Murder by Vote

Penrose & Pyke Mysteries #3

by Rose Pascoe

Penrose & Pyke are flung into an explosive new mystery during the campaign for women’s suffrage.

Politicians are worried that women voters will oust them, liquor barons are terrified that women will favour prohibition, and the man in the street fears his wife will no longer be content with home and hearth. Just how far will they go to stop women from getting the vote? Medical student Grace Penrose and Detective Constable Charlie Pyke are about to find out.

The ‘Penrose & Pyke Mysteries’ are a series of heart-warming, pulse-racing historical mysteries, set during a remarkable period of social upheaval in 1890s New Zealand. The fight for women’s rights has never been such deadly fun.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Mystery, Historical, Mystery Thriller, Fiction

298 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 20, 2023

About the author

Rose Pascoe writes historical mysteries with a dash of romance, when she isn’t plotting real-life adventures. She lives in beautiful New Zealand, land of beaches and mountains, where long walks provide the perfect conditions for dreaming up plots and fickle weather provides the incentive to sit down and actually write the darn things. After a career in health, justice and social research, her passion is for stories set against a backdrop of social revolution. Her heroines are ordinary women, who meet the challenges thrown at them with determination, ingenuity, courage, and humour.

Reviews

[Pat Chrivia]

Love these characters.

[Michelle]

Another great story! This one deals with New Zealand's suffragettes trying to get the right to vote and the powerful being above the law. It was a fantastic read, but it made me sad, to think what women went through to get to vote and how many women today, throw that opportunity away. It's also disappointing that the rich continue to be above the law, though they have to be a bit more cunning now, versus the 1890's, but not much has changed there.
I'm glad I waited to read this series until there were several other books out, because this one ends in on a sour note. Seeing I am who I am, I have already gotten info from skimming the end of book 7, that I need........ for now, on to book 4!

[Dawn]

Great book, great series.

Love the characters in the series, Especially Grace Penrose. Grace is fully into medical school in this 3rd book in the series. But when there is a murder to solve her few days off between terms is filled with adventure for her and Charlie Pyke. There are threats made against the suffragists and several incidents. When a bomb goes off there are several suspects but who is really behind it and the other incidents?

[Mary]

Another hit from Rose Pascoe! I enjoyed the backdrop of suffrage and women's rights. The mysteries were complex and led the readers down many blind alleys. I loved it! There are several surprises and the way the author ended the story left me positively salivating for the next book. I'm thrilled I don't have to wait too long.

[Patricia]

I have read the 3 volumes in this series. Interesting murder plots and character development. Historically interesting insight into the rights of women or rather lack there of in that era. Also demonstrates the power of class and wealth over justice. I look forward to the 4th volume.

[Gary and Sandra Sims]

Wonderful

Great series of books. Book 3 was by far the most exciting with bombings, abuse and malicious attacks upon women's suffrage. Some great revelations are instore for the reader.

[Marilyn]

This is the third book of the series and I have enjoyed every aspect of the story line and characters.

[Mary]

Not my favorite in the series, not enough action or storyline and too much suffragette stuff made it boring.

[Karen M]

Lots of twists

Story held my interest due to the unexpected twists threaded throughout. This series has kept me reading and I am heading into the fourth in the series.

[Vicki]

Wonderful series with well-written characters and plot, just needs a proofreader. I love learning about the history of New Zealand.

[Robin]

4.25/5 stars

I'm loving this series and especially how the author interweaves historical content into her fictional stories. Nicely done.

[Carolyn]

It's always fun to read a mystery and realize that you picked up on the clues, too.

[Ruth Barrineau-Brooks]

I love this series because they’re Victorian mysteries with two intriguing main characters (as well as family and friends) and don’t have graphic violence or foul language. They’re fun, quick mysteries. Are they literary masterpieces? No, but I wasn’t looking for that when I started them.