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Gilded Newport Mysteries #10
Murder at Beacon Rock
The New York Yacht Club’s exclusive gathering at Newport, Rhode Island’s Beacon Rock mansion hits stormy seas in the summer of 1900 when reporter Emma Cross, a lesser Vanderbilt, discovers a drowned corpse in Alyssa Maxwell’s tenth Gilded Newport Mystery…
As a reporter, Emma is used to covering Newport’s social events. But this time she is appearing on the arm of her fiancé, Derrick Andrews, at a small but exclusive gathering of the New York Yacht Club at Beacon Rock, the Grecian-inspired summer “cottage” of Edwin and Elizabeth Morgan. The members—which include cousin and Yacht Club Commodore John Pierpoint Morgan and widow Lucy Carnegie, the first woman to be admitted to the Club—are there to discuss their strategy for the next America’s Cup Challenge, to be held in New York Harbor the following summer.
But it’s Emma who must come up with a strategy when she discovers a woman’s body bobbing against one of the hulls of the boats moored at the base of Beacon Rock. Is it possible she fell from the Newport ferry and was carried by the tide? Or could she have drowned herself or fallen victim to foul play?
After the woman is identified as the missing daughter of a yacht designer, the police—with the exception of Emma’s friend Detective Jesse Whyte—hastily conclude she is a suicide, perhaps to quiet any scandal for the Morgans, since her body was found floating near their property. But Emma suspects the woman was murdered and begins to sort through a who’s who of sportsmen, boat crews, and the Newport elite in search of a stone-cold killer . . .
As a reporter, Emma is used to covering Newport’s social events. But this time she is appearing on the arm of her fiancé, Derrick Andrews, at a small but exclusive gathering of the New York Yacht Club at Beacon Rock, the Grecian-inspired summer “cottage” of Edwin and Elizabeth Morgan. The members—which include cousin and Yacht Club Commodore John Pierpoint Morgan and widow Lucy Carnegie, the first woman to be admitted to the Club—are there to discuss their strategy for the next America’s Cup Challenge, to be held in New York Harbor the following summer.
But it’s Emma who must come up with a strategy when she discovers a woman’s body bobbing against one of the hulls of the boats moored at the base of Beacon Rock. Is it possible she fell from the Newport ferry and was carried by the tide? Or could she have drowned herself or fallen victim to foul play?
After the woman is identified as the missing daughter of a yacht designer, the police—with the exception of Emma’s friend Detective Jesse Whyte—hastily conclude she is a suicide, perhaps to quiet any scandal for the Morgans, since her body was found floating near their property. But Emma suspects the woman was murdered and begins to sort through a who’s who of sportsmen, boat crews, and the Newport elite in search of a stone-cold killer . . .
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 30, 2022
138 people are currently reading
725 people want to read
About the author
Alyssa Maxwell
29 books1,079 followersAlyssa Maxwell is the author of The Gilded Newport Mysteries, inspired by her husband’s family whose Newport origins date back numerous generations. The series features the glamour of the Gilded Age and a sleuth who is a Newporter born and raised, and also a less "well-heeled" cousin of the Vanderbilt family. Alyssa also writes A Lady & Lady’s Maid Mysteries, an English-set series that begins as WWI is ending. She and her husband live in South Florida, where she is a member of the Florida chapter of the Mystery Writers of America and the South Florida Fiction Writers. You can visit her at http://alyssamaxwell.com, and find her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
September 6, 2022
Number 10 in a delightful series that has not disappointed.
July 1900: Yacht Club boaters are gathered in Newport in anticipation of the America’s Cup Challenge coming up the next summer as they must agree on their strategy and make sure everyone has the best boat possible. Also in attendance is the widow Lucy Carnegie, the only woman who was allowed into the club.
Emma and Derrick Andrews are finally engaged and while attending a party at Beacon Rock Emma and Mrs. Carnegie wander off to the Beacon Rock docks only to find a woman floating in the water.
The police are anxious to prevent any bad publicity for members of the 400 and immediately treat it as a suicide, but Emma is not so sure and is determined to find who killed this poor girl.
An entertaining mystery, and an open end that may or may not take us into the next book.
July 1900: Yacht Club boaters are gathered in Newport in anticipation of the America’s Cup Challenge coming up the next summer as they must agree on their strategy and make sure everyone has the best boat possible. Also in attendance is the widow Lucy Carnegie, the only woman who was allowed into the club.
Emma and Derrick Andrews are finally engaged and while attending a party at Beacon Rock Emma and Mrs. Carnegie wander off to the Beacon Rock docks only to find a woman floating in the water.
The police are anxious to prevent any bad publicity for members of the 400 and immediately treat it as a suicide, but Emma is not so sure and is determined to find who killed this poor girl.
An entertaining mystery, and an open end that may or may not take us into the next book.
September 7, 2022
I’ll skip the plot summary and get on with the high points here. Emma and Derrick work together for the majority of this book. While Emma still comes off as dominant sometimes (which is funny because she seems to have self-esteem issues at times and supreme confidence at others), Derrick has a much stronger role.
The action moved to Long Island and Manhattan at points, which was a fun departure.
The final few chapters has Emma in danger and she manages to save herself temporarily before Derrick really saves the day. That was a nice sequence of events.
The relationship developments make me excited for the next book.
The action moved to Long Island and Manhattan at points, which was a fun departure.
The final few chapters has Emma in danger and she manages to save herself temporarily before Derrick really saves the day. That was a nice sequence of events.
The relationship developments make me excited for the next book.
August 31, 2022
This is my favorite of series so far! I loved the relationship between Emma and Derrick as well as their perceptions of different people in all parts of society. The mystery was well crafted and, though I figured out who the guilty party was fairly early on, I loved investigating with them until the very end. I was sad, however, to see that I won't be able to visit Beacon Rock on my upcoming trip to Newport (it's a private residence). Can't wait for the next in the series.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
July 18, 2022
Set in the early 1900s Newport, Murder at Beacon Rock is the tenth in the delightful Gilded Newport series. Not only does the reader encounter delicious murder but also bits of romance, a huge dollop of wonderful historical details and secrets galore. Author Alyssa Maxwell writes beautifully and clearly does her research as evinced in her stories as well as her fascinating notes at the back. Lucy Carnegie's and Lucy Fahey's stories are particularly interesting, taken from history.
Emma and Derrick both work for the Messenger newspaper and are also engaged to be married. They are both socialites in a fashion but not arrogant or ostentatious. Quite the opposite, though Emma is related to Cornelius Vanderbilt. At a New York Yacht Club get together at breathtaking Beacon Rock, a drowned female body is found along with a ring. Emma and Derrick are in attendance and use their wits, smarts and ingenuity to dig for clues and ferret out suspects and in doing so encounter other crimes. Detective Myers isn't keen on female assistance.
My favourite aspects are the focus on yachting (I love the sea but have very little knowledge on yachting) and the detailed descriptions of class, dress, atmosphere, portrayal of genders and social mores of the era. The creative blending in of real people such as the Vanderbilts and Morgans is done masterfully and adds another layer, elevating a good book to a great one. Those Historical Fiction readers who enjoy the addition of mystery ought to seek out this series which continues to enthral and enchant. The atmosphere and characters are easy to envision.
My sincere thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this charming book.
Emma and Derrick both work for the Messenger newspaper and are also engaged to be married. They are both socialites in a fashion but not arrogant or ostentatious. Quite the opposite, though Emma is related to Cornelius Vanderbilt. At a New York Yacht Club get together at breathtaking Beacon Rock, a drowned female body is found along with a ring. Emma and Derrick are in attendance and use their wits, smarts and ingenuity to dig for clues and ferret out suspects and in doing so encounter other crimes. Detective Myers isn't keen on female assistance.
My favourite aspects are the focus on yachting (I love the sea but have very little knowledge on yachting) and the detailed descriptions of class, dress, atmosphere, portrayal of genders and social mores of the era. The creative blending in of real people such as the Vanderbilts and Morgans is done masterfully and adds another layer, elevating a good book to a great one. Those Historical Fiction readers who enjoy the addition of mystery ought to seek out this series which continues to enthral and enchant. The atmosphere and characters are easy to envision.
My sincere thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this charming book.
September 8, 2023
Dollycas's Thoughts
Emma Cross and her now fiancé, Derrick Andrews have been invited to a private meeting at Beacon Rock of the New York Yacht Club to discuss the next American's Cup Challenge. Beacon Hill is the summer "cottage" of Edwin and Elizabeth Morgan. Also in attendance are Yacht Club Commodore John Pierpoint Morgan and the first woman admitted to the Yacht Club, Lucy Carnegie.
While walking the grounds Emma and Lucy hear a strange noise which leads them to find the body of a young woman in the water near one of the guest's boats. The woman is later identified as the daughter of a man who designs yachts. Why was she in the area? Did she fall from the ferry? or was she killed and brought in by the tides?
The police are calling her death a suicide but Emma and her friend, Detective Jesse Whyte are not buying that theory. Soon Emma along with Derrick are asking questions and following clues. Can one of the guests at Beacon Rock be a killer? Will Emma survive her investigation? or will she be the next body found floating in the water?
______
With each Gilded Newport Mystery, I know I am going to learn about another historic estate. This time it was Beacon Rock, an estate that just sold a couple of years ago for 23 million dollars. The home was built for Edwin Morgan, started in 1887 and completed 3 years later. It is said they summered there for 30 years. He, his wife Elizabeth, and his cousin J.P. Morgan are characters in this book. I appreciate all the research the author does and shares will us in each story.
All the core characters continue to develop in believable ways. I love that Emma and Derrick are engaged and telling people. I am sure Derrick's mother will be furious. Nanny and Katie are always on hand for anything Emma needs and Detective Jesse Whyte is adjusting to working with his new partner. I do enjoy how these characters band together, each in their own way when there is a murder to solve.
Lucy Carnegie is one heck of a character, a widow, trying to find her place in a man's world of yacht racing. The victim, Lillian Fahey, only 18, worked side by side with her father, an engineer specializing in aerodynamics as it relates to the speed of mechanical objects like yachts. She may have even been more responsible for the formulas than he was. I enjoy that Ms. Maxwell includes strong women like these in her stories as in the time frame they are few and far between or never mentioned. The fact that Lucy Carnegie like the Morgan's and others are actual people from history make this story even more grand.
The mystery was especially intriguing because Emma had no idea who she could trust. Was the killer one of the elite Four Hundred or was it a member of the crew of their ships or even a maid or cook? Emma and Derrick tried hard to stick together in the investigation but Emma did take some risks. I must say I really liked following step by step along with her. She is relentless when trying to get answers. The reveal was heartstopping and the showdown that ensued chilling in more ways than one.
Murder at Beacon Rock is an enthralling historical cozy mystery filled with engaging characters set in a fascinating time and place. It is well-written and totally entertaining. The cliffhanger has Emma and Derrick working on a very special story so I am really looking forward to escaping into Murder at the Elms very soon.
Note - Suicide is discussed in this story.
Emma Cross and her now fiancé, Derrick Andrews have been invited to a private meeting at Beacon Rock of the New York Yacht Club to discuss the next American's Cup Challenge. Beacon Hill is the summer "cottage" of Edwin and Elizabeth Morgan. Also in attendance are Yacht Club Commodore John Pierpoint Morgan and the first woman admitted to the Yacht Club, Lucy Carnegie.
While walking the grounds Emma and Lucy hear a strange noise which leads them to find the body of a young woman in the water near one of the guest's boats. The woman is later identified as the daughter of a man who designs yachts. Why was she in the area? Did she fall from the ferry? or was she killed and brought in by the tides?
The police are calling her death a suicide but Emma and her friend, Detective Jesse Whyte are not buying that theory. Soon Emma along with Derrick are asking questions and following clues. Can one of the guests at Beacon Rock be a killer? Will Emma survive her investigation? or will she be the next body found floating in the water?
______
With each Gilded Newport Mystery, I know I am going to learn about another historic estate. This time it was Beacon Rock, an estate that just sold a couple of years ago for 23 million dollars. The home was built for Edwin Morgan, started in 1887 and completed 3 years later. It is said they summered there for 30 years. He, his wife Elizabeth, and his cousin J.P. Morgan are characters in this book. I appreciate all the research the author does and shares will us in each story.
All the core characters continue to develop in believable ways. I love that Emma and Derrick are engaged and telling people. I am sure Derrick's mother will be furious. Nanny and Katie are always on hand for anything Emma needs and Detective Jesse Whyte is adjusting to working with his new partner. I do enjoy how these characters band together, each in their own way when there is a murder to solve.
Lucy Carnegie is one heck of a character, a widow, trying to find her place in a man's world of yacht racing. The victim, Lillian Fahey, only 18, worked side by side with her father, an engineer specializing in aerodynamics as it relates to the speed of mechanical objects like yachts. She may have even been more responsible for the formulas than he was. I enjoy that Ms. Maxwell includes strong women like these in her stories as in the time frame they are few and far between or never mentioned. The fact that Lucy Carnegie like the Morgan's and others are actual people from history make this story even more grand.
The mystery was especially intriguing because Emma had no idea who she could trust. Was the killer one of the elite Four Hundred or was it a member of the crew of their ships or even a maid or cook? Emma and Derrick tried hard to stick together in the investigation but Emma did take some risks. I must say I really liked following step by step along with her. She is relentless when trying to get answers. The reveal was heartstopping and the showdown that ensued chilling in more ways than one.
Murder at Beacon Rock is an enthralling historical cozy mystery filled with engaging characters set in a fascinating time and place. It is well-written and totally entertaining. The cliffhanger has Emma and Derrick working on a very special story so I am really looking forward to escaping into Murder at the Elms very soon.
Note - Suicide is discussed in this story.
August 4, 2022
Reporter Emma Cross stumbles across a dead body while attending a gathering of yacht club members at Beacon Rock. An amateur sleuth as well as a relative of the Vanderbilts, Emma has access to the fancy mansions in 1900 Newport. A yachting competition is in the wind and the players are assembled together at the Morgans’ invite. Out on the dock, Emma helps fish the lifeless body of an unknown woman from the water. The members’ boats are moored offshore. Could the woman have fallen from the ferry on her way to the island? Or was she pushed from one of those fancy yachts? When she turns out to be the daughter of a yacht designer who’d drawn up plans for design improvements, Emma suspects murder. With the help of her fiancé, she sifts through the yachtsmen and their crew to determine who might be guilty. “Murder at Beacon Rock” is another delightful installment in the Gilded Newport series. Emma is an intrepid and enterprising woman who will stop at nothing to achieve her goal. It’s been a pleasure to follow her progress throughout this series. A puzzling mystery to solve, an engaging sleuth, and an evocative setting blend into an enticing tale of murder and mayhem. Disclaimer – I received an advance reading copy via NetGalley. This is my unbiased and honest opinion.
April 20, 2022
In this latest installment of the Gilded Newport Mysteries, Emma is at a crossroads. Her engagement to a member of the New England elite is about to become public knowledge, awakening all her concerns and insecurities about whether she truly belongs in his world. It doesn't help when, after a fancy dinner one evening, she discovers the body of a young woman washed up by the tide, and feels called upon to investigate.
Emma's character has been tempered a bit in this latest book, and I found her investigative methods to be less intrusive than they sometimes were in the past, which helps her come across as a more sympathetic sleuth.
The identity of the murderer is not particularly difficult to guess, as there are hardly any legitimate suspects.
If you're looking for a turn-of-the-century mystery series with a beautiful setting and a sort of outsider-looking-on perspective at all the rich and famous people, you may very well enjoy this!
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this advance review copy.
Emma's character has been tempered a bit in this latest book, and I found her investigative methods to be less intrusive than they sometimes were in the past, which helps her come across as a more sympathetic sleuth.
The identity of the murderer is not particularly difficult to guess, as there are hardly any legitimate suspects.
If you're looking for a turn-of-the-century mystery series with a beautiful setting and a sort of outsider-looking-on perspective at all the rich and famous people, you may very well enjoy this!
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this advance review copy.
October 3, 2022
In July of 1900, Emma and Derrick make their Society debut as an engaged couple at a party at Beacon Rock, home of Edward Morgan, cousin of James Pierpont Morgan. As Derrick is a member of the New York Yacht Club, he was invited to discuss strategy for the upcoming America's Cup race. Unfortunately, ladies are not invited in on the discussion, not even the wealthy widow, Lucy Carnegie, the only female member. Emma is not much of a sailor anyway but neither is she stimulated by the desultory conversation about fashion and social life. She wanders out on the terrace to escape, followed by Lucy Carnegie. Emma notices a strange sound slapping against the dock and when she investigates, she discovers the body of a young woman! Lucy is quick to jump in and rescue the girl, but she's beyond help. Emma searches for the girl's identity and comes up with a risque photo taken back in New York. Who was the "Wally" the photo was signed to? The search yields no concrete answers but Emma does learn the young woman was the 18-year-old daughter of yacht engineer Eben Fahey. The police, under pressure from the 400 Club, dismiss the death as sucicide over a broken relationship. After all, women are so emotional and easily overcome by the smallest things. ("Barf!" and Emma agrees) Emma is certain that was not the case for young Lillian dressed very sensibly and was known to assist her father with his work. Emma is determined to find out who killed this girl and see justice done, even if it further alienates her from the 4o0 Club, her future social circle.
This story is set at a more obscure mansion. It's been in private hands since it was built and luckily for Alyssa Maxwell, it was sold recently so there are photos easily available. There are also Gilded Age photographs to showcase the interior as it was at the time. All that research shows through the story just as much as the famous museum mansions. I liked visiting a home I will never see in real life unless the new owners open it up to visitors. The plot has plenty of twists and turns. It kept me guessing even though there were a limited number of fictional characters. I had an idea of who and why based on the photograph. Then I thought the story went in a different direction and then back to my original guess.
Lillian's death was a real tragedy. She was a young woman in the prime of her life just as a new century is about to begin. It sure sounds like she was the real brains of the business and her father was the public face who dealt with the sexist men to imrpove their yachts. As race cars didn't quite exist yet, yachts were the 19th-century equivalent and Lillian was a major part of improving the yachts. Emma's powers of observation and feelings about being a working woman come into play here. Is she projecting her own feelings onto Lillian or was Lillian as sensible and practical as Emma wants to believe? Either way, she was a much-loved daughter and an asset to the yachting community. Her father seems like a nice man. He sounds so lost and confused as to why anyone would want to kill his beloved daughter. However, like most fathers, he sees her as a perfect little girl and not as a young woman with a woman's thoughts and feelings. Did he catch her doing something unethical? Did he kill her for loving someone he didn't approve of? Is he that good of an actor or is he simply a single father who doesn't know what his adult daughter was actually up to? I'm wondering if Lillian caught wind of some plan and was doing an Emma and investigating the shady business and it got her killed?
I still really like Emma. Her thoughts and feelings are complex and very valid for her time and even our own. She loves Derrick and wants to build a life with him that includes marriage and children but she doesn't want to give up her career. She also feels like a failure in regards to fitting in with his social circle. Emma is too intelligent and quick and not idle enough for them. I think she's a little old to be having children in the early 1900s so we'll see where her journey takes her. I understand her concerns and fears and how they're holding her back. Derrick has come a long way since they first met and he seems supportive and understanding of Emma's hang-ups and her dreams. However, in one scene he acts out of character for him because of something going on in their relationship and I didn't like that. It would make me think twice about marrying him. Mostly he manages to be a bit swoony but I still feel lukewarm on him in terms of their relationship but professionally they work well together and I liked seeing them sleuth together. Emma's sleuthing style is like a bulldog. She's tenacious and impatient. Derrick has more finesse and puts people at ease.
We can eliminate the real life figures who appear in the novel as suspects but I want to mention them anyway. The women are catty and mean girlish, secure in THEIR social position but quick to make Emma feel inferior. Elizabeth Morgan is the hostess and she doesn't do anything to make her guest feel at ease. Her husband, Edwin, is an affable gentleman, for the most part but make no mistake-they have money and power and do NOT want a murder investigation in their backyard. J.P. Morgan has a one track mind - the race - and he sees Emma and Derrick merely as journalists. They're not even on as radar as social aquaintances. The man had money coming out of his orfices so I guess that gives him the right to snub whoever he wants given the social mores of the time. His wife, Fanny, seems nice and at least tries to find common ground with Emma. The most interesting real life character is Lucy Carnegie. A wealthy widow, she was cut from the same mold as Molly Brown and Alva Vanderbilt Belmont. She's larger than life and forceful. She forced the men to allow her into the New York Yacht Club but she's still not on equal footing. Lucy reminds Emma of Mamie Fish and so Lucy becomes Emma's new temporary sleuthing partner. Lucy is a lot of fun and by all accounts, she was a loving smother and grandmother. Her love of outdoor sports doesn't appeal to me but I enjoy her personality and would like to be friends.
Fictional 400 Club members include Bernard and Ruth Delafield. He's a slimy womanizer who clearly has his eye on Emma in spite of her arriving with her fiance. Rumor has it his wife has asked for a divorce and he won't allow it for whatever reason. I think their failed relationship has turned her sour and bitter. I suspect either of them could commit murder. Lillian's photo resembles Evelyn Nesbitt, the Gibson Girl so I'm guessing Bernard lied about his identity and was her secret lover. He either killed her to keep her quiet or Ruth killed Lillian to make the scandal go away. Tyrone Kerr is a younger gentleman, a bachelor and the happy-go-lucky type. He seems nice enough but also kind of interested in Emma, again even though she's with Derrick.
Other suspects include Wallace Rayburn, a member of J.P. Morgan's yacht crew. His initials match a clue found on Lillian's body but he doesn't seem to fit the profile of a murderer. Emma muses that looks can be deceiving but he is young, youthful and bashful. Perhaps he was in love with Lillian and she spurned him? Perhaps he gifted her a love token and she laughed at him so he pushed her overboard? More likely is the man Brady's friend Angus saw arguing with Lillian the day of her death. He couldn't have been her lover since he appeared to be a rough crew member or dock worker but certainly he was the last person to have seen her alive and was seen arguing with her. Maybe ther argument got heated and he pushed her and she fell into the ocean to her death? There's another woman, a working class woman, who is angry enough to protect her own interests. Does she know what happened to Lillian?
The second death is also an incredible tragedy and it is kind of unresolved. Obviously this person was a threat to the villain somehow. The photographer identified Lillian and therefore, he probably knew the identity of her lover.
As usual, Jesse is the good cop but his hands are tied by his superiors who bow to the wishes of the wealthy summer cottagers. No one wants to lose their job based on a whim of someone with too much money but Jesse is willing to risk it to a certain extent. He respects Emma's intelligence and perceptions too much to let this one go but if he's caught investigating, it will cost him his job. Jesse is getting along with Derrick better now but he still seems a bit mistrustful. Katie and Nanny are on hand again to provide encouragment and comfort. They both adore Derrick and even Katie feels comfortable with him around. She's no longer the terrfied little mouse she once was. That says a lot about Derrick that she feels she can trust him. Emma's family only appears briefly. Her bohemian parents are still in Paris, unaware of her engagement but the gossip grapevine spread the word to Aunt Alice and Brady. Oops! Aunt Alice is happy if she's in charge and I expect there will be a lot of drama before Emma and Derrick walk down the aisle. Brady has grown up a lot but he's still very much a boy. His little sister has to give him wise counsel in matters of the heart. Will we see a double wedding before long?
I always enjoy this series even if the writing style doesn't sound 19th-century. Derrick and Emma would never behave so scandalously in real life. They'd sit on a porch and he would "make love" to her (not the same definition we use today, more like whispering sweet nothings into her ear). That's OK because it's fiction and some readers just can't grapple with 19th-century writing. I would like a little more period sounding langauge because I understand it but I don't mind not having it.
I'm eager for the next now. Will Emma and Derrick become man and wife finally?
Read with a cup of tea on a rainy day while listening to the sounds of the ocean slapping outside.
This story is set at a more obscure mansion. It's been in private hands since it was built and luckily for Alyssa Maxwell, it was sold recently so there are photos easily available. There are also Gilded Age photographs to showcase the interior as it was at the time. All that research shows through the story just as much as the famous museum mansions. I liked visiting a home I will never see in real life unless the new owners open it up to visitors. The plot has plenty of twists and turns. It kept me guessing even though there were a limited number of fictional characters. I had an idea of who and why based on the photograph. Then I thought the story went in a different direction and then back to my original guess.
Lillian's death was a real tragedy. She was a young woman in the prime of her life just as a new century is about to begin. It sure sounds like she was the real brains of the business and her father was the public face who dealt with the sexist men to imrpove their yachts. As race cars didn't quite exist yet, yachts were the 19th-century equivalent and Lillian was a major part of improving the yachts. Emma's powers of observation and feelings about being a working woman come into play here. Is she projecting her own feelings onto Lillian or was Lillian as sensible and practical as Emma wants to believe? Either way, she was a much-loved daughter and an asset to the yachting community. Her father seems like a nice man. He sounds so lost and confused as to why anyone would want to kill his beloved daughter. However, like most fathers, he sees her as a perfect little girl and not as a young woman with a woman's thoughts and feelings. Did he catch her doing something unethical? Did he kill her for loving someone he didn't approve of? Is he that good of an actor or is he simply a single father who doesn't know what his adult daughter was actually up to? I'm wondering if Lillian caught wind of some plan and was doing an Emma and investigating the shady business and it got her killed?
I still really like Emma. Her thoughts and feelings are complex and very valid for her time and even our own. She loves Derrick and wants to build a life with him that includes marriage and children but she doesn't want to give up her career. She also feels like a failure in regards to fitting in with his social circle. Emma is too intelligent and quick and not idle enough for them. I think she's a little old to be having children in the early 1900s so we'll see where her journey takes her. I understand her concerns and fears and how they're holding her back. Derrick has come a long way since they first met and he seems supportive and understanding of Emma's hang-ups and her dreams. However, in one scene he acts out of character for him because of something going on in their relationship and I didn't like that. It would make me think twice about marrying him. Mostly he manages to be a bit swoony but I still feel lukewarm on him in terms of their relationship but professionally they work well together and I liked seeing them sleuth together. Emma's sleuthing style is like a bulldog. She's tenacious and impatient. Derrick has more finesse and puts people at ease.
We can eliminate the real life figures who appear in the novel as suspects but I want to mention them anyway. The women are catty and mean girlish, secure in THEIR social position but quick to make Emma feel inferior. Elizabeth Morgan is the hostess and she doesn't do anything to make her guest feel at ease. Her husband, Edwin, is an affable gentleman, for the most part but make no mistake-they have money and power and do NOT want a murder investigation in their backyard. J.P. Morgan has a one track mind - the race - and he sees Emma and Derrick merely as journalists. They're not even on as radar as social aquaintances. The man had money coming out of his orfices so I guess that gives him the right to snub whoever he wants given the social mores of the time. His wife, Fanny, seems nice and at least tries to find common ground with Emma. The most interesting real life character is Lucy Carnegie. A wealthy widow, she was cut from the same mold as Molly Brown and Alva Vanderbilt Belmont. She's larger than life and forceful. She forced the men to allow her into the New York Yacht Club but she's still not on equal footing. Lucy reminds Emma of Mamie Fish and so Lucy becomes Emma's new temporary sleuthing partner. Lucy is a lot of fun and by all accounts, she was a loving smother and grandmother. Her love of outdoor sports doesn't appeal to me but I enjoy her personality and would like to be friends.
Fictional 400 Club members include Bernard and Ruth Delafield. He's a slimy womanizer who clearly has his eye on Emma in spite of her arriving with her fiance. Rumor has it his wife has asked for a divorce and he won't allow it for whatever reason. I think their failed relationship has turned her sour and bitter. I suspect either of them could commit murder. Lillian's photo resembles Evelyn Nesbitt, the Gibson Girl so I'm guessing Bernard lied about his identity and was her secret lover. He either killed her to keep her quiet or Ruth killed Lillian to make the scandal go away. Tyrone Kerr is a younger gentleman, a bachelor and the happy-go-lucky type. He seems nice enough but also kind of interested in Emma, again even though she's with Derrick.
Other suspects include Wallace Rayburn, a member of J.P. Morgan's yacht crew. His initials match a clue found on Lillian's body but he doesn't seem to fit the profile of a murderer. Emma muses that looks can be deceiving but he is young, youthful and bashful. Perhaps he was in love with Lillian and she spurned him? Perhaps he gifted her a love token and she laughed at him so he pushed her overboard? More likely is the man Brady's friend Angus saw arguing with Lillian the day of her death. He couldn't have been her lover since he appeared to be a rough crew member or dock worker but certainly he was the last person to have seen her alive and was seen arguing with her. Maybe ther argument got heated and he pushed her and she fell into the ocean to her death? There's another woman, a working class woman, who is angry enough to protect her own interests. Does she know what happened to Lillian?
The second death is also an incredible tragedy and it is kind of unresolved. Obviously this person was a threat to the villain somehow. The photographer identified Lillian and therefore, he probably knew the identity of her lover.
As usual, Jesse is the good cop but his hands are tied by his superiors who bow to the wishes of the wealthy summer cottagers. No one wants to lose their job based on a whim of someone with too much money but Jesse is willing to risk it to a certain extent. He respects Emma's intelligence and perceptions too much to let this one go but if he's caught investigating, it will cost him his job. Jesse is getting along with Derrick better now but he still seems a bit mistrustful. Katie and Nanny are on hand again to provide encouragment and comfort. They both adore Derrick and even Katie feels comfortable with him around. She's no longer the terrfied little mouse she once was. That says a lot about Derrick that she feels she can trust him. Emma's family only appears briefly. Her bohemian parents are still in Paris, unaware of her engagement but the gossip grapevine spread the word to Aunt Alice and Brady. Oops! Aunt Alice is happy if she's in charge and I expect there will be a lot of drama before Emma and Derrick walk down the aisle. Brady has grown up a lot but he's still very much a boy. His little sister has to give him wise counsel in matters of the heart. Will we see a double wedding before long?
I always enjoy this series even if the writing style doesn't sound 19th-century. Derrick and Emma would never behave so scandalously in real life. They'd sit on a porch and he would "make love" to her (not the same definition we use today, more like whispering sweet nothings into her ear). That's OK because it's fiction and some readers just can't grapple with 19th-century writing. I would like a little more period sounding langauge because I understand it but I don't mind not having it.
I'm eager for the next now. Will Emma and Derrick become man and wife finally?
Read with a cup of tea on a rainy day while listening to the sounds of the ocean slapping outside.
August 30, 2022
Murder At Beacon Rock is the tenth book in the Gilded Newport Mysteries by Alyssa Maxwell.
The setting for this book is Beacon Rock, the home of Edwin and Elizabeth Morgan. Edwin is the cousin of J. P. Morgan. The New York Yacht Club members are meeting at Morgan’s beautiful home to discuss upcoming America’s Cup race strategies. Emma, and her fiance, Derrick Andrews, a club member, have been invited to the dinner party at Beacon Rock. After listening to enough “society” talk, Emma goes outdoors for fresh air. Emma is standing by the stairs leading to the home's pier when she meets Lucy Carnegie, widow of Thomas Carnegie. They decide to walk to the dock to get a better look at the yachts moored in the cove. Once there, they notice a girl's body floating near the pier. They pull the body out of the water. The body is unknown to anyone, and the only thing found on the body is a small picture of the girl. Detective Jesse Whyte and Gifford Myers arrive, quickly ruling her death a suicide. It is soon learned that the body is that of 18-year-old Lillian Fahey. Lillian’s father is a nautical engineer, dealing mainly with the aerodynamics of yachts.
Emma and Derrick don’t believe Lilian’s death was suicide and start their investigation. There seems to be no shortage of suspects. The suspects will include the crews of the yachts owned by the dinner guest, even a dinner guest, and Lillian’s father.
I love this series. I’ve always enjoyed reading history, which I love about this series. This book is well written and plotted. It’s exciting to read about how things were in the past. I particularly enjoy the people in the book who are well described and bring so much life to the story.
I can’t wait for the next book in this amazing series.
The setting for this book is Beacon Rock, the home of Edwin and Elizabeth Morgan. Edwin is the cousin of J. P. Morgan. The New York Yacht Club members are meeting at Morgan’s beautiful home to discuss upcoming America’s Cup race strategies. Emma, and her fiance, Derrick Andrews, a club member, have been invited to the dinner party at Beacon Rock. After listening to enough “society” talk, Emma goes outdoors for fresh air. Emma is standing by the stairs leading to the home's pier when she meets Lucy Carnegie, widow of Thomas Carnegie. They decide to walk to the dock to get a better look at the yachts moored in the cove. Once there, they notice a girl's body floating near the pier. They pull the body out of the water. The body is unknown to anyone, and the only thing found on the body is a small picture of the girl. Detective Jesse Whyte and Gifford Myers arrive, quickly ruling her death a suicide. It is soon learned that the body is that of 18-year-old Lillian Fahey. Lillian’s father is a nautical engineer, dealing mainly with the aerodynamics of yachts.
Emma and Derrick don’t believe Lilian’s death was suicide and start their investigation. There seems to be no shortage of suspects. The suspects will include the crews of the yachts owned by the dinner guest, even a dinner guest, and Lillian’s father.
I love this series. I’ve always enjoyed reading history, which I love about this series. This book is well written and plotted. It’s exciting to read about how things were in the past. I particularly enjoy the people in the book who are well described and bring so much life to the story.
I can’t wait for the next book in this amazing series.
July 22, 2023
Another great Newport mystery! Alyssa Maxwell never disappoints! I really enjoyed the sailing element in this story ~ learning more about the New York Yacht Club, its history in Newport, etc. I love when these mysteries include something new like that, a different angle into the Four Hundred and Newport life.
This was not the most complex of her mysteries - hints are dropped early on and it’s easy to figure out. But Lillian and the inspiration for her character were both very interesting - Maxwell loves her strong female characters and so do readers!! Emma’s character continues to develop wonderfully and I really enjoyed seeing even more of her relationship with Derrick. They’re becoming such a strong, admirable couple. His character never overpowers hers. He’s a true support for both Emma and the series at large. I’m really looking forward to the next book!!
This was not the most complex of her mysteries - hints are dropped early on and it’s easy to figure out. But Lillian and the inspiration for her character were both very interesting - Maxwell loves her strong female characters and so do readers!! Emma’s character continues to develop wonderfully and I really enjoyed seeing even more of her relationship with Derrick. They’re becoming such a strong, admirable couple. His character never overpowers hers. He’s a true support for both Emma and the series at large. I’m really looking forward to the next book!!
October 13, 2022
3.5 stars, rounded up
The atmosphere of these books is definitely the best part. Maxwell did an excellent job capturing Newport at the turn of the century. I love clip clopping my way down Thames or Ocean Drive with Emma in her carriage. The author’s love of Newport really comes through in her writing. The mystery was pretty good. Though I figured out who did it, it was still a lot of fun to connect the dots with Emma. This series is a lot of fun, especially if you know and love the area of Newport.
The atmosphere of these books is definitely the best part. Maxwell did an excellent job capturing Newport at the turn of the century. I love clip clopping my way down Thames or Ocean Drive with Emma in her carriage. The author’s love of Newport really comes through in her writing. The mystery was pretty good. Though I figured out who did it, it was still a lot of fun to connect the dots with Emma. This series is a lot of fun, especially if you know and love the area of Newport.
April 20, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Ms. Maxwell for the advanced review copy!
Set against the background of 1900s America, Miss Emma Cross visits the Newport summer "cottage" of Edwin and Elizabeth Morgan, Beacon Rock, to attend the small but exclusive gathering of the New York Yacht club. Emma had attended and reported many events that took place in Newport. But this is different - it is the first time she is appearing as the fiancé of Derrick Andrews who himself is a part of the club. Trouble arrives in the form of a woman who washes up against the coast of Beacon Rock. Identified to be the daughter of the yacht designer's daughter, Emma and Derrick, along with Inspector Jesse, began to unravel the mystery behind the woman who was a Mathematics genius and her untimely death.
The language has a quality to it which makes the narrative lyrical. One can easily imagine the setting and the atmosphere and the narrative draws the reader in. I was hooked from the very beginning. Emma has a distinct voice that urged me to continue reading. She is fearless but not irrational. She knows the ways of society and perhaps she doesn't conform to them. But she is not unkind to those who stick by the rules and she sympathizes with their trouble as shown in the case Lucy Carnegie.
Derrick is a supportive and loving partner and he is on equal footing with her in every aspect of life. He cares for Emma and understands her passion but at the same time, he is worried about her safety. Their romance is not a passionate one but it is one of those sweet love stories which is, to be honest, realistic. I loved the friendship between Jesse and Emma and kudos to the writer for depicting their relation in such a beautiful manner.
Though I guessed the killer quite early on, I liked the revelation and the reason behind the mystery. For me, this was a very well-written mystery with an interesting coterie of characters and an engaging protagonist.
Set against the background of 1900s America, Miss Emma Cross visits the Newport summer "cottage" of Edwin and Elizabeth Morgan, Beacon Rock, to attend the small but exclusive gathering of the New York Yacht club. Emma had attended and reported many events that took place in Newport. But this is different - it is the first time she is appearing as the fiancé of Derrick Andrews who himself is a part of the club. Trouble arrives in the form of a woman who washes up against the coast of Beacon Rock. Identified to be the daughter of the yacht designer's daughter, Emma and Derrick, along with Inspector Jesse, began to unravel the mystery behind the woman who was a Mathematics genius and her untimely death.
The language has a quality to it which makes the narrative lyrical. One can easily imagine the setting and the atmosphere and the narrative draws the reader in. I was hooked from the very beginning. Emma has a distinct voice that urged me to continue reading. She is fearless but not irrational. She knows the ways of society and perhaps she doesn't conform to them. But she is not unkind to those who stick by the rules and she sympathizes with their trouble as shown in the case Lucy Carnegie.
Derrick is a supportive and loving partner and he is on equal footing with her in every aspect of life. He cares for Emma and understands her passion but at the same time, he is worried about her safety. Their romance is not a passionate one but it is one of those sweet love stories which is, to be honest, realistic. I loved the friendship between Jesse and Emma and kudos to the writer for depicting their relation in such a beautiful manner.
Though I guessed the killer quite early on, I liked the revelation and the reason behind the mystery. For me, this was a very well-written mystery with an interesting coterie of characters and an engaging protagonist.
August 14, 2022
This is how a cozy, historical fiction mystery should be written. The tenth book in the series, but I see no signs of a drop off in quality. Emma Cross, a native of Newport and distant relative of the Vanderbilt clan, is attending a party with her fiance at Beacon Rock when she discovers the body of a young woman, who appears to have drowned. While some of police are quick to decide the young woman took her own life, Emma is certain she was murdered. This all takes place with the America's Cup and yachting in the background. What Maxwell does so well is weave actual Gilded Age persons into her plots in a way that doesn't seem forced. Her author's notes are always interesting. If you are a fan of "The Gilded Age" tv series, then you will like these books. They should be read in order, if possible, for character development.
Thank you to NetGalley and to Kensington Books for the ARC. Murder at Beacon Rock will release Aug. 30.
Thank you to NetGalley and to Kensington Books for the ARC. Murder at Beacon Rock will release Aug. 30.
January 17, 2023
I’m impressed with the way this series has maintained a standard of quality unusual for the genre 10 books in. In fact, I actually think these might be getting better as the series progresses.
This is a compelling and well-structured mystery with good pacing and a good solve, and the supplementary elements of the story remain excellent as well.
For a historical mystery series it’s a little light on the actual history for my taste. Could we at least get more descriptive passages on the beautiful and fascinating houses that serve as the theme for the series?
The story and the characters though, remain notably good, and I’m eager to see what Emma and company will uncover on their next case.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
This is a compelling and well-structured mystery with good pacing and a good solve, and the supplementary elements of the story remain excellent as well.
For a historical mystery series it’s a little light on the actual history for my taste. Could we at least get more descriptive passages on the beautiful and fascinating houses that serve as the theme for the series?
The story and the characters though, remain notably good, and I’m eager to see what Emma and company will uncover on their next case.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
August 29, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up only because the mystery was too easy to solve.
Alyssa Maxwell writes a very nice cozy and I've been following her for a while.
I felt this story was not as good as the others. The mystery and suspect were easy to spot and happily, Derrick and Emma are progressing nicely in their marriage plans.
This story had the Morgans and Carnegies in it. I love how she brings these bigger-than-life real characters into her story. ( I love JP Morgan and have read his autobiography) We had the America's cup as the setting and I wish she would have gone on a little more about having the actual race. Maybe some more espionage and missing trade secrets.
Overall, it was a good cozy to read. Alyssa Maxwell does not disappoint.
Thank you Net Galley and publisher for allowing me the opportunity to review.
Alyssa Maxwell writes a very nice cozy and I've been following her for a while.
I felt this story was not as good as the others. The mystery and suspect were easy to spot and happily, Derrick and Emma are progressing nicely in their marriage plans.
This story had the Morgans and Carnegies in it. I love how she brings these bigger-than-life real characters into her story. ( I love JP Morgan and have read his autobiography) We had the America's cup as the setting and I wish she would have gone on a little more about having the actual race. Maybe some more espionage and missing trade secrets.
Overall, it was a good cozy to read. Alyssa Maxwell does not disappoint.
Thank you Net Galley and publisher for allowing me the opportunity to review.
December 17, 2022
Good story. Makes me want to visit Newport.
June 25, 2023
I don't often read a mystery, but this book being the 10th in Alyssa's series, alerted my attention.
This historical novel was a slow read but enjoyable and a cozy mystery.
This historical novel was a slow read but enjoyable and a cozy mystery.
April 8, 2025
Best one yet!!!!
July 30, 2022
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC for this book, and what a wonderful summer read! Long time readers of the Gilded Newport series will not be disappointed in this latest addition. Newly engaged Emma Cross and Derrick Andrews are invited to a small gathering of the New York Yacht Club at Beacon Rock, where Emma discovers the body of a young woman, who has died under mysterious circumstances. Readers will follow Emma's adventures as she puzzles out exactly what happened, while diving into the yacht club culture of the Newport elite. A thoroughly enjoyable historical mystery!
November 22, 2022
Book 10 in the Gilded Newport Mysteries continues to satisfy my love of this time period, solid mysteries and historical settings. I am a fan!
November 7, 2024
I jumped ahead in this series. It was necessary as I was able to read this at the library and hadn't yet bought it.
August 31, 2022
Any time I can travel back in time to spend quality time in Newport, Rhode Island during the early 1900's, I am going to take it. And Alyssa Maxwell's ability to make it so life like makes it most tempting !! Readers cannot get enough of her Gilded Newport Mystery series and with Murder at Beacon Rock the tenth book in the series, you feel like a resident.
In Murder at Beacon Rock main character Emma Cross is spending time in a different "world" than she is used to. Even though she has rich relatives that belong in the extravagant Four Hundred group, Emma is of a more relaxed and simple lifestyle. Unfortunately her fiance Derrick is among this elite group so she has to attempt to fit in and attend a party now and then. Little did either of them know that attending a party for members of the New York Yacht Club at Beacon Rock would find them pulling a young woman's body out of the water. They also did not realize that they would be looking into the death, not only for the local newspaper they run together but for their own peace of mind.
It doesn't take long to identify the woman and find a few clues to follow as to how she ended up in Newport but the local police rule it a suicide when they find a photograph on her person and assume she was recenlty left heartbroken and took her own life. However after Emma talks to the father she finds it hard to believe that Lillian who was a very independent and driven woman would take her own life, especially over a man.
Emma does not want to believe that any of the guests from the Yacht party could be guilty as they are all rich and focused on themselves and their boats to care about others but she cannot help but want to learn more about them and the workers on their yachts. Unfortunately her detecting brings her too close to the killer and if they could throw a young woman overboard and leave her to die, what's stopping them from doing it again ??
Readers will be on the edge of their seats reading Murder at Beacon Rock. And when you get to a part in the book you will have to remind yourself to breathe because you will be so focused on what you are reading, everything else fades around you. Maxwell will draw you into the book immediately and you will be powerless to break from her spell.....not that you will want to until you read the last word in the story.
I cannot say it enough.....you have to hop on this series and get taken back in time. Maxwell's talent for drawing a remarkable picture for you to escape in is better than Bert drew on the sidewalk in Mary Poppins....
March 11, 2023
Reviewing on the series so far. I really like the history aspect of this series and have found myself Googling all sorts of information from the locations mentioned in the books to the members of the Four Hundred while reading the books. I’ve been to Newport RI a few times but only to the major mansions (such as the Breakers and Marble House) but this series makes me want to go back and truly visit Newport as a city with history.
With that said, the mysteries have been satisfying, although not too exciting but it is cozy mystery so not expecting anything gruesome. My disappointment of the series is the strong lack of character development. There are so many gaps in how the characters relationships have grown that I find myself scratching my head on how things have developed. There are a lot of self-reflections and questions by the main character which I find quite unnecessary since there have been no resolutions to them and it is quite frustrating as a reader. Why ask those questions if they were not going to be discussed? This is where the gap comes in. Then you’ll have to go read the next book that somewhat answered some of the questions but not really. For example, Derrick finally decides to stay in Newport? Didn’t he had to leave for a year to take care of his father’s business? That meant he didn’t need to be in Providence at all so why did that length of time had to occur away from Newport at all? And how come he is not suddenly disinherited by his father again? His father did it once but could do it again. And in this book was mentioned that Judith is now excommunicated by both his parents but didn’t the mother went to Italy with her in the first place? And then Jesse all of a sudden just moved on quickly after pining for Emma for many books. Stuff like this is frustrating as a reader. Personally, I’d rather not have any descriptions of the relationships at all, just keep them on the surface level and bring them in when needed. After 10 books, I feel no connection whatsoever with the characters.
The 3-star is for this book. The story in this book is just so-so. The mystery is ok. I expected more but I feel I already guessed the culprit from the get-go and the final reveal was not exciting as some of the other books. I found myself quickly skim through this book just to get the reading done.
With that said, the mysteries have been satisfying, although not too exciting but it is cozy mystery so not expecting anything gruesome. My disappointment of the series is the strong lack of character development. There are so many gaps in how the characters relationships have grown that I find myself scratching my head on how things have developed. There are a lot of self-reflections and questions by the main character which I find quite unnecessary since there have been no resolutions to them and it is quite frustrating as a reader. Why ask those questions if they were not going to be discussed? This is where the gap comes in. Then you’ll have to go read the next book that somewhat answered some of the questions but not really. For example, Derrick finally decides to stay in Newport? Didn’t he had to leave for a year to take care of his father’s business? That meant he didn’t need to be in Providence at all so why did that length of time had to occur away from Newport at all? And how come he is not suddenly disinherited by his father again? His father did it once but could do it again. And in this book was mentioned that Judith is now excommunicated by both his parents but didn’t the mother went to Italy with her in the first place? And then Jesse all of a sudden just moved on quickly after pining for Emma for many books. Stuff like this is frustrating as a reader. Personally, I’d rather not have any descriptions of the relationships at all, just keep them on the surface level and bring them in when needed. After 10 books, I feel no connection whatsoever with the characters.
The 3-star is for this book. The story in this book is just so-so. The mystery is ok. I expected more but I feel I already guessed the culprit from the get-go and the final reveal was not exciting as some of the other books. I found myself quickly skim through this book just to get the reading done.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2022
As a cousin to the Vanderbilts, Emma Cross was raised in Newport among the families of great wealth and large estates. Her aunt left her a small manor and she receives an inheritance from Cornelius Vanderbilt that allows her to live comfortably, but far from the wealth of others. At a party at Beacon Rock, the Morgan’s estate, she escapes the conversations about yachts and racing by walking on the grounds accompanied by Lucy Carnegie. As they approach the water, they discover the body of a young woman floating close to the dock. It is Lillian Fahey, the daughter of the engineer whose designs have been used in many of the racing yachts. The police are quick to dismiss this as a suicide. Emma, however, believes that an intelligent independent woman would not be quick to take her own life.
Emma, an investigative journalist, is engaged to Derrick, the newspaper’s owner. She is no stranger to murder investigations. With Derrick’s support and her connections in the community she begins an investigation into Lillian’s death. Evidence suggests that Lillian was seeing someone connected to the crew of one of the yachts. Emma also discovers that some of her father’s plans have been stolen. These are normally locked away, but Lillian had access to them. Members of the yachting group in Newport are influential and powerful, making Emma’s investigation more difficult. She is acquainted with everyone involved and fears that one of them is the murderer. She has a strong sense of justice that will not let her quit. Even though she was raised near the water, she is not comfortable around boats. When she finally discovers a clue to the murderer’s identity, it leads to a life threatening escape over water. Alyssa Maxwell’s series takes you into the lives and estates of 1900s elite society and Murder at Beacon Rock will leave you hoping to see more of these adventures with Emma Cross. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing this book for my review.
Emma, an investigative journalist, is engaged to Derrick, the newspaper’s owner. She is no stranger to murder investigations. With Derrick’s support and her connections in the community she begins an investigation into Lillian’s death. Evidence suggests that Lillian was seeing someone connected to the crew of one of the yachts. Emma also discovers that some of her father’s plans have been stolen. These are normally locked away, but Lillian had access to them. Members of the yachting group in Newport are influential and powerful, making Emma’s investigation more difficult. She is acquainted with everyone involved and fears that one of them is the murderer. She has a strong sense of justice that will not let her quit. Even though she was raised near the water, she is not comfortable around boats. When she finally discovers a clue to the murderer’s identity, it leads to a life threatening escape over water. Alyssa Maxwell’s series takes you into the lives and estates of 1900s elite society and Murder at Beacon Rock will leave you hoping to see more of these adventures with Emma Cross. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing this book for my review.
February 8, 2024
Newport is gearing up for the America's Cup races, and a number members of the New York Yacht Club and the 400 are spending some time at Beacon Rock, a Greek-inspired summer cottage owned by Edwin and Elizabeth Morgan. Edwin is a cousin to JP Morgan. Emma Cross, local news reporter and a cousin to the Vanderbilts, and her fiance Derrick Andrews, a scion of a well-to-do family from Providence, are in attendence at a party at Beacon Rock celebrating preparations of the sailing teams. Emma joins a group on a sail about a ship owned by Lucy Carnegie, widowed sister-in-law to Andrew Carnegie AND the first woman member of the New York Yacht Club, when the vessel comes across the body of a young woman floating in the sea.
The initial assumption is that she fell off the Newport ferry or may have committed suicide after a romance gone bad. Emma, of course, jumps to rescue her reputation by starting an investigation of what led to the young woman's death. This becomes even more imperative after the young woman is identified as the daughter of a yacht designer with connections to many of the people who were at the party.
Can Emma, along with the help of Derrick and her good friend Detective Jesse Whyte, find out what happened to the young woman.
This was another great addition to this series of books. It was fun that it is even had references to the Warwick, the city where I work, and the ship-builidng and repair industry that was once quite big here. Emma and her supporting cast are always interesting to follow, and I love recognizing familiar places that are part of the Newport setting for these books. This book (and the series as a whole) is a must read for fans of The Gilded Age.
The initial assumption is that she fell off the Newport ferry or may have committed suicide after a romance gone bad. Emma, of course, jumps to rescue her reputation by starting an investigation of what led to the young woman's death. This becomes even more imperative after the young woman is identified as the daughter of a yacht designer with connections to many of the people who were at the party.
Can Emma, along with the help of Derrick and her good friend Detective Jesse Whyte, find out what happened to the young woman.
This was another great addition to this series of books. It was fun that it is even had references to the Warwick, the city where I work, and the ship-builidng and repair industry that was once quite big here. Emma and her supporting cast are always interesting to follow, and I love recognizing familiar places that are part of the Newport setting for these books. This book (and the series as a whole) is a must read for fans of The Gilded Age.
June 10, 2022
Alyssa Maxwell is once again in fine form with #MurderatBeaconRock, the tenth in her Gilded Newport mystery series, featuring Emma Cross, a newspaper report in Newport, RI.
This time Emma gets involved in a murder investigation when she and another guest discover the body of a young woman in the waters off of Beacon Rock, a Newport “cottage” owned by Edmund and Elizabeth Morgan. The Morgans are hosting a number of guests who are members of the New York Yacht Club, interested in working together to win the Americas Cup. Recently engaged, Emma and her fiancé, Derrick Andrews (newspaper owner/publisher) are skeptical of the initial conclusion of the police that the woman, Lillian Fahey, threw herself from the ferry and drowned after being rejected by a lover, especially after discovering that the victim’s father helps to design yachts.
Emma and Derrick believe that police have hastily landed on an explanation that will cause the least inconvenience to the wealthy Morgans and their guests. As in the previous books, Emma is an intelligent, persistent and strong character. Since she and Derrick are engaged, they are able to work together more than in many of the previous mysteries, and it was wonderful to see more of the interaction between them in both personal and professional settings.
There are a number of twists and a variety of suspects before the murderer is identified. Although the 10th in the series, I believe this could be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone. Another delightful entry in this entertaining series!
Thanks to #Kensington Books and #NetGalley for the ARC.
This time Emma gets involved in a murder investigation when she and another guest discover the body of a young woman in the waters off of Beacon Rock, a Newport “cottage” owned by Edmund and Elizabeth Morgan. The Morgans are hosting a number of guests who are members of the New York Yacht Club, interested in working together to win the Americas Cup. Recently engaged, Emma and her fiancé, Derrick Andrews (newspaper owner/publisher) are skeptical of the initial conclusion of the police that the woman, Lillian Fahey, threw herself from the ferry and drowned after being rejected by a lover, especially after discovering that the victim’s father helps to design yachts.
Emma and Derrick believe that police have hastily landed on an explanation that will cause the least inconvenience to the wealthy Morgans and their guests. As in the previous books, Emma is an intelligent, persistent and strong character. Since she and Derrick are engaged, they are able to work together more than in many of the previous mysteries, and it was wonderful to see more of the interaction between them in both personal and professional settings.
There are a number of twists and a variety of suspects before the murderer is identified. Although the 10th in the series, I believe this could be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone. Another delightful entry in this entertaining series!
Thanks to #Kensington Books and #NetGalley for the ARC.
November 11, 2022
This is a new to me but in fact a long running series that I see uses various Summer Cottages in Newport as settings. I very much enjoyed this and will go looking for earlier books in the series. Emma Cross is related to the Vanderbilts and her fiance Derrick is part of the Four Hundred (the 400 riches families in NY) and part of the fun for me are all the places I recognize in Newport. Ms Maxwell obviously loves the city and it shows.
Emma and Derrick are both reporters and Emma has to navigate being a female investigative reporter in a time where there were few of them (in fact, I'm not even sure she could remain one if she does marry as married women weren't often allowed to work in this time period). Derrick is very into the yachting scene though Emma isn't. After one party she and one of the Carnegie widows, Lucy (who like many of the side characters were real) are at the docks looking at the yachts (as Lucy IS into racing) and discover a woman floating.
Lucille was like Emma an independent woman who helped her father work on math formulas to make yacht construction lend itself to speed. Emma, Derrick and their detective friend, Jesse, don't believe Lucille drowned herself. They have to work hard to prove this was a murder and heaven help them if it is one of the 400 who are the killer because money can buy justice.
Emma and Derrick are interesting characters, Emma more so (mostly because we're in her pov). The mystery was well done and yes I would like to see more.
Emma and Derrick are both reporters and Emma has to navigate being a female investigative reporter in a time where there were few of them (in fact, I'm not even sure she could remain one if she does marry as married women weren't often allowed to work in this time period). Derrick is very into the yachting scene though Emma isn't. After one party she and one of the Carnegie widows, Lucy (who like many of the side characters were real) are at the docks looking at the yachts (as Lucy IS into racing) and discover a woman floating.
Lucille was like Emma an independent woman who helped her father work on math formulas to make yacht construction lend itself to speed. Emma, Derrick and their detective friend, Jesse, don't believe Lucille drowned herself. They have to work hard to prove this was a murder and heaven help them if it is one of the 400 who are the killer because money can buy justice.
Emma and Derrick are interesting characters, Emma more so (mostly because we're in her pov). The mystery was well done and yes I would like to see more.
August 28, 2022
It's the Summer of 1900 and the location is Newport, RI, the playground of the rich and famous of the Gilded Age. Emma Cross is a lesser Vanderbilt who makes her living as a reporter....and a darned good homicide investigator. With her place in society being able to move both upstairs and downstairs gives her an advantage over the police. Now, in the 10th book in this great historical series, Emma is engaged to one of the upstairs group. Derrick Andrews. He is member of the New York Yacht Club and together they are attending an event at Beacon Rock, the Summer cottage of Edwin Morgan. Among all of the yachts clustered at the base of Beacon Rock Emma and Lucy Carnegie discover a drowned woman. It turns out that she has ties to the yachting community and The America's Cup. The police declare it an accidental death but Emma is sure it's murder.
One of the aspects of this series that I enjoy is the vivid painting of the world of the Gilded Age. Not only the houses, the decor and the fashions but the real life people of the era. My favorite in this mystery has to be Lucy Carnegie. She is a breath of fresh air, a woman who speaks her mind and can hold her own in a man's world.
This is another well plotted mystery in a great series that is best read in order. If you enjoy historical mysteries then this series is a must for your TBR shelf. My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
One of the aspects of this series that I enjoy is the vivid painting of the world of the Gilded Age. Not only the houses, the decor and the fashions but the real life people of the era. My favorite in this mystery has to be Lucy Carnegie. She is a breath of fresh air, a woman who speaks her mind and can hold her own in a man's world.
This is another well plotted mystery in a great series that is best read in order. If you enjoy historical mysteries then this series is a must for your TBR shelf. My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 6, 2022
In this installment of the Gilded Newport Series, Alyssa Maxwell focuses on the Morgans, as in Edwin and his overly charming and condescending wife Elizabeth, John Pierpont Morgan and his wife Fanny and all things relating to the America’s Cup and The New York Yacht Club. While Maxwell has never shied away from exposing some of the absurdities of the Families of the Four Hundred in this book she actively goes after their affluence and attitudes. But hey of what importance is a dead body washed up on your property when you have a piece of silver to chase after and win for your beloved Yacht Club.
The story was interesting, especially if you enjoy sailing and more-so if you are acquainted with The New York Yacht Club and the America’s Cup Challenge. The mystery was a little here and a little there and not as exciting as some others but well thought out and seamlessly executed. The introduction of the very sympathetic Lucy Carnegie was a huge plus. As was the strengthening of our protagonist’s personal relationship with a strong, supportive fiancée.
I especially enjoyed learning about this Mansion as it is not available for viewing by mere mortals. It has been privately held by only a handful of owners since its construction in 1887-1890. Thanks Ms. Maxwell for the descriptions and insights and your perseverance during a particularly difficult personal time. Further thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for a copy.
The story was interesting, especially if you enjoy sailing and more-so if you are acquainted with The New York Yacht Club and the America’s Cup Challenge. The mystery was a little here and a little there and not as exciting as some others but well thought out and seamlessly executed. The introduction of the very sympathetic Lucy Carnegie was a huge plus. As was the strengthening of our protagonist’s personal relationship with a strong, supportive fiancée.
I especially enjoyed learning about this Mansion as it is not available for viewing by mere mortals. It has been privately held by only a handful of owners since its construction in 1887-1890. Thanks Ms. Maxwell for the descriptions and insights and your perseverance during a particularly difficult personal time. Further thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for a copy.
August 31, 2022
Newport, Rhode Island - 1900
Beacon Rock is the home of Elizabeth and Edwin Morgan and has a wonderful view of Brenton Cove and Narragansett Bay. It has a white marble facade with many columns and three large wings.
Emma Cross is a distant relative of Cornelius Vanderbilt and she is now engaged to Derrick Andrews. They have been invited by the Morgans for the evening. Emma works as a reporter for the “Messenger” newspaper.
After dinner, Emma ventures outside for fresh air and to enjoy the view of the dock and the Yachts. Hearing a noise at the dock, Emma discovers the body of Miss Lillian Fahey floating in the water. When her body is pulled out, she is found to wear a ring with the initials F and R. Now, Emma is determined to find out how this young woman ended up in the water and who’s the person with the R initial.
Once again, Emma is off and running to solve a murder but this time she has her fiancé, Derrick, to assist her. Ms. Maxwell’s mysteries are always written in a way that requires the reader’s close attention to keep up with plot. I do find it somewhat amusing that Emma, a reporter and not a policewoman, is able to get access to family and friends and private information about a victim or suspect. Enjoy.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Beacon Rock is the home of Elizabeth and Edwin Morgan and has a wonderful view of Brenton Cove and Narragansett Bay. It has a white marble facade with many columns and three large wings.
Emma Cross is a distant relative of Cornelius Vanderbilt and she is now engaged to Derrick Andrews. They have been invited by the Morgans for the evening. Emma works as a reporter for the “Messenger” newspaper.
After dinner, Emma ventures outside for fresh air and to enjoy the view of the dock and the Yachts. Hearing a noise at the dock, Emma discovers the body of Miss Lillian Fahey floating in the water. When her body is pulled out, she is found to wear a ring with the initials F and R. Now, Emma is determined to find out how this young woman ended up in the water and who’s the person with the R initial.
Once again, Emma is off and running to solve a murder but this time she has her fiancé, Derrick, to assist her. Ms. Maxwell’s mysteries are always written in a way that requires the reader’s close attention to keep up with plot. I do find it somewhat amusing that Emma, a reporter and not a policewoman, is able to get access to family and friends and private information about a victim or suspect. Enjoy.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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