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Incognito
An elegant literary mystery set during the Gilded Age.
New York City, 1911. Representing the widow of a Wall Street financier, lawyer William Dysart travels to a small Long Island town with a generous offer for Miss Sybil Curtis's cottage and five acres of land. But when Sybil refuses to sell, the widow threatens to use her influence with the state to seize the property.
Intrigued by Sybil's defiance and afflicted by a growing affection for her, William develops a desire to help her that becomes an obsession he cannot define, one that tears away the facade of his life, and presents him with truths he's unprepared to face.
New York City, 1911. Representing the widow of a Wall Street financier, lawyer William Dysart travels to a small Long Island town with a generous offer for Miss Sybil Curtis's cottage and five acres of land. But when Sybil refuses to sell, the widow threatens to use her influence with the state to seize the property.
Intrigued by Sybil's defiance and afflicted by a growing affection for her, William develops a desire to help her that becomes an obsession he cannot define, one that tears away the facade of his life, and presents him with truths he's unprepared to face.
320 pages, Paperback
First published July 5, 2011
About the author
Gregory Murphy
2 books6 followersGregory Murphy is a playwright whose first play, "The Countess,"ran off-Broadway for two years and was produced in London's West End. He is the seventh of eleven children and was raised in Amityville, Long Island. He currently lives in New York City with his wife, theater director Ludovica Villar-Hauser.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
July 26, 2011
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Incognito has a little bit of everything - romance, intrigue, beautiful descriptions of a turn of the century New York, mystery and is written in such a beautiful way that it feels as if you are just floating through the story.
I honestly didn't know what to expect when I started reading Incognito. I began around 10pm at night, knowing I'd need to get to sleep within the hour and finally put the book down around 1am, and only then with much regret. I'd been drawn into the story through descriptions, through the dialogue and through the development of some of the most subtly colorful characters I've had the opportunity to read about in quite some time.
William is a lawyer from a well-to-do, upper crust New York family and he is married to one of the most beautiful women in the city. His life begins to change, however, when he is given the assignment to make an offer to purchase property from a Miss Sybil Curtin for one of his firms most powerful clients. Nothing is as it seems when young Sybil refuses him and he begins to investigate, knowing deep down that something is amiss.
Oh the twists and turns this story takes. I don't want you to think, however, that it is a story of excitement, a thriller that will have your gripping your book - because it isn't. It's quiet, unassuming but demands your attention until you have the very last answer and the characters are finally given exactly what they deserve, be that good or evil.
Incognito is the perfect summer read and one I will be recommending every chance I get.
I honestly didn't know what to expect when I started reading Incognito. I began around 10pm at night, knowing I'd need to get to sleep within the hour and finally put the book down around 1am, and only then with much regret. I'd been drawn into the story through descriptions, through the dialogue and through the development of some of the most subtly colorful characters I've had the opportunity to read about in quite some time.
William is a lawyer from a well-to-do, upper crust New York family and he is married to one of the most beautiful women in the city. His life begins to change, however, when he is given the assignment to make an offer to purchase property from a Miss Sybil Curtin for one of his firms most powerful clients. Nothing is as it seems when young Sybil refuses him and he begins to investigate, knowing deep down that something is amiss.
Oh the twists and turns this story takes. I don't want you to think, however, that it is a story of excitement, a thriller that will have your gripping your book - because it isn't. It's quiet, unassuming but demands your attention until you have the very last answer and the characters are finally given exactly what they deserve, be that good or evil.
Incognito is the perfect summer read and one I will be recommending every chance I get.
February 11, 2017
The writing style was very nice but I had a few problems with the content. I had a hard time believing that some of the characters behaved as they did. After a while the story lost momentum and became tedious because I just wasn’t buying what the characters were selling.
The first half of the book was riveting and nicely set the stage for what was to come. The second half fell flat and was a huge disappointment.
The first half of the book was riveting and nicely set the stage for what was to come. The second half fell flat and was a huge disappointment.
January 23, 2012
It's been far too long since I read Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence for me to at all compare it to Incognito as many reviewers have. In that vein, all I really know is that they both have to do with early 1900's high society in New York City. In Incognito, lawyer, William Dysart, becomes acquainted with Sybil Curtis when his client, Lydia Billings, asks that Ms. Curtis's property be purchased for her. Mr. Dysart quickly realizes this task will be much more difficult than he was prepared for and that there's a lot more going on between Ms. Curtis and Mrs. Billings than it initially seemed. As he interacts more with Ms. Curtis and tries to figure out what's really going on, William begins to fall for this mysterious woman.
Incognito is heralded as a literary mystery. At times I did feel that's what I was reading, but really when it came down to it there really wasn't a big mystery. Sure, I was curious what the connection was between Ms. Curtis and Ms. Billings, but it's revealed practically halfway through the book and didn't hit me as this big "ah-ha". I mean, I sort of had an "ohhh..." moment but that's it. If that's what the whole story were built around it definitely would not have worked. There was another small mystery in that William's mother died when he was young, and his vague memories lead him to search for the truth about that situation. But even that one I saw coming. So for these factors, I found the story somewhat anticlimactic. I wish the author would have delved deeper into other factors of the story lines because it would have added a depth that would have rounded off the book much better.
The majority of this book was actually an enjoyable read. William Dysart was a likeable character. His counterpart, Sybil, finds him to be an honest, genuine person not common to his standing, and this is what draws her to him. Similarly, I found myself caring for his character for those reasons. And although Sybil's character was nice enough, I don't feel like she was built enough to make William's falling for her that realistic. In this sense, I found Incognito to be reminiscent of a typical romance book where nothing significant really happens to warrant the attraction between two characters. There were a couple scenes that I felt were a little hokey in their interactions. What I did enjoy reading about was William's wife, Arabella, and the realizations Williams has about how she essentially tricked him into believing she was a woman who desired only a simple life as well as a woman who loved children and wanted a family. None of these were apparently true, and she prefers material things and being a part of the high society. Murphy did well at portraying this luxurious but hypocritical society. I would have preferred more of this and less of the mild mystery and stereotypical romance. I certainly wouldn't call this a 5-star read as 17 amazon reviewers did, but it was okay and I could see where a romance fan might really enjoy the elements of this story. I, however, am now in the mood for The Age of Innocence!
Taken from my blog at www.takemeawayreading.com
Incognito is heralded as a literary mystery. At times I did feel that's what I was reading, but really when it came down to it there really wasn't a big mystery. Sure, I was curious what the connection was between Ms. Curtis and Ms. Billings, but it's revealed practically halfway through the book and didn't hit me as this big "ah-ha". I mean, I sort of had an "ohhh..." moment but that's it. If that's what the whole story were built around it definitely would not have worked. There was another small mystery in that William's mother died when he was young, and his vague memories lead him to search for the truth about that situation. But even that one I saw coming. So for these factors, I found the story somewhat anticlimactic. I wish the author would have delved deeper into other factors of the story lines because it would have added a depth that would have rounded off the book much better.
The majority of this book was actually an enjoyable read. William Dysart was a likeable character. His counterpart, Sybil, finds him to be an honest, genuine person not common to his standing, and this is what draws her to him. Similarly, I found myself caring for his character for those reasons. And although Sybil's character was nice enough, I don't feel like she was built enough to make William's falling for her that realistic. In this sense, I found Incognito to be reminiscent of a typical romance book where nothing significant really happens to warrant the attraction between two characters. There were a couple scenes that I felt were a little hokey in their interactions. What I did enjoy reading about was William's wife, Arabella, and the realizations Williams has about how she essentially tricked him into believing she was a woman who desired only a simple life as well as a woman who loved children and wanted a family. None of these were apparently true, and she prefers material things and being a part of the high society. Murphy did well at portraying this luxurious but hypocritical society. I would have preferred more of this and less of the mild mystery and stereotypical romance. I certainly wouldn't call this a 5-star read as 17 amazon reviewers did, but it was okay and I could see where a romance fan might really enjoy the elements of this story. I, however, am now in the mood for The Age of Innocence!
Taken from my blog at www.takemeawayreading.com
September 15, 2011
This really is an enjoyable read. Set at the turn of the 20th century, the author does an excellent job of depicting life during that time period among the newly elite of the upper northeast portion of the country. Relationships were definitely different at that time as people bowed to the wishes of their families and did what they had to in order to remain in the good graces of society.
For the protagonist in Incognito, he does everything to keep his wife and father happy … within reason. However, living that life is beginning to depress him. His wife isn’t happy because she wants more and more to impress their wealthy friends and one way she is determined to do that is to live in a house that is designed for parties and other similar social events. She feels their current home isn’t going to make the type of impact on them as she wants, so she bargains with his father to help them build a house she can be “proud” of.
But for William, he’s quite content where they are and feels they simply cannot afford to live the lifestyle Arabella desires. They are beginning to argue incessantly and he’s questioning his feelings for her -- and if he ever truly loved her.
Entering the picture is a young woman who William meets while working for a client who has plans to turn her Long Island property into a national park. In order to do that, she is determined to expand by getting her hands on the woman’s land, which is right next to hers. But Sybil doesn’t want to sell and tells William as much. She refuses to accept all offers, even with the threat of having her home condemned and taken over by the state. That would mean it could be given to her greedy neighbor.
William is puzzled by the whole scenario and decides to find out the true story of why his client is so set on having the property and why Sybil is refusing to sell. In the meantime, he is finding himself more and more drawn to the young and pretty Sybil. In fact, he’s actually finding himself falling in love with her.
Incognito is a book that captures your attention and it’s not easy to put down. I loved the story itself, as well as the history aspect. Engaging and evocative, it will have a place on my favorite reads of the year.
For the protagonist in Incognito, he does everything to keep his wife and father happy … within reason. However, living that life is beginning to depress him. His wife isn’t happy because she wants more and more to impress their wealthy friends and one way she is determined to do that is to live in a house that is designed for parties and other similar social events. She feels their current home isn’t going to make the type of impact on them as she wants, so she bargains with his father to help them build a house she can be “proud” of.
But for William, he’s quite content where they are and feels they simply cannot afford to live the lifestyle Arabella desires. They are beginning to argue incessantly and he’s questioning his feelings for her -- and if he ever truly loved her.
Entering the picture is a young woman who William meets while working for a client who has plans to turn her Long Island property into a national park. In order to do that, she is determined to expand by getting her hands on the woman’s land, which is right next to hers. But Sybil doesn’t want to sell and tells William as much. She refuses to accept all offers, even with the threat of having her home condemned and taken over by the state. That would mean it could be given to her greedy neighbor.
William is puzzled by the whole scenario and decides to find out the true story of why his client is so set on having the property and why Sybil is refusing to sell. In the meantime, he is finding himself more and more drawn to the young and pretty Sybil. In fact, he’s actually finding himself falling in love with her.
Incognito is a book that captures your attention and it’s not easy to put down. I loved the story itself, as well as the history aspect. Engaging and evocative, it will have a place on my favorite reads of the year.
August 31, 2011
William Dysart, is a lawyer working on a case where he is to try a purchase some land from a young unmarried Sybil Curtis. His client will not take no for an answer, in fact she will have the property condemned in order to seize it. When William meets Sybil he is taken aback by her unwillingness to sell her property to him (Sybil realizes who really wants it) and is rather willing to be thrown out of her home than to sell. Neither woman will tell William what their previous relationship was. William can’t help but attach himself to the young Miss Curtis and wants nothing more than to help her.
As William struggles with his feelings for Sybil Curtis, his home life begins to unravel. His beautiful socialite wife, Arabella shows her manipulative ways making William realize she is not the woman he thought she was. His lost memories surrounding the death of his mother make him question his father and the things he’s been told his whole life. All the seams of William’s life begin to unravel, leaving William with truths more disturbing than he had ever suspected.
This is a dramatic story of New York high society in 1911 that you will not want to put down. The further I read the more captivated I became by the story. I would have thought a man who becomes so entangled with another woman would enrage me as a married woman, but truthfully I felt nothing but compassion for William. I was absolutely fascinated with every twist and turn of the novel. The only negative about this book is I had trouble keeping a number of the supporting characters straight.
I highly recommend this book!
As William struggles with his feelings for Sybil Curtis, his home life begins to unravel. His beautiful socialite wife, Arabella shows her manipulative ways making William realize she is not the woman he thought she was. His lost memories surrounding the death of his mother make him question his father and the things he’s been told his whole life. All the seams of William’s life begin to unravel, leaving William with truths more disturbing than he had ever suspected.
This is a dramatic story of New York high society in 1911 that you will not want to put down. The further I read the more captivated I became by the story. I would have thought a man who becomes so entangled with another woman would enrage me as a married woman, but truthfully I felt nothing but compassion for William. I was absolutely fascinated with every twist and turn of the novel. The only negative about this book is I had trouble keeping a number of the supporting characters straight.
I highly recommend this book!
July 31, 2011
I loved this book. I don’t usually enjoy novels that take place in the early 1900′s, but Gregory Murphy has an incredible way with words, making the city of New York come alive on the pages.
I was fascinated by William. From the very beginning you can feel the tension and strain that emanates from his marriage. I immediately didn’t like his wife, Arabella, who was controlling and manipulative. It made it easier and almost welcoming when William started to feel a pull towards Miss Curtis.
This is a love story, but it’s so much more than that. The actual love story is almost on the back burner to the mystery that is William’s childhood and Miss Curtis’ own history. I found myself eager to read more because I wanted to find out what it was that William had suppressed all those years and what caused Miss Curtis to act the way that she did. This is the first book in a long time that I’ve read where I hadn’t figured it out by the time I reached the end. I was constantly surprised by the different twists that were thrown in, but none of them felt forced.
I also loved the subtleness that Gregory Murphy used in presenting some difficult subject matter. It was made obvious what was being talked about, without making the reader uncomfortable or being forced to guess what was really meant.
Incognito is a beautifully written novel and one I would highly recommend.
I was fascinated by William. From the very beginning you can feel the tension and strain that emanates from his marriage. I immediately didn’t like his wife, Arabella, who was controlling and manipulative. It made it easier and almost welcoming when William started to feel a pull towards Miss Curtis.
This is a love story, but it’s so much more than that. The actual love story is almost on the back burner to the mystery that is William’s childhood and Miss Curtis’ own history. I found myself eager to read more because I wanted to find out what it was that William had suppressed all those years and what caused Miss Curtis to act the way that she did. This is the first book in a long time that I’ve read where I hadn’t figured it out by the time I reached the end. I was constantly surprised by the different twists that were thrown in, but none of them felt forced.
I also loved the subtleness that Gregory Murphy used in presenting some difficult subject matter. It was made obvious what was being talked about, without making the reader uncomfortable or being forced to guess what was really meant.
Incognito is a beautifully written novel and one I would highly recommend.
July 19, 2011
I loved this book. It represents the main thing I love about historical fiction—it powerfully displays an inside view of true society and life in New York 1911, while still following an arresting, mysterious love story of our inner demons. Absolutely compelling, and now that I've finished it I only want to read it again.
June 23, 2019
Terrible! I constantly kept checking to see if my copy was missing pages because it was so confusing. What was the story really about? Don’t waste your time. More than 300 pages of dribble and innuendo
August 15, 2022
Okay story. I wasn’t totally convinced that Mr Dysert would have behaved the way he did in real life. His wife was well drawn as the cold, self absorbed newly rich wife. What a snob. I found it surprising that Sybil wasn’t more messed up considering what she had gone through.
November 13, 2020
Kept me entertained from start to finish. It is a bit mystery, a bit love story. I was surprised that it was written by a man. I like his style of writing and would read more of his books.
January 15, 2022
This wasn't a bad book, it wasn't a book that had much depth to the characters. I think the storyline was interesting and I would have enjoyed it more if the telling of the story had been richer.
Want to Read
March 25, 2026How the unconscious brain controls most of what we think and do.
July 11, 2013
Incognito by Gregory Murphy is a seamless mystery set in the Gilded Age in New York City. It was a tad slow for me but it kept me reading. I had to find out if Sybil the love interest was to be trusted or not.
William Dysart is an attorney working in a prestigious firm and married to a gorgeous high society woman. He originally married Arabella for her beauty. Many people are envious of him but he knew behind Arabella’s physical beauty there was a woman incapable of loving anyone but herself. She even did not want to have any children. She thought that they would be a bother to her and probably she would be jealous of any attention that they got. She only wanted the grandest of houses, the most expensive and most modern of clothing. She was a very cold and uncaring person.
William is unhappy with his wife as you can imagine. He is constantly, going to social events so his wife can climb higher and higher in status. She is seductive and controlling. He feels trapped. At work, he is given the assignment to persuade a woman (Sybil) to sell for small cottage on a little bit of land to a society matron. He doesn't know at the beginning that there are many secrets behind this sale. He also doesn't know much about his mother who left him long ago and died. It is these secrets that he has to unravel for himself with a lot of work. I felt closest to William in this book. He was like a trapped fly in his wife’s spider web. Would he ever be able to get out?
I really enjoyed the author's description of the luxury furniture in the mansions, the strong emphasis on social status at the time and the different views of women's suffrage that the characters had.
I highly recommend Incognito to all fans of historical fiction.
William Dysart is an attorney working in a prestigious firm and married to a gorgeous high society woman. He originally married Arabella for her beauty. Many people are envious of him but he knew behind Arabella’s physical beauty there was a woman incapable of loving anyone but herself. She even did not want to have any children. She thought that they would be a bother to her and probably she would be jealous of any attention that they got. She only wanted the grandest of houses, the most expensive and most modern of clothing. She was a very cold and uncaring person.
William is unhappy with his wife as you can imagine. He is constantly, going to social events so his wife can climb higher and higher in status. She is seductive and controlling. He feels trapped. At work, he is given the assignment to persuade a woman (Sybil) to sell for small cottage on a little bit of land to a society matron. He doesn't know at the beginning that there are many secrets behind this sale. He also doesn't know much about his mother who left him long ago and died. It is these secrets that he has to unravel for himself with a lot of work. I felt closest to William in this book. He was like a trapped fly in his wife’s spider web. Would he ever be able to get out?
I really enjoyed the author's description of the luxury furniture in the mansions, the strong emphasis on social status at the time and the different views of women's suffrage that the characters had.
I highly recommend Incognito to all fans of historical fiction.
May 12, 2012
Sometimes you pick up a book and then cannot put it down. I started this book Thursday night and finished it Friday night. And in that time frame we had a huge event at work and was working OT a lot the past few days.
I simply adored this book and the characters. It kept me going "do I like Sybil? do I not like Sybil? Is Lydia a good person or a mean person? WTF is up with his dad and his mom?" Just as I thought I had a finger on what was the "truth" something came along and "nope, not that..."
I was all teary-eyed by the end. And a few places during the story I felt tears forming in my eyes. (Don't want to spoil it but if you read it, I'm sure you'll figure out those parts!)
A truly beautiful book. One everyone should read. Even if by April 1912 there was nothing about Titanic even in passing even though the characters were in a social group that traveled from NY to Southampton and back again frequently. Seems like SOME passing remark would've happened. But that may be my pedantic historian self. At least there wasn't anything historically egregious as tomatoes in Pre-Columbian Europe!
I simply adored this book and the characters. It kept me going "do I like Sybil? do I not like Sybil? Is Lydia a good person or a mean person? WTF is up with his dad and his mom?" Just as I thought I had a finger on what was the "truth" something came along and "nope, not that..."
I was all teary-eyed by the end. And a few places during the story I felt tears forming in my eyes. (Don't want to spoil it but if you read it, I'm sure you'll figure out those parts!)
A truly beautiful book. One everyone should read. Even if by April 1912 there was nothing about Titanic even in passing even though the characters were in a social group that traveled from NY to Southampton and back again frequently. Seems like SOME passing remark would've happened. But that may be my pedantic historian self. At least there wasn't anything historically egregious as tomatoes in Pre-Columbian Europe!
November 30, 2011
This was an advance reader copy and had about it a Gatsby-esque feel that I liked. A lot. Set in 1911, in New York City, William Dysart is an attorney representing a wealthy widow who wants to buy a piece of land near her Long Island estate. Dysart goes to the owner of the land (and the small house there) and offers Sybil Curtis a generous amount to move. When she refuses, Dysart is stuck between the demands of his wealthy client and his fascination with Sybil Curtis and his conviction that she deserves to keep her property.
Unfortunately, Dysart is trapped in a shallow marriage to a socialite, and Sybil begins to care for him. The feeling is mutual. Bound by propriety, he is increasingly obsessed with her and torn between his job and his place in society, his duty to his wife, his client, and this new person who could make him either happy or miserable. This book is part suspense, part romance, and part social commentary. It is 100% well written and absorbing.
July 21
Unfortunately, Dysart is trapped in a shallow marriage to a socialite, and Sybil begins to care for him. The feeling is mutual. Bound by propriety, he is increasingly obsessed with her and torn between his job and his place in society, his duty to his wife, his client, and this new person who could make him either happy or miserable. This book is part suspense, part romance, and part social commentary. It is 100% well written and absorbing.
July 21
July 31, 2014
The book was very well written and reminded me a bit of period pieces by F. Scott Fitzgerald at times. Although a love story is not something I typically set out to read, this book mixed it up a bit by having some suspense about Sybil's past (one of the main characters). This angle was played out well during the book, lending credence to the old saying "don't believe everything you hear or see."
William Dysart (the main character) also had a very intriguing past that he was to discover during the book. I wish this angle would have also been emphasized more. It could have built a stronger relationship in the mind of the reader as to the significance of the relationship between the two characters. However, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading with the backdrop of the early 20th century. This story is set in 1911 New York City, and like Fitzgerald, focusing on the lives of the very wealthy of the time.
William Dysart (the main character) also had a very intriguing past that he was to discover during the book. I wish this angle would have also been emphasized more. It could have built a stronger relationship in the mind of the reader as to the significance of the relationship between the two characters. However, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading with the backdrop of the early 20th century. This story is set in 1911 New York City, and like Fitzgerald, focusing on the lives of the very wealthy of the time.
July 3, 2012
I liked this book – a lot. It is very Edith Wharton-esque and takes place in the upper crust of New York society in 1911. Well-bred (and vastly unhappy) attorney William Dysart is hired to enact a real estate transaction with a young, mysterious woman. A series of small events and revelations unravel the careful fabric of his life, marriage, society, etc. This is dubbed a literary mystery and while there are questions about peoples’ backgrounds and What Really Happened, I would not consider this a mystery.
In addition to a well-drawn cast of likeable and unlikeable characters and a quickly moving plot, the setting is wonderfully told. I also liked the backdrop of the suffragette movement and the acknowledgment that not all women were down with it, or wanted that kind of power. All in this is a highly readable book. It won’t change your life but it’s an engaging story.
In addition to a well-drawn cast of likeable and unlikeable characters and a quickly moving plot, the setting is wonderfully told. I also liked the backdrop of the suffragette movement and the acknowledgment that not all women were down with it, or wanted that kind of power. All in this is a highly readable book. It won’t change your life but it’s an engaging story.
July 27, 2012
This novel is a story of a lawyer, William Dysart who becomes fascinated with a mysterious woman, Sybil, that his client is trying to "buy-out" her property. The book is set in NYC and on long island where the disputed property is located. William is married to a demanding social climbing beauty and is berated by his father for not being more ambitious.
The book seemed to capture the spirit of the gilded age of New York (1910's) and the period details about life in high society. Unfortunately, the mysterious background of Sybil was not all that mysterious. The book was a quick read, but it was also a forgettable story --- I'm writing the review a couple weeks after finishing and I don't really remember much except that I did feel like the period details were interesting. I would consider this hist-lit --- analogous to chick-lit --- light, and entertaining for the moment.
The book seemed to capture the spirit of the gilded age of New York (1910's) and the period details about life in high society. Unfortunately, the mysterious background of Sybil was not all that mysterious. The book was a quick read, but it was also a forgettable story --- I'm writing the review a couple weeks after finishing and I don't really remember much except that I did feel like the period details were interesting. I would consider this hist-lit --- analogous to chick-lit --- light, and entertaining for the moment.
April 12, 2012
I picked this up from the library because, after watching Downton Abbey, I was interested in the period. I liked it. It's hard to explain why because many points of the plot make no sense when the mysteries of the story are explained and some characters are one-dimentional. The main characters -- William, the lawyer, Mrs. Billings, the client fosted upon him by his employer, and Sybil - the owner of property his client wants to purchase -- are fun to read about; finding out how their story ended kept my interest, and the end of the story was not predictable. But how did Sybil ended up owning the property - that makes no sense after you learn the whole story. But never mind -- it is essential to making the story work. And the story is engrossing.
December 8, 2011
Ah, the Gilded Age, one of my most favorite eras and Gregory Murphy has done a wonderful job of describing it in his book Incognito. Sumptuous ball gowns,elegant mansions and the streets of Old New York are what awaits the reader. William Dysart is a young lawyer asked to buy a parcel of land from a young woman named Sybil Curtis, on behalf of one of his firm's clients. Ms. Curtis is reluctant to sell and with that comes forth secrets and mystery behind this young woman. I thought this was a wonderful novel, I look forward to more of Gregory Murphy's work.
November 28, 2011
This book was intriguing and poignant. It was confusing and at times sad. I thought it was a good book overall but in some places I felt, why can't William catch a break and Sybil actually let him in. I did not like Arabella only marrying William to be in his father's will. And her actually being content with playing with William's feelings and making him feel dirty and wrong. I was cheering when he decided to divorce her. When Sybil rejected William, I understood since she had a hard past but she and him deserved happiness so I was thankful when in the ending they ended up together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2012
It's 1911....Lawyer William Dysart represents a wealthy widow who wants to buy a small piece of property with a small cottage on Long Island from a mysterious young woman named Sybil. She refuses to sell, even for a very large sum of money. William tries to learn why she is so stubborn, and ends up falling for her, but finds out much more about her past than she wants him to.
Pretty good read.
Pretty good read.
May 25, 2012
Gregory Murphy takes us to New York City before World War I. He tells us a story about a rich lawyer who falls upon a real estate case that changes his life. William Dysart superficially has everything; a great job, big house and beautiful wife. After reading more into the mysterious character Sybil Curtis, he begins to realize that not only he has inner demons. He also concludes that life has more to offer outside of his pressuring family and posh dinners. Great book!
Read
July 19, 2011I think that this is a perfect beach book. It is an enjoyable, bright, and easy read. The characters are mostly likable, if not recognizable. The story moves quickly and keeps you wanting to know what happens next, there are twists and turns on a regular basis. It is written very well. I also liked that it was set in New York and Long Island as I know those two parts of the world.
December 27, 2012
I couldn't put it down -- absolutely perfect read with a snowstorm going on outside. I kept thinking I had all the mysteries solved, but each turn of events kept proving my ever-changing theories to be incorrect and I loved that. William's Aunt Edith was my favorite character and I wished to meet her a lot sooner! My only critique is that it wrapped up a bit too neatly.
February 18, 2015
Absolutely loved this book and didn't want it to end! Pretty much just wanted to marry William, the main character. The author did a brilliant job with the characters, the setting...my mind was carried away. Bought this book for $1.00 at the dollar store and just can't believe something so magical could cost so little! ♡
September 20, 2011
Five may be a bit high, but I found this book a little jewel! It tells of the deviousness in the elite crowd in NYC in the early 1900s in a fascinating manner. I read it in 3 sittings, and I was sorry to get to the end - my signal of a GOOD book!
September 29, 2011
A wonderful read that takes place in New York in around 1911. William Dysart, a wealthy man married to a shallow wife, tries to buy a piece of property for a friend. This leads to a mysterious but beautiful lady. An interesting love story surrounded by mystery.
Did Not Finish
March 21, 2026Oh, how I wanted to like this book. An Edith Wharton-esque plot, with a conflicted hero and a mysterious heroine? Yes, please! But somehow neither the characters nor their motivations grabbed me, and I could not finish.
November 28, 2014
This is a good story. The writing was pretty good, but the pacing seemed off to me. Sometimes Murphy begins describing a scene only to skip over it quickly. A little rushed. And everything is very neatly tied up at the end - not my favorite way to leave a story.
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