they have settled into life at the famous Plaza Hotel. This day each has been out doing last minute Christmas shopping and Phil is looking forward to relaxing upon her return. As soon as she arrives in their suite of rooms, she finds a message on the hall table. Strange, why wasn't it left at the front desk? Reading it sends her racing out of the hotel to catch a cab and try to reach a picture theater, a nickelodeon. Once inside she finds the appointed seat but soon realizes that the man in the adjoining seat is very much dead - his throat has been slashed. As she makes her escape via a back door with the help of a mystery man, she realizes that the police got there way too fast and that she might just be crossing paths with one of New York's most corrupt cops.
The message was from her mysterious Mr. X but what has he gotten her into and what was the dead man, Tommy Green involved in that got him killed? Now Phil has to investigate as well as deal with Christmas plans. As in the previous two books, Phil, her butler, Preswick, her maid, Lily and her friend, Bev all have their place in the investigations. Some new characters will soon join them. This is another top notch mystery and can be read out of order as the author gives enough background information to help the reader get the most out of the story. New York comes alive in all of its glitter and grime and the puzzle is very satisfying.
My thanks to the publisher, Forge and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
The message was from her mysterious Mr. X but what has he gotten her into and what was the dead man, Tommy Green involved in that got him killed? Now Phil has to investigate as well as deal with Christmas plans. As in the previous two books, Phil, her butler, Preswick, her maid, Lily and her friend, Bev all have their place in the investigations. Some new characters will soon join them. This is another top notch mystery and can be read out of order as the author gives enough background information to help the reader get the most out of the story. New York comes alive in all of its glitter and grime and the puzzle is very satisfying.
My thanks to the publisher, Forge and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 29, 2020
A Resolution at Midnight by Shelly Noble is a time period cozy with charming protagonists and engrossing mysteries set in the most magical city of New York.
This is the third book in order, but the first one that I have read. Still it was easy to get into the story as previous references were well explained.
Lady Dunbridge has moved to New York from London and finds her new life absolutely exhilarating and fascinating. She is known in high circles as someone who solves problems quietly and with the outmost discretion. She knows a man, whom she calls Mr. X, who gives her assignments occasionally and helps her out.
I really like all main protagonists. Even though Lady Dunbridge is the main character, her butler Preswick and her maid Lily are also involved in solving crimes. I especially enjoyed their joined efforts and how they complimented each other's strengths.
Mystery was an interesting one, set in the world of journalism with many colorful characters. It is also Christmas time in New York and the whole book has that special feeling about it.
The only thing I didn't really understand is her relationship with Mr. X. I found it incredulous that a lady of such intelligence would let things develop the way they did and go along with it.
I will go back and start the series from the beginning so that I could better understand the whole setting.
This is the third book in order, but the first one that I have read. Still it was easy to get into the story as previous references were well explained.
Lady Dunbridge has moved to New York from London and finds her new life absolutely exhilarating and fascinating. She is known in high circles as someone who solves problems quietly and with the outmost discretion. She knows a man, whom she calls Mr. X, who gives her assignments occasionally and helps her out.
I really like all main protagonists. Even though Lady Dunbridge is the main character, her butler Preswick and her maid Lily are also involved in solving crimes. I especially enjoyed their joined efforts and how they complimented each other's strengths.
Mystery was an interesting one, set in the world of journalism with many colorful characters. It is also Christmas time in New York and the whole book has that special feeling about it.
The only thing I didn't really understand is her relationship with Mr. X. I found it incredulous that a lady of such intelligence would let things develop the way they did and go along with it.
I will go back and start the series from the beginning so that I could better understand the whole setting.
October 12, 2020
New York City, 1907: It’s Christmastime, and the city is buzzing. On top of the normal festivities, the New York Times is going to debut a new marvel on New Year’s Eve, a ball that will descend on the spire of the Times building, covered in electric lights. It’s Lady Dunbridge’s first Christmas in the States, and she’s determined to make it the best holiday for her found family. But Phil isn’t just a young widowed socialite, she’s also an amateur detective, working for an organization that refuses to identify itself. Shortly before Christmas, she goes to meet a contact only to discover that his throat has been slit. Now, along with juggling her Christmas plans, she’s involved in solving a murder.
This is the third book in the series, and I have not read the first two books. It certainly works as a stand-alone mystery, though I’m willing to guess that some of the development of the interpersonal relationships would have seemed more natural if I had the background from the prior novels. This was a fun, slightly haphazard feeling novel. I never felt captivated by the story or the characters, but still enjoyed it. Recommended for fans of the Maggie Hope, Perveen Mistry, and Maisie Dobbs series of mysteries: historical mysteries with a female private investigator.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
This is the third book in the series, and I have not read the first two books. It certainly works as a stand-alone mystery, though I’m willing to guess that some of the development of the interpersonal relationships would have seemed more natural if I had the background from the prior novels. This was a fun, slightly haphazard feeling novel. I never felt captivated by the story or the characters, but still enjoyed it. Recommended for fans of the Maggie Hope, Perveen Mistry, and Maisie Dobbs series of mysteries: historical mysteries with a female private investigator.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
July 4, 2021
I'm taking this down a star because I did not like one of the characters, and not any of the bad guys...
The mystery man slips a note under Lady Philomena Dunbridge's door urging her to go meet with a man in a Penny Arcade Theater. When she arrives, she finds him with his throat slit & then hustled out of the theater by the "manager". Outside she watches as the most corrupt cop in NY City comes & takes the dead man away, where he is later found at the docks.
When Phil goes back the next day to speak with the manager, he is not the same man who led her away and is then accosted by a man selling mistletoe, who threatens her to ming her own business.
The murdered man turns out to be a reporter who was investigating violence by the Black Hand but also working to uncover a series of similar bombings & fires in a prime area of the City, where Tammany Hall was seeking to build a new courthouse.
Phil is kidnapped & rescued, but not before hearing the voice of someone she knows giving orders to kill her; the local Madame of the elite has her office bombed; a society reporter is wanting Phil to help but is impatient for the scoop and nearly ruins all of Phil's hard work; and of course Preswick & Lily are there tp help Phil sort things out & run errands.
The book held my interest, but there was decidedly less humor in this than the two previous.
The mystery man slips a note under Lady Philomena Dunbridge's door urging her to go meet with a man in a Penny Arcade Theater. When she arrives, she finds him with his throat slit & then hustled out of the theater by the "manager". Outside she watches as the most corrupt cop in NY City comes & takes the dead man away, where he is later found at the docks.
When Phil goes back the next day to speak with the manager, he is not the same man who led her away and is then accosted by a man selling mistletoe, who threatens her to ming her own business.
The murdered man turns out to be a reporter who was investigating violence by the Black Hand but also working to uncover a series of similar bombings & fires in a prime area of the City, where Tammany Hall was seeking to build a new courthouse.
Phil is kidnapped & rescued, but not before hearing the voice of someone she knows giving orders to kill her; the local Madame of the elite has her office bombed; a society reporter is wanting Phil to help but is impatient for the scoop and nearly ruins all of Phil's hard work; and of course Preswick & Lily are there tp help Phil sort things out & run errands.
The book held my interest, but there was decidedly less humor in this than the two previous.
November 9, 2020
An absolutely terrific new historical mystery in the Lady Dunbridge series.
Phil and her charming cohorts are back in this charming, clever historical mystery, this time seeking to solve the murder of a New York Times reporter.
Noble’s narrative and style are pitch-perfect for a historical mystery. Loads of elements of a cozy included (Christmas! Ball gowns! Subtle humor and plucky sidekicks!), but with a more complex and much better written mystery than most in that genre.
The story is good and the characters even better, but it’s the little historical details that really shine here. Phil gushes over a Worth gown and frets about getting a copy of the new Arthur Conan Doyle novel to give as a Christmas gift. We get to hear about the prep for the first ever ball drop in Times Square on New Years Eve. And it’s hard not to smile reading about Phil and company visiting the Times building and—despite being brave enough to take on murderers—getting alllll freaked out by this fancy new invention called...an elevator.
What a delightful read. I didn’t want it to end.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Phil and her charming cohorts are back in this charming, clever historical mystery, this time seeking to solve the murder of a New York Times reporter.
Noble’s narrative and style are pitch-perfect for a historical mystery. Loads of elements of a cozy included (Christmas! Ball gowns! Subtle humor and plucky sidekicks!), but with a more complex and much better written mystery than most in that genre.
The story is good and the characters even better, but it’s the little historical details that really shine here. Phil gushes over a Worth gown and frets about getting a copy of the new Arthur Conan Doyle novel to give as a Christmas gift. We get to hear about the prep for the first ever ball drop in Times Square on New Years Eve. And it’s hard not to smile reading about Phil and company visiting the Times building and—despite being brave enough to take on murderers—getting alllll freaked out by this fancy new invention called...an elevator.
What a delightful read. I didn’t want it to end.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
December 28, 2020
Shortly before Christmas 1907, Lady Phil Dunbridge arrives home at the Plaza Hotel to a note to meet an individual at the Theatre Unique at 1:15 that day. She arrives to find that the man is dead. Someone assists her from the Theater. She begins investigating and learns that it was Tommy Green, a reporter who was in the midst of a major investigation for the NY Times. Phil’s friend Bev has contacts at the paper and introduces her to Marty Rive, who Tommy had taken under his wing to train. When Marty is later assaulted, Phil is even more determined to find the killer and see that he’s brought to justice. But can she piece it together without the story being blown? Mr. X gives her until New Year’s Day.
An enjoyable installment and light read to balance out other current reads. I enjoy the interplay of the main characters: Lady Phil, Mr. Preswick and Lily and how they work together. Then the other recurring characters: Just a Friend, Detective Sergeant Atkins, Bev Reynolds, Bobby Mullins and the illusive Mr. X. It will be interesting to see what adventures are in store for them in the future.
An enjoyable installment and light read to balance out other current reads. I enjoy the interplay of the main characters: Lady Phil, Mr. Preswick and Lily and how they work together. Then the other recurring characters: Just a Friend, Detective Sergeant Atkins, Bev Reynolds, Bobby Mullins and the illusive Mr. X. It will be interesting to see what adventures are in store for them in the future.
October 13, 2020
Philomena "Phil", Lady Dunbridge (please don't call her dowager) is loving her life in New York. It's Christmas, and she is figuring out who her real family is (hint, not the ones she's related to by blood.) The Mr. X calls on her again. She is to go to an address, sit in the last row, and... well, she doesn't really know. But she sure doesn't expect to sit next to a dead man. And certainly not one that has had his throat slit.
Just like that, Phil is embroiled in another mystery. This one introduces new characters, friends of Bev and part of the upper crust. It's too bad that they too will be sucked into this whirlpool that touches all their lives and reaches into the highest echelons of New York government.
A lovely story perfect for the holiday season. I don't know that I would start with this book in the series but they are not slow reads so a person would be able to get to this third book in the series quickly. There are some things that I don't love about Mr. X but I'm guessing we'll get to know more about him as Phil does.
Just like that, Phil is embroiled in another mystery. This one introduces new characters, friends of Bev and part of the upper crust. It's too bad that they too will be sucked into this whirlpool that touches all their lives and reaches into the highest echelons of New York government.
A lovely story perfect for the holiday season. I don't know that I would start with this book in the series but they are not slow reads so a person would be able to get to this third book in the series quickly. There are some things that I don't love about Mr. X but I'm guessing we'll get to know more about him as Phil does.
December 31, 2020
Wow! Shelley's newest book. A Resolution at Midnight was intense like a racehorse out of the gate. And the intensity kept building until the very end. Many of the characters are a carry over from her first two books. The book is reminiscent of Miss Fisher but on steroids. And I love it. Lady Dunbridge, Phil for short is an amazing character/protagonist along with her two servents; Lilly & Preswick. The handsome Detective Sergeant John Atkins is the frustrated policeman intrigued with the lovely Lady Dunbridge and is falling head over heels in love with her but doesn't realize it yet. And the mysterious Mr. X is just that and intrigues Phil. Shelley Noble's new series is full of mayhem, murder and salted with romance set during the Gilded Age of Manhatten. I loved this book, A Resolution at Midnight set during Christmas & New Year's Eve in and around Times Square during the 1st dropping of the ball. How appropriate to finish reading the book during the holidays & New Year's Eve. I can hardly wait for the next adventure with Lady Dunbridge. I highly recommend this book.
October 7, 2020
Fans of historical mysteries will enjoy this latest installment featuring Lady Philomena who, along with her maid Lily and butler Preswick, solves mysteries and does special things for the mysterious Mr. X. Set in 1907 New York - at Christmas no less- it's a tale of a murder someone wants hidden. Phil went to meet Tommy Green, a journalist in a nickelodeon to collect information about organized crime- and found him murdered. Now, she too wants to know about the reach of Black Hand into the power structure of New York. This is a dangerous thing=, both for her and for Marty Reves, a young woman who wants to become a journalist like Green. Luckily for both of them, there's NYPD Detective John Atkins as well as Mr X, with his connections. Phil finds there's more than meets the eye about many of the people she meets. No spoilers from me. This is a pert, fun read with good characters and snappy dialogue. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. A good one.
November 24, 2020
I was fortunate to have received this book as a Goodreads giveaway.
This was an enjoyable read. The action begins right out of the gate as a murder is uncovered within the first few pages. Suspicion, secrets, deception and corruption are woven throughout the book, with many twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. The writing style was very descriptive for items such as clothing and food/drink that at times seemed cumbersome. As well, I had to re-read sections for clarity, due the use of some of the historical and British terminology.
Having not read the first two books in this series, I was concerned I would lack familiarity with the characters and their histories. This was not problematic, as the author did provide enough detail, but I do plan to read the earlier books to fill in the blanks out of curiosity. I look forward to more offerings with Lady Dunbridge (Phil) as the lead.
This was an enjoyable read. The action begins right out of the gate as a murder is uncovered within the first few pages. Suspicion, secrets, deception and corruption are woven throughout the book, with many twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. The writing style was very descriptive for items such as clothing and food/drink that at times seemed cumbersome. As well, I had to re-read sections for clarity, due the use of some of the historical and British terminology.
Having not read the first two books in this series, I was concerned I would lack familiarity with the characters and their histories. This was not problematic, as the author did provide enough detail, but I do plan to read the earlier books to fill in the blanks out of curiosity. I look forward to more offerings with Lady Dunbridge (Phil) as the lead.
March 30, 2023
It's almost Christmas so Phil is out shopping for gifts. Upon returning to her apartment at the Plaza hotel she finds a message from the mysterious Mr. X asking her to do a rendezvous. Hurrying as quickly as possible through the busy city traffic, Phil arrives just moments too late. The man she was supposed to meet is dead, his body still warm. All of this action occurs in the first sixteen pages of the book.
Lady Dunbridge (known to her friends as Phil) embarks on her most challenging case so far. The enemy is not who it appears to be. Questions regarding loyalty arise. The action takes place in New York City during the Christmas holiday season where fancy parties abound. It is 1907 and residents are anxiously awaiting the very first drop of a lighted ball to mark the beginning of a new year.
This was a very good book. The reason I gave it four stars was becauseI could tell that one of the characters was working for the other side from the time they were introduced to the story.
Lady Dunbridge (known to her friends as Phil) embarks on her most challenging case so far. The enemy is not who it appears to be. Questions regarding loyalty arise. The action takes place in New York City during the Christmas holiday season where fancy parties abound. It is 1907 and residents are anxiously awaiting the very first drop of a lighted ball to mark the beginning of a new year.
This was a very good book. The reason I gave it four stars was becauseI could tell that one of the characters was working for the other side from the time they were introduced to the story.
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