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A Klondike Mystery #2
Gold Fever
A newcomer to town has secrets Fiona doesnt want revealed... Its the spring of 1898, and thousands of people, from all corners of the globe, are flooding into the Yukon Territory in the pursuit of gold, the town of Dawson welcomes them all. The beautiful Fiona MacGillivray, the owner of the very successful Savoy dance hall, is happy to make as much money as possible in as short a time as possible. When her twelve-year-old son Angus saves the life of a Native woman intent on suicide, he inadvertently sets off a chain of events that offers his mothers arch-enemy Joey LeBlanc, the madam with a heart of coal, the opportunity to destroy the Savoy Dance Hall once and for all. Unaware of impending danger, Fiona has other concerns: among the new arrivals are a would-be writer with far more tenacity than talent, and her nervous companion. Theres something familiar about the newcomers cut-glass accent, and Fiona MacGillivray is determined to keep her as far away from Angus as possible. Then a killer strikes, and the Mounties are determined to get their man...or woman.
296 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2010
11 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
Vicki Delany
59 books1,950 followers“It’s a crime not to read Delany,” so says the London Free Press.
Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most varied and prolific crime writers.
She is the author of four cozy mystery series: The Tea by the Sea series from Kensington Books, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series from Crooked Lane and the Year Round Christmas series from Penguin. Under the pen name of Eva Gates she writes the Lighthouse Library Series.
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com , www.facebook.com/evagatesauthor, and twitter: @vickidelany
Vicki is part of Mystery Lovers Kitchen (http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com) and Killer Characters (http://www.killercharacters.com)
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com
Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most varied and prolific crime writers.
She is the author of four cozy mystery series: The Tea by the Sea series from Kensington Books, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series from Crooked Lane and the Year Round Christmas series from Penguin. Under the pen name of Eva Gates she writes the Lighthouse Library Series.
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com , www.facebook.com/evagatesauthor, and twitter: @vickidelany
Vicki is part of Mystery Lovers Kitchen (http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com) and Killer Characters (http://www.killercharacters.com)
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 23, 2013
Approximately three weeks ago, Vicki Delany was a new-to-me author. Since then, I've read three books in the 'Constable Molly Smith' series and two in the 'Klondike Mystery' series. The two series are different with respect to the personalities of the main characters and the time and place of the stories, but I've really enjoyed them both.
In this book, Fiona MacGillivray reveals a little more about her past and shows a somewhat more generous nature than we'd seen in 'Gold Digger'. She's still strong, resourceful and highly intelligent, except when it comes to Graham, but we have a better understanding of her personality. There are a few interesting twists and turns in the plot and some new characters are introduced. As in the previous book, Delany paints a great picture of what life was like in Dawson during the gold rush, but this time she focuses a little more attention on the darker aspects of the community.
I found myself quickly engaged when I started this book but, as in the previous one, the abrupt transitions from third-person to first-person narration still pulled me out of the story. Except for this one complaint, I liked the writing style and thought it was a very entertaining book.
In this book, Fiona MacGillivray reveals a little more about her past and shows a somewhat more generous nature than we'd seen in 'Gold Digger'. She's still strong, resourceful and highly intelligent, except when it comes to Graham, but we have a better understanding of her personality. There are a few interesting twists and turns in the plot and some new characters are introduced. As in the previous book, Delany paints a great picture of what life was like in Dawson during the gold rush, but this time she focuses a little more attention on the darker aspects of the community.
I found myself quickly engaged when I started this book but, as in the previous one, the abrupt transitions from third-person to first-person narration still pulled me out of the story. Except for this one complaint, I liked the writing style and thought it was a very entertaining book.
July 7, 2013
I won this book through Goodreads. I really enjoyed the book Gold Fever. I liked the mystery of it and the surprise ending. Who would of guessed the murder weapon. I liked that the characters in the book found happiness in their fellow man and not gold.
July 5, 2018
Many historical details adding to my recent visit to Dawson City,Yukon.
June 9, 2017
Dawson City in the Klondike, 1898, is a bustling town filled with people on a quest for gold. It's a town of wooden shacks, tents, booze, mud, dance hall girls, prostitutes, people intent on making a fortune one way or another, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who always get their man or woman.
Fiona MacGillivray has found Dawson City a good place to retreat to, a place to make some money and raise her son, Angus. She owns the Savoy, a successful dance hall. She is beautiful (and knows it and plays it to her best advantage), a bit haughty, strong, determined, and it sounds like she's had more than a few scrapes and adventures in her life. She has secrets from her past, lived a rather scurrilous life and we get to hear a little more about it in this book. A face from her past shows up, reminding her of things she'd buried deeply inside.
Her son saves a native woman from suicide, a nosy writer comes to town, the notorious Madam has it in for Fiona and has decided to ruin her. It all kicks off from there, including a murder or two.
This is the second book in a series about Fiona's adventures in Dawson City. There's some romantic overtones around the edges but it's not about that because Fiona doesn't seem to want anyone to get too close. She's not altogether a sympathetic character, being vain about her looks and her clothing, jewelry etc but she does love her son above all else which gives her a redeeming quality. She also seems to have a habit of getting caught up in murders! The Gold Rush setting is interesting and the plot moves along quickly. It's an easy read with colourful characters and a murder mystery neatly wrapped up by the final chapter.
Fiona MacGillivray has found Dawson City a good place to retreat to, a place to make some money and raise her son, Angus. She owns the Savoy, a successful dance hall. She is beautiful (and knows it and plays it to her best advantage), a bit haughty, strong, determined, and it sounds like she's had more than a few scrapes and adventures in her life. She has secrets from her past, lived a rather scurrilous life and we get to hear a little more about it in this book. A face from her past shows up, reminding her of things she'd buried deeply inside.
Her son saves a native woman from suicide, a nosy writer comes to town, the notorious Madam has it in for Fiona and has decided to ruin her. It all kicks off from there, including a murder or two.
This is the second book in a series about Fiona's adventures in Dawson City. There's some romantic overtones around the edges but it's not about that because Fiona doesn't seem to want anyone to get too close. She's not altogether a sympathetic character, being vain about her looks and her clothing, jewelry etc but she does love her son above all else which gives her a redeeming quality. She also seems to have a habit of getting caught up in murders! The Gold Rush setting is interesting and the plot moves along quickly. It's an easy read with colourful characters and a murder mystery neatly wrapped up by the final chapter.
December 21, 2017
I enjoyed this one a little more than the first of the series. I also liked protagonist, Fiona MacGillivray, more than I did in the first book, though I actively disliked her in the first book so that bar was set pretty low.
I am intrigued enough by the series to read the next one and see where it goes.
I am intrigued enough by the series to read the next one and see where it goes.
December 8, 2019
Good descriptions of life in Dawson during the gold rush.
These Klondike mysteries really make you appreciate how tough those women had to be to live in Dawson with the cold winters and all of the mud when the spring thaws came along with the rain. I am ready to read the next book.
These Klondike mysteries really make you appreciate how tough those women had to be to live in Dawson with the cold winters and all of the mud when the spring thaws came along with the rain. I am ready to read the next book.
November 13, 2021
#2 in A Klondike Mystery series. This 2010 entry by author Vicki Delany continues the adventures of Fiona and her son in 1898 Dawson, the site of the Klondike Gold Rush. A reasonable read but repetitive.
April 19, 2021
Not bad but not the best that I have read. The killer was obvious - no other choice. Interesting attitudes of the people and NWMP.
April 7, 2026
Not a series to continue with. The setting is great. I don't like the changing narrators. The characters are not developed enough to hold my interest.
June 30, 2016
I am sitting at three stars again. The mystery is not at the forefront and Fiona is not entirely likeable. Most strikingly, her behaviour towards a family friend was illogical. I admire Vicki Delaney and consider this Dawson City series a highly original idea, painted so vividly to all of our senses that she is undoubtedly a sharp observer, talented teller of those tableaux, and a tireless researcher. Here is where the psychology fell off.
Running a dancehall with her Glaswegian partner, Ray, has made Fiona elite. Granted, she doesn't want the locals to know she was a crofter, when her playmate from the Isle Of Skye turns up. Euila must not know she's an unmarried Mother. Both are understandable in 1898. Why did she not ask Euila to stifle her upbringing? Especially, there's no way she would not ask why Fiona's family vanished! None in Euila's family care for her brother Alistair. Fiona's utter avoidance of someone from home, who knew her dear parents, made no sense. Dawson has little to do except nature-walking. Who wouldn't do summersaults to catch-up with a peer from home; a miracle encounter in the Yukon?
I enjoyed the Aboriginal village and hope Fiona falls for Constable Richard, who is sympathetic to the prejudice of that epoch; demonstrated by his Captain. One-hundred-and-eighteen pages are far too many, before hitting the stride of a mystery and there is far too much repetition about this distinct setting. Vicki established it well but kept on describing feeble walls and how successful her establishment is, for instance. It's a turnoff that she begrudges hugging Euila, for Pete's sake and dislikes animals. Lastly: Angus and Richard are the only ones working to crime-solve. Vicki again, had Fiona injured at the end but she is misrepresented, as a mystery heroine.
Running a dancehall with her Glaswegian partner, Ray, has made Fiona elite. Granted, she doesn't want the locals to know she was a crofter, when her playmate from the Isle Of Skye turns up. Euila must not know she's an unmarried Mother. Both are understandable in 1898. Why did she not ask Euila to stifle her upbringing? Especially, there's no way she would not ask why Fiona's family vanished! None in Euila's family care for her brother Alistair. Fiona's utter avoidance of someone from home, who knew her dear parents, made no sense. Dawson has little to do except nature-walking. Who wouldn't do summersaults to catch-up with a peer from home; a miracle encounter in the Yukon?
I enjoyed the Aboriginal village and hope Fiona falls for Constable Richard, who is sympathetic to the prejudice of that epoch; demonstrated by his Captain. One-hundred-and-eighteen pages are far too many, before hitting the stride of a mystery and there is far too much repetition about this distinct setting. Vicki established it well but kept on describing feeble walls and how successful her establishment is, for instance. It's a turnoff that she begrudges hugging Euila, for Pete's sake and dislikes animals. Lastly: Angus and Richard are the only ones working to crime-solve. Vicki again, had Fiona injured at the end but she is misrepresented, as a mystery heroine.
February 5, 2015
This is book 2 of the Klondike Gold Rush Series by Vicki Delany. In this edition dance hall owner and "widow" Fiona Macgillivray runs into trouble with a notorious Madame, a runaway Indian, a couple of dead bodies and a Sergeant of the NW-RCMP, all while trying to raise her 12 year-old son Angus. What makes this book great are the characters and the historical detail, but I only gave it 3 Stars because I found that the murder mystery aspect of the book somewhat predictable.
February 13, 2014
I can picture myself now, in the rip roaring times of the Gold Rush where isolation was the norm and things got a little wild now and again. I liked this even more than the first book and enjoyed Fiona, Angus and all of the crowd at the Savoy. An interesting glimpse into the life and times and brought in additional social aspects of the day, such as the attitudes towards aboriginal peoples.
July 5, 2020
A compelling story
I read this series when it first came out. Rarely do characters call to me the way these have. I find myself wishing Ms Delany would write me another, 10 years on, and tell me more episodes from Fee's life. I guess that probably won't happen. But at least we have these 4 books.
I read this series when it first came out. Rarely do characters call to me the way these have. I find myself wishing Ms Delany would write me another, 10 years on, and tell me more episodes from Fee's life. I guess that probably won't happen. But at least we have these 4 books.
January 3, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. The main reason why was the Dawson City background and history. The characters were likable as well but secondary for me. It ended well and with some suspense and I would read another by this author if it took place in Dawson.
April 23, 2010
Charming dialogue and settings but the story itself is less than enthralling.
March 24, 2014
Loved this book , now reading all the others in the series that I can get my hands on.
October 24, 2015
Interesting and enjoyable but I always felt I was missing something. Fiona's back history Is slowly being revealed. Too slowly perhaps.
June 20, 2016
Interesting viewpoint and take on the Yukon Gold Rush. Well researched. Good characters and depth.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews